It had been nearly a week since Sara had been back to work. Her
performance didn't seem much affected - at most she just seemed tireder
than usual. Sara had resumed her same level of enthusiasm and interest in
every case. It was just after midday that Grissom drove up to Sara Sidle's
apartment. Sara and Catherine had finished hours previously but Grissom,
Nick and Warwick had been working overtime on a case. Unfortunately, Sara
had left her cell phone in the break room. Grissom had decided to return
it her on his way home with the main reason he gave as her probably needing
it as soon as possible. Nick and Warrick suspected otherwise. When
Grissom knocked on Sara's door it was not Sara who greeted him. It was an
older woman in her forties or fifties (it was hard to tell which). She was
Caucasian with curly brown long hair, brown features and about 5"7. She
wore a creamy beige coloured crinkled drab dress. Facially, she looked
very much like a older version of Sara Sidle. This woman had one of the
friendliest smiles he had ever seen on her face and welcoming eyes.
However, Grissom noticed that she was badly bruised all over her face and
all her body. She stood with her arm in a sling.
"Oh I'm sorry. I was looking for Sara Sidle. I'm her boss" Grissom
exclaimed.
"Oh dear - I hope she's not in trouble!" the kind woman joked. Then the woman thought to herself and exclaimed,
"She's not? Is she? - because if she is then I can assure you she loves that job and she gives it 110. No, 120 percent!. No more!!. You won't get any better than Sara. We're so proud of her. She went to Harvard you know. She -".
Grissom smiled and interrupted her
"No, I assure you - She's not in trouble. And I know how much Sara gives to her job. She probably puts the most effort in than anyone".
"I'm sorry", the woman exclaimed holding out her hand and saying,
"I'm Libby Sidle - Sara's mom".
Grissom smiled and shook her hand.
"I guessed as much. Gil Grissom. Nice to meet you. Is Sara in?" Grissom replied.
"Oh no, sorry, I forgot to say! - Sara is at the supermarket. But please come in I'm sure she'll be back soon!" Sara's mother exclaimed.
"It's not that important. She left her phone at work and I was just returning it on my way home" Grissom said.
Libby interrupted, "Oh!. How lovely of you. No wonder my Sara likes you so much. She's always going on about you - saying how brilliant you are".
Grissom blushed and smiled. "Now come on inside. Have you only just finished work?. You must be dying for a drink. I'll make you one immediately!" she asserted.
"Oh no!. I don't need to see Sara that urgently. I could just leave her phone here in your safe keeping" Grissom replied.
"Now Gil!. May I call you that?. Sara calls you 'Grissom' " Libby asked.
"Well it's like a nickname - it's my surname. But either is fine" replied Grissom.
"Gil Grissom!. Any good C. S.I - that is what you lot are called isn't it?. Yeah well, I can't believe you would trust my word enough to leave something as precious as - this thing! - well, it's precious to her, at least!....In my hands because I simply SAY I'm her mother. I could be a burglar posing as her mother!. I really think as a good CSI you should come in and wait till Sara comes and confirms it. I really insist you come in! I really want to chat to you!. Sara is always going on about you. Well, all her colleagues!. And her job!. But you especially! - in an admiration way of course!. She worships you!. She thinks you can do no wrong!" insisted Libby.
"Now I'm sure that isn't true!. But sure I'll come in" Grissom agreed. Sara's mom looked delighted and they walked in.
Grissom could tell immediately that Libby was a flamboyant character.
"Would you like tea or coffee?. I have some lovely camomile tea - it can really relax you after a hard day's work - and I promise there's nothing dodgy in it - I know what my Sara's likely to say about me!" Libby said.
"She doesn't say much really. Coffee please" Grissom commented.
"Oh", Libby said dejected, "then again that sounds like her too".
"How are you feeling, Mrs Sidle?. Sara was quite upset when you were in hospital!" Grissom enquired.
"As would any daughter!. Oh please call me Libby!. Oh I'm fine!. Sara's looking after me when she can - did she tell you what happened?" Libby enquired.
