Chapter 25: All's Fair in Love and War
Greg and I took turns watching over Sara as she recovered. I had a new respect for him after I saw him interacting with Sara. Sara got well enough to be released just as the doctor predicted two days later. She was much better, both physically and mentally, or very good at hiding how she felt.
After her release, Sara finally convinced me to let her see Elizabeth Clark. Greg and I took her to the holding facility where Clark was awaiting trial. I don't know what happened because Sara wouldn't let me stay in the room but their conversation didn't last long. Sara has been quiet ever since their meeting. I tried to lift her spirits by telling her that Ethan Parks was stripped of his badge and sent to prison for what he did to her. After all he almost killed her. She was pleased but I expected a bigger reaction coming from Sara. I never told her about how I almost ruined my career for attacking Ethan. She didn't need that, besides nothing came of it. Dobbs cleared me and sent me on my way. I thanked him many times for saving everything I had worked for. Judge Parks is still under investigation and I don't really care what happens to him. People like him don't go to prison anyway, they get a bill in the mail. Politics. I hate them.
As I drove down the highway headed towards home, I put everything behind me. I drove in silence. Sara sat snugly in the passenger's seat still semi-awake and when I checked my rear view mirror Greg, who had his own car to drive home, was bobbing his head to some music. I smiled to myself. No doubt some loud new rock group I never heard of. That's probably why Sara chose to ride with me. Less noise, more sleep. The drive was long and boring but at least I had good company. Sara. Like I said she hasn't said a word to me since we left for home, but she is here, with me safe and sound. She shifted uncomfortably and I saw her grimace in pain.
"You okay?" My voice was loud as it hit the dead air.
"Yeah. I'm fine." She tried to get more comfortable. "The medicine the doctor prescribed makes me drowsy but doesn't do a thing for the pain so I can't sleep."
"I can pull over if you want to get in the back and stretch out across the seat. It might help."
"No I won't be able to sleep back there either. I just want to get home to my own room, with my own bed, and my own blankets."
I wanted to ask her if her side hurt but she turned on the radio signaling the end of our conversation. The music was soft and perfect for my mood. I couldn't name it but it was nice. I continued to drive and Sara eventually nodded off. By the time we reached Vegas it was dark. I found Sara's place with no trouble but I was saddened my time with her was over.
"Sara." I touched her shoulder. "You're home."
Her eyes flew open with a start. She looked out the window then back at me. "How long was I out?" She asked with a yawn.
"Most of the trip. Come on I'll help you inside." I reached down to her lap and unbuckled her seat belt.
"Thanks Gris, but you should go home and get your rest for work tomorrow. I'll be fine getting in really."
I looked deep into her eyes. They were usually cloudy. "I don't want to drop you off on the curb Sara. It's no trouble."
"What do you think is going to happen between here and my apartment?" She teased.
I knew my protective nature was probably the funniest thing she had ever seen, since it wasn't too often I expressed it. "I just want you to be okay." I said lightly smiling.
"Goodnight Grissom." She smiled back. "I'll call you if I need help unlocking my door." She opened the door and crawled out. She gave a quick wave to Greg behind us. I was about to protest when she cut me off by shouting to Greg. "Night Greg!"
"Goodnight Sara! See you later!" Greg yelled.
She smiled then turned back to me. "See you after sick leave Gris."
"Or before then if you have trouble with your door." I smiled widely at her. She returned it then closed the car door.
She climbed the steps to the lobby door. Once inside Greg beeped the horn and took off in the other direction towards his place. I started the car and headed home myself.
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I went to work about three hours early the next day. I couldn't really sleep and it felt good to be back in the groove of things. Doing paperwork wasn't my favorite chore but I welcomed the stack of papers Catherine left me as a sign of normalcy. That's what I was doing when I was summoned by Mobley.
"Come in Gil. We need to talk." He called from his chair.
It was no surprise that Ecklie was there lurking in the shadows but I managed to ignore him for now. "About what?" I asked but I was fully aware where this was headed. I knew there were repercussions for mine actions as well as Sara's.
"Close the door." He said to me. I closed the door and stepped to the front of his desk. "First, this is about your little excursion to San Francisco without proper approval."
"I filed for permission before we left. You must not have gotten the memo." I said lightly.
He didn't take my tone as lightly though. "You were not cleared Gil." He said sitting up attentively. He never liked me but the feeling was mutual.
"My crime scene was two days old as it was, I had to get there as soon as possible." I tried to reason with him. "Besides it looks good for the department that Sara Sidle was cleared of all charges."
"What doesn't look good is your behavior throughout this case." Mobley said curtly. "I was notified of your attack against the man who arrested Miss Sidle. Besides an almost assault charge brought against you, it suggests you have feelings for her that go beyond your work relationship."
"I do have feelings for her. I have feelings for all of my CSIs. If you believe such a thing is going on between me and Sara, perhaps you should examine my relationship with each of my subordinates."
"You know what feelings he is talking about Gil." Ecklie said with a mocking tone. "It doesn't look good for the department if you are sleeping with Sidle."
"Stay out of this Conrad. Why are you here anyway? You are not my superior. I hardly see you as an equal." The tension in the room was enough to cut through with a knife.
"Relax Gil," Mobley said. "I asked him to come. He is the one that brought to my attention your feelings for Sidle."
"Well then maybe you should ask him about the words exchanged between us about Miss Sidle." I glared at Ecklie. "I don't forget an insult Conrad. You should know me better than that."
"Are you threatening me?" He stepped up to me.
"No. Just following your lead. I can play dirty too." I smiled.
