A/N: Hope you like this too. Contains spoiler for Nesting Dolls.
10:47am
Cedar-Sinai
Two days later…
"Well Mr. Grissom, I must say your mother is quite the fighter. She's strong. However, as I've said before, she really should be somewhere she can be monitored. No fast food. No extreme exercise. She should have bi-monthly check-ups. I realize it may be hard to take, but she's not the strong, healthy woman she was. She needs to take care of herself."
"Of course, I've already got a friend looking into houses, and I do have a guest room. Do you have any particular recommendations as to doctors, Dr. Avery?"
"Well, there are a few great cardiologists in Vegas that I feel will be helpful. I can give you a list of contact info before your mother is discharged later."
"Thank you, doctor."
"It's a pleasure, Mr. Grissom. I had a friend back in San Francisco who was into entomology. She respected you immensely, Dr. Grissom."
"Thank you. I better go see what trouble my mother's into now." Dr. Avery smiled at Grissom who smiled back. So this guy was from San Francisco. He knew he'd liked him.
11:34am
Cedar-Sinai
Room 316
Grissom sat in the chair, staring out the window watching the people pass on the street below. His mother slept on the bed behind him. Though he'd never admit it, he was worried about her. Something had struck a nerve when Dr. Avery had said, "she's not the strong, healthy woman she was." She was, after all, his mother. He needed her around as long as he could have her. Gil Grissom didn't like change, and as little time as he spent with her, the death of his mother would definitely change his life. Pauline Grissom was about the only person her son felt he could trust. If Grissom lost her, he knew he'd lose his grip on his self and that would make his job (not to mention working with Sara) hell. Suddenly, Grissom was knocked out of his thoughts by his phone. Taking it quickly out to the hall, so as not to wake his mom, he answered.
"Hey Griss. It's me"
"Sara," he said, quite unnecessarily. She knew who she was. "What is it? It's 11:00. You should be sleeping." He heard her sigh.
"I couldn't. How's your mom? Shouldn't she be out soon? When are you coming back?" He grinned wryly at her child-like bombardment of questions.
"Mom's fine. She'll be out later today, and we'll be back Friday night. Okay?" When she said nothing, he added, "What's wrong? Are you stuck on a case? Need my help?" She sighed again.
"No. We know what we're doing. I don't know…I guess it feels kind of weird around here without you. Maybe I'm just jealous. I miss California." He smiled. As I would in your place. Then, without thinking about what he was doing (for once in his life), he blurted out, "You wanna come down and help me pack some of Mom's things?"
"What?" It was the excitement that came unbidden into her voice that made him continue with his suicide plan.
"Take tonight, Wednesday, and Thursday night off. Drive down, and you can stay at my mom's house. We'll visit LA and you can help us haul stuff back. I'll need some help."
"Are you sure?"
"Sure" (read: HELL NO) By the time he hung up, having given her his mom's address, he had convinced himself that he'd just made the biggest mistake in his life. Read: Second biggest.
4:56pm
Mrs. Grissom's residence, LA, of course.
Walking up the sidewalk, Sara Sidle bit her lip. Should she be here? She'd come close to turning around several times during the journey, and still wasn't convinced she shouldn't have. Then, about to ring the bell, she heard a female voice yell, "Gilbert! You nearly burnt the biscuits! If your not going to be helpful, go read or start packing or something!" and she relaxed. After about a minute, having contained her laughter, she rang the bell. A moment later, an elderly woman opened the door.
"Hi, nice to meet you," she greeted.
"Ahh…you must be Sara. So nice to finally meet you." They shook hands, and Sara smiled. Pauline muttered, "Yes, I see what he means," before adding, "Please do come in, dinner's almost ready." Sara walked around her, and she shut the door. "Gilbert get in here and greet your guest. I'll watch the food." Grissom came in, his cheeks slightly flushed at being scolded in front of Sara, who found it hilarious. After Mrs. Grissom had left, Sara smiled at Grissom.
"Ya know, I think she has a point. You need to work on your people skills," she said, her tone meant to let him know she was teasing. However, his face fell.
"Why does everyone tell me that?" he demanded, exasperated. Sara laughed.
"Because it's the truth."
"Umm…Sara?'
"Yeah?"
"There's something you need to know about my mom."
"She's strong-willed? I like that."
"She's deaf." Sara was silent for a moment, but only a moment.
"So that explains the signing. So, you'll play interpreter?"
"Oh, if you speak clearly and slowly, she shouldn't need me. She'll let you know if she can't read your lips."
