Chapter Twenty One:
Sara handled the case just as he knew she would.
Of course, Grissom pressed upon her the importance of carrying the ball the last few yards.
She threatened to do something with his.
He sat in the courtroom and marveled at how she guided the jury to come to an indictment.
She passed Matthews, smiling in his direction as he thanked her but he stood clear of her.
Grissom chuckled to himself.
They celebrated over breakfast at his place.
She was surprised by the invite but she accepted.
"You did good today," he said as he winked at her while making pancakes.
"I was just following your presentation," she replied.
"Handsy huh?" he teased.
She laughed and he joined in.
There was a reprieve of sorts while they worked doubles after doubles, giving no time for searching for a life afterwards.
She swiped her forehead and was surprised when a bottle of water was thrust at her.
She took it, grateful, intending to turn and thank Brass but was surprised to see it was a detective.
"You looked like you needed it," the young detective reasoned.
"Thanks," she took it, not even looking in Grissom's direction. He was there somewhere in the house, trying to finish up in order to avoid a triple.
"You're…Catherine?" he asked.
Sara frowned. "Sara."
"Sorry, I asked the officer over there and he said it was Catherine or Sara. Fifty-fifty shot…good thing I don't gamble," he smiled.
She returned the smile.
He introduced himself as John Reynolds.
Grissom stepped into the living room and saw Sara near the walkway talking with the detective. Her voice was light and she seemed engrossed in the conversation.
His head bent back to his work but shot up when her laughter floated inside.
He was drawn to the window as he watched his Sara continue to work even though the young man remained by her side.
He was a stranger to Grissom but Brass had spoken about him.
He seemed harmless which was why he could not seem to focus on his task as he tried to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"I'm new in town," he finally got around. "I don't know too many people. I don't like to eat alone…do you?"
Sara's head bobbed up. "I don't mind eating alone."
"Oh."
He looked deflated.
She felt sorry for the man.
He was rather nice and his looks were too.
"But it is nicer with someone else," she added.
Relief washed over him. "Mind if I ask you to dinner some time?"
"That would be nice."
He started to walk away but stopped suddenly. "Sometimes, I have to cancel…because of work."
"Me too."
He smiled at her and winked.
She smiled inwardly.
She was so used to dodging men of the opposite sex and had forgotten how splendid it felt to make one's day.
She was sure the detective was proud of his accomplishment.
Any other day she would have shot him down, sent him scurrying away, with no desire to risk her heart on anyone but Grissom.
She glanced toward the house, not catching sight of him as he leaned back into the shadows.
Have a date…
A date of my choice…
Probably the grim reaper…
She turned around as second thoughts assaulted her and she wondered if she had made a huge mistake.
She was surprised when Grissom turned into the diner.
"Brass needs to meet with me. I thought you wouldn't mind getting something to eat."
"I could eat."
She froze when Brass mentioned Reynolds.
"I understand you met John Reynolds," eyed Brass.
"Yes, I did," she answered.
"Nice guy. Good worker. No marriages. Clean record," reported Brass.
Sara's toast stopped in midair.
"You're telling me this because?"
"He's single. The women in the precinct have been gawking for weeks but he asked about one person…you," reported Brass as he sipped on his coffee.
His eyes glanced at Grissom but he seemed engrossed in eating his food.
"I take it you checked him out?" she asked.
"The minute he asked about you."
She smiled. "Clean record huh?"
"So…you want me to talk with him. I didn't even give him your name but I could…see if he wants to…"
Sara stopped Brass. "No thanks."
Sara felt a slight nudge under the table.
She responded with a kick.
Grissom scowled.
She knew it was him the moment the phone rang.
"It better be a body," she warned as she rolled over in the bed.
"Did I wake you?" he asked as he sat in a pair sweats on the couch.
"Possibly," she lied.
"Why didn't you take Jim up on his offer?" he asked.
"No need. Reynolds asked me already…besides I prefer to date someone without the lab's knowledge."
"Why?"
"No twenty questions…especially from Catherine."
"So…you're having dinner with him?" he asked.
