Section 3
It was too quiet in her apartment and he still hadn't left. Feeling the connection between them seemed too strong, even after she's gone. He didn't understand why that was, but it gave some sense of hope that she'd return soon.
After a rough deliberation, he collected his things and made sure the place was reasonably clean before heading to his townhouse to change and go to work. He had sat in her apartment all day and after Catherine's blow up, he felt his heart sinking and his emotions running wild.
*^*^*^*
Settling into his leather chair, he placed Sara's pager and cell in his top drawer. Fingering her keys absently, he pushed them into his jacket pocket and stared at the letter of resignation. If he could hold off a few days, make it out that she took a few days off to rest, then maybe he could convince her to talk to him and come home.
Leaning over the poor looking envelope with a frown, he placed his hand on it to flatten it out. If she left and wasn't coming back, it would be in there. If she regretted last night, it would be in writing. If she never wanted to see him again, he sighed; it would be in on paper.
Before he could try and talk himself into reading the letter, his office door opened and Catherine appeared with a nervous look plastered across her face.
"I'm sorry."
He nodded and looked back at the envelope.
"I didn't mean anything I said." She added softly. "I was shocked, that's all."
"It still didn't explain why you said anything Catherine. You weren't supposed to even be there." He said tiredly.
She pursed her lips, keeping herself from spilling the truth of her appearance at Sara's front door.
Grissom, however, knew there was a reason and when he pushed his chair back to stand, Catherine knew by the look on his face that he didn't believe her.
"Why were you there?" He asked, walking around his desk.
She shrugged. "Just checking how she was. I heard about the resignation."
He shook his head and leaned back against his desk with his arms crossed over his chest. "Try again."
"It's true." She protested half-heartedly.
"You only just knew about the resignation because you were looking at the official letter on my desk, also, you were there this morning because you couldn't help but stick your nose in and make sure you gave her a few words to make her stay away. Why would you do that Catherine, please, enlighten me as to why you'd ruin things between us?"
Catherine stared at him in utter shell shock.
"I'm waiting." He demanded.
Shaking her head to clear the cobwebs, she dropped her eyes. "I was always looking out for you."
"I doubt that." He scoffed. "Since Sara came to Vegas, you did nothing but alienate her. Maybe you were friends for a while, but you still can't get over the fact that she couldn't find Eddie's killer."
Snapping her head up in anger, she stepped towards him and pointed her finger at him to emphasise her threats. "Don't dare turn this around."
Setting his jaw, he stood. "I'm not. You can't get over it Catherine, admit it. You think because she couldn't find the killer, she's the one to blame." He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "I was the one who assigned her. I was the one who signed the papers. She didn't shoot him. She didn't endanger Lindsey. She did everything she possibly could and got two convictions, but that's not good enough for the wonderful Eddie Willows." He taunted. "He was nothing but a bully and a con. You can't stand there and tell me he was Lindsey's father, because he was a whole lot less."
Breathing in heavy angry gasps, he winced and rubbed his head. "Damnit." He muttered and turned away.
Catherine's eyes soften and her thoughts took a back burner when she saw the pain take over a grimace on his face. "What is it?" She asked gently.
"Nothing. We've got work to do." He dismissed her by grabbing the night's assignments and leaving his office.
*^*^*^*
Sara smiled at Curtis as he handed her a beer. He sat down and put his feet up on the coffee table. "You sure you don't mind me being here Curt?" She asked, turning to watch the TV.
Chuckling and choking on his beer, he turned wide eyes at her. "This is 'your' place Sara, you know that."
"Yeah, but you've lived here 4 years without me." She said sadly.
Slipping his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her so she could snuggle against him. "And before that, you lived here nearly 6 years. I think you should just settle back in and we can talk about some things tomorrow." He suggested, telling her with his eyes that she wasn't going to ignore the problems for long if she was staying.
"Ok." She sighed.
"Maybe you feel up to scouting the town tomorrow, do some shopping, pick up some guys?" He wiggled his eyebrows playfully, earning a genuine laugh.
"The scouting around and shopping, yeah, I can handle that, but not the last one." She giggled.
He nodded and turned his attention back to the TV. It was obvious now that she was here because of a bloke and by tomorrow night, he'd have everything out of her. She wasn't going to fester on his watch and if he could, he'd help her out.
*^*^*^*
Grissom's headache hadn't shifted, making his concentration waver. Although he was working a simple cut and dry robbery, he still couldn't get her off his mind and the anger he felt for her leaving him. She had to have felt it. She had to. It was something special; something he knew would be special if they ever got that far.
Her leaving was the wake up call he need and his intentions on talking to her for some time had been interrupted with each attempt. He had wanted to discuss their relationship and after last night, he was sure she'd stay, but waking up alone in her apartment, was painful enough than finding the items of her life with him.
Her pager was now returned to the stores, her cell phone was kept in his locked desk drawer, along with her badge and apartment keys. He didn't know what to do with them, let alone with the letter he had yet to read.
