"Repercussions Part 7"
August 6, 2005 (Day 106)
The Grissoms'
11:54 a.m.
After tossing his Subway bag on the kitchen counter, Grissom headed to the fridge for a drink. As soon as he opened the door, he burst out laughing. Sara had dangled a detailed note from one of the shelves. Anxious to read it, he ripped it down and grabbed a bottle of water.
Dear Gil,
I know you must be famished from your workout at the bank, but don't pig out even if you desperately want to! Because even though it might have seemed like hard work, you only burned 150 calories maximum. Probably much less because we both know you're very efficient. You said you started training well before the age of 14 so I went with age 12. Algebra Girl didn't come along until you were 24.
24 – 12 x where x represents # of years solo before Algebra Girl
x equals 12 years solo
Yeah…I'm thinking 100 calories at the most. Probably 50 because who knows how much more efficient you got when you were trying to figure out what to do about us.
Please note that while you were working last night, I took the liberty of purging the pantry and fridge of all forbidden foods. Now we have no mammal meat, alcohol, fatty foods or sugary snacks in the house. I think this qualifies us to join some restrictive religious cult. Well, we could join as long as the cult still allows us to fool around. Which brings me to my next point…
Did you know that vigorously kissing (like the kind we did on TV for the entire Vegas metro area) burns 5 calories per minute!
5 (# of minutes spent kissing) x
5 (2) equals 10 calories (a stick of gum!)
5 (10) equals 50 (half of an apple!)
5 (20) equals 100 (one medium sized banana!)
5 (60) equals 300 (a Subway Turkey sandwich!)
I think my point is obvious…the more you kiss me, the more you get to eat.
Did you know that making love burns 110 calories per every 15 minutes? And if you 'finish in a blaze of glory' you burn 75 bonus calories (I don't know about you, but I always went for the extra credit points on exams).
110 (# of 15 minute intervals) + 75 x
110 (2) + 75 equals 295 (Not too shabby)
110(4) + 75 equals 590 (Wow! That's an entire meal!)
So I'm thinking, if you kiss me for an hour each day and make love to me twice every day for an hour each time, you'll burn roughly 1500 calories per day. And think of the cardiac benefits of all that physical activity daily. You'll never even have to get on a treadmill!
The problem of course is we're only home together for 3 consecutive hours each day. But if we put the kissing portion of the workout in the middle I think you might be up for the challenge.
When exactly is Jim going to figure out a new arrangement for you and me? Because, as I'm sure you can tell by the length of this note, I'm bored tonight and I miss you
Your devoted wife and health enforcer,
Sara
P.S. Why did I underline certain words?
Grinning, he crumpled his sandwich wrapper and then lunged for a pen in the middle of the counter. One by one he jotted the underlined words on the bottom of her note….Gil, I desperately want to vigorously kiss and make love to you tonight! Sara
With the note in hand, he walked over to the phone eager to call her.
When he picked up the cordless, he noticed the voice mail light blinking. Putting his plan to call Sara on hold for a moment, he clicked the message button.
Hi, Gil and Sara, it's Wendy Blake. Carrie says hi too. I'm calling for two reasons, first…to say we were so relieved that the accident left you unharmed. Second…Sean was really concerned about you and I think it would mean the world to him if I could swing him by to swap books and see that you're really okay. I know you're very busy so whenever you have a chance, please call. 555-4217. Thanks and oh…loved seeing you on TV.
Smiling, he dialed Sara's number.
After only one ring, she answered. "Sorry, I'm with my boss right now so I won't be able to provide any illicit phone services. If you leave your name and phone number I'll be happy to call back at a more erotic time."
"Sorry, I can't wait, I'll have to call someone else."
"Have you opened the fridge yet, Gil?"
"Yes, I did." Grinning, he held up the note.
"Did the algebra get you hot and bothered?"
"Not in comparison to the message I made from your underlined words."
"And?"
"And I'm looking forward to it later tonight but before we start burning calories, there's somewhere I want to take you. One thing though…I hope you don't mind but, I'd like to bring a special guest."
"Are we going to the body farm?" She asked excitedly.
"No." Lighting up, he added, "But I have to take time out to say that it thrills me to know that my wife would be excited if I was taking her to the body farm on a Saturday night. You really are the only woman for me."
