Title: Fear
Author: CSIphile/A-Steph (who is the proud new owner of a cable modem and simply cant believe how fast it is!!!)
Disclaimers/Rating: Same as the first chapter. I don't own them. STRONG PG13 again for implied unseemliness.
Notes: Sorry this took so long to post, RL has been super busy. That's it, no more notes, amazing!!
Thanks: Of course, standing thanks to Meg for being a great beta. And all those who reviewed, keep it up. I am almost done writing this bad boy and your encouragement keeps me going! You rock!
Walking the room, Nick enters the kitchen and looks down when his shoes make a crunching noise; there he sees what looks like the missing picture. Not wanting to touch anything without gloves, he leaves it as is and slowly moves through the apartment. First entering Sara's bedroom, he sees nothing out of place until noticing the closet doors are hanging open. Walking over, his gun trained on the opening, Nick notices one hanger pulled out as if something had been removed in a hurry. Recalling Sara's compulsive nature, he doubts she would have left a hanger there like that, much less the door wide open. Quietly moving into the last room, the bathroom, Nick finds her medicine cabinet door hanging open, the glass front smashed into pieces in the sink, the pieces glittering in the white basin.
"Shit," he says, holsters his gun, and picks up his cell phone, pushing a speed dial number.
"Warrick? Hey, it's Nick. We have a problem, I need you and Cath to get to Sara's with kits. Someone broke into her apartment...Yes, I am serious..Yeah, thanks..No, I don't think we should call her. She is out of town and I don't want to bother her..Grissom is gone too.Yeah, ohh, got it?.Good, they are due back tomorrow, I will let them know when I pick 'em up from the airport..Thanks, man."
As he is talking, Nick moves into the kitchen and grabs a cup to water the orchid, before Warrick and Cath got there and he forgets. Once that task is accomplished, Nick opens the front door and kneels down, inspecting the lock closely.
"I'll be damned," he says to no one in particular. There are fresh scratch marks on the deadbolt, and even without a magnifying glass, Nick recognizes the pattern as someone picking the lock. He is so engrossed with the door, Nick doesn't see Warrick and Catherine.
"Hey man," Warrick says and watches the young man jump up.
"Damn Warrick. Don't do that," he says and says hello to Catherine. Looking back at Warrick, Nick receives a nod.
"I brought her up to speed. Brass is enroute too. What have you got?"
"Well this door lock looks picked to me, for starters," He indicates for them to follow him. "Also, the pictures on her entertainment center have been moved around and one is now lying upside down in her kitchen. Looks like a piece of clothing is missing and the medicine cabinet door has been shattered."
"Ok boys, we are going over every inch of this place. Dust everything, I mean everything. Warrick, you get the door and kitchen, Nicky, the living room and hall. I will take the bathroom and bedroom," Catherine says and turns down the hall. When Warrick had told her what was happening while she was gone, Catherine had been concerned for her friend. She and Sara hadn't gotten off on the right foot, but lately they had moved into the realm of friends, not like Sara is with Warrick and certainly not like Nicky, granted, but Catherine truly respects the brunette.
The trio works in silence for the good part of an hour, Brass having shown up and taken Nick's statement thirty minutes ago. There isn't much he can do for a break-in, so he'd left the CSIs to their job. They all knew who had been here, it is a matter of proving it now. As Nick is dusting the top of the entertainment center, his anger at Joey Harrington and the system that refuses to do anything grows. Pulling his final print, Nick decides he is going to take matters into his own hands later. Maybe a scare tactic will work.
**Sedona, AZ**
After eating, Grissom and Sara wander around what is considered the downtown of Sedona. The entire area could be fit into the area covered by the MGM Grand. Walking slowly, Grissom grabs her hand and kisses it lightly. For once in his working career, Grissom doesn't care if he makes it back to Las Vegas and the office.
"What are you thinking?" she asks him as they approach the jeep.
