Chapter 5
Catherine and Warrick were talking about what the Sheriff wanted and nobody liked what he had to say. Grissom and Catherine sat in his office for over an hour, arguing and pleading. Mobley wanted to bring a new CSI to replace Sara. Grissom pressed that she was coming back soon and that they didn't need anyone to stand in for her, but Mobley ignored him. Catherine put the puzzle together and realised that he wanted to replace Sara altogether. Warrick was furious at this and as they spoke about it freely in the break room, Greg, Archie, Bobby, David and Doc Robbins had filed complaints about the whole idea not being fair. Sara hadn't had a day off in two months, let alone a vacation since she came to Vegas 3 years ago.
Nick was having a hard time believing that this whole was true. Nick walked down the corridor and knock on his supervisor's office door. He barged in before Grissom had a time to answer.
"How can you let this happen?" Nick leaned over Grissom's desk and continued. "You send her away and now they want her job. She can't defend herself on the other side of the planet Grissom."
Grissom removed his glasses and placed them on his desk and stood. "Nick." At the sound of his name, he pushed off the desk and started to pace, slamming the door in the process. "Nick, would you sit down." Grissom's tone was calm.
Shaking his head he turned to his boss and pointed a finger at him. "You asked her to come here, you asked her to stay, you're the one who told us you trusted her and wanted us to do the same, you sent her away." Taking a deep breath, Nick stared him in the eye. "You may not care, you may not have f." He paused, then continued as if he didn't stop. "Sara's my friend and I'm not going to allow some idiot politician take her job behind her back."
Grissom stood there, taken back by his words. He didn't know what to say. His whole body felt numb as he eased himself into his chair. Grissom's office door opened and Catherine appeared. "Nicky, can I talk to you for a minute about the your case?" Grissom kept his eyes on his desk as Catherine waited for Nick.
"Yeah sure." Nick looked at Grissom and realised he was too quiet and seemed upset by what he just said. Kicking himself, he followed Catherine into the lab across from Grissom's office. "I'm sorry." He rubbed his eyes in frustration.
Patting his shoulder comfortingly, she watched her boss through the window of his office. He was now leaning forward against his desk with his head in his hands. "I'm not going to have a go Nicky, but why did you do that?"
Their eyes met and he sighed. "I. I didn't meant to. I. just wanted to know what he was going to do."
Catherine looked down at the floor and cringed. "He didn't deserve that Nicky. He's under enough pressure from Mobley and Ecklie. All he wants to do is see Sara."
"Then why did he send her away?" Nick asked as though he was a little boy who didn't understand why his mother had to go to work and leave him behind.
Catherine shrugged as she tried to explain. "He was worried about her. A conference came up and he managed to ease a vacation week for her. He didn't want to send her Nick, but he didn't want her to.burn out."
Nick nodded, but still didn't understand why she was so far away. "Why the so far?"
"You really think she'd stay away for a week let alone two whilst still in Vegas? Don't think so." Nick laughed in agreement. Catherine placed her hands on his arms and spoke softly. "He does care a lot about her Nicky and that's why he had to do what he did. He may not admit his feelings, but they're there all over his face when she's in the same room. He's not going to let Mobley have his way, I can swear to that."
Pulling him into a hug, Warrick walked in. "I wanna hug too." He playfully said, wrapping his arms around them both. He'd heard the conversation from the corridor and now knew what was fully going on in the Mobley Grissom arena. War was about to break out and now he knew what to look out for.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
'Buddy online'
Grissom looked up at his laptop and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Watching his screen saver flicker off, he saw his buddy list flashing. Pulling his laptop closer he opened the chat room. It had been hours since they had spoken on the web cam and he hadn't moved from his office. He was thinking about whether to tell Sara or not, maybe just fix things and never have to tell her.
SaraS: Hope your not too busy Bugman.
Grissom contemplated whether to tell her what had happened or not. Opting to wait for Mobley to think about his offer and other rather personal matter he forced, he decided to leave it for until she gets back. Sitting up, he wiped his sweaty hands on his pants and signed in.
GilG: I knew you never sleep. SaraS: Maybe one day we'll have to conduct a small experiment about that. Insomnia cures or something. GilG: It would definitely be a good experiment. SaraS: I'm sure it would.
Grissom smiled at the odd conversation starter. Thinking quickly of something to change the topic, he came up why the perfect thing.