"Just don't get me chocolate covered grasshoppers again on Valentine's Day."
Confounded that she still didn't believe him, he grimaced. "That was a joke, Sara."
"It wasn't funny watching you eat one."
"I promise I won't bring any on our adventure tonight."
"You gonna tell me where we're going and with whom?"
"Nope." He chuckled lightly. "Isn't it about time for a little surprise?"
Ely State Prison
12:02 p.m.
After the intensive check-in procedure, Ben Rodgers entered the maximum security visitor's area and searched for his brother behind one of the thick plexiglass windows. It was the same tedious routine every other Saturday but it was worth it to keep his unjustly imprisoned brother's spirits up. After all, it wouldn't be forever. The appeals process was in the works and it would only be a matter of time before they'd be reunited on the other side of the razor ribbon fence.
Ben took a seat, lifted the phone receiver and feigned an upbeat mood. "Hey, little Bro. Still doing okay in the general pop?"
"Holding my own instead of having someone else hold it for me," He snapped. "And don't worry about telling me, I already know."
"Yeah." He nodded. "I thought you might."
Through gritted teeth he unleashed his anger. "How the hell did he survive a god damn building collapsing on top of him? Huh? It was a friggin tease, man! I was this close to celebrating the demise of the son of a bitch responsible for starting this nightmare and then they pull him from the god damn building. And then what do I find out?" Rage boiling inside him he fought to stay calm so he wouldn't be escorted out. "He has my life. That should have been me married to Sara. I can't believe I'm locked in here guarding my ass while that impotent bastard has hers! If only I got to screw her before he found us in Tahoe. Shit…he'd be suffering with that his whole god damn life and never be able to enjoy her…but no, I didn't even get to ruin her for him."
His brother's pain during these visits tore him apart. "You know we're gonna get you out of here."
"How long is that gonna take, huh?" His spit sprayed the phone. "I'm dying in here! I get one hour of fresh air a day. One friggin hour while that pompous ass and his smug sidekick Stokes can go wherever they please. You know what keeps me going in here, Ben? You know the only thing that keeps me going?"
He was grateful something did. He was also grateful their mother had died before any of this happened because she would have suffered terribly knowing her baby boy was framed by two scientists and sent to prison. "What keeps you going Mike?"
Gripping the phone, he snarled, "The thought that one day I'll find a way to make them all pay for setting me up and ruining my life. And while I'm trapped in here, I have nothing but time to think about how."
Crime Lab
2:04 p.m.
Nick and Sara simultaneously plopped down on the couch in the break room.
"She wants you to pick out your tux already?" Sara quizzed. "The wedding isn't for six months!"
"And this is Carrie we're talking about. The girl was named Most Likely to Organize the World in High School."
"True." Chuckling, Sara took the Bridal magazine from Nick's hands. "So what are the choices?"
"She's got sticky notes marking the pages." He relaxed against the cushions. "It makes absolutely no difference to me, so pick whatever you like. I could marry her wearing a jockstrap and be the happiest man alive."
"How would you explain your wedding photo to your kids?" She asked as she flipped from choice to choice.
"Speaking of kids." He eyed her suspiciously. "How many are you planning on having with Gris?"
She didn't look up from the page she was staring at. "What makes you think we're having any?"
"Well I kind of got a clue when you blurted out, now we won't get to have a baby together, at the accident scene."
"You always were a perceptive CSI." Holding up the magazine she pointed. "This tux for sure and to answer your question…one."
"One?" Nick vehemently shook his head. "You can't do that. Only children are messed up."
"That's Warrick, Greg, Gil and me you're talking about."
"Thanks for making my point," He teased. "And what's up with you calling Grissom, Gil all of a sudden. It's so weird."
"Not as weird as calling my husband by his last name."
"True."
"How many kids are you and Carrie planning on having?"
"We're thinking four would be nice." He took the magazine and bent the corner of the page Sara selected. "The plan, assuming we're medically fine, is to start trying on our first wedding anniversary and then pop them out every two years."
"Does she already have names picked?"
"Hell yeah. Don't you?"
