Caving Under Pressure – Part 7
August 4, 2005 (Day 104)
Harper House Accident Scene
12:01 p.m.
When Sara emerged from the portable restroom in the rescue team relief area, she saw Nina standing under the large white tent extending a bottle of scented hand sanitizer.
"What don't you have in that purse?" Sara curiously asked, since she had already received a Valium and a Tampax from the same source.
"I'm the baby girl in a family of five boys, so I learned early on how to be a good Boy Scout and be prepared."
"Ah." Sara squirted the waterless soap in the palm of her hand and returned the bottle. Immediately she was struck by the overpowering scent. "What kind is this?"
"Warm vanilla sugar."
"I thought it smelled like sugar cookies." The memory flooded her…
It was a beautiful January day and the bedroom of Sara's apartment was overflowing with half-packed boxes as she cheerily readied for the move into the new house with Grissom. Taking advantage of her two full days off, she was determined to pack as much as possible because her lease was up at the end of the month and she couldn't wait to start her new life away from this old apartment.
When she heard her apartment door open, a smile exploded on her face. To think there was a time when Grissom wouldn't come within miles of her apartment and now he had his own key and sailed in any time. "I'm in the bedroom." She continued emptying her drawers while anticipating his entrance.
"You've been busy." He stated while maneuvering through the boxes to reach her.
"I'm highly motivated." She dropped the pile of sweaters she was holding into a box and then tossed her arms around his neck. "I can't wait to get out of this place and move to our place." After so many empty years she was finally going to have what she craved…love and security and she was getting it from a man she adored.
The twinkle in her eyes, as always, fired his desire and he pulled her close. "Wow…what are you wearing? You smell fantastic!" Any intellectual thoughts he had, floated out of his brain as the appetizing aroma wafted in through his nose.
"Do I smell like sugar cookies?" She giggled as he nibbled on her ear. "The sales clerk at Bath and Body Works said this Vanilla Bean Noel stuff drives guys wild."
"It's definitely working on this guy," He half-laughed, half-growled as he tugged at the neck of her turtleneck sweater. "Why are you wearing this bulky thing!"
"It's January!"
"In Vegas!" Frustration powered his voice. "It's sixty-five outside!"
"Well if it's bothering you…" Laughing, she rid herself of the cumbersome romance-impeding garment. "There." While posing before him in her black lace bra and jeans, she coyly asked, "Better?"
Finally able to access her neck, he answered her question with his face buried in its nape, "Much."
Walking backwards toward the bed, she quipped, "Why do I have a feeling my packing efforts are about to be waylaid?" Four months into their physical relationship she recognized the telltale signs…his mind was on one track and even the mention of a bug convention down the block wasn't about to derail him.
"Sorry, would you like me to go?" He asked, while playfully tossing her down on the bed and covering her body with his. "Because I can go if you want to resume packing." Enticed by the heavenly scent, he let his mouth wander over the sweetness of her sugary skin. "Or I could stay for a while, and help you pack later."
"You mean help me pack after." Placing her hands on his shoulders, she held him at arms length. "Maybe you should go, because I have a lot of work to do and my rigid boss won't like it if I have to ask for more time off."
Grinning, he replied, "Sounds like your boss needs to release a little tension."
"So it would appear." Chuckling, she tried to slip out from under him.
"You won't be able to dismiss me so easily when we're living together," He warned as he rolled on his back, pulling her on top of him and sending a half-packed box tumbling to the floor.
"I just packed that box!" Straddling him, she faked irritation. "Really…are you that out of control?"
"If you don't like this reaction then I suggest you don't wear this cookie lotion that makes me crumble at first sniff." His hands on her hips, he watched her, and appreciated every gorgeous feature of her face and body. "I'm telling you, the smell makes you irresistible. Never wear it to work."
"I see." Her voice dropped to a sexy octave. "So when I want you to come running to me, I know what to do…douse myself with sugar cookie lotion."
