Title: Fear
Author: csiphile/A-Stepf (kinda liking the A thing)
Disclaimers.blah blah are on the first chapter
Notes: Look ma.no notes! Enjoy and the serious unseemliness is next chapter! Good times.
Thanks: Ohhh how do I love thee Meg, let me count the ways. Lots cause she is a fabulous beta. Big thanks to all who reviewed, it really does inspire me. Eolivet, I think Joey has McMahon on the run for his job as we speak. All the talk on the sports shows here is Joey already has the job and will start the season. I just want em to win more than 2 games this year, is that asking so much?
"Docket Number 55636.02 J. City of Las Vegas, Clark County Court. People of Nevada vs. Joseph Harrington. One count assault and battery of a police officer, one count attempted assault."
"Defense, what does Mr. Harrington plead?"
"Not guilty, your honor."
"Noted. Counselor, bail?"
"Five hundred thousand."
"Counselor? For an assault and battery?"
"Your honor, the victim is a Las Vegas CSI. Additionally, the defendant has been harassing the victim for months. Phone calls and."
"Counselor, that is not in evidence now and this isn't trial. Defense?"
"Your honor, my client has lived in Las Vegas his whole life. His job, friends and family are here. This is his first offense, it was a misunderstanding. We would like ROR."
"Agreed, Mr. Crowell. The defendant is released on recognizance and trial is set for August 28th. Mr. Harrington, you are to have NO contact with the victim, understand me? If I find out you are, I will have your ass back here so fast you won't know what happened."
"Yes, your Honor."
"He was WHAT?" Grissom's voice booms through his closed door, causing several people walking by to cringe. Inside the office isn't much better.
"Grissom. I'm just telling you what happened," Brass answers.
"I know, but Brass? ROR? For assault on a CSI?" Grissom slides further into his seat, "Dammit, he was only locked up for eight hours."
"The judge ordered him not to go near her. There is only so much I can do. I can't put a man on him, -that would look like favoritism."
"Come on, Brass. We both know that when someone is as determined as this guy seems to be, a judge's orders aren't going to stop anything." Sighing, Grissom looks at his watch. "I'm leaving, and I will be gone until Monday. You have my cell if you absolutely need me. Catherine is in charge."
"Ok Grissom, when you get back we will figure something out. Have a good weekend."
"Thanks Brass," he says and heads out the door, not looking forward to telling Sara what happened. She had left early that shift at his insistence; Sara had said she was fine, but Grissom hadn't believed her. He'd caught her in the locker room only twenty minutes after their conversation, shaking and near tears. He'd forced her to go home and get packed. Grissom had already called the airlines and hotel and had arranged to be there earlier than originally planned.
The knock on Sara's door initially startles her and causes her to drop the hairdryer and round brush she is holding. 'Damn Sara. Relax,' she tells herself and approaches the front door. She knows who it is, but if she doesn't check, it will be a lecture from Grissom. Looking out, she sees his familiar form and swiftly opens the door for him.
"Hey!" She says brightly. Grissom inwardly cringes at her good mood, she doesn't know about Harrington yet.
"Hey. How are you?"
"Great. I'm almost done packing. Want some coffee?"
"Sure. Nick is going to be here in about two hours to pick us up. My bag is in my car," he says as she hands him the mug.
"What? We're leaving that soon? I thought not until later, and Nick? Aren't we keeping this quiet Gris?"
"Yeah, I want to get out of here soon and start our vacation, and yes Nick, he already figured it out, so what difference does it make now? At least it's not Catherine and won't be all over the office by noon tomorrow." He gives her a small smile at the last part and she chuckles.
"Well I'm almost done. Give me a few minutes and we can eat before we leave." As she walks away from him, Grissom reaches out and lightly grabs her wrist.
"Sara, I have to tell you something." At her confused look he continues, "Joey Harrington was RORed." He gives this a minute to sink in and watches as her face conveys fear, anger, and finally acceptance.
"I see. I guess I shouldn't have expected him to be remanded. I.I'm going to go finish packing, ok?"
"Sure." He watches her retreat to her bedroom, happy they are getting out of town sooner. He wants nothing more than to make this weekend special for her, and the last thing he wants is Joey Harrington invading it. She needs this time away from her life, or what her life has become.
Coming out of her room with one bag, Sara is greeted by the smell of eggs. Dropping the suitcase near the door, Sara enters the kitchen, stands behind Grissom, and wraps her long arms around him, linking her fingers on his chest. He stops what he is doing and places one hand over hers.