"We talked about Vito once." A nostalgic laugh ensued. "It was the name of our limo driver in San Francisco." The memory warmed her. "What time is it?"
"2:15. You got a hot date tonight?"
"Yes, it's Grissom's night off and he's taking me somewhere. It's a surprise." She jumped up from the couch. "Okay, Boss, my break is over."
Catherine's House
5:09 p.m.
Through the front window of the house, Warrick and Catherine watched the realtor hang her shingle from the For Sale sign.
"There…it's official," Catherine announced while smoothing her hands over Warrick's black silk shirt.
"Any second thoughts?"
"No, but I just had a first thought." Fiendishly she smiled as she let her hands wander. "Lindsay's at her friend's house for the night, we got seven hours of deep sleep, my headache from the accident is finally gone and we don't have to be at work for four hours."
"So you want to go out and catch a movie?" He asked while untucking her shirt.
"Noooo…I want to stay in and make one of our own." Jumping up she knew he would catch her and when he did…she threw her arms around his neck, wrapped her legs around his waist and planted a pent-up kiss firmly on his mouth. "It's been five days," She gasped upon coming up for air. "Five long days."
"Longest it's ever been." His arms clutching her tight, he hurried toward the bedroom.
"Just think…in the new house we'll have all new places."
"Maybe we should list our top five desires," He growled as he tossed her on the bed and devoured her with his eyes.
"First I want you to tear my…"
"For the house, Baby." Yanking his shirt over his head, he said, "Because I know what your top five are in bed." He covered her body with his. "In the new house…I think we need an oversized shower."
"I get it now," she purred as she explored his sculpted back with her eager hands. "We'll need a Jacuzzi."
"Oh yeah." Freeing her of her clothes, he added, "And a pool in a very private back yard."
"Yes, better to skinny dip in my Dear, and…oh!" Suddenly, as he began to fulfill desire number two, she lost her train of thought. "I guess we'll talk later."
The Blake's
5:17 p.m.
When Paul Blake saw Grissom at his front door, he cheerily exclaimed, "Welcome, Gil, it's great to see you again."
Grissom extended his hand. "Nice to see you again, too."
While shaking hands Paul said, "Sorry I was out of town when you and Sara came over for dinner. I heard it was quite a disaster."
The two men walked into the living room.
"It was eye opening," Grissom politely replied, "but we enjoyed it. You have a wonderful family."
"I'm truly blessed." Then he broke out laughing, "But I'm very excited you're taking Sean off our hands tonight, because Ryan has a sleepover at a friend's house and the neighbor offered to watch McKenna and Ashley. Now Wendy and I can grab dinner and a movie. We haven't been out in over a month. You see, we love our kids to death, but when an opportunity arises for a little quality time out, we're more than willing to pawn them off."
"Good, I feel better about this then." Grissom awkwardly broached the delicate subject that was on his mind. "I was worried you might be offended that Sean wanted to spend time with me. It's not my intent to…"
"Are you kidding?" Paul placed his hand on Grissom's shoulder. "Sean and I are very close in many ways but, when it comes to Science, I'm no role model for him. Business and football are my areas of expertise. I'm thrilled he has you to help him develop his intellectual gifts. Besides, after what you did to help my wife, I think of you as part of our extended family. With Rodgers behind bars paying for his crime, a guilty burden was lifted from Wendy's soul and she's a new woman."
Not entirely comfortable with the depth of Paul's gratitude, Grissom stammered, "I'm uh…glad I could help…and can help with Sean. He has a gift and it would be a shame not to foster it."
Paul took a few steps back to peer down the hall. "Wendy is helping him pack the books you loaned him. I guess they're not done yet."
"I'm amazed at how fast he plows through them and what he retains." Shoving his hands in his pockets, he sighed, "He's far more advanced than I was at his age. I think it helps that he has such a supportive home environment."
"We do our best to help him. Genius is a gift and a curse for Sean," Paul acknowledged. "It's been really difficult for him to fit in at school. We won't let him advance further than one grade because he's already socially challenged. We augment his learning outside of school, but it's never been enough. That's why his interaction with you is so helpful academically." He smiled at Grissom. "Here's another reason I think Sean was glad to meet you. He'stwelve now and I think some new thoughts are weighing on him. He sees you happy with Sara and finally realizes one day he'll be able to get a great girl like his jock brother. This stuff starts much younger than when we were kids. Ryan already has girls calling him."
