Laws of Motion – Book 3
Written by: Ms. Maggs/Edited by: KJT
Chapter 42
Saturday – November 19, 2005
The Willows/Brown Residence
6:36 pm
"You heard what Sean said, Linds." Warrick took his daughter's hand. "He wants you to go to the dance and have a good time even though he can't. You really don't have a choice. You told me all Student Council representatives were required to be there and help clean up afterwards. You can't shirk your responsibility and neither can I. I'm a parent volunteer, remember?"
"But I don't want everyone to think my date stood me up."
"Just tell your friends your date got injured. After a while, I'll come over and give you a very loud update on his condition. How's that?"
"Okay." She hugged him around the waist. "But I won't have a good time."
"I bet you will." Warrick started for the door.
"Ten bucks says I won't."
"I'm a retired gambler, remember?" He opened the door chuckling. "But I'll come out of retirement for you. Ten bucks says you come home happier than when you left."
"You're on."
Desert Palms Hospital – ER Lobby
6:42 pm
"You're next, Sweetie." Wendy returned to her seat next to Sean. "They're just getting the Ophthalmology Room ready for you. The lady said the doctor would look at it right away."
"It's hurting worse and worse…so is missing the dance." He felt ridiculous sitting in the crammed waiting area while wearing a Styrofoam cup taped over his eye. "I think Ryan did this to me on purpose," Sean whimpered. "He couldn't go to the dance with Celine, so he didn't want me to be happy at the dance with Lindsay."
"I think that's your pain talking, Sweetheart." The saddened mother hugged her boy tight. "McKenna said he threw the wand without even looking, Honey. He wasn't aiming for you or your eye. It was just another episode of Ryan not thinking before acting. It wasn't on purpose." Feeling his body trembling in her arms, Wendy kissed the top of her little boy's head. "Try to relax."
The Tempest Hotel Ballroom - LVPD Formal
6:45 pm
"You look relaxed, Stokes," Brass commented on approach to the open bar.
"Hey! Uncle Jimmy!" Nick signaled the bartender to make it three drinks.
"Did Catherine get the Sheriff a good rate on her Dad's hotel ballroom or what? This is much swankier than usual."
"Rodgers probably demanded it be extra nice for his big night. Hey…thanks for gettin' Carrie and I the limo. You didn't have to do that just for interruptin' us on my day off."
"I wanted to do something nice." Jim patted his most thorough supervisor on the back. "You've been busting your ass for me harder than anyone, all while you've had some pretty serious personal stuff going on."
"Thanks." Nick handed over a shot of Jack Daniels.
"Two for you, one for me," Jim laughed. "I think it should be the other way around."
"No, one's for Cowgirl Carrie, who's on her way over here right now." Nick pointed. "The DA and the ADA Ogden grabbed her to beg for her to return for the hundredth time. I swear, that Ogden guy is dyin' to get his hands on her personally if you ask me. I don't trust the supposed good Mormon boy. He gets a really odd look on his face whenever he's talkin' to her."
"I saw that when he was discussing the Amy Vartann case with her," Jim concurred.
"And if he's a devout Mormon and not a party boy, why isn't he married with a bunch of kids by now? He's thirty three."
"We'll know for sure how he feels about Carrie if he's walking funny after standing next to her in that outrageously sexy dress. I'm shocked you let her wear that around Rodgers."
"Ooh, trust me, I'd rather she not be, but I'm not gonna control her wardrobe like her father did. That made her feel like she was thirty goin' on four." Nick shook his head. "She felt really good in it and after what we've been through and seein' her so down, I'm thrilled she's got her groove back."
"Hello, gentlemen." Carrie took Nick's arm. "Thank you for the limo, Jim."
"Thank you for coping without your fiancé all those nights I had him slaving away for me and the taxpayers."
"Uncle Jimmy's gonna shoot whiskey with us, Darlin'." Nick handed over a glass. "Show him your newly acquired skill."
Carrie raised the glass. "Here's to a wonderful stress-free evening for all of us."
"Fat chance of me bein' stress free havin' to get up and say a few nice words about Rodgers, but…" Nick raised his glass smiling. "I'll pretend."
"Is that Carrie Blake doing shots?!" Tawny squealed on approach. "What would her daddy say?!"
Greg answered by feigning Ken's voice, "That Stokes boy has ruined my little girl! He's making her wear a slinky red dress and getting her good and liquored so she'll be too tanked to resist having sex with him all forty times the pervert wants it tonight!'"
"That sounds about right," Nick joked after downing his shot.
"Which part?" Jim ribbed, "The forty times or Greg's impression of your future father-in-law?"
"Can it, Uncle Jimmy." Nick motioned to the bar. "Name your poison, Greggo! Save your drink tickets, it's on me."
"Cool! I already get to use all four myself since Tawny's on the disabled list."
"Will you come powder your nose with me?" Tawny pleaded to Carrie. "Becca was supposed to, but Tony's boss has them cornered. I just have this feeling my mother is in the Ladies Room waiting to pounce."
"You bet." Carrie kissed her man's cheek. "I'll be back in a few, okay?"
"Not a problem. I'm glad you're goin'." Nick cracked a grin. "Because the view while you're walkin' away in that beautiful dress is spectacular."
"This is for you, cowboy." Carrie sashayed away with extra oomph.
Brass and Greg simultaneously gagged themselves behind Nick's back.
"I saw that." Nick slapped Greg upside the head. "Mock my flirtation skills all you want to, but we both know who was sittin' home on Saturday night for years perfecting his Xbox skills."
"I can't help it," Jim lamented into his second glass of whiskey. "I'm addicted to HALO. Oh! You were talkin' to Sanders."
"The Grissoms finally arrive!" Greg heralded when he saw them enter the cocktail area. "And they're coming this way."
Jim turned to see the grand entrance. "From the tense look on Gil's face, my guess is they're not late from an extra round of hide the salami."
Greg wholeheartedly agreed, "Honesty, I thought that Sara was going to stand me up on the award podium, because she's been in a bad mood for days. I'm really glad Tawny isn't a bitchy preggy like her. I pity Grissom for dealing with her if she's going to be that way for another five months."
"I think it has more to do with Rodgers, than hormones." Nick eyed their enemy from across the room. "Look at him over there, laughin' it up with the ladies. He's probably scopin' out his next wife for after Marlene accidentally dies in a freak badminton accident."
"From the looks of it, he'll have no problem." Greg watched the women giggle and flip their hair. "He's pumped up and looks like a million bucks in that tux."
