Disclaimers ect are on the first chapter.
Thanks for the great reviews and I must apologize for my annoying tense changes, I try to catch all of them but a few slip through. It's a terrible habit that my high school and college English teachers would be very annoyed to find they didn't break me of. I will try and do better here on in. Hope I don't lose to may people cause of it! Enjoy…….
Chapter 7- The Media
She wakes up with a painful sensation in her neck. Slowly sitting up, Sara stretches her muscles that are cramped from squeezing her long frame onto the couch. Clearing the sleep from her brain she looks around for the clock, almost 6 am. She has been sleeping for two hours, and her rest has been peaceful, not plagued with dreams like the night before. Maybe because she felt safe here, or because she was just too damn tired to even think. Either way, it was nice. Remembering the last few minutes before sleep overtook her, she debates what Grissom had told her. He wouldn't let Jason near her, she didn't doubt the sentiment and he said it with such ferocity, but he couldn't be around her 24/7 and she has a feeling Jason won't stop until he found the right Sara Sidle. She doesnt want to think about what the kiss meant, it was nothing, he was just trying to make her feel better, but somehow on a deeper level she knew that wasn't true, Grissom finally crossed that invisible line.
When Sara enters the conference room, she comes upon three very unhappy looking people. Nick, Warrick and Catherine were still sifting through the files.
"Any luck guys?" Sara asks sunnily, she is actually starting to feel more like herself, the sleep did her good.
"Nothing. They didn't have a common interest, not one! I don't understand. Unless we missed something." Warrick responds, looking every bit frustrated.
"Dude, we didn't miss anything, there is no commonality between these women." Nick says as he looks at Warrick.
"Except their looks, and they were murdered by the same person." Sara says with a touch of sadness.
"Yeah." Warrick responds.
"How are you feeling? You look better." Catherine asks taking in Sara's appearance, the bags under her eyes are not as noticeable as before and she looks like some of the old Sara has returned.
"Better, thanks, I guess I really did need sleep. Sorry to stick you guys with the research."
"No problem." Nick tells her.
"Where's Grissom?"
"He is in his office reviewing the press conference notes with Brass, I think."
"K, thanks. You guys look like you should go home." She throws over her shoulder as she walks out the door and down to Grissom's office.
As she approaches his office, she notices the door is closed but she could hear he is yelling at Brass about something. Quietly, Sara stands next to the door and tries to listen.
"NO Brass. I am not doing that again, it didn't work last time and it wont work now." He is almost screaming at him.
Sara can't hear Brass' response, as he is not yelling back.
"I cant believe you would even ask her, Jesus Brass, she has had enough to deal with the past couple of days."
At this point Sara figures they are discussing her, so she knocks and enters the office, the tension is thick enough to slice butter with.
"Ok, Grissom, relax, you are going to give yourself a heart attack. I assume you two gentlemen were discussing me?" Sara turns to Brass and directs her next question to him. "Ask me what?"
Brass just stares at Grissom, who is looking none to pleased to say the least. "We want you on camera during the press conference. Maybe we can draw him out."
"Fine." She states simply.
"Sara, I don't think this is a good idea." Grissom tells her. When she turns to him he notices she is looking much better, less tired.
"It's as good an idea as we have, I already talked to the rest of the team, and we have nothing else, no common denominator…except me. And maybe this way he will stop killing innocent women, this is a tourist town Gil, there will be any number of women who look like me and wont see the news reports, or just wont care." Sara tells him with a look that indicates to him she has made up her mind and that's it, no more discussion.
As Grissom and Sara stare each other down, Brass bids his farewell and tells them he will see both of them at 10 am for the conference.
Neither of them say anything for a while when Sara finally breaks the tension. "It will be ok Gris, probably nothing will come of it, what are the chances a homicidal maniac will watch a press conference?" She says this with a bright smile, trying to break the tension.
"Sara, this is not a joke. You and I both know there is a good chance he will see it…."