"No, she likes to keep her work and family life pretty much separate" Grissom answered. "Oh yes, I can understand that. Well I'll tell you then!. I was mugged Mr Grissom!. I was mugged!. Society today hey!. No wonder when crime and violence is so glamorised in society!. It's just like I said when I when on a protest against nuclear weapons - violent crimes will increase in our society if don't stop introducing more forms of it!" Libby babbled on. Grissom didn't quite understand what Libby was saying about violence - she didn't really make sense. But Grissom got the immediate impression Libby had strong feelings on it. Maybe that was why Sara was so fired up by it - her parents must have brought her up extra anti violence. Libby was still babbling on when Grissom stopped day dreaming,
"It was terrible, Mr Grissom!. I just hope your lot in our local police department are as good as you and my Sara. But then again, their not are they - you guys are what number 2 or something!. That's amazing! Brilliant!. Congratulations!. But yes Gil - I am fine!. I'm thinking of going back home soon though - but Sara just doesn't want to let go. You'd think I was the daughter!. She's always looking after me that one!. My only one!" blabbered Libby.
"Oh I thought it was due to your bad health - don't you have some kind of condition?. Sorry I'm intruding!" asked Grissom.
"Oh bad health!. What type?. Umm. Well, I just have 'bad health'!. Their doing tests but just can't find out what it is!" Libby said.
"Mr Grissom. Enough about me!. Can I ask you something quite intimate?" asked Libby moving closer to Grissom.
Grissom become quite worried after what Sara had said about her parents being promiscuous, but she said that had stopped. Didn't she?.
"Well, why don't you ask me and I'll see if it's appropriate to answer" Grissom replied trying to stay cool.
"Well, I'll get straight to the point - What's going on between you and my daughter?. Romantically?" Libby demanded.
"Nothing!" Grissom defended.
"Well, let me tell you something that may surprise you, Mr Grissom. This will probably embarrass my daughter - but she's used to that!. Well, I feel I need to clear things up. This is how it is Gil - I've erm - I've noticed that Sara has romantic feelings for you. I can just tell. Call it motherly instinct. The way she does and always has spoken about you. And I'd just like to put across some points Mr Grissom. Firstly, age gap!. I'm quite open minded - but no! - end of story!. Secondly, she sees you as like a father figure to her - looks up to you and your like her hero - and father figures and romantic feelings together equal very messy and urghhh. You get the picture!. That's disgusting!" said Sara's mom.
"You see Mr Grissom", Mrs Sidle took a deep breath and sighed, "I'm not sure if Sara's mentioned this but Sara doesn't get along very well with her father. She doesn't feel he's really 'met up to her standards' of what a father should be!. Their hardly on speaking terms and they never really got on ever since she was a teenager. That's why I'm here, because Sara doesn't think he is capable of looking after me!. And well, I think she's practically disowned him in her mind. So the position is vacant and she looks around for a father figure and my bets are that she sees you as that. I'm sorry".
Grissom looked quite shocked. He knew Sara had some thoughts of him in that way but he didn't realise it ran so deep. Grissom looked up at Mrs Sidle and replied,
"Mrs Sidle. I am aware of Sara's romantic feelings for me and I have a vague comprehension of the way she looks up to me. But I can assure you - that although I cannot change Sara's feelings - I can assure you there will be no relationship. Your daughter is truly amazing!. A passionate and kindred spirit in a billion!. She is beautiful and very easy to fall for!. And as far as I'm concerned I am such a lucky man to have such a young beautiful thing like her even think of me in that way. But I can never let it go beyond a friendship. The reasons you have given are plenty but there is also the question of work. It would compromise our unit. I'm already nearly accused of favouring her - imagine if we dated!. And the friction caused if we broke up!. And anyway, physical attraction aside, it would never work! - because we work together. It will never happen! I assure you!" Grissom explained.
Sara's mom smiled and said, "I'm glad to hear it. I can see why Sara respects you so much. It's just that as a mother my wish is for her to settle down with a lovely man her own age. Your nearly old enough to be her father!".
"You have no worries" Grissom smiled and touched Libby's hand.
At that moment, Sara barged in through the front door.
"Mom - They didn't have your-". She froze when she saw Grissom. "Grissom!" she said softly.
