Disclaimer: ALL characters belong to CBS. No infringement is intended, as this story is written for fun only. Any additional characters will be mine or I may borrow a few from some of my fellow fanfic writers.
Summary: This story details Conrad Ecklie's plan to destroy Dr. Gil Grissom's life. He secures the services of Ms. Sophia Curtis to systematically destroy Dr. Grissom, beginning of course with his relationship with CSI-3 Sara Sidle (I gave our Sweet Sara a promotion).
Author: Christiangirl (AKA Sharon)
Spoilers: Mea Culpa
Rating: PG-13
A/N: This is an A/U fanfic. I have taken our dear Dr. Gilbert Grissom a bit Out Of Character, I gave him deep emotions, since the Powers that be CBS/CSI decided not to. I hope you like the New Dr. Gil Grissom.
Chapter TwoMr. Conrad Ecklie/Dr. Gil Grissom Remember When 2
As Grissom sat at his desk going through the mountain of paperwork, his mind wandered back to his hot summer in Massachusetts at Harvard University.
Hot Summer Nights in Cambridge, Massachusetts
As Dr. Gil Grissom and his prize pupil, Miss Sara Sidle left the restaurant, he took hold of her hand. As he did so, Sara looked down, shocked that someone of Dr. Grissom's caliber would even give her a second glance. Grissom, noticing her shock, opened his mouth to speak.
"Sara," Grissom began, a bit embarrassed. "I'm sorry if I'm being too forward with you." He attempted to disengage his hand from Sara's, but she stopped him.
"No, Gil," Sara began smiling her heavenly gap-toothed smile at Grissom. "It's just that no man has ever treated me with such respect as you have. The only thing they want is sex and nothing more. No relationship, just sex. That's why I don't like dating guys my age."
"Sara…" Gil began sighing slightly. He would have continued, but Sara interrupted him.
"No, Gil," Sara began as if she knew what he was about to say. "Just a few short weeks ago, I had to clean a guy's clock. I agreed to go on a blind date. Angie Bowers set it up. I wasn't interested in this guy, but he had other plans of course."
"What happened?" Gil asked in mortification.
"When he dropped me off at my apartment, I said goodnight." Sara replied, still reeling over the fact she was almost raped. "He asked if he could come in for a night cap, but I said no. So, he wouldn't take no for an answer and pushed his way into my apartment. He soon found out that was the wrong thing to do. He ended up with hurt feelings and two black eyes."
"Sara, I'm truly sorry about what that scum did to you," Grissom began sadly. "But, there are nice guys around your age that would love to have a relationship."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Sara began incredulously. "That's just what my mom and my dad always say, but I have yet to see it."
"It's true, Sara, even though you can't see it yet." Grissom replied, taking in the beautiful vision that is Sara Sidle. "Any guy would be nuts not to want to be in a relationship with someone as beautiful as yourself."
"I was beginning to think that I was a magnet for jerk guys," Sara began laughing slightly, "but then you came along, giving me hope that I can find a decent man. Thanks so much." With that, Sara placed a feather-light kiss on Grissom's cheek, causing waves of heat to course through his body. Grissom then seized the moment (and Sara's lips) and passionately kissed her.
Grissom was filled with deep desire for this young student, but he thought better of it. He took her home and went back to his hotel room. He took an ice-cold show to squelch his unfulfilled desire.
Grissom had a few days break before he started the main part of his seminar. He decided to visit his mother and father back in Santa Monica, California. He let Sara know that he was visiting his parents in Santa Monica. Sara informed him that she and her roommate, Emily Watkins, were going to Martha's Vineyard with Emily's family.
Santa Monica, California
"Hey, Gilly," Matthew Grissom, his nephew yelled through the crowded airport. Although Gil was Matt's uncle, he was about 3 years younger than he was, as his sister was, Dr. Felecia Grissom-Felzner had Matt before Gil was born.
