Chapter Eleven:
Grissom stepped outside his home and for the first time did not recognize his neighborhood.
There were reporters huddled on the front lawn.
As soon as they caught sight of the gurney, the voices were reduced to whispers.
He glanced down at the gurney and tried to imagine what it would be like if she were actually in there.
He felt his pulse quicken and stomach churn.
His eyes left the gurney and he noticed his neighbors were gathered across the street.
They were being respectful of his property while the media gave it no thought as they stepped closer toward them with their cameras and video equipment.
The camera flashes hurt his eyes.
The officer pushed the media back but they continued to try to inch forward.
His arm hurt but he dismissed the pain as Warrick and Catherine stood off to the side.
They stared at the body bag.
Catherine's hand went to her mouth as Warrick's hand fell on her shoulder.
Nick leaned in close to Grissom. "I'll tell them as soon as you're gone," whispered Nick.
"Tell them…I'm sorry…we need the media to buy it," he said.
Grissom stood there while the body was loaded and then he stepped into the vehicle just as the doors shut.
The officers kept the media away from the solemn scene but as soon as the vehicle pulled away, the media ran after it, flashing away with the cameras.
"Damn vultures," seethed Warrick.
Brass stepped onto the lawn and was flocked by reporters.
"I'll make this brief. An unknown gunman open fired on the residence of Gil Grissom. Mr. Grissom was injured while his employee Sara Sidle was killed. She was an outstanding CSI and she will be greatly missed. We are working around the clock to find out who did this and believe me, we will find you. I would ask the media's cooperation by removing themselves from the property so that our investigation can continue without hindrance and so Mr. Grissom can return in peace."
Before the media could ask any questions, Brass turned and stepped back inside the house.
Nick ushered Warrick and Catherine inside.
"I can't believe this is happening," cried Catherine.
Nick glanced around making sure the house was empty.
"We're sorry we had to do this but there wasn't time to fill you guys in," said Nick.
"What are you talking about?" asked Warrick.
"Sara is not dead," whispered Nick.
"What? Who was that?" asked Catherine sounding ticked.
"Greg…pretending to be a cadaver," said Brass. "Sara is in the next room."
Nick filled in the others as Brass stepped into the bedroom.
"How are you doing?" he asked.
"Jim, I want you to do something for me," said Sara.
"Anything," he said.
"I want you to make me disappear…even from Grissom," said Sara.
Brass cursed inwardly. "We'll talk about that. In the meantime, Catherine and Warrick want to see you."
He opened the door and let the others in.
He stepped into the other room as the others visited with Sara.
He flipped open his phone. "Media seems to have bought it. We got several bags of evidence to sift through."
"How is Sara?" asked Grissom.
"The team is sitting with her right now. Gil, you think we're doing the right thing? Keeping her here?"
"Why would you second guess yourself?" asked Grissom.
Brass hesitated for a moment. "She wants to leave…you."
"No!"
"I could talk with the D.A. We could relocate her…"
"Not without me! She's just scared…she's afraid something is going to happen to me…like Hank."
"If she presses…I may not have a choice," warned Brass.
"Jim, don't do this," warned Grissom.
"I'll stall but you better get back here," said Brass.
"She needs her meds," reminded Grissom.
"You mean knock her out so you can get back here," replied Brass.
Grissom ignored the stares as he stepped out of the vehicle with the body.
He said nothing as some of the staff offered their condolences.
His hand gripped the gurney as it was pulled into the morgue.
Doc locked the door and then Grissom unzipped the bag.
"It was hot in there," whined Greg.
"Be glad you're not dead," said Doc.
Greg jumped off the gurney. "Never want to do that again. It was too spooky."
"You don't look good, Gil," said Doc as he offered him a seat but he refused.
"I need to check in with Ecklie and then get back," said Grissom as he headed out the door.
Greg followed staying a step or two behind his boss.
He noticed the immediate fatigue in Grissom's gait and wanted nothing more than to help him.
"Anything else I can do?" offered Greg.
"Start on the evidence," said Grissom as they approached Grissom's office.
Grissom glanced down the hall and saw Hodges visibly upset.
The man was often a misfit but at the moment he wanted to comfort him.
One look at the blood on his shirt caused Hodges to flee.
"I'm sorry for your loss," he blurted out as he hurried past Grissom.
Grissom leaned against the door briefly as he tried to calm his nerves.
It had been hard even though he knew it was all a façade.
Just the thought of how close he had come to losing her once more unnerved him.
He grabbed the things on his desk and then headed to Ecklie's office.
He did not stop, ignoring the looks and tearful expressions.
Once inside Ecklie's office, he shut the door and stood there waiting for him to get off the phone.
"You think this is going to work?" asked Ecklie.
"Everyone seems to have bought it," said Grissom. "Conrad, we need time to find this person."
"How are you?" he asked looking at the bloodied shirt.
"I'm fine. I need to get back," he said. "I'll rummage through these reports and get…"
"Leave them," ordered Ecklie. "We'll handle it. Just take care of yourself…and Sara."
Grissom shook the hand that was extended to him.
He was back at the town house in less than an hour having gotten a lift from Greg.
The officers had pushed the media off the front lawn and now they had taken up space with the neighbors who had mostly dispersed.
