Chapter 19

It was a little after 5 a.m. when Catherine saw Sara's eyes flutter open.

Gently taking a seat on the edge of the hospital bed, Catherine spoke softly. "Sara…don't worry. You're in the hospital but you're going to be fine."

Her parched throat throbbed as she struggled to speak. "H…hospital? Was I in an accident?" Moving her hands to her head, she winced. "What hospital am I in? This doesn't look like Desert Palms or…"

"That's because you're still in Tahoe. Try to sit up and I'll give you something to drink."

While handing her a glass of ice water, Catherine asked, "Do you remember anything about last night?"

After gingerly taking a few sips of water to wet her throat, Sara concentrated on the question.

"What's the last thing you remember, Sara?" Catherine pulled a small notepad from her jacket pocket.

"I…I was at the hotel…on the patio…with Mike. He…he brought me a margarita from the bar." After a minute, she glanced over at Catherine. "That's the last thing I remember. Did something happen at the hotel? Did I hit my head?" Becoming increasingly anxious she rapidly fired questions. "How did you get here? Why are you writing down what I'm saying? What's going on, Catherine?" Dropping her throbbing head in her hands she moaned.

Changing to a motherly tone, Catherine said, "If you promise to try and stay calm I'll fill in the blanks, okay?" When she saw Sara give a little nod, she continued. "I'll start with why you're in the hospital then give you the rest of the story."

Taking a deep breath, Catherine broke the news. "You know the vial of GHB from the Ellers case that went missing from the lab?"

"Yeah."

"We found it last night."

Sara couldn't understand why Catherine had switched topics from telling her why she was in the hospital. "What? Where?"

Calmly she replied, "Half of it in your bloodstream and the other half in a vial in Mike's jacket pocket. You're here because a combination of GHB, alcohol and allergy medicine in your system rendered you unconscious. You're lucky you're not in a coma." Reaching out she lay a hand on Sara's shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way. Mike's not the person he claims to be."

Terror seized her. "Are you saying…" Wrapping her arms around her body she shivered as her gut twisted into a knot. "That he…umm…"

"No. No!" Catherine furiously shook her head. "No, we caught him just as he was walking you out of the bar. We figure he must have put it in your margarita."

Sara's mind completely blank regarding last night's events, she scanned Catherine's eyes for the truth. "Are you sure he didn't…"

"Yes! Absolutely certain." Catherine nodded with conviction. "You were examined by a doctor last night and she concurred that nothing happened. We busted Mike in the resort bar. There was no time. I know it's difficult when you have no memory but trust me, Sara, I'd tell you if something happened. And you would know, wouldn't you?"

Falling back against the bedding Sara took the time toprocess Catherine's words.

Minutes later, Sara's fear turned to humiliation. "I feel so stupid. Here I am trained to put creeps like him away and I don't even see it coming when it's happening to me."

"Now you know better than to blame the victim." Catherine released a troubled sigh. "Please don't tell me you think you were asking for it. Don't go there." It was a natural reaction and she knew it was coming.

Wallowing in guilt the words slipped right out. "I barely knew the guy. I can't believe I agreed to go away with him. What the hell was I thinking?"

Frustrated, Catherine hardened her tone. "You were thinking he's a decent cop, a friend of Nick's…a guy who wanted to see if the two of you could start an honest relationship."

"That doesn't mean I should have put myself in such a vulnerable situation."

"Sara! You were thinking you were going away as friends in separate rooms and that he'd respect the agreed upon conditions unless both of you changed your minds. Hell…you wanted to get out of town and have a little fun for once in your life. Give yourself a break."

Staring into Sara's eyes Catherine pointedly asked, "Did you ever tell him he had permission to drug you if you didn't put out on this trip?"

Sara eeked out a barely audible, "No."

Softening again, Catherine pleaded. "You didn't do anything wrong, Sara. He did. Please tell me you understand that."

"It's so easy to think it's your fault." Her head sunk as low as her spirits.

"Right." Catherine nodded. "And that's why so many cases go unreported and these guys are able to walk around town picking up victim after victim. Just because you're the victim here don't lose perspective. If it were another woman in your situation how would you feel? I've seen you work these cases. Think about it."

Catherine fell quiet, letting Sara take the time to work through it.

