Chapter 1
Gil Grissom's Office
Grissom sat in his office with his feet on the desk; a book in his hands and his glasses sat comfortably on his nose. The shift was slow and he was taking advantage of the calm that had descended on the lab. The last two weeks had been busy with almost no time to eat or sleep. He didn't know where the others were, but had a feeling the break room was the first to call out to them. He had taken the quiet time to catch up on filling in his black notebook. He used this notebook to write down ideas, thoughts, feelings and the odd undercover note. You could call it a journal, but it was no bigger than his back pant pocket where he always kept it. He had some stick from the others about it being his acquaintance addresses and numbers, but that was about it. He tried to only write in it when he was alone, which just made the gossip worse. He didn't pay any attention to it and continued with work like he always did, in more ways than one.
A shadow in the doorway caught his eye, but he didn't look up, he knew who it was and promised himself he'd keep his distance whether it be as trivial as being in the same room. He turned a page without finishing it and she laughed making him look up.
"You should try finishing that page first Griss, you may want to know so the rest of it makes sense." She walked into the room and dropped a paper bag on the table. "Dinner, don't thank me." She turned and left.
He looked down at the bag over the rim of his glasses then at the empty space by the door. Taking a calming breath, which he usually had to whenever she was around him and put his book down. Looking into the bag he smirked. Ham salad sandwich, yoghurt and a sealed coffee cup. He sat back in his chair and pulled out the coffee and sandwich. He knew she was a vegetarian and despised meat every since they stayed up to watch that pig and for her to actually get him a meat sandwich was warming to his heart. He shook the thought from his head and took a bite. That night he was sitting behind the lab compound in a small undercover operation. Even though she gave him the idea to research the pig with the words he thought his was dreaming, he was also watching the truck that took the few bodies to the crematorium. It was a scheduled pick up, but in the middle of the morning. His mind started wandering again. Then she came and brought a blanket and coffee. Such a caring thought, she apologised for being blunt and out of line and to make up for it she sat with him the whole night to watch the pig. Giving his head a mental shake and chastising himself for drifting into forbidden territory and breaking his own rules he'd placed for her own protection.
Break room
Sara sat down on the couch and tore the wrapper off a chocolate mars bar. Taking the first bite, she leaned forward and grabbed a forensic magazine she hadn't read. She kicked off her shoes and pulled her legs under her. Resting the magazine on her thigh she started to read. She read something that immediately made her think of him and she smiled. 'Aeroplane Mile Highers Have The Best Alibis' the articles headline was large and black. Her thoughts went back to a few years ago when they were working a case with the plane and cantaloupe soup guy. He went crazy from the air pressure and his brain practically exploded in his skull. She was standing outside the lavatory while he shone his flashlight over the surfaces. He spotted something and after making sure he started talking about the altitude enhancing the sexual drive and when she disagreed the conversation became interesting for both and very flirtatious, which both were enjoying throughout the rest of the case. She sighed and closed the magazine when she thought how he changed that only a few months ago by putting a sort of distance between them. It was like he had suddenly gone off her and wanted to get away as quickly as he could. She tried to make the air that travelled between them as comfortable as possible, but when he would just sit or stand there and ignore her like she wasn't even in the same state. It infuriated her, but was too scared to confront him.
She looked up as Nick stirred on the opposite couch. He'd been sleeping for a little under two hours and kept shifting uncomfortably because he was too tall for the short length of the couch. He was curled into the small thing and sleeping with a grimace on his face. He would definitely wake with a sore back and aching spine. She thought.
Warrick strolled in with Catherine and placed a heavy box each on the table. "I could have carried them both Cath, you didn't have to haul it all the way you know." Warrick said on a deep breath. He stretched his spine and leaned backwards with his hands on his lower back.
"See, you would have paralysed yourself, just accept a women can carry heavy objects too." Catherine scoffed and left the room.
Sara laughed and Warrick shot her a 'not a good time' glare. She held up her hands and stood, grabbing her deli bag and sauntering past him. "See you later He-man." She grinned and patted his chest.
