Title: Las Vegas Knights
A/N: Is anyone actually reading this fic?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. These character's are owned by some ridiculously rich people who think that character development means that you turn one of your best characters into an alcoholic.
Chapter Eleven:
After Grissom left Sara behind in his office he went to find a quiet place to think. Unfortunately such a place was rare in this lab, especially when you happen to be the night shift supervisor. After the third person approached him asking for his opinion on something inconsequential, he finally gave up and decided to head towards the break room and wait for the other CSIs to show up. As much as it irked him he would have to work with Greg tonight since he sent Sara home. He briefly considered calling her cell asking her to come back, but immediately dismissed the thought. Something was wrong with Sara and until he had a chance to either force her to talk to him or someone else about it he didn't want her working around evidence.
Seeing the way her hands shook continued to bother him immensely. He hoped that she was simply overworked and needed a rest, however his instincts told him that the problem was much more severe than that. He realized that he could no longer ignore the fact that Sara was having problems. Tonight was the first time her issues were in danger of affecting her job.
Deep in thought Grissom nearly stumbled into Greg who was racing down the hallway.
"Greg! Slow down," Grissom barked.
"Uh sorry Griss. I just need to get these samples to Jacqui for Catherine," the lab tech suppered as he jumped past his supervisor.
"Greg deliver those samples then report back here to the break room. You have one minute."
Greg's eyes widened before he turned around and raced down the hallway once more. Grissom shook his head with exasperation. When he walked into the break room Catherine and Nick were chatting to themselves. He stood in the doorway and waited for them to notice him.
"So what do you think I should do Cath?" Nick whispered loudly.
"Well do you like her?" Catherine inquired.
"Yeah she is pretty amazing. She wants to see me again after shift."
Catherine exhaled heavily. "I think you need to be very careful with this Nick. I think that you sh...oh hey Grissom. Here for assignments?"
"Yes." Grissom briefly wondered who they were discussing.
Nick looked around the room as if searching for someone. "Griss where is S..."
Grissom cut him off as he sat down. "I gave her the night off."
Catherine frowned. "Are you sure that is a good idea? I thought you said that we we were all going to tough it out until Warrick got back."
Grissom gave Catherine a look that plainly stated that he didn't want to discuss the issue. "She isn't feeling well. Greg will be taking her place tonight."
Even as Grissom said his name Greg came sliding into the room wearing a foolish grin on his face. A single glare from Grissom caused him to sit down next to Nick, but he didn't stop smiling.
"Catherine how is that multiple DB coming along?" Grissom asked without looking at her as he shifted through some papers.
"It was rather gruesome, but our perp was kind enough to leave plenty of evidence lying around. Nick was able to pull a partial off of a cigarette lying close to the body. Hopefully we can get a warrant tonight," Catherine said while she smiled at Nick.
Grissom nodded. "Alright, you two keep working your case. The Jonathan Miles' case will have to be put on hold until the morning when we can interview some of the people who last saw him. In the meantime, Greg you are will me. We have a B&E at a corner store a few blocks away from the strip."
Greg shot up from his seat. "Beware villains! The Criminator is coming for you!" Greg exclaimed in his best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression.
Catherine and Nick both left the break room chuckling while Grissom was left wanting to strangle his lab tech. "Greg put a cap on your head before going out. I won't have you seen at a crime scene with that hair. Meet me in the parking lot in five minutes. Bring your kit."
Greg watched his supervisor leave the break room and reached up to touch his hair. "Whats wrong with my hair?" he called out.
"Its BLUE," Grissom yelled back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A few hours after they arrived at their scene Grissom had to admit to himself that he was impressed with Greg's performance. In fact, Grissom realized that he hadn't needed to reprimand Greg once since arriving at the crime scene. Now as he watched Greg expertly dusting for prints and collecting evidence he felt proud of the younger man.
"Greg come here," he snapped in his usual tone. He didn't want to give the lab tech any reason to wear that stupid smile on his face.