"Way to prop the 'Greg is gay' urban legend, Sanders." Then Jim reminded the guys, "Rodgers really is worth millions thanks to his dear departed wife."
"Unless Shultz is workin' for free, he's lost some of the cash." Nick grabbed his drink. "A lawyer like that costs a bundle."
"Dr. Grissom…Dr. Sidle…" Greg handed over a virgin daiquiri and dangled a glass of whisky. "A libation sans alcohol for the lady, and the Master's favorite expensive scotch."
"Thanks." Sara accepted the fruity drink with a smile. "But shouldn't we be buying you drinks since we're honoring you saving my life?"
"I didn't buy them. I put them on the rich Texan's tab."
"Okay then." Grissom snatched the cocktail, downing it in a gulp. "Bartender! Another round. Same tab. Make mine a double."
"Where are your better halves?" Sara queried after checking the surrounding area. "And where's Heather, Jim?"
Glancing at his watch, Nick replied, "Tawny took Carrie to the Ladies Room as a body guard in case Marlene starts in on her."
Ladies Room…
"You really look stunning, Carrie." Tawny stood at the counter, fiddling with her hair, relieved that her mother hadn't followed them inside
"I shocked the hell out of my old co-workers in the DA's office." Carrie grabbed her lipstick to put on a fresh coat. "They only know me as the brainiac in the stuffy suit who never loses her trials." With her lips shimmering once more, she glanced over smiling at Tawny. "You look amazing yourself. You're positively glowing."
"Really? The girls are kicking up a storm and…" Feeling sensitive in front of Carrie, she stopped discussing the babies.
"It's okay," Carrie assured her. "May I…" She held her open palm in front of her friend's burgeoning belly. "I'd love to feel them kick."
"Any time." Tawny took Carrie's hand and placed it in an active area. "Just give them a sec and…"
"Oh! I'll say they're kicking up a storm." Carrie's eyes lit. "I loved doing this with Wendy whenever she was pregnant. Do you just sit on the couch and enjoy every minute of it when they're doing this?"
"I like it best when Greg sits behind me with his palms on my belly with mine." Tawny excitedly shared, "He's been singing to the girls every night before going to bed. He's like a totally different husband now," she boasted. "He's cooking and cleaning up the house…surprising me with little stuff. Now that he's being supportive and thoughtful, I can easily picture him as a great father to the girls. I'm finally not scared about the future anymore…except for actually pushing two babies out of my 'woo woo,'" she teased, using Carrie's silly term.
"See! It's a catchy term." Carrie gave the belly one more pat before removing her hand.
"You really are doing much better, aren't you?" Unlike before, there weren't hints of sadness in her friend's eyes and voice when talking about the babies. "Nick looked really relaxed at the bar just now too."
"We're doing great." Carrie's upbeat tone said it all, "We had a fantastic day together."
Right then Becca and Sara strolled into the Ladies Lounge.
"Hey!" Tawny waved them over. "You're just in time to hear why Carrie is in such a fabulous mood."
"Great," Sara droned, trying to sound upbeat and failing miserably.
"Nicky and I kicked off the morning with a little romance and afterwards he made me a delicious breakfast. Then we bummed around the house together doing projects and making each other laugh. He installed this great organization unit in my closet and…"
"Yeah." Sara gaped at her pal. "Only you and Nick would think organizing a closet is relaxing and fun."
"Sad but true!" Carrie freely admitted before snickering, "Although we did take a time out from organizing to get a little frisky in the aforementioned closet. It was hilarious actually. For some reason, I was more vocal than normal and Nicky accused me of being so into it because I was really turned on by the idea of all my shoes watching us."
"Ha!" Becca laughed her reply, "After seeing your orgasmic reaction during shoe shopping, I can buy into that theory actually."
While her friends laughed at her, Carrie shared, "Hands down, the best part of the day was this afternoon. We put up a hammock in the yard and fell asleep in it discussing our new honeymoon plans. I'm happy to report that we're back and better than ever."
"Ditto for Tony and me," Becca was thrilled to share. "Not that there was anything wrong between us, I mean Tony's out of his funk. Whatever Greg said to him when we were at the spa, Tawny, really worked. Earlier today he was dreading tonight, but when we got home, he was a new man. We made the sweetest love and then he jumped in the shower all excited about taking me here and introducing me to his friends."
"Greg was jazzed when we got home too!" Tawny beamed from the memory. "He was showing off all the appetizers Tony taught him to make along with that sweet heart cake. Then he whisked me upstairs where he had faux-champagne on the rocks and we lazed in bed for two hours talking and playing." Sighing she added, "I think we're ten times better than we ever were!"
"What about you, Sara?" Carrie enthusiastically asked. "Did you and Gil have a wonderful day off together?"
"Yeah. We uh…we had a great time," Sara lied. "We did…all the stuff we like to do…and liked it."
"Wanna know about my day, girls?!" Marlene's voice shot through the room as a stall door flew open. "Ha! You checked the stalls for feet, but I lifted mine up and stayed real quiet."
"Ugh, let's go." Tawny started out the door, but remembered she hadn't peed yet. "Actually, can you wait while I…"
"Yes," Sara, Carrie and Becca replied in the same frustrated huff while staring down the girl talk crasher.
"Mike was such a sweetheart today," Marlene jubilated. "He surprised me with a thousand bucks to go shopping and get my hair and make up done." She fluffed her breasts. "My stripper daughter's are plastic, but mine are the real deal. It was the one good thing I got out of havin' Tawny…tits. Too bad you lost your baby, Carrie, the hormones would have given your barely Bs a much needed boost. God, it has to suck losin' a baby when all your girlfriends are knocked up, but you're used to life's little disappointments, aren't ya, Sweetie? Gettin' raped and all when you were eight."
"Hey, bitch! Lay off my friends," Becca snarled. "Need I remind you, that the last time you wised off around me, I cursed you to get hit by a bus and it happened? Don't press your luck. I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm connected to The Force and have a proven track record of successfully cursing people. I made you step in front of that bus. If you're not nice tonight, I may summon a chandelier to fall on your head, so step off."
Marlene answered in her best Yoda voice, "Scare me you do not."
"Okay, you asked for it. I curse you to suffer whatever ills you wish upon others tonight. So be careful what you wish for, bitch." Becca took a step closer. "BAM!" She loved it when Marlene jumped back. "Consider yourself cursed." Turning to Carrie and Sara she explained, "I've been watching a lot of Emeril with my husband lately."