She didn't answer but shifted the phone.
"Recite something…to me," she begged.
He quoted Shakespeare, closing his eyes, pretending she was there with him on the couch.
When he was done, he continued with a few more sonnets and then hung up, knowing she slept.
He wasn't sure when the "dinner" would occur.
He hadn't asked and she had not told him so he pretended as though he had forgotten about it.
That is, until she strolled past his office door, wearing the low cut blouse and the black slacks.
Heads turned as she made her way to the back door.
"Hey Sar!"
She turned and smiled when Nick whistled.
"That's harassment," she grinned.
"That will get you a lot more than harassment," smiled Nick. "Good choice…on the outfit."
He waited for a phone call but when she didn't, he buried his pride and called her.
Her phone rang twice and then she answered.
"Sidle"
A male voice could be heard in the background.
Grissom suddenly lost any coherent thoughts.
"Grissom?"
"I'm in a bad area," he lied.
"Me too."
"Oh."
"Did you need something?" she asked.
"No."
If she had called him back he would not have answered.
He tossed his phone on the other side of the empty bed, in the empty room, in the empty house and suddenly he could not stay there any longer.
He grabbed his things and headed to the lab.
He handed out assignments that night, not making any eye contact with her but grabbed his notebook and fled to his office once the case updates were completed.
Sara's pen tapped on the table.
Nick had not taken his eyes off her.
"I'm not telling you," she gritted as she stood to leave.
"Tell him what?" asked Greg.
"No details. Just tell me if he's a decent guy," remarked Nick.
"Yeah, he is," she admitted as she took to her own desk.
Hours later she tapped on his door.
Grissom glanced up. "Finished your report?"
"Done."
He reached for the report and she handed it to him.
"Got time to talk?" she asked.
"Not really," he said shifting in his seat, repositioning his glasses.
"Really or are you blowing me off?"
"Sara, I have a report that is due…I'm not blowing you off."
"Good cause I really need to talk with you," she pushed.
"Then we will," he promised.
He glanced down at the papers on his desk and knew that when he looked up, she would be gone.
He sighed.
Here it is…
The moment of truth…
My Sara has found someone…
She was not expecting him to come to her apartment.
He tapped and for a moment she thought it was someone for her neighbor so she didn't answer until the knock became more persistent.
"You came," she said defensively.
"You said you needed to talk."
"You usually call," she replied.
"You came to me…my office….so I came to you…your home." He glanced around fearfully. "Is that okay?"
"Yes."
He stood there in the middle of her apartment, unsure of the next move.
She handed him some papers.
"Court date…against Dover."
This was different.
He was expecting to hear about Reynolds.
Grissom sifted through the papers.
"Everything is going to be fine," he assured her.
"Really? Cause I have this urge for …a drink…and even that child's death didn't push me…I'm worried Grissom."
"Don't be. You go to court all the time and testify. It's no different. Just state the facts, remove yourself…"
"His attorney called the D.A. He wants to…offer a plea…"
"Plea?"
"Just…assault."
"It was sexual assault and you know it," griped Grissom. "Don't plea bargain."
"I wasn't going to…but…Dover may insinuate…that we…it could get back…to the department."
"Sara, don't take the plea bargain."
"I have no choice."
"Yes, you do."
"Look, he's lost his job and he's going to spend six months in jail."
"He'll be out in less time than that. Sara, he tried to rape you! You can't take the deal…not even to protect me."
"But…"
"No!"
"I'll think about it," she choked.
Grissom picked up her phone. "Call the D.A. now and tell them no deal."
She shook her head.
"If you don't I will."
"You can't…"
"Sara, please."
She made the call.
"I'll be there with you," he consoled.
"You think…you should? I mean…what if he…does insinuate…"
"I was there. I know what happened."
He wanted to ask about her dinner with Reynolds but he didn't, hoping she would say something.
They sat side by side on the couch later.
Neither spoke, enjoying the company, not wishing for it to end.
His hand slipped into hers.
"Everything is going to be fine," he promised.
She didn't like the idea of seeing Dover again.
Her head rested on his shoulder as his arm wrapped protectively around her.
