Feasibility Study

Chapter 8: I've Got Your Number – Part 1
Written by: Ms Maggs / Edited by: KJT

July 24, 2005 (Day 93)
Sidle-Grissom House
6:00 p.m.

Still in her Victoria's Secret violet waffle knit drawstring pajama bottoms and white sleep tank, Sara lounged on the bed watching Grissom, who was clad only in his blue plaid Ralph Lauren pajama bottoms, which she bought him last month. For the last ten minutes he was busy packing his suitcase for the annual North American Forensic Entomology Conference.

"Other than roach racing what do you bug folk do at this shindig?" She curiously inquired.

Standing in front of his closet he randomly selected a couple of button-down shirts. "Lots of presentations, a dinner event…you know the usual conference stuff."

"What are you presenting this year?"

Moving to the dresser he grabbed two handfuls of balled-up black socks. "The first day I'm presenting on the migration behavior of post-feeding blowfly larvae, on the second day, long-term spatial pattern analysis of carrion fauna for locating decomposition sites and the last day a few case studies."

Chuckling she asked, "Mmm…what do they serve for lunch at this conference?"

Tossing his socks at her, he teased, "Fetal pig with maggot garnish. You'd hate it."

One by one she pitched his socks in the open suitcase on the bed. "And who attends?"

Heading back to the closet, he grabbed a jacket. "Bug guys…bug girls…wannabes. It's like high school really…lots of cliques."

"Girl wannabes?" She feigned irritation. "Hmm…maybe I should come along. Listening to you lecture is what attracted me to you. I was one of your wannabes once."

"Once?" He raised a brow as he threw a jacket on top of the suitcase. "As in past tense?"

Grabbing his hand she lured him closer. "Now I don't wannabe you…I just wannabe with you."

"I suppose the packing can wait until after we have a proper send-off." Sliding into bed next to her he said, "We haven't been apart in months."

"I've never been the one left at home."

"It stinks, trust me." He had been alone several times while she was at Berkeley working with her thesis advisor and he found it unnerving.

"Maybe it will be good for us." Her voice turned slightly serious. "Give us time to think about…"

"I promise I'm already thinking about it, Sara." Propping up on his elbow he sighed, "I know we haven't had time to talk."

Placing her hand on the side of his face, she smiled sweetly. "It's been busy at work." She knew that wasn't the real reason. Truthfully he had been stalling. But stalling was better than avoiding so she didn't push.

Work, although hectic, wasn't the real reason and he knew she knew it too. "Thanks for understanding."

"Never a problem." Not wanting their last hour before his trip to be tense, she tapped his lips with her index finger. "Enough talk. Shut up and kiss me...three days worth please. And after that I'll tell you what else I want."

Obeying her command he moved in to kiss her. "Oh…"

"What?" She scrunched her face. "I brushed my teeth!"

"No…" He rolled onto his back. "I still didn't go shopping."

"What?" Sitting up she gawked at him. "Let's review…this issue was my responsibility for seven months…it's been yours for seven weeks. How many times did I drop the ball? None. How many times have you?"

He covered his disappointed expression with his hands and groaned. "Trust me…I'm not happy with me either."

Falling back she let out a laborious sigh. "I'm a hormonal woman in her sexual prime who is making up for years of lost time. I can't keep suffering these kinds of disappointments." Laughter starting to take over she added, "Soon I may not be responsible for what I do to you."

"What day is it?"

"Sunday. Relevance to the topic at hand?"

"No…number of the days since your last…"

"Are you going where I think you're going with this, Mr. Biology?" Turning on her side she narrowed her gaze and did the math. "Day twelve."

Facing her he winced, "That's cutting it close…way too close. It's almost a bulls-eye."

"Nah…it's one day too early." Loving every minute of it, she goaded him. "We're safe. I won't get pregnant."

Laughing he said, "That's a phrase frequently uttered by Catholic girls nine months before they give birth."

Searching his eyes she teased, "Oooh…I can tell you're still thinking about taking the chance. You're asking yourself…do I feel lucky?"

"Actually it's a variant of that question."

Feeling devious, she informed him, "You know what…go on your trip frustrated. It will teach you a lesson and maybe you'll finally remember to go shopping."

"Ouch."

Sliding out of bed she chuckled. "Love hurts, baby."