"Flushing!" Tawny cheered before rushing out of the stall. "Washing!"
"Leaving!" Becca took Carrie's hand and led the way. "I know what she said hurt, but try not to let it spoil your fun tonight."
"Are you kidding me? There's no way I'm going to let that woman bring me down." She waved on her friends while privately licking the wounds Marlene reopened. "I've got the hottest dress and the perfect man, I'm partying, Ladies...seriously partying."
Desert Palms Hospital – ER
7:01 pm
"How serious is it, Doctor?" Wendy fretted, while squeezing her son's hand tighter.
"You did a good job flushing out the eye, Mom," Doctor Kevin Jackson praised. "At first glance, I'd say the puncture is mild and won't have any long term effects. The abrasion is pretty large though. All we'll have to do most likely is clean up the eye, patch it, and write prescriptions for antibiotic drops and a painkiller. I won't know definitively until I can complete a more thorough exam." Patting the boy's shoulder he said, "You're being a real trooper. That eye has to be throbbing."
"Yes, Sir," Sean winced, "it is."
"That's why I rushed in here to check you real quick. Now I can okay some pain meds."
"While you're at it, I'll take a Valium," Wendy whimpered, feeling terrible that her son was missing his first school dance.
The doctor stood smiling. "Hang in there, Mom."
LVPD Formal
7:07 pm
"Ugh, look at my mother." Tawny's stomach churned at the sight of Marlene cozying up to Mike at the bar. Turning to her friends, who were mingling amongst each other on the banquet room's balcony, she lamented, "I take after my Dad. Really…I'm nothing like that witch. Please believe me."
"No problem, sister," Becca jumped to alleviate her friend's fears. "Except for some facial features, I'm nothing like my mother, right, Hoj?"
"Not when you're medicated," he answered truthfully. "Off meds, you're a carbon copy of the psycho."
"Hoj!" Becca's defenses shot into place. "How can you say that to me?! You know I loathe that woman!"
After hurrying to the other side of the group's circle and out of Tony's reach, Greg apologized, "Sorry."
"Don't feel bad, Becca," Gil assured her, "We're all just one mental snap away from being the parent we loathe."
"Thanks, Honey," Sara shuddered at the thought. "I'll sleep better tonight knowing that I'm a mental snap away from becoming my murderous mother."
"Uhh…" Gil floundered for a few seconds, then said nothing that helped his cause, "I…what I meant was…I didn't mean...anyone want to help me out here?"
Jim shook his head, "No way, you're making the rest of us guys look great."
"I don't agree with ya, Gris," Nick announced, trying to ease Sara's fears. "I think if we're determined enough, we can choose not to do the things our parents did, especially if what they did was hurtful. Take my brother for example, his parenting style is intentionally the opposite from our Dad's, because he doesn't want his kids growin' up with the kind of pressure we experienced. When Ryan was livin' with Carrie and me, I'd feel myself slippin' into Judge Stokes mode, but I'd catch myself and try my best to choose a different approach because I don't want to be him. With the right level of commitment, you can stop a cycle."
To lighten things up, Greg asked, "So, there's a chance your children won't become shoe addicts like their mother?"
"Greg!" Tawny slapped him upside the head. "They just lost a child. Not good timing for that joke."
Carrie stopped chuckling, "I thought it was funny…and optimistic, because he sees us with children in the future."
"Yeah! What she said." Greg rubbed his skull. "You really shouldn't assault me in a room full of people who can arrest you."
"Sorry." Tawny grumbled, "I blame my mother for putting me on edge."
Taking Carrie's hand, Nick whispered in her ear, "Think this is a good time?"
"Yeah." Her eyes lit, Carrie announced to the group, "My fiancé and I have a very important announcement to make." In a heartbeat every friend was silent. "You start, Nicky."
Wrapping his arms around Carrie's waist from behind, Nick excitedly shared, "After a lot of consideration, we've decided to privately adopt a baby that was offered to us. We told our families yesterday, and we were lookin' forward to sharin' the news with you tonight."
"Seriously?!" Tawny shrieked with delight. "When?!"
"The beginning of June," Carrie joyously answered as Nick squeezed her tighter. "All the paperwork is in place." Watching mouths drop, she explained, "The mother is in a very reputable private home for expectant women in crisis. Her twelve week ultrasound was a few days ago and the baby is doing great. We didn't want to say anything before we got those results. We get to visit and watch the baby growing. We'll be there for all future ultrasound appointments, and for the delivery, assuming all parental rights at birth. It's kind of a unique situation; the baby's grandmother, whom I've grown quite close to, will be involved in the baby's life. After the adoption, Nick and I will try to have a biological child again, so the little boy or girl has a sibling. As a safety precaution, since my Mom experienced fertility issues, we're also starting infertility treatment. That way I can store eggs to be used for IVF if necessary. I figured I better let you know that in case the hormones make me edgy." Her excitement uncontainable, she said, "We're really thrilled about the baby and hope that you will understand and support our decision."
"Are you kidding?" Tawny threw her arms around Carrie. "Of course we'll support it!"
Greg gave his buddy a thumbs up. "So very like the two of you to attack the baby thing from every angle. Knowing you over achievers you'll end up conceiving triplets."
"That would be fine by us," Carrie assured.
"How did this woman find you?" Sara inquired, a little stunned by the suddenness of the life changing decision.
"The mother is Belinda Connelly from the Demcak case file," Nick informed his coworkers, expecting them to be stunned. "As you know, she got pregnant with Kyle's baby before her husband murdered him."
"Whoa." Having worked the case with Nick, Vartann was in shock. "That nutjob. She was a…sorry, I didn't mean to sound…"
"It's okay." Nick held up his hand. "Belinda is off her rocker, but tyin' back to Grissom's original statement, I don't think a mother's behavior predetermines her offspring's, so we're not worried. Kyle was a great kid and his mom is quickly becoming a mother-figure for Carrie. The baby is an innocent bystander in the mess and we intend to give it all the love it deserves. It's all gonna work out." He kissed his fiancée's cheek. "We can feel it."
"We need to celebrate the news!" Becca jubilated. "Waiter! I need a bottle of your best bubbly and a bunch of glasses! Money's no object," she informed the group, "so us preggy's can take a sip and toss it."
The Blakes
7:18 pm
"I didn't whip the wand across the room, Dad!" Ryan protested. "I gently tossed it!"
