Chapter 11
I can do this. I knock lightly on her door but there isn't an answer. It seems like hours pass as I stand there. My hands twitch nervously at my side. I knock harder but nothing. The only thing separating me and Sara is her door. I came this far, right? I should go. This has to be a sign. Since when do I believe in signs? Since it is Sara. I ball my fist and knock a little louder. One more...
"Excuse me but what do you think your doing?"
I turn to see an elderly lady standing just in the doorway of the apartment to the right of Sara's. "Nothing ma'am."
"All that pounding implies something."
"I was knocking not pounding." I point out. I don't need anymore opposition than I put on myself right now. Please go away, I beg.
"Sounded like pounding to me. Who are you anyway?"
"Gil Grissom. Sara's boss." I flash her my badge, and the light bulb comes on. "She told me to come by and pick up some papers for work. Do you have a key?"
"Sir I don't care who you are but if Sara isn't answering her door it is for a good reason. Your papers can wait."
Damn. Time for a different tactic. "Okay the truth is I need to check on her. I am worried that she might by sick."
Her brow knitted in confusion then anger. "Are you the bastard that hit her?"
Her tone surprises me. Such an old lady shouldn't be so hostile. "Excuse me?"
"Look I know your kind. Just because you have a badge you think it excludes you from being an ass. No, I know your type. No good slobs that use good women like Sara to make yourself feel powerful." She approaches me. "I ought to call the police for what you did to her. Poor child hasn't talked to me for days because of your handiwork. Let me tell you something..."
"Ma'am I didn't abuse Sara. She was injured at work. I am just her boss, not her boyfriend."
"That's even worse. Physically abusing her is as bad as emotional abuse and neglect. Playing with her heart is shameful Mr. Gil Grissom. Now get out before I introduce you to my cane."
Neglect? Playing with her heart? What the hell? I open my mouth to refuse but something tells me that this woman isn't kidding. "Okay I am going."
She shakes her cane at me as I descend down the stairwell. I stop and wait for ten minutes before slowly climbing back up the stairs to Sara's door. I remove my lock pick and tiptoe passed the neighbor's door. After finally getting both of Sara's locks open I peek inside. It's dark. The door creaks and I look over my shoulder to make sure the noise didn't arouse the shrew.
I breathe a sigh of relief and close the door quietly behind me. I can't see a thing. It's just too dark. I hate to intrude but...wait what was I thinking?! I just broke into Sara's apartment! What if she is not fully clothed? Sara values her privacy and I just violated her. Dammit. I cannot believe I just did that! I am such an idiot! Sara would never forgive me for this. I should get out of here. Now! She'll never even know...
"Oh Shit!" I thud to the floor when my forehead makes contact with Sara's paranoia and something very hard.
"Grissom?" Sara leans over me. "Grissom! God are you okay?!"
I find it hard to focus. Everything becomes fuzzy. I hear myself groan in pain. What the hell did she hit me with?! She rushes away from me to turn on the light. The bright light only brings more pain to my pounding head. This will be a migraine for sure.
"Grissom can you hear me?"
I close my eyes briefly gathering strength to speak. "Loud and clear Sara."
"You're bleeding."
"What did you hit me with?" I dab away the blood with my fingers.
"Frying pan. I knew my cookery would be useful for something." I know she is only trying to lighten the mood, but I also know it is a sad attempt. She didn't even smile. Well at least she hasn't killed me for breaking in. Yet.
"Can you sit up?" She asks looking me over.
I struggle to prop myself on my elbows then she grabs me under my arms to help me up. I am thankful for the suggestion and the contact. She leads me to the couch and sits me down.
"How do you feel?"
I lean forward and put my face in my hands. "Like I got hit with a frying pan."
"You have a deep gash. Let me get my first aid kit."
I watch her bare feet pad away then close my eyes. I touch the cut on my forehead and wince in pain. The knot has already formed right above my left eyebrow. It's no wonder I am bleeding. It is probably going to leave a nasty bruise too. She really knocked me good. She returns and sits in front of me on the wooden coffee table. My eyes spring open when our knees touch just barely. I look down and her navy satin pajama laden legs are too close to mine.
She fishes through her kit. "What are you doing here anyway?"
Her voice has a bitterness in it that I can detect. "You didn't answer your phone."
She looks up almost confused that I would be calling her to begin with. "I was taking a shower."
I just notice her hair is still soaking wet. I must have surprised her just getting out of the shower and she didn't have time to dry it. That explains the glistening on her neck and collarbone. "Sorry." I choke out.
She dabbed a cotton ball with some rubbing alcohol and brought it to my head. "Me too."