"I'm sorry. I realise you don't want to mix your work and your family but you left your cell phone behind and I didn't know your mother was here. She insisted I come in" Grissom explained.
"I bet she did" Sara snarled looking at her mother who just shrugged. "Well, you're here now aren't you!", Sara snapped quite angrily, "What have you been talking about?".
"I was just telling Grissom how I was mugged and how I hope that the local CSI's are as good as you lot, dear" replied Libby defensively.
"Oh. Is that all?" Sara said.
"Basically" her mom replied and gave Grissom a smile and a wink.
"Oh dear - I hope she's not in trouble!" the kind woman joked. Then the woman thought to herself and exclaimed,
"She's not? Is she? - because if she is then I can assure you she loves that job and she gives it 110. No, 120 percent!. No more!!. You won't get any better than Sara. We're so proud of her. She went to Harvard you know. She -".
Grissom smiled and interrupted her
"No, I assure you - She's not in trouble. And I know how much Sara gives to her job. She probably puts the most effort in than anyone".
"I'm sorry", the woman exclaimed holding out her hand and saying,
"I'm Libby Sidle - Sara's mom".
Grissom smiled and shook her hand.
"I guessed as much. Gil Grissom. Nice to meet you. Is Sara in?" Grissom replied.
"Oh no, sorry, I forgot to say! - Sara is at the supermarket. But please come in I'm sure she'll be back soon!" Sara's mother exclaimed.
"It's not that important. She left her phone at work and I was just returning it on my way home" Grissom said.
Libby interrupted, "Oh!. How lovely of you. No wonder my Sara likes you so much. She's always going on about you - saying how brilliant you are".
Grissom blushed and smiled. "Now come on inside. Have you only just finished work?. You must be dying for a drink. I'll make you one immediately!" she asserted.
"Oh no!. I don't need to see Sara that urgently. I could just leave her phone here in your safe keeping" Grissom replied.
"Now Gil!. May I call you that?. Sara calls you 'Grissom' " Libby asked.
"Well it's like a nickname - it's my surname. But either is fine" replied Grissom.
"Gil Grissom!. Any good C. S.I - that is what you lot are called isn't it?. Yeah well, I can't believe you would trust my word enough to leave something as precious as - this thing! - well, it's precious to her, at least!....In my hands because I simply SAY I'm her mother. I could be a burglar posing as her mother!. I really think as a good CSI you should come in and wait till Sara comes and confirms it. I really insist you come in! I really want to chat to you!. Sara is always going on about you. Well, all her colleagues!. And her job!. But you especially! - in an admiration way of course!. She worships you!. She thinks you can do no wrong!" insisted Libby.
"Now I'm sure that isn't true!. But sure I'll come in" Grissom agreed. Sara's mom looked delighted and they walked in.
Grissom could tell immediately that Libby was a flamboyant character.
"Would you like tea or coffee?. I have some lovely camomile tea - it can really relax you after a hard day's work - and I promise there's nothing dodgy in it - I know what my Sara's likely to say about me!" Libby said.
"She doesn't say much really. Coffee please" Grissom commented.
"Oh", Libby said dejected, "then again that sounds like her too".
"How are you feeling, Mrs Sidle?. Sara was quite upset when you were in hospital!" Grissom enquired.
"As would any daughter!. Oh please call me Libby!. Oh I'm fine!. Sara's looking after me when she can - did she tell you what happened?" Libby enquired.
"No, she likes to keep her work and family life pretty much separate" Grissom answered. "Oh yes, I can understand that. Well I'll tell you then!. I was mugged Mr Grissom!. I was mugged!. Society today hey!. No wonder when crime and violence is so glamorised in society!. It's just like I said when I when on a protest against nuclear weapons - violent crimes will increase in our society if don't stop introducing more forms of it!" Libby babbled on. Grissom didn't quite understand what Libby was saying about violence - she didn't really make sense. But Grissom got the immediate impression Libby had strong feelings on it. Maybe that was why Sara was so fired up by it - her parents must have brought her up extra anti violence. Libby was still babbling on when Grissom stopped day dreaming,
"It was terrible, Mr Grissom!. I just hope your lot in our local police department are as good as you and my Sara. But then again, their not are they - you guys are what number 2 or something!. That's amazing! Brilliant!. Congratulations!. But yes Gil - I am fine!. I'm thinking of going back home soon though - but Sara just doesn't want to let go. You'd think I was the daughter!. She's always looking after me that one!. My only one!" blabbered Libby.