Mobley rose from his chair. "Enough. No one wants another bad situation to explain to the press. Gil you will be heavily reprimanded for leaving Vegas without permission. I wanted you to know that it will go on your file. For the next two weeks you are not allowed to work a case. You are assigned to paperwork duty."
I can't say I was surprised. I knew something would be done to punish me, but considering I was counting on suspension without pay, I suddenly got very worried that they had another way to punish me. "And my team?" I asked boldly.
"As for Willows, Stokes, and Brown they are cleared. Nothing will be reported. I have already phoned Sara Sidle to let her know what I plan to do with her and she has agreed."
My heart sank. It took all my being to keep my tone flat. "You called her right after all that she has been through? And surely you can't fire her, she was cleared. I won't let you do that to her. She is the best CSI we have. Not to mention there is no way she is responsible for the death of Thomas McBride."
"Yes I called her, she needed to know the consequences of her actions. But no I won't be terminating her employment. It is protocol though that such an accusation as murder go in her record. Normally you know that she would be dismissed automatically but I have decided to grant her leniency. My superiors agree that she should be reprimanded but to fire her for helping a friend would be wrong."
"Yeah, I guess Sara's battered face and the fact that you fired her wouldn't float well with your voters." I said bitterly. I knew the real reason he was doing this and it infuriated me. It was all about the press and what they thought. He thought such an excuse was worthy. He was wrong.
"Watch it Gil. I have the power to do a lot more if I want to. Now we have decided that she will not be eligible for a promotion for four years and she will be suspended without pay for three weeks." He sighed. "I realize Miss Sidle has been out of work for about that time with no pay. I told her she can complete her sick leave and come back to work. I think I am being fair on this Gil; more than generous. Do we understand each other?"
I nodded.
"As for your feelings for the girl, I don't want to hear about it in the paper at breakfast. Are we clear? Good. You're dismissed. I expect a full report of the case so I can present it to the press if the time comes."
"Fine." I said. "I'll have it to you by the end of the day." I turned on my heels and left. I found myself back at my office doing paperwork again, but I could no longer keep my attention on the task at hand. My mind kept wondering off.
"Grissom?"
I looked up from my papers. "You're here early." I said to Catherine.
"Eddie has Lindsay and I knew you would be here." She sat down. "You talked to Mobley I heard. I also heard that Sara can stay."
Instead of asking how she heard so soon, I let my thoughts become words. "Four years without promotion? Sara loves her job, and she is damn good at it. To have no recognition for such good work, is just wrong."
She drew in a sharp intake of air. "Better than no job at all. Sara agreed to Mobley's terms so I guess that's the way she sees it."
"This puts her entire career on hold. With no promotion she is held back."
"But a promotion is just a higher paycheck. It won't stop Sara from becoming a more experienced CSI."
"It's still wrong. She shouldn't be punished at all. She has been through enough."
Catherine let out a heavy sigh to let me know she fully agreed. "How is she?"
I dropped my pen to the desk, visually giving up. "I don't know. She isn't exactly forth coming with anything."
"Can you blame her?"
"No. I am just worried. She tries to pretend she is fine but she isn't the same."
"Time will tell if she is okay. Let her sort through her thoughts, and in the meantime you should too."
"What thoughts?" I asked skeptically.
"Sara, Gil. And don't tell me you don't know what I am talking about. There is nothing obstructing you from being with Sara, besides yourself."
"Mobley and Ecklie are two very good reasons." I reminded her. We had this talk before, or rather Catherine brought it up before but I chose to ignore her.
"What can they do? Its not in the rules. And now she can't be promoted so even if she deserves it you can't give her a raise. Doesn't look like favoritism. You are practically with her now anyway. If Ecklie can see it, then so can everyone else. Granted they can make you life a living hell, but at least you'll have Sara to get through it."
"Its inappropriate Catherine. She works for me."
"Inappropriate my ass. It happens all the time Gil. As long as you two don't let it affect your work then there is no reason for Ecklie or Mobley to fire you." A smile graced her lips. "I don't see you two doing anything that could be thought of as inappropriate for the workplace. Unless you planned to do it on your desk with the blinds open."
I permitted myself to chuckle. "No I don't think that would happen." I sighed again for the umpteenth time that night. "Sara doesn't need the reputation that she is sleeping with the boss and Ecklie won't exactly keep his mouth shut. I don't want her to get hurt because of me."
"Think about it Grissom. She is staying under b.s. conditions just to stay in Vegas with you. Not because it is the best lab in the country, but because of you. Any lab would love to have her even with this on her record. But she agreed to stay. Do you think she cares what others would think about her if you two were an item?" I didn't answer. I was afraid of the answer.
"Are you afraid to hurt Sara or are you afraid Sara will hurt you?" She asked.
"Both." I said honestly.
"Just tell her Gil. She needs to have someone right now. I think she is waiting for you to tell her what she needs to hear. If you don't then I wouldn't blame her for leaving."
"I don't know if I can." I said finally.
"You said that Sara isn't herself. Don't let her get lost in her past because you aren't brave enough to be a part of her future. Trust me, she feels the same way about you."
"Do you save all of this love advice just for me?" I smiled.
"You're the only one who needs it." She rose from her chair with an satisfied grin on her face. "Come on Gris go hand out assignments."
"Right." I got up from my desk. "I have paperwork for two weeks."
"It's going to be hell week for you buddy." She said tapping my shoulder.
"Well its not like you can't do my job for me."
"No way. You were right, the grass is always greener. If I had to put up with Ecklie at another staff meeting, I would have lost it."
I laughed for the first time in a long time.
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tbc...