So here's the real question I have with this chapter; if I enjoy torturing Grissom and I identify the most with him, then does that mean I enjoy tortuing myself? Probably. Though to be honest I enjoy watching the other people react to his weaknesses. Because not even Grissom can hide a bullet wound

...or can he?

NOTE: in Max Allen Collins excellent CSI books he uses italics to denote flashbacks or theorizing...so that's why this chapter is in italics.

Chapter 4

Sara Sidle sang as she drove playing percussion on the wheel of her little silver Honda. Her soft, shoulder-length brown hair was tied back into a knot at the back of her head. Almost to work, she turned the radio off.

Sara heard a gun shot.

She turned the corner to the CSI building and her headlights revealed a ghastly scene. Greg Sanders was bent over a still figure lying on its stomach…a still figure with graying hair, wearing all black. Horror coursed through her, her blood ran cold. She didn't hear herself scream Grissom's name, nor did she remember throwing her car into park and running to his side.

She turned him over and he opened his lively electric blue eyes.

He didn't cry out, he didn't wince, he said calmly, "Greg, go dial 9-1-1."

A terrified Sanders took off for the building. Sara looked her boss over. The gunshot wound was visible even though he was dressed in his usual black. When he had fallen forward from the gun shot his forehead hit the pavement and now he was bleeding badly. When he spoke his voice was calm, though his eyes were tightened in pain.

"Sara, don't be scared."

She grabbed his hand, it was already cold.

"Oh God Grissom, don't do this."

"Sara, don't cry," he said steadily, but then gasped suddenly and she began to sob in earnest. She brought his head up and pressed it to her, crying into his peppering gray hair. She felt his warm blood running down her front.

"Sara? Sara?" his voice was quiet, but tremulous. He was frightened.

"Yeah?" she nearly choked on her tears.

"There's something, I have to tell you."

"What?"

The ambulance arrived, as did cops. They made her let him go, physically retching her hand away from his.

She had screamed his name in desperation. He couldn't go…this wasn't happening.

"Sara, don't be scared."

Then they had taken him away.