"How much I love you." His admission stuns her. It's the last thing she had expected him to say. "It's ok, Sara. You don't have to say it if you don't mean it. I just realized standing here that I do love you, because I would rather be here then anywhere else."
"Grissom. Wow, I love you too." She raises a hand to stop him from speaking. "I'm not just saying it 'cause you did. You should know me better than that."
"I do. It's almost dinnertime. Lets head back to the hotel and get room service." He says and raises one eyebrow at her.
She laughs and nods at him. "Sure Gris, 'dinner', let's go."
Arriving at the room and true to his word, Grissom orders room service for both of them, getting something vegetarian for her of course. Lighting the fire in the corner, Grissom turns to her and smiles slyly.
"Chess?" he asks and indicates the board next to the fireplace with two seats next to it.
"Yeah. I hear you're losing your touch. Warrick beat you." All she receives is an exasperated look in return.
Twenty minutes into the game that Sara is barely loosing, their meals arrive. Eating in silence outside, Sara shivers from the cool wind coming in.
"You cold?"
"Not really, the wind was chilly. Once we're done eating, however, I look forward to finishing kicking your ass at chess. Don't think I forgot. I'm on a roll."
"I look forward to the challenge."
Returning to the game after eating, Sara is concentrating on her move and doesn't notice Grissom staring at her in the firelight, the only source of light in the room. 'God, she is beautiful,' he thinks, but quickly turns back to the game. Thinking like that will only get him in trouble and, well, in bed with the source of his distraction. Sara makes her move and looks up at him, making a quick decision internally.
"Your turn," she says seductively. Grissom recognizes the tone, but tries not to be swayed.
Concentrating on the board, Grissom is surprised when a foot makes contact with his shin, slowly rubbing up and down. Looking at her, Sara's face conveys nothing of what is going on under the table. Trying to keep her face neutral, she slides her bare foot up his shin and makes contact with his thigh. She can tell that he is now having a hard time concentrating on the game. For once in her life thankful for her long legs, Sara comes within inches of her target and is stopped by Grissom grabbing her foot and massaging the bottom of it. She raises one eyebrow at him, licks her lips, and, removing her foot from his grasp, gets up and sits in his lap. Sara sitting in his lap, wriggling around just right, and playing with the fine hairs at the nape of his neck is the end of Grissom's restraint; he easily lifts her light form and walks over to the bed. The game can wait.
**Las Vegas, NV**
"Nothing. I can't believe it. Every single print we lifted was either Sara's, Grissom's, or yours." Warrick lets out a loud, frustrated sigh and looks at the other man sitting next to him. "He had to have been wearing gloves. What kind of stalker wears gloves?"
"He's crazy Warrick, not stupid. He has to know that if he gets caught he won't be able to see her anymore." Nick throws down the file he is holding and begins pacing. They can't arrest him, nothing. Everyone knows it was Harrington that broke in, but they can't prove it. He left not one clue, not a print, not a hair.
"Hey Warrick, I need to run an errand. Tell Cath I'll be back in an hour, tops. Ok?" Nick takes in Warrick's dubious look."Look man, don't worry about it. I'll be back."
"Nick, I don't think this is a good idea." Warrick takes in Nick's expression, and immediately knows what he is up to.
"Warrick, you didn't see the look on his face in the parking lot. He's dangerous and I don't want anything to happen to her."
"Man, none of us want anything to happen to Sara. I just really don't think it's a good idea."
Catherine walks into the lab at that moment. "What's not a good idea?" she says with a stern look on her face.
"Nick wants to go visit our suspect." Nick throws Warrick an angry glare and addresses Catherine.
"Cat, I just want to talk to him. Maybe get him to leave her alone." His voice is hard with anger that is not directed at her.
"Nick, I know your intentions are good, but I think that will make things worse. Leave him alone."
"But Cath, Brass isn't doing anything to stop this. Joey Harrington is harassing Sara with impunity, and we aren't doing ANYTHING." He is practically yelling at Catherine by the time he finishes.