Fed up with his son's reckless behavior, Paul paced the room trying to decide a fitting punishment. "I honestly don't know what to do about you, Son. After that stunt you pulled at Nick and Carrie's…"
"What's the verdict?" Ken Blake asked as he entered the living room. "Ashley fell asleep in mid-story by the way."
"Thanks, Dad." Paul dropped onto the couch. Exhausted from a tough day at the office, the last thing he wanted to deal with was his careless teenage son's latest disaster. "You're consistently irresponsible, Ryan."
"There's an apple that didn't fall far from the tree," Ken mumbled while settling on the couch next to his son.
"Go ahead, Dad," Paul shot his father a glare. "It's been like eighteen hours since you've reminded me that Carrie got abused because I wasn't watching her like I was supposed to. You better hurry up and refresh my memory, because I'm about to forget I ruined my sister's life."
Still upset from his daughter's recent revelation, Ken huffed, "Well, she wouldn't have to be adopting some crazy woman's baby if she hadn't been damaged from the abuse."
"I knew that was grating on you."
Relieved his father had taken his place in the hot seat, Ryan slowly made his way toward the kitchen door.
"They don't know if the abuse caused the miscarriage." Paul's anger grew. "And you can't blame me for their decision to adopt a nutjob's baby. That's Mr. and Miss Impatient jumping the gun. Wendy had two miscarriages before the boys and two in between them and McKenna. But whatever, if that's what they've decided to do, then I'm happy for Carrie. Can't you just be happy she's happy? Get back here, Ryan!"
"Doh!" The teen released the kitchen door. "You guys were fighting, so I didn't think you'd want me around."
LVPD Formal – Table 7
7:26 pm
"Much to your disappointment…we're here!" Marlene announced with the sole intention of riling everyone already seated at the table for ten. "I bet you were hopin' we asked for a seat change, huh?"
Grissom longingly looked at Jim and Heather dining at the VIP table with the Sheriff and the DA. "Considering you're a guest of honor this evening, Officer Rodgers, why didn't you request a seat with the big dogs?"
"Because my needs are secondary," Mike replied without bravado as he pulled out his wife's chair. "I saw tonight as an opportunity for Marlene to spend time with Tawny, and God willing, make some progress on their relationship. That's why I asked for this seating arrangement."
Tawny choked on her sparkling cider, "In the restroom earlier, the nasty ass windbag told my friends that the only good thing about having me was that the pregnancy hormones gave her big tits. Then she went on to insult Carrie by reminding her that she just lost a baby, but noting that she must be used to disappointment since she got raped when she was eight! Not really a good way to mend fences and get on my good side, ya'know?"
"I got defensive, because you and your snooty friends look at me like I'm trailer trash!"
"You are trailer trash!" Tawny reminded her. "You could put a hog in Manolos, but it's still swine!"
"The stripper is callin' me trash?!" Marlene huffed. "At least I never shoved my tits in losers' faces for cash."
"That's right," Tawny snickered, "You were dumb enough to do it for free."
"Ding! Round one goes to Tawny!" Becca cheered while raising her glass.
"She really said that to you in the restroom?!" Nick quizzed Carrie while Tawny and Marlene traded insults. "Why didn't you tell me, Sweetheart?"
"Sticks and stones, Nicky." Buzzing from Jack Daniels and the thrill of sharing her good news, she shrugged, "I didn't want to waste a second of my good time thinking or talking about her that's why and neither should you."
"Good for you, Carrie." Tony raised his beer bottle in approval. "They can sit here, but we don't have to be nice to the bitch who insulted you or the scum who met my ex-wife in a sleazy hotel and banged her while holding a switch blade to her neck."
"I was fulfilling her fantasy, not mine," Mike clarified. "Considering she offed herself, I'm grateful that I brought her a little happiness before her demise. You can't say the same, can you? No, all you did was make her want to push Cupid's arrow in a little deeper."
"Not true!" Becca retaliated. "Tony was responsible for getting Amy to see a therapist and…"
"Time out." For the sake of his wife, Greg stood and faced the enemy. "Marlene, if you really want to have some quality time with Tawny, like you say you do, then prove it. I propose a truce. We stick to harmless subjects and refrain from launching insults. Not one unkind word against Tawny, or her friends. What do you say, Tawny? Can you give your mom a chance, if she's up to the challenge?"
"I'm game," Tawny replied, knowing that Greg didn't really believe it, but was using the scenario to try and make the evening more pleasant for everyone.
"Honey…" Mike sweetly brought his wife's hand to his lips and after a kiss, he urged, "It's the opportunity you've been longing for, take it."
In her lap, for her husband's eyes to see, Sara spelled out 'gag me' in sign language.
"I'll try my best," Marlene quietly informed everyone at the table.
"Good." Greg returned to his seat and took Tawny's hand. "The breadsticks are quite delicious, don't you think?" he asked, kicking off the phony conversation.
"They're great," Sara droned before biting off a chunk. Remembering the 'Don't talk with your mouth full' rule, she decided to try binge eating for the remainder of the night.
Lissa's Apartment
Paris, France
4:38 am
"That heifer is probably stuffin' my daughter's face with candy every damn day," Lissa snarled while returning from the bathroom where she had been busy purging the late night meal she and her lover had shared earlier. "Lord knows what other unhealthy habits she's instillin' in her." Straddling Tristan's naked body, she reached for the small mirror where her cocaine was ready and waiting to snort. "I can't imagine a worse role model raisin' my little girl than that fat ass farm girl."
"Enough already," the fifty-nine year old International Banker chided. "If I wanted to hear a woman bitching in bed, I'd be home with my wife instead of partying with you. Why do you care if your ex likes screwing a cow?" Laughing, he said, "He's a Texan, yes? They grow up giving it to the ranch animals, so maybe he's feeling nostalgic."
Wiping her nose, Lissa cackled, "Now that I think about it, he always did get a little misty singin' Baa Baa Black Sheep to the kids."
"We're done talking," the randy man stated while ripping open a condom. Normally a thirty-something would have been far too old for his discriminating taste, but Lissa's beauty, her enthusiasm between the sheets, and her ex-supermodel status were enough to compensate for not being twenty-two. "I didn't just pay your rent for three months so we'd have a place to chat. You need to earn your keep before the Viagra wears off."
"Look at you droolin'." After losing every pound she had gained over the years, Lissa felt confident and sexy as hell. "Is this what you want?" she rasped while kicking off the fun.
"It's a good start." Tristan was quickly reminded why he liked having Ms. Lexington at his beck and call. "Very good."
"Mmmm…how will you survive without me when I'm in Vegas for Thanksgiving?"
