Chapter Thirty Nine:

The first time he ran into her at the grocery store, he fled in the other direction.

He'd managed to get to the counter but then he heard a slight commotion and turned to see Emma.

She recognized him and waved.

He wanted to wave but felt uncomfortable about the interaction.

He paid for his items and escaped.

His appearance had not gone unnoticed as Grissom brought up the subject the following week.

"I'm sorry. I usually go there at night but it was my day off and…"

"Emma did not understand why you didn't wave to her," said Grissom.

"As soon as I recognized Sara's voice on the other side of the aisle, I left Gil."

Graham had been trying particularly hard when it came to their relationship.

He asked questions about his father that only Grissom could answer.

Grissom told him everything he remembered.

He seemed genuinely interested in wanting to know about Richard Gilbert Grissom.

Grissom had given him a few books that had belonged to their father.

It had touched Graham tremendously.

Now, his brother seemed troubled.

Graham pushed his plate away.

"You didn't eat much," noticed Grissom.

"I haven't had an appetite much."

"Richard, it didn't bother Sara...or me," said Grissom.

"Good," he replied but his actions told Grissom he was worried about another matter.

"Problems with the board?"

"The board turned their eyes the moment I offered to buy some equipment out of my own pocket," he muttered. "I knew they would turn down the requisitions…they refuse to get anything in the clinic that might save a life."

"So…what's the problem?' asked Grissom.

"There's this kid," he said quietly.

"In the group home?" asked Grissom.

"The group home would be better than this kid's home," answered Graham. "Some of the other kids brought him…he had this cut on his arm…and several more on his back...I know a belt mark when I see one," grieved Graham.

"Have you tried talking to his parents…the authorities?" asked Grissom.

"I'm required to report abuse…I did," he said. "I haven't seen Robert in several days."

The conversation drifted to other things but Grissom knew the incident bothered Graham.

"Richard…Dad tried to get you…from your mother…but…"

"I know….now. I just don't know how anyone can hit a child," he grieved.

"Sometimes it's necessary," stated Grissom.

Graham turned angry. "You can't mean that! I can't believe you could…hit…Emma! Sara would never allow…"

"She doesn't…but then I've never been able to lay a hand on Emma…I look at her and I see Sara."

"Sara was beaten…quite often by her father."

"I know," replied Grissom.

"Then you know that the slightest rise of a hand or voice sets her on edge," Graham warned.

Grissom's eyes narrowed at Graham.

"We talked about it once," he explained. "Fear was a way of life…for us. It kept me alive. I'm sure it did Sara also. Kids who stand up to abusive parents usually wind up dead."

Grissom knew that too.

The second time he ran into them at the grocery store, he'd managed to slip out without being seen.

As soon as he stepped into the store he saw them near the checkout line.

He'd just made it to his vehicle when he spotted them coming out of the store.

Graham stopped to see Emma's hand on the side of the buggy while Sara talked with a clerk who insisted on pushing her buggy despite her protests.

Her round abdomen was very visible.

He felt himself running the moment he saw Emma release the buggy and rush out into the street toward a stray cat.

Graham grabbed her just as a vehicle pulled out.

"Emma!" Sara screamed as she rushed after the child, leaving the buggy with the clerk.

"I've got her," soothed Graham.

"The kitty," wailed Emma. "The kitty got run over!"

The car came to a screeching halt and a woman jumped out. "I'm sorry. I didn't see her!"

Sara grabbed Emma from Graham's arms.

"Emma Grace!" she yelled but then caught herself.

"Mommy, the kitty…died….like Momma Emm and Papa Joe."

Graham looked under the car. "I think the kitty has nine lives," he announced as he reached down and plucked up the kitten.

Emma's tears stopped.

She smiled at the sight of the kitten.

Graham gulped. "She looks so much like you," he managed to get out.

Emma reached over and petted the kitten.

"Mommy, can we keep it?" she asked.

"I don't think Bruno would like a kitten," she stated.

"But it needs a home," she said.

Emma looked at Graham. "Would you keep it?"

Graham looked at the kitten. "I ...sure."

Emma smiled again.