GilG: Are you going to tell me what you got me? SaraS: I showed you. GilG: A white plain box is not that interesting. Inside is what I want to see. SaraS: Wait. GilG: Just one hint. SaraS: lol GilG: Getting the lingo down, nice. HINT? SaraS: Nope. GilG: Please. SaraS: Begging suits you. GilG: Sara! SaraS: Ok, but I'm still not telling you. What did Ecklie the worm want?
Cringing and frowning, Grissom chose to ignore her question.
GilG: It can't be very big if it was in that little box? SaraS: It's heavy. What did Ecklie want? GilG: Nothing. Your sun burn getting better? SaraS: I get this feeling that whatever Ecklie said, must be bad. GilG: It's being sorted out Sara, don't worry about it. Come on, what did you get me?
Chapter 6
Two days later and Grissom had fought Mobley every way he could to stop his motion for a new CSI. The higher ups interrupted Mobley's actions and agreed that it wasn't a politically smart thing to replace a perfectly capable and smart CSI that had only taken time to learn more about her profession and taken a vacation at the same time. The budget would not last long in a lawsuit and under the grounds Mobley voiced, they would not be strong enough to support in court. Mobley wasn't happy, but agreed.
'YOU'VE GOT MAIL'
Grissom had been sitting by his laptop for an hour and was beginning to wonder were she was. Her e-mails arrived like clockwork every morning when he got home, but she was late today.
**EMAIL**
6 ½ days left. I want to come home. I'm not enjoying myself anymore. The most exciting time I had on this little journey you sent me on was waiting in line to buy your present and now I've burnt to a crisp, I'm grouchy and sting whenever I move.
A week is going to be a lifetime. I'm bringing the coffin, you better have the nails. You're going to need to tie me down if you expect to survive when I tear you apart limb from limb. I might have enjoyed myself if I wasn't on my own, or had something better to do than produce skin cancer.
I miss my own bed, my apartment, my friends, my job, but most of all I miss you. I wanna come home Griss. PLEASE!!!! I'M SO BOARD.
**END**
Giving a sympathetic smile, he sighed. He missed her to. After the palaver of the past three days, he could use a vacation or lock himself away for a few days.
**REPLY**
I miss you too, but it's only a few more days. I know you don't want to hear it, but sleep, swim or play solitaire for a week. Don't upset yourself with homesickness. I promise I'll make up for everything when you get home. I'll take you out to dinner or something.
Now I hope you save this e-mail, because I just asked you out. lol
A week Sara, it's not that long. It's a lifetime for me more than it is you.
See you soon, Griss
**SEND**
Sitting back he stared at the computer screen and smiled at what he just did. Shaking his head to mentally clear the cobwebs, he chuckled. He just asked her out and it felt great. Although it wasn't in person, it still felt as strange as it would have done if they were in the same room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Walking into work that evening with a happy skip in his step, he turned at the break room door and went to pour himself some coffee.
"Sara call your funeral off or something?"
Grissom turned and grinned at the person sitting in the corner. "Or something." He turned back to the coffee pot and filled his cup. "You'll never guess what I did this morning Cath."
Watching him sit down beside her, she stared at his bright beaming smile. "Other than smile like that, I'm not going to be able to guess." Grissom frowned at her. Sighing she relented. "Ok, let's see. You've spoken to Sara obviously." Replacing her thinking face with a small smile. "She asked you out?"
"Nope, so wrong, but so close." Grissom stood and walked towards his office.
"Hey, you said guess, I'm still guessing here." Catherine laughed at his smile. "Okay, I'm out of ideas."
As he entered his office he shouted. "You'll fine out when she gets back I'm sure."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
'If I were a medium sized white box and heavy, what would I be? It could be number of things. A book, now I'm out of ideas.' Grissom sat at his desk and pondered over what his gift was that Sara had bought him. Ok, a few days and he'd have two gifts, the mystery and Sara.
Grissom smirked at the thought and opened a file. Posing his pen he looked up as a shadow formed in his doorway. "What can I do for you Nick?"
Nick sat down and scratched his head. "I'm sorry Grissom. I didn't mean to have a go the other day." Waving a hand to dismiss his apology, he leaned back and smiled. Nick scrunched his face up with confusion. "Why. Why are you smiling?"
Pursing his lip, he chuckled. "Just happy, that's all."
"Hmm, really?" Pausing to see a reaction to his next words. "Sara asked you out didn't she?"
"Nope."
"Then why the smile?" Nick was taken aback a little at Grissom laugh. "Now I'm frightened."