Finally, Sara replied, "You're right. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Catherine cracked a tiny smile.

After composing herself with a few more sips of water, Sara was able to push past her troubling emotions and resume asking questions. "Okay…so you busted him in the bar. How did you know to come to Tahoe? How did you know to come to the bar? How did you know he had the GHB? How did you know he had drugged me?"

Happy to see inquisitive Sara return, Catherine smiled. "Ah…that's the long part of the story. It all started the day Grissom saw Mike eating a chili dog at Windy City."

"Grissom?" It was the first time Catherine had mentioned his name. "He's involved in this too?"

Following a light chuckle, Catherine explained. "You really didn't think I was your Knight in Shining Armor in this story, did you?"

In spite of her throbbing head, aching body and grating nausea, Sara managed a stellar smile. "Where is he?"

"He's at the Tahoe police station with Brass. They're questioning Mike."

Curling up under the hospital bedding, Sara sweetly asked, "Would you tell me everything."

"My pleasure." Catherine looked forward to telling the tale. By the time she was done relaying the details to Sara, she knew Grissom would be in for a very warm reception when he returned.

At the Tahoe police station, Brass waited outside the interrogation room for Grissom to arrive.

When he saw him in the hall, Brass flagged him down and led him into Detective Bryant's empty office. "Sara conscious yet?"

"No." His voice weakened. "Not yet."

When Brass shut the door, Grissom asked, "Catherine told me I should get down here right away but she didn't have any details. What's going on?"

"We've got a problem."

"What kind of problem?" Already on overload, the last thing he needed was a problem.

Making himself at home in the detective's desk chair Brass grumbled. "Thanks to the efficient staff at the Lakeshore Resort, we don't have Sara's margarita glass. Without the glass we can't prove the GHB was in the drink Rodgers brought her. We questioned everyone and there are no witnesses."

"But you found the vial in his jacket during the search."

"Surprise, surprise, he said he has no idea how the GHB vial got in his jacket and his prints weren't on it."

"We found his jacket in the lab on the same night the vial went missing..."

"Yeah…about that. Rodgers said why would I leave the jacket in the lab if I put the vial in there. He thinks someone planted the vial in his jacket."

Incredulous, Grissom took a seat. "Are you telling me he's saying he was framed?"

"That's what he's saying."

Unable to fathom an answer he asked, "Framed by whom?"

"Sara."

"What?!" Dumbfounded he stared at Brass.

"Rodgers' asked for his lawyer so he won't talk on record but he's asked to speak with you in private." Noting the anger building in Grissom's eyes, Brass advised, "But I really don't think it's a good idea."

Jumping out of his chair, Grissom headed for the door. "Tell me where he is."

"Hey, when was the last time you slept?"

"I slept in Sara's hospital room." Moving into the hallway he barked, "Are you going to tell me where he is or do I have to start knocking."

Knowing there was no stopping him, Brass reluctantly answered Grissom's question. "Down the hall to your right. Conference Room B."

Tearing down the hall, Grissom's temper flared. When he reached the right door, he flung it open.

Without acknowledging the dramatic entrance, Mike, sitting alone at the large table, sweetly asked, "How is Sara? I've been worried sick about her."

Glaring at the uniform cop in the corner of the room, Grissom barked, "Leave us and shut the door."

The cop looked to Brass who gave the okay. That's fine. We'll be right outside the door ifthey need us." With trepidation, Brass followed the cop out of the windowless and unfortunately soundproof room and shut the door.

Leaning over the table, Grissom snarled, "Whatever it is you're attempting to pull it's not going to work."

Calmly Mike replied, "I'm not trying to pull anything. I didn't murder Samantha Hatcher and I didn't drug Sara. You've got everything wrong. Please…will you sit down and give me a chance to explain. I asked to speak to you because you are Sara's boss and I think someone needs to understand what's going on with her."

"What's going on with Sara?" Irate, he retorted, "What's going on is she's unconscious from the drug you gave her."

Appealing to Grissom's sense of duty, Mike said, "You're a CSI, not a cop. You're supposed to wait for the evidence before drawing conclusions. So how about listening to what I have to say."

Curiosity and professionalism getting the better of him, he pulled out a chair and took a seat across from Mike.

Pleased to see he would be getting a chance, Mike relaxed. "Thank you."