Graham stood by his car with the kitten in his hand while he watched Sara put Emma in her car seat.

The clerk finished putting the groceries in the trunk.

Emma waved at Graham.

He returned the wave before getting into his vehicle.

He was surprised when Grissom called him that night.

"Sara told me what happened," said Grissom. "I'm glad you were there."

"I seem to have a roommate now," he sighed.

Grissom chuckled.

"Name him yet?" asked Grissom.

"Yeah…his name is Lucky."

Sara rolled over and curled her body close to Grissom.

They exchanged looks when her stomach kicked him.

"My son must be hungry," he said with a grin.

"Your son is doing a tap dance on my bladder," she groaned.

She rolled over and headed to the bathroom.

She opened the door later and found him sitting on the edge of the bed.

He smiled as she stood there in the doorway.

"What?"

"You look beautiful," he announced as he pulled her toward him.

"Four months left," she breathed.

He wasn't prepared to run into Graham in the police station.

He stepped out of an interrogation room and saw him standing in the hallway.

Graham watched as a man was escorted in handcuffs.

A woman stood off to the side in cuffs as well.

Graham lurched at the man but an officer grabbed him.

Grissom quickly walked over and took Graham by the arm.

"Richard!" he yelled.

Graham made one last lurch toward the man.

Grissom shoved him against the wall. "What is the matter with you?"

"He…beat…Robert…he and his sorry wife…just beat him…and then left…while they went out and partied," spat Graham.

"Where is the child?" asked Grissom.

"He's in critical condition," said Graham as he shrugged off Grissom's hand.

"Richard…you need to calm down," he warned.

"He's just a little boy…he's five years old…they treat him like…"

"They treat him like you were treated," whispered Grissom.

"I need to get back to the hospital," he whispered.

"Richard?"

Graham turned and looked at his brother.

"Call me…if you need me," he offered.

He went by the hospital the next day when he had not heard from Graham.

He had not seen that anger in some time.

Grissom opened the door to the room slightly and saw Graham sitting with the boy.

"How is he?" asked Grissom.

"He's better," said Graham. "We're concerned about his arm…it was broken in several places…he'll need physical therapy. He likes to play baseball. I'm going to make sure he gets to play again."

"Richard…"

"They're going to put him in foster care when he's released," he explained. "I know it can't be any worse than his home but…"

Graham swiped at his eyes. "I have to get back to the clinic," he said as he stood.

"Have you been home…at all?" asked Grissom.

"Yes…I fed Lucky," he reported. "Did you need something?" he asked suddenly now realizing Grissom had come to the hospital.

"I was…worried about you."

Graham looked surprised. "I'm fine."

Grissom tossed his keys on the counter.

"No dinner with Graham?" asked Sara.

"He's at the hospital with a child," he answered.

"He's already getting sucked in," she said.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" he asked.

"I wanted him to provide medical care for those…yes I wanted him to try to help…kids like him."

"I think he may be too involved with this kid."

"Emma was pretty upset this morning. Bobby has not come back yet," sighed Sara. "I wish she liked some of the other girls."

"Has Bobby moved?" he asked.

"No one knows," said Sara. "Emma brought her butterfly to show him but he didn't come again. She was pretty upset when I left her."

"You think it might be time to move her to another school?" he asked.

Sara slowly stood. "If Bobby doesn't return then…maybe we should."

Grissom watched as Emma walked through the door with Mary.

Sara and Grissom exchanged glances.

"Come here, little bug," said Grissom.

"Bobby isn't coming anymore," wailed Emma.

Grissom held her.

"The teacher said he is going to get some new parents…like Mommy did."

Grissom and Sara looked at one another.

"What happened to Bobby's parents?" asked Sara.

"The teacher said they were mean to Bobby so they were put in jail."

"Mean?" asked Grissom, hoping he was wrong.

"They hurt him," cried Emma. "Why do people hurt each other?"

"Some people are not nice," whispered Sara.

"Will Bobby get parents that won't hurt him?" she asked.

"Yes, baby," said Sara as she hugged Emma while the little girl cried.

"Sara…I think I know where Bobby is," he whispered.