"It's true isn't it, I always need a valuable reason to be happy nowadays." Grissom mused, his smile wavering.
Nick saw that he didn't like the teasing and stood. "I bet what ever it is, it's got something to do with Sara. I mean, you only ever give a smile when she's around or you're thinking about her." Nick laughed at Grissom's agape mouth. "We aren't blind Griss, see you later."
Watching him leave the office, he sat up and continued with his paperwork.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
'YOU'VE GOT MAIL'
Grissom watched the logo flash for a few seconds. They hadn't talked in 3 days and he was afraid Sara didn't want to go to dinner with him, that perhaps he'd stepped over a line that he thought they were going to soon anyway, it obviously didn't help when she didn't reply.
**EMAIL**
3 ½ Days left. How much were you sweating when you got no reply? God that was so much fun!
I am starting to forgive you for sending me away. I wonder that if you'd ever have asked me out if we didn't spend so long apart. I've actually missed your tarantula. Must be the sun.
I have played 294 games of solitaire. Very boring! Lots of swimming, which was very relaxing, thank you. I think my bathing suit needs replacing. Lol
I'm going to be back in Vegas on Saturday. I still have Sunday off don't I? Can't remember. Well, if I do. You think you can get the night off and we could go out then, unless you've changed your mind?
I better go. Solitaire is calling me maybe the pool or a nice massage from a hunky man. Mmmm.
See you soon, Sara.
**END**
Raising an eyebrow at the last bit, he bit the inside of his lip and narrowed his eyes.
**REPLY**
Who said anything about changing my mind? My minds set on dinner with a beautiful lady, but we can but dream. No really, I will try and get Sunday off and yes you do have that night off. Wouldn't you rather stay in though? Jetlag from a long flight is sure to play havoc with your system. You still have to adjust to Vegas time.
When you do get back we need to talk about things that have happened at the lab. Some plot against mankind was nearly undertaken, but I 'Bugman' stopped the bull in its tracks.
I'll talk soon. Enough solitaire, you'll become addicted. I'm sorry I even mentioned it now. On that note of relaxation, keep away from the massage hut and get back here soon.
Missing you loads, Grissom.
**SEND**
Shutting his laptop down, he stood and grabbed his keys. He still had errands to run before he collapsed on that comfy mattress of his.
Catherine and Warrick were talking about what the Sheriff wanted and nobody liked what he had to say. Grissom and Catherine sat in his office for over an hour, arguing and pleading. Mobley wanted to bring a new CSI to replace Sara. Grissom pressed that she was coming back soon and that they didn't need anyone to stand in for her, but Mobley ignored him. Catherine put the puzzle together and realised that he wanted to replace Sara altogether. Warrick was furious at this and as they spoke about it freely in the break room, Greg, Archie, Bobby, David and Doc Robbins had filed complaints about the whole idea not being fair. Sara hadn't had a day off in two months, let alone a vacation since she came to Vegas 3 years ago.
Nick was having a hard time believing that this whole was true. Nick walked down the corridor and knock on his supervisor's office door. He barged in before Grissom had a time to answer.
"How can you let this happen?" Nick leaned over Grissom's desk and continued. "You send her away and now they want her job. She can't defend herself on the other side of the planet Grissom."
Grissom removed his glasses and placed them on his desk and stood. "Nick." At the sound of his name, he pushed off the desk and started to pace, slamming the door in the process. "Nick, would you sit down." Grissom's tone was calm.
Shaking his head he turned to his boss and pointed a finger at him. "You asked her to come here, you asked her to stay, you're the one who told us you trusted her and wanted us to do the same, you sent her away." Taking a deep breath, Nick stared him in the eye. "You may not care, you may not have f." He paused, then continued as if he didn't stop. "Sara's my friend and I'm not going to allow some idiot politician take her job behind her back."
Grissom stood there, taken back by his words. He didn't know what to say. His whole body felt numb as he eased himself into his chair. Grissom's office door opened and Catherine appeared. "Nicky, can I talk to you for a minute about the your case?" Grissom kept his eyes on his desk as Catherine waited for Nick.
"Yeah sure." Nick looked at Grissom and realised he was too quiet and seemed upset by what he just said. Kicking himself, he followed Catherine into the lab across from Grissom's office. "I'm sorry." He rubbed his eyes in frustration.
Patting his shoulder comfortingly, she watched her boss through the window of his office. He was now leaning forward against his desk with his head in his hands. "I'm not going to have a go Nicky, but why did you do that?"
