Disclaimer - don't own CBS, CSI or the characters, would like to!
A/N sorry late posting today, been Christmas shopping and was a bit frazzled when i got back, so read and enjoy!
Dead bodies and New Life Chapter 21 – Foul Shift
Catherine walked into Grissom's office "everyone is ready for you in the break room, you gonna be okay" she asked her friend.
He opened his eyes and sighed "yeah lets get this over and done with, then we can get on with some work" as he stood, grabbed his file and made to the door.
Catherine was walking in front of him as they entered the noisy room, the talking quietened down rapidly as the occupants stared in shock and winced at the night shift supervisors face, some whispers were heard before Grissom said loudly "right everyone quieten down, lets get on with this" he took a seat at the head of the table and placed his file down "as you can all see by my face and neck brace, i had a little accident last night in one of the denali's, i rear ended a car in front of me, because i closed my eyes through tiredness, i should not have been driving whilst being tired" he paused briefly "so take a good look at my injuries now, and let it be a lesson to anyone who may think in the future that it is safe to drive whilst tired" he looked at Catherine "if anyone has any comments to make, or feels they need to tease me about it, do so now because in five minutes, that will be the last of it and i will not tolerate it again at any future time" he finished by looking around the room not expecting anyone to say anything.
"hey Griss you sure Sara didn't kick your butt, there have been bets going on around the lab for ages that she would do, and some people might wanna collect" said Greg as he looked at some of the stunned faces of his co-workers "what" he looked at them confused "i am only asking what all you chicken shits don't dare ask"
Catherine shot him an amazed look, then her lips started to curl up in a smile.
Groans were heard around the room, some shook their heads, Grissom closed his eyes briefly and Catherine was the first one who laughed, then some snickers followed, then several others joined the laughing.
Grissom shook his head then smiled "thank you Greg" he looked at the young CSI and nodded appreciatively to him for breaking the tension in the room "but no she did not kick my butt" he paused to let the laughing die down "right everyone back to your labs we have work to do" he watched as all but his team left the room, noisily and turned to speak to them "right guys, no other cases tonight, we need to work on the Jackson and Swift cases and the possible link to my case last night, get your coffee's and meet up in ten in the layout room, okay" he got up to get a coffee, then went of to his office to try and call Sara before starting work.
He sat in his chair and pulled out his cell pressing speed dial one for Sara, it rang eight times before the voice mail kicked in Sara Sidle please leave a message after the tone "Sara it's me Gil, just called to see if you are okay, i am really sorry about today, i love you ...you know that don't you, call me when you get this message" Gil finished with a saddened sigh. He flipped the cell shut, pocketed it, stood up and made his way to the layout room.
Walking in to the layout room they were all stood round the table waiting on him "so Cath where are we with the three cases so far" he looked toward her.
"well we have no new evidence or leads on the Jackson or Swift cases, Nick and Sofia spoke to Thompson's work colleagues and neighbors and from what everyone told them, the guy is a loner and pretty much keeps himself to himself" she looked at Grissom "Nick and Greg can fill you in on the evidence you collected from your scene, Greg" she motioned to the youngest of the team.
"yeah i found two missing children in the database in the age range, and i came up with two possibles, Joshua McKinney age 5, went missing 2 months ago, from in front of his home in Palm Springs California" he looked at his boss who nodded for him to continue "and Cody Fuller, age 5 years old, went missing two weeks ago from Flagstaff Arizona, whilst camping with his father and brother. I just received the DNA and files from both police departments, i haven't had a chance to look at the files yet, but the DNA samples are with Wendy being compared against your vic's and the unknowns from the Jackson and Swift cases" Greg finished looking at Grissom.
"Nick" Grissom indicated to the Texan to give him his details.
"your two white fibers are the same as the other two cases, standard white cotton, with traces of chloroform, and your soil sample is standard to the Mojave desert, so nothing from that i am afraid" Nick looked around at the others.
"has Doc done the post postmortem yet Cath" Grissom asked her.
"no just waiting on his page.
"Warick did you get finished up on your DB in Sumerlin" he asked.
"yeah, wife killed the husband after a fight, she confessed when we brought her in, just got the paperwork to finish up" Warick said.
Grissom thought for a couple of minutes "okay, my scene and victim looked pretty much like the other two, but apart from the same MO, we don't have a great deal of evidence to bring Thompson in again yet, so we are looking at a serial now guys" he thought again rubbing his temple "okay Cath, you Warick and Nick go over what we already have, and look at the new files Greg received for the two possibles, Greg can you go help Wendy in DNA with our comparisons, and see how she is getting on with all the takeaway garbage evidence, we may be able to link all three vic's to the suspect that way" he sighed "i have to make some phone calls especially to the sheriff to let him know we have a serial case, he will probably have to make a public statement if the media has got a hold of it yet" he started towards the door "i will be in my office. Oh Cath i will attend the autopsy, give me a shout when you get the page okay" he left to go to his office.
