Chapter 3
You could say that Grissom was Sara's best friend. Had been for a long time. Though there had been quiet spells and arguments, but what friendship didn't have fall outs here and there? Their thirst for knowledge and work is what keeps them on the same wavelength. Though this friendship was mostly seen at work, their private life was kept apart from their professional.
It wasn't widely known, but Grissom was in a relationship with Catherine and it was nearly their one month anniversary. Sara was probably the first one who knew this, but that was only because Grissom had confided in her. As best friends do.
Even though Sara had feelings festering deep inside her for her best friend, she tried to keep them from him and the public. She knew he wasn't interested in her like that and she didn't want to lose a friend over something as trivial as love. It was overrated anyway.
She had repeated that more than a few times to herself in private when she would walk in on them kissing in his office or see them holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. She was thankful that she never saw them any other time because she didn't know if she could take seeing Grissom falling over himself with another woman.
Now, since the explosion, guilty thoughts swam through her mind. What if she did this or, what if she did that? There was starting to become so many possibilities that could have prevented this, but when the questions stopped, she was still stuck with burns, short hair and her best friends withdrawal.
Though Grissom's withdrawal wasn't something new, it still stung that he'd pull away from her at a time like this. She was trying so hard not to feel left out and hurt by his actions, but she knew he was hurting and mourning.
She understood that it was tough losing a friend you knew for more a decade. Catherine and Grissom had been friends long before they even met and he was having a relationship with Catherine at the time of her death. That must be hard to come to terms with.
"He's at home, keeping to himself." Warrick told her as he set a vase of flowers on the side table.
"What about Catherine's family?" Sara asked quietly, staring out the window. She was sat up with pillows tucked behind her and one cradling her right arm over her legs.
It had been a four days since the explosion and Grissom had only seen her once after he her told her about Catherine. He was trying to find out what happened and comfort Catherine's family at the same time as juggling his emotions. It was a ticking time bomb and they all knew it. Though no one knew who he would go to to talk.
"Coping. Lindsey's staying with her grandmother. So, she's taken care of." Warrick informed her as he sat in the visitors chair.
Sara turned her eyes away from the window to her injured arm. "When's the funeral?"
"Next week. The fire-fighters confirm the gas was deliberately turned on. Ecklie thinks it was the suspects attempt at getting rid of the evidence. They obviously didn't take in account that someone would find the body so soon. Could have been startled before they got the chance to make a spark." Warrick shrugged. "There are too many possibilities to suggest any one thing. Everything's a wash."
Out of hospital and back at home was what Sara needed. She was tired of hospital food and the constant sleep interruptions from nurses and doctors. All she needed was rest and to keep going to her checkups at the local burns unit.
With her right arm in a sling to prevent her from moving it about, Sara reached into the cupboard and pulled out a cup. She was determined to make a cup of hot chocolate if her life depended on it.
Dropping the spoon, she sighed. It wasn't usually this bad with her left hand, but she is normally right handed. She was going to have to learn to use her left sooner or later and making a hot drink was a beginning.
Smiling with some pride, Sara picked up her cup and headed back to settle on the couch and watch some boring TV.
Though the doctor had suggested someone stay with her, she was adamant not to become dependant on the others. She wanted to forget what had happened and get one with living life.
Around six o'clock in the evening, Grissom was at the door, knocking hard. "Sara!" He yelled through the door.
Startled from sleep, Sara could hear the panic in his voice. At first she didn't know what to do. He was obviously here because of the explosion. What other reason would there be?
Shifting slowly to the edge of the couch, Sara managed to stand without hurting too much. When she opened the door, she stepped back in shock as he closed in on her and hugged her. "Grissom? What's wrong?" She asked with concern, puzzled by his reaction.
It was one thing standing at a distance and be friends, but to actually be hugged be this man was very confusing. It wasn't like him. Grissom wasn't a touchy feely person, but she suspected that changed when he started dating Catherine. Catherine was all about touch and feelings. That was the type of person she was.
Not getting any response, she hesitantly placed her good hand on his head and gentle brushed her fingers through his hair, then ran her hand down his back, not knowing what else to do.
He breathed heavily, finally catching his breath and not even thinking about how odd it must be that he was holding onto her. "I just needed to see you." and it was true. He had been at home trying to sleep, thinking about Catherine and what he was going to do now, when Sara's burnt and battered body flashed before his eyes. He suddenly realise he could have lost them both.
