Chapter 25

Author's note: I don't own CSI but I do love to play with them! It's the sincerest form of flattery.

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Thank you all so much for the great feedback! Each time I write, I think you guys help me get a little bit better by letting me know how I'm doing. Thank you! It really does mean a lot!

GRISSOM SARA ROMANCE GRISSOM SARA ROMANCE GRISSOM SARA ROMANCE

The tension in the Denali could be cut with a knife. Grissom was single-mindedly trying to get to the townhouse as quickly as possible, just as much as Catherine was single-mindedly trying to figure out why Sara was at Grissom's home and how it could be "their" home without her knowing about it.

"Why is Sara living at your house?" Catherine asked.

"I got my head out of the microscope," Grissom replied.

"Gil," she said, very seriously, "I'm way more than happy if you two have finally resolved your issues and got together, I just would have thought you would tell me if something like that happened."

"I'm sorry Catherine," Grissom replied, equally seriously, "But we just weren't ready to tell everyone yet."

"Everyone, that I get," she shook her head, "but me? Gil we've been friends for a long time. I'm sad to think you don't trust me."

"Don't read more into it than there is Catherine," he replied, "It's a private matter, and we would have told you soon, We just didn't want to put anyone else in a position where they felt that they had to protect us."

"Anyone else?" she asked, fired up for sure this time, "Who knows?"

"Catherine, I'll give you all the details later, but we are here," he said as he pulled up to the townhouse.

The parking area was covered with police cars. Brass stood near the entrance to the unit, flanked by Nick and Greg. Nick was trying to convince Brass to let him handle the negotiations.

"Jim, its ok," Gil said, "He knows Jerri. Maybe he can help."

Jim updated Gil and Catherine on what was happening.

When LVPD pulled the records from a gas station that Jerri's credit card had been used at, they were able to match the film and the time of the purchase to get the tags on Jerri's truck. A routine tag check made just as Jerri was turning into the neighborhood was the lucky break.

But Sara had come home in the meantime and before the officer could figure out what was going on, Sara entered the townhouse and hadn't been heard from since.

"Now what?" Grissom asked.

"Now we wait and see if we can find out what she wants," Brass replied, picking up his bullhorn and yelling out to Jerri to pick up the phone.

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Inside the townhouse, Sara woke to find she was duct-taped to a kitchen chair, sitting face to face with Jerri Smoak. Her head was thudding from the blow she had taken, but she didn't feel any blood dripping, so that was good.

Jerri began pacing when she heard her name on the bullhorn.

"Jerri," Sara said, "That's Jim Brass, he's a good man, please talk to him!'

"Shut up!" Jerri yelled at Sara, "I can't think while you are talking."

Sara sat quietly and watched as Jerri paced up and down, trying to decide what to do next. Sara tried to fight the tears but was loosing the battle.

She kept thinking over her life and how things constantly ran in cycles. Didn't it just figure? I get to the point where I am happy for the first time in so long and bang, something shitty happens to pull the rug out from under me. Why do I even try?

Jerri looked at Sara. Sara felt a sudden change.

"Don't cry, I don't want to hurt you. I just need you to be quiet so I can think ok?" Jerri asked Sara.

Sara thought back to whether or not she had ever known a true schizophrenic before. She could not think of anyone that she could compare to Jerri. Sure there were some movies about schizophrenics, but that wasn't real. She'd have to improvise.

The phone rang again, this time Jerri picked it up and said "Hello?"

It was Nick.

"Oh, hi Nick" she said, calmly, "Yes I have missed you too."

Sara could barely make out what Nick was saying, but it sounded like Nick was asking her to let Sara out and let him stand in her place.

"No, Nick, I can't do that," she replied, "I have to protect your friend Grissom." The change had happened again. This voice was neither polite nor friendly.

"Well, she's trying to use him, just like my stepmother, just like Janice, she's doing the same thing trying to get his money so his kids can't have it," she

"Ok Jerri honey…" Nick began.

"This is Geraldine," she clarified, "Jerri is not here right now."

"OK Geraldine, I can understand why you are upset. Remember we talked about how your dad didn't leave you any money for school and how you were appealing the will?" Nick pressed on hoping he could reach Jerri.

"Grissom and Sara are in love Geraldine, she's not using him, she has her own money, she doesn't need him for money. And he doesn't have any kids," Nick said, trying to draw a rational picture for her.

"Then why did his eyes ask me for help while we were on the skyway?" she asked.

Nick was stumped.

"Tell her that he was just worried about her, thinking she was going to jump," instructed Brass.

"Honey, he thought you were going to jump, he was worried for you ," Nick explained.

"No, he wanted to get away from her, he needed his freedom," she answered.

"No honey, he loves her, I promise," Nick said, looking straight at Grissom.

As the conversation went on, Catherine came up behind the men where they were standing.

"Gil," she asked, "Was there something else that you needed to tell me?"

"Catherine, please not right now, I promise I will explain later," Grissom said, trying to focus all his attention on getting Sara out of the townhouse.

"No Gil," she continued, "Seriously, I found these in Sara's car."

She handed the book and pamphlets on pregnancy over to Grissom.

"Oh my God," he replied, "That's what she wanted to tell me." He seemed shocked, but not in a bad way. Grissom looked at Brass and whispered "Is she armed?" Jim told him that they didn't think she was armed but were not sure.

Grissom walked over to where Nick was talking on the phone and took the phone from Nick's hand.

"Jerri, this is Grissom, I'm coming in. You are in my home and I want to thank you personally for trying to help me. Please don't panic, I'm unarmed."

He handed the phone back to Nick and strode purposefully towards the townhouse.

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a/n yes it is a short one today. It's my birthday and I have big plans. Hope to finish this off tomorrow so if you haven't reviewed, now would be a good time!