Chapter Twenty Eight

Grissom glared at Sofia as she pulled out a revolver.

It was obvious she was upset by his reaction.

She handed the revolver to Grissom.

"Don't touch the handle," she warned. "This may be the gun that shot Sara and Hank."

"Who does it belong to?" he asked.

"Me."

He looked shocked.

"Gil, I would never…"

Jeremy stepped back into the room despite Heather's objections.

"I know where I've seen you now. You were in a bar with Formansky," he announced.

"Is this true?" asked Grissom.

Sofia swallowed,"Yes."

Jeremy drew his gun and pointed it at Sofia.

"Jeremy put the gun down," demanded Grissom.

Jeremy smiled when he noticed Heather had drawn a Dillinger.

"Heather, please," pleaded Grissom.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

Grissom nodded as he tried to keep his motions out of the situation. The thought that he could be holding the very gun that almost took Sara's life rocked him to the core. Now, he wanted his hands on the person that had pulled the trigger.

"We'll be next door," warned Jeremy.

Sofia took a deep breath. "You see…why I came to you…with this…instead of…Jim would do the same thing."

Grissom glanced through the information.

"If I were guilty, I wouldn't be handing over a gun that could be possibly linked to a murder."

Grissom eyed the gun. "Why do you think your gun was used?"

"Formansky intends to frame me."

"The evidence…"

"Gil, the evidence will lead to me…I noticed the gun had been moved…after checking it I realized it had been fired….I haven't used this gun…in years. It belonged to my husband."

Grissom glanced through the file once more.

"What do you want to do?" she asked.

"We're going to the lab…all of us," he replied.

"Grissom, I'm not sure if Formansky is still at my house. I made sure he did not follow me," she said. "You're better off staying here than…"

"You're going to fill me in on everything that involves you," he demanded.

"Gil, I wasn't involved in anything…except I knew Formansky killed Jeffers."

"Did you pay him?"

"No!"

Sofia stepped back.

Grissom grabbed her by the arm.

"He was going to try to frame me if anything happened," she warned. "He thought I would keep quiet because he has the gun that killed Jeffers and it can be traced back to me. If I was arrested and my house searched, this gun would have been found linking me to the shooting of Hank and Sara."

"Is there anything else?"

"I had heard….that Formansky was going to do a hit. I had also heard about Jeremy Sidle. I didn't know if he was a hired killer or working undercover. I was at the bar the night Sara and Hank were shot. I tried to follow Formansky and…ran across the shooting. I walked toward the car. Sara was conscious for a moment but then I was pushed aside by the first patrol unit on the scene. I think Sara remembered…me."

"Why didn't you…"

"I didn't have any evidence to link Formansky…I tried…believe me I wanted him to be charge."

"Did you? If he were arrested he could implicate you in the Jeffers case."

"What kind of person do you think I am? I wasn't withholding anything! Gil, Formansky killed a man that should have gotten the death penalty. Yes, I was glad Jeffers was dead but…I didn't hire Formansky to kill him. I didn't ask Formansky to do anything! I wanted my husband back and Jeffers death wasn't going to change that!"

Her eyes pleaded for understanding. "I'm giving this to you…all of it. I just don't want Jim to be involved….in any way…understand?

At that moment, Grissom understood.

Sofia had been trying to protect Brass and he wondered how long they had been involved and how much of a mess this was going to cause in his friend's life.

There was no explanation as to why they were leaving but Sara did not ask. The look on Grissom's face was grave. She had no idea what had transpired between Sofia and Grissom. Sara felt Grissom's hand on her elbow as they stepped out.

Heather had given Grissom's her car keys.

Sara felt even more confused when Jeremy came along despite the sweat beading on his forehead.

Grissom placed Sara in the passenger seat beside Jeremy while Sofia sat up front with Grissom.

Sara glanced around.

It felt odd to be out in the open.

Sofia had attempted to talk with Grissom but he cut her off, instructing her not to speak any further.

His voice was harsh causing Sara's head to jerk upward.

Sofia turned away from Grissom and kept quiet the remainder of the trip.