"I talked to Brass. There isn't anything he can do; there have been no direct threats of violence or harm. He can't very well place a car on Harrington, that would look like favoritism and would rile up everyone else who is being stalked. The department can't afford a lawsuit over this, they already have budget problems. It's up to us." Catherine walks to the younger man and touches his shoulder. "I know you two are close, Nick, but don't let that cloud your judgment."
"Fine Cath, I won't approach him. This is so frustrating; I don't want to tell her what happened, either." He sighs and sits back down, none of them speaking, all of them with the same thought. 'What happens when she does find out?'
**Sedona, AZ**
Lying on his side in bed, with Sara curled up into his form; Grissom pulls her pajama clad body closer into him. Nestling his face into her neck Grissom starts to drift back to sleep when her voice in dark wakes him.
"Grissom, you awake?"
"Yeah."
"Thank you for bringing me here, I loved it. Everything was perfect."
"You're welcome, Sara. Maybe we can come back soon."
"Yeah." He can hear the sleep in her voice and isn't surprised when she stops talking.
Kissing the top of her head, he swiftly falls asleep also. They need to leave pretty early the next morning in order to be home in time to get their schedules back to the night shift.
Sara is dead asleep when the ringing of the phone not only wakes her, but initially throws her into a state of panic. Sitting straight up in bed, Sara looks around for a moment, before realizing it's the wake up call they requested the night before. Placing her hand over her shirt, Sara attempts to calm her fiercely beating heart by breathing deeply.
Grissom had been slightly roused by the phone, but Sara sitting straight up in bed wakens his senses. She is still sitting straight up; he can see her chest rising and falling, quickly at first, then slowing as she regains control.
"Sara, you ok?" he asks and sits up next to her, one hand on her arm.
"Yeah, fine. The phone just startled me," she says and gets out of bed, heading for the bathroom like nothing happened.
"Ok. You sure?" he asks, concerned.
"Yes Gris, I am sure. How long do I have?" She smiles at him from the bathroom doorjamb.
"About two hours."
"Ok." She turns into the bathroom and shouts over her shoulder, "You know, we never did finish that game."
Grissom shakes his head and starts packing up their stuff; the vacation is over; it is time for the real world to return. Grissom sighs audibly at the thought
Precisely two hours later, he is checking them out of the hotel and then they're in the Jeep on the way back to Flagstaff. Sara is sitting on the passenger side, looking more relaxed than Grissom has ever seen her in the 10 years he's known her. Grissom himself feels better. He underestimated the effect of a vacation with Sara; he feels years younger, more relaxed.
Several hours later they are waiting in baggage claim at McCarran for Nick. Sara spots him first and calls his name, waving happily at him. Nick approaches the couple, the knots in his stomach clenching with every step toward them.
"Hey guys, how was Sedona?" he asks and leads them out to the car.
"Fabulous. Its so beautiful there, Nick. The sunsets are amazing, nothing like here. How did it go without us? Get a major case?"
"You could say that," he replies as they all get into the Tahoe. "Listen guys, something happened last night you need to know about now." Taking a deep breath, Nick looks at their confused faces and continues, "Sara's apartment was broken into. No major damage, a picture frame and her medicine cabinet mirror were broken and it looks like a piece of clothing was stolen. The deadbolt was picked open; there are marks. We know Harrington did it, but three hours at her place and we turned up nothing, no hairs, no fibers, not a fingerprint. So he's still out on bail."
Sara stares at him from her spot in the front passenger seat, disbelieving. "You're kidding, Nick, right? This is a joke." Grissom's hand on her shoulder tells her it's all too real.
"Sara, I would never kid about this. I am very serious. Brass' hands are tied since we can't prove who it was. You want to go to Grissom's?"
Sara looks at him. "No. My place."
"Sara.." Grissom starts from the backseat.
"NO Grissom, I want to go to my home." By now Sara's hands are starting to shake and she rests her head on the headrest, trying to hold back tears.
tbc....
