Hi guys. Thanks to those who have reviewed my story. I'm glad you like
it. And thanks to Saryn for suggesting I accept anonymous reviews. I
didn't even know there were two settings. Well, hope you dig this
installment. I'll try to post the next chapter by this weekend.
Charlie cooked the heroin as he kept an ear glued to the scanner. He was expecting Grissom to have the LVPD hopping to check phone records. He knew cells were next to impossible to trace, but figured Grissom wouldn't give up without a fight. Sliding the needle into his arm, Charlie smiled and looked down at Sara. He'd given her a little extra. She'd be out for awhile. Charlie hummed as his head hit his chest and he could no longer raise it. His thoughts drifted to Grissom. Seeing him. Taunting him. Hurting the thing he loved.
**********************
"Damnit, Gil, what more could you do with a forty second conversation?"
"Cath, I had her on the line," Grissom spoke as he paced the conference room. Brass, Warrick and Nick sat around the table.
Warrick stood and walked toward Grissom. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he looked him in the eye. "Listen Griss, you look like shit. I'm your friend and I'm telling you to lay off yourself and get some rest. Please?"
"Don't patronize me," Grissom said, shrugging off the hand.
"Jesus, Gil, nobody's patronizing you," Catherine moved to the other side of Grissom.
Grissom panicked for a moment, thinking Brass and Nick might join in this 'circle of love.' Thankfully, they didn't. He stopped moving more out of exhaustion than avoidance. Yes, he did need sleep. Would he get it? No.
Nick stood and addressed Grissom. "Come on, man. You're going home. This Monday morning quarterbacking shit isn't going to find Sara. We need your mind sharp."
"I think Jim was about to go get a bite to eat, Gil," Cath said, guiding Grissom gently forward.
"I ate already, Cath," Grissom managed to frown, but it quickly turned into a yawn. He felt guilty immediately. Jesus, he thought, Sara's missing and I yawn. Fucking great. Yeah, I'm tired. So is everyone. I've been awake longer than this before. She's out there and I let her down. Thirty-six hours and I should have a lead. No lead. Just a taunting voice on the phone. Just Sara being shot up with god knows what. I will fucking kill the bastard. I saw Jim out of the corner of my eye.
"Come on, Gil, I'll drop you home," Brass said.
Catherine put her arm around Grissom's waist as she led him to the door. "Please, get some sleep. We'll call you if anything breaks, I promise." She gave him a quick hug.
*********************
It wasn't even her body anymore. Sara's hands felt her limbs and brushed through her hair, but her body still felt detached. She saw Charlie asleep or heavily out of it and was glad. Try to remember, she coaxed herself. Talking to Grissom. God, what had she said. The drugs took over. She remembered the drugs. Oh, yeah, Gris seemed anxious. He must be pissed at her again. What the hell had she done now? 'I swear, Gris, I haven't gotten emotionally involved in this case. I swear,' she managed a near giggle.
*********************
"Listen, Gil, we've got everyone we can spare on this," Brass spoke as he and Grissom walked to the parking lot.
"We have nothing. That's the frustrating part, Jim. Dunn is a rank amateur."
"And, according to his ex, a heroin addict," Brass added.
"Thanks," Grissom frowned. "As if I needed reminding he's out there doing God knows what to Sara and I can't do a damn thing!"
Brass put his hand up to halt the ramblings from an emotionally and physically exhausted Grissom. "Gil, stop. Listen to me. And hear me this time, damnit. I know you feel like your hands are tied. You're used to following an evidence trail. Well, my friend, the evidence isn't really taking us anywhere right now. Finding Dunn is going to take old fashioned police leg work." He searched Grissom's face for acknowledgement.
Grissom nodded slowly, not quite meeting his friend's gaze.
"I do have an idea what Sara means to you, Gil."
Grissom tilted his head at Brass and stared tiredly at him. He wasn't completely surprised by the statement.
"Hell, Grissom, I'm not blind," Brass smiled slightly. "Come on, you're in no shape to drive home."
Grissom wondered idly if there was anyone left in greater Las Vegas who didn't think there was something between him and Sara. Refocusing quickly, he pulled his keys from his jacket. "I'm fine, Brass. It's only a couple of miles. I need to think."