Ignoring the pleasantry, Grissom flatly replied, "Start talking."

Compassion flooding his voice, Mike began to explain. "I had no idea how emotionally fragile Sara was until we got to Tahoe. I mean I knew she was struggling to hold it together on the job…that was clear when I met her working the homicide at The Flying Aces. That's why I offered to buy her coffee the next day, I felt bad that one of my guy's mistakes got her so upset."

Listening intently, Grissom didn't move a muscle.

"Nick warned me Sara was hurting. He said some guy she really cared about forgot her birthday. Apparently, she took it hard."

Grissom, despite his efforts to stay emotionally detached, felt himself wince. Thinking back to the birthday celebration in break room he remembered apologizing to Sara and what did she say when sherealized he had forgotten her birthday? No problem, I know you're a busy man with bigger priorities. He wondered what she thought when he didn't correct her misperception.

"Knowing Sara was bummed out made me want to cheer her up even more." Shaking his head Mike's voice dropped an octave. "That morning, over coffee, I could see the pain Nick mentioned. I could see it in Sara's eyes. I felt so sorry for her."

Thinking back, Grissom remembered that morning. Mike was dead wrong. The pain in Sara's eyes was due to the Ellers case, not her birthday disappointment. Or was it? Was Sara's edginess during the Ellers case merely a result of her being upset over the missed birthday? Or was it a combination of both?

Sadness filling his voice, Mike continued. "The girl has such low self-esteem. Do you know she has no personal life? She spends all her time working. As her supervisor you should have recognized the signs of burnout and took steps long before she got this bad."

On this point Grissom was certain Mike was wrong. On numerous occasions, he urged Sara to get an outside interest and warned her she'd burn out if she didn't. But had she?

Grissom didn't know the answer. He didn't know because he had never followed up on their conversations or on her progress with her P.E.A.P. counselor. In a flash his thoughts turned to their last conversation and Sara's heated words. If I want to keep my sanity I have to force myself to get a life beyond these walls. My P.E.A.P. Counselor agrees. As my supervisor you should be supporting me on this.

After waiting for a response from Grissom for a couple of minutes, Mike realized he'd have to be the one to do the talking. "On this trip I also found out Sara doesn't eat properly and she doesn't sleep well. I'm no psychologist but it sounds like she's going in some kind of deep depression."

The word resonated with Grissom. Deep depression? Is that what had caused her to drink earlier this year? What could have devastated her so much to cause such a downward spiral? Once again Grissom was assaulted with Sara's words…the tearful ones she had spoken at his door. I remember the first smile but the funny thing is we've never shared a kiss but look…I'm still crying.

Sighing, Mike said, "It was very clear to me on this trip that Sara was grateful to finally have someone willing to sit down and listen to her problems. Someone who cared enough to really help her. Seriously…with the kind of hours you work with Sara you didn't you notice any of this? Why? You're a smart guy. Or did you notice and you just didn't handle it?"

Finally Grissom managed a short reply. "You're the one who wants talk. I don't have to answer your questions."

A few minutes into the story, Sarahad a question. "After the chili dog incident, why didn't Grissom just come to me and tell me?"

"He was afraid if he told you about the chili dog you would think he was jealous of Mike and think he was trying to find a way to get him out of your life."

Sara considered the answer for a moment. "Yeah…that's what I would have thought."

"And you would have been right."

"And I would have been pissed off because Grissom had just told me a day before that he couldn't risk a relationship with me." Realizing her uncharacteristic overshare, Sara put her hand to her mouth and shyly squeaked. "Leftover inhibition from the GHB?"

"Don't worry, whatever we say stays in this room, Sara." Catherine grinned. "I don't know if it helps but…he may have been fueled by jealousy in the beginning but by the time we got to you last night it was much, much more."

Anxious for the details, Sara prodded. "Keep going with the story."

Mike held up his hands. "Okay…okay I won't ask you any more questions. We'll just stick to the facts. Last week when you got upset because I was in the lab…"

Replacing his angst with anger, Grissom said, "I remember it perfectly. You left your jacket. The jacket you were wearing last night…the one with the GHB in the pocket. When are you going to tell me how the GHB got in your pocket?"

"I'm getting to that but you need to hear the whole story or it won't make sense."

"Then keep going."