"Absolutely. You know my sensitive nose…I'll smell it a mile a way." His fingertips traced the edge of her jeans against her waist while intensely looking into her eyes. "Have you made up your mind? Do you want me to leave or do you want me to stay?"
Pressing her body to his, she whispered, "From now on, any time I smell like sugar cookies, it's secret code for…I want you in my arms."
Their lips about to meet, he replied, "I can't think of another place I'd rather be."
"Are you okay, Sara?" Nina inquired when she noticed the color pouring out of Sara's face. "Are you feeling faint again?"
Lowering her hand from her nose, she replied in an empty voice, "I…I just remembered something and got lost in thought."
"Smell is the strongest trigger of memory."
"Yeah." Sucking in as much fresh air as her lungs would allow, Sara started walking back to the accident site. "Hopefully they're almost ready for the next sound check." Unlike before, she was eagerly anticipating, not dreading, the placement of the two-way microphone into the rubble.
When she resumed her place in front of the caution tape, her spirits sank. "I thought they said noon for the sound check?" She checked her watch again even though she just checked it ten seconds ago. "It's ten after."
Realizing the Valium would need at least another five minutes to kick in, Nick offered supportive words, "Noon was an approximation. You know the motto…safety is the number one concern. They only move when they know it's safe for personnel. It doesn't mean anything is wrong."
"Okay."
Warrick's eyes were fixed on the guy climbing out on the extended ladder of the fire truck. "Actually, it looks like he's getting ready." The communications specialist methodically maneuvered the listening device encased in PVC pipe through the openings in the rubble, adjusting and re-trying as necessary to get a clean insertion.
Everyone lined up against the caution tape watched in silence, letting their thoughts occupy them while waiting for the moment of truth.
"It won't be long now," Greg announced to no one in particular. After the events of the last five hours, Tawny's surprise pregnancy hardly seemed like a problem anymore and he thought, how amazing that perspective can change in a blink of an eye. A baby, no matter how unexpected, isn't a tragedy. What I saw this morning were tragedies: a police officer losing his life, a building collapsing before me with Grissom and Catherine trapped inside. And heartache isn't the news of an unplanned baby on the way, no, heartache would be telling a thirteen year old girl her mom unexpectedly died at work today, or watching the pain in Sara's eyes if she found out Grissom was lost forever. "They're going to hear both of them this time," He stated to convince himself and everyone around him.
"That's right." Nick tightly folded his arms across his chest, bracing himself for the worst while hoping for the best. In these quiet moments he kept coming back to the same questions…what if it was me in there...what if Carrie was out here wondering if I was dead or alive? And the questions brought him to the same conclusions every time. Life is so unpredictable. I'm so thankful Carrie and I found each other. I'm so glad I proposed when I did. If I hadn't proposed last week I would today because time is too precious to waste. Grissom and Sara need more time together. Lindsay needs more time with her mom. Warrick is being strong but I know he's barely holding on. I can't stand the thought of losing today. I don't want Sara's heart to break before my eyes. I don't want to hear Warrick telling Lindsay her mom is gone. It can't happen. It will not happen.
In the silence Warrick beat himself up over the argument for the hundredth time. Why did I let her believe I wanted out? I know that's what she was thinking. It was the last thing I saw in her eyes before I bolted up the stairs….before I left her down there…before the building came crashing down on her. The images of her trapped…or hurt…or dead tore him apart. I don't want to lose her. I don't want to have to sit Lindsay down and tell her she'll never see her mom walk through the door again. Lindsay was in a fight with her too, she'll feel like me… the last words I said to Catherine were out of spite and the three words I needed to say…I love you…were left unsaid. I'm not ready for this. Who is ever ready for this? Sara isn't ready for this. What will I do if they find Catherine alive and Grissom dead? How will I hide my joy that Catherine is safe while Sara's heart breaks before my eyes? I'm not ready for that. Who is ever ready for that?