Crime Lab
11:13 p.m. PST/12:13 a.m. MST

Sara and Greg were at the computer doing a missing persons search when her cell phone rang. Checking the number she cracked a perky smile. "I'm going to take this in Grissom's office. You keep searching."

"You got it, sis."

Quickly she crossed the hall, retreating into Grissom's office and shutting the door.

She answered not with a traditional hello but instead opted for, "Still frustrated?"

"Absolutely." He laughed into the receiver.

Sitting in his chair she teased, "Promise me you won't end up another death-by-pay-per-view statistic. You know I've processed at least three of those. It's a humiliating way to go." Changing her voice to a sexy whisper she asked, "What are they showing on skin-TV at the Doubletree?"

"I can't believe you're asking me this."

Actually she couldn't believe it either. "I've never had a phone relationship before but I've seen them in movies and it's always looked quite intriguing."

"Where are you?"

"In your office." She spun around in his chair. "I'm rearranging all your stuff. Does that frustrate you?"

"Yes!"

"I'm still waiting." She sent a mischievous chuckle through the phone. "What movies are playing?"

"You'd love it actually. They have the Bridget Jones sequel. I thought of you the minute I saw the schedule."

"So you did check!" She burst out laughing.

"It was sitting on top of the welcome packet, Sara." His voice droned through the phone.

Greg knocking at the door grabbed her attention. "Hold on for a minute." She motioned for him to enter. "What?" She purposely left the receiver uncovered. "Can't you see I'm busy trashing the boss's office!"

"It's a brand of orange juice and we're going there."

"The Tropicana." Returning to her phone call she said, "Hey the boss is out of town so Greg and I are heading out to The Trop to party for a few hours."

"I'm presenting first thing in the morning so I'm heading to bed."

Standing up she giggled, "What will you be watching on TV while you're in bed?"

"Good night, Sara." He replied in a laugh.

"Pleasant dreams Honey." Clicking off her phone, she returned it to her belt clip.

Greg snickered, "That sounded a little cheeky."

"You're such a perv, Greg."

July 25, 2005 (Day 94)

Colorado Springs Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center

Room 233

8:29 a.m. PST/9:29 a.m. MST

After punching in Sara's number, Grissom cradled his cell phone to his ear while packing up the last of his materials for this morning's ten a.m. presentation.

"Still frustrated?" Sara answered the phone.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" He laughed into the receiver. "How was the rest of your shift?"

"Well the boss is gone so after Greg and I returned from the Trop we partied with Catherine and Warrick in the break room for a few hours and then went home early."

Hearing her laughter through the phone only made him miss her more. "What are you doing right now?"

"Baby, I think you're supposed to ask what I'm wearing right now."

"Sorry…I'm new at this too." Leaning against a wall he grinned. "So what are you wearing?"

"Wait…you didn't ask me where I am…I think that needs to come first to ensure proper visualization."

Thoroughly amused by the fact that she was being anal-retentive about a spontaneous activity, he chuckled, "Okay where are you?" Then he realized the time. "Wait…don't answer that because I have to be downstairs in ten minutes and stand in front of a room full of people."

"Afraid they might notice your frustration?"

"I'm hanging up now, Sara."

"Good luck, Honey."

Sara's Home Office
11:15 a.m. PST/12:15 p.m. MST

Sitting at the computer, shopping, Sara heard her cell phone ringing in her purse and hurried into the entryway to grab it. The number on the display sent a signal to her smile while answering the call. "Still frustrated?"

"You'd like to believe that wouldn't you."

Returning to her office she asked, "Shouldn't you be at lunch eating fetal pig with maggot garnish?"

"I could be but I'd rather be in my hotel room talking to you."

"Ah…" Grinning, she eased into her desk chair. "So we've established where you are."

"And where are you?"

"I'm at home in my office sitting at my computer." She kicked her legs up on her desk. "What are you wearing?"

"You saw me packing, you know."

"That's a cop out." She laughed into the phone. "But I'll guess black pants and a black button down shirt."

"Correct. Now tell me what you're wearing."

"Guess." She relaxed further back in her chair.

"Pink cashmere bathrobe."

"Wrong." Glancing down at her attire, she purred in to the phone. "I'm wearing one of your blue t-shirts because I miss you."

"It's nice to be missed. What were you doing at the computer when I called?"

"Shopping." Eyeing the monitor she saw the Pottery Barn rug she was in the middle of ordering.

"Which store?"