"Hey, Matthew," Gil began happily. "What's up with this Gilly, stuff? I'm 35 years old now. It's either Gilbert or Gil, not Gilly."
"Well, Gilly, my boy," Matthew began smiling like the famed Cheshire cat, "I'm 38 years old." They continued their boyish banter, as people looked at the two grown men in amusement.
"So, Gil," Matthew began in a serious tone as they were now settled in Matthew's pick-up truck. "How's life treating you these days?"
"Very busy, Matt," Grissom began tiredly. "I've been running on empty for nearly a month."
"You still doing that crime scene stuff and that teaching stuff?" Matt asked, utterly amazed that his uncle was able to do the work of two or three people, possibly more. "Did you get married yet and settle down?"
"Yes I'm still doing crime scene and teaching stuff." Grissom replied.
"Well, what about it," Matt began anxious to catch up with his uncle, who seemed more like a younger brother to him. "Did you settle down yet?"
"Now, Matt, isn't that a stupid question?" Grissom asked, trying to stall for time, not wanting to admit to Matt that he was still a virgin at 35 years of age.
"No, Gil, it isn't a stupid question." Matthew replied in mild irritation. He always hated the way that Gil always seemed to stall when it came to personal questions about himself. 'You haven't changed a bit, have you, Gil?' Matthew thought to himself.
"No, Matt," Grissom began, "I didn't get married yet. Whenever I get married, you'll know. You'll be my best man. That's why in my estimation that question was quite dumb." With the answer that Gil gave his nephew, Matt smiled, knowing that Gil truly loved him.
Matthew Grissom decided to tread dangerous waters. He decided to ask Gil about his sex life.
"Hey, Gil," Matt began cautiously, "have you got laid yet?"
"Huh?" Gil asked, shocked that Matt had the gall to ask him something so private as that. No matter if Matthew was his nephew, he wouldn't divulge that information to him. He wouldn't even give his mother that information, they would have to guess.
"You know what I mean, Gil." Matthew replied. "Don't give me that 'I have no idea what you mean' look. You understand perfectly."
When Matthew saw that Gil just stared at him in shock, he came to the obvious conclusion.
"Gil," Matt began laughing hysterically, "you're still a virgin." Upon looking at the mortified countenance on Gil's face, Matthew laughed uncontrollably for at least a good five minutes. Gil didn't like being the butt of anybody's joke. He had enough of that during his school age, being a genius and getting his doctorate before he was 20 years of age.
"Is it a crime for anyone, male or female, being a virgin?" Grissom asked in mild irritation. Matthew knew it didn't bode well for him to mess with Gil. He remembered the time when the local big mouth bully made the mistake of messing with a certain 10 year old Gil Grissom, thinking that Gil was an easy mark. Mr. Bully guy quickly learned: DON'T MESS WITH GIL.
"Okay, okay," Matthew replied, holding up his hands in surrender.
Gil's Childhood Home
Matthew and Gil arrived at the Grissoms' home in Santa Monica. As they climbed up the front porch, Gil could smell the sweet smell of something baking. It was a mixture of cookies and cakes. Oh, how Gil loved being home and visiting his parents. Gil was especially happy that he and his father ironed out their differences.
Gil was also glad that his parents were able to iron out their differences. They remarried and they seemed much more happier this time around than when he was a young child.
Gil was so lost in his thoughts, that he didn't realize that Matt had rang the doorbell. His mom and his aunt, Lucille Wainright answered the door, both wearing grins from ear-to-ear.
"Hi, Gilbert," Mrs. Vera Grissom, Gil's mother, signed.
"Hi, yourself, Mom," Grissom signed in reply. "How've you been? Where's Dad?"
"Your Dad went to the Johnny's Bait & Tackle Shop," his Mom signed in response to his question. "We're doing just great, Son."
"Good," Grissom signed and talked. "Now where's the grub?"
