Chapter 20

Evidence logged in, paperwork completed Grissom sat at his desk and rubbed his face. He was tired, but he knew he should visit Kerry before heading home for a nap. Thinking of home made him uneasy. He was happy to have Selina around, but not used to someone else in his space.

At the hospital he found them just ending a session with a therapist and waited outside for the word that he was welcome. Selina left the room as Gil entered, kissing Kerry's cheek he asked her how she felt. After sitting with her for a short time he told Kerry that he had to try and get some sleep before work, promised to visit her again as soon as he could and went to find her sister.

"That's not much of a meal, have you eaten?" He found her sitting in a plastic chair next to the vending machines, eating a candy bar.

She shrugged in response.

He sat next to her, "Kerry's in good spirits, have they said when she would be released?"

"Not yet." Selina stood, threw her wrapper in the trash and started down the hall toward her sister's room.

"Lina?" Confused by her coldness he followed her for a few steps then stopped.

"I'm going to get a hotel room, I'll leave your keys in your apartment."

He closed the space between them, "What's wrong?"

"You don't have to run to motel rooms to be alone with her."

"Her? What?" Puzzled.

"I saw you, and Sara, at the Palm Drive Motel."

He smiled, "That was work, I told you." He smoothed her hair, tilted her face up to his, looking in her eyes. "Someone from our case turned up dead in that motel. We processed, she went home, I went back to the office and then came here."

Sheepishly she smiled, "I'm sorry. Overreacting, how unlike me."

He pulled her into him and whispered to her, "You're under a lot of stress, don't worry about it." Laying her head on his shoulder she encouraged him to go home and sleep.

He agreed, and asked her to wake him when she arrived, he'd make time to eat with her before work.

XXX

Five hours into their shift Nick wandered into the evidence room. "You got a visitor boss."

Grissom looked up and saw Selina waving from the doorway. He told Sara he'd be right back and took her down the hall.

"Heard you been hangin out with Kendra from days." Nick grinned.

Sara smiled like the feline with the bird, "She misses you."

He blushed slightly, "She's a great girl, but I'm off the market."

Sara pulled her nose out of her scope, "Somebody bagged the Texas Longhorn?"

From his pocket he produced and opened a ring box.

"Bagged and tagged. Damn Nicky, this must be the real thing!" She took the box and examined the diamond. "Nice stone, lucky girl." Giving it back she hugged him, "I'm happy for you."

Catherine joined them, "Hey, who's that woman with Gil?"

Nick gave a half shrug, "Some friend of his, she was waiting for him out front so I brought her back."

Sara offered, "He introduced me the other day, I think her name is Selina, but that's all he said. You know Gris."

Cat's eyes opened wide, "I thought that was her, wow, she's changed. Wonder what Selina's doing back in Vegas."

Both younger CSI's looked at her, waiting for an explanation.

"His ex? The girl he almost married? She left Vegas after he proposed to take care of her mentally ill sister and never came back. Wonder what's going on?"

Nick looked at Sara, who's color had drained from her face. "You alright?"

Recovering as quickly as she could, "Fine. I'm fine. Catherine, did you see Nick's latest purchase?"

While Nick showed Catherine the diamond Sara slipped quietly to the ladies room.