Talking with doctors
Annoyed Sara looked up from her work and watched the cell phone dance on the table. She saw Grissom extent his hand to grab the offending piece of technology. "Grissom."
"Hello Gil. I called to say that your female victim from the pair. The two that you viewed with the children." Doc. Robbins could almost hear Grissom going through the list of bodies that had been brought in." Tom and Klara's mother. Yes, what did you find?" At hearing Tom and Klara's names Sara's attention was instantly snapped back to the conversation between Grissom and doc. Robbins. She managed to get eye contact with Grissom, who just nodded, acknowledging her.
"Well I found evidence of an abortion. Do you have their medical files?"
"No not yet. The police is trying to find the medical files, but had no luck, so far."
"If they find them I will see them and maybe be able to tell you a bit more." Doc. Robbins closed the files and put them away.
"Yes thank you." Grissom closed his phone and looked straight into Sara's expectant eyes. "What did doc. Robbins tell you?"
"Tom and Klara's mother had an abortion."
"So that's how abortion got pulled into the discussion between the brothers."
"That would be a good guess."
"Did Jim have any luck with the brother?"
"They found an address, but he wasn't there. Someone is keeping a look out. The moment he gets in, we will know."
"Can we get a warrant for his home?"
"Not yet. Brass is trying to get it. Lets go home. There is nothing else we can do here."
"How about paperwork?" Sara asked with a smile on her face. Grissom looked at her, as if he thought she was mad for suggesting it. He saw her smile, so he returned it: "That'll be here tomorrow."
"Okay." Sara bent to pick up her bag.
"But I'm driving." Grissom swiftly grabbed the keys, leaving Sara stunned: "Wha…he… I drove here!" she called after Grissom's retreating form.
"I know, so I'm driving back." He called over his shoulder, seeing Sara admitting defeat: "Fine you drive." Sara mock pouted.
The playful banter between the two continued, while they were in the car and evolved into playful banter and light conversation. As they reached their home it transformed into loving, lingering looks, small gestures and touches and sweet terms of endearment. As both walked into the hallway, Grissom pulled Sara into his arms and whispered in her ear: "The doctor said I was healthy, I still have to watch my cholesterol, but according to him, someone was helping me keep fit. And according to him I would be able to knock you up. Just in case he has given me a number for a fertility expert, but as far as he was concerned I wouldn't need it." Sara immediately remembered one of the things she loved about Grissom. When he made up his mind he didn't drag his feet, but would go for it one hundred percent. She kissed him on the cheek an whispered, while butterflies were fluttering in her stomach: "My doctor said the same thing." Grissom looked her in the eye and kissed passionately. After several minutes he pushed her towards the living room. When he faced a closed door he reluctantly released Sara partially and opened the door only to quickly face Sara again an return to the much appreciated pastime of kissing her, once more forgetting his surroundings. Which in this case consisted of a stunned strawberry blond co-worker, who after the initial shock cleared her throat. Surprised Sara and Grissom looked around for the source of the sound. They saw Leena and Catherine who where seated at the dinner table, which was partly covered in papers.
"Catherine." Grissom voiced his surprise: "Why are you here?"
"Well I thought I would invite myself over for breakfast. I left just before you, at least you were clearing up your workstation. So I guessed you were ready to go home. You did take your time."
"Yes, well, I had a last minute call I had to take." Grissom defended himself, immediately feeling ridiculous since he didn't need to justify his actions to Catherine.
"And then cuddled with Sara in the hallway for a good 10 minutes." Came Catherine's sharp reply.
"Yeah, this is our home and we didn't know we had a visitor." Sara said, effectively closing the conversation.
"So breakfast: eggs or pancakes?" Grissom asked.
"Pancakes." Tom said. The adults turned towards him. He stood in the doorway in his pyjama's and held Klara's hand, who was clutching her stuffed animal to her chest, while sucking on her thumb.
"You two are supposed to be in bed." Grissom commented.
"Yes, but we heard voices and we are hungry." Tom explained, Grissom nodded and the two children came and sat at the table, while Sara and Grissom went to the kitchen to make the requested pancakes.
Two hours later Catherine had left the Grissom household and the children had once again been returned to bed. The three remaining adults were seated at the table, which was covered with several letters, that needed a translation and notes Leena had made. They were discussing those letters. Grissom had told Leena about the abortion. "I found the name of the doctor and with internet also found the telephone number. I have already called and made an appointment to call back. Tonight, around 2.00 o'clock. It's in your shift and 10.00 o'clock in the Netherlands. The doctor had a free morning so he has got plenty of time. Is that alright with you?"
"Yes, but it does mean another trip tot the lab for the children."
"No not really. Lindsay is going to come around, so she can babysit. And I'm not going to be in the lab the entire time. I already cleared it with Catherine. It's okay."
"Well, if that is arranged, we should get to bed." Sara said. She and Grissom rose and walked to the bedroom. Leena quickly grabbed the papers and went to the guestroom. Tonight they would need their wits about them.