Sat in his office he decided to ring Sara again, cell phone in hand he dialed her cell, but only received the switched off tone, so he tried the home phone but the answer machine kicked in, he flipped his cell closed "damn" he put the phone on his desk harder than he meant to, then sat back to think a while before he made his calls. How can i fix this, she's not been this mad and upset since i spent the night at Heathers, and that took three days to sort out. He sighed and closed his eyes i know i was a stupid ass for driving while tired, i know everyone thinks i am anyway, i can tell by the stares, Sara even told me not to over do it because she knew i was tired, but no stupid fool me had to still do it, instead of asking someone to drive me. And i supposed i should have called her, i would be mad and upset, scratch that, livid at her if she had not called in a similar scenario, and she had made Jim and Cath not call me, shit, and if she had driven while tired, damn it, i know i would be furious with her for risking her life, he sighed again heavily i screwed up yet again, she is right to be upset and mad at me, as if she hasn't had enough to cope with lately, i go and scare the crap out of her for doing something stupid.
He opened his eyes and reached for his cell again to ring his home phone, on eighth ring the answer phone kicked in again...
Grissom/Sidle residence please leave a message after the tone and someone will get back to you...beep
"honey if you are there pick up, please Sara can we talk...i really am sorry, i know i screwed up again, and i am a stupid ass fool, i should have called you, and i shouldn't have stopped Jim and Catherine from calling you too...sigh..please Sara forgive me, i don't mean to do these things to hurt you, thats the last thing i have ever wanted to do to you, you know I'm not very good at relationships, but i really am trying honey, i love you more than i can ever express in words and deep sigh i miss you,.. see you in the morning, i guess you must be sleeping, sigh bye honey love you.
He ended the call then opened the file with the details in for the serial case and proceeded to call the sheriff.
After half an hour on the phone to the sheriff, the call ended with Gil being annoyed and frustrated. The sheriff wanted results quickly, he always did if it was a serial or a high profile case, he didn't understand that collecting and processing evidence and interviewing potential witnesses and suspects took time, all he cared about was his political career, and if the lab got convictions on such cases quickly, it all looked good for the lab and consequentially the sheriff. Gil rubbed his chin, he wasn't pleased at all about the sheriff wanting him to give a public statement with Ecklie of all people, even though he had explained that he couldn't do it due to his facial injuries looking bad on camera. The sheriff had just said loose the neck brace and have them put makeup on it. If the night hadn't been humiliating enough already, being displayed to millions sure would do the trick. Is this nightmare ever going to end.
"God damn politics" he said to his empty office.
Gil was feeling a bit hungry, and couldn't remember when he ate last, so he picked up his phone and called the deli around the corner and ordered himself a turkey on whole meal sandwich, a green salad and two sodas to be delivered to the as soon as possible.
Ten minutes later Catherine entered his office without knocking "hey Gil just got of the phone with Jim, he is going to drive over to yours now, he is having a quiet night, said he would ring you later,and Doc Robbins will be ready for us in fifteen minutes, okay"
Buzzzzzzzzzzz...Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz vibrated his cell, he picked it up and looked at the caller ID then placed it back on the desk "Ecklie damn him, he can wait until i am ready" he looked at Catherine "thanks Cath, i could do with the help right now" he sighed heavily "the damn sheriff wants me to make a public statement on camera in the morning, can you believe that" he said motioning to his face.
Buzzzzzzzzz...Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz the cell vibrated again "you gonna look at that message Gil" Catherine said looking at the cell.
"no it is only Ecklie the annoying little shit" he said.
Catherine looked at Gil "you did tell the sheriff about your face Gil, right, he cant be serious about you doing it looking like that"
"oh he is serious alright, he said and i quote"loose the neck brace and have them put makeup on it" before he put the phone down on me" he said frowning at her.
Catherine couldn't help it but laughed loudly "i am sorry Gil, but the great Gil Grissom on TV wearing makeup, covering panda eyes and sore lip"
Gil shook his head and huffed "thank you Cath" he said sarcastically as she tried to muffle her laughter.
A knock came on the door "come in" it was Judy the receptionist with his order from the deli, "Thanks Judy" he said as she handed it to him, she left the office and Gil placed the salad, the sandwich, and one of the sodas on his desk, then pulling the tab back on the remaining soda can fizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz the soda sprayed all down the front of his shirt, "God damn it" he stood dripping in soda.
Catherine burst out laughing gripping her stomach, tears rolling down her cheeks "sorry Gil" she tried to say between laughing hard, and fleeing his office for her own sanity.
Gil angrily grabbed at the tissues on his desk to try and dry himself off, but it was useless, so he left his office to go to the locker room for a clean shirt, and god help anyone who approached him on his journey.
A/N second letter O
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