Title: Day After Day
Chapter: 13
Author: Evidence
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Sorry it has been so long since I updated but I got busy. I have a few more twists and turns left, hope you enjoy.
Sara splashed cold water on her face and looked at her reflection in the mirror. In just a week she had improved immensely. The color was back in her cheeks, her bruises had begun to subside and her injuries were no longer as sore. She couldn't take the smile plastered on her face off if she wanted to. Grissom visited everyday and they had talked more in the last six days than they had in over a decade of knowing each other. Everything was moving in the right direction.
Sara ran a brush through her hair and heard footsteps behind her. His reflection appeared in the mirror.
"Ready to go?" Grissom asked.
She turned to face him. "Yup, I got everything."
He picked up the tote bag her parents had brought her clothes in and put his hand on top of hers. They walked hand and hand out to the reception desk where her parents where finishing signing forms.
Dr. Pearson, who had several confrontations with Grissom, showed his displeasure. "Miss Sidle needs a wheelchair to leave his hospital."
"She walked to a truck with a knife hanging out of her; I think she can manage." Grissom's blue eyes flashed.
"I'll take the wheelchair."
Grissom spun his head around. "What?"
"It is hospital policy and honestly I do feel a little tired."
Grissom helped her get in and wheeled her out into the afternoon light. It felt good to be able to enjoy birds singing again, Sara thought. Grissom had parked his Tahoe in the fire lane and gently lifted Sara into the passenger seat.
"Thanks," she smiled.
"My pleasure," he returned the smile.
Grissom drove both the Sidles and Sara back to his place. He hadn't been over to Sara's apartment yet, he was too busy solving cases and visiting the woman in his life.
"This is a ...nice place you got." Dan Sidle looked around the barren living room, unsure of these new surroundings.
"Thanks, it's functional." Grissom showed them to his guestroom. They began eagerly unpacking their bags from their stay at Catherine's.
"Okay, and where do I sleep?" Sara asked.
"My room."
Sara raised one eyebrow.
"Well, I won't be here and I did put clean sheets on the bed."
She chuckled. "Next time I sleep there I hope I have company."
Grissom diverted his eyes. "Did I ever show you my collection of monarch butterflies?"
"Grissom..."
"This particular species," he pointed to a picture on his wall, "originates from South America, Brazil actually."
"Stop the avoidance." Sara sighed and took a seat on his sofa. "You do this every time we start to get serious about something with our relationship."
"Do what?"
"Change the subject, try to leave the room; not a good way to start things off." Sara said.
He moved to take a place on the sofa next to her. "I'm sorry I'm just getting use to all of this."
"Okay, lets be serious for a minute. When do you want to go on our first date?"
Grissom was slightly taken back. "Sara, there is plenty of time to discuss this, you need to get your strength up."
"I'm fine."
"Sara, you went through hell and back, you are not fine."
"My injuries are almost healed, I'm on the road to recovery. The doctor gave me a clean bill of health."
Grissom removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'm not talking about physical injuries, I'm talking about the emotional and mental torture you went through. That will take time to bounce back from."
Sara rose quickly making herself feel woozy. "My mental state is fine, Grissom, don't use it for an excuse."
His voice moved up a decipal. "I'm not using it as an excuse! I'm concerned about you. I don't want us to rush into a relationship when you're not ready."
"I am ready."
"You can't be."
"One thing has nothing to do with the other." Sara turned to see her mother hovering in the guest room doorway. "Mom, please this is none of our business."
"Sara, don't be rude." Grissom walked to the counter of his kitchen island.
"I'm an adult, this has nothing to do with her."
"She's concerned about you like I am. Everyone is worried: Greg, Nick, Catherine, Warrick, even Brass. If we rush things Sara we will just ruin what we're building."
"God, you do this every time we get close, you push me away!"
"I'm not doing that."
"It sure feels like that." Sara worked into Grissom's room and slammed the door shut. She sat on his bed letting the tears flow freely. Would they ever be together? She laid down not noticing the note until it crinkled under her. She moved her hand to grab it and turned on Grissom's bedside light. The note read: Sara, sleep well, wishing I were beside you, Grissom.