"God Grissom, lighten up a little will you. I understand this is not a joke, I of all people am well aware of this fact. I am the one that is responsible for two women's deaths, they didn't know me, and yet I am reason they are gone." Sara's light mood darkens significantly. "But I would rather have the guy focused on me, I am prepared and armed, I have a better chance then they ever did."
"I know Sara, and we still need to have that talk, but not now, we are both sleep deprived and I have to do my least favorite thing, deal with the living. So later, but you are not avoiding me."
"Fine, I am going to help the gang, I will meet you back here later." Sara says as she heads out the door.
When Sara returns to Grissom's office at ten to ten, she is wearing a different set of clothes, and she has managed to at least wash her face and reapply what little make-up she does wear. Grissom is engrossed in some file and doesn't notice her standing there. She takes the opportunity to watch him. He has been her friend for so long, before that, he was her teacher, her mentor, maybe it is just natural that she be attracted to him. His is the consummate older man, but Grissom is more than just that to her, she loves the way his mind works, she even loves the little games he plays to get all of them to the answer without revealing it. She finds herself attracted to him physically; his gray hair and blue eyes just make her melt. Lately it seems to her that he has been more attentive to her, noticing the small things, last night being a prime example.
"Hey Grissom, you almost ready?" She finally asks him, pulling him out from behind the paper he was reading.
"Yea, where's Brass?"
"Outside waiting for us. Lets get this over with." She says as they leave his office. She notices that he walks a step behind her, one hand guiding her at the small of her back.
Once outside a throng of reporters greets them. Sara is taken aback by this, she wasn't aware the cases had even been in the media. Quickly she leans over to Grissom, "Why are they suddenly so interested?" she whispers.
"Because now they have connected murders, that makes good print." He says with that Grissom grin.
They turn their attention to Mobley who is trying to get the attention of 20 or more eager reporters. Once order is restored, Mobley gives them the briefing about what the sheriff department is doing to capture James Reading, he also tells them that all women matching the physical description should be on high alert and report anything suspicious. During the whole speech, Sara is standing directly in front of Grissom and next to Mobley to give the cameras a clear shot of her. After introducing Sara and Grissom from the crime lab, Mobley asks of there are any questions for them. Grissom easily fields some minor stuff, and they are done.
They enter the break room a few minutes later to find Catherine, Warrick and Nick watching the television and the various reports from the stations after the conference.
"Well, that wasn't too painful was it?" Catherine asks. Grissom just stares at her in answer.
"Channel 5 had Sara all over the screen, if he was watching, he saw her." Nicky says.
"Good, I just want this over with." Sara tells them tiredly.
"Alright everyone, lets get out of here. I think for now that's all we can do, see everyone back here at 9." Grissom tells them.
Slowly they all leave to go home and get some rest before another night of who knows what starts again. Sara is, typically, the last to leave, she stayed behind to get some paperwork done, and when Grissom sees her still there he practically forces her out.
"Sara, get out of here." He tells her exasperated.
"I got a nap, and just wanted to finish up this paperwork before…." She starts before he cuts her off.
"Go. Home. Now. This is not a request anymore."
"All right, all right, I am leaving." She tells him and gets up to collect her coat and car keys. "Good bye Grissom."
"Good bye Sara."
Sara pulls into her apartment complex and parks quickly in front, one of the benefits of the night shift, she usually got good parking because most of her neighbors work days. Taking a moment to feel the sun on her face, Sara fails to notice that she is missing the promised police tail. She stops on the way in and grabs her mail, more catalogues, and a couple of bills. Sighing to herself, Sara slowly walks to her apartment door, all she wants at that second is a hot shower and then her bed; she really is still tired despite her protests. As she turns the key in the lock and pushes open the door a hand clamping over her mouth, and an arm snaking around her waist surprises her as she is shoved into her dark apartment.
tbc…………….