Coiling her hands around the ends of Grissom's shirt, which was still firmly wrapped around her waist, Sara pushed every negative thought from her mind and filled the space with wonderful memories…memories of joyful smiles exchanged, tender words uttered, and loving embraces shared. Then she passed the time by remembering all the firsts…the first time he smiled at her triggering a pang of desire, the first time they had one of those awkward moments which went undiscussed, the first time they accidentally touched and a delightful shiver surged through her, the first time they kissed after so many years of longing to let their lips meet, the first time they made love and how they were both so excited and scared because they wanted it so much, the first time she woke up in his arms and realized it wasn't all a dream, the first time she cried in his arms and he gave her the protection she desperately needed.
There were so many firsts, but her mind drifted back to one in particular, the first kiss in her apartment the day she was packing for San Francisco. Life seemed hopeless that day and then Grissom showed up at her door and changed everything. Life can change in an instant, she reminded herself. It can be taken away, but it can also be given back. Right now life seems hopeless, but it's going to change again. Grissom is going to show up again. There are too many firsts we have to experience and the last thing I want to do today is say goodbye. I can't say goodbye. It seems like we just said hello. Please…don't let this be goodbye. Let them both be okay.
Once the pipe was completely inserted, the Chief raised his bullhorn, "Silence for acoustic check." After giving the order, he walked over and stood in front of the concerned CSI team and let them listen to his radio.
When everyone quieted as instructed, Sara and Warrick heard the communication specialist's outgoing words over the chief's radio. "Gil and Catherine, I'm Travis Scott with the search and rescue team, I have a microphone in place. If you're able, verbally respond back to me with a status. If you can't verbally respond, then tap three times to confirm you hear me. Over."
After what seemed like an eternity but was probably sixty seconds tops, they heard Travis' report to the chief. "They're together. Catherine was hit on the head with debris but is okay. Gil is fine. Catherine asked if Warrick Brown made it out of the building in time. Gil wants me to tell Sara not to worry, they're in a void and it's holding strong."
While the crowd around the immediate area celebrated the good news, Sara and Warrick flung their arms around each other. "I told you they would be together!" Sara rejoiced. "They're okay…they're really okay."
"I'm glad you were right." The tension in his body melted away along with the thought of having only one survivor. Not only was she safe, the first thing Catherine wanted to know was if he was okay. She loves me as much as I love her and when she's pulled out of that mess, that's the first thing I'm going to tell her.
"Yes! Yes!" Nick paced the area letting the stress work its way out of his body. "They're both okay!" His adrenaline surged into overdrive. "And they're going to be out of there and standing here with us in no time!"
Over the din of the crowd, The Chief replied into his two-way radio. "Tell them Warrick Brown made it out safely and Sara was standing right next to me and heard the message." Turning to the two relieved people in front of him, the chief said, "Time is of the essence, but the morale of the people trapped is critical in rescue operations." Handing Warrick the radio, he said, "You can each give Travis a quick message to relay."
Pressing the button, Warrick said, "Tell Catherine that Lindsay doesn't know anything and ask her if she wants me to keep it that way. And…and tell her I can't wait to see her." With baited breath, he waited for a reply.
When Travis came back on the radio he said, "Catherine says no point in worrying Lindsay because everything is going to be fine, and she wants you to know, you're not just a guest. Now what's the message for Gil?"
Smiling uncontrollably, he passed the radio to Sara, who by now was feeling relieved by the news and very relaxed by the Valium. She blissfully spoke her request. "Tell Gil that I smell like sugar cookies, and that he has unfinished business with me, and that he should use this downtime to rest because he has a busy month ahead of him, and that I love him! Copy?"
"I copy that." Travis replied with a dash of sweetness in his voice.
Nick put his hands on Sara's shoulders. "He'll like hearing that message."
One more time, Travis's voice came through the radio. "Gil says he knows what you mean and he loves you too."
Sara beamed as she handed the radio back to the chief. "What more do I need to hear?"