Author: CSIphile/A-Steph (who is the proud new owner of a cable modem and simply cant believe how fast it is!!!)
Disclaimers/Rating: Same as the first chapter. I don't own them. STRONG PG13 again for implied unseemliness.
Notes: Sorry this took so long to post, RL has been super busy. That's it, no more notes, amazing!!
Thanks: Of course, standing thanks to Meg for being a great beta. And all those who reviewed, keep it up. I am almost done writing this bad boy and your encouragement keeps me going! You rock!
Walking the room, Nick enters the kitchen and looks down when his shoes make a crunching noise; there he sees what looks like the missing picture. Not wanting to touch anything without gloves, he leaves it as is and slowly moves through the apartment. First entering Sara's bedroom, he sees nothing out of place until noticing the closet doors are hanging open. Walking over, his gun trained on the opening, Nick notices one hanger pulled out as if something had been removed in a hurry. Recalling Sara's compulsive nature, he doubts she would have left a hanger there like that, much less the door wide open. Quietly moving into the last room, the bathroom, Nick finds her medicine cabinet door hanging open, the glass front smashed into pieces in the sink, the pieces glittering in the white basin.
"Shit," he says, holsters his gun, and picks up his cell phone, pushing a speed dial number.
"Warrick? Hey, it's Nick. We have a problem, I need you and Cath to get to Sara's with kits. Someone broke into her apartment...Yes, I am serious..Yeah, thanks..No, I don't think we should call her. She is out of town and I don't want to bother her..Grissom is gone too.Yeah, ohh, got it?.Good, they are due back tomorrow, I will let them know when I pick 'em up from the airport..Thanks, man."
As he is talking, Nick moves into the kitchen and grabs a cup to water the orchid, before Warrick and Cath got there and he forgets. Once that task is accomplished, Nick opens the front door and kneels down, inspecting the lock closely.
"I'll be damned," he says to no one in particular. There are fresh scratch marks on the deadbolt, and even without a magnifying glass, Nick recognizes the pattern as someone picking the lock. He is so engrossed with the door, Nick doesn't see Warrick and Catherine.
"Hey man," Warrick says and watches the young man jump up.
"Damn Warrick. Don't do that," he says and says hello to Catherine. Looking back at Warrick, Nick receives a nod.
"I brought her up to speed. Brass is enroute too. What have you got?"
"Well this door lock looks picked to me, for starters," He indicates for them to follow him. "Also, the pictures on her entertainment center have been moved around and one is now lying upside down in her kitchen. Looks like a piece of clothing is missing and the medicine cabinet door has been shattered."
"Ok boys, we are going over every inch of this place. Dust everything, I mean everything. Warrick, you get the door and kitchen, Nicky, the living room and hall. I will take the bathroom and bedroom," Catherine says and turns down the hall. When Warrick had told her what was happening while she was gone, Catherine had been concerned for her friend. She and Sara hadn't gotten off on the right foot, but lately they had moved into the realm of friends, not like Sara is with Warrick and certainly not like Nicky, granted, but Catherine truly respects the brunette.
The trio works in silence for the good part of an hour, Brass having shown up and taken Nick's statement thirty minutes ago. There isn't much he can do for a break-in, so he'd left the CSIs to their job. They all knew who had been here, it is a matter of proving it now. As Nick is dusting the top of the entertainment center, his anger at Joey Harrington and the system that refuses to do anything grows. Pulling his final print, Nick decides he is going to take matters into his own hands later. Maybe a scare tactic will work.
**Sedona, AZ**
After eating, Grissom and Sara wander around what is considered the downtown of Sedona. The entire area could be fit into the area covered by the MGM Grand. Walking slowly, Grissom grabs her hand and kisses it lightly. For once in his working career, Grissom doesn't care if he makes it back to Las Vegas and the office.
"What are you thinking?" she asks him as they approach the jeep.