With that thought, he pulled the crushed envelope from his pocket and pushed the case file away to place it on the table. What was it going say? Was it a hurtful letter, saying she regretted everything and was full of insults? Maybe it was a nice letter but it still finished with her leaving.
He didn't even know where she was. She must have left Vegas, maybe home to her parents. Grissom's mind would conjure the worst and then the anger, but most of all, the sadness that she didn't want to stay and try 'this' out.
Idly picking at the corner of the envelope, he closed his eyes and leaned into his right hand as his left pulled the letter free from it's confinement. His eyes opened and adjusted to the small print of her handwriting and slowly began to absorb her words, knowing what she said would be etched in his brain and heart forever.
Whether it is good or bad news, he was determined to find her and talk to her. She wasn't going to just disappear from his life after last night. He knew she still had feelings for him or she wouldn't have let him stay. She had given in, but not easily to his pleading to stay. They barely talk, only argued until the adrenaline hit it's peak and erupted in a powerful and intense kiss.
*^*^*^*
I'm confused and angry.
I'm not angry with you, but myself. I don't know if last night was supposed to happen or if it was the heat of the argument fuelling our actions. I, for one, don't know how to feel about the how, and why, but the when and who. If I leave, I'll be able to find my feet again and you'll be. to be honest, I don't know what last night was to you, but it was wonderful. It's the only way I can describe it.
I want to tell you my first thoughts when I woke up. I don't know if it will mean anything, but waking up with you did make me question what I should do and seeing you so calm and peaceful was something I could get use to, waking up with you.
There is something I can't explain too easily, not to you or on paper. I don't know why I chose to leave. I honestly thought things would resolve themselves between us, but perhaps my confusion got the better of me.
My one true fear would be waking up and that other person would regret and retreat. I've avoided the mass rejection so far, but my fear drove me away from the bed we shared.
Friendship was something we once had and it was lost somewhere along the way to this day. I hope we can find that easy friendship we once had.
*^*^*^*
He dropped his eyes to the last word, he couldn't stop himself thinking there should be more, but perhaps she didn't have anything else to say. It wasn't addressed to him or signed by her. It left a gaping hole of unanswered questions. If it was 'wonderful' why wouldn't she contact him or let him know where she was?
He was beginning to go out of his mind with worry and fear that something bad could have happened. He knew she had family and friends, but couldn't think where she would have gone. All Grissom knew was that he needed to know that she was safe.
TBC
It was too quiet in her apartment and he still hadn't left. Feeling the connection between them seemed too strong, even after she's gone. He didn't understand why that was, but it gave some sense of hope that she'd return soon.
After a rough deliberation, he collected his things and made sure the place was reasonably clean before heading to his townhouse to change and go to work. He had sat in her apartment all day and after Catherine's blow up, he felt his heart sinking and his emotions running wild.
*^*^*^*
Settling into his leather chair, he placed Sara's pager and cell in his top drawer. Fingering her keys absently, he pushed them into his jacket pocket and stared at the letter of resignation. If he could hold off a few days, make it out that she took a few days off to rest, then maybe he could convince her to talk to him and come home.
Leaning over the poor looking envelope with a frown, he placed his hand on it to flatten it out. If she left and wasn't coming back, it would be in there. If she regretted last night, it would be in writing. If she never wanted to see him again, he sighed; it would be in on paper.
Before he could try and talk himself into reading the letter, his office door opened and Catherine appeared with a nervous look plastered across her face.
"I'm sorry."
He nodded and looked back at the envelope.
"I didn't mean anything I said." She added softly. "I was shocked, that's all."
"It still didn't explain why you said anything Catherine. You weren't supposed to even be there." He said tiredly.
She pursed her lips, keeping herself from spilling the truth of her appearance at Sara's front door.
Grissom, however, knew there was a reason and when he pushed his chair back to stand, Catherine knew by the look on his face that he didn't believe her.
"Why were you there?" He asked, walking around his desk.
She shrugged. "Just checking how she was. I heard about the resignation."
He shook his head and leaned back against his desk with his arms crossed over his chest. "Try again."
"It's true." She protested half-heartedly.
"You only just knew about the resignation because you were looking at the official letter on my desk, also, you were there this morning because you couldn't help but stick your nose in and make sure you gave her a few words to make her stay away. Why would you do that Catherine, please, enlighten me as to why you'd ruin things between us?"
Catherine stared at him in utter shell shock.
"I'm waiting." He demanded.
Shaking her head to clear the cobwebs, she dropped her eyes. "I was always looking out for you."
"I doubt that." He scoffed. "Since Sara came to Vegas, you did nothing but alienate her. Maybe you were friends for a while, but you still can't get over the fact that she couldn't find Eddie's killer."
Snapping her head up in anger, she stepped towards him and pointed her finger at him to emphasise her threats. "Don't dare turn this around."