"Almost ready, have a seat," he says and lightly rubs her hand.
"Ok, thanks Grissom."
Unfailingly on time, Nick knocks on the door exactly two hours after Grissom had. Opening the door for him, Sara gives him a sheepish grin. If anyone at work had to find out about them, Nick was the one person she knew she could trust with the information.
"Hey Nick."
"Hey Sara. Ready to go?" He smiles at the younger woman.
"Yeah, Grissom's bag is in his truck. Hey Nick, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, what do you need?" He follows her in. This is a first for him; he has surprisingly never been in Sara's apartment. Looking around, he isn't really shocked at the incredible cleanliness. Warrick had mentioned to him once about Sara being a control freak. You could see it at work, but her home is that much worse. Everything is perfectly placed. The CDs are in order by artist. The pictures on the entertainment center follow a specific pattern, the tallest in the center with other smaller frames flanking it, and by his untrained eye, they appear to have equal spacing between the frames. On a desk in the corner is a very expensive and high tech computer, and none of the cords are loose or even seen for that matter. Her books are arranged by author and title, in descending height order.
He is so distracted looking around, learning new information about his colleague that Nick almost runs right into her.
"Sorry Sar. What did you need?" They had come to a stop in front of a large planter with what looked like an orchid in it.
"I need you to come over and water him. Please. Three days is too long to be without water and I cant water him now. These orchids are temperamental. Tomorrow just give him enough to make the soil damp. Okay?" she asks and hands him her extra key.
"Yeah, I can do that. Anything else?"
"Nope, thanks Nick. And not just for that, for everything."
"Your welcome. For everything," he says and pulls her into a quick hug. Looking over her shoulder at the pictures again, he sees something that catches his interest. Letting her go, he walks over and gets a closer look at the pictures and not just the frames. Smiling, he points at one of the team, it looks like it was taken at the Christmas party. They all look happy, Grissom with his arms around her and Catherine with Warrick and Nick at the ends.
"Nice picture, where did you get it?"
"Greg took it, thought I might want one."
Nodding, he looks one more over and sees one of just her and Grissom. As he is about to say something, Grissom appears from the bedroom, looking like he just stepped out of the shower.
"Nick, great. You ready Sara?"
"Yep, let's go." She grabs her bag but before she can even lift it, her hand is removed and replaced by Nicks. Sara raises an eyebrow but holds the door open for him and Grissom, carefully shutting and locking it behind her.
He watches from his car, wondering what the two men are doing at her apartment. He is supposed to be the only man in her life. Joey gets even angrier when he notices one of them, he thinks the cop last night called him Nick, carrying a suitcase that he places in the back of the Tahoe. Another suitcase from a matching blue Tahoe is then placed next to the first by the older of the two men. Narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Nick, Joey gets the surprise of his life when the older man leans over and gives Sara a quick kiss on the lips. The anger wells in him as he watches the trio get into Nick's Tahoe and drive off. Carefully pulling his pick-up out behind them, he remains a safe distance from them until they pull into McCarran Airport, at which point he turns in the circle and waits until Nick drives by again. He can't figure out why she is doing this to him, the judges orders and now leaving town with another man, one twice her age at that. Fuming, he drives home, wondering how to get her back under his control.
Grissom has been watching Sara's foot tap impatiently on the hard floor of the airport for 15 minutes, and even for a man as tolerant as Grissom, eventually it gets annoying. Between that and the constant humming of the slot machines near the gates, Grissom is about ready to go home when he hears their flight called.
"Let's go," he says to the brunette who stops tapping long enough to give him a quizzical look.
"What?"
"They called our flight," he simply states and stands up, waiting for her to follow suit. When she doesn't, he raises an eyebrow at her and tilts his head in the direction of the gate.
"Grissom, they just called a flight to Flagstaff."
"I am well aware of what they called. Let's go."
Getting up, Sara furrows her brow with a bewildered look. "You're talking me to.Flagstaff? How romantic." The sarcasm in her tone would be obvious to a deaf person.
"Sara, just get on the damn plane already, will you?" he says, exasperated.
"Ok, ok. But if we are seriously going to Flagstaff, you and I are having a talk." She smiles at him, gathers her carry-on, and boards with the hundred other people heading to Flagstaff, Arizona.
tbc............... Yeah I know, this is a boring chapter, but man they cant get to their destination by osmosis.