"How much I love you." His admission stuns her. It's the last thing she had expected him to say. "It's ok, Sara. You don't have to say it if you don't mean it. I just realized standing here that I do love you, because I would rather be here then anywhere else."
"Grissom. Wow, I love you too." She raises a hand to stop him from speaking. "I'm not just saying it 'cause you did. You should know me better than that."
"I do. It's almost dinnertime. Lets head back to the hotel and get room service." He says and raises one eyebrow at her.
She laughs and nods at him. "Sure Gris, 'dinner', let's go."
Arriving at the room and true to his word, Grissom orders room service for both of them, getting something vegetarian for her of course. Lighting the fire in the corner, Grissom turns to her and smiles slyly.
"Chess?" he asks and indicates the board next to the fireplace with two seats next to it.
"Yeah. I hear you're losing your touch. Warrick beat you." All she receives is an exasperated look in return.
Twenty minutes into the game that Sara is barely loosing, their meals arrive. Eating in silence outside, Sara shivers from the cool wind coming in.
"You cold?"
"Not really, the wind was chilly. Once we're done eating, however, I look forward to finishing kicking your ass at chess. Don't think I forgot. I'm on a roll."
"I look forward to the challenge."
Returning to the game after eating, Sara is concentrating on her move and doesn't notice Grissom staring at her in the firelight, the only source of light in the room. 'God, she is beautiful,' he thinks, but quickly turns back to the game. Thinking like that will only get him in trouble and, well, in bed with the source of his distraction. Sara makes her move and looks up at him, making a quick decision internally.
"Your turn," she says seductively. Grissom recognizes the tone, but tries not to be swayed.
Concentrating on the board, Grissom is surprised when a foot makes contact with his shin, slowly rubbing up and down. Looking at her, Sara's face conveys nothing of what is going on under the table. Trying to keep her face neutral, she slides her bare foot up his shin and makes contact with his thigh. She can tell that he is now having a hard time concentrating on the game. For once in her life thankful for her long legs, Sara comes within inches of her target and is stopped by Grissom grabbing her foot and massaging the bottom of it. She raises one eyebrow at him, licks her lips, and, removing her foot from his grasp, gets up and sits in his lap. Sara sitting in his lap, wriggling around just right, and playing with the fine hairs at the nape of his neck is the end of Grissom's restraint; he easily lifts her light form and walks over to the bed. The game can wait.
**Las Vegas, NV**
"Nothing. I can't believe it. Every single print we lifted was either Sara's, Grissom's, or yours." Warrick lets out a loud, frustrated sigh and looks at the other man sitting next to him. "He had to have been wearing gloves. What kind of stalker wears gloves?"
"He's crazy Warrick, not stupid. He has to know that if he gets caught he won't be able to see her anymore." Nick throws down the file he is holding and begins pacing. They can't arrest him, nothing. Everyone knows it was Harrington that broke in, but they can't prove it. He left not one clue, not a print, not a hair.
"Hey Warrick, I need to run an errand. Tell Cath I'll be back in an hour, tops. Ok?" Nick takes in Warrick's dubious look."Look man, don't worry about it. I'll be back."
"Nick, I don't think this is a good idea." Warrick takes in Nick's expression, and immediately knows what he is up to.
"Warrick, you didn't see the look on his face in the parking lot. He's dangerous and I don't want anything to happen to her."
"Man, none of us want anything to happen to Sara. I just really don't think it's a good idea."
Catherine walks into the lab at that moment. "What's not a good idea?" she says with a stern look on her face.
"Nick wants to go visit our suspect." Nick throws Warrick an angry glare and addresses Catherine.
"Cat, I just want to talk to him. Maybe get him to leave her alone." His voice is hard with anger that is not directed at her.
"Nick, I know your intentions are good, but I think that will make things worse. Leave him alone."
"But Cath, Brass isn't doing anything to stop this. Joey Harrington is harassing Sara with impunity, and we aren't doing ANYTHING." He is practically yelling at Catherine by the time he finishes.