The statement put a smile on Grissom's face. "Then I'll be sure not to let him know how long it took me to find the right girl." He was glad Sara wasn't around to hear him say that, because she would have elbowed him and barked, it would have been a hell of a lot sooner if you would have listened to me you big dope!
"Mr. Grissom!"
"Hey, Sean."
The boy tore through the room. "Thanks so much for making time for me tonight!"
"Are you kidding?" He smiled at the boy. "Sara and I are thrilled you want to hang out with us."
Wendy handed over the large backpack. "That's right, Sean. Mr. and Mrs. Grissom need practice with kids because they might have their own one day…maybe in less than a year…from what Carrie tells me."
"Maybe one day," He sheepishly replied.
"My mom wouldn't tell me where you're taking me. Where are we going?"
"We're taking you somewhere to study gravity." Grissom glanced up at Paul. "What time do you want him home? Or should I say, until what time do the two of you want to stay out?
"We'll be back by ten thirty so any time after that."
"Bye, dad." Sean gave his father a big hug, hoping to expedite the process. "Bye, mom," He kissed her cheek. "Okay let's go!"
"We'll see you later."
Greg's Apartment
5:30 p.m.
While Greg was hanging her clothes in his closet, Tawny was sitting on the bedroom floor sifting through an old shoebox. "I want to show you something," She softly said.
He walked over and took a seat next to her. "What?"
"A picture of me with my dad." She handed him the photo. "It's at my fourteenth birthday party, about two months before he died. We were out to dinner with my mom and three of my best friends."
Looking at the happy girl with the ponytail hugging her dad, surrounded by wholesome girlfriends, it was easy to imagine her as an innocent and unburdened teenager. "You look like you were having a great time."
"We were." Retrieving the photo, she returned it to the box. "I just wanted you to see I wasn't always like I am now."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with you right now." He placed a hand on her knee. "A person isn't only defined by the job they do. Sure…when I met you I thought of you as a stripper and nothing more, but that was me not wanting to go beyond the surface to get to know you. It doesn't mean there wasn't more to you. Now that I've taken some time to get to know you, I'm learning wonderful things about you all the time." He curiously asked, "Let me learn more…what else do you have in that box?"
"More photos and old stuff I don't know why I'm keeping a lot of it."
Gently, he prodded, "Can I see?" He took the box from her hands and retrieved another photo. "You were a cheerleader?" She looked like Miss All American in her red, white and blue uniform and ponytails.
"Junior Varsity Basketball." She smiled. "I was the only freshman who made the squad. Really ticked off Becky Townsend."
"I bet." He returned the photo and selected another. "Who is this?"
"Bobby Donahue. Took me to the eighth grade graduation dance." Giggling, she covered her mouth with her hands. "I only let him kiss me on the cheek and he called me a prude. Hard to believe now, I know. Imagine what he would have said if he came to Vegas on business and saw me shaking it at Tweeters."
"I couldn't even get a date for my eighth grade dance."
"Were you too short?"
"Short…geeky...pimply…verbally challenged around girls…you name the deficiency and I had it." He pulled a folded white piece of paper from the box.
"You're none of those things now, Greg." Then she chuckled lightly. "Well…you're still a little geeky but I find it very attractive."
"Speaking of geeks." In shock, he held up her freshman year report card. "Straight A's, Tawny Ann Cooper? Chemistry and Algebra in freshman year?"
"I used to be pretty smart," She confessed as she lowered her eyes to the floor. "My dad…he was a high school math teacher. He always talked about the value of education. That's why it was so important for me to at least get my GED."
"Barring serious physical damage to the brain, a person doesn't suddenly stop being smart, Tawny." Reaching out, he clasped her hand. "This straight-A student is still in you."
"You really think so?"
"Hell yeah." He smiled. "She's probably a little rusty at chemical formulas and the quadratic equations, but with the right tutor helping refresh her memory…" He winked. "…I'm sure she could make a quick comeback."
"And do what?"
"Do anything you want. Go to college. Find a career you love."