"You, haven't changed a bit, have you, Gil?" Gil's Aunt Lucille asked incredulously, giving him a great big bear hug. "With you, it's always, where's the food."
Gil just smiled at the two wonderful women standing before him. He truly missed them. As he stood gazing at the two women lovingly, his aunt gave him the once over.
"Gil, my, how you've grown!" Aunt Lucille commented. "I don't know where you get your height from, but I know it's not from our side of the family or your father's side."
Matthew came back into the house. He had left to pick up his wife, Frances Ford-Felzner.
"Hey, Gil," Matthew began, "You remember my wife, Frances, right?"
"Nice to see you again, Gil," Frances began laughing slightly, "I've heard about your doing the work of two or three people."
"Nice to see you again also, Frances." Grissom replied. "The last time we spoke, you were working on your dissertation for your doctorate. How's that coming along?"
"Well, I'm currently working for the LAPD as a forensic consultant." Frances replied.
"Are you still working as a medical examiner?" Grissom asked.
"Yes, I'm still the county medical examiner," Frances began. "I was a medical doctor at Cedar Sinai Hospital, but I decided that I wanted to change specialties. I really like to find out how people died, murder, suicide, accident or what have you."
"That's a great way to look at a sad situation." Grissom replied happily.
"I like to think that I had a part in bringing much needed closure to the families of the victims of violent crimes." Frances replied.
Just at that precise moment, the door opened to reveal a round and jolly fellow.
"Hey, Dad." Gil Grissom greeted his father warmly.
"Gilbert, do my eyes deceive me!" Gilbert Grissom Sr. half asked and half replied. "I can't believe it, my genius son has come to visit us."
"Yeah, Dad, your genius son," he replied in mock sarcasm. "How've you been, Dad."
"Well, Junior, I couldn't be better," Gilbert Grissom Sr. spoke and signed in reply.
"I was told you went down to the bait and tackle shop," Gil replied.
"Yep, Son." Gilbert Grissom signed and spoke his response reply. "I have a great big day planned for us. Men's day out on the high seas."
After Dinner
Gil sat looking out the window, watching the beautiful California sky. The night sky was clear and full of beautiful stars. He just couldn't get his mind off his prized pupil, Sara Sidle. Yes, he knew that she was 15 years younger than him, but he was still fascinated with her intelligence and her beauty. He wondered what Sara was doing at that precise moment.
His mother sat watching her son. She knew from experience that Gil was preoccupied with something. She decided to stand before him. She signed to let him know that he didn't want him to sign to her, as she wanted to read his lips and look upon his face to see if he was telling her the whole truth. She knew that the junior Gilbert Grissom was a great con artist when it came to disclosing his true feelings.
"Son," Vera began in sign, "something's bothering you, isn't it?"
"No, Mom," Grissom began in sign. He would have continued, but his Mom interrupted him, with an exasperated expression on her lovely face.
"I said no signing, Son," Vera Grissom replied in sign. "I want to read your lips." Grissom's aunt, Lucille was standing with her older sister, also wanting to know what was up with her bug-loving nephew.
"Okay, okay, Mom," Grissom responded in total defeat. "There's nothing wrong, Mom, I was just thinking about what I have to do when I get back to Massachusetts and finish up my summer seminars at Harvard University." 'I'm not lying to her, I'm just not telling her the whole story.' Grissom thought, trying to justify his keeping his true thoughts from his mom.
Lucille decided to just get to the bottom of things.
"Gil, your Mom and I have been meaning to ask you something for a long time, since the last time you visited," Lucille began, not knowing how to put the question out to her nephew without offending him or making him angry. "Gil, this is so hard for your mom. We've been aching to find out something, not that's it's wrong or anything, just something we needed to know."
Grissom was wondering what his mother and aunt needed to know that seemed to be so complicated to her.
"Aunt Lucille, if it's that important to you and Mom, just asked me and I'll answer it the best way I can." Grissom replied. The look in his mother's eyes made him shudder. 'What exactly does she want to know?' Grissom asked himself in thought.
