Torn
By: Manigault
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Grissoms Office
7:35 pm
Sara knocked sharply on the door of Grissom's office, and then peered around the corner to find him standing with his back to the door, reading something that he held in his hands.
"Find what you were looking for, Sara?" Grissom asked without turning around.
"No." Sara pushed the door shut with a soft click. "I couldn't find anything viable."
Sara watched him incline his head, slightly, yet he still did not turn to look at her.
"What's going on, Grissom? Are you angry about something?"
Grissom crumpled the paper he held in his hands and finally turned to face her with an inscrutable expression. He studied her for several seconds before handing her the paper.
She reached out, her hand brushing his skin as her eyes flashed to his before she straightened the paper out and let them drift back to the page.
"You don't look surprised." Grissom commented with a dryness not lost on her.
"I'm not." She met his eyes again. "Greg told me about the investigation."
"Greg told you?"
Sara waved the paper in front of his face. "Cite your source."
A half smile tilted the corner of his lips. "Brass."
"You don't agree with Agent Gibbes focusing on Bryant Thompson as the sole suspect." Sara stated with a knowing look.
Grissom rubbed his jaw, appearing lost in thought. "I asked Brass about the search for Dallas Thompson and he said that Gibbes insists that it isn't necessary."
"You disagree."
"I believe that they should locate both men for obvious reasons," Grissom reached for the paper, stuck it in his shredder, turned back towards Sara. "I would be interested in knowing why Dallas Thompson suddenly fled his new family and vanished from their lives for all intents and purposes."
Interest sparkled in Sara's eyes. "You suspect foul play? Maybe he got too close and his son disposed of him?"
"I wouldn't discount the possibility." He pointed towards the door. "Apparently, Agent Gibbes is concentrating on finding the son because the same thought has occurred to her as well. We have work to do, shall we leave?"
Break Room
8:15 pm
Nick made a big production of looking at his watch as Grissom walked into the room, Sara trailing a few steps behind him with a preoccupied expression. Ignoring Nick and offering no explanation for his tardiness, Grissom made his way over to the counter where he retrieved his chipped coffee mug that changed color as it heated with the warm liquid. He leaned back against the counter and studied his team with thoughtful eyes. Warrick was still reading the paper, barely acknowledging his entrance, as he and Catherine discussed some recent event. Catherine was not quite as oblivious as she kept one eye on Grissom, and the other on Sara who had grabbed her own coffee mug and reached around Grissom for the coffee pot. Nick had gone back to playing on his hand held computer game, assuming that Grissom would fill them in on any case when the time arrived. Lifting the coffee mug to his lips, Grissom smiled into the depths, reveling in the feelings this ragtag team brought him. It wasn't often he stopped to reflect like this, but no cases lay on his desk, and something about putting this latest one to rest made him stop and appreciate his life. Sara accidentally nudged him in the side with her elbow and he glanced at her, his brow furrowing. He thought they had put the case behind them, but Sara had not, he could sense it. He wondered what it would take for her to let go and put it behind her, which would, in turn, truly make it possible for him to lock it away in one of those compartments in his mind. She looked up at him and their eyes met, his concerned, hers with confusion. The moment was so loaded with questions that they both literally jumped when Catherine spoke directly in front of them.
"Any cases come over your desk, Grissom?" Catherine knew the question was pointless, but she had to move when the view from the couch had captured Warricks attention and raised his eyebrows. They looked so intimate, standing in front of the coffee machine, eyes clashing with unspoken questions. Catherine had seen many looks transpire between the two of them, but this reeked of something much more.
"Nothing." Grissom took another sip of his coffee and became aware of how close he and Sara were actually standing. He moved towards the couch where an amused Warrick handed him the crossword section of the paper.
"Thanks." Grissom muttered, taking the paper before settling down on the opposite side of the couch. Silently he hoped his pager would relieve him of the speculation that was bouncing between Catherine and Warrick.
Sara watched as Grissom scratched away on the crossword, and her temper flared. She didn't blame him for wanting to continue on with his normal routine, forget about Erin Monroe and Valerie. She felt Catherine staring at her and bit her lip, wondering how much the other woman sensed about her relationship with Grissom, the turmoil of her feelings concerning Erin Monroe. Risking a glance, she found empathy shining from Catherine's eyes as her friend reached out a hand to touch her arm.
"Would you like to talk in private, Sara?" She asked as her voice drifted to the couch where Grissom arched an eyebrow, but resisted the urge to protest. He was glad that Sara had another woman she could talk with, but his instincts warned him that if Sara divulged her emotions concerning the Monroe's, then she may feel free to reveal their own relationship. Catherine was one of his closest friends, but what he shared with Sara was personal. Very personal, and he and Sara had agreed to keep it that way. He watched as Sara left the room with Catherine, not sparing him a look on her way out.