Chapter 4

They gave Casey a cup of coffee which he just stared into while they finished up compiling the list of questions and evidence to present to him.

"Poor guy. He looks like he's still in shock." Sara said as she looked into the interrogations room from the hall.

"He's tougher then he looks." Gil said next to her. "Excuse me." He opened the door and Brass followed him in.

"Where has he been?" Sara asked Nick.

"I dunno. Catherine sent him out to stay with Casey...for observations."

"Grissom?" Sara asked bewilderedly.

Nick shrugged. "Come on, let's get back to work."

"Yeah...I'll catch up." Sara said idly.

"Mr. Armagh. Did you buy a colt pistol from an arms dealer in Missouri?" Brass asked when Gil sat down next to him. Gil put a folder out and Brass riffled though it until he found the evidence photo of the gun. He put the photo in front of Casey.

"Yes. But I never bought any bullets." Casey stressed.

"Well, that takes me to my next question." Brass pulled out another photo of the clip, on it were dust prints. "We found two prints on the gun's clip." He slid two more pieces of paper in front of Casey. "And this receipt from last week."

Casey looked down at the papers. For a few moments he just stared at the words and pictures, not comprehending what they were telling him. Then it seemed his vision cleared. The name attached to the fingerprints, Julian Ballentine. The person who bought the clip for the gun, Julian Ballentine. "Julian...did this?"

"We asked the store owner about Julian—"

"When?" Casey asked.

"Excuse me?" Brass asked, not following.

"When did Julian buy the clip?"

"Uh..." Brass looked at his notes. "Last Tuesday at a hunting store in Salt Lake City. The store manager remembered him."

"So what are you telling me?" Casey asked, his voice having a hint of waver in it. He looked into Gil's eyes.

"Casey...it seems that Mr. Ballentine planned his own death, using you to kill him. All this evidence suggests premeditation. He knew you bought the gun and he bought the bullets. He loaded the gun without your knowledge and he knew you'd go for the gun when you got into your next fight." Gil said softly. "He wanted you to kill him."

Casey eyes watered with disbelief, anger, and horror. He let out a few shaky breaths, trying to compose himself. "God... How can this... Why? Why would he do that?" His face contorted as he fought back the tears. "That bastard... He just had to have the final say."

"I think you should think about it as he was letting you go." Gil said.

Casey looked at him like he was mad.

"Perhaps, he didn't know how to let you go and this was the only way he could. If he was still alive, he wouldn't let you go. But if he was dead, then he could."

"That scarily makes some sense."

"Often times, people don't see how or why when it comes to their loved ones actions. People are unpredictable and then again, they aren't. Human nature conflicts with the best of us."

"Are you saying because he really loved me he killed himself because he knew what he was doing to me was wrong?"

"Maybe on some level, yes."

"And the weak shall overcome." Casey sighed.

"You're not weak." Gil said.

"Well, now that we've got that straightened out," Brass said standing up. "On behave of the Las Vegas Police department, you are cleared of any and all wrong doings. You can collect you gun at the claims desk and any other possession we took in for evidence."

"I don't want the gun. I don't care what you do with, but I never want to use another gun ever." Casey sounded revolted.

"You can give it to the police department and write it off as a tax expense." Brass suggested.

"Fine. I don't care."

"Oh, and one more thing. The body of Julian Ballentine...?"

"Cremate it."

"You'll have to tell the coroner, Dr. Robbins, that. You are Mr. Ballentine's next of kin."

"I thought the state of Nevada didn't allow same sex partners to inherit." Casey said, surprised.

"It's in his will and he doesn't have any family."

"Great, even dead I still can't get away from him."

"Just sign this contract and I'll pass it along to the coroner." Brass said.

Casey quickly signed the consent form to have the body cremated and Brass left.

Gil got up and collected the papers back into the folder. He moved forward and sat on the edge of the table next to Casey. He handed him a handkerchief.

"Thanks." Casey wiped the tears from his eyes and blew his nose. "I'll, um, get it back to you."

"Keep it." Gil gave him a small smile.

"Thanks." Casey managed to give a little smile back. "I feel like I've been run over by a Mack Truck."

"You've been though a lot." Gil agreed.

"It may be over for you, but I feel like it's just starting for me. I still don't feel free of him. I have to learn to live my life again...I don't know how."

"I'm sure you'll find a way. Don't underestimate yourself."

