Grissom sat in his office pouring over files related to the evidence which
had been compromised in the explosion. He knew it was a lost cause and
that thirteen cases would most likely either never make it to court or be
thrown out due to tainted evidence. He glanced up when Nick and Sara
walked by his office laughing on their way to the break room. He was glad
to see Sara in such high spirits. He had been worried about her since the
explosion, and after the other evening, he was a bit apprehensive about
seeing her at work. It wasn't everyday that a subordinate asked you out on
a date. It wasn't that he didn't find Sara attractive, it was complicated.
He didn't allow himself the luxury of emotional entanglements. He always thought that he didn't want to subject someone to the burden of his life, the long hours, the nature of his job, his hearing loss. Actually, if he was honest with himself, he would have to admit that regardless of those other factors, he was just plain scared. Not having come to terms with the hearing loss himself, how could he possibly expect someone else to understand. When he really thought about it, he and Sara were too much alike. He was intrigued by women like Terri and Lady Heather, they could see right through him in such a way that he couldn't hide. He could hide from Sara, she was so much like him. So he'd turned Sara down flat. Without so much as an explanation to her, just a no. He'd told he didn't know what do about 'this'. Whatever 'this' was he wasn't sure. He just knew she wasn't the one he wanted to tell about his hearing. He didn't want to have to explain it, he just wanted to have someone know. That wasn't Sara.
The more he thought about it, the more it began to crystallize in his mind. He knew who he trusted, he knew who he'd tell. He had to tell someone, it was getting worse. Soon he'd either have to face it, or quit his job. And while ignoring this thing in his life had been easy, facing the thought of quitting his job was not. It had come to a point that the easier thing to do was no longer ignoring his hearing problem, not if it meant losing his career, his life.
He thought about how Sara and Nick had walked by laughing and he smiled. Nick would be good for Sara, if she let him be. They balanced each other out. Nick brought something out in Sara that he couldn't. He had a way of grounding her without her realizing it.
Still lost in thought, Grissom didn't notice Warrick in the doorway until he began to speak, "Hey, Grissom, you gonna come give us assignments? Nick and Sara are down in the break room waiting."
A slight smile broke through Grissom's contemplative expression, "Yes, Warrick. I'll be there in a minute."
"Ok," Warrick replied and sauntered off down the hall toward the break room.
Grissom rose from his desk, leaving the files behind as he strode down the hall toward the break room. As he entered, Sara averted her eyes from him. He knew this would be awkward, but he was going to remain professional. He might not be able to ignore his hearing problem much longer, but he could ignore the issue with Sara. She would just have to move on.
He handed out assignments for the evening in short order. Warrick would follow up with the outside lab they had contracted to handle their DNA testing in the interim until the lab repairs were completed. Nick and Sara would get with Brass and do follow up from the hit and run from the night before. And he would continue reviewing the cases affected by the lab explosion.
When he assigned Sara to work with Nick, a look of relief came over her, and Grissom noticed that Nick and Sara exchanged a look that he couldn't define. He also noticed that Warrick seemed to be wearing a subtle, yet bemused smile at this announcement. He noted the interaction, but didn't comment on it. Grissom left the trio behind in the break room as he made his was back to his office to once again contemplate the files and his life.
He didn't allow himself the luxury of emotional entanglements. He always thought that he didn't want to subject someone to the burden of his life, the long hours, the nature of his job, his hearing loss. Actually, if he was honest with himself, he would have to admit that regardless of those other factors, he was just plain scared. Not having come to terms with the hearing loss himself, how could he possibly expect someone else to understand. When he really thought about it, he and Sara were too much alike. He was intrigued by women like Terri and Lady Heather, they could see right through him in such a way that he couldn't hide. He could hide from Sara, she was so much like him. So he'd turned Sara down flat. Without so much as an explanation to her, just a no. He'd told he didn't know what do about 'this'. Whatever 'this' was he wasn't sure. He just knew she wasn't the one he wanted to tell about his hearing. He didn't want to have to explain it, he just wanted to have someone know. That wasn't Sara.
The more he thought about it, the more it began to crystallize in his mind. He knew who he trusted, he knew who he'd tell. He had to tell someone, it was getting worse. Soon he'd either have to face it, or quit his job. And while ignoring this thing in his life had been easy, facing the thought of quitting his job was not. It had come to a point that the easier thing to do was no longer ignoring his hearing problem, not if it meant losing his career, his life.
He thought about how Sara and Nick had walked by laughing and he smiled. Nick would be good for Sara, if she let him be. They balanced each other out. Nick brought something out in Sara that he couldn't. He had a way of grounding her without her realizing it.
Still lost in thought, Grissom didn't notice Warrick in the doorway until he began to speak, "Hey, Grissom, you gonna come give us assignments? Nick and Sara are down in the break room waiting."
A slight smile broke through Grissom's contemplative expression, "Yes, Warrick. I'll be there in a minute."
"Ok," Warrick replied and sauntered off down the hall toward the break room.
Grissom rose from his desk, leaving the files behind as he strode down the hall toward the break room. As he entered, Sara averted her eyes from him. He knew this would be awkward, but he was going to remain professional. He might not be able to ignore his hearing problem much longer, but he could ignore the issue with Sara. She would just have to move on.
He handed out assignments for the evening in short order. Warrick would follow up with the outside lab they had contracted to handle their DNA testing in the interim until the lab repairs were completed. Nick and Sara would get with Brass and do follow up from the hit and run from the night before. And he would continue reviewing the cases affected by the lab explosion.
When he assigned Sara to work with Nick, a look of relief came over her, and Grissom noticed that Nick and Sara exchanged a look that he couldn't define. He also noticed that Warrick seemed to be wearing a subtle, yet bemused smile at this announcement. He noted the interaction, but didn't comment on it. Grissom left the trio behind in the break room as he made his was back to his office to once again contemplate the files and his life.