"Today there are no cases yet. Work on your open cases and the reports. If you can please help around in the various labs. Last week the lab rats were frustrated and ready to kill, because of a shortage in work. Now no one is safe from their glares, because they are overrun with evidence. Only Bobby from firearms would kiss you for giving him some evidence to process. I fear it is only a matter of time before he is back to firing guns to test one thing or another." Grissom had briefly talked to Bobby before shift, since he was the only one who could spare the time and he had listened to Bobby complaining over a lack of work. Bobby had said something about criminals forgetting the beauty of a gun. Grissom could only be relieved about criminals forgetting about the existence of guns. If only somehow they would forget about the existence of knives, swords, pipes, baseball bats, poisons and all other means of taking a life or inflicting bodily harm.
"Why don't you let him shoot some of the bodies in the body farm?" Nick jokingly said.
"That might actually be a good idea. I have been meaning to do some experiments with bullets and bodies, I'll let Bobby think about that. Thanks Nick. It's a good time anyway, since I'm getting three fresh bodies next week." Grissom said, looking like a kid who had just gotten a much coveted toy.
"Morbid, Grissom, morbid." Warrick dryly commented. Sara, Nick and Catherine merely snickered.
"Right, well…in the meantime I'd like some updates on your open cases. Nick closed the university case. Catherine how is the case of the lady in cat manor going?"
"Doc. Robbins ruled it as death by natural causes. The woman had a very, very, poor health and the living conditions in the end killed her. Bad hygiene and a cat infested home. So the evidence does need to be written up, but the case is closed. The body is going to be cremated as soon as possible."
"No relatives came forward?"
"No and there are signs of infectious diseases, so she needs to be cremated a.s.a.p. And well the case from yesterday. The bodies were badly decomposed. David boiled them and cleaned the bones. They were all killed by blunt force trauma. They were discovered by a real estate agent, who wanted to sell the place. Time of death was three months ago." Everybody flinched, knowing the stench that would have been lingering in the basement.
"We found a steel bar with blood on it, comparison of that with the indentations in the skulls, show that it is the murder weapon. We found some prints on it, but Jackie is pretty busy, so hopefully today we'll find who those prints belong to." Sara finished their story.
"Good work. Warrick how is the case with the orphanage?"
"Evidence shows that the headmistress was beaten to death. I found ten different fist marks on her. But which one delivered the final blow is hard to tell. We may never know. The children do collaborate wit the story. According to them the headmistress had beaten a young child, who had done nothing wrong. That didn't sit well and ahd been the proverbial drop that tipped the bucket. So some went to the headmistress and started beating her. They realised that she needed to die or they would b beaten day in day out, and so they said, prison couldn't be worse then this place."
"Did you make a plan with Tammy?"
"Yes, today the child services are closing the orphanage and I'm going over there to get evidence." The break room fell silent as everybody saw the horrific events that had happened in the orphanage. Grissom sadly shook his head: "Good work Warrick. So everybody work on your open vases and help the lab rats. Oh and from 2.00 I don't want to be interrupted. I'm staying in my office, I need to make a rather long call, so until my office door is opened again, bombard Catherine with your problems. Sara will be with me during that time. Okay?" Grissom looked at his team and saw them nodding. As they started to rise Nick noticed Greg's absence: "Where is Greg?"
"Still working on his cars in the garage."
At 2.00 Sara closed Grissom's office door, as Leena dialled the doctor and switched the phone to hands free call.
"Doctor van Leeuwen, hi, it's Leena Janssen. I called yesterday evening. The two people who wanted to talk to you are also here, you are on hands free. Doctor Grissom and miss Sidle both speak English and have some questions regarding the family I called about."
"Yes, Peter and Carolien Gerritsma. I looked up their files and those of his parents. They were patients with me. What do you need to know?"
"Do you still have their medical files? Shouldn't they be in America?" Grissom asked, still wondering where those files were.
"Yes, but they hadn't gotten around to getting a regular physician. So I still have their medical files."
"Could you send those to us?
"They are confidential. I have no problem discussing Peters parents, they are both deceased."
"But didn't Leena tell you?" Grissom asked.
"No I didn't. It is not my job and I dint want to interfere with yours, Grissom." Leena explained.
"Okay." Grissom accepted her apology. "I'm very sorry to tell you that Peter and Caroline Gerritsma have died." Grissom told dr. van Leeuwen. About the fate that had befallen Peter and Carolien. The doctor fell silence for some moments. "That greatly saddens me, they were good people. How are Tom and Klara?"
"They are okay, considering. They are staying with us and Leena for the moment. Could we get the medical files?"
"Yes absolutely. But I also had understood that you wanted to talk to me about Peters parents."
"That is correct. We found several letters in mister Gerritsma's home, which dealt with what had happened to his parents." before Grissom could say more he was stopped by dr. van Leeuwen: "Did Daan, Peter's brother write those?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Daan also wrote some letters to his parents and he wasn't happy with what happened here."
"Could you please tell us, so we can see what in the letters did happen and what not?" Sara asked, cutting to the chase.