"Well, I do know I'm going on a holiday. No shows. No interviews. Nothing. I'm just going to hide out here for a while."

"I would have thought you'd want to be as far away from this place as possible." Gil confided.

"No. You are right. Julian gave me my freedom. And it's here that I have it. I think I'm going to love this town. Besides, I can't leave now...just when we're starting to become friends. We are...aren't we?" Casey gave Gil a hopeful smile.

Gil couldn't help but smile back. "I think we are."

"I'll be nice to have a friend."

Gil looked confused. "I would have thought you to have many friends."

"Oh, I do. But...not real friends. I'm friends with the band and my crew but I don't have friends outside it. It'll be nice to have normal friend."

Gil gave a little chuckle. "I've been told I'm socially inept."

"That's ok. I think that's why we work. We're opposites."

"Here," Gil pulled out a card. "This is my work number and," He wrote down two numbers on the back. "My cell and home phone. Call if you...just want to talk to someone."

Casey took the offered card. "Thanks. I will." Before Casey could say anything more his phone rang. Taking it out, he looked at the number. "Oh, shit. It's my sister. I have to take this call."

"I'll leave you to it." Gil slid off the table and left Casey to talk to his sister. Sara watched him go, eyes full of concern. She did not want to believe that Grissom would just open up to someone like that. He wouldn't do that. Not to her. It wasn't possible. But she saw him give Casey his card and write down his numbers on it. No, she thought. I'm just over reacting. Nothing is going on between the two. They're just going to be...friends.

"Hey, sis—"

"What the HELL were you NOT THINKING! Why didn't you CALL ME! I had to find out though the BLOODY TV and those damned reporters! Do you have ANY idea how WORRIED I've been! Why didn't you call me!" She sounded really angry at first but by the end of her rant she just sounded worried.

"I meant to, I did. I just...everything happened so fast and..."

"Are you ok?"

"Physically? Yes."

"Really?"

"I'll live. Nothing I haven't dealt with before."

"Mentally?"

"Not the greatest."

"Look, we're be in Las Vegas. We're staying at the Tangiers. Were are you?"

"Right now I'm at the police station. I've been cleared."

"Oh, thank god. Where are you staying?"

"Uh...the Tangiers too."

"I'll send a car to pick you up. I hope the press aren't too bad. Just stay indoors."

"Ok. Thanks sis."

"I love you, you little snot."

"I love you too."

After Casey went out to dinner with his family he was left alone in his hotel suite. He thought he'd be fine. But the absence of another person's presence, disturbed him. He'd never been alone before. Even though Julian had been cruel, he'd always been there. A constant presence that Casey had taken for granted. They had been together since Casey was 18. That was a lot of time.

Casey sat in bed, listening to the complete silence all around him. He'd been tossing and turning all night. It was just past 6am. Cass had assured him that if he needed to talk to walk down or call at any time, day or night. But Casey didn't feel like talking to his sister. He reached for his wallet and pulled out the business card Gil Grissom had given to him earlier. Gil worked the graveyard shift and should get off soon. Casey fingered the card and gather the nerve to call. He had said he could call. If he wanted to talk, for coffee. Taking a deep breath he punched in the numbers and clung to the phone, waiting for Gil to pick up. He was nervous. He felt silly about it, but the feeling was like calling the person you had a crush on in high school for the first time.

"Grissom."

"Uh, hi, Gil. This is Casey. I'm sorry to bother you...but...I"

"No, no, it's ok. It's a slow night. I'm just catching up on some paperwork in my office."

"Oh, well, good. You said I could call if I needed someone to talk to. I'm just," Casey paused, "not good at being alone."

"I see"

"Would you mind meeting me somewhere, for coffee Or breakfast, even? If it isn't too much of an inconvenience"

"Sure." Gil was surprised at how easy it was to say that. It wasn't like him, he knew.

"Really? That'd be great." There was relief in Casey's voice as well as excitement.

"How about Black Bear Diner, on 6180 W Tropicana Ave? They do a really good breakfast."

Casey scribbled the address down. "Ok. How about in 20 minutes?"

"I'll see you there." Gil hung up when they said their goodbyes. Sara was passing by his office on her way out.

"Want to go grab some breakfast? We're all going out." She added quickly.

"No, I'm meeting a friend for breakfast."

Sara looked confused. "Well, alright then. See you tomorrow." She quickly hurried down the hall. Gil gave her a confused look himself but shrugged it off. He picked up his coat and sunglasses and headed out himself.