Chapter 4
Tuesday August 30th, 2004
6:49 p.m.
CSI Lab Hallway
"Hey Jessica, got someone for you to meet," Greg called as Jessica turned around to find the man with a dark-haired woman. It had been a few days since she arrived, but still was certainly not expecting to be introduced to people. "This is Chandra Moore, Chandra this is Jessica Harrison. She's from Frisco, down here with us for the Night Stalker."
"Nice to meet you," Chandra replied and Jessica nodded in greeting.
"If you'll excuse me, I need to show something to Grissom," Jessica said with a half smile before chasing the older gentlemen down.
"Grissom!"
Stopping he turned and looked at her, smiling slightly. "Jessica?"
"Sorry, I wanted to give this to you before shift started," she explained as she handed him the file. "The report on Tamara Wallace."
"Oh yes, thank you," he answered as he took it.
"No problem. See you in the break room," she replied before heading that way as he went the other way. Inside she found Catherine flipping through a magazine and Warrick pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Want a cup?" Warrick asked not turning around and she raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"How did you know I was here?"
"Your perfume," Catherine replied looking up at her. "It's a unique scent, no one else in the lab wears it."
"Ahh, of course. And please," she continued answering Warrick's earlier question.
"Here you go," he spoke as he handed her the cup a few moments later, just as Nick arrived.
"Good evening ladies and gents," Nick spoke as he took a seat.
"Man, I swear, I'm never going to be used to you not having hair," Warrick mused as Nick walked over to the coffee pot.
"Really? I kinda like it," he replied as he ran a hand over his lack of hair.
"Yeah well, the rest of us don't, so you have to grow it back," Catherine answered with a smirk. "But if you excuse me. I have to go check on my office," she continued before rising and leaving the room.
"She's got an office," Nick asked surprised.
"I guess it's not one she likes," Warrick mused when they saw her go storming by before rising to follow her.
"Grissom...I'd like to introduce you to Chandra Moore," Greg began as he entered Grissom's office. Grissom turned around wearing a hard hat-type of gizmo with an eyeglass piece attachment on the left side so he could look through it.
"Pleased to meet you, Sir. I'm a fan," Chandra spoke as Grissom looked up and down her through the eye piece.
"You're hot."
"I-I'm sorry?" Chandra managed, startled.
"You're emanating heat," Grissom explained as he took off the hat. "This is a new infrared camera. It's good for looking at evidence in the dark," he continued before turning to Greg "Did you get her blood yet?"
"My..." Chandra began startled once more. "...why?"
"So many reasons," Grissom replied with a smile before they heard Catherine yelling his name.
"Grissom!" seconds later Catherine walked into the office, past Greg and Chandra and straight up to Grissom, clearly exasperated. "You can't possibly call that thing my office. It's a cupboard."
"Catherine, have you met Chandra Moore? She'll be doing DNA while Greg's in the field," Grissom replied
Catherine hardly glanced back at Chandra. "Hello, I'm Catherine," back to Grissom she continued. "We need to talk."
Grissom put his glasses on and picked up a stack of assignment sheets. "Well, not now, too much work. You have a suspicious death at the Palermo," he explained before handing the sheet to her. She glared at him, grabbed the sheet and turned, walking out of the office. Warrick walked in figuring out this must be the new location of the assignment delivery.
"Warrick, trash call at a weekly at Fremont and 12th," he continued before looking up at Nick and Jessica in the doorway waiting for their assignments.
"Nick, Jessica, body in a shallow grave, dry lake bed, in Ely, off Groom Lake Road," Grissom continued handing the assignment sheet to Nick. Nick took it and looked at it for a moment.
"All right," he began before turning to Jessica. "I'll meet you there."
"Greg, you're going to be with me, your final proficiency," Grissom continued holding the assignment sheet out to the younger man.
"Great," Greg replied before turning to Chandra "Let me show you to your new digs," he continued before leading Chandra out of the office. As he passed by, Warrick wished him luck. "Good luck."
"We leave in five minutes!" Grissom called
"Okay," Greg called back.
Tuesday August 30th, 2004
7:30 p.m.
Ely, Nevada
"You are so late. What happened to you?" Jessica asked
"I'm late?" Nick asked in response as Detective Travis walked up to them.
