Title: Strange Comforts
Summary: When Sara returns home to deal with the unexpected passing of her father, some things get a bit strange. [G/S friendly]
Pairings: Grissom/Sara [And again, most people really wish I wouldn't torture the poor characters]
Rating: PG 13
Category: Drama/Romance
Archives/Links: Just ask.
Author's Notes: This idea sprung from something completely different, where a friend of Sara's comes to Vegas and she has to deal with the repercussions. But the back-story turned into the better fic, and this is the strange hybrid of the two.
While this is labeled a romance, it's not a typical one. More of an exploration of the characters then anything else.
Disclaimer: I don't own CBS, CSI or wine cooler. I want wine cooler though…I love headaches.
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Grissom watched from the corridor as his CSIs sat in the break room, joking back and forth while they waited for him to arrive. The men's grins suggested early bets were already on, while the two women leaned towards one another, speaking intently. But they all looked up quickly when he entered, alert and eager to be in the field.
"Nick, Catherine, Warrick…shooting at-" he checked his notes, "…The Smiling Monkey. Sara, you're with me."
"Score," she said, grabbing the slip of paper from his hand as she walked out of the room. She paused at the door. "You gonna drive or am I?"
He looked at her, and she grinned.
"Right. Don't mess with a man and his wheels."
"Just get ready."
~*~
She read the assignment slip in the car. A convenience store had been robbed; the intruder identified and caught on surveillance. The forensics were a mere formality.
"Why'd you take an open-and-shut robbery?"
"I have a plane to catch tomorrow night. "
"Oh yeah, the San Francisco convention. Gotta go wow the rookies."
"Don't mock my lectures Ms. Sidle. The way I remember it, you yourself were bowed over by my six-legged friends not all that long ago."
She laughed. "Yes, but now I think they're freaky."
"Freaky?"
"Yep. Freaky," she agreed. "Hey! You almost missed the turnoff."
He put his signal on and turned onto the dirt road Sara pointed towards. The ride was bumpy, and Sara muttered a few choice comments about certain city officials.
"I wanted to talk to you about this trip Sara. I want you to run the lab while I'm gone, at least for a couple of days. If Catherine starts worrying about the way things are going, I'll take you off."
"You're kidding. You're offering me a chance at supervisor? No joke? And Catherine's okay with this?"
"Catherine's okay with what I say she's okay with. As of tomorrow night, you're shift boss. You'll do fine. I'll be back on Saturday."
Sara didn't reply, but a huge smile spoke for her. She sat back in her seat, contemplating this new information. After only a few minutes they came out onto a decent road and saw the store.
"Heavenly Desires? I thought it was a convenience store?"
Grissom looked ashamed. "So did I."
"Well at least we know why it's out here."
"Inside or out?"
"I'll take the perimeter," Sara offered.
They exited the vehicle, splitting up. Sara headed around the back while Grissom nodded to the officer on duty and entered the shop. It was dimly lit, and cool compared to the late summer evening temperatures outside. Paraphernalia crowded the shelves, some with uses he wouldn't even guess at. He shot photos and lifted prints from the register. He talked to the man that had been on duty, noting his agitated state.
Sara came in then, letting out a low whistle.
"You got names for any of these things Gris?"
"Human nature interests me, but not that much."
She grinned, and for a moment he was aware of an unintended double entendre.
"I'm done outside. Nothing remarkable, shoe prints and tire tracks. The guy was on a motorcycle though…Find anything interesting in here?"
"Not much yet. Prints mostly. Good quality though."
A dim clanking came from the back room, and Grissom motioned for silence. Sara's hand went to the holster on her waist, and she inched towards the rear. The sudden tinkling of a novelty ring tone broke through the silence.
"Turn that off," he hissed.
Sara complied, looking chagrined at forgetting to set her phone to vibrate. She saw the phone face and confusion slid over her face, tinged with worry.
"It's my mom," she said, heading outside to take the call.
The noise had stopped, and Grissom motioned for the cop to look into it. He looked out the door and watched as Sara, illuminated by the last faint streaks of daylight, slowly slumped downwards as she spoke. He couldn't hear what she was saying, but he saw the word 'dad' cross her lips.
The cop came back before Sara did, explaining that it was the old AC. Grissom turned back to the crime scene, noticing a section of cloth caught on a shelf. As he removed it with tweezers and bagged it, the hair on the nape of his neck prickled to announce Sara's presence.
"Grissom…" Her voice was taut with self control.
"You don't have to say anything. Just drop these," he handed her a few envelopes, "off at the lab when you punch out. And when you know how long you'll be, phone me so I can get the paperwork formalized. Got it?"
"You never do paperwork Gris."
Her voice sounded a bit more in control.
"Okay, phone me so I can half fill out paperwork that'll sit on my desk for six months before disappearing into the abyss." He gave her a small smile. "Besides, Cath'll worry."
"I'll let you know when I get there."
She left, her shoes clicking on the old wood floor in a hurried beat. Grissom phoned Warrick, explaining that something came up and he was needed at this scene. He gave the man the address, and turned back to his work.
~*~
The halls of the CSI building were relatively empty, and Grissom hurried through them quickly. He stopped at the break room, intending a quick cup of coffee before he met Greg for the results of his evidence. Much to his surprise, Sara was sitting on the couch with her cell in hand.
"I sent you home two hours ago Sara."
She looked up, trying to figure out when he had come in.
"I've punched out. I just…haven't gone home yet. I started calling to get a ticket…" she waved her hands "but no luck so far."
"It's your dad?"
She nodded. "They were watching TV when he just keeled over…the doctors think it was an aneurysm."
He didn't know what to say then.
"You want a lift home? I have to drive by your house for the crime scene …"
She gave what she hoped passed for a smile.
"Thanks."
~*~
They were quiet in the car; he left her to her grief.
"Two days."
"What?"
"That's how long it will take for me to get a ticket to San Francisco. One of the planes is in for repairs, so they've been squeezing two planes into one. Or trying to at least. I'd be better off taking the bus."
"Not necessarily. Look, go home. Shower, sleep, pack whatever you'll need. One ticket to San Fran shouldn't be too hard to wrangle up."
"I don't know Grissom…"
"Look, no matter what transportation you take you'll need some sleep. Just wait until this shift is over. I'll swing by, and if I haven't arranged anything I'll pay for your bus fare."
She nodded in acceptance. The sudden news had taken a lot out of her. In a way she was glad he was taking control for the moment. Right now she wanted to crawl into bed and cry.
"One condition though- I'm not taking your ticket."
"Fine," he agreed.
They were at her building now, and she got out of the SUV.
"I'll see you about 7 then. You don't know how much I appreciate this…" she started to choke up.
"7 o'clock," he said.
He waited in the parking lot until she was inside, then drove back to the lab. For once Greg would be looking for him.
...........
Feedback welcome. The good, the bad and the out-of-character.