Thicker than Blood: Part four
Disclaimer: Don't own them
Hey, you guys are lucky, I didn't go to practice.
---
The next few days passed, Catherine and Sara had become even closer. Mel and Lindsey were inseparable.
Walking into the lab, Catherine noticed Sara was still in her office.
"Hey, what are you still doing here?"
Pulling the headphones out of her ears, she looked up at Catherine, "What are you still doing here?"
"Finishing up paperwork, signing off reports, since you are in charge of the Belmont case, I get all the other reports from grave to sign off for. Where the hell is Grissom, he should be doing this!?!?!" Sara shoved the reports to the edge of her desk.
"Well we still don't know where he is, and surprisingly Ecklie hasn't been yelling at me for his disappearance."
"Wait, what?"
Catherine thinking along the lines, they both walk out of Sara's office going straight for Ecklie's. Arriving at the door Catherine knocked.
"Come in." Ecklie paused, "oh, hi Catherine." Ecklie concentrating back onto the paperwork in front of him.
"Have you found out where Grissom is?" Catherine paused hoping for an immediate answer, "I haven't been able to contact him and you've been slamming cases on Sara's shift. Why haven't you hired a temp yet?"
"I have hired a temp, she'll be here after Thanksgiving." Ecklie stated not even glancing up from his paperwork.
"Her?" Catherine questioned.
"Yes, her name is Michelle Bethany."
Sara's head snapped up. "Did you just say Michelle Bethany?"
"Yes I did Sidle, what does it mean to you?"
"We went to Harvard together. We were roommates for 2 years. I thought she was working in Virginia?"
"She was, she's coming here after Thanksgiving because she has family out there who she is spending the holiday with." Ecklie elaborated.
Sara walked out to think about what this could mean.
"Wow Ecklie, I'm amazed. You hired another woman! Soon we're going to outnumber you guys." Catherine said as she walked out, hearing Ecklie's response crystal clear, "She's only a temp!"
---
VIRGINIA: 2 days before Thanksgiving…
Walking down the hall to the break room, Grissom still can't get his mind away from Sara. I left, I just…left.
"Grissom, you ok?" Hannah asked from standing next to him.
"Yes, why?"
"I called your name three times, you didn't respond, or flinch."
"Oh, I have a lot on my mind." Grissom lied.
"Who's the woman you can't keep your mind off of?" Hannah paused and received an inquisitive stare from Grissom before continuing, "I've observed you since you got here, you really don't remember me, do you?"
Grissom snapped his head up when he heard her question. Before he could respond she had walked off.
I know her…..from where? Should I remember her? Grissom thought.
"Hey, Gil!"
"Roger, I was just looking for you."
"Are you joining us at Hannah's house for Thanksgiving?"
"I was going to spend it with you."
"So come, it'll be good for you. You'll get to meet most of the other CSI's, who always seem to run when they see me."
"Oh so they've learned to be afraid of you…already?"
"Hey, I've only be Assistant Director for about a month, I can't be that mean!"
"Really?" Grissom chuckled.
"So can you help us with this case?"
"Should be able to. I'm going to do a linear regression of the flies."
"All I need to know is whether or not you can help Gil. You know how much bugs creep me out!" Roger paused looking at the smirk on Grissom's face. "After all you are the one that had pulled that prank on me."
--
VEGAS: 1 day before Thanksgiving…
"Ecklie, here are all the grave cases that I've signed off on," Sara said placing the stack of files on his desk, "and here are all the days cases that I've signed off on," placing another stack of files on his desk. "Maria is cleared to leave, right?" Ecklie nodded. "Now I am on vacation for a week and a half. Have a good Thanksgiving Ecklie." Sara said on her way out of his office.
Sara stopped at Catherine's office on her way out, leaning on the door jam, "Cath, I'm leaving."
"When's your flight?"
"Tomorrow morning, at 6."
"Oh that's going to be fun!"
"Oh yes, just joyous! I have to get going, I'll see you when I get back. Have a good Thanksgiving."
"Bye, Sara." Catherine replied.
Sara turned and walked out of the lab. Walking out to her car, she pulled out her cell phone and hit the speed dial button.
"Kant"
"Hey Hannah!"
"Hey Sara, what's up?"
"Just calling to let you know that our flight leaves at 6, we should be arriving at your house around 1ish."
"Ok darling, I'll make sure there is beer in the fridge when you arrive, the guys are coming over around noon."
"Ok, see you tomorrow." Sara said snapping the phone shut. Slide into her car and drove home.
Unlocking the door to her apartment, Sara kept thinking of Grissom. She couldn't get her mind off of him. Where could he be? He wouldn't just leave for no reason… her mind kept streaming.
"Sara!!!" Maria shrieked at the top of her lungs, and came rushing towards her.
"Hey girl. How are you? Are you all packed?"
"Yes, I am. Mel is finishing up, and Lindsey is helping her."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm watching cartoons, want to join me?"