The chief reclaimed his radio. "Okay, Travis, now quickly get some recon from them…what do they see, where do they think they are, what supplies do they have? Then tell them to hang tight." He motioned for Nick to walk away with him. "Remember what I told you earlier, Stokes. Yes, this is excellent news but remain cautiously optimistic until they are standing in front of you."
Toning down his outrageous grin, Nick nodded. "Understood."
Media Containment Area
12:32 p.m.
Ana Silva primped for her live shot. "How do I look Ed?"
"Like you should be in movies, Baby, not hanging out in this dumpy dustbowl." She was always more agreeable when he blew smoke up her ass, so he did it frequently.
"Aww…you always know just the right thing to say, Sweetie." Lifting her microphone, she positioned herself.
"In five." He counted her down.
"This is Ana Silva reporting to you live from the scene of the Harper House Tragedy. I just received wonderful news that Gil Grissom is alive and well but unfortunately still trapped at the bottom of that horrific pile of potentially life-threatening rubble. Now that the rescue workers have pinpointed his location, they will painstakingly continue to remove the dangerous debris while trying not to unsettle the already volatile pile of bone crushing brick and mortar. My sources tell me that Sara Grissom's spirits are high and she was able to send her husband a heartfelt message. But will this love story have a happy ending? Will they be able to pull Gil Grissom from the perilous pit or will Gil and Sara say their last goodbye via two way radio. Only time will tell. This is Ana Silva reporting for KTBC, Las Vegas' news leader."
Ed shut off the camera. "You're getting a little too over the top, don't you think?"
"Not even close!" She set the microphone down and whispered, "What I need is an exclusive interview with Sara Grissom."
"How are you going to manage that?"
"Give me time, Eduardo." She patted him on the shoulder before heading to the truck to beat the 119 degree heat. "Just give me time."
Harper House Basement
12:35 p.m.
The microphone removed and the excavation process once again in full swing above them, Catherine and Grissom were cut off from the rest of the world with nothing to do but wait and talk.
"We're going to be out of here by dinnertime," He soothed. Ever since she regained consciousness, Catherine was frantic, but the more out of control she spun, the calmer he forced himself to be. "I know it's hard, but now you know he's fine, Lindsay is being shielded and they have a plan to get us out of here. Try to calm down and save your strength for when we have to climb out." He wouldn't let himself get negative. Not for a moment, because one thought would give way to a hundred and they would all lead to seeing Sara's devastation from being abandoned once more in her life.
Crammed in the small void the iron safe had provided, and surrounded by a ton of rubble, Catherine sat nestled in Grissom's arms letting the last of her tears spill out. "You were right. He made it out." With her filthy hands, she wiped her wet face.
"Of course he hustled it out of here." Trying levity again, he told her, "He kept smacking his head, remember?"
Holding her sore head, she moaned, "He hustled it out of here because he couldn't wait to get away from me."
"Well it's a good thing he was pissed at you then because if he had walked slower he might not have made it and, if he stayed here, there wouldn't have been room for all three of us in this tiny space."
Lowering her head onto his shoulder, she closed her eyes to rest. "You saved my life."
"Now we're even."
"Syd Goggle?"
"Yeah." With the back of his dust covered hand he wiped the sweat building again on his brow and smiled. "It feels good to be your hero for a change. Of course, if you hadn't been knocked unconscious I may not have won the battle."
"I wouldn't have blamed you for intentionally knocking me unconscious at that point."
"No." He shook his head. "Even under those circumstances I couldn't strike a woman."
"Good thing the ceiling did the job." A chill ran through her body as she recalled the tense moment…
Catherine shrieked as she started for the stairs.
Lunging for her wrist, Grissom yelled, "Don't!"
"Let go!" Using a standard defense tactic, she was able to yank her arm free. "I have to see if Warrick is hurt!"
"Catherine, that noise is the building collapsing above us!" Panicking, he pursued her until he could grab her once more. "Warrick is safe, but we'll be killed if you keep going!"
Once more she pulled away. "You can stay but I'm going!"
