He Ain't Heavy…He's My Grissom

Chapter 3: The Funeral Home

Spoilers, Ratings, and Disclaimers, Oh My! See Chapter 1

Sara and Grissom approached the group of men outside the funeral home. Suddenly, one of the men broke out of the group and grabbed Sara in an enormous hug that lifted her off the ground. His green eyes flashed as he smiled brightly. Grissom had to resist the urge to get Sara out of his arms, but he reminded himself that these people were like family to Sara, and it wouldn't do for him to go caveman on her. However, he could wish that the handsome gentleman did not give her such a vigorous kiss in greeting.

"Freakin' A Minnie, I can't believe you came!" Sara smiled at the man, and motioned for him to put her down. "Its good to see you Frankie, I just wish it were under different circumstances."

Frankie nodded and gave her another squeeze. "'S ok Minnie, no one would have wanted to see you more than pop. We know that you loved him." Flashing a smile, he pulled Sara towards the group. "Hey Tony, look who's here!"

Grissom looked up at a man with sad, dark eyes who looked to be a few years older than Grissom. He gave Sara a much gentler hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Minnie thanks for coming." Sara murmured her condolences as Tony continued to hold her hand and look at her at arms length. "Jeez Minnie, with all those 24 hour buffet's in Vegas, you think you'd put some meat on those bones by now."

Sara rolled her eyes, and remembered why she usually visited the family during the winter. One she missed snow, and two under bulky sweaters, no one could be really sure about her weight and give her a hard time. However, in the warm June summer, her Tank Dress and Cardigan did little to camouflage her slenderness. Sara then smiled and gave Tony a playful swat. "So, where's Franny?"

"She's inside with Ma and the kids." Sara chose this moment to motion to Grissom so she could introduce him to the group, but Frankie broke in before she could get a word out.

"So Min, have you thought about moving to New York. Ma's going to be lonely in that house and you could stay with her for awhile until you got settled."

Sara resisted the urge to snort, she heard this plea every time she called or visited. Ever since she graduated from Harvard, they were always bugging her to move closer to them. Sometimes, especially after the DUI and suspension, she was tempted, but she could only take so much meddling, and preferred her grief and nagging to be long distance.

"Frankie, I can't just pick up and leave Vegas. I have a life out there, friends, my job…"

Tony broke in, "You know Min, we have crime here in New York." Frankie motioned excitedly to the two smaller men in the group. "Sara this is Detective Danny Messer, and CSI Mac Taylor, we work in the same house in Manhattan. I was telling them about you."

Danny and Mac said hello, while Mac mentioned that he heard a lot about Sara, and that the reputation of the Vegas crime lab spoke for itself.

Now Grissom was starting to steam. Mac stood there quietly taking in the scene, while Danny stared at Sara as if it was Christmas morning and she was a brand new Schwinn.

Sara took the lull as an opportunity to introduce Grissom. Hellos were made all around, and Mac told Grissom how he was looking forward to hearing his speech this week. He then turned to the group and said that he and Danny would have to go. Before he left, he told Sara, that he would never try to poach a CSI from another lab, but if she ever moved to NY to give him a call. Goodbyes were said as the two men walked off.

As they got into the car Danny mentioned to Mac, "She has an excellent record, and we could always use more talent."

Mac shot back, "There are three groups you never mess with; Nuns, Cats, and men like Gil Grissom, for their retribution will be swift and painful."

Back at the funeral home the group began to talk, when they were interrupted by a shriek.

"Minnie" Sara turned around and smiled

"Maddie" she shrieked, and Grissom watched Sara almost get knocked down in a hug by a mini person. This must be the famous Maddie. Maddalena was 5'2" with streaky blonde hair and a big smile. However you couldn't see the smile right now as the two of them were holding each other and crying and murmuring condolences. Grissom had to smile at how touching, yet funny the scene was, due to the great height difference between the two of them. Finally they broke apart and Sara brought Maddie over to him.

Maddie held out her hand for Grissom to shake, "Dr. Grissom, it's a pleasure."

"Dr Goldman."

Maddie grinned, "Why don't you call me Maddie?"

"Only if you call me Grissom"

Maddie nodded and turned her attention to Frankie and Tony. "Jesus Christ on toast, how long have you been keeping Sara out there. Ma's a nervous freakin' wreck. And why are you out here and not with Ma! For the love of god, what is it with you pischers! Don't you have any freakin' common sense?

Frankie looked at Maddie and began laughing. "Christ Tony you know it's bad when she begins mixing the Yiddish and Brooklyn curses. Let's get back inside. With that, Frankie grabbed Sara by the hand and brought her inside. Grissom was left with Maddie. Grissom looked at Sara and Frankie's retreating forms, looked at the diminutive blonde and said…"Minnie?"

Maddie could only laugh at the perplexed look on his face. "The 1st time Sara came to visit, my grandma took one look at her and called her a 'skinny minny', and then spent the rest of the visit trying to feed her. And she needed an 'eee' name to fit with the rest of us, so it kind of stuck."