"Funny Sidle." Warrick shouted after her.
Later: Hallway outside Grissom's office
"Hey Sidle." Sara turned slowly with a pure disgust expression. The tall dayshift supervisor jogged up to her. "I was wondering if you could sign this. It's your body from the other day. It's been called for pick up." Ecklie lifted the clipboard and a pen.
Sara stared at him. "Ecklie, this isn't your shift and why are you running around after the assistant coroner? That's David's job not yours." She took the clipboard and signed it.
"Just doing a good deed Sidle." He grinned and walked away.
"Yeah right." Sara muttered turning on her heel and heading to the locker room.
The door to Grissom's office was open like it always was so such events like the one that just occurred between Sara and Ecklie could be overheard. He finished his coffee and pulled out his black book.
* Ecklie asks Sidle to sign coroner's form for pick up of body. * Grissom tapped his pencil on the page and sighed. Sara signing off bodies she should have done a day ago and Ecklie being nice and working on his off time in the morgue. He placed the pencil against his lips and narrowed his eyes. Maybe he should keep a closer eye on Sara after all. Not saying she's who he's looking for, but it wouldn't hurt to be sure. Grissom stood and grabbed his jacket off the chair and walked to his car in hopes of catching Sara.
Outside: the lab car park
Sara was unlocking her car. "Hey Sara." He called sprinting down the steps. Sara turned surprised. He never spoke to her outside the lab, let alone recently in the lab. He saw her surprise and as he stopped in front of her, he cleared his throat and smiled. "Erm, I was wondering." He scratched his chin and looked back at the lab briefly. "Would you like breakfast? I mean can I buy you breakfast?" She didn't say anything, making him more nervous. God grow up, you're working overtime here, so do your job.
He turned away but she reached out and touched his arm to stop him. "Sure."
Grissom shyly smiled and nodded. "Good. I drive?" She locked her door and pocketed her keys.
"Ok."
Gil Grissom's Office
Grissom sat in his office with his feet on the desk; a book in his hands and his glasses sat comfortably on his nose. The shift was slow and he was taking advantage of the calm that had descended on the lab. The last two weeks had been busy with almost no time to eat or sleep. He didn't know where the others were, but had a feeling the break room was the first to call out to them. He had taken the quiet time to catch up on filling in his black notebook. He used this notebook to write down ideas, thoughts, feelings and the odd undercover note. You could call it a journal, but it was no bigger than his back pant pocket where he always kept it. He had some stick from the others about it being his acquaintance addresses and numbers, but that was about it. He tried to only write in it when he was alone, which just made the gossip worse. He didn't pay any attention to it and continued with work like he always did, in more ways than one.
A shadow in the doorway caught his eye, but he didn't look up, he knew who it was and promised himself he'd keep his distance whether it be as trivial as being in the same room. He turned a page without finishing it and she laughed making him look up.
"You should try finishing that page first Griss, you may want to know so the rest of it makes sense." She walked into the room and dropped a paper bag on the table. "Dinner, don't thank me." She turned and left.
He looked down at the bag over the rim of his glasses then at the empty space by the door. Taking a calming breath, which he usually had to whenever she was around him and put his book down. Looking into the bag he smirked. Ham salad sandwich, yoghurt and a sealed coffee cup. He sat back in his chair and pulled out the coffee and sandwich. He knew she was a vegetarian and despised meat every since they stayed up to watch that pig and for her to actually get him a meat sandwich was warming to his heart. He shook the thought from his head and took a bite. That night he was sitting behind the lab compound in a small undercover operation. Even though she gave him the idea to research the pig with the words he thought his was dreaming, he was also watching the truck that took the few bodies to the crematorium. It was a scheduled pick up, but in the middle of the morning. His mind started wandering again. Then she came and brought a blanket and coffee. Such a caring thought, she apologised for being blunt and out of line and to make up for it she sat with him the whole night to watch the pig. Giving his head a mental shake and chastising himself for drifting into forbidden territory and breaking his own rules he'd placed for her own protection.