Days later, she sat outside the courtroom, waiting for the case to be called.
Reynolds sat down beside her.
"Hey," he smiled.
"Hey," she responded nervously. "Are you here on a case?"
"Yes…yours."
Her face paled.
"Brass told me…I came by the lab to see you."
"Oh."
His hand slipped into hers.
Grissom rounded the corner with the D.A.
He halted when he saw Reynolds with Sara.
Dover passed in the hall with his attorney.
He glared in Sara's direction.
"Is that him?" asked Reynolds.
"Yes," whispered Sara.
Reynolds' arm encircled Sara while he continued to hold her hand.
Dover's attorney whispered to his client.
"Look, I think you should plead guilty…you have a better chance of serving less time."
"Serve time for what? I didn't touch her!"
Dover glared once more.
He knew he was going to jail but the thought that he had come so close and failed, made his anger boil over.
"As your brother in law…"
"Shove it. I'm not about to let you bring up the drugs. She wanted it as much as I did…she just changed her mind the moment she realized her boss would hear us. No doubt he was probably banging her…I saw the way he looked at her…like she belonged to him."
"We don't have much time. The D.A. just passed. I'm going to try to make a deal."
Dover scooted to the edge of the bench.
"Stay put and don't do anything stupid…you understand? You have to stay clean for court…no drugs."
"Right."
"John, you don't have to stay," implored Sara.
"I'm off today and I wanted to be with you….besides, it was supposed to be our second date."
"I may have to cancel."
"That's okay. I'm a patient man."
Sara fumed when the case got pushed further down the docket.
She had no intention of sitting across from Dover.
She stood abruptly.
Reynolds' hand remained locked with hers.
"I'm going to find out how much longer," she explained.
"Want me to find out?"
"No, that's not necessary."
Sara walked around the corner and was relieved to see Grissom with the D.A.
"The judge requested the change in the docket," advised the D.A.
"How much longer?" she asked.
"An hour or more."
Sara sighed in frustration.
She turned the corner and noticed that the bench was now empty.
Reynolds was gone.
She wasn't about to sit there in the hall with Dover just a few feet from her.
She was familiar with the building, spending countless hours in these halls waiting for her court appearances on cases.
She had never given it any further thought until she waited for her own case to be heard.
Sara was already immensely stressed at the fear of having Grissom involved.
She slipped into the bathroom, sitting down on a bench, trying to calm her nerves.
She flipped open her phone and dialed his number.
"Grissom."
"Let's… let him deal…get this over with," she whispered.
"It's not much longer. Where are you?"
"Ladies restroom…Dover was near the courtroom…I didn't want to…I'm going to sit here...Grissom?"
"It's going to be alright. Stay clear of Dover," he cautioned. "Sara, I can't…"
"I know…I understand…really."
"Where is Reynolds?"
"I told him to leave."
He would have to lecture her over that later.
It was all he could do to keep himself away from Sara.
He wanted so badly to sit beside her, feel her hand in his, while wrapping his arms around her in comfort.
He also wanted to beat the hell out of Dover.
One sneer and he knew he would not be responsible for his actions.
He had hurt his Sara.
The same Sara I'm trying to give to someone else…
He wanted to say so much to her in that moment but there were others nearby.
She closed the phone, turning it off as she stuck it back into her pocket.
She cursed when Dover stepped into the restroom.
"Get away from me," she warned.
"Look, this has gone far enough," he cursed. "I've already lost my job. I can't get a job anywhere because of you and worse I never touched you…at least not enough."
"Don't come near me!"
"Or what? You think you're boss is going to come and rescue you this time? It's just you and me, Sara."
"You come near me and I'll…"
"Scream for Grissom? He's too busy talking. He doesn't have the time of day for you. Still pining for your boss? Come on Sara. Drop the charges and I'll make sure you enjoy every second of it."
"You are never going to touch me again."
"I should have banged you while I had the chance."
Dover took a step toward her. "I guess if I'm going to jail I might as well enjoy what I'm going for."
Note from author:
Wow...what a place to stop....