"After you blew up about me being in the lab, Sara and I left to go out to dinner. She was an emotional wreck. She was going on and on about how she couldn't slip up at work, how she had to be perfect. I got the feeling it killed her to mess up in front of you." Flippantly, he asked, "Are you that much of a whip cracker with everyone at the office or is it just Sara that gets the brunt of it? Do you have something against her?"

Recalling the scene in the hallway with Sara, Grissom wondered if he had been too harsh but then he remembered the whole reason Sara was in the hospital…she left the GHB unattended and she left Mike in the lab with it giving him an opportunity to take it. Feeling certain his strong reaction that night was appropriate he turned his thoughts to Mike's description of Sara. An emotional wreck? Why? Because she hadn't been perfect in his eyes? Why was it so important for her to always be flawless for him?

"Oh that's right you're not answering questions so I guess you won't tell me if you have something against Sara. Okay whatever." Sighing Mike said, "That night at dinner Sara picked at her food and by the time we were walking out of the restaurant I could tell she was near tears.

Now I thought that evening was pretty bad." Mike sighed as he slumped in his chair. "But it was all down hill from there. The next day Sara was devastated because she messed up on one of her reports and had to redo it for you. After that she got suspended. Man…by the time we left for Tahoe she was hanging on by a thread."

Grissom recalled Roxie's description of Sara when she left the apartment building…she looked blah. Did blah equal hanging on by a thread?

Looking down at the table, Mike softly said, "But the work stress was nothing compared to how screwed up she was over the guy."

Mike's story already had Grissom reeling but at the mention of a guy his anxiety skyrocketed. Had Sara talked to Mike about him? About the scene at his town home? About their bittersweet words in the office? Had she really turned to a virtual stranger for comfort? "The guy?"

"Yeah…the guy who forgot her birthday." Heatedly, Mike replied, "She wouldn't tell me his name but whoever he is, he's an ass. One of those users who strings a girl along, getting her hopes up but never following through. A controller…you know…never wants the girl too far away but never lets her too close. With Sara's low self-esteem I'm sure she fell for his manipulations every time. She's a textbook case of..."

Her feet kicked up on the hospital bed, Catherine continued to tell the story. "So we're at your apartment and suddenly Grissom has this crazy idea that maybe you hide your personal information in books."

The more Catherine spoke the deeper Sara fell. "Hmm….maybe he knows me better than I think he does."

"Who knows what goes on in his head? For instance…when I was calling in your credit card information to Warrick, Grissom suddenly flipped into bug mode and was all wrapped up in some Entomology textbook of yours.

Sara knew she only had one Entomology book. "Really? Did he find anything in that one?"

"Hmm…I don't know. He was being all weird about it. Even when we were ready to leave I had to rip it out of his hands and put it back on the shelf. Like he was obsessed it."

Closing her eyes, Sara fell deeper still.

Grissom averted his gaze as he listened to his own pitiful behavior described.

"Apparently Sara had been waiting around for years for this loser to make a move and last week he finally has the balls to tell her it's never going to happen." Shaking his head aggravation accented his words. "It makes no sense. What kind of guy tosses aside a woman as smart and as beautiful as Sara. I mean sure she's fragile but only because of the number he'd done on her for years. I bet she was a whole different person years ago."

Swallowing hard, Grissom struggled not to react. Four years ago Sara was a strong, vibrant woman but now she was often edgy and dark. Was the changea result of his self-serving behavior? Had he picked up on her desperation and exploited it to fill his own needs?

While Grissom's mind raced to places he didn't want to go, Mike prattled on.

"Anyway…I know you're only interested in the bottom line so I'll get on with it." Calmly, he continued. "We get to Tahoe and I try to cheer her up. Nothing's working. She's falling deeper and deeper into depression."

Grissom recalled Sara sitting in the bar with Mike. She looked blissful, not depressed. Was it the GHB he saw and not Sara?

"Then all of a sudden last night she wants me to go have a drink in the bar. I'm hopeful…thinking maybe the fresh air has helped clear her head and she's ready to move on."

"We go to the bar and I get her a margarita then I excuse myself to use the restroom. As I'm walking away she says she's cold and asks me for my jacket. I take it off. Put it around her shoulders then head to the men's room. A few minutes later when I return, she hands the jacket back and says the drink warmed her up. About five minutes after that you show up and well…you know the rest of story. I figure she put the GHB in her drink while I was in the restroom."