"Get back here! There is no building above us, and this ceiling is not going to hold!" As he raced for her, the first piece of ceiling gave way and a beam came swinging down, hitting her in the head and knocking her unconscious. Scooping her up in his arms, he rushed back to the iron safe, curled her body as tightly as possible and covered it with his.
"You're lucky I'm a California boy who knows how to save his ass in an earthquake."
"My stupidity almost cost you your life, which would have cost Sara her sanity." Groaning, she said, "I would have felt guilty about that while living out my days burning in the eternal hell fire."
"Okay, from this point forward, the only thing allowed is upbeat conversation. If you don't listen to me, I'll assign you the worst jobs for the next month, instead of giving them to Greg." Trying desperately to raise her spirits, he sacrificed himself. "What did you think of that message Sara sent me?"
"Tell Gil that I smell like sugar cookies?"
He knew she'd pick that line apart first. "Want me to fill in the blank?" Maybe playing their little game would perk her up.
"Well I have other stuff to do but, if you insist."
"Now you're starting to sound like yourself."
"Yes, I do want a blank filled. The part of her statement that intrigued me most is that she called you by your first name. She never does that, at least not in front of other people. Does she call you Grissom or Gil when you're alone?"
He should have known that would be her question. "The first time she ever called me Gil was during our trip to San Francisco in May and only in front of other people." He gave a light laugh. "It sounded so odd, but at the same time I liked it because it felt much more intimate."
"All those years the two of you were doing the non-relationship dance, she never called you by your first name because she was afraid it would be too personal. Calling you by your last name, gave her distance." Sighing, she said, "But now she's so used to it, she feels weird calling you by your first name. However, since her last name is the now the same as yours, it sounds really screwed up to outsiders."
"You're definitely back to your old analytical self."
"Did you ever ask her to call you Gil instead of Grissom?"
"No," He replied matter of factly, "never."
Slapping her hand on her dirt covered knees, she laughed. "There's the communicatively dysfunctional guy I adore." She laughed again. "Do you ever communicate any of your desires to her?"
Lowering his head, he squirmed. "I don't care how desperate I am to cheer you up…we're not talking about my sex life."
"Whatcha gonna do?" She busted him. "Leave the room?"
Shifting ever so slightly, he chuckled, "As tight as this space is, I'm already getting to know you a little more personally than I ever thought I would…don't make it more uncomfortable for me."
"Just wait until one of us has to go to the bathroom," She remarked while cringing at the thought.
"Luckily we're dehydrating, so it may not be a problem."
Circling back to the original question, she teased, "So, Gil, tell me why Sara wanted you to know she smelled like sugar cookies. And for the record, in case you haven't noticed, I call you Grissom when I'm speaking to you professionally or casually and Gil when I'm speaking to you personally, as a friend."
"And you call me communicatively dysfunctional guy when I wow you with my interpersonal relationship skills."
Chuckling she said, "You're avoiding the sugar cookie blank."
Exhaling the dusty air from his lungs, he provided the details. "She has this lotion, Vanilla Bean Noel and I love the smell…"
"You know the name of her lotion." Raising her brows, she said, "I'm impressed."
He shrugged and made the next comment strictly for her amusement. "I also know she prefers Tampax Pearl. How's that for getting personal?"
Glancing up at him, she smiled. "They say duress like this will either bring people closer or result in one killing the other."
"Then let's keep sharing because I'm not a murderer and I want to get out of here alive."
"Because you have unfinished business with Sara. I know what she was talking about when she said you have a busy month ahead of you."
After wiping the sweat from his brow once more, he stared straight ahead. "If my face wasn't already hot from the cramped conditions in here, I'd be blushing."
"After almost losing you in here, Sara is going to be hell bent on getting pregnant."
"She wasn't that relaxed about it before," He confessed in an uncharacteristic blurt.
"Feel like making a wager?"
"On her getting pregnant this month?" He shook his head. "I don't want to jinx it."