Again her voice holds something more than just what the words imply. I haven't the courage to say anything bold just yet. I jerk away from her hand. "That burns Sara."
She frowned at me and continues to cause me pain with that damn cotton ball. "It's deep of course it's going to burn. Baby."
My eyes lock with hers. Did she just call me baby?
She quickly turns back to the cut. "I would have thought you would have a higher threshold for pain." She says with a strained voice.
Jeeze Gil. You wish she was calling you baby that bad huh? She was talking about your reaction to the cut you moron. I shake away the annoying thoughts. "I would have thought you would have a more caring hand."
She tries to smile but it is weak. Her eyes are pink rimmed. I know she has been crying. Evidently she felt something for that guy or she wouldn't be crying over him. What should I say? Her eye looks painfully red. Should I start with that? I close my eyes to collect my thoughts but instead the pain gets worse. My eyes fly open when a soft rush of air hits the cut. I watch her in amazement as she focuses intently on the task at hand. She continues to softly blow on the cut to alleviate the burning. This isn't safe. This goes against every rule I made.
"I'm fine Sara you can stop." I say.
She backs away angrily. "I could have shot you Grissom. What were you thinking breaking into my apartment?" She applies the butterfly bandages roughly as she speaks.
"You didn't pick up your phone." I repeat through the pain. I get the feeling I said the wrong thing. "That was a really long shower."
She looks over her shoulder to her answering machine. "First of all you didn't leave any messages and I would have called you back. Secondly, I didn't realize that you pay my water bill." She is upset. I said the wrong thing and I came in uninvited.
"I needed to know if you are pressing charges." I say aloud. That was the wrong thing to say, I can tell by looking at her. She seems hurt by my words.
"Why would I press charges?"
"He was on top of you on the layout table. That is sexual assault. Not to mention he contaminated the evidence. That..."
She rises quickly. "Grissom not everything is work related or can be resolved by filing a report. I am sorry I messed up your evidence, but no I won't be pressing charges against Hank. I think you should go."
Her tone is icy. I don't blame her for being upset. But I was only trying to check on her. I wasn't thinking. "Sara..." I start but she interrupts me.
"I don't appreciate the fact that you just barge into my home either Grissom. You had no right to come here." She says folding her arms across her chest.
"I knocked." I say in my own poor defense. She is right I have no right to be here. I should have left a long time ago.
"I told you I was in the shower. Unless you were injured and bleeding to death on my doorstep, which you weren't, you had no right to show yourself in. You got your answer now leave." She walks away from me and down the hallway.
Am I supposed to leave? Maybe I should. She doesn't want me here. I ruined my chance by stepping through that door. My words weren't right either. I stand slowly and walk towards the door but something pulls me back. I fumble to redeem myself at least before she throws me out.
"Sara I am sorry I barged in on you but the truth is I didn't come here for that." I take a deep breath. I am glad she isn't standing in front of me. I can't speak when she is in front of me. "The truth is...it's just...well I was worried about you."
She emerges from the darkened hallway in confusion but does not come to me. I think I was supposed to leave. She didn't expect me to stay. "Why?"
I am not good with why's.
"Grissom it is a simple question." She says angrily. "You never drop by without a good reason. In fact you have never dropped by, so why?"
"I needed to know if you are okay." I reply evenly.
"Why do you care if I am okay?" She snaps coldly then drops her head. "Sorry. Look Grissom, I am just fine so you have nothing to worry about."
"Fine? Sara you were crying." Her head shoots up like I just revealed her darkest secret. I said the wrong thing again. Doesn't she know that I am not good at this?
"I am fine Grissom. Thank you for all your concern." She replies bitterly. She moves towards the door to show me out.
"You were talking about reasons, well I know you don't cry without a reason Sara."
"And you know my reason?!" She shouts spinning around making me jump back slightly. I never heard her shout like that before. Not at me.
"Um...I-I-I heard what he said to you. I wasn't eavesdropping I just heard your argument and he. Well he didn't have a right to say that to you."
I resist the urge to shrug. It is a nervous habit. The room is quiet. She looks at me. I look at her but say nothing more. I fear I said too much. Surprisingly she speaks to me but does not shout.
"That wasn't why I was crying." She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. "Hey do you need some aspirin?"
Okay she changed the subject. What does that mean? Sometimes I wish there was a pause button on life so I can turn her words over in my head until I understand. She wasn't crying over him? Then why? But she doesn't want to talk about it. Maybe it is easier this way. "No thank you, I am fine. How does your eye feel?"
"As good as your head feels." She comes back into the living room but again keeps her distance. "Are you hungry or want something to drink? I owe you at least an ice pak for your head."
The rules. What were they again? "Okay." I reply before I remember my list.
tbc...