Thicker Than Water
By Bec
G/C
Disclaimer – See chapter 1
4
Dinner had gone very well, and had given the two CSI's the chance to relax, however briefly, before work beckoned them in. Catherine had described it as looking 'like one of those big family meal scenes from the movies' when she and Grissom washed up the dishes. They had gossiped, caught up on lost time, debated, and joked like it was the most natural thing in the world and Catherine had silently noted that Grissom had presided over it all, just like a father would; like a proud papa bear. She had watched him all night, enjoying the way he looked, the way a smile hardly left his face.
Lindsey had spent most of the time firmly latched onto Maggie, plying her with questions and jokes while the other three caught up with events. Grissom had relaxed amongst the company of the two women who knew him the best. It was rare and he had enjoyed it. Grace; tall, thin and elegant looking with her long, dark hair. Her name reflected her appearance, and she laughed along with him while always ready to tackle him on his opinions. Catherine; different in appearance, but her personality matched that of the other woman, and she knew how to deal with Grissom. He found her beautiful, so attractive. Many a time over the night he surveyed the scene and smiled contentedly.
The scene had been shattered late on when both Catherine and Grissom had been paged to come to a crime scene. They hurriedly said their goodbyes and left; Lindsey was staying over anyway. They were now standing in the middle of a bar. The first suspect, a Daniel Reed, had been spotted there after Police had been called in following a ruckus. He had escaped the scene just as the first car had pulled up.
"Have you got anything?" Grissom asked the people gathered around him. Sara, Nick, and Warrick had arrived at the scene first and had spent the last hour processing what little evidence there was.
"Nothing conclusive," Sara conceded.
"We've found Reed's prints on the cash register, on three of the bottles behind the bar, and on what's left of that chair." Nick pointed to a broken up pole of wood over to his right.
"The manager told us that Reed came in demanding whiskey, and when the barman told him to 'mind his manners'," Sara glanced up at Warrick, remembering how amused they had been to hear that. "He jumped the bar, grabbed some bottles and tried to open the register. A couple of the patrons here stopped him and pulled him over before he threw the chair at them. From what we've found, the evidence supports the story."
"Did he say anything?" Grissom asked.
"Anything about why he wanted cash?" Catherine added.
"One of the drinkers thinks he remembers Reed saying that he needed supplies because he was expecting company."
"He's planning to kill again," Nick said, the dread in his voice. Grissom nodded. They had all surmised as much anyway but to hear it made it sound so final.
"Brass has his teams moving north along the road where Reed was last seen, hoping to recognise his car." Warrick shook his head. "This all seems so completely random."
"Nothing is ever completely random, Warrick. It just seems that way to the untrained eye."
Catherine almost smiled. Another of Grissom's wise old owl phrases as they sometimes called them.
"So what? You're saying that we're untrained?
"I'm saying we go back to the lab with what we have, and we train ourselves."
They had managed to return to the townhouse on their way back to the lab. Catherine had wanted to check on Lindsey, and Grissom agreed that it was a good idea. The whole manhunt had left everyone shaken and concerned for their loved ones, him included, and he knew this check would allow them both to focus better on the job ahead.
They poked their heads around the door to the guest room to find Maggie and Lindsey fast asleep. Catherine wandered in to see her little girl whilst Grissom went to his bedroom and opened the door. Grace was peacefully asleep in his bed, his pillow held tightly in her arms. Years ago, he would have gone in, woken her, and kissed her, telling her how beautiful she looked. Now… He smiled to himself sadly. Time changed people whether they wanted to or not and it had changed his feelings for the woman sleeping in his bed. He loved her, but not in a way that would ignite anything in him anymore. They were friends, and he was surprisingly happy with that,
He backed out of the room, shut the door and waited in the lounge for Catherine. Silently, they went down to the car and drove off to the lab, relieved and reassured that for now, everything was fine.
TBC…
Bit shorter this one, but there is more if you want…