Maddie then led him into the funeral home to face the dragons.

Grissom walked into the funeral home and saw Sara surrounded by a group of older women, flanked by another tall man who looked to be in his early forties, and an older woman who looked to be in her early 70's, almost the age of Grissom's mother. Sara beckoned eagerly, and introduced him to Mama M., and the middle son, Louie. Grissom began to understand the family. Little Tony was the oldest, and named after the dad, he had taken over the family's remodeling business. Louie was an accountant, Frankie was a cop, and Maddie, the child genius, was a neurosurgeon. Sara took Grissom's hand, and he walked with her to where Anthony Mazza was laid to rest. He looked like a robust man, and based on the pictures surrounding him in the casket, a definitive family man. For a moment, Grissom felt a pang of envy for a man so obviously loved. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a picture of the deceased, posed with his wife, Sara and a man who looked familiar. Sara caught his eye and pointed to the picture, "Mama, you put a picture of me in?" Sara's eyes began to water. Mama nodded. "Of course bambina, Tony would never let me rest if I didn't include his Minnie. Do you remember how much fun we had when we came to Vegas?"

Grissom's head popped up. He couldn't believe that Sara had people visit her in Vegas that were obviously important, and he didn't know. Sara, feeling the slight spike in pulse through Grissom's hand, reminded him that they came the weekend he was racing his team. Grissom nodded and listed to Mama M. and Sara reminisce about the casino, and the dinner concert with Tony Bennett that Catherine had somehow gotten for all of them. Mama M. then giggled and told Sara that it was a good thing that she had not brought Catherine, as Uncle Sol had been asking about her again. Apparently, Catherine had made quite an impression on the gentleman. Mama asked Sara if she would be too tired to head over to the house after the viewing. Sara assured her that it was most definitely not the case, and the two women embraced and promised to catch up later. Sara knelt by the coffin and began a silent prayer, while the widow greeted guests, and Grissom quietly watched the whole scene.

Later, as Sara and Grissom were driving towards the car, they were silent as he tried to take everything in. Sara was nervous about the silence and broke in.

"Grissom, are you ok? I warned you they were a little intense."

Grissom looked at Sara and grabbed her hand from the steering wheel. "Don't worry about me…Minnie."

Sara shot him a playful look. "Are you going to call me that now?"

"I don't think I can resist."

Sooner than Grissom could imagine they pulled up to the block where the Mazza's lived. It was a lovely block of Tudor style houses, on a tree lined block. Grissom shook his head at the Long Island traffic which could easily rival Vegas at its worst.

Taking Sara's hand they walked up to the door. Grissom went to knock, but Sara simply smiled and went to open it, and found the door being opened for them with an attractive grey haired woman looking at them suspiciously. When the woman noticed Sara, she smiled, and for a minute looked almost friendly. She greeted Sara, and waited for an introduction. "Nana Bernadette, this is Gil Grissom." "Nana Bernadette is Papa Mazza's sister.

Not knowing what possessed him; Grissom lifted the older woman's hand to his lips, and kissed it. "His younger sister, I'm sure."

Nana Bernadette smiled uncertainly. She looked at Sara, "Well no wedding ring, so he's not your husband, no engagement ring so he's not a fiancé..." She looked at Sara questioningly. Sara quickly racked her brains trying to think of the right adjective. Lover wouldn't do and wasn't correct, yet. They were more than friends, and boyfriend sounded too frivolous for what Grissom meant to her.

Grissom noted her befuddlement, and after taking a moment to enjoy a floored Sara Sidle, announced to Nana Bernadette, "I'm her Grissom." In a definitive tone, that settled the matter. Quickly looking for a distraction, he was given one with the glorious smells of fresh bread, garlic and tomato sauce. Grissom sniffed the air. "What smells so good?"

Nana Bernadette smiled, "It's probably the eggplant parmesan. I made it fresh today."

Grissom produced his most boyish and charming smile. "It smells wonderful. I didn't get a chance to eat today and I'm starving."

Nana Bernadette looked shocked. "Sara, didn't you feed your Grissom today?"

Sara shot Grissom a look. "Nana, we were so rushed…." She noticed the older woman glaring at her. "We…we ate on the plane." She finished weakly.

Nana snorted, "The plane, what did you get, one cracker."

Grissom interjected, "No we flew first class."

Nana pursed her lips. "Fine then. You got two crackers." Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Sara, no wonder you're not married. With that she took Grissom's hand and led him towards the wonderful smells.

Sara stood alone in the hallway. Grissom was good. She had to give him that. He distracted Nana Bernadette from the awkward topic and won her heart in the space of five minutes.

Grinning to herself, Sara followed the pair to the buffet set in the dining room.

A/N: These are actual comments made by members of my family at various family occasions. Names changed to protect the innocent.

A/N Chapter 4 soon. Warning: Gratuitous descriptions of high carb, fat loaded foods ahead.