"Gil, are you?" Lucille started, but stopped afraid of what Grissom's answer would be.
"Aunt Lucille, am I what?" Grissom asked tiredly.
"Are you, how should I put it…" Lucille began. She would have continued, but Grissom interrupted her, noticing the pain in her eyes and also the pain in his Mom's eyes.
"My Mom, always taught me that the best thing to do is to just say what's on your mind." Grissom replied. "Now, am I what?"
"Areyougay!" Lucille asked the question in a jumbled rush.
AM I WHAT! Grissom exclaimed in shock, as he couldn't believe his ears.
'Oh, look what we've done!' Lucille replied in thought to herself. 'Way to Lucille.'
"What ever gave you that stupid notion?" Gil asked trying to keep his temper in check.
"Well, every time you've been to visit us, you've never brought a girl home and there's never been any talk of any girlfriends." Lucille responded nervously and sadly.
Grissom gave his aunt and his mother the once over before turning on his heels angrily. He wanted to cry so badly, not only for the fact that his very own aunt and mother, two of the most important women of his life, questioned his masculinity, but also because of the fact that he missed Sara.
He ran up the stairs to his childhood bedroom and slammed the door so hard, that it felt as if the whole house trembled.
As Grissom laid on his bed, he had the chance of processing the conversation with his aunt and his Mom. He had to laugh at himself.
'My how childish I acted,' Grissom chided himself in thought, 'they didn't mean anything by their question. I guess in today's society, I am an oddity, being a virgin male at 35 years of age.' As he continued to lay there, guilt took a firm grip of his heart. He decided to go back downstairs and apologize to his Mom and his aunt for his disrespectful attitude.
"Hey, Mom. Hey, Aunt Lucille," Grissom began smiling tentatively. "I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier. Please forgive me. And, for the record, I am not gay. I truly am attracted to women, it's just that I haven't found the one who tickles my fancy." 'However, there's this hot college chick that gets my engine going and turns me on something fierce.' Grissom wanted to say, but he didn't have the courage to say that to his Mom and aunt.
The rest of Grissom's time was spent fishing with his Dad, visiting different relatives and childhood friends. Grissom's Mom and Dad truly enjoyed showing off their son to the many family, relatives and friends. He truly enjoyed himself. As with all good things, this visit, too had to come to an end.
Back At Harvard University
Grissom was truly glad to be back at Harvard University. He had been away for nearly two weeks. 'Two weeks without Sara.' Grissom sighed to himself.
Another Lecture
As Grissom gathered his notes and his slides for his presentation, Mrs. Barbara Gilead appeared refresh as ever. He smiled at her in that boyish way of his.
"You're here before me, I take it that Joey didn't pull any of his pranks?" Dr. Grissom asked. "So, no shaving the family German Shepherd?"
"Oh, about that shaving thing," Mrs. Gilead began, "Joey won't be trying that for a long time, if ever again even."
"What happened?" Dr. Grissom asked in concern.
"Well," Mrs. Gilead began, unable to stifle the chuckle that got out. "Joey tried to shave Lucy, our 'big' German Shepherd. But Lucy had other plans for Joey. She took a big, but loving bite out of our son. Nothing serious, a playful bite. To tell you the truth, our German Shepherd is crazy about Joey and I think she likes his antics. Go figure." With that, they both shared a laugh and quickly got to work starting the new seminar.
Later That Day
Dr. Grissom noticed that Sara didn't attend his lecture. He checked with the front desk to see if any messages were left there for him. The only messages left for him were from the dean, Dr. Rick Bowers and one of his former professors, Dr. Joshua Greeley. But not one message from his prized pupil, Sara Sidle. He suddenly felt so empty. As he slowly walked away from the front desk, he started second-guessing himself.