"An ex-stripper going to college and having a successful intellectual career. Yeah…how often does that happen?"
"I don't know how often, but I know a great example." He squeezed her hand a little tighter. "Catherine…the woman who was with Grissom at the Cheesecake Factory when you met him. She stripped while going to college and now she's the highest ranking CSI after Grissom."
"You're shittin' me."
"Ask anyone…Grissom, Sara, even Catherine. It's not a secret."
"Really?" Suddenly she saw a possibility and then she remembered. "But we're having a baby, how can I…"
"People do it all the time. You can study online for a while. And after the baby is here, with my hours, I'll be here to watch the baby while you take classes in the morning."
"You would do that?" Her love for him grew once more.
"Did you think you were going to have to take care of our baby 24/7?"
"Well um…" It all sounded good but her confidence was lacking. "I don't know if I'll be good at school anymore."
He tugged her until she was standing beside him. "Only one way to find out."
The Grissoms'
5:45 p.m.
Since they would be leaving shortly, Grissom left his car in the driveway instead of pulling into the garage. "I'll grab your backpack out of the trunk, Sean," Grissom informed the boy. "Then we'll exchange books while Sara finishes getting ready."
"Why do girls take so long to get ready?" He inquired as he hopped out of the car. "My mom is always the one who makes us late. My dad doesn't seem to care, but it drives me crazy."
"Uh…" Grissom popped open the trunk. "One reason is they usually have more hair to deal with. They don't just wash their hair and let it dry like guys…well guys except Greg Sanders, he works with me and he has crazy hair. Women, they do all kinds of stuff to their hair…condition it, blow dry it, curl it, flatten it, spray it. It's unbelievable." He tossed the pack on his shoulder. "I never really knew how much effort it took until I shared a bathroom with one."
"I'm really glad I was born XY instead of XX."
"I hear you. I'm thankful for my Y chromosome every day." Smiling, he shut the trunk. "Because dealing with their hair is easy compared to some of the other annoying stuff women have to put up with."
"Like they can't pee standing up."
"Exactly." He laughed. It wasn't what he was thinking, but it was a good example. "I need to grab the mail first."
As Sean followed him to the mailbox in the corner of the front yard, he remarked, "And women have to have the babies."
"Yeah…that's another good example."
"My mom says if men had to have the babies the world would be much less crowded because they couldn't handle it and they'd never have more than one kid."
Grissom laughed as he retrieved the mail. "I think your mom is right."
"Get anything good?" Sean inquired as Grissom flipped through the pile. "Yes." He handed over a copy of Entomology Today.
"Cool!" He beamed with delight.
"I already have that issue so you can keep it. I'm on a couple of mailing lists so I get duplicates. I'll be sure to pass on future editions as well."
"You're the best, Mr. Grissom!" Overcome with excitement he gave him a quick hug.
Seeing a reflection of himself in Sean's enthusiasm, Grissom smiled. "Come on…let's find you some new books."
"Let's go!" He raced to the front door and rang the bell.
At the mailbox, Grissom found himself imagining a similar scene with his own child.
"Hi, Sean," Sara warmly greeted. "I've got milk and cookies on the counter for you."
"Mr. Grissom said you didn't have any good food," Sean blurted.
"I picked this up on the way home just for you." Because she had figured out it would be Sean. Who else would Grissom think worthy of including on their date than a budding Entomologist with a higher IQ than him?
"Thanks!" He rushed inside.
Sara saw her husband leaning against the mailbox staring into space and decided to step out and greet him. "Honey…" She crossed the perfectly manicured lawn until she was standing in front of him. "Penny for your thoughts."
With his free hand, he circled her waist and pulled her close for a passionate kiss.
"The neighbors could be watching!" She giddily exclaimed as she backed away.
"It's nothing they haven't seen on TV before," He assured her while taking her hand. "Ready for a little road trip?"
"A road trip and it's not the body farm?"
"Nope."
Hand in hand they walked toward the house.
"Give me a hint."
"Gravity."
"One more."
"Serious airtime."
Her smile curved wider. "We driving to Primm?"
"You know it." He held the door open for her. "I promised you, didn't I?"
And now she knew why Sean was really there.
When they disappeared into the house and the door closed, the man sitting in a parked car down the street tossed his newspaper onto the passenger seat.
