Chapter 11

FBI Headquarters, Miami

"Here you go Sir, the last of Dr. Grissom's records." The young brunette in a conservative business suit flopped down the folders in front of Agent Culpepper, receiving a grin in return.

"Now let's see what our Dr. Grissom is hiding…"Culpepper exclaimed out loud before cracking his knuckles to begin searching through folders.

"Come on Sara! Order something!" Nick poked her gently before she finally made up her mind.

"Alright I'll have the Rigatoni Pomodoro." Sara folded her menu and finally gave Nick a smile.

"Yeah, that's what I like to see. So Sara you gotta open up to me and tell me what's going on. I can help if I just know what you're scared of. Has Grissom been hurting you in anyway?" He could tell that the question made her uncomfortable as she shifted in her seat.

"No Nick I told you how I got the bruises." Sara began to nervously pick at the napkin in front of her, avoiding Nick's stare.

"No way are you getting away this easily. Sara you always tell women in abuse cases to speak up or nothing can change. Take your own advice, if someone were hurting you why wouldn't you come forward?" Nick knew for certain that Grissom did something to Sara, everything fell into place. She was sympathizing for her attacker; she still loved him and didn't want to hurt him despite all the pain he has already caused her.

"Don't try to protect him he doesn't care about you Sara if he's hurting you."

"No It's not like that…" Sara winced as she realized she gave more for Nick to speculate on.

"So there is something going on?" Nick demanded. Sara bit her lip to hold back the tears which clouded her vision. Actions spoke louder then words. Sara shielded her face with her hands as she let out all the fear and anxiety she had been experiencing in the last few days into one emotional outburst.

"He didn't mean to do anything. It was all my fault, I kept on pushing him to tell me, but he was too scared." Sara cried.

"Tell you what Sara?"

"To tell me what happened to his father. It wasn't his fault…He didn't do it on purpose." Sara sobbed.

Culpepper rustled through several more folders before finding what he was searching for.

"James Grissom, Father of Gil Grissom…"

"What about his Father Sara?" Nick tried to hold Sara's hand but she flinched once more in response.

Sara took a deep breath before continuing.

"He…"

"Was arrested for the rape of four women? Was released from prison eight months ago?" Culpepper strained his eyes further by looking for more clues in Grissom's past.

"Used to be subjected to his Father's abuse. His father even went as far as raping his mother right in front of him. He was just a child, now he just thinks that his genes are catching up with him." Sara's whimpers grew louder as Nick managed to hold Sara's hand gently.

"And are they Sara?"

"I can't believe…"

"Grissom was arrested when he was seventeen with charges of abuse? His record was cleared when he turned eighteen. Charges were never formally filed. Interesting." Culpepper smiled as he began to dig further in the piles of folders.

"…He would hurt me. It's just not like him. He didn't mean to, I did it to him Nick. You have to believe me." Sara looked at Nick with helplessness as he immediately pulled out his cell phone.

"Did he rape you Sara? Is this what you're trying to tell me?" Nick was ready to dial the police when Sara closed his flip phone.

"You can't tell anyone about this, and no he didn't." She brushed away a tear, trying to remain calm.

"But he was close to doing it wasn't he?" Nick was offered no response.

"Sandra get me the number for a Mr. James Grissom and where he is staying pronto. I'm gonna find the source of the problem to discover the truth." Culpepper grinned once more before slamming closed another folder.

Sara bowed her head down in submission, not being able to lie to Nick any longer. There was no way Nick would be staying at a hotel tonight. If Sara had to sleep under the same roof as Grissom he wanted to make sure she was safe.

"I'm staying with you tonight. And you don't have a choice in the matter. I don't want you to be alone with him roaming around the house." Nick watched Sara's frown grow greater.

"Yes but I don't want to make anything worse. I mean I don't want to be alone you're right, but I also don't want you to get hurt." Sara leaned in closer towards Nick.

"Sara if worse comes to worse and God forbid…I'm packing." Nick pointed to the gun in his holster.

"No Nick he's not going to do anything, he wouldn't. What he did was just because he was experiencing past memories he tried to forget."

"Yeah OK but just incase, you don't have to worry about being protected." Nick tried to force a smile as the waiter delivered the meals. "Now let's try to eat." Nick's beeper made him jump just as he was about to dive into his fettuccini. "I'll be right back Sar it's the lab"

"Working while miles away from home?" Sara curiously asked.

"Yeah you know Cath she likes to keep an eye on her troops. I'll be right back." Nick walked quickly into the lobby and opened his cell phone to call Warrick.

"Hey War it's me."

"So how is she you said she sounded upset over the phone."

"Yeah she has every right to be…" Nick messed up his hair as he waited for Warrick to begin his questioning.

"What do you mean?"

"Sara has bruises on her wrists."

"What?"

"Yeah I know what you mean bro."

"And I hope you found out how she got her injuries." Warrick replied.

"Yeah she was a little reluctant since Grissom was involved." Nick allowed for the information to sink in. "And there's more but I don't think I should be betraying her confidence so if anything else comes up I'll call."

"Hey Nick?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful…"

"Yeah will do." Nick closed his phone and headed back to his table.

"I just can't wait to get my hands on Grissom." Nick thought as he began eating his dinner once more.