"Not the bet I had in mind." While rotating her stiff neck, she said, "Hundred bucks says you're not out of here twenty-four hours before Sara asks you to make a deposit at the bank."
"Huh?" He wasn't tracking her.
So she translated. "She's going to ask to keep a battalion of your troops on ice just in case something happens to you before she conceives."
"That's crazy."
"Then take the bet."
"Okay." As soon as he agreed, he started thinking that he just lost a hundred bucks. "You really think she'll do that?"
"For some reason, she's determined to bring a Grissom Jr. into the world." Elbowing her void partner, she grinned. "I don't blame her. The world could use a few more guys like you."
He acknowledged the compliment with silence.
Yawning, she asked, "How many more hours do you think we'll be down here?"
"Hard to say. At least three or four."
"Maybe we should try and sleep."
"No." He nudged her. "You can't go to sleep, you have a head injury. You were unconscious for a couple of hours."
"I'm fine."
"Just to be safe." He grumbled, "I didn't risk my ass saving you to have you die on me."
"Okay, okay." Breathing in the dusty air, she attempted to shift her weight. "Speaking of asses…mine's asleep."
"I stopped feeling mine about an hour ago."
"Uh oh…shouldn't have moved."
Relieved to have her sweaty body a few inches away from his for the first time, he inquired, "Why?"
"Because now I have to pee."
Harper House Accident Site
1:03 p.m.
While Trey, Nina and Pete took their positions in the crowd to see if the serial killer would really make an appearance, Greg and Warrick got some food from the relief tent.
Nick stayed with Sara who, in a Valium-induced trance, hadn't left her position at the caution tape. "Are you sure you don't want to sit down and put something in your stomach?"
Before she could answer, they were interrupted by a uniformed officer.
"Mr. Stokes, someone named Carrie Blake is at the police line insisting she speak with you."
"Tell her I'll be right there, thanks." Lighting up at the thought of seeing his fiancée, he took Sara by the arm. "Let's go see Carrie and tell her the good news about Grissom and Catherine."
"Okay," she sweetly replied before tripping over her own two feet.
"Steady girl, let me hold your arm."
When Carrie saw Nick and Sara approach, her heart split two ways…aching for Sara and pining for Nick. "How are you, Sara?" She asked as soon as she thought her voice would be heard. "I just heard the update on the news."
"I'm better."
At the yellow tape, Nick informed the officers of the situation. "This lady is with me. I'll be taking her to the relief site for a briefing." Holding up the tape, he took her hand. "You're a sight for weary eyes." In deference, to Sara he restrained his greeting to a simple squeeze of Carrie's left hand. The ring on her finger never looked more beautiful.
Sara, even in her fog, sensed they needed a moment. "Look, a shady tree." She pointed to the right. "I'm going to take five and sit under it while you talk."
Copping a brotherly tone, he ordered, "Stay put under that tree until we come for you."
As soon as he saw her take a seat, he walked Carrie about twenty feet from the tape and, as soon as he was out of earshot of the cops, he blurted, "I love you."
Her eyes watering, she replied, "I love you too, Honey."
"I tried to call you. Cell service out here is sketchy, sometimes you get a signal and sometimes you don't. When I tried a second time I got called away and then…."
"I know you have your hands full." Reaching out, she stroked his sunburned cheek. "All I keep thinking is if the call came in a couple of hours later it would have been Days, not Nights out here and that could be you inside. I mean, I don't want Gil inside…I don't want anyone inside but…"
"I know what you mean." He swallowed the lump he had been holding in his throat. "We've kept it out of the press but he's not alone in there. Catherine is with him."
"Oh god." Her hands flew to her mouth. "Does her daughter know? Is the poor thing here?"
"No." Shaking his head, he explained, "Warrick just talked to her. She's at a softball day camp on the UNLV campus. He told her Grissom is trapped and said that Catherine was too involved in the rescue to call but wanted him to check in on her. She bought it."
"Okay. And how is Sara really?"