He has a son, the man thought…the boy looked to be about ten but the newspaper said Gil only married eight days ago. The child seemed much closer to Gil than to Sara, so he must be from a previous relationship Gil had with another woman. The man grinned…the discovery of the son was very good news…an unexpected bonus, but now he had to rethink his plan of attack.
Greg's Apartment
6:04 p.m.
Sitting on a bar stool at the kitchen counter, Tawny stared at the latest piece of paper Greg slid in front of her.
6x – 17 equals 7
"It's been six years, Greg," She reminded him in an exasperated sigh. "The other stuff was easy, but this…"
"It will come right back. Watch." He picked up the pencil and showed her the first step. "Remember, x is called your variable, and the first thing you want to do is get rid of everything on the same side of the equation as the variable. So you add seventeen to both sides in order to eliminate the seventeen on the side with the variable."
6x equals24
"Now you want to do the same thing again. The coefficient of six is the only thing left with the variable so you divide both sides of the equation by six to…"
"x equals four."
"You got it."
Clapping her hands she said, "Give me another one."
5y + 15 equals 30
Greg patiently instructed, "Remember, the first thing you do is…"
"y equals 3!"
Dropping the pencil, he stared at Tawny. "I think we know which online college course you're taking first."
"You really think I should try?"
"You're only twenty-two. Kids leave high school and bum around Europe and the beaches of Indonesia until they're twenty-two then come back and start college."
"Okay, even though I worked at Club Paradise for years I hardly think I can pretend I was killing time on the beach."
"Who has to know what you were doing?" He smiled. "And what does it matter what anyone else thinks as long as you know who you really are?" Reaching out, he brushed her golden blonde locks behind her ear. "As far as I'm concerned, you're the perfect trifecta...beautiful, fun and smart."
Gazing into his eyes, she longed for him to say more and do more. "Greg… I really want to…"
"Wow, look at the time!" Retreating from her and the confusing feelings he was experiencing, he crossed the room. "I have to get in the shower and get to work. It's Gris's night off and I promised I'd go in early to clear some backlog just in case we got swamped tonight." When he hit the bathroom door, he shouted back. "I'll get the computer set up for you before I go. You can poke around online while I'm gone. Maybe see what subjects interest you. Okay?"
"Great." Picking up the pencil he left on the counter, she drew a heart in the corner of the paper and sighed. "I'm picking up right where I left off at Freemont High…crushing on a sweet boy who's not sure if he likes me." In the heart she wrote their initials…GS + TC. "There's an equation I really like." Next she turned over the paper and jotted another problem.
2x + 12(2x + 4) equals 4x – 3
"Negative five," She quickly answered before whispering, "Greg was right, I've still got it."
Primm, Nevada
Buffalo Bill's Casino Resort
7:53 p.m.
Standing in awe of the fastest and tallest roller coaster he had ever seen, Sean's eyes were wide as saucers.
"It's the Desperado, Sean." Grissom gushed with excitement. "It's the best Nevada has to offer. Think you're game?"
"Oh yeah."
Sara watched her husband revert to childhood before her eyes. "What's so special about this one, Honey?" It was a leading question and she looked forward to him going into uber-geek overdrive.
"The Desperado is a hypercoaster, meaning it has at least one drop over 200 feet, and it's one of the fastest, tallest and longest coasters in the country. It's on a lot of people's top ten lists, including mine." With school-boy enthusiasm he continued his diatribe. "Hypercoasters don't loop or invert because looping and inverting costs you speed and hypercoasters are all about speed…and acceleration and g-forces but most importantly…they're about airtime. And when you're a roller coaster enthusiast…airtime is what it's all about."
"Airtime?" Sean asked.
Sara patted her stomach. "Butterflies in your belly." Then she grinned at her husband. "I worked in bugs while talking about rollercoasters, how cool am I?"
Totally enamored, he replied, "You're pretty cool for a girl, isn't she Sean?"
"Yeah she's cool because she's really smart, but I also like her because she smells like sugar cookies instead of roses or that stinky stuff my Aunt Carrie wears. Nick must like it though because I caught him licking her neck."