Her heart beat wildly. He wasn't pushing her away; he was slowing things down out of concern. God, she had been stupid. She rushed out of the bedroom but found no Grissom.
"He left," her mother said, "He said he was going over to your place to clean it up. He'll be here later. Now, do you want me to fix you something to eat?"
Grissom's migraine was forming quickly. He had left his mediation at his place which was to do him no good now. He pushed Sara's door and watched it click into place- the super had not fixed the warp yet but it seemed to be holding. Cal and Jack, two young cops, where stationed at the door in case Mark Raymond showed up. Grissom's building had a security system so patrol cars were just going to pass by and see if anything unusual was going on.
Grissom took a seat in Sara's chair and let his head tilt back. How could she think he wanted to push her away? He was concerned about her health not trying to come up with an excuse. This is why I don't get involved, he thought, everything is so complicated. He took off his glasses and closed his eyes. A good nap might help.
Mark had seen the SUV pull up outside of Sara's. He thought for sure it was her returning home but alas the man who had come to his house strode out and into the building. Mark wanted to kill Sara, not him. He thought for a moment: what would be worse for her, being killed or losing her boyfriend? A snicker appeared on his lips. Yes, that's what he would do, take from her like she took from him. He grabbed the knife and stuck it in his back pocket. The gun that he had received from his mother he doubled checked. He was ready; Gil Grissom was going to die.
"Hey, how's the patient?" Nick smiled largely and held out the package in his hand.
Sara was not in the mood for visitors but if Nick realized that he was ignoring her. "Thanks, Nick, you shouldn't have."
"You haven't even seen what it is yet. Aren't you going to let me in?" He smiled broadly.
"Come in," she held the door open so he could enter.
"Hi, Mr. And Mrs. Sidle, how are you?"
"Fine, Nick." Laura Sidle tossed him a smile.
"Nick, can I get you anything?" Dan asked
"No, I'm fine I just wanted to check on Sara. Where's Griss?"
Sara bent her head. "He's at my place. We...we kinda had a fight."
Nick gave a knowing look. "I'm sure everything will be okay. Now stop procrastinating and open my gift."
Sara ripped through the metallic like paper and glanced at a forensic textbook.
"I thought I would bring work to you seeing you can't be at the lab."
"Thanks, Nick."
The phone rang just then. Sara sighed. "Maybe that's Grissom." She picked up and with a mellow voice said, "Hello."
"Um, Miss Sidle."
"Yes?" She frowned, who was this? Nick moved closer to her.
"This is Bernie Lombard, you're building manager. I was told by a Captain Brass that this was your temporary number."
"Oh, yes, Mr. Lombard did you fix the door."
"Not yet but I'm calling to tell you some guy is in your apartment."
"Oh," she laughed, "That's okay, he's suppose to be there. He's cleaning up my place for me."
Mr. Lombard seemed relieved. "Boy, everyone is having guests lately doing some cleaning."
"Everyone?"
"Yeah, you know Doug Jennings?"
Sara thought she had heard the name before. "Not sure."
"Well, he lives right next door to you. He moved out a few weeks ago and his friend is fixing up the place for the next tenant I get. Did you meet Doug's friend? Nice guy, Mark something."
"Mark?" The hairs on the back of Sara's neck stood up.
"Yeah, he's there right now."
"Have you see him?" Imagines, thoughts were spiraling through her mind. Could this Mark be the same man who had held her captive in the mountains?
"No, I only talked to him on the phone. Well, I saw him one day packing up stuff before Doug left." Mr. Lombard paused. "Yeah, now I remember Mark said something about how you reminded him of someone. I told him how I had to fix your door. He offered to help, nice kid. Is there a problem?"
"Yes, thank you Mr. Lombard." She hung up and turned toward Nick. "He's there."
"Who?"
"Raymond. He's staying at my apartment building. Dad, call the police and tell them to meet us there. Nick, come on." Sara began running for the door.
"Whoa! Let's have the police handle this. I'm sure he wouldn't be stupid enough to take any chances. Plus Grissom has two cops outside of his door."
"I'm not taking the chance of losing Grissom. Now I'm going over there, are you coming or not?" Her voice was shaky but powerful.