"Sure, but only for a little while. I still have to pack."
After watching 2 shows, Sara went into her bedroom to start packing. Grabbing random clothes, not caring what she threw in, just making sure she had enough clothes for the week and a half she was gone.
"What do you all want for dinner tonight?" Sara shouted from her room, so she knew that Lindsey and Mel both heard her.
"How about Mexican take-out?" Mel said leaning on the door jam.
"Don't ask me, ask Maria and Lindsey, and make sure that you all agree on 6 dishes. We'll do it buffet style."
"Okay." Mel turned away. Sara heard her talking to Lindsey and Maria. Arriving at a decision, Sara places the order for the girls, and started cleaning the apartment before they left.
The food arrived, and the girls started to chow down. Mel and Lindsey sat on the couch. Maria sat on the floor, cross-legged with a pillow on her lap and plate on top of the pillow. Sara had her laptop set up at the breakfast bar, so she sat there.
"Lindsey, you do know that we are leaving here before your mom is out of work?"
"Yeah, she wanted me to ask you if you could drop me off at the lab before going to the airport."
"Yeah, no problem but when were you planning on asking me?"
"When you inquired." Lindsey said turning back to the TV.
They decided to watch a movie, and with the first 40 minutes of it, Maria fell asleep. Sara picked up Maria's sleeping form and put her in her bed. By the time the movie finished, Mel and Lindsey were asleep on the couch. Sara went to her bedroom to hopefully get a few hours of shut eye.
Tossing and turning for hours on end, Sara decided to get up. She was already packed for her trip, and couldn't go to work. She decided to read her e-mail. Inbox (106). Sara read. Joy! After reading several e-mails she receives an IM.
KissMEKant: Hey, what are you doing up? Shouldn't you be sleeping?
SSidle: You really need to change your screenname.
KissMEKant: But why? I've had this since we went to Berkley! I'm keeping it! And you're avoiding my question.
SSidle: Yes I should be asleep but I can't, I keep tossing and turning.
KissMEKant: Who's the guy you can't stop thinking about?
SSidle: Han, don't you dare go there, you know how much I hate talking about it. It makes me feel worse.
Sara paused in typing and looked over at the clock. 3 AM.
KissMEKant: Get over him already!
SSidle: Shouldn't you be sleeping since you have company to entertain and food to cook?
KissMEKant: I actually went to bed at 11 last night.
SSidle: really, now? He wasn't up for any?
KissMEKant: We have a guest. His friend from college is staying here with us for a little while. You'll meet him today.
SSidle: Hey, what's up with Michelle coming to temp in Vegas?
KissMEKant: She and Warren broke up. She hasn't been working for the past 3 months. She's coming to dinner today too, along with Warren but I told them that they have to behave, and I'll have you here to help distract one of them.
SSidle: Okay, well that's going to be interesting. I have an idea though, just get them both really drunk.
KissMEKant: hahaha, yeah that would get them back together until they remember why they broke up.
SSidle: Why did they?
KissMEKant: I don't know the full story, all I know is that they aren't together and Warren really pissed off Michelle.
SSidle: Great, so that means if they don't get back together over this Thanksgiving then I am going to have to put up with a pissed off Michelle?
KissMEKant: Have fun with that.
SSidle: Thanks, you're such a loving friend!
KissMEKant: be right back Sar, I think I hear someone.
SSidle: It's probably your guest.
KissMEKant: Yeah well I'm not use to having someone here who is use to stay awake at night.
Sara went to go get some food from the cabinet, and walked to check on the girls. Pulling out her phone on the way back to her laptop, she dialed Catherine.
"Willows"
"Hey, Cath."
"Hi Sara what's up?"
"I was wondering if you wanted me to drop Lindsey off at the lab. She did tell me that you wanted me too but they didn't go to bed until around eleven, so I was thinking just let her sleep here and you come pick her up when you get off?" Sara compromised.
"It's pretty slow around here. I can come and pick her up in about an hour?"
"Okay, that works."
---
Hannah heard a noise downstairs. She told Sara that she was going to go check it out.
Walking down the stairs slowly, not wanting to make them creak. Hannah turned around the corner into the living room. Noticing that Gil wasn't sleeping on the couch, Hannah walked into the kitchen.
"Hey baby."
"Hey, what are you doing up?" Hannah asked, a little shocked.
"Went to sleep too early, and I'm assuming you did too since you were on your laptop in the study."
"Hey Roger- oh, hi Hannah." Gil said turning around the corner from the bathroom.
"Hi Gil."
"Shame shame Roger." Gil said teasingly.
"You shouldn't be saying anything. You tell me about that girl you met at Berkley, teaching a seminar. " Roger looked up to the shocked expression on Gil's face. "Yes, I remember!"
"But that's different, I'm not dating her."
"But you hired her as a CSI on your team." Hannah let it slip out.