Sara laughed with her husband. "Thanks for thinking I'm cool, Sean. And thanks for that tidbit on Nick. I'll make sure to tease him about it."
The screams of the latest riders caught their ears.
"You hear that, Sean?" Grissom's grin overpowered his face. Those screams are the direct result of a hypercoasters sole purpose for existence…to terrorize its riders. The Desperado pulls close to 4 G's. In comparison, astronauts on the space shuttle only feel 3.2 G's upon take-off."
"Really?" Sara looked at the coaster in a whole new light.
"The first drop, at 225 feet, clocks close to 90 mph. Second drop…155 feet of beautiful corkscrew. At three points during the ride you'll near zero gravity. Yep…5,483 feet in two minutes and forty-three seconds. It's quite a rush. So what are we waiting for?"
"Let's go!" Sean chomped at the bit.
"You know…" Sara shoved her hands in her pockets. "I think I'll let the two of you ride it first and see what you look like after."
Sean blurted, "She's chicken!"
"I think she is." Grissom took her hand. "Why are you scared?"
"I um…never rode one of these hypercoasters before and the one time I went up in the Space Shuttle the 3.2 G's really got to me."
Sean, clutching his head, spit his words. "You went up in the Space Shuttle! Then you're WAY cooler than I thought!"
"No…no." Sara shook with laughter. "I was only joking."
"Oh. Because then you would have been WAY cooler."
"I still think you're WAY cool," Grissom assured her.
"Go ahead you two." She shooed them. "I'll be right here waiting for you when you come back with your heads scrambled and your guts twisted."
Grissom teased, "Sean, if you think kissing a girl is gross then you better turn your head because I'm going for it."
"Thanks for the warning!" Sean returned his gaze to the coaster.
After Grissom kissed her, he whispered. "I know you're not really scared."
Knowing she was busted, she shoved him. "Get out of here."
This time they took her advice.
Before she rode, she wanted to enjoy watching the two of them ride together. She wanted to watch her husband get a little closure. Today he'd ride the Desperado with Sean and tomorrow he wouldn't disappear from Sean's life. He'd still be there giving him books and discussing the wonders of maggots.
When they reached the platform she waved and while she watched them board the ride…someone was watching her.
He watched her smile.
He watched her love her husband.
Two minutes and forty-three seconds later Sara saw Gil and Sean return looking exhilarated instead of terrorized. A minute later they were at her side.
"You have to do it, Mrs. Grissom!" Sean panted. "It was awesome!"
"How about it, Mrs. Grissom?" Gil took her hand and brushed a kiss over the back of it. "Sean told me he wants to ride solo this time so the seat next to me is available."
"Okay…I'm ready to be terrorized." She led the way.
"How many times can we ride, Mr. Grissom?" Sean hoped the answer was more than twice.
"It's August in Vegas and there's not much of a line so I'll buy you as many rides as you want."
"Do you think the girl will hurl?" Sean teased.
"I heard that, punk."
"Watch it, she's feisty," Grissom warned. "But between you and me…I think she will hurl after her third ride."
"I heard that, punk. Them's bettin' words."
Sean rolled his eyes. "Nice going…guess you'll be sleeping on the couch tonight."
Sara turned around laughing. "Where did you hear that?"
"My mom says it to my dad whenever he does something dumb." He shrugged. "But I've never actually seen him sleeping on it, so I don't really get it."
Grissom winked at his wife. "Take a mental note for the Feasibility Study…must be able to deal with our child telling all our secrets."
"Sorry, it's not a good enough reason to end the study. Remember…no turning back." In his ear she whispered, "The only part left of the study is whether it's physically feasible and hopefully we'll have an affirmative answer to that this time next month."
"Three tickets," Sean told the cashier on behalf of the group.
"Okay, if I keep my cookies down and make it four times, you'll owe me what?" Sara pondered the possibilities.
"Just don't say…"
"The answers to any three questions I choose to ask."
"…that." He glanced up at the first drop. "You're on."
When Sara was in the front seat of the first car clutching her husband's hand, she confessed, "I wasn't kidding about never being on one of these hypercoasters before."
"Need me to talk Wallner Lines?" He teased. "Too late…here we go."
