A/N: Enjoy!
After All
Chapter 14
After all the stops and starts…we keep coming back to these two hearts.
Two weeks later, Grissom was standing at the console monitoring the radar screen for anything of interest. Sara was standing by his side holding binoculars to her eyes.
An azure sky, the clear blue of deep water, a salt-laden breeze worked to make the perfect day for cruising the ocean and showing Sara the workings of the boat. He enjoyed having her with him; yet, he found it difficult to tell her how much it meant to him that she was here, on this boat, in the house with him, making a home together. She seemed to feel his gaze and moved the binoculars, smiling at him.
"Quiet out here today," she said.
"It can go weeks like this—then something happens."
Today was their first day on the water since returning from Vegas. It would be several days before boxes and furniture arrived and having donated most of the old furnishings until the house was almost empty, they had decided to leave land in a quest for an adventure. Or a leisurely cruise on a beautiful day.
She laughed, asking, "What's the most interesting thing you've done—seen?"
He gave her a teasing grin and said, "Other than almost getting arrested in San Diego with shark fins? Seeing the western garbage dump up close—it's unbelievable and what I saw was on the surface and around the edge of it."
"All of it plastic?"
"Tiny pieces—takes four to five years for a plastic bottle thrown on a beach in California to reach the garbage patch." Waving his hand, indicating the boat, he said, "That's why I decided to buy a boat. Most of what I do—what the organization does—is pick up trash."
Laughing, she asked, "What's the weirdest trash you've found?"
"Several of us pulled a drift net out that was over a mile long. There was so much caught in it—all kinds of fish, sea turtles, several dolphins—that was an experience I don't want to repeat. I've pulled lots of bottles, a few shoes, plastic bags from everywhere—oh! Weirdest is toothbrushes—I've filled bags and bags—those things never disintegrate!"
A soft ping came from the radar screen; Grissom turned to it, pointing as he said, "Turtle, I think—looks like an old one. Moving slow."
Binoculars returned to Sara's eyes as she scanned in the direction he had pointed.
"I see it!" Flinging the binoculars on the console, she turned suddenly and leaped for the ladder.
Since he was adjusting and turning the boat, Grissom missed the few minutes it took for Sara to reach the boat's deck. He heard a shout, certain he had misunderstood until he turned in time to see his wife jump out of the boat.
"She's out of the boat—she jumped out of the boat!" He shouted words into air. The water was calm, clear, and, he knew, cool at this time of year.
Quickly, he hit the kill switch for the engine and rushed down to the deck. Looking into the nearly flat water, he could see her swimming in a direct path to intercept the turtle.
It was huge—the turtle—and swimming slowly. And then his eyes made out the blue blob trailing behind the turtle. No, he realized, the blue was attached to the massive turtle.
Knowing she probably would not hear his words, he called anyway, "You need a knife—get back here! You'll drown." Lowering his voice, he added, "Or freeze to death."
She kept swimming and as her arm cleared the water, he saw what she held in her hand. Shaking his head, he lifted the boarding ladder and dropped it over the rail. Then he took one of the boat's dock fenders, uncoiled the rope, and waited.
As Sara hit the water, feet first, she sucked in a deep breath of air before submerging. At least she had thought to take off her shoes and jacket before jumping in—and grabbed a knife. She hoped the knife was sharp.
By the time she'd made a dozen strokes, she heard Grissom shouting at her. Another few strokes and she touched the leathery shell she was pursuing, softer than a land turtle—and much larger.
The plastic bag attached to his front flipper served as a kind of balloon, keeping the massive sea turtle near the top of the water. He showed no fear of his new companion as Sara worked the knife under the plastic, cutting it away.
Suddenly, as if he knew he was free, the turtle pushed away and dived, leaving Sara treading water and holding the remnant of the bag. At that point, she looked back at the boat and her husband, holding the bag in a triumphant wave.
After her adrenaline rush, she suddenly realized the temperature of the water was too cool for a comfortable swim. Grissom whistled, pointed to the fender, and threw it in her direction.
Once she grabbed the fender, he towed her to the ladder. Her teeth were chattering so hard she could not talk; her entire body shivered when she reached for the ladder and if not for Grissom's firm grip, she would have fallen back into the water.
