As usual, I don't own anything CSI. :)
When Greg left, Grissom stared at the photo frame, unsure of what he should do with it. He thought about what Greg had said. "Her flight is tomorrow morning 10 .a.m. She is going back to New York." Did he dared hoped that Greg meant her? Can he wish? He chided himself. He's too old for wishes, too old for hopes and definitely not entitled to wishes. Three years ago, he had hurt someone he love so deep, he had already loses the entitlement to be hopeful or happy.
When he sucked in a huge mouth air, and wanted to pick up the photo, Heather entered the study room. For most of the time, Heather would not come into his study room. He had made it clear to her that this was the only room she could not revamp. He will be the one who designed and build according to his wishes. He had given in to her request of changing his modern town house to a Victorian style.
He owed her too much to turn down a simple request.
"Griss. What did Greg wants? He looked pissed off when he left." She asked; her eyes on the photo frame that was lying on his table. Suddenly, he felt defensive; he did not want her to see the photo. He should be the one who looked at the photo first. He controlled the urge of grabbing the photo and kept it in the drawer. He could look at it later.
Against his wishes, Heather picked up the photo, examined it. Her face registered shock, her mouth agape and unsure what to say. Grissom watched her expressions; suddenly he was very interested in that photo. How a simple photo could cause Heather to be in a shock?
Deep inside his heart, he knew it must be about her, Sara.
"Heather, what's wrong?"
Heather. He called her Heather. He never gave her any pet names. He could not bring himself to call her Dear or Honey. Those pet names were reserved someone he kept deep in his heart.
Heather closed her eyes, wished that this was a bad joke or a bad dream. She wished she could not connect the damn dots. It was so obvious. The kids had his eyes and his chin. Her lop-sided grin was so Sara. And she was worried that Grissom would drop everything to go find them. She couldn't afford to lose him. Over these few years, she had grown dependent on him.
"Griss, I think you need to take a look at this." Heather passed him the photo frame unwillingly. She recoiled a little when Grissom's hand brushed past hers. She glanced out to the window and waited for Grissom's response.
Grissom raised a brow and took the photo frame from her. He put on his reading glass and looked at the photo with interest.
In the photo, stood a woman, whom he had loved and missed for the past 3 years. And she was accompanied by a little girl with ash brown hair, round baby blue orbs and thin upper lips. They were smiling happily, basking under the sun.
And then he realized.
The little girl was his daughter.
Upon observing Grissom, Heather found no emotions or words that could describe Grissom's face. He was calm, oddly calm.
"Griss. She's your daughter, isn't it?" She bit her lips, waiting for the sentence to sink in fully.
"I think so. Heather." There were millions of questions running through his mind now.
When was Sara pregnant? How? And why she did not tell him about this?
Perhaps, the when and how could be explained. It happened the first day she was when Warrick died. She had initiated the act and at the heat of the moment, they forgot about protection.
But why she did not tell him? Did she know that he would like to be a part of their life? Did she know that he had always wanted a daughter? Evidently, she did not. But he could not blame her for that. They had never discussed anything about their future life. They had focused on the present and not the future. They felt that there wasn't a need to discuss anything too remotely far. As no one can predict anything that could happen, they just wanted to live their life as it was.
She just disappeared for 3 years and reappeared again one month before his wedding. Had Greg told her about it? If she had known, how was she reacting? Was she sad? Was she going to do something about it? No. She was not going to do anything. He thought bitterly.
"What are you going to do?" Heather's question broke his train of thoughts, startling him.
"I…" his voice trailed off, trying to search the right words to tell Heather. He realized anything other nothing would hurt Heather. And he could not do that. Heather was the one who had been supporting him through his darkest moments.
"Please, Griss. No. You know I can't lose you. Not after, our child was gone. I can't." Heather broke down, her hands clutching the sides of her head.
Grissom sighed. Their child was gone due to his insistence, unlike what others in the lab had been discussing. He had received pitiful stares from Catherine when she learnt about the death of his child. What she never knew was he had been the one who insisted on the abortion. He would always doubt his real intention of asking Heather to abort the child.
Was it because of her medical condition?
Or was it he had only wanted a child with Sara only?
"Heather, you know you would not be able to carry the baby to full terms. Your body could not take it. It is just too dangerous. Let's listen to the doctor advice. Let's have an abortion." Grissom held onto Heather tightly, trying to talk senses into her.
"I can't. Not after Zoe." Heather broke free from Grissom's hold. She could not do it. She wanted this child. Although this child was just technically an embryo now, she had already fallen in love with her child.