Deciding Pottery Barn would be a mood killer, she opted to augment the truth. "Victoria's Secret." A memory flashed into her mind. Lowering her voice, she asked, "Do you remember what her secret is, Grissom?"

"Beauty."

Grinning from ear to ear she asked, "And since when were you interested in beauty?"

"Since I met you."

Ecstatic that he remembered the moment, she gushed, "I think this has turned into phone-love."

"I love you, Sara."

Melting from the exchange, she whispered back, "I love you, too."

"Remember how you told me when you went to your OB/Gyn's office you noticed all the pregnant women and all the baby stuff for the first time even though it had to be there when you went for other visits over the years?"

"Yes." She wasn't sure where he was going with this but it sounded promising. "Why?"

"Well I've been coming to entomology conferences and presentations for many years and not until this one did I ever notice how many of these people are married and have families. I guess I blocked it because it didn't pertain to me or maybe I blocked it because it depressed me. I don't know. But now…I hear them talking about it and it's making me..."

Lovingly she asked, "Making you what?"

Silence dominated the conversation for a minute and then Grissom finally replied. "It's making me miss you."

Just like she replaced Pottery Barn with Victoria's Secret, his answer was a cover up. He wasn't ready to risk it yet but he was getting closer. Knowing he was regretting saying as much as he did, she decided to rescue him. "I bet missing me is making you very frustrated."

When she heard his sigh of relief through the phone she knew she had his number.

"Yes it is."

"You probably have to get back to your meeting, huh?"

"I do."

"Yeah…you don't want to miss dessert. I hear they're serving Blowfly Pie." His laughter was music to her ears. "Call me later."

"Count on it."

July 25, 2005 (Day 94)
Locker Room
9:53 p.m. PST/10:53 p.m. MST

Catherine, Warrick, Greg and Sara were shedding their exterior possessions for Crime Lab ID badges while shooting the breeze.

"What's this?" Catherine grabbed Sara's hand. "You never wear your ring to work."

"Oh shoot. I can't believe I left it on." Putting it anywhere else would have been risky and since she didn't want it lost or stolen, she had no choice but to keep it on her finger.

Catherine grinned. "Subconsciously you didn't take it off because you miss him."

"Speaking of taking it off." Greg shut his locker. "Are you going to hole up in Grissom's office and frolic on the phone with him again like you did last night?"

"Whoa whoa." Warrick leaned against a locker. "On company time?"

Catherine started the line. "While the boss is away…"

"…on the phone he will play." And Greg finished.

"Save it for another day." Sara rolled her eyes at the lot of them and a second later her cell phone rang.

Warrick pounced. "Heads up…Sara's getting another booty call." He started the laughter but Catherine and Greg quickly caught up.

Ignoring them, Sara grabbed her phone and left the room, the phone number on the display thrilling her. "Still Frustrated?" She answered while heading down the hall to Grissom's office.

"Not one bit."

She knew what that meant. "Number six?"

"The rest of the pack ate his dust."

"Way to go!" When she reached his door she joked, "What is number six wearing?"

"A blue ribbon." He chuckled. "Are you at work yet?"

"Are you asking because you want to establish proper visualization or are you the boss checking up on me?" Glancing at her watch she reminded him, "I'm not on the clock for another five minutes."

"Are you telling me that because you want the boss to know you're exceedingly punctual or are you letting me know how much time we have to fool around?"

"Both." Laughing she entered his office and shut the door. "I'm in your office again." Teasing him she gasped. "Oops I just knocked over a tall stack of papers. Oh well…they probably weren't that important."

"Are you trying to make me frustrated?"

"No." Smirking she sat on the edge of his desk. "If I was trying to make you frustrated I'd tell you what I have on under the black jeans and tight black tank shirt I'm wearing."

"So I know where you are, what you're wearing and what you're doing. How many minutes do we have left?"

"Two."

"Good." He released a devious chuckle before asking the next question. "Can you open filing cabinet number seven and pull my information on long-term spatial pattern analysis because I need a couple of numbers for my presentation tomorrow."

"Ugh!" Obliging she proceeded to the requested cabinet. "That was cheap."

"Is that frustration I hear in your voice?"

Break Room

10:05 p.m.

The pre-game coffee huddle was in full swing when Sara breezed into the room.

Catherine, Warrick and Greg immediately stopped talking and stared at her.

"Minds out of the gutter, people." Scowling she headed for the coffee pot. "He needed some stats for his presentation tomorrow, that's why I was in his office."