'Maybe she wasn't really interested in me after all," he thought to himself dejectedly. 'Why should she be interested in me anyway? I'm almost 15 years older than her. Maybe she decided to split on me while I was in California, so as not to have to hurt me face to face.' If this was the case, he admired her for doing the noble thing, instead of just busting up his heart face to face. As he thought along those lines, he realized that he was falling in love with her more for that noble spirit of hers.
Assume Nothing
As Grissom was beginning to have a cow-sized pity party, his thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling out his name. He saw a young man running towards him. He recognized the form running towards him as Jason Wheeler, one of Sara's friends.
"Hey, Dr. Grissom, where ya been?" Jason asked, gasping out of breath from his brief run, causing Grissom some amusement.
"Jason, how is it that a young man of your age is out of breath from a one-minute run?" Grissom asked in amusement. "To answer your question, I was out of town visiting relatives. Why?"
"Sara's been leaving you messages everyday." Jason replied still trying to catch his breath. "You're a very hard man to catch up with."
"I checked with the front desk, and I only had two messages waiting for me, none of which were from Sara." Jason could tell from the tone in the Harvard professor's voice that he was truly disappointed that he hadn't heard from Sara.
"I bet those yo-yos got the room numbers mixed up." Jason replied angrily. "I was with her the last time she left a message for you. Man, she was wailing her heart out."
"Why was she sad, Jason?" Grissom asked, wanting to be able to comfort Sara badly.
"One of her childhood friends was raped and murdered last week." Jason replied. "Oh, it was just awful. Sara had to cut short her visit with Emily and her family at Martha's Vineyard to go to San Francisco and attend her friend's funeral."
"Oh," Grissom began, releasing the breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Where's Sara now, Jason?"
"She's at the college library," Jason began sadly, "when I left her, she was simply staring into space. She mumbled something about the creep that raped her friend being on the loose."
"Oh, that's not good at all," Grissom began sadly. "Thanks for the tip, Jason. I'll see what I can do for Sara."
"Thanks, Dr. Grissom," Jason began grateful for Dr. Grissom's help. "Sara really likes you and I know you'll be able to help her." With that, Jason gave Dr. Grissom a sly smile and winked his eye.
'I wonder what's on that kid's mind?' Dr. Grissom asked himself in thought. 'Oh, well, I guess I better check up on Miss Sidle.'
As Grissom entered the library, he looked around to see if he saw Sara. He looked all around the library, but no Sara Sidle. Just when he decided to give up, he turned to his left and saw his Sweet Sara Sidle sitting at a corner table all by her lonesome. He went to her immediately.
"Sara," Grissom began softly. When Sara turned her head towards him, the look he saw on her informed him that she needed a hug. He decided to take her out to a local diner for a nice cup of coffee. He didn't want to be on the school grounds hugging a student. That wouldn't look good at all.
Sara didn't seem to hear his voice, so Grissom shook her shoulder ever so gently.
"Hey, Sweetie," Grissom spoke to Sara.
"Oh, Dr. Grissom!" Sara cried, tears gushing like Niagara Falls. Sara grabbed his neck and hid her face in his chest. Grissom saw that nosy Mrs. Josephine Beasley looking at him with disgust in her eyes.
"Sara, Honey," Grissom whispered ever so sweetly, "we've gotta get out of here. That Mrs. Beasley creature is looking at me as if I've stolen her prized set of false teeth." At his comment, Sara laughed slightly. Grissom felt a little guilty for his rash remarks regarding Mrs. Beasley's clicking false teeth, but she got on his nerves.
"Maybe she's just jealous that you haven't looked her way yet." Sara replied, tears almost dried. "After all, you are a very handsome young man."
"Sara, thanks for the wonderful compliment," Grissom began, "you sure do know how to make a man feel good about himself."
