DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters from 'CSI'. They're not my property.
"This is a surprise. Grissom on a different case?" Nick said.
"Why is that a surprise?"
"Only because you two had almost all the cases in the last five months."
Sara shook her head. "Let me guess… those rumors again?"
Nick shrugged. "They're like wildfire. They spread much faster than you can put them out."
"And you are helping in spreading it. Thanks, Nick. I thought you were my friend," she said jokingly.
"No, not being your friend would be me not telling you anything about the rumors."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?"
"It should. I'm being honest."
"Gee, thanks. I just don't understand why they have to target Grissom and me. Don't they have anything better to do?" She said.
"I didn't start the rumors so, don't ask me."
She sighed. "What do we have?"
"A hit and run."
"Fun."
Grissom held the flower-shaped pendant delicately in his hands. The object was found with a murdered man in his apartment. Grissom's attention must've been focused on the gold object for what seemed like twenty minutes. He was originally supposed to examine it for any clues, prints… His appearance gave the impression intended, but his mind was absent. He couldn't concentrate well. It was her in his mind, not this piece of evidence.
"I know you tend to mediate over your microscope, but this is ludicrous," Catherine's voice finally snapped his attention away from the pendant.
"Sometimes, you might be surprised where the clues lay," he said and wished desperately that he was right. He did not feel comfortable discussing his original thoughts. Flipping the pendant, he found a strange green residue on it. Being only a speck, it hadn't been easy spotting it right away. Grissom felt relieved. His alibi checked out.
He smiled. "See?" he said and showed the pendant to Catherine.
"Hm. Yeah. What do you think that is?"
"I don't know, but it goes to show what patience can accomplish, doesn't it."
Catherine's stare was a cautious one. "Yes… it does," she replied and returned to her own part of the work.
"And here we are again," Sara mumbled, stopping in front of the red door.
"What are you doing here?" a familiar voice startled the brunette, causing her to quickly spin around.
"Oh, ah… the victim knew someone staying in this room… before they left. What… are you doing here?" She was as surprised as he.
"A suspect or victim had rented this room before… going missing."
"Cases that connect?"
Grissom smirked. "Since we're both here, that must be it." He opened the door. "Shall we?" He was just happy seeing her again.
"Ladies first?" So was she.
"Exactly."
Sara chuckled softly and entered the room.
Observing the room carefully, both CSIs took their time to gather whatever evidence they could find. "Another murder case connected to this Pink Stick motel. Talk about an unlucky piece of property."
"It wouldn't be the first one. A lot of motels… and hotels get unlucky with the scenes we find in there."
"You think luck might be on our side and we find another body here?"
"I don't believe in luck. But here's hoping for some good evidence," he said.
Both turned on their flashlights for a better scan of the room. They started with the ends of the room and slowly moved the light towards one another. When both beams met, the place was a familiar white mattress. "Another one," Sara said when she recognized the bed.
"Whatever brings in more guests." Grissom glanced over at Sara who did the same. A silent moment was shared.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Once the case is finished? Of course," Sara said and looked back at the bed.
" Because…"
"…It started with a room and a bed," Sara finished the sentence and chuckled.
Grissom's lip curled. Some thoughts were easier to read than others.
"Call me weird but, it feels strange working on this case…" Sara said after some time.
He looked at her. He knew what she meant. They got used to working together more often than usual. Now, it felt odd when he was required to do otherwise. "Same here," he said and hid his gaze from Sara just in time.
"Why did you pick me seven cases in a row to work with you?" she asked whilst moving her flashlight.
"Um, 'cause you're good at what you do."
"Is that the only reason?"
The pause gave him an unnecessary appearance of a man who held back more than he told. "Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Sara did not respond immediately. She did not believe him. "I heard a new rumor," she said instead.
"And I have to hear it too?"
Sara shrugged. "It's not required."
"In the words of Marie Curie: Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas."
Sara smirked. "Yeah, tell them that. But small minds do discuss other people."
"Yes, they do… sadly." He sighed.
"That experiment of yours with the cuffs must've made a huge fire for them to talk about."
"Why do you listen to what they say, anyway?"
"I don't. It just unwillingly gets in my head when a colleague happens to mention it to me."
"Ah." Grissom shook his head. He was in the same position. "The less you pay attention to them, the less they bother you."
"Who says they're bothering me?"
Giving her a look, Grissom continued. "Of course… what was I thinking? You just use them to have a laugh, like me, right?"
Sara nodded.
"Then why am I not seeing you laughing?"
"I did… the first time I heard it, I did."
"Did you…"
"Yes," she responded calmly.
"Ok…" He wasn't quite sure but he thought that she hadn't found the rumors as amusing as originally thought.
"You don't seem very convincing."
"I'm not really in the laughing mood at the moment."
"Why's that?"
Sara leaned her head forward, uncomfortable by his questions. "Because… I can't find anything to get me laughing?"
"Alright. They're not getting to you, are they?"
"No, no, they're not. Would be ridiculous if they did."
"Would be preposterous."
"Same meaning. But their choice of a "couple" is… beyond even that."
"They'll switch to someone else next week."
"This has been going on for about a year now… it's sure taking them a long time to find new victims."
Grissom contemplated for a moment. "Well… I have a suggestion. It might not shut them up, but… it could maybe help us."
"I'm listening."
"Remember that restaurant we went to last week?"
"Aha."
"What do you think of going back there?" Seeing that Sara was preparing to say something, Grissom quickly continued, not giving her a chance to say anything before him. "After work. After the cases."
Sara's stare was a long one. What a way to invite a girl to dinner. "Why?"
"They have good food."
"Ah, and I thought it was 'cause of something else," she smirked and shook her head.
"It might be."
"What's the catch?"
"Um, is there supposed to be one?"
Sara crossed her arms. She wasn't convinced.
"There's no catch! Honestly."
She waited to give further thought. "After work?"
"After work."
"No spying eyes?"
"None."
"Um… ok. But you owe me."
Grissom smiled with satisfaction and picked up his brush. "And sometime in the future," he hinted to the bed.
"To clear our heads?"
"Yes."
"Sweet."
"Want some coffee afterwards?" He offered.
"Sure." She accepted. They had to start with something.
He wasn't so afraid after all.
THE END
Note: Thanks to everyone that reviewed! I'm pleased to see that you enjoyed the story. See you soon with another one.