Setting his jaw, he stood. "I'm not. You can't get over it Catherine, admit it. You think because she couldn't find the killer, she's the one to blame." He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "I was the one who assigned her. I was the one who signed the papers. She didn't shoot him. She didn't endanger Lindsey. She did everything she possibly could and got two convictions, but that's not good enough for the wonderful Eddie Willows." He taunted. "He was nothing but a bully and a con. You can't stand there and tell me he was Lindsey's father, because he was a whole lot less."
Breathing in heavy angry gasps, he winced and rubbed his head. "Damnit." He muttered and turned away.
Catherine's eyes soften and her thoughts took a back burner when she saw the pain take over a grimace on his face. "What is it?" She asked gently.
"Nothing. We've got work to do." He dismissed her by grabbing the night's assignments and leaving his office.
*^*^*^*
Sara smiled at Curtis as he handed her a beer. He sat down and put his feet up on the coffee table. "You sure you don't mind me being here Curt?" She asked, turning to watch the TV.
Chuckling and choking on his beer, he turned wide eyes at her. "This is 'your' place Sara, you know that."
"Yeah, but you've lived here 4 years without me." She said sadly.
Slipping his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her so she could snuggle against him. "And before that, you lived here nearly 6 years. I think you should just settle back in and we can talk about some things tomorrow." He suggested, telling her with his eyes that she wasn't going to ignore the problems for long if she was staying.
"Ok." She sighed.
"Maybe you feel up to scouting the town tomorrow, do some shopping, pick up some guys?" He wiggled his eyebrows playfully, earning a genuine laugh.
"The scouting around and shopping, yeah, I can handle that, but not the last one." She giggled.
He nodded and turned his attention back to the TV. It was obvious now that she was here because of a bloke and by tomorrow night, he'd have everything out of her. She wasn't going to fester on his watch and if he could, he'd help her out.
*^*^*^*
Grissom's headache hadn't shifted, making his concentration waver. Although he was working a simple cut and dry robbery, he still couldn't get her off his mind and the anger he felt for her leaving him. She had to have felt it. She had to. It was something special; something he knew would be special if they ever got that far.
Her leaving was the wake up call he need and his intentions on talking to her for some time had been interrupted with each attempt. He had wanted to discuss their relationship and after last night, he was sure she'd stay, but waking up alone in her apartment, was painful enough than finding the items of her life with him.
Her pager was now returned to the stores, her cell phone was kept in his locked desk drawer, along with her badge and apartment keys. He didn't know what to do with them, let alone with the letter he had yet to read.
With that thought, he pulled the crushed envelope from his pocket and pushed the case file away to place it on the table. What was it going say? Was it a hurtful letter, saying she regretted everything and was full of insults? Maybe it was a nice letter but it still finished with her leaving.
He didn't even know where she was. She must have left Vegas, maybe home to her parents. Grissom's mind would conjure the worst and then the anger, but most of all, the sadness that she didn't want to stay and try 'this' out.
Idly picking at the corner of the envelope, he closed his eyes and leaned into his right hand as his left pulled the letter free from it's confinement. His eyes opened and adjusted to the small print of her handwriting and slowly began to absorb her words, knowing what she said would be etched in his brain and heart forever.
Whether it is good or bad news, he was determined to find her and talk to her. She wasn't going to just disappear from his life after last night. He knew she still had feelings for him or she wouldn't have let him stay. She had given in, but not easily to his pleading to stay. They barely talk, only argued until the adrenaline hit it's peak and erupted in a powerful and intense kiss.
*^*^*^*
I'm confused and angry.
I'm not angry with you, but myself. I don't know if last night was supposed to happen or if it was the heat of the argument fuelling our actions. I, for one, don't know how to feel about the how, and why, but the when and who. If I leave, I'll be able to find my feet again and you'll be. to be honest, I don't know what last night was to you, but it was wonderful. It's the only way I can describe it.
I want to tell you my first thoughts when I woke up. I don't know if it will mean anything, but waking up with you did make me question what I should do and seeing you so calm and peaceful was something I could get use to, waking up with you.
There is something I can't explain too easily, not to you or on paper. I don't know why I chose to leave. I honestly thought things would resolve themselves between us, but perhaps my confusion got the better of me.
My one true fear would be waking up and that other person would regret and retreat. I've avoided the mass rejection so far, but my fear drove me away from the bed we shared.
Friendship was something we once had and it was lost somewhere along the way to this day. I hope we can find that easy friendship we once had.
*^*^*^*
He dropped his eyes to the last word, he couldn't stop himself thinking there should be more, but perhaps she didn't have anything else to say. It wasn't addressed to him or signed by her. It left a gaping hole of unanswered questions. If it was 'wonderful' why wouldn't she contact him or let him know where she was?
He was beginning to go out of his mind with worry and fear that something bad could have happened. He knew she had family and friends, but couldn't think where she would have gone. All Grissom knew was that he needed to know that she was safe.
TBC