Author: csiphile/A-Stepf (kinda liking the A thing)
Disclaimers.blah blah are on the first chapter
Notes: Look ma.no notes! Enjoy and the serious unseemliness is next chapter! Good times.
Thanks: Ohhh how do I love thee Meg, let me count the ways. Lots cause she is a fabulous beta. Big thanks to all who reviewed, it really does inspire me. Eolivet, I think Joey has McMahon on the run for his job as we speak. All the talk on the sports shows here is Joey already has the job and will start the season. I just want em to win more than 2 games this year, is that asking so much?
"Docket Number 55636.02 J. City of Las Vegas, Clark County Court. People of Nevada vs. Joseph Harrington. One count assault and battery of a police officer, one count attempted assault."
"Defense, what does Mr. Harrington plead?"
"Not guilty, your honor."
"Noted. Counselor, bail?"
"Five hundred thousand."
"Counselor? For an assault and battery?"
"Your honor, the victim is a Las Vegas CSI. Additionally, the defendant has been harassing the victim for months. Phone calls and."
"Counselor, that is not in evidence now and this isn't trial. Defense?"
"Your honor, my client has lived in Las Vegas his whole life. His job, friends and family are here. This is his first offense, it was a misunderstanding. We would like ROR."
"Agreed, Mr. Crowell. The defendant is released on recognizance and trial is set for August 28th. Mr. Harrington, you are to have NO contact with the victim, understand me? If I find out you are, I will have your ass back here so fast you won't know what happened."
"Yes, your Honor."
"He was WHAT?" Grissom's voice booms through his closed door, causing several people walking by to cringe. Inside the office isn't much better.
"Grissom. I'm just telling you what happened," Brass answers.
"I know, but Brass? ROR? For assault on a CSI?" Grissom slides further into his seat, "Dammit, he was only locked up for eight hours."
"The judge ordered him not to go near her. There is only so much I can do. I can't put a man on him, -that would look like favoritism."
"Come on, Brass. We both know that when someone is as determined as this guy seems to be, a judge's orders aren't going to stop anything." Sighing, Grissom looks at his watch. "I'm leaving, and I will be gone until Monday. You have my cell if you absolutely need me. Catherine is in charge."
"Ok Grissom, when you get back we will figure something out. Have a good weekend."
"Thanks Brass," he says and heads out the door, not looking forward to telling Sara what happened. She had left early that shift at his insistence; Sara had said she was fine, but Grissom hadn't believed her. He'd caught her in the locker room only twenty minutes after their conversation, shaking and near tears. He'd forced her to go home and get packed. Grissom had already called the airlines and hotel and had arranged to be there earlier than originally planned.
The knock on Sara's door initially startles her and causes her to drop the hairdryer and round brush she is holding. 'Damn Sara. Relax,' she tells herself and approaches the front door. She knows who it is, but if she doesn't check, it will be a lecture from Grissom. Looking out, she sees his familiar form and swiftly opens the door for him.
"Hey!" She says brightly. Grissom inwardly cringes at her good mood, she doesn't know about Harrington yet.
"Hey. How are you?"
"Great. I'm almost done packing. Want some coffee?"
"Sure. Nick is going to be here in about two hours to pick us up. My bag is in my car," he says as she hands him the mug.
"What? We're leaving that soon? I thought not until later, and Nick? Aren't we keeping this quiet Gris?"
"Yeah, I want to get out of here soon and start our vacation, and yes Nick, he already figured it out, so what difference does it make now? At least it's not Catherine and won't be all over the office by noon tomorrow." He gives her a small smile at the last part and she chuckles.
"Well I'm almost done. Give me a few minutes and we can eat before we leave." As she walks away from him, Grissom reaches out and lightly grabs her wrist.
"Sara, I have to tell you something." At her confused look he continues, "Joey Harrington was RORed." He gives this a minute to sink in and watches as her face conveys fear, anger, and finally acceptance.
"I see. I guess I shouldn't have expected him to be remanded. I.I'm going to go finish packing, ok?"
"Sure." He watches her retreat to her bedroom, happy they are getting out of town sooner. He wants nothing more than to make this weekend special for her, and the last thing he wants is Joey Harrington invading it. She needs this time away from her life, or what her life has become.
Coming out of her room with one bag, Sara is greeted by the smell of eggs. Dropping the suitcase near the door, Sara enters the kitchen, stands behind Grissom, and wraps her long arms around him, linking her fingers on his chest. He stops what he is doing and places one hand over hers.
