Irrefutable
By: Manigault
Thank you for reading this story! I realize the chapters are short, but hopefully it's entertaining.
Thanks to those who have reviewed!
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Sara felt uneasy as she pulled into her garage, put the car in park, then slowly drummed her fingers on the steering wheel as her mind searched for answers to this turn of events. Going on the assumption that the man was Lurie and the strong possibility that he had cameras in every room of her home, then she had to form a plan that didn't involve relying on anyone except herself.
With reluctance she slid from her car and approached her house while attempting to push the feeling of being watched from her mind. Turning off the alarm, she was about to retype the code when her front doorbell rang startling her out of her self induced trance. Fear leapt into her throat and was quickly followed by anger as she walked to her front door, one hand clutching the gun that she had slid into her jacket pocket when leaving the lab.
Peering through the peephole she spied a familiar face and almost ignored the persistant ringing, not wanting to involve her friends anymore than she already had, but not knowing what else she could do.
Opening the door part way, she shook her head at the sight in front of her and couldn't stop the grin from flitting over her face. Nick stood on the threshold with a backpack on his shoulder and determined expression of defiance on his handsome face. Warrick had one finger on the doorbell, a backpack settled at his feet wearing a similar expression.
"You realize that I can't let you stay here," said Sara while forcing herself to frown at the two men.
Placing a hand on the door Warrick gently pushed on it until Sara stepped back and allowed them to step inside while Nick said firmly, "Too bad. We decided that you needed company and we plan on sticking to you like glue."
Sara was about to close the door when another familiar face popped around the edge.
"Greg? I suppose you spoke with Nick and Warrick and they infromed you of our sleepover?" Sara tried to keep the sarcasm to a minimum. The fact was she was happy to have their company, but was certain that Lurie would not take kindly to her bringing her lab friends home. Keeping herself from scanning the room, Sara closed the front door, turned the locks and waved her hand around the room at her guests. "Make yourselves at home. There are two guest rooms and the sofa. You can hash it out with one another. I'm going to try to sleep for a few hours."
There was no way that she could take her clothes off, not with knowing that Lurie was watching her every move like some sort of peeping tom. She felt her heart ache for Grissom and the life they had shared before this nightmare began and clutched the phone to her heart as she stretched out on the bed and stared at the ceiling, willing him to call her and let her know that he was okay.
Where was he?
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Lurie watched as Sara drove from the lab and pulled into her garage. Elated that he could once again watch her as she moved from her car towards the house, he picked up his cellphone with anticipation. He would wait until she was settled inside before he phoned. She turned off the alarm and then he waited for her to punch the numbers back in, thinking she was safe from intruders. She would then head to the bedroom where she would slip off her clothes and head into the bathroom for a long hot bath.
Irritation marred his features as he watched her walk towards the front door and open it a crack. He couldn't see who she was speaking with until the door widened and two men from the lab stepped inside the room. Warrick and Nick. He scowled at their boldness. Watching Sara's expression he realized that she wasn't happy to have them there but most likely didn't know how to make them leave. Seconds later, a third man stepped inside the room.
He watched as Sara waved her hand around the room and made some comment before slipping into her room. Pleased that she wanted to be rid of them he waited for her to go through her routine of taking a bath. When she entered her room, closing the door behind her softly, she made a beeline for her bed, clothes intact. He watched her stretch out, fully clothed, on her bed and stare up at the ceiling, the phone clutched in her hand.
She was waiting for him to call.
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Grissom was more alert when he made it to the surface of his latest blackout. Immediately he realized that he was in an exam room, EKG leads strapped onto his chest, a blood pressure cuff on his arm, and a nurse taking a sample of his blood as he flinched.
"Sara," he mumbled and scowled when his words came out a whisper, "I need to speak with my girlfriend. She needs to know that I'm okay."
"Your friend was taken into surgery to remove a bullet from her lower leg," the nurse said gently while placing a vial of his blood on a tray. She had been given a heads up by the EMT's that this man was from Vegas and was talking a bit out of his head. He appeared very sane to her as he rubbed his head and gave her an imploring look.
"That's not my girlfriend. Sara's in Vegas and she's in trouble. I need to talk to her and let her know that I'm okay. Heather is the woman in the OR, I'm sure she's fine." Grissom reached into his back pocket for his wallet. "I have my licence. Please, just let me have a phone and then you can draw all the blood you like."
"I'm done," the nurse said with a glance at the name on the licence, "Mr. Grissom. My name's Ida and I'll be happy to let you use the phone if it's a local call."
Grunting with the effort, Grissom struggled to sit up while keeping his voice calm. "I need to phone Sara, in Vegas, not a local call. My cell phone was in my car, but if I can borrow one? It's urgent that I call her now." Grissom couldn't explain the feeling of dread that was washing over him as he felt this urge to get in touch with Sara.
"I don't have a cell phone but we will do our best to get you in touch with your girlfriend. Registration needs to get some information from you now so that we can process your insurance information." Ida smiled at him and ignored the agitated look in his eyes.
The door closed with a click behind Ida as she left him alone with his anxiety. A phone on the wall beakoned to him and he made his way to it with a hopefulness that pushed his fears back for a minute. Picking up the phone he punched a nine for the outside line and then dialed Sara's cell phone number. A message played back to him infoming him that his number would not connect and to try again. Frustrated, he opened the door determined to find someone who could give him a number for a taxi. He would go to the airport and get the first flight back to Vegas.
Ida saw Grissom exit the room and frowned over at the dazed man. "Mr. Grissom? You can't leave until you've been checked over."
"I'm choosing to leave on my own accord and I'll sign whatever papers I need to sign refusing service."
"You were in a car accident that involved a gunshot wound," Ida was nervous as she darted a look over her shoulder and gave another nurse a pointed look. "If you return to your room until someone can speak with you, then I'm sure we can clear this up quickly."
A new understanding swept over him as he realized that he was a suspect in the shooting of Heather. Rubbing the back of his neck, he tried to think quickly and in a calm manner that wouldn't land him in a jail cell.
"I'm a crime scene investigator with the Las Vegas crime lab," he said, his voice firm but with urgency floating throughout the words. "If you will call the Vegas police department and ask for a Captain Jim Brass then this matter will truly be cleared up quickly. In fact, I would like to speak to him."
Grissom realized that his voice was getting louder as several people stopped and turned to watch the scene unfold. Security was approaching as Grissom made his statement and they gave no sign of appearing the least bit impressed by his statement.
Suddenly knowing what it felt like to be on the receiving end of an investigation, Grissom struggled to calm himself and make his attempt to reach someone who could get a message to Sara.
TBC