"Please I can't risk losing you."
"I will think about it."
"Griss…" Heather called, snapping him out of his thoughts. "What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. Heather. She is going back to NY tomorrow. We can figure this out after the wedding." Grissom ensured, stood up from the chair and went over to Heather. He crossed his hands around her waist.
"I won't leave you. I promised you that when we took away our child's life. I will be here for you, always." He whispered gently into her ears.
He wished that by reminding himself of his promises to Heather would make him stay here.
And one thing he was sure was he was unsure how would Sara react if he show up tomorrow. He did not need any more uncertainties in life any more. He could figure all out after the wedding.
However, a question was eating him up.
'Did he want to marry Heather?'
"Griss. What do you think about marriage?" Heather, sipping her cup of tea, and approached this topic cautiously. Grissom put his book about bugs down and thought about the question.
He, once, had proposed to Sara in the most unconventional way. When she accepted, he was thrilled, happy and many wedding plans running through his mind. He thought about a lavish wedding, a church wedding or a simple ceremony with their close friends.
But now, he never thought of it since she left.
"Marriage is a bonding between 2 persons who are ready to take the next step to accept each other families into their life. And accept each others at their worst." He answered.
She smiled, a little too sweet, for her character.
"How about we get marry?" Heather proposed the question.
He glanced at his finger. The gold ring Sara bought for him after he proposed was still on his finger. He never took it off. She said he looked good with gold and it was old-fashioned and he would not find it out of place and hinder him from work. He wondered if he was ready to take it off and replace another one.
"Griss?"
"Sure." Although he knew that he was not ready to take it off but he needed to. Heather needed him and so did him. She was like his life-jacket in the cold ocean.
Heather gave him a wide smile, "can we go shopping for rings? I find the one you had on the finger ugly. And who got you this?"
He frowned. He liked gold and old-fashioned ring. It was perfect for him. But he said nothing but nodded.
"Please don't leave me… and our child…"
"Our child?"
"I may be pregnant." Heather favoured him with a bitter smile.
xXxXx
"Greg, do you know where my photo is?" Sara asked, after settling in Greg's SUV. "I took it. I wanted see my god-daughter everyday," He lied smoothly. "When is my Gil your god daughter?" Sara asked. "Since yesterday. I don't care. She's my god-daughter. I am going over to New York next month to visit the two of you. And I do need your address and contact." Greg chuckled.
"Do you doubt me? I had already passed you all my contact information and my house address. Don't you worry; I won't be fleeing again, not with a kid in tow." Sara smiled a little; guilt can be seen on her face.
"Let's go. It's a long trip to the airport." Greg started the vehicle.
"Sara… do you think if there was no Grissom… would… you like me?" Greg stuttered, his knuckles turned white as he was gripping the steering wheel a little too hard.
"Hmmm. I had always liked you, in a capacity of friend." Sara said.
"Oh."
When they reached the airport, Greg helped Sara with her suitcase, and they took small strides to the departure area. Greg's eyes darted around, looking for Grissom. He felt conflicted, one side he wished that Grissom would come and the other side wished he would not.
"I think that was my last call. I got to go now." Sara took over her suitcase from Greg and gave him a hug.
"Thanks. Greg. Thanks. You are always there. And you never shun me away when I returned unannounced. I am glad that we are still friends. Do come visit me in New York. My house has a guest room you can sleep in. And you can play with God-daughter. She had a science kit given by my mentor and his wife. You can play that with her."
"I will be there next month. I have enough leaves to stay there for at least one month. Anticipate me." Greg punched Sara's arms lightly.
"Well… we can accommodate you as long as you don't make bomb with my Gil. I want my house intact."
Greg nodded too readily. Sara was unconvinced. "Just make sure my house is intact."
"Ok, bye."
"Bye. Take care." Greg gave Sara a light peck on her right cheek.
Startled by his actions, Sara moved a few steps backwards and touched her right cheek. Greg flashed a toothy grin and held his hands up to surrender. "Sorry. Go on in. Your flight would not wait for you."
Greg pushed Sara into the departure gate and waved goodbye frantically. He felt a pang of sadness to send Sara back to New York but at least he will have his chance next month. Grissom had given up his chance. He had given him a chance to make everything right but he didn't.
If Grissom couldn't, Greg could.
A month with Sara and Gillian.
And he hoped that things would change for the better.
Hey if you like it, do leave me a comment... the next chapter would take a little longer, I am still working on it. I still don't know how to go on with that...