"No, Grissom, you need to stop thinking," Brass said quietly as the CSI walked slowly to his car.
**************************
Catherine, Warrick, Nick and Greg spread out at a table in the breakroom.
"Slow night guys," Catherine spoke. "Nicky, if you can confirm that our dead male at The Palms was a suicide, that's it. Take Greg with you to help process."
Greg managed a brief smile to find himself assigned in the field.
"Warrick, how's your pedestrian versus car coming?"
"Just finishing up paperwork. Lady's gonna live. The idiot driving tested at .15 BAC."
"Ok then. I'm sticking around here to knock out some reports."
They stood and began to disperse. "Cath? Nick turned to her. "Call us if there's anything on Sara. Anything at all."
"I will Nick. I promise." She locked eyes with each of them briefly.
*********************
Grissom turned the knob and entered his townhouse. It seemed he hadn't been there for weeks. Sure, he'd stopped in to feed his spiders or grab a clean shirt over the last two days, but it was just in and out. For the first time since he'd moved into the place, it felt cold. A cold that shook his body briefly then settled in his soul. He spent a somber few minutes going through the usual chores, then adjusted the thermostat slightly to offset the chill. He climbed into a nearly scalding shower and washed quickly. Exhaustion overtook him and he stumbled from the bathroom. Barely managing to tug on sweats and an old tee-shirt, Grissom all but fell into bed. His last conscious thought was of Sara.
***********************
Charlie finished injecting Sara. She barely struggled. It had been only three hours since her previous dose. He prepared a batch for himself and settled into his chair, one ear close to the scanner.
**********************
Brass grabbed Catherine's arm as she emerged from Grissom's office.
"Hey, you're lucky I didn't belt you out of sheer instinct," she smirked at him. "What's wrong?"
"Malone in Narcotics just popped a street dealer on the Southwest side."
"So?"
"So, with some persuasion, he ID'd Dunn's picture. Seems he's a regular customer."
"Well, at least it gives us an area to search."
"Better," Brass grinned "This kid remembers Dunn 'cause he was a freak for clean product and works."
"Oh, that's priceless, Jim," Cath rolled her eyes. "Obsessive Compulsive junkie."
"Who sometimes had the kid make deliveries to 1200 Joshua Place."
"Apartment number?"
"No, Dunn always met him in the hall or the parking lot."
"You call Griss yet, Jim?"
"Didn't want to get his hopes up. I'm going over and I'll roll two unmarked cars on a silent response.
Catherine pulled her cell out. "Gil will never forgive either of us if we don't call him."
************************
Grissom had just thrown his feet over the side of the bed. He noted the time and was surprised and grateful for the four hours of sleep. The first rays of predawn light were coming through his blinds. His cell phone ringing brought him fully awake.
"Grissom."
"Gil, Jim has a possible address on Dunn."
"What is it?" Grissom cradled the phone between his neck and ear as he shucked his sweats. Looking around the bedroom, he grabbed the first clean pants he saw.
"Brass is going over, Gil."
"Catherine, give me the address," Grissom said firmly as he buttoned his jeans and pulled a dark blue sweatshirt over his tee.
"All we have is 1200 Joshua Place. I'm going with Brass. He's going to dispatch a couple of unmarked cars."
"I'll see you there," Grissom said, disconnecting the call. He pulled on socks and shoes. Then, clipping his gun and cell phone to the waistband of his jeans, he was out the door. He was already mapping the route in his head. He'd worked more than a few scenes in the neighborhoods surrounding Joshua Place. It was a drug haven. Grissom drove fast, grateful to finally be doing something.
*********************
"Units 32 November and 47 Alpha respond using code 77 to 1200 Joshua Place."
Charlie stirred at the soft squawk of the police scanner. Something had gotten his attention. The dispatcher repeated the call and upon hearing '1200 Joshua Place,' he bolted to his feet and grabbed Sara by the shoulder.
"Come on, stand up!" he shouted, pulling her roughly into a sitting position.
"My feet are bound, Charlie," Sara mumbled to him.
He backhanded her in the mouth. The blow sent Sara sprawling and blood trickled down her chin. Charlie seemed indecisive. Finally, grabbing his gun, keys and the small bag from the table, he turned back to her.