"Oh, okay," Sara said, slightly embarrassed.
"Are you two lovebirds going to come and eat?" Pauline demanded. They blushed, hurrying in to the kitchen. "Not in here. In the dining room. Gilbert, grab the broccoli. Sara dear, can you grab the biscuits?" Both adults obeyed, Sara saying playfully to Grissom, "They don't look burnt to me." Grissom threw the potholder that he'd just used to set the broccoli on the table at her.
"Gilbert Grissom!" scolded Pauline Grissom, coming in with a pot of spaghetti. "Go get the sauce." But, as Sara was grinning widely, that was as far as her scolding went. Both females sat facing each other.
"It seems my son doesn't know how to behave. I did raise him better." Sara smiled.
"Oh, it's okay Mrs. Grissom. I've worked with him long enough to realize that last part," Sara said, remembering to speak slowly. It was Pauline's turn to smile. Grissom came in, and joined them with a suspicious glance at the shared smile. As they began eating, Sara was nicely surprised to find there wasn't a meat product on the table.
"You actually remembered I was a vegetarian?" she teased.
"Remembered hell. I had to ask him. And even then he took 14 minutes to remember." Sara smiled, while Grissom blushed. "So, Sara dear, tell me about yourself." Now Sara blushed slightly.
"Well…I work with this guy named Gil Grissom…" she started mockingly. Both adults laughed, Pauline saying, "No, really."
" I grew up in San Francisco. I went to Harvard, but transferred to Berkley. That's how I met your son. Stumbled into one of his lectures." She smiled at Grissom, who smiled slightly in return. "Worked in 'cisco for a while after college. Then, well, Holly Gribbs happened. I'm sure Grissom has told you about that."
"Yes, of course. Such a tragedy, poor girl. But you've only told me about college and your adult life. Tell me about your childhood" Sara froze mid-bite, and Grissom winced. How could he have forgotten to warn his mom not to bring that up? Tears came unbidden to Sara's eyes, and Grissom avoided her gaze.
"Sara, you don't have to. She'd understand," Grissom informed her. Mrs. Grissom nodded, saying, "Of course." Sara shook her head stubbornly.
"No, it's okay. I need to face it. I've tried leaving it in San Francisco but it didn't work. My parents were these crazy hippies. We had a B&B near a beach. I loved that beach. I used to sneak out and go down to the beach. I'd always get hit for it later, but I guess I found it worth the pain, for some reason. Point is, my father was abusive." Grissom felt a blazing hatred for her father as he tried to stop his own tears, and Mrs. Grissom placed a reassuring hand on Sara's. Sara smiled at the older woman, and continued. "One night…he went after me with a knife. My mom went ballistic. She was screaming, and she ended up stabbing him to death with the knife. Afterwards, all I could do was cry and cling to the hand of the service worker. Then, I spent my teen years shuffled around foster homes, and eventually I learned not to get attached to any of the families. They were never permanent. I guess that's why I can't hold a relationship," Sara finished, at this point talking more to herself than to Mrs. Grissom. They sat in silence for a while, until, finally, Grissom asked, "So tell me about the case." Sara could have kissed him as she realized he'd realized she'd needed the deversion.
"Well, it was this thirty-something male found in his bed, half-naked, but you know that. Turned out to be a gay guy who'd hit on the guy, who was straight and turned him down, and decided to try and rob the place, but he ended up killing the guy, then started to undress him, but got grossed out, so he stabbed him a few more times and left."
"Sounds fun," Grissom said, meaning it. Sara just as seriously nodded concluding, "It was."
"Oh Sara, dear I must tell you about this time when Gilbert here was just a little boy…" Mrs. Grissom started, unaware they'd been talking because she'd been eating. Sara grinned, as Grissom winced muttering, "Please mother…" but she didn't hear him. Sara just smiled. Later, getting ready for bed, Sara found Grissom. "You know Grissom, I had no idea you were such a colorful child." Grissom groaned. "Don't worry, I won't tell I too many people at work, though I can't control how many people Catherine tells… Good night…Gilbert." Try as he might, Grissom could do nothing but be glad she was smiling again.
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CSIfreak89-You always need sleep. And I really don't think you get your craziness from your mother…not at all. And please, DO walk away.
Veronica10-Well, why else would she be going to Vegas- I think she's a little past the showgirl thing. LOL grins evilly
Special Agent Meg- Thanks. Grissom's mom is definitely a fun character to write
Sidle Chick- Love the screen name. And thanks blushes.