Once he stepped out of the car, he hurried inside ignoring the calls from the media hounds.
He rushed to the bedroom and sighed out loud when he saw that she was asleep.
"Meds knocked her out," whispered Brass.
"Good," breathed Grissom.
"Catherine will probably chew your ass when she sees you," said Brass. "They left just a few minutes ago with the rest of the evidence. I've got a security company working on the alarm system and a work crew should be arriving soon to repair the window in the bedroom."
"Thanks, Jim," said Grissom as he slumped down in a chair.
"You should get some rest before you fall down," warned Brass. "You're turning green."
"Did she say anything more…about leaving?" he asked.
"She's worried about you…not about herself…just you. I think this has really rattled her…first Hank and then you get shot. She's carrying a lot of guilt," whispered Brass.
Grissom leaned forward as he ran his hands through his hair.
"Must have been hard, pretending she was dead," said Brass.
"I never want to go through that," he admitted to his friend.
"I'll hang around until the alarm system is back in place and the window has been fixed. The bullet holes will have to wait, the less people coming and going the better."
"Thanks, Jim."
"You're going to need food in the house," said Brass.
"Greg is making a run," said Grissom. "He really wants…needs to see Sara."
"Grissom?"
"Hmmm?"
"This wasn't your fault either."
Grissom did not reply but stepped into the bathroom for a shower.
He felt better, changing into some sweats and an old t shirt as he quietly slipped back into the room.
Greg arrived with the groceries but did not seem disappointed when Sara remained asleep.
"Take care of her," he said as he headed to the door. "Griss?"
"Yes?"
"I wouldn't trust her with anyone else," whispered Greg before opening the door and leaving.
The repair men arrived.
Brass stood watch as Grissom disappeared into his bedroom, locking the door behind him.
He grabbed his book from the dresser and sat down on the bed.
Sara bolted from the bed the moment she heard the noise.
"It's okay," whispered Grissom. "It's just the men repairing the damage to the windows in the guest room."
Sara rubbed at her eyes.
"You've been asleep for almost twelve hours," said Grissom.
She glanced over and saw that he was sitting on top of the bed covers fully dressed with a book in his hand.
"The alarm system has been upgraded. It's virtually impossible to get through," he said.
She did not seem pleased to see him.
"Jim told me about your request. It was denied…by me," he said.
"Yeah, well you don't get to decide…" He hushed her with a kiss.
"Yes, I do. I have no intentions of being away from you," he declared.
"Griss…"
His lips found hers again.
He leaned back and saw a single tear on her cheek.
He swiped it away for her.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Sore…but good," she said. "How is your arm?"
"It's fine," he smiled. "Shower helped with the soreness."
"Shower sounds good," she cringed as she tried to roll over.
"Doc is coming by to check on you."
Sara slowly sat up. "So I'm dead."
He didn't like those words.
"I could make you a bath," he offered.
"I can do that on my own," she murmured as she threw her feet over the edge of the bed and sat there.
"Jim is going to pick up some of your things from your apartment," he stated trying to ease her fears.
She walked slowly to the bathroom as he stood, taking her overnight bag into the bathroom.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" he asked.
"Yes."
The door shut.
He slumped down on the bed.
His arm throbbed as well as his head.
The last twenty four hours had been too unsettling.
She re-emerged later, her hair damp from the shower.
She leaned against the door frame of the bathroom.
"You're not responsible for me," she insisted.
He extended his hand and she took it kneeling there in front of him.
"You… should…let Jim put me…"
"No!" His arms wrapped protectively around her. "We're going to catch this person…but in the meantime…we stay together."
"Grissom…"
He hushed her with another kiss.
Her hands caressed his cheeks.
She was surprised when she realized he'd been crying.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"Do you know how hard it was for me to pretend that you were dead? I gripped that gurney even though I knew it wasn't you in the body bag."
Her arms circled his waist as her head rested in his lap.
His hand stroked her hair.
"I've wasted so much time…with you," he managed to get out.
"I'm scared…for you," she admitted.
"Lie down with me," he urged.
As her head rested on his shoulder, he closed his eyes giving in to the exhaustion.
"You would be safer…if I left," she whispered.
"You leave…I go with you," he said.
Her hand gently caressed his injured arm.
"So I'm really dead to everyone else?" asked Sara.
"Yes," replied Grissom.
He propped himself up as he loomed over her.
"Everyone is working around the clock to find…"
"I feel safe," she assured him.
"Good," he said as he leaned down and kissed her.
Sara curled up closer to him and slept.
A few hours later, he slipped from the bed when there was a slight knock on the door.
Brass stepped inside.
"How you holding up?" he asked.
"She's sleeping…anything more conclusive?" asked Grissom.
"We managed to get a match on the fingerprint lifted from the back door," said Brass.
"And?"
"It belongs to Elaine Alcott."
"Hank's fiancé?"
"Maybe she found out about Sara…wanted to get rid of her and Hank was killed in the process," said Brass.
"A fingerprint isn't going to convict her," said Grissom.
"It's a start…more than we've had," he said.
Grissom stared at the closed bedroom. "I don't want her to know…about this."
Note from author:
Just remember to wait until all of the evidence is in....
Take care!