Two minutes and forty-three seconds later…
"Holy sh…" Then she remembered Sean was in the car behind her. "My stomach is somewhere on the track. Those were not butterflies I felt in my belly!"
Grissom helped her out of the car. "Maybe you should sit the next one out, Honey."
"No way!" She insisted. "I loved it. I…I just didn't know what to expect the first time. Now I know."
She swallowed hard and smiled. "You two ride in the front this time. I'll be behind you."
"She's chicken!" Sean exclaimed as he hurried back to the ticket window.
In the shadows, the man pulled his UNLV baseball cap down a little further and moved as close as he could get without being discovered. Watching the happiness, he felt a strong reaction.
Another two minutes and forty-three seconds later…
"Holy shit!" She yelled as the coaster came to a halt.
"Bad word!" Sean reminded her. "But you're not under my mom's roof so you're okay."
"Honey…you don't look so good." Grissom took her hand and guided her back to the ticket window.
"I'm fine…fine." A smile twittered over her lips. "Who wants to go again?"
"Me!"
"Buy the tickets for us." Grissom handed him twenty five dollars. "Sara…you don't have to do this to prove me wrong."
"Oh please…would you stop." She held onto his arm so she wouldn't fall over. "I could do this all night. I feel great!"
"Twain said, denial ain't just a river in Eygpt."
"Keep it up and like Sean's mom said, guess you'll be sleeping on the couch tonight."
"Suit yourself."
Yet another two minutes and forty-three seconds…
"Holy…" Sara weakly said as she held her head. "That was the um…best one yet."
Grissom stared at his pale wife. "I think I need to cut you off."
"No way!" She held onto him for dear life. "I'm…just… getting…started."
"She's gonna hurl!" Sean proclaimed as he took a giant step back.
"No…I'm not." Sara held out her hand. "Come on, Sugar Daddy, give me some cash for tickets. All I have to do is make it through this next one and you lose."
He forked over the cash.
When she took it, she snickered, "Quote-boy…got one on perseverance?"
"Babe Ruth…it's hard to beat a person who never gives up."
She handed the money to Sean. "I can't really see so can you buy the tickets for me."
"Sure!"
While waiting for the tickets, Grissom kindly asked, "Wanna hear my quote on stupidity?"
"Save it."
Two minutes and forty-three seconds too long…
"I'm…fi…fine." Sara assured Grissom as she dug her fingernails into his arm and let him drag her off the ride. "See…I made it." She wobbled. "You lose."
"Funny, I don't feel like the loser in this group."
Sean took one look at her and yelled, "She's green and she's gonna blow chunks!"
Grissom got her to a garbage can just in time. While holding her hair, he said, "Ready for that quote on stupidity now?"
"Uh huh." Then she held up her index finger signaling she wasn't quite through.
Sean watched the scene with his arms folded across his chest. "Good thing my Aunt Carrie isn't here."
Grissom smiled at the boy. "You're going to make one hell of a Forensic Scientist one day, Sean. Not only do you have the brains for it…you have the stomach."
"Okay." Sara released her grip on the garbage can. "Give it to me."
"Oscar Wilde…the only thing that ever consoles man for the stupid things he does is the praise he always gives himself for doing them."
"I think I did an excellent job proving you wrong. And the hurling was good practice for morning sickness." She returned his smug glare with a grin. "Now I think I'll spend the rest of the night thinking of the toughest three questions I could possibly ask you."
Feeling bad for his mentor, Sean decided to pitch in. "Hey, Mr. Grissom, now that we're done riding, can I get a hotdog? A hotdog covered in thick yellow mustard and gooey red ketchup and lots of chunky super smelly green relish and stinky bits of onions and slimy pickles, the kind that glide right down your throat and…" Once Sara's head was back in the trash bin, he stopped torturing her. "Girls." He shook his head. "Can't live with 'em."
Grissom stared at his crazy wife. "Can't live without 'em." He mused…at least not anymore.
"Who said that?"
"Some poor fool hopelessly in love." Walking over he retrieved Sara. "Come on…let's get you a Sprite."
"Okay," She replied while gripping his shoulders.
He slipped his arm around her waist. "And we need to get you a pack of mints."
From the corner of his eye, the man had watched the entire scene, and the smile it put on his face still remained.