Nick sighed. "Let's go."
As Sara left she could hear her father calling the police. She glanced back to see the worry in her mother's eyes. She couldn't let anything happen to Grissom. Life without him once was too much to bear. With her heart in her throat she sat speechless in Nick's Tahoe as he zoomed to her apartment.
Mark opened the window and threw a rock down on the police car out front. The glass smashed and he heard the two officers' shocked voices. Soon he heard their feet running down the stairs. He just had to wait. He stood in silence remembering what his father had taught him about hunting. Don't make a sound near your prey. The officers' steps thundered back up the steps shortly. When their steps approached Mark's door, he opened it slightly and shot. Moans reached his ears and he knew he had succeeded. He opened the door and saw the two men lying in a pool of a blood. Neither moved. At first Mark had trouble murdering someone, he tried to do Sara in for weeks, but now the final straw of his sanity had snapped. Murder was easy and fun. Mark moved to Sara's apartment door and pushed it open. It was almost too easy.
Grissom's migraine had reached its peak. He kept his eyes closed craning his head back. He knew the officers had said something to him but the words where distorted. Some sounds were made outside of the door but his ears couldn't tell him what they were. He was in a haze, a haze from the pounding in his head, the deafness of his ears at the moment and the utter sick feeling in his stomach. Why did he have to upset Sara? Grissom did not realize that someone was standing behind him, a gun pointed at his gray curls.
Nick had barely stopped the SUV before Sara jumped out. "Sara, wait!" he yelled to no avail.
Sara threw herself into running up the stairs. Her heart was pounding out of her chest; the area where the knife cut into her began to burn. She wouldn't stop, not until she knew Grissom was okay. Her stomach flipped as she saw two prone figures on the stairs. The police officers were covered with blood and now she could hear the cries of residents of her apartment building who must have heard the battle. Grissom? Was he still alive? She jumped over the men and ran for her open door.
Nick was at her heals. "Sara!"
She entered her eyes witnessing a horrible sight: Mark Raymond standing over the chair in her living room. "Grissom!" she screamed and heard with sinking terror the gun go off.
To be continued...
Chapter: 13
Author: Evidence
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Sorry it has been so long since I updated but I got busy. I have a few more twists and turns left, hope you enjoy.
Sara splashed cold water on her face and looked at her reflection in the mirror. In just a week she had improved immensely. The color was back in her cheeks, her bruises had begun to subside and her injuries were no longer as sore. She couldn't take the smile plastered on her face off if she wanted to. Grissom visited everyday and they had talked more in the last six days than they had in over a decade of knowing each other. Everything was moving in the right direction.
Sara ran a brush through her hair and heard footsteps behind her. His reflection appeared in the mirror.
"Ready to go?" Grissom asked.
She turned to face him. "Yup, I got everything."
He picked up the tote bag her parents had brought her clothes in and put his hand on top of hers. They walked hand and hand out to the reception desk where her parents where finishing signing forms.
Dr. Pearson, who had several confrontations with Grissom, showed his displeasure. "Miss Sidle needs a wheelchair to leave his hospital."
"She walked to a truck with a knife hanging out of her; I think she can manage." Grissom's blue eyes flashed.
"I'll take the wheelchair."
Grissom spun his head around. "What?"
"It is hospital policy and honestly I do feel a little tired."
Grissom helped her get in and wheeled her out into the afternoon light. It felt good to be able to enjoy birds singing again, Sara thought. Grissom had parked his Tahoe in the fire lane and gently lifted Sara into the passenger seat.
"Thanks," she smiled.
"My pleasure," he returned the smile.
Grissom drove both the Sidles and Sara back to his place. He hadn't been over to Sara's apartment yet, he was too busy solving cases and visiting the woman in his life.
"This is a ...nice place you got." Dan Sidle looked around the barren living room, unsure of these new surroundings.
"Thanks, it's functional." Grissom showed them to his guestroom. They began eagerly unpacking their bags from their stay at Catherine's.
"Okay, and where do I sleep?" Sara asked.
"My room."
Sara raised one eyebrow.
"Well, I won't be here and I did put clean sheets on the bed."
She chuckled. "Next time I sleep there I hope I have company."
