Shortest chapter yet. (Aside from the prologue…)

The next chapters will explain why the hell Charlie is a psycho dood…

Chapter 6

'I figured out a way to deactivate it.' She rolled her eyes. 'Not without dying, though.' She was telling the truth. Not the whole the truth, but the truth nonetheless. She pictured him in front of the elevator, palms placed on the door, a worried expression that she rarely saw on his face- the same look that he had when she was attacked in a mental facility.

Placing the note back out, it took a couple of seconds before the entomologist had put it back in again. She should have known that Grissom was, in no way, gullible.

"Trap? What kind of trap? You're not okay. I know about the chloramine. Brass- well, he inhaled some of it in your car." He paused, not wanting to worry her. "He's, uh, perfectly fine though. Everyone is."

The obvious hesitation in Grissom's voice put a frown on her face. Giving the bolt a few more turns, she watched as it fell onto the metal floor- a loud 'clunk' sound following it. She scribbled her reply hastily.

Grissom, I'm not that naïve. I heard an explosion. What was it?

Trap? He planted explosives in the building. I'm deactivating it as we speak. Just to be safe, you should get everyone to evacuate the building. You can come back for me once all this is over.

To that Grissom had a somewhat flustered reply. "There was an explosion. Greg's hurt, but he's alive. I only have you to worry about."

She blinked. The entomologist's voice seemed closer. Realizing that he was now sitting on the floor, she ignored the pen and paper and leaned into the part of the door where she felt Grissom was at. Trying to keep the pain at bay, she whispered. "You always have me to worry about."

Realizing the reality of her words, he frowned- unable to say anything in protest. He let out a loud sigh. "Have dinner with me."

Her eyes widened in both surprise and confusion. "What?"

"Have dinner with me." He repeated.

"Not the right time."

With a sigh, he leaned closer. Barely audible, he was straining to hear her voice. He sighed. It was better than not seeing her at all. "It's the only way I can get rid of the feeling that this is the last time I'll ever hear your voice."

His face paled at the silence that followed. "Too late?"

'Clunk.' She had successfully removed the second screw. She heard Grissom shift positions and she realized that he had heard it. Before he could ask, she spoke. "Complicated."

"Why?"

Shaking her head in defeat, she reached for the crumpled note that she had received from Charlie and placed it underneath the door.

"What is this?"

"It's why."


FLASHBACK:

'Sidle.'

'Sara?'

'Who is this?'

'It's Charlie.'

'Charlie who?'

'Don't you remember?'

'I'm sorry. Who is this?'

'You don't remember do you?'

Before she could say anymore, she heard a clicking sound on the other end of the line. She rolled her eyes, annoyed at what had just happened. Beside her, Nick sat, case files in front of them, a curious look on his face. "Who was that?"