"I talked to Brass. There isn't anything he can do; there have been no direct threats of violence or harm. He can't very well place a car on Harrington, that would look like favoritism and would rile up everyone else who is being stalked. The department can't afford a lawsuit over this, they already have budget problems. It's up to us." Catherine walks to the younger man and touches his shoulder. "I know you two are close, Nick, but don't let that cloud your judgment."
"Fine Cath, I won't approach him. This is so frustrating; I don't want to tell her what happened, either." He sighs and sits back down, none of them speaking, all of them with the same thought. 'What happens when she does find out?'
**Sedona, AZ**
Lying on his side in bed, with Sara curled up into his form; Grissom pulls her pajama clad body closer into him. Nestling his face into her neck Grissom starts to drift back to sleep when her voice in dark wakes him.
"Grissom, you awake?"
"Yeah."
"Thank you for bringing me here, I loved it. Everything was perfect."
"You're welcome, Sara. Maybe we can come back soon."
"Yeah." He can hear the sleep in her voice and isn't surprised when she stops talking.
Kissing the top of her head, he swiftly falls asleep also. They need to leave pretty early the next morning in order to be home in time to get their schedules back to the night shift.
Sara is dead asleep when the ringing of the phone not only wakes her, but initially throws her into a state of panic. Sitting straight up in bed, Sara looks around for a moment, before realizing it's the wake up call they requested the night before. Placing her hand over her shirt, Sara attempts to calm her fiercely beating heart by breathing deeply.
Grissom had been slightly roused by the phone, but Sara sitting straight up in bed wakens his senses. She is still sitting straight up; he can see her chest rising and falling, quickly at first, then slowing as she regains control.
"Sara, you ok?" he asks and sits up next to her, one hand on her arm.
"Yeah, fine. The phone just startled me," she says and gets out of bed, heading for the bathroom like nothing happened.
"Ok. You sure?" he asks, concerned.
"Yes Gris, I am sure. How long do I have?" She smiles at him from the bathroom doorjamb.
"About two hours."
"Ok." She turns into the bathroom and shouts over her shoulder, "You know, we never did finish that game."
Grissom shakes his head and starts packing up their stuff; the vacation is over; it is time for the real world to return. Grissom sighs audibly at the thought
Precisely two hours later, he is checking them out of the hotel and then they're in the Jeep on the way back to Flagstaff. Sara is sitting on the passenger side, looking more relaxed than Grissom has ever seen her in the 10 years he's known her. Grissom himself feels better. He underestimated the effect of a vacation with Sara; he feels years younger, more relaxed.
Several hours later they are waiting in baggage claim at McCarran for Nick. Sara spots him first and calls his name, waving happily at him. Nick approaches the couple, the knots in his stomach clenching with every step toward them.
"Hey guys, how was Sedona?" he asks and leads them out to the car.
"Fabulous. Its so beautiful there, Nick. The sunsets are amazing, nothing like here. How did it go without us? Get a major case?"
"You could say that," he replies as they all get into the Tahoe. "Listen guys, something happened last night you need to know about now." Taking a deep breath, Nick looks at their confused faces and continues, "Sara's apartment was broken into. No major damage, a picture frame and her medicine cabinet mirror were broken and it looks like a piece of clothing was stolen. The deadbolt was picked open; there are marks. We know Harrington did it, but three hours at her place and we turned up nothing, no hairs, no fibers, not a fingerprint. So he's still out on bail."
Sara stares at him from her spot in the front passenger seat, disbelieving. "You're kidding, Nick, right? This is a joke." Grissom's hand on her shoulder tells her it's all too real.
"Sara, I would never kid about this. I am very serious. Brass' hands are tied since we can't prove who it was. You want to go to Grissom's?"
Sara looks at him. "No. My place."
"Sara.." Grissom starts from the backseat.
"NO Grissom, I want to go to my home." By now Sara's hands are starting to shake and she rests her head on the headrest, trying to hold back tears.
tbc....