A few days later, Grissom and Emma walked into the hospital room.

Emma smiled at Bobby as she climbed onto the bed and began to show him her bug book.

Graham stopped suddenly when he opened the door and saw them there.

"Graham, look! Emma came to see me," smiled Bobby.

Graham smiled slightly as he started to back out of the room.

"I know you!" announced Emma.

Graham looked around nervously.

"I'll come back later," he offered.

"Richard, stay," ordered Grissom.

He stood at the end of the bed.

He glanced warily at Grissom as the two children chatted nonstop.

"When do you get your new parents?" asked Emma.

"I don't know," Bobby said quietly. "Is Mom okay?" he asked to Graham.

"She's in jail but fine. She will have to stay there a long time for hurting you. Your father is in jail also for the same reason," explained Graham.

"What did you do that was so bad?" asked Emma.

Bobby shrugged. "I tried to be good."

"Bobby, you didn't do anything to deserve that. If you misbehaved, you should have been punished but not like that," emphasized Graham.

"Mommy had bad parents," stated Emma. "She got Momma Emm and Papa Joe as new parents. They were really nice."

"What if nobody wants me?" asked Bobby. "Dad said I was good for nothing."

Graham's hands curled into a fist. "You're worth more than all the money in the world, Bobby. You're special."

"Where am I going to live until they find me new parents?" asked Bobby.

"Some place safe. Don't worry. I'm going to make sure of it," assured Graham.

"I'll come and visit," Emma declared.

Graham and Grissom exchanged looks.

"That might not be possible for awhile," explained Graham.

"Why not?" asked Emma.

"There are rules," said Graham.

"I don't want to be alone," pouted Bobby.

"You won't be," urged Graham.

"But…" Bobby did not finish.

Graham could see the fear setting in of the unknown.

He remembered that fear.

It was almost tangible in the room.

"I want to go home," cried Bobby. "I want my Mom and Dad."

Grissom gut twisted.

He'd gotten a copy of the case file from Brass and seen firsthand what Bobby's parents had done to him and yet he was willing to go back to them.

"You can live with me," offered Emma with a smile. "I can share. I'm going to have a new brother soon anyway. Mommy has him inside her tummy."

"Emma, it's not that simple," said Grissom.

Bobby glanced at Graham. "Couldn't I stay with you?"

Graham gulped.

He didn't know what to say.

"I'll be good. I don't need much and I can help around the house," pleaded Bobby.

Graham remembered pleading like that with his stepfather.

He was so relieved when his stepfather had let him stay.

He remembered the price for wanting a home.

His hands grew sweaty as well as his forehead.

He swiped his brow.

"Bobby…"

"No one wants me," cried Bobby.

"I want you," said Emma as she began to cry with him.

A nurse stepped in at that moment. "It's time for his medicine," she announced.

Bobby wiped his eyes.

Graham could see the small child already trying to put up a good front.

He was strong for his age.

Graham had been strong.

Bobby would grow stronger because of this and he would become just as bitter as Graham had become.

Graham fled the room with Grissom on his heels.

"Richard!"

Graham did not stop as he headed toward the elevator.

Grissom grabbed him by the arm.

He was shocked when Graham finally stopped.

It was clear that he was crying.

"I can't help him…not the way he needs," cried Graham.

"Why not?" asked Grissom.

"Why not? Do you think Social Services would even consider me as a foster parent to that child? I've been locked away for years….with a recent stint in a mental facility…a suicide attempt…" He wiped his hands through his hair at his frustration.

"You were locked away for a crime you were later cleared of... it could be said you asked for help coping with the death of your wife and unborn child as well as the physical and emotional abuse you endured during your violent childhood."

"You make it sound like I have a snowball's chance in hell," he muttered.

"You have nothing to lose by trying," ventured Grissom.

"I could get that boy's hopes up and then disappoint him like…"

"Like my father did to you," finished Grissom. "He died trying to get you back, Richard."

"What if I fail?" asked Graham. "It would hurt Bobby."

"Then I suggest you don't do that," said Grissom as he returned to the room to collect Emma.

Note from author:

One chapter left....leave a review....sigh...

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