LVPD Formal – Table 7
7:51 pm
"Hey, let's talk Thanksgiving plans," Greg suggested in an attempt to keep the light conversation flowing. "Tawny and I are having my family over, and I'm making my first feast. We'll be having turkey with apple and sage dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cheddar biscuits and pumpkin pie with caramel sauce."
"That's quite impressive, Son," Marlene praised the young man. "It's sure nice to know that Tawny's married to a man who likes to share the domestic responsibilities. Her Daddy was real good like that. I'd come home from a long shift and he'd have supper waitin' on me in the fridge and Tawny would be all bathed and tucked in for the night. If he were alive, he'd be happy that his little girl found herself a guy that did the same."
It was the first time Greg saw his wife's expression soften since her mother arrived at the table. "Thank you, it means a lot to me to know Tawny's father would approve of me."
Carrie rested her head on Nick's shoulder and tipsily shared, "My Mom would lovvvvvvve Nicky. I've told him that I think she was up in heaven searching for the perfect man for me and then concocted a way for us to meet."
"You met during my trial." Mike smiled at the sloshed woman. "Don't worry, I won't hold it against your deceased mother that she had me railroaded so you and Nicky could hook up. You know what's funny? My trial was the reason you met Nick and now I just saved Nick's life. It's like my special purpose is to make sure you two live happily ever after." He winked at Carrie. "Maybe I'm your guardian angel."
Staring at the duplicitous bastard through inebriated eyes, Carrie replied, "No, my guardian angel is an elderly African American man who walks with a cane. You probably saw him that day in the park when you were harassing me."
"You met your guardian angel?!" Becca anxiously probed. "I wish I could meet mine! I'd love to thank him for bringing Tony to me."
"Hold up." Nick tossed his fork on the plate. "When was Rodgers harassin' you at the park, Sweetheart?"
"After I lost the baby I was sitting on a bench crying and he showed up out of nowhere right as I was talking to my Guardian Angel."
Sighing, Mike told a different story. "I was responding to a call at the park and saw her crying on the bench. I walked over to ask if she was okay because she was talking to herself. She flipped out." He shrugged. "I didn't take it personally, because she was going through a really painful time."
"Ooh, you're such a lying bastard!" Carrie blasted, too uninhibited to care who heard. "You tried to scare me, just like you tried to scare Nicky in the back of the ambulance after saving his life. You threatened to toss a match at his oxygen mask!"
"Threatening distraught people, raping women for real and for fun…" Tony snarled at Mike, "You're one sick bastard, Rodgers."
"I didn't threaten to toss a damn match!" Mike snapped back. "Excessive smoke inhalation can cause severe disorientation. Ask your fireman brother, asshole. Nick was rambling like a madman in that ambulance. It was like he was having some PTSD issue or something. Yeah, he was begging me not to kill him, but at one point he was also calling me Shelly and screaming 'don't touch me, get off of me'. He was out of his head. The cops at the hospital said he was crazed when he got to the ER and had to be restrained. Isn't that right, Carrie?"
"Yes," she reluctantly admitted.
"And you weren't in your right mind that day in the park either. Hell, you freely admit you were conversing with an angel that only you could see." Mike took a drink before continuing his lecture, "The mind can play tricks. Ask that shrink most of you dysfunctional idiots go to. Yeah, raise your hand if you're currently in therapy or spent years in it." When no one did he told his wife, "Everyone but Nick should be raising a hand, and he definitely should be in therapy. Stokes thinks I'm a psycho killer, so when he was out of his head he hallucinated that I was trying to kill him. Vartann, you feel guilty about Amy, so it makes you feel better to make me the bad guy because you can't handle the truth. But you shouldn't feel guilty. The whole Amy thing with you, is just like Wendy with me. Your ex-wife was trying to get you to serve a sentence for a crime you didn't commit because she hated you. That's exactly what Wendy almost got away with, thanks to several people at this table buying her crocodile tears and bullshit story. She said I raped her, but if you had asked any member of the UNLV student body at that time, they would have told you she was jealous of her sister and dying to get in my pants. The statue of limitations on rape had expired, so she and Gil came up with me tossing her sister off a cliff."
"Wendy didn't lie!" Carrie barked across the table.
"I object, Attorney Blake." Mike heatedly said, "That's hearsay. You weren't there. You didn't know your sister-in-law when she was on drugs. She was high all the time back then and was sleeping her way around campus. A druggie slut is exactly what her mother used to call her, and that was a very accurate description. Her sister, may she rest in peace, was a saint. Samantha was an honor student, an athlete, a beautiful girl with spirit and…" He choked up when he felt the moment was right. "Excuse me, Sweetheart, I need some air." After pecking Marlene's cheek he took off.
"Well," Marlene jumped to her feet. "I hope you're happy that you've driven my husband away."
"Yes, I am." Sara raised her sparkling cider. "Now if you would do us all a favor and run off after him, life will be great. If you both continue running until you fall off a cliff, life will perfect."
Trinity Christian
8:04 pm
"This sucks," Lindsay grumped while filling paper cups with punch. For the last hour, she had kept busy volunteering, but it wasn't taking her mind off the fact that she was alone and watching all the couples dancing and having fun.
"Hey," Colin Maloney, the eighth grade Student Council President, approached the beverage table. He was attending the seventh grade dance in an official capacity and came over to lend a hand while talking to the girl who had been intriguing him since the day he met her. "I'll put out the cups for you to fill as you pour."
"You don't have…"
"Yeah, I do." Colin grabbed a stack of cups. "I'm here because it's on my list of responsibilities as Eighth Grade President."
"Of course," Lindsay droned at the junior high's star basketball player. With his perfect golden hair and blue eyes, he looked like he should be on the cover of Tiger Beat Magazine along with Jesse McCartney and Hilary Duff. "You wouldn't be here partying with lowly seventh graders if you didn't have to be."
"They're not all lowly," he laughed. "Like you for example. I'd party with you. Why aren't you partying anyway?"
"I had a date for the dance." Her defenses up, she snipped, "A really good date as a matter of fact, but his brother, who's a total loser, threw something across the room and it smacked him in the face, hurting his eye. His mother is neurotic and made him go to the hospital to have it checked. He would have toughed it out, if it had been up to him. I'm on Student Council and had volunteer hours tonight, so I couldn't flake."
"I'm glad you didn't flake." Colin released a brilliant smile. "Because I'd be working alone instead of working with the girl in the hottest dress in the room."
