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Chapter Seven
Grissom's Home…
A respectfully aged bottle of Scotch sat three fourths empty before Grissom finished his story.
"Damn. I always knew you got burnt, but…Damn!"
"Very articulate, Jim." The police captain only snorted in response.
The two men sat in silence, each lost in thought.
"Twins, huh?"
"Yes. Gilbert and Gillian. I never thought too seriously about having kids. Not after Sara left me…Didn't think it would happen. There like these two perfect little people…Gillian, she's the oldest. She has my eyes and my love of insects or anything crawling for that matter. Smart as a whip and looks out for her baby brother.
Gil, he looks like Sara, but he's me all over again at that age.Painfully shy. But don't let that fool you - nothing gets by my son. Always asking questions. Though, he hasn't said much to me - personal wise. But Gillian, she can talk a mile a minute - not sure where she gets that from- maybe their grandmother. That woman's mouth is always going."
Brass listened to Grissom's alcohol induced, fragmented monologue that jumped from one subject to another. He sifted through words patiently waiting for the specific topic of interest that brought him to the scientist's home.
"Now Sara…" Grissom continued.
There it was. Brass leaned forward, all ears and ready to absorb.
"She's beautiful…"
"She is a looker." Grissom shot Brass a death glare. "Hey! Just stating the obvious!"
Grissom leaned back to gather his thoughts. "She's just as beautiful now as she was back in college, 'cept, her body's all grown up.. You know like her breasts are fuller - probably from the babies…I wonder if she breast fed? You know, studies show that children who are breast fed have a stronger bond with the mother. Also, the woman's body heals twice as fast. The natural consumption of the Mother's -"
"I get it - she's stacked! Move on Einstein."
Jim wanted to - no needed to hear more about the woman who had gotten through Gil Grissom's barriers. Had gone where no man or woman had gone before. Brass had missed Sara's sudden reappearance. He had also missed out on the 'Grissom found out he was a daddy, along with a dozen or so witnesses at the front reception desk' incident. Major loss there.
Enduring Grissom's difficult personality and cynicism for the better part of twenty years, earned the captain, in his opinion, the right to first hand details.
And so, he listened intently as the other man's usually guarded words flowed freely like the last ounce of Scotch that spilled easily down the neck of the upturned bottle.
"So, what now? You've got an instant family. You gonna be there for them?"
"Of course! I gladly accept my responsibility."
"What about Sara?"
"Sara." Grissom let the name roll around in his fogged brain a few times. "I like her."
"You like her?" Jim repeated in disbelief. "I like drunken stupors, but I've learned to do without. Are you willing to live your life without Sara at your side?"
"We have the children."
"That would leave you half empty, Gil. Think about the whole picture."
Jim could practically hear the wheels turning in his friend's head.
"I want Sara."
"Ding! Ding! Ding! Give that man a prize!"
"Shut up!"
"Well, mi compadre. My work is done here. Good luck winning back Sara." Though that shouldn't be too difficult. He mumbled under his breath.
Several days later…
Grissom looked up to find Sara perched at his door.
"Sara?"
"May I come in?"
"Of course."
His eyes tracked her as she closed the door and took a nervous seat opposite of him.
"Anything the matter?"
"Uh - no. Will you be stopping by this evening?"
"Yes."
Grissom had made a routine of spending each evening with the twins before bedtime. During this time, he answered endless questions about himself, bugs, anything and everything that entered their inquisitive minds. It was their bonding time and he treasured it immensely.
"Okay, good. So, you can say goodbye."
"Pardon me? Did you say goodbye?"
"Um, yeah. Mom will be taking them back home the day after tomorrow."
"But they live here now. The children's home is here." Grissom sputtered in disbelief.
"Grissom-"
"You can't take them away from me!"
"Grissom-"
"What kind of game is this? Why didn't you bother to mention before that this set up was only temporary? I can't believe this!"
"Grissom, calm down. I -"
"I've only had days with my children. Days, Sara. It hasn't even been a week. There's no way in hell you're sending Gil and Gillian away from here!"
"I'm not taking them away from you. They have to go back to school Monday."
"They can go to school here. A transfer wouldn't-"
"School is almost over, Grissom. Let them finish the remaining two months-"
"Two months! That's out of the question. It's too long. They'll transfer to Las Vegas; I live in a pretty good school district."
Sara sighed heavily. "Grissom, Gillian and Gil will be back here to live permanently when school is finished. I won't disrupt their lives or their education for…" She drifted off.
"For me." Grissom finished for her. "You won't disrupt their lives for me. Well, excuse me if I'm feeling a little separation anxiety here. It wasn't my choice to be absent from their entire lives."
"Grissom."
Grissom held up his hand to halt her speech. "Is there anything else?"
Sara paused to study the man before her, surprised that he gave in so quickly. She didn't know if she should be relieved or worried. "No, that's all. I'll, uh, see you tonight."
Once Sara closed the door quietly behind her, Grissom flipped open his rolodex and pulled out the business card for his attorney.