"Oh, no, Dr. Grissom," Sara began smiling flirtatiously at Gil, "I didn't make that comment to make you feel good, I was just stating a true fact. You're really handsome. Why do you think most of these young women are taking your courses, because they're really interested in the subject matter? No way. They're interested in you." With that, Sara just walked out the through the double doors of the library and headed for her car. Grissom was in hot pursuit and effectively blocked Sara in an attempted to keep her from leaving without asking her out for a cup of coffee.
"Sara, I asked you if you would come with me to the diner down the street for a cup of coffee," Grissom began in mild irritation. "You didn't give me an answer."
"Well, Dr. Grissom," Sara began angrily, "I don't feel like getting a cup of coffee with you. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to get going." Just as Grissom was about to step out of Sara's way to let her escape home, he became confused at the sudden change in her attitude.
"Sara, just a few minutes ago, you were crying and holding on to me, what happened?" Grissom asked, confusion clouding his handsome features. "Why the sudden change in you? Why are you angry with me?"
"Be-because of all those women coming on to you…" Sara began, but was interrupted angrily by Grissom.
"What? You think I made those women throw themselves at me?" Grissom asked incredulously and in a harsh tone. He was truly hurt that Sara was blaming him for the actions of Harvard University's female populace. "Well, Sara, it's nice to know what you truly think about me." With that, Grissom got out of Sara's way and watched her drive off.
'What was I thinking?' Grissom bitterly asked himself. He truly felt like a teenager in love. What was worse, he acted like a teenager in love. He behaved childishly towards Sara. 'I'd better go to the all night market and see if they have an acceptable bouquet of flowers. Sara's really steamed at me.' Grissom thought about cutting up one of the hotel towels and making a flag of truce and waving it in Sara's direction.
At about 10pm, Grissom was standing outside Sara's apartment with a grand bouquet of flowers and a white flag, er, towel of truce. He knocked on the door. When Sara saw that it was Dr. Grissom, she sighed an in exasperation. She obviously didn't see the beautiful bouquet of flowers Grissom held in his hands or the white flag of truce. Sara reluctantly opened the door to Grissom, and she got the surprise and laugh of her life. In Grissom's left hand were a beautiful bouquet of flowers and in his right hand was a makeshift white flag of truce.
"Hey, Sara," Grissom began apologetically, "please forgive me for being a first-class jerk. There you were, needing me to comfort you, and I just turned on you."
"No, Gil," Sara began, "it's me that should apologize. I'm sorry for taking my pain out on you. I'm really sorry."
"Sara, you were in pain…" Gil began in a serious tone of voice. Grissom would have continued his tumultuous thought, but Sara interrupted him.
"No, Gil," Sara began, the tears threatening to fall. "There's no excuse for me taking out my frustrations out on you. The jerk that raped my friend hasn't been caught. He's still on the run. That's not your fault. Please forgive me."
"I'll forgive you on one condition." Gil replied.
"And what's that?" Sara questioned cautiously, not sure if she'd be able to uphold her end of the bargain.
"On the condition that you'll forgive me for being a jerk and joining me for a cup of coffee at the diner down the street, my treat." Gil replied smiling sensually at Sara.
"You drive a hard bargain, but I think I can handle it." Sara replied, drying her eyes.
Gil drove Sara to the diner down the street for their late night cup of coffee and light snacks.
Once again, Gil's thoughts were interrupted. He was about to snap at the horrible intruder, when he noticed who it was. When he saw the tall and very beautiful brunette CSI, his face lit up tremendously.
"Hey, Gris," Sara began, smiling tentatively, "do you have a moment?"
"Sure, it's just paperwork," Grissom began gesturing to the paperwork on his desk. 'I always have time for you, my love.' Grissom wished he had the courage to say those words aloud, but instead he replied: "What can I do for you Sara?"
Just as Sara thought about what she was attempting to do, she changed her mind rather quickly.
"Oh, never mind, Gris," Sara stated. With that, she turned on her heels and headed back to Greg and wait for evidence on her case.