"Wait, what? How do you know that?" Gil questioned curiously at Hannah.
"She's my friend. I was at that seminar too." Hannah glanced over at Roger.
"Oh no no no, Sara?!?!?!?" Roger shouted at the top of his lungs.
"You know her too?" Gil asked.
"Through Hannah but still. Wait that means, oh no." turning to look at Hannah, "you planned this!"
"Not really. I didn't make the connection until you introduced us at the lab. Then when I was talking to her I got an idea and yeah, I played it out." Hannah explained.
"Wait, Sara, the girl you were talking to on the phone that Roger said hi to was Sara, Sara Sidle?"
"Yes." Hannah answered.
"And she is coming here…for Thanksgiving?"
"Well not just Thanksgiving. She's brining her niece's and staying for a week-"
"A WEEK!?!?!?" Grissom interrupted.
"Well actually a week and a half," Roger whispered.
"Great, just great. I leave Vegas to get away from her and she follows me here. Here of all places." Grissom huffed furiously. Looking at Roger, "Can I connect to the internet?"
"Yes, the house is wireless."
"One question…" Gil looked over at Hannah.
"Yeah?"
"Where is she staying?"
"Here. My apartment is too small for 4 people, the girls are in one of the guest rooms, and Sara is going to stay on the couch in the study. And you've been upgraded from the couch in the living room to the other guest room. I just needed to clean out some of the boxes."
"Boxes?" Grissom inquired.
"Yeah, I'm in the process of moving here." Hannah responded.
Gil just gave Roger the warning look.
Gil backed off and walked back into the living room. Grabbing his laptop before sitting down, connecting to the internet, Gil was trying to think of a way out of this. I really don't want to see her, not now, I left. Gil's mind wouldn't stop thinking of her. But I love her. Maybe I'll just stay and see how things play out.
Walking back into the kitchen, "Does she know I am here?"
"No, I mentioned that a friend of Roger's was here, but I didn't say your name." Hannah responded.
"Gil, wait, did you not tell her that you were leaving Vegas?" Roger butted in.
"Well no, I didn't, I didn't tell anyone except the Sheriff that I was going on sabbatical for a month."
"So that's why she ain't sleeping." Hannah mumbled to herself.
"What?" Roger looked over at Hannah, Gil had the same curious expression on his face.
"She has been burying herself in her work, if that's what you want to call it. She hasn't slept much. That actually who I was talking online to before I came down. I pressed the matter on why she couldn't sleep, she never really said anything though. I think she's having trouble adjusting with the girls there, especially since she works days."
"Wait she works days now?!" Roger's face in total shock.
"Yeah, she thought that it would be better with the girls and all. She's the day shift supervisor." Hannah responded.
"Wow, I'm amazed. That 'threat' that Sara gave him must have really woke him up." Roger looked over to Hannah.
"What are you talking about?" Gil looked between Hannah and Roger.
"Do you want to explain this one, Roger?" Hannah looked over at him.
"Yeah sure." Pausing to think where to start. "Okay, well I offered Sara a position her about a month ago because she was really pissed off for some reason and wanted to leave Vegas. I had offered her a Supervisor position on Grave." Roger paused to look at Gil's face then proceeded to continue. "She said that she needed to talk to Ecklie. I'm guessing since I haven't heard from her that she isn't coming here."
"But she had put in a letter of resignation to Ecklie, but he was too worried about the solve rate for the lab going down that he decided to find a reason to hire her besides the fact she's a really good CSI. He covered it up by her nieces showing up and needing a guardian." Hannah concluded.
"She was planning on leaving…me." Gil didn't realize that he spoke out loud. Looking up and seeing their mouths agape at what he just revealed.
"Wait, did you two finally get together?" Hannah questioned after a long moment of silence.
"Yeah, until I left." Gil mumbled.
They sat there in the kitchen in silence until it was broken by Hannah cell phone ringing.
"Kant."
"Hey, is everything okay? You never came back to the computer."
"Yes, Sara, I'm fine, I actually forgot that you were still online. Sorry."
Hannah looked over to see Roger and Gil staring at her. "Do one of you want to talk to her?" Hannah questioned, not bothering to cover the mouthpiece.
Gil shook his head. So Roger walked over taking the phone from Hannah.
"Hey Girl. You should be sleeping, and I mean that. You know how bad it is when you don't sleep and I don't want to have to deal with a cranky Sidle along with Michelle and Warren." Roger was rambling and he knew it.
"Oh shut it Roger. There is only one reason why you ramble, and that's when you are nervous."
"Yeah I know."
"Wait, what is going on?"
"Oh nothing much, I think we all went to sleep a little bit too early since we are all awake. We were just chatting." Roger paused for a moment before continuing, "WHEN THE HELL DID YOU BECOME SUPERVISOR!!!!!" Roger bellowed into the phone, leaving Sara startled on the other side.
"Um, well about that….I'm re-thinking that…a lot actually."