Grissom diverted his eyes. "Did I ever show you my collection of monarch butterflies?"
"Grissom..."
"This particular species," he pointed to a picture on his wall, "originates from South America, Brazil actually."
"Stop the avoidance." Sara sighed and took a seat on his sofa. "You do this every time we start to get serious about something with our relationship."
"Do what?"
"Change the subject, try to leave the room; not a good way to start things off." Sara said.
He moved to take a place on the sofa next to her. "I'm sorry I'm just getting use to all of this."
"Okay, lets be serious for a minute. When do you want to go on our first date?"
Grissom was slightly taken back. "Sara, there is plenty of time to discuss this, you need to get your strength up."
"I'm fine."
"Sara, you went through hell and back, you are not fine."
"My injuries are almost healed, I'm on the road to recovery. The doctor gave me a clean bill of health."
Grissom removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'm not talking about physical injuries, I'm talking about the emotional and mental torture you went through. That will take time to bounce back from."
Sara rose quickly making herself feel woozy. "My mental state is fine, Grissom, don't use it for an excuse."
His voice moved up a decipal. "I'm not using it as an excuse! I'm concerned about you. I don't want us to rush into a relationship when you're not ready."
"I am ready."
"You can't be."
"One thing has nothing to do with the other." Sara turned to see her mother hovering in the guest room doorway. "Mom, please this is none of our business."
"Sara, don't be rude." Grissom walked to the counter of his kitchen island.
"I'm an adult, this has nothing to do with her."
"She's concerned about you like I am. Everyone is worried: Greg, Nick, Catherine, Warrick, even Brass. If we rush things Sara we will just ruin what we're building."
"God, you do this every time we get close, you push me away!"
"I'm not doing that."
"It sure feels like that." Sara worked into Grissom's room and slammed the door shut. She sat on his bed letting the tears flow freely. Would they ever be together? She laid down not noticing the note until it crinkled under her. She moved her hand to grab it and turned on Grissom's bedside light. The note read: Sara, sleep well, wishing I were beside you, Grissom.
Her heart beat wildly. He wasn't pushing her away; he was slowing things down out of concern. God, she had been stupid. She rushed out of the bedroom but found no Grissom.
"He left," her mother said, "He said he was going over to your place to clean it up. He'll be here later. Now, do you want me to fix you something to eat?"
Grissom's migraine was forming quickly. He had left his mediation at his place which was to do him no good now. He pushed Sara's door and watched it click into place- the super had not fixed the warp yet but it seemed to be holding. Cal and Jack, two young cops, where stationed at the door in case Mark Raymond showed up. Grissom's building had a security system so patrol cars were just going to pass by and see if anything unusual was going on.
Grissom took a seat in Sara's chair and let his head tilt back. How could she think he wanted to push her away? He was concerned about her health not trying to come up with an excuse. This is why I don't get involved, he thought, everything is so complicated. He took off his glasses and closed his eyes. A good nap might help.
Mark had seen the SUV pull up outside of Sara's. He thought for sure it was her returning home but alas the man who had come to his house strode out and into the building. Mark wanted to kill Sara, not him. He thought for a moment: what would be worse for her, being killed or losing her boyfriend? A snicker appeared on his lips. Yes, that's what he would do, take from her like she took from him. He grabbed the knife and stuck it in his back pocket. The gun that he had received from his mother he doubled checked. He was ready; Gil Grissom was going to die.
"Hey, how's the patient?" Nick smiled largely and held out the package in his hand.
Sara was not in the mood for visitors but if Nick realized that he was ignoring her. "Thanks, Nick, you shouldn't have."
"You haven't even seen what it is yet. Aren't you going to let me in?" He smiled broadly.
"Come in," she held the door open so he could enter.
"Hi, Mr. And Mrs. Sidle, how are you?"
"Fine, Nick." Laura Sidle tossed him a smile.
"Nick, can I get you anything?" Dan asked
"No, I'm fine I just wanted to check on Sara. Where's Griss?"
Sara bent her head. "He's at my place. We...we kinda had a fight."
Nick gave a knowing look. "I'm sure everything will be okay. Now stop procrastinating and open my gift."