"You just became a liability, bitch."
TBC
Charlie cooked the heroin as he kept an ear glued to the scanner. He was expecting Grissom to have the LVPD hopping to check phone records. He knew cells were next to impossible to trace, but figured Grissom wouldn't give up without a fight. Sliding the needle into his arm, Charlie smiled and looked down at Sara. He'd given her a little extra. She'd be out for awhile. Charlie hummed as his head hit his chest and he could no longer raise it. His thoughts drifted to Grissom. Seeing him. Taunting him. Hurting the thing he loved.
**********************
"Damnit, Gil, what more could you do with a forty second conversation?"
"Cath, I had her on the line," Grissom spoke as he paced the conference room. Brass, Warrick and Nick sat around the table.
Warrick stood and walked toward Grissom. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he looked him in the eye. "Listen Griss, you look like shit. I'm your friend and I'm telling you to lay off yourself and get some rest. Please?"
"Don't patronize me," Grissom said, shrugging off the hand.
"Jesus, Gil, nobody's patronizing you," Catherine moved to the other side of Grissom.
Grissom panicked for a moment, thinking Brass and Nick might join in this 'circle of love.' Thankfully, they didn't. He stopped moving more out of exhaustion than avoidance. Yes, he did need sleep. Would he get it? No.
Nick stood and addressed Grissom. "Come on, man. You're going home. This Monday morning quarterbacking shit isn't going to find Sara. We need your mind sharp."
"I think Jim was about to go get a bite to eat, Gil," Cath said, guiding Grissom gently forward.
"I ate already, Cath," Grissom managed to frown, but it quickly turned into a yawn. He felt guilty immediately. Jesus, he thought, Sara's missing and I yawn. Fucking great. Yeah, I'm tired. So is everyone. I've been awake longer than this before. She's out there and I let her down. Thirty-six hours and I should have a lead. No lead. Just a taunting voice on the phone. Just Sara being shot up with god knows what. I will fucking kill the bastard. I saw Jim out of the corner of my eye.
"Come on, Gil, I'll drop you home," Brass said.
Catherine put her arm around Grissom's waist as she led him to the door. "Please, get some sleep. We'll call you if anything breaks, I promise." She gave him a quick hug.
*********************
It wasn't even her body anymore. Sara's hands felt her limbs and brushed through her hair, but her body still felt detached. She saw Charlie asleep or heavily out of it and was glad. Try to remember, she coaxed herself. Talking to Grissom. God, what had she said. The drugs took over. She remembered the drugs. Oh, yeah, Gris seemed anxious. He must be pissed at her again. What the hell had she done now? 'I swear, Gris, I haven't gotten emotionally involved in this case. I swear,' she managed a near giggle.
*********************
"Listen, Gil, we've got everyone we can spare on this," Brass spoke as he and Grissom walked to the parking lot.
"We have nothing. That's the frustrating part, Jim. Dunn is a rank amateur."
"And, according to his ex, a heroin addict," Brass added.
"Thanks," Grissom frowned. "As if I needed reminding he's out there doing God knows what to Sara and I can't do a damn thing!"
Brass put his hand up to halt the ramblings from an emotionally and physically exhausted Grissom. "Gil, stop. Listen to me. And hear me this time, damnit. I know you feel like your hands are tied. You're used to following an evidence trail. Well, my friend, the evidence isn't really taking us anywhere right now. Finding Dunn is going to take old fashioned police leg work." He searched Grissom's face for acknowledgement.
Grissom nodded slowly, not quite meeting his friend's gaze.
"I do have an idea what Sara means to you, Gil."
Grissom tilted his head at Brass and stared tiredly at him. He wasn't completely surprised by the statement.
"Hell, Grissom, I'm not blind," Brass smiled slightly. "Come on, you're in no shape to drive home."
Grissom wondered idly if there was anyone left in greater Las Vegas who didn't think there was something between him and Sara. Refocusing quickly, he pulled his keys from his jacket. "I'm fine, Brass. It's only a couple of miles. I need to think."
"No, Grissom, you need to stop thinking," Brass said quietly as the CSI walked slowly to his car.
