Chapter 7
I was waiting outside Grissom's office by the time he came out of the interviewing room. Leaning against the wall, it's coolness seeping through my jacket, I felt a lightness in my chest. It's done with, I couldn't help but think, though I knew there was much more to come; the trial, the sentencing, the day she finally was released on parole: more to look out for and think about in the future. But for now the weight was lifted slightly. My view of myself and the reality was beginning to blur at the edges and fade into each other, and that made me feel a whole lot more peaceful and calm.
Looking up lazily I clocked Grissom walking towards me. His head was down and he hadn't noticed me yet, and a smile inched its way onto my lips. One good thing about all this, I thought, is this man. Now that I felt the stress lifting from me, I felt free to admit that I was very attracted to Grissom. Not my usual type, true. Or at least physically he wasn't. But I had only met a few men in my time who rivalled his intelligence, and the comeliness of his face, the shade of his eyes and the way they pinned my own, was enough to give me chills; of the good kind.
My smile grew wider and I started walking towards him. I was just opening my mouth to greet him, when I noticed a group of people coming down the adjoining corridor. I turned my head slightly just to see if it was anyone I knew, and my eyes locked on Felicity Tyler's. Shit, I thought briefly, and I watched distantly as she struggled with the men beside her and launched herself towards me.
I registered that she wasn't wearing handcuffs, and the click of her heels on the hard floor echoed in the near empty corridor. I braced myself for the attack, eyes focussed on her speeding body, peripherally taking in the positions of Grissom to my right, and the guards hot footing behind my soon to be assailant.
When she was only a few feet from me she raised her arm, the small hand balled in a tight fist.
'You bitch! You FUCKING BITCH!' She roared as she threw herself at me.
I dodged the first blow, grabbing her body and throwing her away from me so that she hit the adjacent wall. But her anger numbed the pain, and she was on me in a minute.
I avoided all her blows, though one glanced off the top of my head, causing little more than a brief painful ache. Her hands were flailing near my neck, trying to get a hold, when someone grabbed her and pulled her forcefully away from me. Expecting to see the guards, I was shocked to see Grissom trying to restrain Felicity. Almost in slow motion I watched as Felicity turned, pushing Grissom away and swinging a fist at his face. It found it's target, and Grissom turned under the force of it, his hands coming up to his face as if feeling for the damage.
Stepping forwards I grabbed Felicity and pinned the bitch to the wall, making sure I smacked her quite painfully against it. That's for Gill, I thought angrily.
She struggled and twisted like a wildcat, and each time she did I pushed her a little harder against the wall. She was screaming obscenities, and it was only when the guards finally got their act together and came up to take her, that her body slumped and she started sobbing pitifully, sounding as if her heart was breaking.
I was beyond fury. Wheeling round on the guards I pinned them with my angry gaze.
'And what the hell was she doing out of her handcuffs?'
One of them stupidly opened his mouth to answer, and I motioned for him to shut it with a sharp hand gesture.
'No. I don't want to hear it. You both know the drill, and the rule is there because things like this', and here I gestured at Felicity, 'happen.'
'Ma'am,' one of them started, a tall man I recognised.
'No, Roberts.' I stared him down.
'You're lucky I don't report you. Now do your job and get this woman the hell out of here.'
They turned, their eyes blazing but their heads held ever so slightly down as if they too were ashamed of their actions.
Turning to Grissom, I could see that he was leaning against the wall, his hand over his eye.
'You ok?' I asked, my voice now soft and concerned.
'Yes, I'm fine.' He replied, his voice steady.
Gently I pulled his hand away from his eye and took in the already bruised flesh and I nasty cut left by what must have been a ring.
'Ouch, looks pretty painful.' I smoothed my hand along his cheek as I took in the damage. He caught my eyes, and the steady gaze of them left me feeling a little flustered.
'C'mon,' I said slightly briskly to hide my reaction. 'We'd better get some ice on this.'
I pressed the ice pack gently to Grissom's already swelling eye, a little smile gracing my lips as he winced slightly.
When he lifted a hand to take hold of the pack, his fingers brushed against mine, and my smile grew ever so slightly wider.
'I think you'll survive.' I joked, eyes laughing into his.
'Yes, and now we match.' He gestured to my own black eye. I laughed, easing myself up.
'Well, I'd better be going.' I looked down at Grissom, wanting more then anything to ask him to dinner tonight. But there was something about him that made me pause, something that shook my usual confidence. I honestly couldn't guess whether he would say yes or not, and for some reason I was unwilling to take the risk. Maybe I didn't want to lose face in front of such an intelligent and collected individual.