For a moment, Sara winced when he crushed her to his chest, but the feel of him holding her meant more to her than her current discomfort.
… …
"I can't, Sara. I've got to get this paperwork finished."
Sara looked at him, slightly confused by his sudden change in attitude. "But, you told me to remind you."
Grissom sighed, roughly pulled off his glasses and dropped them to his desk. His eyes held tiredness and frustration as they fixed onto hers. "I'm busy. Can't you see that Sara?" He stared at her a moment longer before reaching for his glasses and going back to his work. "Haven't you got a case to work." He said dismissively.
She nodded and turned. "Sorry to bother you."
It had only been an hour since she last saw him and he suggested they meet up for breakfast to talk about the case she was working. She didn't know what could have happened in that time. It must have been something bad or he wouldn't have acted in such a way. Not able to find an answer, she went back to the break room to collect her case file and go home instead. Maybe she could find some answers for her case in a quiet place, alone.
… …
Grissom was standing in the kitchen, stirring vegetables into a sweet and sour sauce. He had calmed down after his arrival at the door. His apology for scaring Sara was to make dinner. It was still odd that he was here in the first place and neither wanted to think of the reasons behind it.
"Want to watch TV?" Sara asked nervously, trying to keep herself busy and away from the kitchen to give him some space to think. He was in her home and it was just not like him.
"Sure, dinners almost done." He looked up from the pan with a calm face, though he tried to show a little concern with his question. "How you doing anyway?"
Moving to stand next to the breakfast unit, she shrugged her left shoulder a little. It was still too soon to move about more freely. "Got my first check up tomorrow morning. The doctor says I'll have scarring though." She said sadly as she ran her index finger down the edge of the unit.
Grissom turned the hotplate off. "Dinners ready." He announced, breaking the short silence as softly as he could.
"I'll grab the juice." Sara offered as she waited for him to sit on the couch before heading for the fridge.
Sitting down and eating the stir fry Grissom had prepared, they started watching a forensics documentary, though it didn't seem to catch either of their attention.
Sara was the one who broke the silence that had settled over them. "Grissom?"
He looked up from his food to look at the TV. "Yes."
She swallowed nervously as she pushed her food around her plate. "I'm sorry about Catherine."
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
Grissom shifted a little before standing. "I better get going." He said suddenly. "Will you be ok?" He asked, walking into the kitchen to rinse his plate.
Sara stared at his back while he placed his washed plate on the draining board. She watched as he dug for his keys and stood at the front door. He looked at her for an answer, which she just nodded and looked back down at the food she suddenly wasn't hungry for.
… …
"Hey Griss." Sara grinned as she strolled into the layout room. "Got something for ya." She placed two DNA results, side by side, in front of him before taking a seat beside him.
Grissom looked over the results sheet with a sceptical expression, not intending to find what he was looking for. He jumped up from his stool. "This is great!" He passed her, touching her arm before rushing out of the room. "Got to find Catherine!" He shouted back.
Sara's grin faded slightly and a small sad smile showed through as she looked over the evidence on the layout table. "No problem." She whispered softly, a hint of defeat in her voice. There where the three of them working the case after all. It was only far to share the fresh lead with the person working with the police while they looked for the physical evidence.
… …
Just one week after being released from the hospital, Sara was well into her rehabilitation program. Nick, Warrick and Greg visited nearly every morning after shift to see how she was. Grissom rang when he was working to make sure she had everything and that she was ok. It was odd at first to have him ask her if she was ok and if there was anything he could do, but she just took it as a friendly gesture, which it was.
Most the time Sara spent at home, everyone, in one way or another; made sure she knew they were thinking of her. She had flowers and cards littering her small apartment. Every time she turned and looked at the collection of flowers, she couldn't help but think of Catherine's daughter Lindsey. It must have been awful telling a child that their mother was dead. She wondered who told her.
Probably her grandmother.
After running out of vases, Sara gave the rest of the flowers to her elderly neighbours, who took them gratefully and wished her well.
The following week, Sara pulled on her jacket as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She sighed as she buttoned the top button of her blouse. Scrutinising her appearance once again, she tugged on the edge of the black glove she wore on her right hand. It still hurt to move and she was cautious walking around without her sling. It made her off balance and she kept banging into things. This way she had both arms to steady her.
A knock at the door made her jump.
Checking herself again, she went to answer it.
"Ready?" Nick asked as Warrick adjusted his tie.
Sara offered them a small sad smile. "Yeah." She picked up her keys and followed them out the door.