Chapter 24

Grissom watched as Sara put the USB and paper back in the envelope. He couldn't catch what the words said, but he could see how she was trying to keep her hands steady. His eyes caught on the bruising that was still shining on her wrist, and another wave of anger hit him.

There were very few things that really got to him, and men abusing woman was one of the top three. And when that woman happens to be Sara Sidle, all rational thought left his head. Grissom knew, if Sara hadn't been holding him back, he would have launched himself at the delusional doctor. Would have given him bruising to match those he left on Sara's skin, and then some. Grissom was not a violent man, not by any stretch of the imagination. But for Dr Jimmy Thompson he would happily make an exception.

Greg and Nick were still watching Sara, warily. Nobody knew what to say. What to do. Sara was standing. Alone. In the middle of the hall. Her face empty of all emotion. Her body straining with effort of keeping her limps from shaking. The two CSIs shared a look, before Nick nodded.

"I'll meet you at the motel," he said. "You have the address?"

"Yeah," Greg replied, holding up the assignment slip.

"Good." Nick looked to Sara and opened his mouth to say something. Thinking better of it, he simply raised his chin in farewell and walked out. Sara scrunched the envelope in her hand and turned to Grissom. Her lips tight. When her eyes met his, he could see the fear she was so desperately trying to hide.

Fear he hadn't seen on her face for over eight years. Fear that he had promised her she wouldn't have to feel again. Fear he vowed to remove, any way he could. Hatred crashed over him like waves, but he pushed it down. She didn't need to see his anger now; she needed his support. His comfort. She needed him to be there for her. Not planning ways of making Jimmy Thompsons life a living hell.

Grissom raised a hand to her arm but froze when Sara flinched a little. His heart tore a little at that tiny moment, but he held fast. Keeping his hand an inch away from her. Waiting for her to come to him. She did. Sara leaned into his touch and Grissom's thumb rubbed a little over her sleeve. She gave him a small smile. The fear receding from her face, though not dissipating entirely.

It still lurked, in the back of her eyes. Hidden from all, save him.

"I should go," she said softly. "I need to get my kit."

"Sara," Grissom started. He didn't want her going out into the field, not now. Not after what had just happened.

"I'm fine, Gil," she said, stepping away and hitching a smile onto her face. It was strained and didn't meet her eyes, and Grissom frowned a little as he dropped his hand. "I need to work," she said.

He could understand that. How many times over the years had he thrown himself into work to distract himself? How many times had he used it as an excuse to avoid facing reality? Too many. Work can be a great diversion. It can clear your mind. Take your thoughts away from the issues that plagued you. Can give you a moment to gather yourself, gain perspective. Still, Grissom was loathed to let her out of his sight.

"I'll drive you, Sara," Greg said. Sara nodded in acknowledgement and walked away; her fist still clenched tightly around the envelope. Grissom watched her go, wanting nothing more than to follow after her. To dog her steps. To shadow her movements, until he could take her back to the safety of Catherine's town house. But Sara wouldn't appreciate that. She'd probably resent the implication, even if it wasn't meant.

His wife was more than capable of taking care of herself, Grissom knew that better than most. But it didn't stop the protective instincts within him. Didn't stop him from wishing he could just haul her away and shield her from those who would want to harm her.

"We should check in with Russell," Catherine said, watching him carefully. Grissom nodded, making no move to leave, not taking his eyes off Sara's retreating back. "I'll meet you in his office." She patted his arm and walked away.

This was the thing he hated most about this job. The jeopardy it put them in, put Sara in. She was one of the best CSIs he trained, one of the best he had worked with. But he hated the idea of her going out into danger. The anxiety only got worse after Natalie Davis. Then the stories she would tell him while they were married, and he was abroad. Explosions, gunshot wounds, insane perpetrators targeting her team. And he, thousands of miles away, not able to do anything to help. To protect.

It was part of the job, Grissom knew this. But he didn't like it. However, he could never, would never ask her to leave it. Sara loved her job, and Grissom loved Sara. This was something he would need to live with. Something he would need to learn how to handle. He would put his faith in Sara. In the team. In Nick and Greg to keep her safe.

"I'll keep an eye on her," Greg said, and Grissom turned to him in surprise. He had almost forgotten about the younger man.

"Thanks, Greg," Grissom said, dropping his shoulders as he glanced around the lab. The people who had come to watch the showdown were now milling around and Grissom could see them glancing up at him. Only to look away quickly when they caught his gaze.

"She never led him on, Grissom," Greg said. He was watching his ex-supervisor carefully. "We all knew he had a thing for her, it's why Sara always kept him at a distance. She only hung out with him when Nick and I invited him."

Grissom nodded; he knew that already. "Did you know?" Grissom asked.

"That he would be violent?" Greg asked. "Do you seriously think we would hang out with the guy if we did? Let him anywhere near Sara?"

"No, I know. I'm sorry," Grissom said, running a hand over his beard. There was no way Greg could have seen this, no way any of them could have seen it. Hell, even Grissom didn't see it. And he was already predisposed to dislike the guy.

