Chapter 9

Sara walked out of Russell's office. Her head was spinning. He had called her. He had spoken to Lady Heather but hadn't spoken to her. All those times she had tried to contact him. All those hours she had spent, calling, texting. Emailing. Writing. All of that, and he couldn't be bothered to call back. But he would call her.

Grissom hadn't spoken to anyone else from the team. She knew that Brass and Catherine had his information, that they had tried to contact him. But while they get radio silence, Lady Heather gets a phone call. Why?

Sara was so wrapped up in her thoughts, she didn't hear her name being called until someone caught her arm.

"Sara," Nick called her once more as she turned to face him. "Are you ok?"

"Sorry, Nick. Miles away."

"Are you ok?" He asked, pulling her to one side as some lab techs walked past.

"I'm fine," Sara replied.

"Did you know?"

"I didn't even know he was in the country," Sara said. An unamused laugh forcing its way through her throat. "How the hell am I supposed to know who he speaks to?" Her voice was sharper than she meant. Venting out her frustration on her friend. But this wasn't Nicks fault. She opened her mouth to apologise, but he waved it down.

"Look, I'm not going to ask you if you're sure you want to do this," Nick said, much to Sara's relief. "I know you can handle Lady Heather, and Grissom. And I'm not going to suggest you pull yourself away." He paused and looked over her should at Russell's office. Grissom was yet to emerge, probably held up by Ecklie. "If this came out yesterday, I might. Tell you to walk away. But I'm not."

"Why?" Sara asked. Nick was never comfortable with her decision to confront Grissom. Even though he would never say it, Sara knew he truly believed she was better off leaving it alone. Better off moving on. Letting go.

"I saw his face when he came into that hospital room. I've watched him watching you ever since he arrived. I have never seen Grissom look at anyone the way I've seen him look at you." He let go of her arm but didn't drop her gaze. She had never seen Nick so earnest, so intense when speaking of his old mentor. "I don't know why he asked for that divorce, but I've seen that ring on his finger just as you have. And I've seen you clutching at yours every moment since he arrived. You need to talk to him, Sara. Because if that man is no longer in love with you, then I'm a dairy cow."

Sara didn't know what to say. She had thought, had hoped… that there were times. Moments when… She saw it, in the hospital. She saw that he loved her. But was loving enough?

Nick placed a hand on her arm and gave it a squeeze. "Just think about it," he said and walked away.

Sara watched him go, her heart confused and her mind whirring. Mentally shaking herself, Sara turned on her heel. Now wasn't the time. They needed to go and speak to Lady Heather. And going in to see Heather with her emotions out of control was not the best idea. She needed to clear her head. Needed to remain professional. Calm.

The locker room was empty. Dim lights paving her way. Placing her bag in her locker, Sara took out her vest. At the bottom of the locker sat her kit bag, completed with her backup weapon. After fixing the gun to her trousers, Sara double checked her bag. It was unlikely she would need her field kit, but she always ensured it was ready. Just in case.

That was how Grissom found her. Hovering in the doorway, watching her get ready. Her mind was still churning over what Nick had said. The conclusion he had drawn. Enough, she thought. Now is not the time.

Sara grabbed her sunglasses from the shelf in her locker and placed them on her head, took a deep internal breath and looked up.

Grissom was leaning against the door frame, his own sunglasses tucked into the front of his shirt. Jacket thrown over an arm as he held it against his stomach. He was watching her, and Sara didn't miss the way his eyes flick down her body. Nor could she stop the heat that rose within her at his look.

Game face, Sidle. You've got a job to do.

Sara slammed her locker shut, making Grissom jump a little, and picked up her kit bag.

"You ready?" She asked. Grissom just raised a brow and stepped to the side, holding out an arm for her to precede him.

The silent couple made their way to the car park. Just as Sara was opening the boot to her SUV, she heard someone calling her name. She placed her bag in the car and looked up to see Jimmy walking towards her. A groan escaped her lips before she could stop it, and Grissom looked up. He frowned a little before turning to see Jimmy.

Something crossed over his face. Recognition?

Jimmy pulled up short when he saw who was standing by her car. "You must be Dr Grissom," he said and held out his hand. Grissom hesitated before taking it. Sara came round behind him. His back was stiff, his jaw clenched. Jimmy's mouth twitched a little. "Sara didn't tell me you were back in town."

"Jimmy, what are you doing here?" Sara asked. Jimmy looked over at her and Grissom dropped his hand, flexing it slightly. She didn't know why she did it, but Sara put a hand to the small of Grissom's back. He relaxed a little at her touch, but was still watching Jimmy, warily.

Sara moved in front of him, her hand gliding across his back before she dropped it. She knew Jimmy saw it, but she didn't care. She looked up at him, eyebrow raised in question.

"I stopped by your place, and it was a mess," Jimmy said. "I was worried. You weren't answering your phone."

"Why were you at my house?" Sara asked, brown furrowing. Grissom moved up close behind her. Jimmy flicked his eyes between them, something flashed across his face that Sara couldn't read.