****************
"No, No! I..I am not mad at me! There's a body in there and that guy knows where it is!" Grissom
"What's your pulse at now?" Sara
Thanks for the great reviews and I must apologize for my annoying tense changes, I try to catch all of them but a few slip through. It's a terrible habit that my high school and college English teachers would be very annoyed to find they didn't break me of. I will try and do better here on in. Hope I don't lose to may people cause of it! Enjoy…….
Chapter 7- The Media
She wakes up with a painful sensation in her neck. Slowly sitting up, Sara stretches her muscles that are cramped from squeezing her long frame onto the couch. Clearing the sleep from her brain she looks around for the clock, almost 6 am. She has been sleeping for two hours, and her rest has been peaceful, not plagued with dreams like the night before. Maybe because she felt safe here, or because she was just too damn tired to even think. Either way, it was nice. Remembering the last few minutes before sleep overtook her, she debates what Grissom had told her. He wouldn't let Jason near her, she didn't doubt the sentiment and he said it with such ferocity, but he couldn't be around her 24/7 and she has a feeling Jason won't stop until he found the right Sara Sidle. She doesnt want to think about what the kiss meant, it was nothing, he was just trying to make her feel better, but somehow on a deeper level she knew that wasn't true, Grissom finally crossed that invisible line.
When Sara enters the conference room, she comes upon three very unhappy looking people. Nick, Warrick and Catherine were still sifting through the files.
"Any luck guys?" Sara asks sunnily, she is actually starting to feel more like herself, the sleep did her good.
"Nothing. They didn't have a common interest, not one! I don't understand. Unless we missed something." Warrick responds, looking every bit frustrated.
"Dude, we didn't miss anything, there is no commonality between these women." Nick says as he looks at Warrick.
"Except their looks, and they were murdered by the same person." Sara says with a touch of sadness.
"Yeah." Warrick responds.
"How are you feeling? You look better." Catherine asks taking in Sara's appearance, the bags under her eyes are not as noticeable as before and she looks like some of the old Sara has returned.
"Better, thanks, I guess I really did need sleep. Sorry to stick you guys with the research."
"No problem." Nick tells her.
"Where's Grissom?"
"He is in his office reviewing the press conference notes with Brass, I think."
"K, thanks. You guys look like you should go home." She throws over her shoulder as she walks out the door and down to Grissom's office.
As she approaches his office, she notices the door is closed but she could hear he is yelling at Brass about something. Quietly, Sara stands next to the door and tries to listen.
"NO Brass. I am not doing that again, it didn't work last time and it wont work now." He is almost screaming at him.
Sara can't hear Brass' response, as he is not yelling back.
"I cant believe you would even ask her, Jesus Brass, she has had enough to deal with the past couple of days."
At this point Sara figures they are discussing her, so she knocks and enters the office, the tension is thick enough to slice butter with.
"Ok, Grissom, relax, you are going to give yourself a heart attack. I assume you two gentlemen were discussing me?" Sara turns to Brass and directs her next question to him. "Ask me what?"
Brass just stares at Grissom, who is looking none to pleased to say the least. "We want you on camera during the press conference. Maybe we can draw him out."
"Fine." She states simply.
"Sara, I don't think this is a good idea." Grissom tells her. When she turns to him he notices she is looking much better, less tired.
"It's as good an idea as we have, I already talked to the rest of the team, and we have nothing else, no common denominator…except me. And maybe this way he will stop killing innocent women, this is a tourist town Gil, there will be any number of women who look like me and wont see the news reports, or just wont care." Sara tells him with a look that indicates to him she has made up her mind and that's it, no more discussion.
As Grissom and Sara stare each other down, Brass bids his farewell and tells them he will see both of them at 10 am for the conference.
Neither of them say anything for a while when Sara finally breaks the tension. "It will be ok Gris, probably nothing will come of it, what are the chances a homicidal maniac will watch a press conference?" She says this with a bright smile, trying to break the tension.
"Sara, this is not a joke. You and I both know there is a good chance he will see it…."