"Okay. Peter's mother Gerda was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago. She tried to fight it but a year later she died in her sleep, she went peacefully. By that time even before she was diagnosed Daan had moved to America. As far as I know he didn't come back for the funeral and he never saw his mother while she was ill. It angered Peter, but Jan, his father, didn't really care. Later he did tell me he had felt almost betrayed by Daan. Anyway, about a month later we also found cancer with Jan. The same place as in Gerda: the lungs. Jan tried to fight it, but you could see his heart wasn't in it. Jan really tried to life for his sons and his grandchildren, but he had lost too much with Gerda. So two months later the cancer didn't go down, it had spread at a very high speed. And Jan was in a lot of pain, not just from the cancer, but from missing Gerda. After talking a lot with Peter and me, Jan asked to be put to sleep. Nine months ago we euthanized him, so he could return to his beloved Gerda and be happy." Dr. van Leeuwen ended his narrative. Grissom and Sara looked at each other, slightly shocked and deeply in thought.
"You euthanized him?" Sara asked hesitantly.
"Here in the Netherlands that is legal, as long as you follow the law and regulations."
"What are those laws and regulations?" Grissom had been curious about those, yes he did know that in the Netherlands euthanasia was legal, but that was all. He wanted to understand how people could live with that.
"There are a lot of regulations, but most important is that the request has to be made by the patient in his right mind, so we have to asses the sanity of the patient. There has to be pain that cannot be lessened by medication and that will endure and lead to death. A second opinion has to be given to that fact. And we have to report it. And yes all laws and regulations were followed with Jan Gerritsma."
"So the family is not asked about their opinion?"
"No, not by us, I mean it is not required, but we usually do talk about it. Usually the decision is made after a thorough discussion with the family. The family is usually very reluctant and will try to attempt to change the mind of the patient. But in the end it is the patients decision and the family normally accepts that decision. The decision has to be made by the patient out of free will."
"Was Daan included in the discussion, as far as you know?"
"Yes he was. He was apposed, he wrote his father often, trying to persuade him to do otherwise."
"Obviously it didn't work."
"No, Daan didn't make time to come visit his ailing mother, her funeral or his ailing father, but he did feel as if he had the right to tell his father what he had to do or rather what couldn't do."
"Did Daan come to his fathers funeral?"
"As far as I know not. Do you know where Daan is?"
"We are looking for him." Grissom said.
"Okay, was that all you needed to know?"
"One more thing. Did Caroline have an abortion?"
"Yes, her third pregnancy was terminated because it posed a viable thread to both mother and child."
"What was Daan's opinion about that?"
"I believe he was opposed to it, but I can't be completely sure."
"Does Caroline have anymore relatives?"
"No, her parents have died and she was an only child."
"Thank you for your time doctor." Grissom thanked dr. van Leeuwen. He was anxious to get back to work and put these pieces in the puzzle that was the brutal murder of two young parents.
"Dr. Grissom?"
"Yes?"
"Could I say one more thing?"
"Sure, go ahead." Grissom was curious as to what else dr. van Leeuwen had to say at the last moment.
"I just want to implore you not to think about the Dutch as barbaric, because we allow euthanasia or to view this family as any less for requesting it for a family member. Euthanasia is still a very hot topic in the politics as well as abortion. A lot of doctors are still very reluctant to use it. But euthanasia is allowed for precisely the case Jan set. He was never going to get better and he was in excruciating pain. It was a humane and kind thing to do, I stand by that. Please remember that the children had no part in this."
"We understand doctor van Leeuwen and we will never hold Tom and Klara responsible for any of this. They are innocent children and we will make sure they get the best care. Thank your for your time doctor v. Leeuwen."
"You're welcome. If you've got anymore questions don't hesitate to call, around this hour would be great. And thank your for taking care of the children. Goodbye."
"Goodbye." And with that Grissom cut the connection. He looked at Sara, who was deep in thought, trying to process everything she had heard. And the he looked at Leena who calmly sat, waiting for someone to say something. When no one did she started talking: "Well that confirms the contents of the letters."
"Yes, I think we really need to talk to Daan Gerritsma and see his house. I hope Brass can get a warrant with this information. " with that he took out the tape recording of the conversation.
"yes, I hope this helps you to solve these murders." Leena said as she rose from her seat. "I'm going home, unless you need me for something else? I have rehearsals tomorrow for the LVPD ball."
"No, it's fine, you can go home. Thank you. If we have questions we'll ask them at home." Grissom said, opening his door and leading both women out of his office. "I need to check with Catherine and Greg. I'll see you soon, Griss. Have fun with the insect timeline." Sara said as she indicated the work Grissom still had to do. She needed some time to digest everything she had learned and she really had promised Catherine to check with her before joining Greg in the garage for yet another car wreck. Grissom saw her walk away and then turned to the job at hand: the insect timeline.
Author note: wow, that was a long chapter, I do hope you liked it. About the information on euthanasia: the information, though a bit crude and easy, is correct. Euthanasia is not a common practice, it happens rarely.
Oh and please review?