"Oh I thought it was due to your bad health - don't you have some kind of condition?. Sorry I'm intruding!" asked Grissom.
"Oh bad health!. What type?. Umm. Well, I just have 'bad health'!. Their doing tests but just can't find out what it is!" Libby said.
"Mr Grissom. Enough about me!. Can I ask you something quite intimate?" asked Libby moving closer to Grissom.
Grissom become quite worried after what Sara had said about her parents being promiscuous, but she said that had stopped. Didn't she?.
"Well, why don't you ask me and I'll see if it's appropriate to answer" Grissom replied trying to stay cool.
"Well, I'll get straight to the point - What's going on between you and my daughter?. Romantically?" Libby demanded.
"Nothing!" Grissom defended.
"Well, let me tell you something that may surprise you, Mr Grissom. This will probably embarrass my daughter - but she's used to that!. Well, I feel I need to clear things up. This is how it is Gil - I've erm - I've noticed that Sara has romantic feelings for you. I can just tell. Call it motherly instinct. The way she does and always has spoken about you. And I'd just like to put across some points Mr Grissom. Firstly, age gap!. I'm quite open minded - but no! - end of story!. Secondly, she sees you as like a father figure to her - looks up to you and your like her hero - and father figures and romantic feelings together equal very messy and urghhh. You get the picture!. That's disgusting!" said Sara's mom.
"You see Mr Grissom", Mrs Sidle took a deep breath and sighed, "I'm not sure if Sara's mentioned this but Sara doesn't get along very well with her father. She doesn't feel he's really 'met up to her standards' of what a father should be!. Their hardly on speaking terms and they never really got on ever since she was a teenager. That's why I'm here, because Sara doesn't think he is capable of looking after me!. And well, I think she's practically disowned him in her mind. So the position is vacant and she looks around for a father figure and my bets are that she sees you as that. I'm sorry".
Grissom looked quite shocked. He knew Sara had some thoughts of him in that way but he didn't realise it ran so deep. Grissom looked up at Mrs Sidle and replied,
"Mrs Sidle. I am aware of Sara's romantic feelings for me and I have a vague comprehension of the way she looks up to me. But I can assure you - that although I cannot change Sara's feelings - I can assure you there will be no relationship. Your daughter is truly amazing!. A passionate and kindred spirit in a billion!. She is beautiful and very easy to fall for!. And as far as I'm concerned I am such a lucky man to have such a young beautiful thing like her even think of me in that way. But I can never let it go beyond a friendship. The reasons you have given are plenty but there is also the question of work. It would compromise our unit. I'm already nearly accused of favouring her - imagine if we dated!. And the friction caused if we broke up!. And anyway, physical attraction aside, it would never work! - because we work together. It will never happen! I assure you!" Grissom explained.
Sara's mom smiled and said, "I'm glad to hear it. I can see why Sara respects you so much. It's just that as a mother my wish is for her to settle down with a lovely man her own age. Your nearly old enough to be her father!".
"You have no worries" Grissom smiled and touched Libby's hand.
At that moment, Sara barged in through the front door.
"Mom - They didn't have your-". She froze when she saw Grissom. "Grissom!" she said softly.
"I'm sorry. I realise you don't want to mix your work and your family but you left your cell phone behind and I didn't know your mother was here. She insisted I come in" Grissom explained.
"I bet she did" Sara snarled looking at her mother who just shrugged. "Well, you're here now aren't you!", Sara snapped quite angrily, "What have you been talking about?".
"I was just telling Grissom how I was mugged and how I hope that the local CSI's are as good as you lot, dear" replied Libby defensively.
"Oh. Is that all?" Sara said.
"Basically" her mom replied and gave Grissom a smile and a wink.