My hand was just on the door handle when Grissom said, 'England.'
I stopped, turned around. 'What?' I inquired, amusement and puzzlement in my voice.
'You're originally from England, which is why I couldn't place your accent.'
I grinned at him. 'Correct. I knew you would get it.' I started to laugh, and Grissom cocked his head, looking so comical with the ice pack covering half his face.
'What?' His voice was warm with humour.
'Its just Americans always take so long placing any British accent which isn't cockney or Coventry.'
He smiled. 'True, but you do have a slight New York twang obscuring it.'
I nodded. 'Yes.'
Once more I turned to go, and once more he stopped me.
'Your father was a forensic scientist, was he not?'
'Is that how you discovered where I was from? By looking up my family name?' I tilted my head, curious.
Grissom shook his. 'Too easy. I did that to confirm my conclusion.'
I chuckled, leaning back against the door.
'Yes, he was a forensic scientist, a crime scene investigator.' I smiled slightly, thinking about my dad, who even retired could not stay away from his work. He spent most of the day examining unsolved cases, puzzling through the evidence and generally continuing to work himself hard.
'You obviously have a keen interest in this line of work. Why didn't you pursue it as a career?'
Grissom was obviously interested, and he moved the icepack away from his face whilst he spoke.
I tutted quietly, walking over to him so I could crouch down and gentle take hold of his hand, moving it and the icepack back to his swollen eye. I let my hand linger on his for a while before, placing it on his knee for balance.
'My dad loved his job, and I remember how every night he would come home looking so peaceful and happy, like he had really achieved something.' I looked up into Gill's face as I spoke, keenly away of the heat of his knee underneath my palm.
'But every now and then he would come home, and he would look awful. His face would be ashen, his eyes dull, his shoulders drooped; everything registering defeat.
When I was old enough to understand I asked him why he looked so sad.' Here I took a breath.
'He told me that although he knew what he did was important, although he knew he helped to solve crime, he also knew that he didn't prevent it: not really. He knew that he was a clean up man, an after guy who was there to clean up and sort through the mess. He was more of an undertaker than an activist. And he told me that eventually this realisation begins to eat at one's soul.'
Grissom lowered the icepack once more, and this time I didn't make him return it.
'So I became a cop, because this way I have a higher chance of preventing the crime, than cleaning up after it.
Of course,' I said as I stood, 'I am no way belittling your work, as both my father and I realised that sometimes enough is discovered to prevent further atrocities, but still. . .' I paused. 'Looking at what it would do to him, I realised that I didn't want my loved ones to see the same in me.'
I smiled, and even I could feel that it was a sad smile. Attempting to lighten the atmosphere I shook my head self-deprecatingly.
'Anyway, it was a pleasure making your acquaintance, Grissom. I hope the next time we meet it's under more pleasant circumstances.' I reached out a hand, and he curled his fingers around mine and shook it firmly.
'Yes.' Was all he said, a smile pulling the corners of his mouth up becomingly.
Once more I wanted to ask him to dinner, and once more my courage failed.
'Goodbye.' I said, forcing a smile, before turning and walking from his office.
I was still cursing myself for not finding the courage to ask Grissom out, as I made my way over to my motorcycle. I ran my hand absentmindedly down the Yamaha's sleek, black side when a voice behind me made me jump in shock.
'Sorry for startling you.' Said a now very familiar voice. I smiled.
'No problem. What can I do for you Grissom?'
The weak sunlight emphasised the bruising of his eye, and his eyes looked slate-grey, not their usual blue. His hair moved ever so slightly in the breeze, and his jacket hung on him loosely, making me wonder if another person could squeeze themselves in their. I bit back a knowing smile.
He paused, and suddenly I realised that he himself was uncertain. I felt like a light bulb had turned itself on in my chest, and it took all my control not to grin like an idiot.
'I was wondering,' he stopped, looked at the floor, then back up to my face, 'if you would like to have dinner with me tonight?'
A slow smile curved the corners of my lips, and because I'd already missed one opportunity today, I leant forwards and brushed my lips against his.
When I felt him respond, tentatively and then more confidently, I felt happy for the first time since this whole horrible case had started.
'Pick me up at eight?' I asked as I broke the kiss and leant away from him. My hands rested lightly on his chest, and it seemed so natural for us to stand this way.
'Sure.' His eyes up close were even more entrancing, and I smiled into them.
'Great, see you then.' I murmured, leaning in once more to press a kiss to his lips.
Then swinging my leg over my bike, pulling on my helmet and giving Grissom a little wave, I revved my Yamaha and started home, already thinking about my date tonight with this fantastic man who had helped me so much.