LVPD Formal
8:31 pm
"Thank you for that dress, Becca," Nick said as he watched Carrie and Tony discussing an upcoming trial with the DA. "She looks phenomenal. You're my hero for encouraging her to buy it."
"Do you know how much that dress cost you?"
"I don't care."
"Now I know you're toasted."
"Yes, ma'am." Nick relaxed at the table. "But not drunk enough to pin a medal on Mike Scumbag Rodgers, so pass me that bottle of bubbly."
"I have a better idea." Becca stood and grabbed his hand. "Dance with me. Maybe that'll get our significant others to finally stop talking shop with the big dogs and pay attention to us."
"Good plan." Nick hurried her to the dance floor, picking a spot as far away from where Tawny and Greg were slow dancing. "I bet Greg notices us before our mates do and cuts in, because he's still riled about our interaction at his house that time."
"Nah, he's too into Tawny to even look up."
"A twenty says he's over here by the end of the song."
Smirking, Becca dropped her hands on Nick's shoulders. "I'll take your action." Watching Nick stare at his fiancée chatting it up with a group of men, Becca remarked, "Carrie really does look stunning in that gown."
"Yeah, and you look real lovely tonight youself, Mrs. Vartann."
"Why thank you," she answered with her finest country club manners. "You look quite dashing in a tux, Mr. Stokes."
"Thank you, ma'am." He winked and pulled her a little closer. "My Mama tells me I clean up real nice."
"Mmm, you even smell good."
"Are you ever gonna stop flirtin' with me, Sweetheart?" he flirtatiously asked.
"That wasn't a flirt." Coyly chuckling, she tossed her hair. "That was in reference to you reeking of death the other day when I stopped by the scene to bring Tony house papers to sign."
"That was decomp." He spun them around and pulled her closer still. "It doesn't get worse than decomp, Darlin'."
"You're a very good dancer."
"So are you, I'll have to see if I can save a dance for you at my weddin'."
"Are you ever gonna stop flirtin' with me, Cowboy?"
"That wasn't a flirt. I was bein' serious. Carrie already has most every dance planned. Between my bride, my mom, my sisters, my nieces, my friends…I think I only have one open spot left. It's really adorable actually; she even has choreography for some of them."
"I didn't make the friend cut?" Becca pouted. "If I'm not your friend, what am I?"
"You?" After a wild grin, Nick replied, "You're my flirt buddy. Because even though we're both madly in love with our significant others, old habits are hard to break. Flirting is fun, but it's also dangerous."
"Except when it occurs between flirt buddies, who would never take it further than the harmless fun flirt."
"Exactly. We're each other's safe outlet."
"Hey! Break it up you two," Greg joked while dancing with Tawny next to his friends.
Nick held out his hand. "Mrs. Vartann, I do believe you owe me money."
"Here's your twenty." Becca plunked the bill in her flirt buddy's open palm.
"I'm stealin' Tawny, Greggo." Nick quickly whisked her away.
"Poor Hoj," Becca consoled her friend, "just like old times…the jock stole your girl."
Trinity Christian
8:39 pm
"You're very funny, Willows," the star basketball player laughed.
"And you're very…tall," Lindsay replied while tying up a trash bag.
"Tall?" Colin stuffed his hands on his hips. "I say you're a fun person and you tell me I'm tall?"
"Sorry!" Lindsay cracked up. "It was the first thing that popped into my mind."
"Tall." The teen shook his head. "I'm hurt, Willows…really hurt."
"Aww." She held out the trash bag. "Let's see if you're tall and strong, Jocko."
LVPD Formal
8:52 pm
"This is just like High School," Sara remarked on her way into the banquet room with her husband. "All the jocks and pretty girls are on the dance floor…drunk…thinking about having sex after the dance."
"On the off chance you're saying that out of jealousy…" Gil whispered in his wife's ear, "I think you're very pretty, I lifted a personal best at the gym this morning and I'd love to dance with you. While dancing, I guarantee you I'll be thinking of having sex with you after the dance."
Noting the desperation in her husband's eyes, Sara took his hand. "You used to be terrified of dancing in a room full of people."
"I still am. I'm that anxious to get close to you in that beautiful dress." Kissing her cheek, Gil whispered, "Will you go to the dance with me, Sara?"
Smiling, she took his hand. "Yes, I'd love to go to the dance with you."
Gil hurried her to the floor before she changed her mind. "This is…" Unfortunately the song ended just as they got there. "Oh…well, hopefully the next one won't be fast, because I may be desperate, but I'm not insane enough to try to boogey down in front of this crowd."
"We'll be taking a break until after the awards," the band leader announced before waving to the crowd.
"I made my move a little too late," Gil droned. "So typical."
"They'll have more dancing after awards," Sara assured him. "In the past I've heard that the party animals stay here until the event is over and then they move it to the lounge where the diehards party all night."
"So, there's hope?" Gil's spirits perked as he escorted his wife to their table.
"There's always the limo," she teased. "Boom Boom just may come out of retirement."
Across the room at Table Seven, another wife teased her husband…
"Look who's done talking business, Nicky?" Becca patted her husband's chair. "Tony and Carrie, we're more than a little insulted that you never came over and cut in our dance."
"You guys were dancing?" Carrie asked. "Sorry, I was bending the DA's ear about…"
"It must have been one hell of a dance," Tony interrupted to share a story, "On the way back from the restroom, Chas Benson stopped me to ask if me and the new wife wanted to come to the mixer he and his wife were hosting after this banquet, or did we have something going with Stokes and his fiancée privately."
Becca winked at Nick. "We were steaming it up to get you guys to notice, right, Cowboy?"
"Yeah, but it only worked on Greg."
"There are swingers here?" Carrie glanced around trying to spot them.
"Darlin' they're not wearin' Swinger Badges." Nick pulled his fiancée in for a lingering kiss. "You owe me a dance."
"I'll give you several." Carrie snatched one more kiss and then returned to sating her curiosity. "Where are they, Tony?"
Breaking the old secrecy rules, he pointed to Table Nine. "Right there, Carrie. All of them."
Studying the guests at Table Nine, Carrie blurted, "Tina Marchello from the Prosecutor's Office?!"
"Big time." Tony whispered, "The original group was founded at one of these banquets about five years ago. A table of couples was sitting around complaining how boring the whole thing was when your old co-worker, Tina, made a crazy suggestion. They all went for it, but only two out of the five couples that night took it beyond that night. Those two couples went out and recruited others. The last mixer I went to, there had to be at least fifteen couples."