Grissom felt a bit uneasy as he drove to the lab.

He gripped the steering wheel glancing at every car that passed. He eased up once they were in the lab parking lot.

Sofia stepped out and then opened the car door for Sara. Their eyes met briefly as they walked around the car. Jeremy stepped out of the car.

Grissom offered him a hand but he refused to take it.

"There's nothing wrong with getting help," chided Grissom.

Grissom looked shocked the moment Jeremy pulled his gun.

Grissom whirled around but was pushed to the pavement.

Formansky aimed his gun at Sara but Sofia quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her as the shots rang out.

Jeremy and Sofia opened fired.

Bullets whizzed between the two cars.

Sofia aimed and Formansky fell to the pavement.

Grissom quickly made his way around to the side of the car.

"Sara!"

"I'm fine. I'm not hurt," she said as she remained hunched down behind the car door.

"He's down," yelled Jeremy as he struggled to step forward. "Ah hell, this was a new shirt!"

"Jeremy?" Sara scrambled to her feet with Grissom's assistance.

He released her, letting her go to her brother.

"Jeremy…were you shot?" she asked.

"Formansky couldn't hit the side of a barn. What good is a bandage if it leaks! I've got blood on this shirt…damn. Heather is already pissed at me for bleeding all over her rugs and now I've ruined this new shirt."

Sara reached out and smacked the back of his head.

"Ouch! Why did you do that?" he whined.

"You deserved it!" she said as she grabbed him, forcing him to hug her back.

"Nice shooting," called out Jeremy to Sofia.

Sofia fell back against the car.

Grissom gently took the gun from her hand.

"You think the D.A. will say I was trying to silence Formansky?" she asked.

"I think the D.A. will understand you protected Sara at all costs," he said.

Grissom started to walk away when Sofia slipped to the pavement.

"Sofia!"

Blood oozed from Sofia's chest.

Brass had fumed inwardly at the complete disregard Sofia had for returning his calls.

He wasn't used to being ignored.

At least not since he had been divorced for several years and those memories were something he wanted to forget.

Sleep with someone just once….

Never should have gotten involved with her…

She's just using me…

Yeah, right, like she could have anyone else….

Why me?

Well, he didn't need this! He was doing just fine as a bachelor and he wasn't about to mess it up with some broad who got emotional.

Sofia is not the emotional type…

Unless she is knee deep in trouble with Formansky…

His detective side was on overload as he tried to figure out what was going on. He'd driven by Sofia's house a few times but her car had been gone.

Well, he had better things to do than to apologize for…hell, he had no idea why he felt he needed to apologize. It had been her idea to go to his place. It had even been her idea to sleep with him.

Brass gulped down the last of his coffee as he muttered under his breath.

"Greg, did you get that analysis done?" he bellowed.

"You're in a good mood," replied Greg.

Brass stopped suddenly. "Does it really matter what kind of mood I'm in?"

"Is that a trick question?" asked Greg.

Nick rounded the corner with Warrick.

"Tell me you have something?" complained Brass.

"Nothing," answered Warrick.

Judy screamed down the hall. "Someone's shooting in the parking lot!"

Pandemonium broke out as the others entered the parking lot.

By then Sara was still clutching Jeremy who was chuckling despite the jabs by his sister's elbow.

"I should have known you would be involved," muttered Brass.

Brass held his gun as he assessed the situation.

"Put your gun down," drawled Jeremy. "Someone should check Formansky but I think he's dead."

Nick ran to Formansky. "No pulse."

"Yippee," announced Jeremy.

"Jim!" Grissom yelled.

Brass hurried to the other side of the car.

Grissom pulled Sofia forward, trying to assess her injuries.

"Get an ambulance!" yelled Brass as he knelt beside Sofia.

Grissom's hand covered the wound.

His eyes were wide as he glanced at Brass.

Brass barked out orders to the others.

There was shuffling of feet but Sofia did not seem to notice as she sat there quietly, staring off into the distance.

"Sofia?"whispered Grissom.

She turned toward Grissom. "Promise me," she whispered.

Blood oozed through Grissom's fingers.