Their eyes met and he sighed. "I. I didn't meant to. I. just wanted to know what he was going to do."
Catherine looked down at the floor and cringed. "He didn't deserve that Nicky. He's under enough pressure from Mobley and Ecklie. All he wants to do is see Sara."
"Then why did he send her away?" Nick asked as though he was a little boy who didn't understand why his mother had to go to work and leave him behind.
Catherine shrugged as she tried to explain. "He was worried about her. A conference came up and he managed to ease a vacation week for her. He didn't want to send her Nick, but he didn't want her to.burn out."
Nick nodded, but still didn't understand why she was so far away. "Why the so far?"
"You really think she'd stay away for a week let alone two whilst still in Vegas? Don't think so." Nick laughed in agreement. Catherine placed her hands on his arms and spoke softly. "He does care a lot about her Nicky and that's why he had to do what he did. He may not admit his feelings, but they're there all over his face when she's in the same room. He's not going to let Mobley have his way, I can swear to that."
Pulling him into a hug, Warrick walked in. "I wanna hug too." He playfully said, wrapping his arms around them both. He'd heard the conversation from the corridor and now knew what was fully going on in the Mobley Grissom arena. War was about to break out and now he knew what to look out for.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
'Buddy online'
Grissom looked up at his laptop and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Watching his screen saver flicker off, he saw his buddy list flashing. Pulling his laptop closer he opened the chat room. It had been hours since they had spoken on the web cam and he hadn't moved from his office. He was thinking about whether to tell Sara or not, maybe just fix things and never have to tell her.
SaraS: Hope your not too busy Bugman.
Grissom contemplated whether to tell her what had happened or not. Opting to wait for Mobley to think about his offer and other rather personal matter he forced, he decided to leave it for until she gets back. Sitting up, he wiped his sweaty hands on his pants and signed in.
GilG: I knew you never sleep. SaraS: Maybe one day we'll have to conduct a small experiment about that. Insomnia cures or something. GilG: It would definitely be a good experiment. SaraS: I'm sure it would.
Grissom smiled at the odd conversation starter. Thinking quickly of something to change the topic, he came up why the perfect thing.
GilG: Are you going to tell me what you got me? SaraS: I showed you. GilG: A white plain box is not that interesting. Inside is what I want to see. SaraS: Wait. GilG: Just one hint. SaraS: lol GilG: Getting the lingo down, nice. HINT? SaraS: Nope. GilG: Please. SaraS: Begging suits you. GilG: Sara! SaraS: Ok, but I'm still not telling you. What did Ecklie the worm want?
Cringing and frowning, Grissom chose to ignore her question.
GilG: It can't be very big if it was in that little box? SaraS: It's heavy. What did Ecklie want? GilG: Nothing. Your sun burn getting better? SaraS: I get this feeling that whatever Ecklie said, must be bad. GilG: It's being sorted out Sara, don't worry about it. Come on, what did you get me?
Chapter 6
Two days later and Grissom had fought Mobley every way he could to stop his motion for a new CSI. The higher ups interrupted Mobley's actions and agreed that it wasn't a politically smart thing to replace a perfectly capable and smart CSI that had only taken time to learn more about her profession and taken a vacation at the same time. The budget would not last long in a lawsuit and under the grounds Mobley voiced, they would not be strong enough to support in court. Mobley wasn't happy, but agreed.
'YOU'VE GOT MAIL'
Grissom had been sitting by his laptop for an hour and was beginning to wonder were she was. Her e-mails arrived like clockwork every morning when he got home, but she was late today.
**EMAIL**
6 ½ days left. I want to come home. I'm not enjoying myself anymore. The most exciting time I had on this little journey you sent me on was waiting in line to buy your present and now I've burnt to a crisp, I'm grouchy and sting whenever I move.
A week is going to be a lifetime. I'm bringing the coffin, you better have the nails. You're going to need to tie me down if you expect to survive when I tear you apart limb from limb. I might have enjoyed myself if I wasn't on my own, or had something better to do than produce skin cancer.
I miss my own bed, my apartment, my friends, my job, but most of all I miss you. I wanna come home Griss. PLEASE!!!! I'M SO BOARD.
**END**
Giving a sympathetic smile, he sighed. He missed her to. After the palaver of the past three days, he could use a vacation or lock himself away for a few days.
**REPLY**
I miss you too, but it's only a few more days. I know you don't want to hear it, but sleep, swim or play solitaire for a week. Don't upset yourself with homesickness. I promise I'll make up for everything when you get home. I'll take you out to dinner or something.