Greg quickly put his supplies down and raced to stand in front of Grissom. "Yes boss?"
"I was wondering what your thoughts were on this case."
Greg's mouth opened and closed a few times without any words coming out.
"Well?" Grissom pressured.
Greg started looking around. He glanced at Grissom one more time before speaking. "Well its a B&E. The perpetrators entered through the back entrance. It looks like they forced the door open. The owner reported a small safe missing."
Grissom nodded. "Is that all you see?"
Greg gulped and shifted his feet. "Well I thought it kind of odd that the alarm didn't go off. Either it wasn't set or the person who did this knew the code."
The corners of Grissom's mouth began to curve upward. "You've been doing your homework. Good job. Now get back to work."
Greg grinned at him before scampering away. Grissom continued to watch the young lab tech realizing that very soon Greg would be asking for a permanent position in the field. Ever since the explosion last year he hadn't seemed very comfortable working in the lab. Grissom remembered telling Greg to learn how to be a CSI on his own time. It now appeared that he had been doing just that. Perhaps soon he might be given that opportunity.
Grissom concluded that he would approach Greg about the matter after Carvallo made his final decision between Nick and Sara about the promotion. This thought led his mind back to Sara. Sara, a woman he did his best to avoid. Grissom had foolishly believed that the two of them could be friends and nothing more. Everything had been going well between them in Vegas until she asked him to dinner. Until that time he had assumed that the attraction between them had faded so that only he was left carrying a torch. Until then he had thought that they could be friends and nothing more.
Grissom was jarred out of his reverie when someone else walked into the corner store. He quickly bagged a piece of torn cloth he saw on the floor and stood up to see who was intruding on their crime scene. The culprit happened to be Jim Brass.
"Jim what are you doing here?"
Brass glanced at Greg who was staring at them from across the room. "Gil, come outside. We need to talk."
Grissom shook his head. "Whats the problem?"
Brass frowned. "Its about Sara. We need to talk privately," he reaffirmed.
Grissom still didn't move his feet. "What happened?" he asked urgently. "Is she hurt? Injured?" He felt his heart pounding in his chest.
Brass sighed. "This isn't something prying ears need to hear. Gil just humor me okay?"
Finally Grissom nodded. He looked at Greg who was still observing them, and barked out an order for him to get back to work. Grissom followed Brass outside and down to the end of a short alley.
"Jim what is the problem? Whats with the secrecy?"
Jim Brass looked extremely uncomfortable as he considered how to break his news to his friend. "Listen Gil. Sara was picked up about twenty minutes ago."
Grissom shook his head not comprehending Brass' explanation. "Picked up?"
Brass sighed. "She was driving under the influence Gil."
"Oh god." Grissom felt his jaw go slack.
Brass reached a comforting hand out and placed it on Grissom's shoulder. "Listen Gil, this is being kept quiet. Thats why I am here telling you. She isn't going to be charged with anything. Apparently she was having some drinks at a local bar that us law enforcement types sometimes hang out at. One of my guys saw her there and was watching her closely. When she left, he followed her. She got pulled over before she could go far."
Grissom pursed his lips tightly. "What is going to happen to her?"
"Nothing. We are going to keep it hush hush. This time," he added. "I think its best if you go pick her up."
Grissom exhaled and rubbed his temples with his fingers. "This isn't good Jim. Sara drinking? That doesn't make any sense."
"Well," Brass said in an evasive tone.
Grissom shot him a look. "Did you know about this?" he asked harshly.
"Look Gil. She needs you right now. I'll cover this scene for you. Go pick her up. If you don't she is going to be sitting there until she sobers up."
Grissom sputtered. "I can't leave you and Greg to cover a crime scene!"
Brass rolled his eyes. "You know I never was great at your job, but I don't suck either. I can supervise. Go!"
Grissom finally nodded. This was only a simple B&E anyways. They couldn't screw it up too much could they? It was with that thought that he climbed into his vehicle and drove towards the station to pick Sara up.
To Be Continued...