He was prepared, popping an emergency thermal blanket around her shoulders as soon as she touched the deck.
"Let's get your wet clothes off," he said as he tugged on her pants. "And—next time—don't jump off the boat! Not in your clothes—that's why we have wet suits!" He was laughing but concern worried the edges of his words.
Her lips were trembling from cold yet she managed a broad smile. "Did you see? He was enormous! And he knew when the bag was gone!"
"They can dive several thousand feet—and this one has been around for a while." He took the plastic bag she had wrapped in her hand and spread it out. "They think plastic bags are their favorite food—jellyfish. At least he didn't swallow this one."
They both looked at the name of a well-known chain store stamped on the bag before Grissom balled it up and stuck it inside a deck hamper.
"You need something hot to drink—and a hot shower," Grissom said as he helped her stand. "Shower—and I'll bring hot tea."
On shaking legs, Sara managed to get into the galley and climbed down to the shower. In minutes, she was standing in a spray of warm water that helped to stop her tremors. She remained under the flow until Grissom opened the door and handed her a cup of tea loaded with honey.
"And a peanut butter sandwich," he added as he passed her a towel.
Sara was smiling as she wrapped the towel around her body. "That was so—so awesome. Overused word, but in this case, I think," she laughed, "it's totally appropriate!"
When she stepped out of the shower, he wrapped arms around her, saying, "Don't do that again! Scared me seeing you jump off the boat."
Laughing, Sara kissed him and then said, "I knew you wouldn't leave me in the ocean!"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She kissed him again. "Sorry I got so excited—I was afraid he'd get away!" Her forehead puckered; she asked, "What would you have done if you'd been alone?"
He shrugged. "Called for help—a few have jet-skis and could've gotten here fairly quickly. And then I'd have followed and watched—pretty much what I've done when I've found something like that." He chuckled, saying, "I'm not much for jumping into the deep blue with a knife." His mouth lifted in a smile, eyes crinkled with enjoyment. "It can be exciting—but next time put on the wet suit—you'll stay warmer."
He helped her dry off, found dry clothes, and as she dressed heard the radio ping with an incoming message.
"Check it out," Sara said. "I think I'll get more tea before coming up."
Several minutes later, she joined him on the top deck where he was checking the radar screen.
Pointing his finger to the west side of the radar, Grissom said, "There's a vessel out there—probably a container ship—that's not in normal shipping lanes. One of our group spotted it earlier and thinks there's something odd going on. We are closer to it—maybe cross its path and check it out."
"Illegal fishing?"
Grissom shook his head, saying, "Too large for fishing—more likely smuggling something and waiting for a smaller boat."
"How dangerous is this?"
"Oh, we don't intercept—we call the Coast Guard if it turns out to be suspicious. Most of the time, it's a ship that's off course, mechanical problems—something like that."
Pointing to the west, he said, "This is a good way to learn—take over the helm for a while."
Sara's finger touched her chest as she asked, "Me? Drive a boat?"
"It's easy—I'll be right here."
A few minutes later, an outline appeared on radar; its shape indicated a small container ship or freighter.
Following Grissom's directions, Sara pointed the bow toward the blip. She was amazed at the distance covered as the wind blew in her face; not daring to glance at her husband who was on the radio, she kept the boat on a path that would cross behind the ship's route.
Sara could hear an excited voice on the radio; Grissom tried several times to break in and then they both heard, clearly:
"Humans in the water! Humans in the water!" Desperate words followed by a rapid staccato of numbers; without a word, Sara stepped back and Grissom took over the steering. The numbers were latitude and longitude and Grissom touched several switches slightly changing the boat's direction.
Voices from the radio had suddenly multiplied, including an authoritarian voice identified as 'Coast Guard'.
Grissom said, "Go below and pull out that stack of emergency blankets—not sure what's happened but it can't be good."
By the time Sara returned to the flybridge, Grissom had slowed the boat so it was barely moving. She could see the churning white-capped waves and frothy foam wake left by the freighter.
And then she saw what Grissom had already seen. Her breath caught for a few seconds as her eyes recognized and her brain communicated to voice.
She said, "Bodies."
A/N: More to come! Around 20 chapters for this story. We appreciate hearing from you.