I think it was a Sunday
Please note that the characters are borrowed and I make no profit from using them. This story has not been betad so all mistakes are mine.
Chapter 1
It was finally Sunday morning and I could go home. The whole terrible night could be put behind me. The images of Adam Trent invaded my mind again. Prickling fear washing over me as I realized we were alone in the nurses station with the door closed and locked from the inside. Locking eyes with Grissom outside the window unable to help while a madman held a piece of broken pottery to my neck.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I hurried out of the building into the bright sunlight and took a deep breath of hot Nevada air. Nobody would ever know it had rained the previous day. It was gone as quickly as it came. The humidity didn't linger in the air like it did by the coast.
Exhaling a deep sigh, I wondered once more why it was that I came, and stayed, in the desert anyway. I had no friends outside of work and I missed the ocean. Oh right, Grissom… that's why I upended my whole life to live in the desert and work nights. I couldn't help it, I really couldn't. That man was always niggling away at the back of my mind. When he called to ask me to come up here to run the I.A. investigation I knew it was an innocent favor he was asking for. But, still, part of me hoped he called me here for a more selfish reason as well. Then he asked me to stay and all my fantasies started to run wild. It didn't take long, though, for those to get shut down. Working up the guts to ask him out to dinner took so much work on my part but that didn't seem to matter. It seemed easy for him to so bluntly tell me "no".
With another sigh I let myself into the apartment and went about my preparations for a shower. I don't think any amount of soap could properly wash off the events of the past night. Perhaps I could go for a swim, maybe even attempt to relax a little before I gave in and let the nightmares consume me. Sleep hadn't found me easily for some time now. It became almost a habit to rest next to the complex's pool. The early mornings provided me with some privacy with hardly anybody ever down there at this time. A refreshing dip helped to remove some of the anxieties of difficult shifts.
With thoughts of cool water on the forefront of my mind I walking past the window, glanced out freezing immediately as I recognized his SUV immediately. My heart leapt into my throat as I watched him pull into a parking spot in front of the building. What was he doing here? To my recollection, I hadn't done anything that would put me in so much trouble that it couldn't wait until the start of next shift, much less warrant a home visit. Maybe he was here to see how I was doing after last night? That wasn't like him though. Cold and stoic Grissom wouldn't care how I was getting on after such a thing as long as I was able to perform my duties.
"Whatever," I sighed once more. Taking a deep breath, rolling my head and stretching my arms out behind me.Whisps of fine cotton passed through the sky briefly interrupting the harsh intensity of the Vegas sun. Even as I massaged in sunscreen I reminded myslef to be vigilant in securing myself a place under some shade. If I was lucky I might be able to get away with only miner sun irritated skin.
Looking out the window again, I watched him open his door but immediately shut it again. Clearly, what he was here for was not an easy task for him to accomplish. Well, if he didn't hurry up he would have to me whatever it is he needs to tell me by the water's edge.
Walking out the door I checked myself over to make sure I had everything I would need starting with my hat and sunglasses. Keys, sunscreen, towel, and water bottle in my bag. I locked the door and made my way down. Stair by stair I moved quickly down, rounding the last corner and nearly smashing into him.
"Grissom! You scared me to death! What are you doing here?" I gasped, clutching my chest to ease my pounding heart.