Sofia glanced down at his hands that pressed harder.

"I can't breathe," she gasped.

Grissom gulped as he glanced into Jim's worried eyes.

Brass grabbed the towel from Greg's hand and quickly moved Grissom's hand.

He pressed tight as he shifted until he was sitting on the pavement with Sofia in his arms.

"Just stay with me," he pleaded as Sofia's eyes closed and a new sense of urgency filled his voice.

Sirens were blaring and yet Grissom could make out his friend's words.

"Stay with me."

They had been his words not long ago.

Grissom's eyes searched for Sara and found them staring back at him.

Both glanced down at Brass as he held Sofia, whispering softly to her.

The ambulance came and within seconds, the parking lot was now a crime scene.

Grissom's hands shook slightly as he stared at them.

"Gil?" Sara whispered.

He grabbed her to him and held her tight.

Sara felt a bit uncomfortable as they stood there in the open for the others to see but Grissom refused to let go of her.

"You guys…go find a secluded office," mumbled Jeremy.

Sara grabbed Jeremy's hand.

"You're going to the hospital," she announced.

"What for? I just need to get a new shirt and then go back to Heather's" he grumbled.

"Both of you are going to the hospital," announced Grissom.

Sara stared out the hospital window with her arms firmly crossed about herself.

"Sara stop sulking," said Grissom.

"I am not sulking…there was no reason why I needed to be admitted," she spat.

"Be a good patient…this time," he mused.

Sara glared but then her eyes softened. "Any news about Sofia?"

"She's in recovering. Jim is in the lobby. Catherine is with him."

Sara nodded.

There was a commotion down the hall.

"Your brother is proving to be a problem," sighed Grissom. "He wanted to share a room with you but I insisted on a private room."

Sara smiled. "Thank you."

"I didn't think you were ready to be sharing a room with your brother….and Heather."

"Did I say thank you?"

He grinned but then took her hand and kissed it.

"Sofia saved my life," she said softly.

"The gun Sofia found in her house turned out to be the gun that killed Hank."

"She was right. Formansky was going to frame her."

"Did they find….the other gun that killed Jeffers?" she asked.

Grissom shook his head.

"It was a good thing Sofia had written out a statement regarding her involvement with Formansky. I turned it over along with the file Sofia had collected against Formansky to the D.A.'s office."

"What do you think…"

"I doubt they will press charges…it appears as though she were doing some undercover work…on her own."

"You didn't tell them about…the gun Formansky is supposed to have…which would implicate Sofia to Jeffers murder."

"It's just speculation," he said.

Sara seemed surprised.

"Sofia made me promise to protect…Jim at all costs. Formansky threatened to kill Jim. She was also afraid that someone might think Jim had been protecting her….if she were ever arrested. She didn't want the D.A. to think Jim was involved because of her relationship with Jim."

"Jim has…cared about Sofia for a long time…he just never…I guess we're a lot alike."

Sara glanced at the door.

"Jim knows you would be with him if you could."

Sara huffed. "I could if you…"

"Twenty four hours. Just to run some tests and make sure everything is…"

"I hate the food and the smell," she complained.

He grinned when her nose curled.

"Be good or I'll have then send Jeremy in."

"How is he?" she asked.

"He's fine. He's just as mad as you are that he's being held for a few days for observation. His blood count is down and he was a bit dehydrated but he sounds like he's feeling better," assured Grissom.

Grissom burst of laughter caught Sara offguard.

"Family get togethers should be interesting. Imagine, Jeremy and Heather facing off with Brass."

Sara smiled but it soon faded as Ecklie stood at the doorway.

He tapped lightly.

"I came by to check on the Sidles," he announced.

"She's only staying overnight as a precaution," stated Grissom.

"Good."

"Jeremy…" Grissom was interrupted by Ecklie.

"I'm not sure Vegas is going to be…the same…with Jeremy Sidle…like one Sidle wasn't enough. Of course, since we're getting rid of one "Sidle" already, it seems fitting to get a replacement."

Grissom frowned as Sara's eyes widened with fear.

Ecklie knew about the proposal.