Sara ripped through the metallic like paper and glanced at a forensic textbook.
"I thought I would bring work to you seeing you can't be at the lab."
"Thanks, Nick."
The phone rang just then. Sara sighed. "Maybe that's Grissom." She picked up and with a mellow voice said, "Hello."
"Um, Miss Sidle."
"Yes?" She frowned, who was this? Nick moved closer to her.
"This is Bernie Lombard, you're building manager. I was told by a Captain Brass that this was your temporary number."
"Oh, yes, Mr. Lombard did you fix the door."
"Not yet but I'm calling to tell you some guy is in your apartment."
"Oh," she laughed, "That's okay, he's suppose to be there. He's cleaning up my place for me."
Mr. Lombard seemed relieved. "Boy, everyone is having guests lately doing some cleaning."
"Everyone?"
"Yeah, you know Doug Jennings?"
Sara thought she had heard the name before. "Not sure."
"Well, he lives right next door to you. He moved out a few weeks ago and his friend is fixing up the place for the next tenant I get. Did you meet Doug's friend? Nice guy, Mark something."
"Mark?" The hairs on the back of Sara's neck stood up.
"Yeah, he's there right now."
"Have you see him?" Imagines, thoughts were spiraling through her mind. Could this Mark be the same man who had held her captive in the mountains?
"No, I only talked to him on the phone. Well, I saw him one day packing up stuff before Doug left." Mr. Lombard paused. "Yeah, now I remember Mark said something about how you reminded him of someone. I told him how I had to fix your door. He offered to help, nice kid. Is there a problem?"
"Yes, thank you Mr. Lombard." She hung up and turned toward Nick. "He's there."
"Who?"
"Raymond. He's staying at my apartment building. Dad, call the police and tell them to meet us there. Nick, come on." Sara began running for the door.
"Whoa! Let's have the police handle this. I'm sure he wouldn't be stupid enough to take any chances. Plus Grissom has two cops outside of his door."
"I'm not taking the chance of losing Grissom. Now I'm going over there, are you coming or not?" Her voice was shaky but powerful.
Nick sighed. "Let's go."
As Sara left she could hear her father calling the police. She glanced back to see the worry in her mother's eyes. She couldn't let anything happen to Grissom. Life without him once was too much to bear. With her heart in her throat she sat speechless in Nick's Tahoe as he zoomed to her apartment.
Mark opened the window and threw a rock down on the police car out front. The glass smashed and he heard the two officers' shocked voices. Soon he heard their feet running down the stairs. He just had to wait. He stood in silence remembering what his father had taught him about hunting. Don't make a sound near your prey. The officers' steps thundered back up the steps shortly. When their steps approached Mark's door, he opened it slightly and shot. Moans reached his ears and he knew he had succeeded. He opened the door and saw the two men lying in a pool of a blood. Neither moved. At first Mark had trouble murdering someone, he tried to do Sara in for weeks, but now the final straw of his sanity had snapped. Murder was easy and fun. Mark moved to Sara's apartment door and pushed it open. It was almost too easy.
Grissom's migraine had reached its peak. He kept his eyes closed craning his head back. He knew the officers had said something to him but the words where distorted. Some sounds were made outside of the door but his ears couldn't tell him what they were. He was in a haze, a haze from the pounding in his head, the deafness of his ears at the moment and the utter sick feeling in his stomach. Why did he have to upset Sara? Grissom did not realize that someone was standing behind him, a gun pointed at his gray curls.
Nick had barely stopped the SUV before Sara jumped out. "Sara, wait!" he yelled to no avail.
Sara threw herself into running up the stairs. Her heart was pounding out of her chest; the area where the knife cut into her began to burn. She wouldn't stop, not until she knew Grissom was okay. Her stomach flipped as she saw two prone figures on the stairs. The police officers were covered with blood and now she could hear the cries of residents of her apartment building who must have heard the battle. Grissom? Was he still alive? She jumped over the men and ran for her open door.
Nick was at her heals. "Sara!"
She entered her eyes witnessing a horrible sight: Mark Raymond standing over the chair in her living room. "Grissom!" she screamed and heard with sinking terror the gun go off.
To be continued...