Chapter 3: Giving in to Sadness
Just because it is the end of the beginning doesn't mean it is the beginning of the end. - AquaLung
Sara having just arrived at work walked with determination to Grissom's office. She rapped twice on his door- when no answer came she sigh and turned on her heel to go, "He's on leave." Sara spun at the voice coming from behind her – it was Maggie Warden, the matronly secretary for the day shift.
Sara looked at the woman in confusion: in all the years she had known Grissom he had rarely taken any leave (even then it was usually for a forensics conference or the cockroach races) Maggie had continued to speak at Sara's befuddled look, "Oh Ecklie was yammering on about it for ages this morning . I tell you, if I didn't need this job I'd walk up to that blasted fool of a man and give him a piece of my mind." She glanced around nervously and then continued in a much quieter voice, "But let's keep that between us, my dear." Sara smiled at the now flustered woman, "Of course Mrs. Warden." Needless to say she quite shared those feelings with the woman.
"Oh, do call me Maggie, my dear!" "Thank you, Maggie. You can call me Sara if you like." "I will indeed call you Sara, it is such a lovely name."
"Maggie, you don't happen to know when Grissom will be back, do you?" Sara held her breath as she awaited Maggie's answer, "Oh, about two weeks, Dear. All us girls figure he's trying to get away, you know from your leaving and all. I mean you two have been in love for ages. There's been more then one bet placed on two of you. . ." During Maggie's overflow of words Sara's face had slowly crumpled, her breath now coming in short gasps, her knees seemingly unable to support her weight. Maggie must have realized the blow that her words had given Sara, for she bustled over to the heartbroken woman and with a gentle hand led her into an office that was empty save for storage and a few chairs.
"Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry – my late husband Herbert always did say that once my mouth started running you just couldn't stop it without divine help. Its only that you and Mr. Grissom seem to be meant for each other. . ." at those words Sara's resolve snapped and the tears that she had been holding back for so long poured from her. Heart wrenching sobs were torn unwillingly from her mouth. Sara's whole body trembled at the sudden release of her pain in this sudden purge of her tears.
Maggie looked at the heartbroken girl – she had always liked Sara, even if they had not had the chance to know each other well. As a bit of a romantic she had taken a certain amount of interest in Sara and Grissom's relation ship. Though, even some of the denser employees here acknowledged the feelings between the two. Heck, even Hodges knew! The only one who didn't know about those two was probably Ecklie, though with the looks those two gave each other at times she wouldn't be surprised if even that old stick in the mud knew!
All through this series of thought Maggie had been comforting the stricken Sara now it seemed that Sara was calming down Maggie took a risk and asked her, "What ever happened between the two of you, Honey?" for a second she fear that Sara was going to cry again, but then watery brown eyes met her own and Sara said in a broken whisper, "He used to call me that you know." Maggie saw the pain clearly in Sara's eyes as the girl whispered again, "Used to."
"I tried to tell him, to tell him how I felt, but he wouldn't let me!" She seemed to rile with anger for a moment but just as quickly her anger vanished and she was a scared little girl again, "He said he couldn't do it!" It was spoken very softly, but her eyes were full of pain and panic as if she were about to bolt, she spoke again, louder now, her voice raw from tears, "I-I just wanted. . ." she swallowed and tried again, "All I wanted was to say goodbye." Maggie looked at the girl across from her before gently pulling the broken woman into her arms. "Oh, my poor child. . ." It was enough- quiet sobs again racked Sara's weary body as she was held in Maggie's motherly embrace.
Maggie knew, with more surety then ever that something had to be done about Sara Sidle and Gilbert Grissom.