Chapter Thirty Seven:
They smiled when invitations appeared in their mail slots. There were flurries of conversations in the hallway but he ignored it as he made his rounds. He also ignored the stares and the sudden smiles and whispers as he headed into the conference room, opening up his notebook to give out the assignments.
"Nick, you and Greg have a 419 out on…"
"Got the ring back on her finger?' asked Nick.
"It would appear so," said Grissom as he continued.
"Warrick, I'll need you to…"
"Did you have to propose again?" asked Greg.
"No," said Grissom a bit annoyed by the interruptions.
"Warrick, as I was saying…"
"How did you get the ring back on her finger?" asked Nick.
Grissom sighed.
"Catherine…"
"I would like to hear the answer to that question also," said Catherine sliding into her chair. "Sorry but Lindsey has the stomach virus and I had to wait until mom could get there."
Grissom ignored the request and continued.
"Catherine you can assist Warrick at…"
"I can't believe you didn't propose again," said Warrick.
"Yeah, like if a girl gave my ring back I would consider the first proposal null and void. He should have asked again," said Nick.
"That's what I was thinking," said Greg.
"Wait, you mean he didn't?" asked Catherine.
Grissom started to speak but the others began the discussion of the non proposal despite the fact that Sara was sporting the engagement ring and invitations had been given out.
"That doesn't make sense," said Brass as he stood in the doorway.
"You see. Even Brass agrees with us," said Nick. "He should have…"
"Stop!" yelled Grissom.
They stared at him.
"Since there are no questions about assignments, you can get to work."
He strolled out as the others stared in disbelief.
"There's a story here," said Catherine. "Anybody know it?"
The guys shook their head.
Brass grinned. "He'll tell me."
"Well, that's not fair!" whined Greg.
"He likes me," said Brass.
"I'll ask Sara," said Greg.
They dispersed still mumbling over the lack of information.
"So…how did you do it?" he asked when they were out in the field.
Grissom sat down and wiped his brow. "She finally told me what's been bothering her."
Brass sat down beside him and waited for him to tell him.
Grissom said nothing.
"What was it?" he asked.
"I'm not sure she wants me to tell anyone."
"That's bullshit. We're family."
He still refused to budge.
It made Brass mad.
"She's okay?" he finally asked.
He nodded. "For the first time in over a year, I think she's going to be just fine."
"Good," said Brass as he slowly walked away. "She could trust me…she's confided in me before." He mumbled as he walked away.
"Jim?"
"Yeah?"
"She does think of us as family…she told me. I just don't want to blow it again," he said.
He nodded.
"Listen…can you keep an eye on her…she doesn't respond well to certain cases…" began Grissom.
"Like domestic violence, rape, abduction and kidnappings?" he asked.
"Yeah," he said.
"Been doing that….ever since she came back."
"Thanks."
He did just that when she worked a domestic violence case the next shift. He watched as she processed the scene. He glanced at the other CSI who grumbled when the caseworker said she would have to get some things for the children. Sara's head popped up.
"I can do that," offered Sara. "It would be better if one of us did so the scene is not contaminated."
The older social worker smiled. "Thanks. They need some clothing and one or two toys. They can't take much."
Sara nodded and headed to the children's room. It was a boy's room. She found a backpack along with a small suitcase and began filling it with clothes. She glanced down at the desk and noticed the book report sitting there. She picked it up along with some school books and placed it inside the backpack. She then picked up an airplane that was sitting on the bed. She bent over and found a small shoe box under the bed and pulled it out. It contained several odds and ends. She pushed it inside the backpack. When she finished with this room, she went to the next.
It also belonged to a boy. She did the same, packing some clothes and then picked out a toy or two. This room belonged to a much younger boy. She guessed aged three or four. When she was done, she started to take the things to the worker but then stopped in the hallway. There was a cabinet with photo albums. She quickly opened them and tried to find the most recent photos and grabbed a few placing them in the older boys backpack.
Brass watched as she did all of this. She walked outside and handed the worker the things. The two children sat side by side on the steps. She looked at the oldest and guessed he was ten. When he saw their things he quickly came and went through them.
"If you want to take something else…" said Sara.
"No…no. I just wanted my plane and this box…thanks," he said.
"I found your book report along with your book," said Sara.
"It's due tomorrow…I guess I won't get to turn it in," he said.
"It was good," she said.
He glanced over at his brother.
"What would he like to take?" asked Sara.
The boy looked through the things that had been packed. "He didn't have a favorite…these are fine."
"I packed some photos for you," said Sara. "They're in your backpack. Be sure to share with him, okay?"
He nodded.
He stepped closer to Sara, "What's it like?" he asked, the fear apparent on his face.
She glanced at the social worker and stepped over to her for a moment and spoke in a hushed tone before returning. She knelt down beside him. "You and Timmy are going to be placed in a foster home together. Their names are Sam and Ida Morgan. They are much older…sort of like your grandparents. They like boys…listen…it's going to be scary at first….going somewhere you've never been and staying with folks you've never met but it's going to be okay. You and Timmy will be safe…James, do you know why you have to go?"
"Yes. My father killed…my mother," he sniffled. "I tried to help…I hid Timmy behind the washer and dryer just like she showed me….I should have tried to help her…"
"James, you did the right thing. You kept Timmy safe. He still needs you. He won't understand what's happening. You need to talk with him. Let him know he's safe. Can you do that?"
He nodded. "You a worker too?" he asked.
"No, I was like you once," she said.
She found him hugging her and she returned the hug. She watched as the social worker placed them in the car and they drove away. She wiped her brow and stared at the ground taking in deep slow breaths.
"You okay?" he whispered.
"Never easy…seeing that," she said.
"You were good with them. It's good that you can share your experience with them," said Brass.
"Did..huh.. Gil tell you…"
"No, he wouldn't say anything. He was happy he has that ring on your finger again."
She looked at him. "I'm almost done here…got time for a cup of coffee and a chat?" she asked.
He smiled. "I'll buy."
They sat for the next two hours as she told him about the stabbing. He sat there sipping on the coffee and nodded from time to time. He noticed her lower lip quivered a few times but he also noticed she was much stronger than just a few weeks ago.
"You shouldn't blame yourself," he finally said.
"Jim, what would you have done if that ten year old had killed the father and the mother was trying to cover it up?"
He sipped on his coffee and then stared at her.
"The mother would have gone to jail for failure to protect her children in a domestic violence situation and the child would have been placed in child protective services for evaluation…the court would have to rule on whether the child acted in self defense or if it was…"
"Murder," she finished the sentence for him.
"Sara, you did not commit murder."
"I stabbed him and he died….that's murder."
"You were trying to get him to stop."
She was quiet.
"Look at me," he said.
She brought her eyes up to meet his.
"I still love you…this means nothing."
She gulped in air.
"Thanks, Jim."
"No problem kiddo….now when can we get to the more important issue," he said.
She stared at him.
"How come you haven't asked me to give you away?"
She smiled.
"Do I have to beg or something?" he asked.
She shook her head.
He smiled as he leaned over and held her.
"Remember, families stick together…you're stuck with us," he said gruffly.
"Jim, I'm sorry for shutting you out…leaving without…"
"Don't do it again."
She nodded.
Note from author:
Well, we're getting near the end. There are forty three chapters total. Please be kind and review each one! I will be finishing this up probably this weekend. Happy reading!
Take care,
Penny