Disclaimers: Not mine
Spoilers: Play With Fire
+++++
CONSEQUENCES – (Chapter 2)
"Sara, I don't know what to do with this." Grissom
gestured at the space between them, hoping Sara would understand him.
"I do. And when you realize it, it may be too late..." Sara gave him one
last look before she walked away.
Grissom watched her figure disappear down the hallway and into the elevator. He
turned off his office light and shut the door, wanting nothing more than to go
home and hope for a better, brighter day tomorrow. But
there was something he had to do. Someone he had to talk to.
He arrived on Catherine's doorstep in less than 15 minutes. He wasn't sure if he had sped any red lights. His trip here had been taken in a daze. Reaching into his pocket, he felt
for the business card and when he felt the stiff paper there, he used his other
hand to ring the doorbell. He knew Catherine was going to have his head for
being there without a warning. After what seemed like an eternity, the door swung
open to reveal a predictably angry Catherine, "What are you doing
here?"
"I needed to see you about something." He was able to answer calmly, having
already expected her outburst. "Can I come in?"
She looked at him for a moment like she was ready to
strangle him but then stepped aside to let him in, "This better be
good..." She muttered as she followed him into the living room,
"So?"
"I don't want to be a hypocrite."
"What?" She shook her head in frustration, too tired to remember her earlier
conversation with him.
"What you said to me earlier? You said I was a hypocrite for wanting you
to talk to me but then not talking to you when you asked me to." She
stayed silent, obviously remembering what he was talking about now. He
continued, "So I'm here to talk, if you're willing to listen."
"Well, I've got 5 days of a whole lot of nothing.
So take your time." She shrugged.
Though her tone was sarcastic, Grissom knew she was sincere in wanting to
listen. "Catherine, I told you about my mother, right? About
her hearing?"
"You have it too, don't you?" Catherine asked without missing
a beat. She had suspected for so long but had waited for Grissom to start the conversation
first. But he never did so she never asked.
Grissom wasn't surprised by her knowledge. A part of
him had waited for her to ask him about it but when she never did, he never
knew how to tell her. "It's called otosclerosis.
I've always known there was a possibility I might get it but actually knowing I
have it is a completely different feeling."
"You've known for a long time, haven't you?"
"Almost a year." When she only nodded, he
asked cautiously, "Are you mad?"
She looked at him and shook her head, "No. You had your reasons for not
telling me."
"I was afraid."
"Are you not anymore?"
"Still terrified."
"Then what made you come here tonight to tell me this?"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the business card with his doctor's
contact information on it. He handed it to her, "She told me I had 2
options. Either sit it out and wait for my hearing to
go, or I have surgery done."
"And you're planning on getting the surgery?"
"I don't think I have a choice."
"What happens afterwards?"
"There's no guarantees."
"But you have nothing to lose."
"Yeah..."
"It's going to be ok."
He smiled a little, "That's why I came here tonight. I needed to hear that."
"I'm serious, Grissom, it's going to be ok. No
matter what happens..."
"Catherine, Sara asked me out tonight." He blurted out, stunning her into
silence. When she said nothing, he looked at her, "Cath?
Are you ok?"
"Sara asked you out? What did you say?"
"What do you think I said? I'm here, aren't I?"
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you come here and not go out with her?"
"I wasn't sure at first."
"But now...?"
"I think it's pretty obvious what I want...who I want in me being here and
not somewhere else with her."
"Grissom, you need to take a step back and breathe. You're doing too many
things at a time..."
"Catherine, I know what I'm doing. I came here to tell you about my hearing
but I also came here to tell you need you. I can't do this or anything else
without you."
"You know what this means, right? Things at work, things away from work...everything's
going to change."
"I know." He nodded confidently, "And I'm ok with that."
"Are you sure?"
"I've never been more sure in my life. Catherine,
Sara said something to me tonight that woke me up. She said that when I
realized what I wanted, it may be too late. I don't want to realize who's truly important to me when it's
too late. I realize that now and I'm not letting you go."
"Lindsey's gonna have a fit..."
"Then let her. We'll deal with this together."
"I think that explosion knocked you silly."
Grissom grinned, "If anything, I think that explosion knocked some sense
into me."
"So that's it? We're
doing this? No taking back your words?"
He shook his head, "No taking back my words. I've said them, I mean them,
and I'm ready for the consequences."
*THE END*