I was waiting outside Grissom's office by the time he came out of the interviewing room. Leaning against the wall, it's coolness seeping through my jacket, I felt a lightness in my chest. It's done with, I couldn't help but think, though I knew there was much more to come; the trial, the sentencing, the day she finally was released on parole: more to look out for and think about in the future. But for now the weight was lifted slightly. My view of myself and the reality was beginning to blur at the edges and fade into each other, and that made me feel a whole lot more peaceful and calm.
Looking up lazily I clocked Grissom walking towards me. His head was down and he hadn't noticed me yet, and a smile inched its way onto my lips. One good thing about all this, I thought, is this man. Now that I felt the stress lifting from me, I felt free to admit that I was very attracted to Grissom. Not my usual type, true. Or at least physically he wasn't. But I had only met a few men in my time who rivalled his intelligence, and the comeliness of his face, the shade of his eyes and the way they pinned my own, was enough to give me chills; of the good kind.
My smile grew wider and I started walking towards him. I was just opening my mouth to greet him, when I noticed a group of people coming down the adjoining corridor. I turned my head slightly just to see if it was anyone I knew, and my eyes locked on Felicity Tyler's. Shit, I thought briefly, and I watched distantly as she struggled with the men beside her and launched herself towards me.
I registered that she wasn't wearing handcuffs, and the click of her heels on the hard floor echoed in the near empty corridor. I braced myself for the attack, eyes focussed on her speeding body, peripherally taking in the positions of Grissom to my right, and the guards hot footing behind my soon to be assailant.
When she was only a few feet from me she raised her arm, the small hand balled in a tight fist.
'You bitch! You FUCKING BITCH!' She roared as she threw herself at me.
I dodged the first blow, grabbing her body and throwing her away from me so that she hit the adjacent wall. But her anger numbed the pain, and she was on me in a minute.
I avoided all her blows, though one glanced off the top of my head, causing little more than a brief painful ache. Her hands were flailing near my neck, trying to get a hold, when someone grabbed her and pulled her forcefully away from me. Expecting to see the guards, I was shocked to see Grissom trying to restrain Felicity. Almost in slow motion I watched as Felicity turned, pushing Grissom away and swinging a fist at his face. It found it's target, and Grissom turned under the force of it, his hands coming up to his face as if feeling for the damage.
Stepping forwards I grabbed Felicity and pinned the bitch to the wall, making sure I smacked her quite painfully against it. That's for Gill, I thought angrily.
She struggled and twisted like a wildcat, and each time she did I pushed her a little harder against the wall. She was screaming obscenities, and it was only when the guards finally got their act together and came up to take her, that her body slumped and she started sobbing pitifully, sounding as if her heart was breaking.
I was beyond fury. Wheeling round on the guards I pinned them with my angry gaze.
'And what the hell was she doing out of her handcuffs?'
One of them stupidly opened his mouth to answer, and I motioned for him to shut it with a sharp hand gesture.
'No. I don't want to hear it. You both know the drill, and the rule is there because things like this', and here I gestured at Felicity, 'happen.'
'Ma'am,' one of them started, a tall man I recognised.
'No, Roberts.' I stared him down.
'You're lucky I don't report you. Now do your job and get this woman the hell out of here.'
They turned, their eyes blazing but their heads held ever so slightly down as if they too were ashamed of their actions.
Turning to Grissom, I could see that he was leaning against the wall, his hand over his eye.
'You ok?' I asked, my voice now soft and concerned.
'Yes, I'm fine.' He replied, his voice steady.
Gently I pulled his hand away from his eye and took in the already bruised flesh and I nasty cut left by what must have been a ring.
'Ouch, looks pretty painful.' I smoothed my hand along his cheek as I took in the damage. He caught my eyes, and the steady gaze of them left me feeling a little flustered.
'C'mon,' I said slightly briskly to hide my reaction. 'We'd better get some ice on this.'
I pressed the ice pack gently to Grissom's already swelling eye, a little smile gracing my lips as he winced slightly.
When he lifted a hand to take hold of the pack, his fingers brushed against mine, and my smile grew ever so slightly wider.
'I think you'll survive.' I joked, eyes laughing into his.
'Yes, and now we match.' He gestured to my own black eye. I laughed, easing myself up.
'Well, I'd better be going.' I looked down at Grissom, wanting more then anything to ask him to dinner tonight. But there was something about him that made me pause, something that shook my usual confidence. I honestly couldn't guess whether he would say yes or not, and for some reason I was unwilling to take the risk. Maybe I didn't want to lose face in front of such an intelligent and collected individual.