In his haste over the last several hours, he had forgotten to tell Sara he had announced Sara's supervision would be transferred to Catherine effective immediately.

Grissom's hand slipped into hers.

Ecklie caught Sara's discomfort.

"You didn't know? I thought Grissom would have already mentioned it to you. Your brother asked to work with Homicide. I'm sure Jim is going to like that." Ecklie started to stepped back out of the room but then stopped. "Of course, it will be up to your discretion whether Sara remains in graveyard…just as long as her supervision is switched over to Catherine….of course."

"Of course," replied Grissom.

"Good."

Ecklie took a step once more. "Glad to see this over," he mumbled.

"Conrad, thank you," said Grissom.

He was gone as quick as he appeared.

"Jeremy is going to work with Jim?" asked Sara.

"They actually like one another," smiled Grissom.

Sara looked shocked and Grissom chuckled even louder.

"I guess we should talk about what we are going to do…when you're released," he said.

Grissom's smile faded when Sara slipped her hand from his.

"I've been meaning to talk with you…about this."

Chapter Twenty Nine:

"Wait, that chapter was not supposed to end like that," muttered Grissom.

"Grissom, we really need to talk about this," she insisted, refusing to take his hand again.

"I don't understand. We have been talking about this! For once I haven't been such an a** in one of Penny's stories. I been supportive, protective, and even romantic!" he insisted.

Sara grinned at his discomfort.

"Yes, you have," she admitted as she let him crawl into the hospital bed beside her.

"You have to admit, Sara. This story wasn't as bad as some of the others."

"You weren't in a hospital for ten chapters. Let's not forget that without you I would have had to resort to a bed pan."

Grissom seemed a bit hurt. "Was that all I was to you…a nurse maid?"

"You proved to be my knight in shining armor," she purred as she cuddled into him.

"Sara, tell me you haven't changed your mind. You are going to marry me, right?"

"As I said earlier, we need to talk about this," she lamented.

"Okay, let's talk…and I mean talk with no nurses or doctors or killers or anyone else Penny can think of to interrupt us. You got that Penny?"

(Writer nods head in a weird way.)

"What about Sofia?"

"Sofia is going to be fine. She has a long recovery ahead of her but Jim will be there with her every step of the way. He will prove to be much better at enforcing rules in a hospital than I ever was."

This seemed to satisfy Sara as she turned her head to look at him.

"Does this mean Sofia and Jim…"

"I'm sure of it. Jim gets the girl in the end. Sofia gets the guy and gets off the hook for something she didn't do or was going to be framed for."

"What about the lab…you and me…with work?"

"Ecklie won't risk losing both of us."

"Will we be permitted to work on cases together?"

"Yes."

She smiled.

"Anything else…about this?"

"What happens to us?"

"We get married and live happily ever after."

"No kids?"

"Not unless you want any. There's that Billiebesaved reader who insists on a geekbaby in every story so I'm sure it will make her happy if you just happen to be pregnant."

"No….I'm not. I'll leave that for another story."

"That's good cause I'm sure just handling your brother is going to be enough."

"Gil?"

"Hmmmm?"

"Do you ever get tired of…having our lives written and rewritten in fanfiction?"

"Absolutely not…especially when we know that Penny will end it happily."

Grissom glanced at her. "Does it bother you?"

"Well, it was nice…I think…that we seemed to be on the same side….Penny's stories are usually filled with angst."

"That's true but…I have the feeling that might be different in the next story."

"Next story?"

"She already has us working on…a house…together. She started the story last year…but got writer's block and stopped."

"Oh! That's right! I guess the renovation of her "new" old house has given her some ideas."

Grissom leaned over and planted a kiss on Sara's nose.

"So…have we exhausted all there is about this?"

Sara gave him her "Sidle" smile.

"Jeremy…is he going to marry Heather?" asked Sara.

"Yes."

"Are they in the next story?"

"Yes and no."

Sara frowned.

"Sara, the readers will just have to wait until the next story."

Grissom kissed Sara as he smiled. "I really like the next story."

"I thought we weren't going to say anything more."

"We're not…I think that is enough…about that."

Take care!