"Look, Grissom, I'll be honest with you," Greg said, lowering his voice and drawing nearer. He glanced down the hall, but most of the people milling around had now disappeared. "We thought, after you guys divorced, Jimmy might be good for Sara. He obviously cared about her, even managed to make her laugh on occasion. And I just wanted her to be happy."

Grissom looked up at the younger man, but there was nothing accusatory in his expression. Just open honesty.

"But Sara was never interested. Never once led us to believe that she would be. Hell, Griss, the woman never took off her wedding ring."

"What are you getting at, Greg?" Grissom asked, putting his hands in his pocket.

"Sara never led Jimmy on, she had told him that she wasn't interested. And, though we knew he still liked her, he seemed to back off." He looked down the hall, towards the locker room which Sara had disappeared too. "There was only one person she was interested in, and he was thousands of miles away." He glanced back at Grissom, face more serious than the entomologist had ever seen it.

"I won't ask what happened," Greg said. "That's between you guys. And if she's willing to give you another chance, then I'm happy for you. I'm not blind. It's obvious you're still crazy about her. And I know she's crazy about you."

"But?" Grissom asked, the young man was working to something. He even had a suspicion as to what.

"But, if, when this is all over, you get back on that boat and leave her behind again," Greg stared him down, thumb hooked into his pocket. "Don't come back. Because, if you do, there will be more than a couple of people waiting to have words with you. Me and Nick being top of that list."

Grissom's brows rose, not from the warning or implied threat, but the frank way in which Greg said it. The younger man was watching him, his face unsmiling and stern. There was a part of Grissom that resented the implication. Part of him that wanted to be angry at Greg for even thinking that. But, giving his history, he couldn't blame the man. Not when he was so clearly looking out for Sara.

Grissom sighed. "I don't know what's going to happen, Greg," he said. Greg raised his brows, but Grissom continued. Looking his former student directly in the eye. "But I do know, unless she tells me to go, I'm not leaving. Not without Sara." Greg surveyed him for a few more seconds before his face split into a wide grin once more.

"Well then," Greg said, clapping his hand on Grissom's shoulder. "That's all I've got to say." Grissom gave him a small smile and Greg walked away. "Tell Sara I'll meet her by the car, and Griss?" Greg said, turning to him. "I'm glad you're back."

Grissom's smile widened and he nodded his head as Greg turned away from him. He watched the man leave before heading towards the locker room.

It was the one thing that hadn't changed since he left. The walls were still that faded, dark grey. The lockers still lined the outside wall. While in the corner, the door to the washroom stood open. Sara was sat on the bench, her locker open, staring at the envelope. Her hands were shaking, and her lip was tucked between her teeth. Grissom leant against the door jam and folded his arms across his chest.

She was, without question, the most beautiful woman he knew. Her hair curling around her shoulders, tucked behind her ear to give him perfect profile of her face. Her jaw was clenched, and her brows were furrowed. He wanted to go to her but held himself back. Waiting for her to notice him. To invite him in.

As if sensing his stare, Sara looked up. Her face softened when their eyes met, but there was still anger lingering in her eyes. Grissom pushed away from the door and sat beside her. His shoulder brushing hers. Wordlessly, she handed him the envelope.

Grissom opened it and pulled out the paper. His brows rose as he read the note, but he folded it and put it away. Anger rising back to the surface, but he had to control it. She needed him to be calm. Strong. To keep a level head, so she could keep hers.

Sara took it back and threw the wrapper into her locker, slamming the door shut as she stood. She held her hand on the metal, her fingers flexing against it. Grissom stood and placed his hands over them, his chest to her back. Sara sighed and leant on him. Her hand relaxing under his.

"What he said to you," Sara finally said. "I wanted nothing more than to throw my gun away and punch him, right in his smarmy face." She looked at him, out of the corner of her eye, and smirked. Though Grissom knew she wasn't entirely joking. "It was only you, holding onto my shirt, that kept me away from him."

"And here I was, thinking you were holding me back," Grissom said, laughing a little against her hair. He pressed a kiss to her temple and Sara turned in his arms, bringing her hands to his back and holding him. "Are you ok?" He asked.

"I'm ok," she said, resting her cheek on his shoulder.

"No, you're not," Grissom replied. There was nothing pressing in his voice, nothing to make her feel like he was pushing her to talk to him. Just letting her know that he understood. That he was there. Sara sighed and pulled back a little.

"No," she agreed. "I'm not. But I will be."

"Good," he said, and kissed her, lightly on the lips.

"I should go," Sara said, pulling away from him and picking up the kit at their feet. Grissom took a step back to allow her to pass. Before she could get too far, he caught her hand. Sara turned to him, eyebrow raised.

"Be careful," he said. Sara shook her head, a small smile lifting her lips. He could tell she was about to come back with some joke, a sarcastic comment meant to alleviate his anxiety, so he squeezed her hand. "Please."

Sara's face softened and she returned the pressure. "I will," she promised, and Grissom let her go. He watched her walk out of the room, she glanced back with a quick smile before disappearing down the hall.

Grissom sighed, they needed to solve this case, to find out who was behind it all. If only so they could have time to work out what to do about Jimmy. He didn't know how he knew, but Grissom was sure Dr Thompson wasn't done with Sara yet.