DISCLAIMER:Don't own it... No money made... Just for fun and enjoyment.
SUMMARY: Sequel to Displacement. The CSI team and their recently hired coroner Stephanie are back to work solving cases, sharing companionship and generally making their way through the dire world of criminal investigation with humor and friendship... This one will show the development of the relationship between Grissom and Sara and there should be some other surprises down the road as well. Romance/Drama/Angst/Mature Situations
RATING: M for Mature - I'm starting this one out at "M", since we won't be waiting quite so long for the smut this time out ;) Also, there is a sprinkling of language throughout the story.
A/N: I've had a few people ask me if the OC Stephanie was based on me at all. And while I am terribly flattered, I've got to admit that she's actually based on several people, but she most closely resembles my teenage goddaughter. Or, at least what I envision her to be like when she finally grows up. ;) As an example, I suck at basketball, I'm not even a little Catholic, and I'm only 5'8" LOL Although, I have toyed with idea of red hair, but only because I am thinking about keeping the gray in check a little while longer ;)
REVIEWS: I am always looking for ways to improve my writing, and your reviews let me know if I am hitting my mark. Thank you in advance for the time you take to read & review this story.
Chapter 49
Warrick hated wearing a suit. He always felt like he was wearing his grandfather's clothes when he wore a suit. However, Stephan had been adamant that he dress appropriately for their first settlement meeting. Stephan went into great detail about what to expect from the first meeting; informal, with a mediator and not a judge, both parties, both sets of lawyers and a stenographer. They were going to make their first offer, the other side would come in with a counter-offer and then the negotiations would commence.
There was only one part that held any apprehension for him. Warrick was going to have to explain the reasons for the dissolution of the marriage to the mediator, and show just cause for anything of a substantial nature. Substantial? How's a lying, cheating, thieving and unhinged, vindictive bitch for substantial?
His thoughts and his nervousness led to him being oblivious to the arrival of another party to the room. When the man came up to stand beside him, he was instantly shaken from his thoughts, "Grissom? What're you doing here?"
The man, dressed in his best court suit, simply shrugged off the question, "The girls thought you could use a little moral support." Grissom half-smiled from the corner of his mouth, "Steph, Sara, Elizabeth, and apparently my mother, who was on the computer talking to Stephanie…" He regarded Warrick with a conciliatory smirk, "It would appear that you are fast becoming a part of this highly unorthodox family."
Both men took their seats in the waiting area as Warrick nodded his head and chuckled, "Yeah, and I haven't quite figured out if that's a good thing yet."
Grissom smirked and tilted his head to side, "Neither have I."
Before either man had a chance to discuss the topic further, Stephan came out into the waiting area and guided them both into his conference room. As the doors closed behind them, Stephan started explaining everything that would happen once Tina arrived with her lawyers.
"First off… Do you mind if I talk in front of Dr. Grissom?" Stephan asked Warrick his question, while showing his respect for Stephanie's uncle.
"Ah, yeah… Grissom's probably one of the few people I'd trust with this stuff." Warrick nodded at Stephan, but his words were most definitely meant to express his feelings to Grissom. The older man nodded solemnly at the honor which had been bestowed upon him.
"Great… So, first and foremost, I need to you remain totally and completely calm… No matter what is being said, or by whom. Got it?" Stephan took a seat on the same side of the table as he had directed the gentlemen to sit.
Warrick blew out a careful breath and said, "I have a feeling that's gonna be easier said than done, huh?"
Stephan shook his head and answered coolly, "There's no telling what stunts they're going to try and pull, and I just need to know that you aren't going to lose your cool." He turned to Grissom and asked, "Do you think you can help to keep him from getting too hot under the collar?"
Grissom nodded at the request, "I will do my best."
"Great." Stephan fumbled through some of his notes and then found a folder, which he passed over to Warrick. "Okay, now this is the settlement proposal I am submitting. We talked about the terms of this last week, but I wanted to refresh your memory, after everything that's happened."
Warrick took the folder and started leafing through the pages. "Yeah, I looked over the copy you gave me last week when I got up… Besides, I trust you."
The man chuckled at Warrick's response, and felt compelled to answer him with a question, "You're so sure you can trust a lawyer?"
"Are you kiddin' me?" Warrick huffed at the implication, "You've got the fear of Stephanie in you… No chance I can't trust you." All three men nodded their heads in agreement on that one.
As they sat at the conference table waiting for Tina and her lawyers to show up for their meeting, the three men caught each other up on their individual experiences with Stephanie over the course of the day. Grissom told them about his concern over all the women in his life possibly working to conspire against him. Warrick remarked about how Stephanie was lying in her hospital bed directing who should be helping him deal with the events of the day, and he wondered where she found the strength to be so involved in everyone's lives. Stephan informed both of them that when it came to his friend, it made life much easier to just nod and agree whenever possible. "You guys have to remember, Steph and me have been in this relationship for more than ten years… And I didn't even know my own parents that long."
Warrick shook his head as he tried to figure out how those two had ever become friends, "I'm still havin' a hard time figurin' out how you guys became friends in the first place."
"You and me both!" They all laughed again at his exclamation. "My frat brothers used to ride my ass about hanging out with the kid… And even more when I'd get one of 'em to take her to a Greek function. They couldn't figure out why a guy who spent all his time chasing skirts would waste so much time on a girl who wasn't givin' it up for no one." Stephan suddenly realized that he was not just talking to a couple of buddies, but also to Stephanie's uncle. "Sorry, about that Dr. Grissom… It's ju-…"
"Not a problem… She's more blunt than that most of the time, so it really shouldn't bother me." Grissom was being honest with the man, but he was also gracious enough to let him slide on the faux paux.
"Anyway, the guys used to joke, that we made an unusual pair of stiffs… Ya know, because I always was, ya know… And she wasn't, ya know." The conversation seemed to be somewhat difficult, but Grissom smirked and turned his head in amusement. "But Stephanie turned it around on them… Said we were 'a couple of Stephs' instead. I think she's really the only one who calls me that, too." He chuckled at his own thoughts. "Most of the guys would screw up my name and just call me 'Steve.' Or they'd mess with my last name and call me 'Tom.' But not Steph; me and her were named for saints, so she never screwed it up."
The other two men enjoyed listening to Stephan explain his relationship with Stephanie. They both felt a closer connection with the lawyer once they realized just how much he cared for her. And Grissom felt better knowing that there had been someone else around to look after his goddaughter after he moved away. He had always remarked that Stephanie required far more attention than any two parents could hope to spare for a child, and once he understood that Stephan had felt a certain responsibility for the young woman he had once been so responsible for, it warmed his heart to the younger man.
However, their tender exchange of information was short lived, when the intercom on the table went off, signaling the arrival of the other parties to the action at hand. Stephan's receptionist ushered the group into the conference room, and they were quickly followed by the negotiator and the stenographer. But before they could get started, two of Stephan's associates from the office filed into the room and took up their stations along the table beside Stephan. Grissom had to admit, it was an impressive sight to behold, and had he been in other circumstances, he would have been duly intimidated by the display.
Stephan gestured at the other attorneys that he was about to turn on the recording device, and they motioned for him to continue. "Offices of Tompkins and Brashear, attorney of record for Warrick Brown is Stephan Tompkins, Esquire and his staff… Attorney of record for Martina Brown is Anthony Gianese and his staff… Court appointed mediator is Margaretta Sanchez… Stenographer is Annabeth Peretti-Danner. Time and date will be recorded in the transcript." Stephan motioned for the mediator to give her instructions, and they all settled in for a long afternoon of negotiations.