"It was pretty bad, Carrie." Recalling the terror in Sara's eyes and her panic attack, he took a couple of steadying breaths. "She has 5mg of Valium in her now, so she'll be calm and happy for a few more hours. And now that we've established contact and know they're okay down there, she's relieved. Of course, we're not out of the woods yet, as the chief keeps reminding me. They still have to get them out of there safely."
"How are you holding up?" She lovingly inquired. "Thanks for asking, but I don't matter right now, I've got too many other people to worry about plus, we're working a case and it's all…"
"When everything works out and you come home, I'll be waiting with open arms."
Touching his fingertips to her chin, he whispered, "And that's exactly where I plan to stay for a good six or seven hours." After taking a moment to appreciate her warm smile, he said, "Before you leave, maybe you could get Sara to sit down in the relief tent and have something to eat."
"Great idea."
They turned to check on Sara.
"Why is she talking to that news reporter on camera?" Carrie asked.
"Good question." Nick hustled over there. "Excuse me, what's going on here?"
"End tape," Ana barked at her cameraman before answering the inquisitive man on the other side of the police tape. "I asked Mrs.Grissom a few questions about her husband, that's all."
"What did you say, Sara?"
"Um…" Turning her eyes toward the clear blue sky, she tried to remember. "I'm not sure."
"She gave permission and it was personal, not relating to the case, so I'm within my rights," Ana announced before strutting away.
Nick rubbed his temples. "Sara and Grissom are so private about their relationship I really hope nothing too much is said on TV."
"Come on, Sara." Carrie slipped her hand around hers. "Let's go have one of our ladies lunches. Plus, I have something special I want to ask you about the wedding."
"Oh…" Sara burst into a smile. "Nick already told me you want me to be a bridesmaid."
Carrie glared at her loose-lipped fiancé. "I'm supposed to do the asking."
"She wasn't supposed to tell you, but I guess the Valium has left her uninhibited." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the news reporter grinning like the cat who ate the canary. "Oh shit."
Relief Tent
1:11 p.m.
Greg was sitting with Warrick trying to force at least half of a ham sandwich into his stomach when his cell phone rang. After checking the ID he answered, "Hi, Tawny." Usually he would have been at her apartment this morning, like he had been every morning for weeks. He figured she must think he was walking out on her and was calling to scream.
"Are you okay!" She shouted into the phone. "Is Mr. Grissom going to be okay!"
"Oh…you saw it on TV."
"Yes! On the TV in the bar at the Cheesecake Factory. I can only talk for a few minutes 'cause I'm out back on break, but I was so worried I had to call."
"I'm fine and we believe they're going to get Grissom out some time today." The concern in her voice was comforting. "Thanks for thinking of us."
"I'm always thinking about you, Greggy, and Mr. Grissom has been so nice to me, I don't want anything bad to happen to him. He's like you…he doesn't look down at me because I strip."
A crushing pang of guilt tore through him as he remembered his conversation with Grissom….This will sound horribly shallow, but since we're being honest, she's a stripper who only has her GED. Yeah…she was good enough to sleep with every day for three weeks, but not good enough for more. He knew in that moment, he couldn't possibly feel scummier.
"And his poor wife…she looked so upset on TV. Everyone at the restaurant is talking about them."
"Wow…Grissom will hate that." Standing up, Greg signaled to Warrick that he would be over in the corner of the tent. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm doing okay. I was scared when I thought you might be hurt because then our baby would never know his father and I'd be doing this on my own instead of with you. I mean, if you decide you can stick with me without knowing..."
"I've decided." Today, with all of its trauma, was the perfect day to grow up. "I'm with you as of this moment." He swore he could hear her smile over the phone. "So don't sweat it anymore, okay?"