"God Grissom, lighten up a little will you. I understand this is not a joke, I of all people am well aware of this fact. I am the one that is responsible for two women's deaths, they didn't know me, and yet I am reason they are gone." Sara's light mood darkens significantly. "But I would rather have the guy focused on me, I am prepared and armed, I have a better chance then they ever did."
"I know Sara, and we still need to have that talk, but not now, we are both sleep deprived and I have to do my least favorite thing, deal with the living. So later, but you are not avoiding me."
"Fine, I am going to help the gang, I will meet you back here later." Sara says as she heads out the door.
When Sara returns to Grissom's office at ten to ten, she is wearing a different set of clothes, and she has managed to at least wash her face and reapply what little make-up she does wear. Grissom is engrossed in some file and doesn't notice her standing there. She takes the opportunity to watch him. He has been her friend for so long, before that, he was her teacher, her mentor, maybe it is just natural that she be attracted to him. His is the consummate older man, but Grissom is more than just that to her, she loves the way his mind works, she even loves the little games he plays to get all of them to the answer without revealing it. She finds herself attracted to him physically; his gray hair and blue eyes just make her melt. Lately it seems to her that he has been more attentive to her, noticing the small things, last night being a prime example.
"Hey Grissom, you almost ready?" She finally asks him, pulling him out from behind the paper he was reading.
"Yea, where's Brass?"
"Outside waiting for us. Lets get this over with." She says as they leave his office. She notices that he walks a step behind her, one hand guiding her at the small of her back.
Once outside a throng of reporters greets them. Sara is taken aback by this, she wasn't aware the cases had even been in the media. Quickly she leans over to Grissom, "Why are they suddenly so interested?" she whispers.
"Because now they have connected murders, that makes good print." He says with that Grissom grin.
They turn their attention to Mobley who is trying to get the attention of 20 or more eager reporters. Once order is restored, Mobley gives them the briefing about what the sheriff department is doing to capture James Reading, he also tells them that all women matching the physical description should be on high alert and report anything suspicious. During the whole speech, Sara is standing directly in front of Grissom and next to Mobley to give the cameras a clear shot of her. After introducing Sara and Grissom from the crime lab, Mobley asks of there are any questions for them. Grissom easily fields some minor stuff, and they are done.
They enter the break room a few minutes later to find Catherine, Warrick and Nick watching the television and the various reports from the stations after the conference.
"Well, that wasn't too painful was it?" Catherine asks. Grissom just stares at her in answer.
"Channel 5 had Sara all over the screen, if he was watching, he saw her." Nicky says.
"Good, I just want this over with." Sara tells them tiredly.
"Alright everyone, lets get out of here. I think for now that's all we can do, see everyone back here at 9." Grissom tells them.
Slowly they all leave to go home and get some rest before another night of who knows what starts again. Sara is, typically, the last to leave, she stayed behind to get some paperwork done, and when Grissom sees her still there he practically forces her out.
"Sara, get out of here." He tells her exasperated.
"I got a nap, and just wanted to finish up this paperwork before…." She starts before he cuts her off.
"Go. Home. Now. This is not a request anymore."
"All right, all right, I am leaving." She tells him and gets up to collect her coat and car keys. "Good bye Grissom."
"Good bye Sara."
Sara pulls into her apartment complex and parks quickly in front, one of the benefits of the night shift, she usually got good parking because most of her neighbors work days. Taking a moment to feel the sun on her face, Sara fails to notice that she is missing the promised police tail. She stops on the way in and grabs her mail, more catalogues, and a couple of bills. Sighing to herself, Sara slowly walks to her apartment door, all she wants at that second is a hot shower and then her bed; she really is still tired despite her protests. As she turns the key in the lock and pushes open the door a hand clamping over her mouth, and an arm snaking around her waist surprises her as she is shoved into her dark apartment.
tbc…………….
****************
"No, No! I..I am not mad at me! There's a body in there and that guy knows where it is!" Grissom
"What's your pulse at now?" Sara