"I, uh was wondering if you were free tonight. Have a drink, maybe dinner?" Jimmy took a step forward.

"Oh, uh," Sara said, raising a hand to brush a hair from her face. Jimmy caught it. Sara's limbs locked in place, but Jimmy didn't seem to notice. He looked down at her hand and ran a thumb across her now bare ring finger. Sara pulled her hand away. "I'm working tonight."

Sara took a step back, hitting Grissom as she did. He didn't move but placed a hand to the curve of her spine.

Jimmy looked between them before nodding. "Maybe some other time." He gave Sara a satisfied smile and walked away.

What was that about?

She could feel Grissom's hand contracting against her, pulling her vest. She wanted to lean into him, to feel his chest against her back. His arms around her torso.

Sara pulled away and, without looking at him, walked to the back of the car and slammed the boot shut. When she looked up, Grissom was watching her.

"Shall we?" She asked, walking to the driver's side door. She opened the door and looked up over the car. Grissom had opened his but made no move to enter the vehicle. His eyebrow was raised in question.

"That's Jimmy Thompson, he's a friend," Sara said. "Sort of."

"Sort of?" Grissom asked, she could see the conclusion he was making.

"He's helped me, Greg, and Nick on a couple of cases the last few of years. He's even joined us for drinks a few times." Sara shrugged. "He's more the guy's friend than mine. We only really started hanging out the last couple of months. I mean, he hangs out with Nick and Greg, we only hang out if the guys invite him."

Over talking again, Sara!

Sara closed her mouth and pursed her lips as to physically stop herself from speaking. She sat in the car and switched on the ignition. Grissom followed her and buckled up as Sara pulled away.

Trying to make conversation, Sara commented on the case. Throwing out observations, theories. Remarks on the connected robberies. Grissom was silent. After a few failed attempts, Sara stopped talking. With each mile, growing more and more frustrated with the man beside her.

Was he punishing her? Punishing her for having a friend outside of the team? Of him?

The sun was beating down in the car and, almost as one, the pair put on their sunglasses. Sara glanced over, Grissoms body was angled in her direction, but she couldn't see his eyes. His face was turned towards the windshield, and his hand rested on the console between them.

Why are you here, Gil? She wanted to speak, but Lady Heathers house was now coming into view. This wasn't the moment.

Sara pulled up outside the front door. The house was huge. Steps lead up to a porched area where the front entrance was housed. They got out of the car, Grissom still not saying a word. He looked up at the house, but no emotion passed his face.

"Wow," Sara said, trying to break through the tension that had built between them. This was not the best way to face Lady Heather. "Thirty minutes in the car, no words. If you were playing that silent car game, you definitely win."

"I thought we were talking," Grissom replied, nonplussed. Seriously? He calls that talking?

Well, if he didn't want to talk, then fine. But there was something she needed to make clear.

"All right, uh, listen. You know, before we go in there and deal with Lady Heather, I-I just want to acknowledge that you and I haven't spoken since the divorce. Of much before it, for that matter. We both went our separate ways. You're doing your Jacques Cousteau thing. I'm out in the field. Things end, I get it." Sara couldn't look at him as she spoke. Well, rambled was probably the more correct term. Damn it. Why couldn't she just speak like a normal person? Why did she have to word vomit all over him?

Why is he looking at me like that?

"B-but you and I are professionals, and as professionals, I think it's in the best interest of the case if we put on a unified front. You know? Act as a team. So, uh, let's put on our game faces a-and keep it professional. See? Mines on." She gestured to her face. A strained smile at her lips. Why isn't he saying anything?

Because you won't stop talking!

"You ready to go in?" She asked. Please, God. Just say something.

Grissom was staring at her through his glasses. The lenses hiding anything he might be thinking. Face, undiscernible. But when he spoke, his voice was soft. Warm. So freaking annoying.

"Seeing you again left me a little speechless."

What the hell was she supposed to do with that? Years of silence. Of nothing. And now this? A sound escaped her, something between a huff and a scoff.

"Come on," she said and walked around him. She saw him smile a little, out of the corner of her eyes. What on earth is he so pleased about?

Sara didn't look back as she passed him, but she could feel his presence. She only had about two seconds to clear her head before they would see Lady Heather. She needed…

Sara froze. She held out her hand, stopping Grissom, and reached for her gun. "Stay behind me," she said quietly.

The front door was swinging off its hinges, the glass shattered and the lace curtain blowing out in the wind.

"Dr Kessler?" Sara called, as she pushed the door open with her foot. "Las Vegas Crime Lab." As the door swung open, Sara raised her gun. But the sight before her stopped her in her tracks.

The living room was destroyed. Furniture broken and scattered across the floor. Pictures smashed and glass littered the area. But the thing that really got to Sara, was the blood covering almost every inch of wall.

She looked back at Grissom. He had taken off his glasses and his eyes were wide, mouth hanging open. Shock and fear, the only things she could read on him.