Break room
Sara sat down on the couch and tore the wrapper off a chocolate mars bar. Taking the first bite, she leaned forward and grabbed a forensic magazine she hadn't read. She kicked off her shoes and pulled her legs under her. Resting the magazine on her thigh she started to read. She read something that immediately made her think of him and she smiled. 'Aeroplane Mile Highers Have The Best Alibis' the articles headline was large and black. Her thoughts went back to a few years ago when they were working a case with the plane and cantaloupe soup guy. He went crazy from the air pressure and his brain practically exploded in his skull. She was standing outside the lavatory while he shone his flashlight over the surfaces. He spotted something and after making sure he started talking about the altitude enhancing the sexual drive and when she disagreed the conversation became interesting for both and very flirtatious, which both were enjoying throughout the rest of the case. She sighed and closed the magazine when she thought how he changed that only a few months ago by putting a sort of distance between them. It was like he had suddenly gone off her and wanted to get away as quickly as he could. She tried to make the air that travelled between them as comfortable as possible, but when he would just sit or stand there and ignore her like she wasn't even in the same state. It infuriated her, but was too scared to confront him.
She looked up as Nick stirred on the opposite couch. He'd been sleeping for a little under two hours and kept shifting uncomfortably because he was too tall for the short length of the couch. He was curled into the small thing and sleeping with a grimace on his face. He would definitely wake with a sore back and aching spine. She thought.
Warrick strolled in with Catherine and placed a heavy box each on the table. "I could have carried them both Cath, you didn't have to haul it all the way you know." Warrick said on a deep breath. He stretched his spine and leaned backwards with his hands on his lower back.
"See, you would have paralysed yourself, just accept a women can carry heavy objects too." Catherine scoffed and left the room.
Sara laughed and Warrick shot her a 'not a good time' glare. She held up her hands and stood, grabbing her deli bag and sauntering past him. "See you later He-man." She grinned and patted his chest.
"Funny Sidle." Warrick shouted after her.
Later: Hallway outside Grissom's office
"Hey Sidle." Sara turned slowly with a pure disgust expression. The tall dayshift supervisor jogged up to her. "I was wondering if you could sign this. It's your body from the other day. It's been called for pick up." Ecklie lifted the clipboard and a pen.
Sara stared at him. "Ecklie, this isn't your shift and why are you running around after the assistant coroner? That's David's job not yours." She took the clipboard and signed it.
"Just doing a good deed Sidle." He grinned and walked away.
"Yeah right." Sara muttered turning on her heel and heading to the locker room.
The door to Grissom's office was open like it always was so such events like the one that just occurred between Sara and Ecklie could be overheard. He finished his coffee and pulled out his black book.
* Ecklie asks Sidle to sign coroner's form for pick up of body. * Grissom tapped his pencil on the page and sighed. Sara signing off bodies she should have done a day ago and Ecklie being nice and working on his off time in the morgue. He placed the pencil against his lips and narrowed his eyes. Maybe he should keep a closer eye on Sara after all. Not saying she's who he's looking for, but it wouldn't hurt to be sure. Grissom stood and grabbed his jacket off the chair and walked to his car in hopes of catching Sara.
Outside: the lab car park
Sara was unlocking her car. "Hey Sara." He called sprinting down the steps. Sara turned surprised. He never spoke to her outside the lab, let alone recently in the lab. He saw her surprise and as he stopped in front of her, he cleared his throat and smiled. "Erm, I was wondering." He scratched his chin and looked back at the lab briefly. "Would you like breakfast? I mean can I buy you breakfast?" She didn't say anything, making him more nervous. God grow up, you're working overtime here, so do your job.
He turned away but she reached out and touched his arm to stop him. "Sure."
Grissom shyly smiled and nodded. "Good. I drive?" She locked her door and pocketed her keys.
"Ok."