My hand was just on the door handle when Grissom said, 'England.'
I stopped, turned around. 'What?' I inquired, amusement and puzzlement in my voice.
'You're originally from England, which is why I couldn't place your accent.'
I grinned at him. 'Correct. I knew you would get it.' I started to laugh, and Grissom cocked his head, looking so comical with the ice pack covering half his face.
'What?' His voice was warm with humour.
'Its just Americans always take so long placing any British accent which isn't cockney or Coventry.'
He smiled. 'True, but you do have a slight New York twang obscuring it.'
I nodded. 'Yes.'
Once more I turned to go, and once more he stopped me.
'Your father was a forensic scientist, was he not?'
'Is that how you discovered where I was from? By looking up my family name?' I tilted my head, curious.
Grissom shook his. 'Too easy. I did that to confirm my conclusion.'
I chuckled, leaning back against the door.
'Yes, he was a forensic scientist, a crime scene investigator.' I smiled slightly, thinking about my dad, who even retired could not stay away from his work. He spent most of the day examining unsolved cases, puzzling through the evidence and generally continuing to work himself hard.
'You obviously have a keen interest in this line of work. Why didn't you pursue it as a career?'
Grissom was obviously interested, and he moved the icepack away from his face whilst he spoke.
I tutted quietly, walking over to him so I could crouch down and gentle take hold of his hand, moving it and the icepack back to his swollen eye. I let my hand linger on his for a while before, placing it on his knee for balance.
'My dad loved his job, and I remember how every night he would come home looking so peaceful and happy, like he had really achieved something.' I looked up into Gill's face as I spoke, keenly away of the heat of his knee underneath my palm.
'But every now and then he would come home, and he would look awful. His face would be ashen, his eyes dull, his shoulders drooped; everything registering defeat.
When I was old enough to understand I asked him why he looked so sad.' Here I took a breath.
'He told me that although he knew what he did was important, although he knew he helped to solve crime, he also knew that he didn't prevent it: not really. He knew that he was a clean up man, an after guy who was there to clean up and sort through the mess. He was more of an undertaker than an activist. And he told me that eventually this realisation begins to eat at one's soul.'
Grissom lowered the icepack once more, and this time I didn't make him return it.
'So I became a cop, because this way I have a higher chance of preventing the crime, than cleaning up after it.
Of course,' I said as I stood, 'I am no way belittling your work, as both my father and I realised that sometimes enough is discovered to prevent further atrocities, but still. . .' I paused. 'Looking at what it would do to him, I realised that I didn't want my loved ones to see the same in me.'
I smiled, and even I could feel that it was a sad smile. Attempting to lighten the atmosphere I shook my head self-deprecatingly.
'Anyway, it was a pleasure making your acquaintance, Grissom. I hope the next time we meet it's under more pleasant circumstances.' I reached out a hand, and he curled his fingers around mine and shook it firmly.
'Yes.' Was all he said, a smile pulling the corners of his mouth up becomingly.
Once more I wanted to ask him to dinner, and once more my courage failed.
'Goodbye.' I said, forcing a smile, before turning and walking from his office.
I was still cursing myself for not finding the courage to ask Grissom out, as I made my way over to my motorcycle. I ran my hand absentmindedly down the Yamaha's sleek, black side when a voice behind me made me jump in shock.
'Sorry for startling you.' Said a now very familiar voice. I smiled.
'No problem. What can I do for you Grissom?'
The weak sunlight emphasised the bruising of his eye, and his eyes looked slate-grey, not their usual blue. His hair moved ever so slightly in the breeze, and his jacket hung on him loosely, making me wonder if another person could squeeze themselves in their. I bit back a knowing smile.
He paused, and suddenly I realised that he himself was uncertain. I felt like a light bulb had turned itself on in my chest, and it took all my control not to grin like an idiot.
'I was wondering,' he stopped, looked at the floor, then back up to my face, 'if you would like to have dinner with me tonight?'
A slow smile curved the corners of my lips, and because I'd already missed one opportunity today, I leant forwards and brushed my lips against his.
When I felt him respond, tentatively and then more confidently, I felt happy for the first time since this whole horrible case had started.
'Pick me up at eight?' I asked as I broke the kiss and leant away from him. My hands rested lightly on his chest, and it seemed so natural for us to stand this way.
'Sure.' His eyes up close were even more entrancing, and I smiled into them.
'Great, see you then.' I murmured, leaning in once more to press a kiss to his lips.
Then swinging my leg over my bike, pulling on my helmet and giving Grissom a little wave, I revved my Yamaha and started home, already thinking about my date tonight with this fantastic man who had helped me so much.