**************************
Catherine, Warrick, Nick and Greg spread out at a table in the breakroom.
"Slow night guys," Catherine spoke. "Nicky, if you can confirm that our dead male at The Palms was a suicide, that's it. Take Greg with you to help process."
Greg managed a brief smile to find himself assigned in the field.
"Warrick, how's your pedestrian versus car coming?"
"Just finishing up paperwork. Lady's gonna live. The idiot driving tested at .15 BAC."
"Ok then. I'm sticking around here to knock out some reports."
They stood and began to disperse. "Cath? Nick turned to her. "Call us if there's anything on Sara. Anything at all."
"I will Nick. I promise." She locked eyes with each of them briefly.
*********************
Grissom turned the knob and entered his townhouse. It seemed he hadn't been there for weeks. Sure, he'd stopped in to feed his spiders or grab a clean shirt over the last two days, but it was just in and out. For the first time since he'd moved into the place, it felt cold. A cold that shook his body briefly then settled in his soul. He spent a somber few minutes going through the usual chores, then adjusted the thermostat slightly to offset the chill. He climbed into a nearly scalding shower and washed quickly. Exhaustion overtook him and he stumbled from the bathroom. Barely managing to tug on sweats and an old tee-shirt, Grissom all but fell into bed. His last conscious thought was of Sara.
***********************
Charlie finished injecting Sara. She barely struggled. It had been only three hours since her previous dose. He prepared a batch for himself and settled into his chair, one ear close to the scanner.
**********************
Brass grabbed Catherine's arm as she emerged from Grissom's office.
"Hey, you're lucky I didn't belt you out of sheer instinct," she smirked at him. "What's wrong?"
"Malone in Narcotics just popped a street dealer on the Southwest side."
"So?"
"So, with some persuasion, he ID'd Dunn's picture. Seems he's a regular customer."
"Well, at least it gives us an area to search."
"Better," Brass grinned "This kid remembers Dunn 'cause he was a freak for clean product and works."
"Oh, that's priceless, Jim," Cath rolled her eyes. "Obsessive Compulsive junkie."
"Who sometimes had the kid make deliveries to 1200 Joshua Place."
"Apartment number?"
"No, Dunn always met him in the hall or the parking lot."
"You call Griss yet, Jim?"
"Didn't want to get his hopes up. I'm going over and I'll roll two unmarked cars on a silent response.
Catherine pulled her cell out. "Gil will never forgive either of us if we don't call him."
************************
Grissom had just thrown his feet over the side of the bed. He noted the time and was surprised and grateful for the four hours of sleep. The first rays of predawn light were coming through his blinds. His cell phone ringing brought him fully awake.
"Grissom."
"Gil, Jim has a possible address on Dunn."
"What is it?" Grissom cradled the phone between his neck and ear as he shucked his sweats. Looking around the bedroom, he grabbed the first clean pants he saw.
"Brass is going over, Gil."
"Catherine, give me the address," Grissom said firmly as he buttoned his jeans and pulled a dark blue sweatshirt over his tee.
"All we have is 1200 Joshua Place. I'm going with Brass. He's going to dispatch a couple of unmarked cars."
"I'll see you there," Grissom said, disconnecting the call. He pulled on socks and shoes. Then, clipping his gun and cell phone to the waistband of his jeans, he was out the door. He was already mapping the route in his head. He'd worked more than a few scenes in the neighborhoods surrounding Joshua Place. It was a drug haven. Grissom drove fast, grateful to finally be doing something.
*********************
"Units 32 November and 47 Alpha respond using code 77 to 1200 Joshua Place."
Charlie stirred at the soft squawk of the police scanner. Something had gotten his attention. The dispatcher repeated the call and upon hearing '1200 Joshua Place,' he bolted to his feet and grabbed Sara by the shoulder.
"Come on, stand up!" he shouted, pulling her roughly into a sitting position.
"My feet are bound, Charlie," Sara mumbled to him.
He backhanded her in the mouth. The blow sent Sara sprawling and blood trickled down her chin. Charlie seemed indecisive. Finally, grabbing his gun, keys and the small bag from the table, he turned back to her.
"You just became a liability, bitch."
TBC