Pushing what he hoped were irrational thoughts out of his mind, Grissom came to a conclusion. This story couldn't possibly be true.

Remembering Wendy Blake's testimony on Mike's ability to craft a good story, Grissom was positive it was all fabrication. It had to be.

As far as his own doubts about his behavior with Sara were concerned, he realized Mike's persuasive storytelling skills must be playing tricks on his mind.

Confident he had Mike's number, Grissom mustered a cocky reply. "I'm not buying it. Your story is way off. Sara knows how GHB works. You can't expect me to believe she'd risk putting herself in a coma just to get the guy to notice her. She could have died."

For the first time, Mike raised his voice. "Oh come on…you've seen these types of cases before. She wanted attention; it was a cry for help! You know how many calls we get on this stuff? I must handle five attempted suicide calls a week just like it. Just because a woman is smart doesn't mean she thinks clearly when it comes to her heart."

As much as Grissom wanted to ignore Mike's comment he couldn't. Sara's last words to before she left for Tahoe wouldn't let him. You were right all along…it's for the best. I should know better than to question your judgment. I was listening to my heart instead of using my head. I promise never to bring up the subject again.

Being a romantic at heart, Catherine loved relaying the next part of the story. "When I stopped by last night Grissom was holding your hand and talking to you."

Upon hearing about Grissom's loving behavior, Sara's heart filled with happiness. "What was he saying?"

"Unfortunately he was speaking softly and I couldn't make it out. I tried to talk to him about it but of course he clammed up." Chuckling, she added, "So you know it had to personal."

Her spirits soaring, Sara smiled brightly. "It figures…the one time he tells me something really good, I'm unconscious."

"Sara, when I got here early this morning, he was asleep in the chair next to your bed, still holding your hand. I think that speaks volumes."

"Yes," she murmured as her heart overflowed with joy.

Leaning across the table, Mike whispered, "Don't you see...I'm just the pawn in Sara's schoolgirl game? If you hadn't shown up when you did, I bet she would have feigned a collapse on the way to the lobby to get the ball rolling. The cops would have shown up, found the vial on me and..."

Incredulous, Grissom asked, "How would this help her?"

"She hoped that this trauma would make the guy finally give her the affection she craved." Since his words weren't working, Mike painted a visual. "Can't you picture it…the guy finds out what happened and rushes to her side. Because he almost loses her he has a sudden change of heart. Maybe he'd sit by the bed holding her hand, telling her how much he cares…calling himself a fool for ever turning her away. Game over. She's got him."

Turmoil rioting within him, Grissom fought to find the hole in Mike's story. "There is nothing in Sara's past that would lead me or anyone to believe she would do something like that. Nothing!"

"Oh yeah?"

Jumping up from the table Grissom blasted, "I'm through listening to your fabrication!"

Suddenly a smile curved over Mike's lips. "I have to disagree about Sara's past." He knew it would hook him into staying. "I think there is something there."

Confused, Grissom knitted his brow.

"Sara has done something like this before and she got results but not the result she wanted. So this time I think she upped the ante hoping for a bigger payoff."

His anger rapidly escalating, Grissom fumed. "What the hell are you talking about? You barely know Sara how could you know about her past?!"

Shaking his head, Mike grinned. "You're supposed to be the genius so why can't you figure this stuff out? Why do I have to keep giving you the answers? Okay…I'm feeling generous so I'll give you a hint. Three letters…ready?" Although he knew there was no way Grissom was ready for what was coming.

Grissom's eyes narrowed as he watched Mike's face light up with pleasure.

"D…U…I." The pleasure of the reveal thrilled his twisted mind. "The look on your face…totally priceless." Mike shook with laughter before commenting in his best TV announcer voice, "Let me introduce 'the guy' himself…Gil Grissom."

Disturbed beyond all reason, Grissom could barely remember to breathe.

"Uh...yeah I was talking about you the whole damn time. Duh!"

Delirious with excitement Mike exclaimed, "Sara sure got you to come running that night, didn't she? Say it with me, Gil...attention getting maneuver."

Cackling he asked, "Speaking of getting attention…do I have yours?"