Chapter Nine: The Light Of A Distant Sunrise
How long have I stood here beside you? I looked through you, you looked through me. . .
Ohh, solitude, I can't stay away from you. . . How many times have I done this to myself how long will it take before I see. . . when will this hole in my heart be mended? Who now is left alone, but me. . . Oh, solitude forever me and forever you. . oh solitude only you. . . only true. . . everyone leaves me stranded, forgotten abandoned left behind. . .
- Evanescence, Solitude
Where was she! Grissom felt as though he had searched every hall and corridor twenty times over. He turned the next corner and bumped into Ecklie as the man was coming out of his office. Grissom just glowered as he waited for the diminutive man to pass. But Ecklie didn't move, instead it appeared he was in the mood for a chat. "Why, Grissom," he said with a small sly quirk of his thin lips, "whatever could bring you down to this corner of the lab?" 'I'm not in the mood for this, Ecklie,' thought Grissom, folding his arms in an 'I don't know, you tell me' gesture.
"You know," said Ecklie "I think I do know why you're here." Grissom raised an impatient eyebrow, "I think your going to ask me why CSI Sidle was just here to see me." Grissom's eyes widened, and he suddenly spoke, "Tell me now, Conrad!" it came out as a partial growl, and Ecklie took a step back.
He spluttered forth the next words, and thrilled at the look that crossed Grissom's face, "She's not coming back. She said that "due to personal reasons" she wanted to leave early. I was. . ." he smirked,"only to happy to comply." Grissom's face hardened and when he spoke his voice was rough and harsh, "Where is she now?" Ecklie was bewildered by the morass of emotions crossing Grissom's face, "Gone." "Gone where!" Ecklie spluttered, "How in the name of all that's holy am I supposed to know!" The last word had barely crossed his lips when Grissom walked quickly into the distance. "Well, I always knew that man was crazy." Ecklie then shrugged and walked off.
Before he himself knew it he was in his car driving with purpose toward Sara's apartment. Doubts clung to him like the perspiration that was beaded on his brow, but he pushed them away from him with the memory of Sara's kiss. He knew he wanted to feel her lips on his again.
He swerved madly into a parking spot in front of her apartment. Next to his car a UHaul truck was parked.
He could remember the last time he had been here,
"Grissom! What are you doing here?" Sara said, slightly flustered, "Well, I figured I could help you move in." Sara's face brightened, "Thanks! Come on in."
The memory shimmered and faded leaving him standing at her front door, doubt flooding his mind, washing over him in waves, but then as he was on the brink of letting that doubt drive him away, another memory played out in front of his eyes,
Her fingers brushed gently at his cheek, and he started, looking up into her eyes, wondering if he had imagined the tenderness there. She cleared her throat, muttering something about "chalk dust", then ducking inside. His hand moved to his cheek, rubbing at it and wondering at the lack of chalk dust there. . .
Had that truly been so many years ago? Had it truly been so few? He stood there staring at the door, Sara's door, for a long time, just remembering. But his thoughts were interrupted as the door swung open with the slight groaning of hinges. And then there was Sara; her face drawn and swathed in light of a distant sunrise as she said his name. "Grissom."
TBC
A/N: Hey guys, thanks for all the awesome reviews (the more reviews the faster I post, hint hint. . . ) this is my first CSI story, not to mention my first multiple chapter story so any advice would be extremely appreceated. Well, thanks again yall,
Fresley