"Whoa….Tina always seemed really Catholic," Carrie remarked in the voice of a happy drunk.
"Can't judge a book by its cover, Darlin'." Nick handed over the glass of Jack Daniels he had waiting for his fiancée. "No one would think you're a whiskey shootin' lush to look at ya."
"Ha!" Carrie knocked back the booze, smacked her lips and said, "I'm a little insulted they asked you guys, but not Nicky and me, not that I'd say yes. What's wrong with us?" she pouted. "Is it because I don't have C's or better?"
"No, you have to be married."
"You won't believe what this Chas guy just asked me?!" Greg informed the two couples at the table. "He wanted to know if I'd bring Tawny to a mixer later because he thinks she'd be a real good addition to the group. What a perv! She's twenty-one weeks pregnant!" Shivering from the thought he took a seat. "I told him he had a lot of nerve."
Tawny added, "The pig apologized, saying he thought we'd be game because I used to be a stripper and figured I didn't have any inhibitions."
Trinity Christian
9:03
"That young lady in the purple dress is wasted and starting to get frisky with the boys," Warrick informed the Dean of Students while pointing out the girl. "I've been watching her for the last ten minutes and I'm sure of it."
"Thank you." The Dean grabbed her radio to call for a teacher to back her up. "You're a fantastic chaperone, Mr. Brown. I hope you'll volunteer for future dances."
"Definitely." Warrick confidently replied, "Bustin' kids is a blast and I get to keep one eye on my daughter the whole night."
"She seems to be having a very nice time with Colin Maloney, our eighth grade Student Council President. He's a very nice boy. An excellent student from a good family, they own a chain of dry cleaning stores in town. Colin does a lot of volunteer work too. He's well on his way to Eagle Scout."
Warrick smiled, thinking that Colin's family would love to know he was flirting with a girl whose mother was an ex-stripper and whose father was a large scruffy black man with a past just as checkered. "Good thing they're just friends," he mumbled on his way around the gym to meet up with her. But before he could reach the refreshment table, he saw the future Eagle Scout make a move. Looks like someone is gonna owe me ten bucks. Poor Sean. Jocko is movin' in on his girl.
"Just one dance." Rationalizing that it was just a dance to pass the time and in no way a date or a sleight to Sean, Lindsay slipped her hand in Colin's.
LVPD Formal
9:19 pm
Grabbing Tawny's hand, Marlene said, "Isn't this exciting?! Your husband and my husband both on the stage waitin' to receive awards."
"Please let go." Tawny tugged her hand away. "Holding hands is so not us." She grabbed her camera, happy that they had a table right in front of the stage. "Gil, why is the crew from the news channel just standing around instead of filming that female cop get her award?"
"They're only here to film Vartann's award."
Becca's glorious smile spread a little further. "We just found out tonight. Immediately after the award, the reporter is going to interview me, the supportive wife."
"No offense, but why only Tony?" Tawny queried.
"Officially, the answer is that Trudy, Greg and Mike are only receiving Medals of Valor, which are given for acts of outstanding personal bravery performed in the line of duty. That's one step down from Tony receiving a Medal of Honor, which is given for an extraordinary act of personal bravery performed in the line of duty at extreme risk of life." Gil leaned closer to whisper the remainder of his reply, "Unofficially, it's a County publicity stunt. Vartann saved a civilian, and not just any civilian, he saved a five year old African American boy. They're all over the 'affluent white cop risks his life to save a little black kid in a bad neighborhood' angle. They even have the kid here to put the medal around Vartann's neck for the ultimate photo op."
Tawny curtly replied, "Sounds a little exploitive to me."
"Yes." Reclining in his seat, Gil nodded. "But politics is two parts manipulation, one part exploitation."
The Sheriff stepped to the microphone clapping along with the crowd and when the applause for Officer Trudy Belco died down, he announced, "For our next award, CSI Level Three, Dr. Sara Sidle, will be presenting CSI Level 1, Greg Sanders, with the Medal of Valor."
Tawny jittered in her seat. "He looks a little nervous up there," she whispered to Gil. "But soooooo cute."
"Good Evening, everyone." With shaky hands, Sara opened the speech Carrie had written for her. "If asked, most people would say that CSI Greg Sanders' greatest claims to fame this year were getting married, conceiving twins, and saving his own life by smoking weed with his captor to subdue him enough to be overtaken." After a wave of laughter, she continued, "But if you were to ask me, I'd say his greatest claim to fame this year was saving my life one July afternoon in the desert. We were working a case in Blue Diamond, on a piece of land known as Dales Trail, when a perp ambushed us." Looking up she smiled, "The officers responsible for clearing the area that day shall remain nameless to protect the guilty." This time the laughter rocked the house. "I'm sure my attacker was very well hidden when the cops were canvassing the area, but when he did emerge, he quickly subdued CSI Sanders with a potentially fatal blow to the skull. After struggling for my life, the two hundred and ninety pound man got the upper hand and was readying to execute me when CSI Sanders took him down with one kill shot. He had regained consciousness and heard my screams. With a concussion and a large wound to the head, he managed to cover the distance in the nick of time and save my life." Smiling at Greg, she boasted, "I may be biased, but I definitely think he deserves the Medal of Valor and your admiration. Please join me in congratulating CSI Sanders on his receiving this award."
"Thanks, Sara." Greg gushed from the applause. "That was really nice." He was grateful he had to lower his head for his friend to place the medal around his neck, because it hid his watering eyes.
"Congratulations, CSI Sanders," the Sheriff clapped. "Our third award this evening goes to Officer Michael Rodgers."
Marlene whistled and stomped her feet.
"It's not karaoke night at the local watering hole, Mother," Tawny droned. "Control yourself."
"CSI Supervisor Nicholas Stokes was originally going to present the award, but his fiancée has asked if she could do the honors and so, please join me in welcoming Caroline Blake, formerly of the Clark County Prosecutor's Office."
"What?" Nick grabbed Carrie's arm. "You didn't…"
"Surprise!" She kissed his cheek and then whispered, "Who loves ya, Tex? You can go back to the table now." With that she lifted her red dress and ascended the stairs of the stage.
"You!" Nick clapped his hands and breathed easy for the first time that night. "And I love you! So much that I'm takin' you shoe shoppin' tomorrow!"