"Almost ready, have a seat," he says and lightly rubs her hand.
"Ok, thanks Grissom."
Unfailingly on time, Nick knocks on the door exactly two hours after Grissom had. Opening the door for him, Sara gives him a sheepish grin. If anyone at work had to find out about them, Nick was the one person she knew she could trust with the information.
"Hey Nick."
"Hey Sara. Ready to go?" He smiles at the younger woman.
"Yeah, Grissom's bag is in his truck. Hey Nick, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, what do you need?" He follows her in. This is a first for him; he has surprisingly never been in Sara's apartment. Looking around, he isn't really shocked at the incredible cleanliness. Warrick had mentioned to him once about Sara being a control freak. You could see it at work, but her home is that much worse. Everything is perfectly placed. The CDs are in order by artist. The pictures on the entertainment center follow a specific pattern, the tallest in the center with other smaller frames flanking it, and by his untrained eye, they appear to have equal spacing between the frames. On a desk in the corner is a very expensive and high tech computer, and none of the cords are loose or even seen for that matter. Her books are arranged by author and title, in descending height order.
He is so distracted looking around, learning new information about his colleague that Nick almost runs right into her.
"Sorry Sar. What did you need?" They had come to a stop in front of a large planter with what looked like an orchid in it.
"I need you to come over and water him. Please. Three days is too long to be without water and I cant water him now. These orchids are temperamental. Tomorrow just give him enough to make the soil damp. Okay?" she asks and hands him her extra key.
"Yeah, I can do that. Anything else?"
"Nope, thanks Nick. And not just for that, for everything."
"Your welcome. For everything," he says and pulls her into a quick hug. Looking over her shoulder at the pictures again, he sees something that catches his interest. Letting her go, he walks over and gets a closer look at the pictures and not just the frames. Smiling, he points at one of the team, it looks like it was taken at the Christmas party. They all look happy, Grissom with his arms around her and Catherine with Warrick and Nick at the ends.
"Nice picture, where did you get it?"
"Greg took it, thought I might want one."
Nodding, he looks one more over and sees one of just her and Grissom. As he is about to say something, Grissom appears from the bedroom, looking like he just stepped out of the shower.
"Nick, great. You ready Sara?"
"Yep, let's go." She grabs her bag but before she can even lift it, her hand is removed and replaced by Nicks. Sara raises an eyebrow but holds the door open for him and Grissom, carefully shutting and locking it behind her.
He watches from his car, wondering what the two men are doing at her apartment. He is supposed to be the only man in her life. Joey gets even angrier when he notices one of them, he thinks the cop last night called him Nick, carrying a suitcase that he places in the back of the Tahoe. Another suitcase from a matching blue Tahoe is then placed next to the first by the older of the two men. Narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Nick, Joey gets the surprise of his life when the older man leans over and gives Sara a quick kiss on the lips. The anger wells in him as he watches the trio get into Nick's Tahoe and drive off. Carefully pulling his pick-up out behind them, he remains a safe distance from them until they pull into McCarran Airport, at which point he turns in the circle and waits until Nick drives by again. He can't figure out why she is doing this to him, the judges orders and now leaving town with another man, one twice her age at that. Fuming, he drives home, wondering how to get her back under his control.
Grissom has been watching Sara's foot tap impatiently on the hard floor of the airport for 15 minutes, and even for a man as tolerant as Grissom, eventually it gets annoying. Between that and the constant humming of the slot machines near the gates, Grissom is about ready to go home when he hears their flight called.
"Let's go," he says to the brunette who stops tapping long enough to give him a quizzical look.
"What?"
"They called our flight," he simply states and stands up, waiting for her to follow suit. When she doesn't, he raises an eyebrow at her and tilts his head in the direction of the gate.
"Grissom, they just called a flight to Flagstaff."
"I am well aware of what they called. Let's go."
Getting up, Sara furrows her brow with a bewildered look. "You're talking me to.Flagstaff? How romantic." The sarcasm in her tone would be obvious to a deaf person.
"Sara, just get on the damn plane already, will you?" he says, exasperated.
"Ok, ok. But if we are seriously going to Flagstaff, you and I are having a talk." She smiles at him, gathers her carry-on, and boards with the hundred other people heading to Flagstaff, Arizona.
tbc............... Yeah I know, this is a boring chapter, but man they cant get to their destination by osmosis.