"Thanks for trusting me. No guy in my entire life has ever trusted me." She sniffled while continuing to talk. "I was talking to Amber, the girl who dresses like a Robin Red Breast at Tweeters, and she told me I could have an amnio when I hit fourteen weeks and prove the baby is yours. It will cost about a thousand bucks without insurance. Vinnie is letting me work the VIP room every night, so I'll have it in no time especially if we get more of these convention guys in because they…"
"No." Running his fingers through his sweaty hair, he said, "Amnio carries a risk for miscarriage. If something were to happen just because of the test for me…you know, it's not necessary. And working the VIP room…I don't want you dancing while…" His voice cracked from the stress as he gripped the phone tighter. "If you move in with me, you don't have to worry about making rent so you don't have to work at Tweeters anymore…you don't have to strip anymore. Okay? Just pick up more hours at the restaurant to help cover expenses and maybe…"
"I love you, Greg."
Unprepared for her affirmation, he fell speechless.
"I can tell I shouldn't have said that."
Finally over the shock, Greg asked in a shaky voice. "Tawny, why did start stripping?"
"Because, when I was sixteen, I ran away to Vegas with my shitty boyfriend who told me he loved me, but after a few weeks, he left me flat. I couldn't go home and I needed the money so...I know it sounds like every other stupid girl's story on the strip, but it's true."
"Why couldn't you go home?"
After a pause, she whispered, "Because it wasn't safe at home. You know…I can't talk about…uh…actually, my break is over. When you see Mr. Grissom, you tell him I was asking about him."
His eyes closed, he whispered, "Okay."
"Bye."
"Bye." It turns out he was wrong. He could feel scummier. Grissom was right. Tawny did have a story and it was ugly…maybe as ugly as it could get. And while he pondered her words and the sadness in her voice as she said them, he realized he was nothing more than one of many guys who used her along the way. He had used her every day for weeks and bragged about it to the guys. The guilt churned the bites of ham sandwich in his stomach as he remembered his words to Sara yesterday in the lab…I'm not a bad person. What an understatement. No…I'm not a bad person, I'm a horrible person! I'm revolting! And in his darkest moment, he remembered more of Grissom's insightful words… She's at a place a girl ends up when dreams don't pan out. If given the right circumstances and a few breaks from someone who cares, Tawny may be capable of much more than you know.
I have an opportunity…an opportunity to be the first guy who ever did something for her…to be the first guy who ever cared enough to give her a break…and maybe in time, I can be the first guy to ever love her.
Media Containment Area
1:15 p.m.
Thrilled she snagged an exclusive interview with Sara Grissom, Ana prepped for her four o'clock news teaser shot.
"Ready, Princess?" Ed impatiently asked as he re-tied the wet bandana around his neck. "I'm starting to chafe in this heat."
"I'm set." After smacking her lips together, she lifted the microphone and posed.
"In five." One by one his fingers counted down.
"This is Ana Silva reporting to you live from the scene of the Harper House Tragedy. While the rescue team continues their heroic efforts to save trapped Crime Scene Investigator Gil Grissom, I had a chance to speak to his wife of only eight days, Sara. As if their story wasn't tragic enough, it gets worse. Here is an excerpt from my interview..."
"Sara, if things don't turn out well today, at least you have years of good memories together, right?"
"Actually it took us five years just to admit we loved each other. For five years we worked side by side longing for one another, but too scared to take a chance on love. Finally, last September…"
"…A love story five years in the making! We'll have the full interview with Sara Grissom coming up at four o'clock. For now, I'm Ana Silva, KTBC, Las Vegas' news leader."
Crime Lab
1:17 p.m.
From her desk, Betty punched in Theresa's extension then nervously tapped her fingernails on the desk. "I was watching the TV in Mr. Brass's office..."
"Any updates?" Theresa rapidly asked.
"They have an interview with Sara! They just showed a clip." Out of breath from the gossip potential, she said, "They were secretly in love for five years but didn't tell each other!"
"Five years without acting on it!"
"I know!" Betty was amazed by the lengthy relationship time line. "That certainly explains why Mr. Grissom was real moody for years."
"But why do you think he grew the beard a few years back?"
"I don't know, but maybe we'll get the whole story at four o'clock!"