"Thank you." Carrie smiled and spoke into the microphone, "Many of you know me from when I worked in the Prosecutor's office and during my time there handling the various cases, all of which related to sexual crimes of one devastating sort or another, you came to know my personal history. Being a victim at a very young age, it was my deceased mother's greatest fear that I would never overcome my trauma and go on to have a normal social life, in particular that I'd never marry and have a family. This year I met the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, CSI Supervisor Nicholas Stokes." Grinning, she said, "While many of you may think I'm crazy for accepting his proposal, I really do want to walk down that aisle with him in February. Yes, yes, he's told me all about his past." She waited for the laughter to subside then said, "Last month, unbeknownst to me, my fiancé was laying unconscious in a burning home while I was sitting with a friend reviewing my wedding plans. If it weren't for the bravery of Officer Michael Rodgers, risking his personal safety to run inside a blazing structure to rescue Nick, my dream of a happily ever after…my mother's dreams for her little girl…would have ended. So, I wanted to come here tonight and personal thank Officer Rodgers in front of his colleagues and it is with great pleasure that I present him with this Medal of Valor." Placing the award around his neck she whispered, "No matter what your motives, you saved Nick's life and for that I'll always be grateful. Thank you."
"You're a class act, Ms. Blake." Mike adjusted the medal and stepped to the microphone. "I'd like to thank my Captain for nominating me for this award and I'd like to thank Carrie for her heartfelt words. It will be my pleasure to dance with her at her wedding to CSI Stokes in February. Assuming I get an invitation," he chuckled. "Will I Ms. Blake?"
"Of course," Carrie replied through a feigned smile.
"Huh?" Nick glanced over at Grissom. "Did that bastard just manipulate Carrie into givin' him an invite to our weddin'?"
"Yep," Gil droned. "But look on the bright side, he didn't ask to be Best Man."
"Congratulations, Officer Rodgers." The Sheriff quickly moved on to announce, "Before our spotlight award tonight, we're going to need about ten minutes for the team from News Channel Ten to set up."
"I'm freezing," Sara informed her husband when she returned to the table. "Can you come with me to get my sweater from the limo?"
"Sure, Honey." Gil hurried her out of the room.
Desert Palms Hospital Parking Lot
9:32 pm
"I wonder if Lindsay is home from the dance yet," Sean asked, hoping she would be waiting for him when he returned from the hospital.
"Careful!" Wendy grabbed her son before he walked into a parked car. "Honey, that eye patch is really disorientating, please hold my hand."
"I already feel stupid wearing a patch. I'll only feel worse if I have to hold my Mommy's hand."
LVPD Formal
9:34 pm
"Take my hand, Honey." Mike held it out for Marlene to grab. "I think I better cut you off for the night. That's the third time you almost fell over trying to walk in those crazy shoes."
"I'm fine," she slurred while heading towards the door. "I'll just have one more of those fruity cocktails with the pineapple on the little plastic sword and then I'll stop. Will you get it for me while I'm havin' my smoke? Bring it out to me, pleeeeeeease."
"Okay, okay." Mike walked away shaking his head. "But that's it, because I'm not in the mood to clean the bathroom again."
"You're such a sweetie." Giggling, Marlene continued out to the only place smoking was allowed, the front entrance. "Well! Look who's here, Sara Stick Up Her Butt Grissom. Leaving so soon?"
"No, I'm waiting for my husband to return with my black sweater, because it's chilly in there."
"I was always hot when I was pregnant." Marlene shoved a Marlboro in the corner of her mouth. "Got a light?"
"Don't smoke."
"Right, right, you're one of those psycho heath nuts. Mikey told me that." Marlene cackled, "He also told me you were frigid, which explains the need for a sweater I guess."
Sara watched the sleazy woman search her gaudy oversized handbag for a lighter.
"God Dammit! I must have left my lighter in the car."
"You better go get it," Sara encouraged, hoping to get rid of her.
"I'm just as sick of you as you are of me."
"Then why do you keep talking to me?"
"Because I'm supposed to get under your skin. It's one of my jobs as Mrs. Mike Rodgers." Grinning, she slurred, "I'm supposed to freak you out at every opportunity. Like making you think my dog is gonna attack you, or that I'm losing control of my car as I 'm goin' down our street."
"I knew it."
"Yeah, but no one will believe you if you tell 'em." Marlene took a step closer. "I'm supposed to threaten your unborn child as much as possible too. Right here's a good opportunity. Look at all those marble steps. Oooooh, you're pregnant and standing at the top of a biiiiiiiiig staircase. On soap operas, that's the number one way women lose their babies."
"Go to hell."
When Sara took a step forward, Marlene blocked her. "I'm not done talking."
"Get out of my way."
Marlene moved closer. "Gonna make me?" She bumped her gently. "Careful, you're getting close to the top step. I get bonus pay if I make you miscarry, so how about taking a tumble for me?"
As Sara pushed her way past, Marlene grabbed her arm. "Get your hands off me!" She violently jerked away. "Don't ever touch me again."
"Ooh, I'm scared!" Marlene released a riotous laugh. "I'm sooooo…."
"Watch out!" Sara screamed when she saw her take a step back into thin air. "You're…going to fall." Watching the woman bounce and roll down the marble steps, leaving blood spatter along the way, she froze.
"What are you doing out here?" Mike queried while holding two drinks in his hands. "Have you seen Marlene?"
A blood curdling scream shot through the night air, followed by two more.
"What the?" Mike moved to the edge of the stairs. The color of his wife's dress was unmistakeable. "My God…what did you do, Sara?!" He threw the drinks and rushed down the stairs. "Marlene! Don't touch her!" he warned the group gathering around his wife's lifeless body. "She could have a neck injury!" Then he realized it was much worse than that. "Marlene! Oh my God!" He grabbed his cell phone and punched in 911. "We need an ambulance!"
Sara watched the scene play out as if it were on a movie screen in front of her and struggled to remember exactly what had happened.
"Excuse me!" Returning with his wife's sweater, Grissom rushed over to see why screams were coming from a small crowd at the base of the stairs. "Excuse me, what's…" When he saw Mike frantically trying to stop blood from pouring out of Marlene's skull, he asked, "What happened?"
"What happened?!" Mike yelled, as his eyes met his enemy's. "I'll tell you what happened! Your wife just killed my wife!"
Author's Notes:
Oops!
I hope this extra long chappie made up for the extra long holiday break! I also hope it was visual enough so you could really see the LVPD formal and imagine the happenings.
Is Marlene really dead? Or is that just wishful thinking? LOL find out on Tuesday, January 2nd
Thanks KJT for editing while on Christmas holiday!! Much appreciated!!
Have a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts on the chappie,
Maggs