"Sara…" Grissom began, but Sara cut him off.
"I was going to ask for some time off tomorrow, but I don't need it." Sara responded. 'I'll have to call Hank and postpone dinner to Saturday night. I have the night off. I don't want to lie to Grissom about my reasons for wanting the night off.' Sara thought to herself. Sara replied out loud to Grissom, "I can just wait until Saturday to do what I have to do."
"You're off on Saturday?" Grissom asked, trying to work on repairing their relationship. "I'm off too. Maybe we can get together and do something fun, like riding that new roller coaster on the other end of town."
"Oh, sorry, Griss," Sara began feeling guilty. "I have other plans. Maybe next time?"
"Yeah, maybe." Grissom replied crestfallen. With that, Sara turned and headed back to check to see if Greg had an ID on the evidence that she gathered at her crime scene.
With the timing of an IRS audit, Ecklie happened to stop by Grissom's office. He also had the pleasure of seeing CSI-3 Sara Sidle departing Dr. Gil Grissom's domain.
"What sweet nothings did your little girlfriend whisper in your ear?" Conrad Ecklie asked sneeringly. "I'll just bet that you rubbed that sexy buttocks of hers, didn't you?" Dr. Grissom's face flushed crimson with fiery hot indignation and fury. Conrad Ecklie looked into the eyes of a tiger and flinched. He tried to make a hasty exit, but Dr. Gil Grissom effectively blocked the doorway, like an NFL defensive end.
"Sit down, you miserable weasel!" Dr. Grissom growled. When Conrad failed to move, Grissom growled louder and harder.
"I SAID SIT DOWN, YOU MISERABLE WEASEL!" Dr. Grissom's voice was heard throughout the hallways of the lab. Mr. Ecklie sat down trembling, wondering what Dr. Gil Grissom had in store for him.
As Grissom closed his office door and his blinds, he glared over at Conrad Ecklie. He wanted so badly to sick his tarantula on him. 'Oh, shoot,' Grissom thought wryly to himself, 'I had the poison removed from him.'
All the while Grissom was thinking on the lines of how to get rid of your boss, Conrad Ecklie shifted in Gruesome Grissom's terrain.
'Here I am, this guy's boss,' Ecklie thought to himself, 'and he has me under his thumb. I should fire him for his insubordination. That's it, I'll put this in his file and let Dr. Carvallo see. He hates Grissom too.'
Conrad Ecklie was shaken out of his reverie by something that sounded like the growl of a lion. It was Dr. Gil Grissom, with his face lowered in Ecklie's face.
"You mess with me or Miss Sidle," Grissom began growling, "I'll be on you like white on rice. And if you repeat any of your lies about Sara's visit to my office, I'll make you regret the day you were born. Remember there are many ways to kill someone and hide the evidence. After all, I am a scientist, and a mad one at that." With that, Grissom released his archenemy, Mr. Conrad Ecklie and turned on his heels and stalked out of his office.
Conrad beat a hasty retreat to his own office. Conrad wanted to report Grissom's crazy antics to someone, but to his sad displeasure, there were no witnesses, just Ecklie's word against Grissom's word. 'That Grissom planned it that way.' Ecklie thought to himself. 'He's crazy like a fox.'
In Ecklie's Office
As Ecklie sat in his office, his mind was taken back to the time when he first laid eyes on CSI Sara Sidle. Dr. Gil Grissom had asked Sidle to come down as a favor to him, to investigate one of their own, CSI-3 Warrick Brown, regarding his whereabouts during the shooting of a rookie, CSI Holly Gribbs. When Ecklie first laid his eyes on CSI Sara Sidle, he was smitten. He thought he'd died and went to Heaven.
3 Years Ago
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet CSI Sara Sidle," Grissom began, "she'll be helping with the investigation in Holly's shooting." Every guy in the lab was looking at the gorgeous new kid on the block. Greg, one of the younger lab techs, his eyes nearly popped out of his as Grissom took Sara on an impromptu tour of the lab.