Now I hope you save this e-mail, because I just asked you out. lol
A week Sara, it's not that long. It's a lifetime for me more than it is you.
See you soon, Griss
**SEND**
Sitting back he stared at the computer screen and smiled at what he just did. Shaking his head to mentally clear the cobwebs, he chuckled. He just asked her out and it felt great. Although it wasn't in person, it still felt as strange as it would have done if they were in the same room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Walking into work that evening with a happy skip in his step, he turned at the break room door and went to pour himself some coffee.
"Sara call your funeral off or something?"
Grissom turned and grinned at the person sitting in the corner. "Or something." He turned back to the coffee pot and filled his cup. "You'll never guess what I did this morning Cath."
Watching him sit down beside her, she stared at his bright beaming smile. "Other than smile like that, I'm not going to be able to guess." Grissom frowned at her. Sighing she relented. "Ok, let's see. You've spoken to Sara obviously." Replacing her thinking face with a small smile. "She asked you out?"
"Nope, so wrong, but so close." Grissom stood and walked towards his office.
"Hey, you said guess, I'm still guessing here." Catherine laughed at his smile. "Okay, I'm out of ideas."
As he entered his office he shouted. "You'll fine out when she gets back I'm sure."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
'If I were a medium sized white box and heavy, what would I be? It could be number of things. A book, now I'm out of ideas.' Grissom sat at his desk and pondered over what his gift was that Sara had bought him. Ok, a few days and he'd have two gifts, the mystery and Sara.
Grissom smirked at the thought and opened a file. Posing his pen he looked up as a shadow formed in his doorway. "What can I do for you Nick?"
Nick sat down and scratched his head. "I'm sorry Grissom. I didn't mean to have a go the other day." Waving a hand to dismiss his apology, he leaned back and smiled. Nick scrunched his face up with confusion. "Why. Why are you smiling?"
Pursing his lip, he chuckled. "Just happy, that's all."
"Hmm, really?" Pausing to see a reaction to his next words. "Sara asked you out didn't she?"
"Nope."
"Then why the smile?" Nick was taken aback a little at Grissom laugh. "Now I'm frightened."
"It's true isn't it, I always need a valuable reason to be happy nowadays." Grissom mused, his smile wavering.
Nick saw that he didn't like the teasing and stood. "I bet what ever it is, it's got something to do with Sara. I mean, you only ever give a smile when she's around or you're thinking about her." Nick laughed at Grissom's agape mouth. "We aren't blind Griss, see you later."
Watching him leave the office, he sat up and continued with his paperwork.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
'YOU'VE GOT MAIL'
Grissom watched the logo flash for a few seconds. They hadn't talked in 3 days and he was afraid Sara didn't want to go to dinner with him, that perhaps he'd stepped over a line that he thought they were going to soon anyway, it obviously didn't help when she didn't reply.
**EMAIL**
3 ½ Days left. How much were you sweating when you got no reply? God that was so much fun!
I am starting to forgive you for sending me away. I wonder that if you'd ever have asked me out if we didn't spend so long apart. I've actually missed your tarantula. Must be the sun.
I have played 294 games of solitaire. Very boring! Lots of swimming, which was very relaxing, thank you. I think my bathing suit needs replacing. Lol
I'm going to be back in Vegas on Saturday. I still have Sunday off don't I? Can't remember. Well, if I do. You think you can get the night off and we could go out then, unless you've changed your mind?
I better go. Solitaire is calling me maybe the pool or a nice massage from a hunky man. Mmmm.
See you soon, Sara.
**END**
Raising an eyebrow at the last bit, he bit the inside of his lip and narrowed his eyes.
**REPLY**
Who said anything about changing my mind? My minds set on dinner with a beautiful lady, but we can but dream. No really, I will try and get Sunday off and yes you do have that night off. Wouldn't you rather stay in though? Jetlag from a long flight is sure to play havoc with your system. You still have to adjust to Vegas time.
When you do get back we need to talk about things that have happened at the lab. Some plot against mankind was nearly undertaken, but I 'Bugman' stopped the bull in its tracks.
I'll talk soon. Enough solitaire, you'll become addicted. I'm sorry I even mentioned it now. On that note of relaxation, keep away from the massage hut and get back here soon.
Missing you loads, Grissom.
**SEND**
Shutting his laptop down, he stood and grabbed his keys. He still had errands to run before he collapsed on that comfy mattress of his.