"He needed some stats." Warrick nodded.

Greg nodded back. "For his presentation tomorrow."

Grabbing her mug she feigned irritation. "Aren't you a couple of parrots?"

The witty repartee was halted when Jim Brass popped into the room. "Tonight is your lucky night!"

Warrick announced, "That's what Grissom just told Sara on the phone a few minutes ago. He's been calling her looking for a little long distance TLC."

Brass headed for the coffee. "Please…I try really hard not to think of what they say and do to each other in private especially considering all those damn bugs in their house. Do you think she likes to play 'help rescue me from this hoard of beetles?'" He shivered at the thought.

Warrick gave his own scenario. "I'm thinking country girl from the ant farm."

Greg couldn't resist. Mocking a waif's voice, he cried out, "Pin me down like one of your butterflies in a frame."

"Enough already." Catherine shook her head. "Hanging out with the three of you tonight is like being back in high school. I know for a fact at least one of you isn't hard up so it must be a full moon."

"Okay I'm the big boss man so I'll set a good example and settle down." As he filled a mug, Brass informed them. "Here's the good news…I am your acting supervisor tonight and some of you will even have the pleasure of my company in the field."

"You're slumming?" Catherine grabbed the cream and doused her black coffee.

"Since the budget freeze prevented Grissom from hiring anyone you guys are short and well…" Glaring at Greg he added, "I thought I should check in on Sanders and see how he's doing. Now that he's a big hero, I want to make sure he's not getting too full of himself in the field."

Sara's cell phone ringing drew everyone's attention.

"Looks like someone needs a little more TLC!" Greg exclaimed as he refilled his mug. "Frankly I'm impressed he's ready so soon."

As if he were disarming a suspect, Brass stealthily snatched Sara's cell phone from her clip. "I'll be your secretary."

"Hey!" Sara went to grab it but it was too late.

"I'm sorry, Sara Sidle is unavailable to fulfill your wildest fantasies at the moment. Is there something I can do for you?" Enjoying the horrified look on Sara's face he leaned against the wall.

"Jim?" Grissom didn't miss a beat. "Yes, thanks. I was going to ask Sara to pull my file on long-term spatial pattern analysis."

"Is that some kind of twisted code?" Holding out the phone, Brass announced the request to the group. "He says he wants her to pull his file on long-term spatter analysis."

Warrick choked on his coffee.

"Sounds kinky." Greg concurred.

Sara grabbed the phone. "It's spatial analysis." Walking out of the room she yelled back. "You're all a bunch of sick freaks!"

July 26, 2005 (Day 95)
DNA Lab
12:02 a.m.

Sara and Greg were harassing Max for DNA results when Brass stuck his head in the room. "Time to rock and roll, kids. We got a 419 suspicious circs. Sanders…you drive. Tonight is apparently going to be your lucky night."

Following Brass down the hall, Greg asked, "Where are we going?"

"I'll tell you when we get there." He shook his head. "Trust me…this one is truly going to be a test of your will, Greggy."

Sara followed along, happy to be out of the center of attention for the first time tonight.

Ten minutes later they pulled up in front of the crime scene and Sara's eyes turned to saucers and her stomach began braiding a knot. While Brass and Greg eagerly hopped out of the truck, she stayed glued to her seat.

"Are you joining us Sara?" Brass prodded as he opened the back door.

"Um…"

Greg rubbed his hands together like an eager schoolboy. "I've heard about this place. This will be good."

Brass motioned for Sara to hop out. "I know I haven't been in the field in a while but I distinctly recall CSIs leaving the truck carrying a shiny silver kit and working within the yellow tape." He laughed. "Or are you too tired from all that phone fun you've been having?"

Stepping out of the truck, she took a deep breath. "Sorry…I." She forced a smile. "I'm fine."

"Okay people." Brass announced to the gathering crowd around the police cars. "Clear a path."

Greg handed Sara her kit and smiled. "Lady Heather's Dominion. It's legendary."

Wrapping her fingers around the handle of her kit she gulped. "So I've heard."

Next episode: I've Got Your Number – Part 2 of 3

Teaser: Sara doesn't know Brass knows, Brass doesn't know Sara knows, Brass doesn't know Lady Heather knows Sara knows, and Greg knows NOTHING but likes EVERYTHING he sees. Oh and that's only the beginning…

Thanks for reading,

Maggs