Just then, Conrad Ecklie, dayshift supervisor, happened to be leaving the office. The lovely Sara Sidle caught his eye. He watched her with hungry eyes.
"Dr. Grissom," Dr. Carvallo called out to him, "I need to see you in my office for just a minute."
"I'll be right there, sir," Grissom replied with respect.
"Sara, I'll be right back, so don't go wandering off." Grissom replied smiling at his 'baby doll'.
Mr. Ecklie waited until Dr. Grissom closed the door to Dr. Carvallo's office.
"Hello, pretty lady," Conrad greeted Sara Sidle. "My name is Conrad Ecklie, I'm the dayshift supervisor for the lab."
"Hi," Sara replied brightly, "I'm CSI Sara Sidle. I just transferred down from San Francisco." As Ecklie silently looked upon her beauty, Sara decided to add one more important fact about her transferring from CSI-San Francisco.
"I transferred down here as a personal favor for Dr. Gil Grissom." Sara added, causing Ecklie to flare with fiery jealousy and indignation.
When Dr. Grissom exited Dr. Carvallo's office approximately fifteen minutes later, he noticed that Ecklie was glaring at him in anger. He had to refrain from laughing. He and Sara beat a hasty retreat before he let out a rip-roaring guffaw at Ecklie's expense.
When both he and Sara were out of Ecklie's earshot, Grissom just had to ask Sara an all-important question.
"What the heck did you do to him?" Grissom laughed, unable to hold back his laughter any longer.
"The guy was trying to hit on me Gris," Sara began in exasperation.
"So…" Grissom began, gesturing for Sara to finish her story.
"So, I did the only thing I could think of," Sara began. "I just told Mr. Ecklie that I came down as a personal favor for you."
"How do you think he took your comment?" Grissom asked Sara.
"You saw the results, didn't you?" Sara asked in mock exasperation. "You truly like being a thorn in his flesh, don't you?"
"Do pigs wallow in muddy mires?" Grissom asked. With that, they both shared a laugh and continued on there tour.
In the meantime, Ecklie just glared at Dr. Gil Grissom and CSI Sara Sidle, as they walked, talked and laughed together.
'How does that guy manage to get the prettiest women to fall at his feet?' Ecklie asked himself. With that Conrad Ecklie exited the Lab and headed on home.
A knock on Ecklie's door brought him from his thoughts. Ecklie looked up and saw Sophia Curtis standing outside his office.
"Sophia, how may I help you this lovely evening?" Ecklie asked.
"Last night, Grissom sent me out on a case with Greg." Sophia complained.
"I'll have to speak with Grissom," Mr. Ecklie responded. "He needs to be put in his place about sending you out with Greg Sanders. Where was Sara Sidle at during all this time.?"
"I have no idea," lied Sophia. "He's getting out of hand."
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it," Ecklie began. "I'll handle Dr. Grissom. You just do your part in getting Miss Sidle lose faith in Dr. Grissom completely. If you do that, Dr. Grissom would fall to pieces. Just be sure to be there to pick up the pieces."
"What a wonderful plan," Conrad, "Sophia began smiling wickedly. "After I'm done with him, Sara Sidle will just be thing of the past." With that, Sophia headed for the break room to wait for the assignments from Dr. Grissom and Conrad headed for his car in the parking lot.
As Conrad Ecklie headed home, he briefly remembered when Grissom had found out about Sara's relationship with an EMT, one Hank Peddigrew. He remembered the devastation that Dr. Gil Grissom suffered at the hands of Hank and Sara. Dr. Grissom almost lost his cool with Sara.
'Boy was Grissom steamed,' Conrad chuckled to himself. 'What I would give to destroy that man.' The disdain that Ecklie had for Dr. Gilbert Grissom was bordering on psychosis. He had it in for Dr. Grissom the day he laid eyes on him.