"Jessica Harrison and Nick Stokes."
"Yeah," Nick answered
"Detective Travis. I'm ex-LAPD homicide."
"Nice to meet you," Jessica replied.
"Nice to meet you," he answered as they looked around. Just outside the crime scene tape was a group of people holding up signs.
"Who are these people?" Jessica asked.
"Uh, concerned citizens. Come on, right this way, please." Detective Travis led them to the site. Jessica turned back and looked at the people protesting. A couple of them were dressed in silver space suits complete with helmets.
"The weather's been pretty bad out here. I don't know if you're going to find much. A couple of teenagers were out here last night shooting off their dads' guns. One of them, tripped over this thing," Detective Travis explained as they reached the gravesite.
"These kids thought they'd found a real space alien," Nick mused
"Yeah, we were the second call they made. The first one was to Dan Rather, who I don't think is coming," Travis shook his head.
"Who called in the space people?" Jessica asked curious
"From what I understand, they're always out here. See this guy in the silver lamé? He put it on the "watch the skies" web site. It's been a freaking free-for-all ever since then. You know where you are, right?" Travis asked pointing to his right, at a vast expanse of dry land.
"Area 51," Jessica realized
"It's the most secretive piece of real estate in the world. This is about as close to the base as we can get and still be on public land," Travis continued as Nick saw something and walked over to the side and snapped a photo.
"I guess the killer should've dug a deeper hole," Travis continued
"Not with a short-handled shovel," Nick answered as he picked up the shovel and showed it to them.
"Not to mention Nevada Desert is compact dirt, not sand. People usually give up before they hit three feet," Jessica continued.
"Got some paint...maybe. Something for Hodges. One thing's for sure: It's going to take a lot longer getting him out than it did getting him in," Nick added
"Can't you guys just beam him back to the morgue?" Travis asked as Jessica turned and looked at Nick. Nick smiled and shook his head.
Tuesday August 30th, 2004
11:46 p.m.
CSI Forensic Autopsy
"We think it's a hearing aid," Jessica spoke causing David to stand up startled, but trying to be cool about the fact they caught him looking at the 'alien' as if he was wondering if it really was an 'alien'.
"Good. Yeah," he answered moving a few feet from the alien and her.
"Yeah. It's out of juice," Jessica continued.
"Yeah," he agreed once more.
"Hearing aids have unique serial numbers, Super Dave," Nick spoke up as he leaned in close and blew at the body's ear. He removed the hearing aid, with numbers reading CN Resound 710, before dropping it in a metal tray that David set aside. "If you get this to Detective Travis, he should be able to run it down for us.
"Arachnodactyly. Abnormally long fingers," David began as they looked over the body.
"Hmm," Jessica answered as she removed the watch from the dead body's wrist. She looked at it and smiled. "David, I know where he's from."
"Hmm?" Nick asked.
"Planet Seiko," she replied before flipping it over and seeing the inscription, 'E.T' before handing it to Nick to see.
"You've got to be kidding me," Nick groaned before he found a slip of paper tucked in the dead body's clothing. "Oh, you're going to love this," he began before starting to read. "Like a blinding supernova, your love is blasted throughout the universe. Two spirits become one by the power of the sun, the moon, and all the planets of the universe."
Meanwhile Jessica found the edge of the dead body's mask. She lifted it up and read the imprint on the underside of the mask. "Big City Costumes."
Wednesday August 31st, 2004
7:46 a.m.
Chapel of Intergalactic Love
"And like a blinding supernova, your love is blasting throughout the universe. Two spirits have become one. Earthling to earthling," the Minster of the 'alien' chapel said. Nick and Jessica walked into the room and took seats at the back.
"…So...by the power of the sun and the moon and all the planets in the universe, and the great State of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss that bride," the minister continued before the couple kissed as guests applauded. "There you go."
"Don't get all misty on me, now," Jessica teased.
"So the deceased's costume was similar to mine, you say?" the Minister, a.k.a. Brian asked once they were in the back room.
"Yeah, identical. Manufactured by Big City Costumes," Nick explained as Brian removed his head extension. "Specifically designed for this chapel."
"Yeah, that's who makes them. I guess I shouldn't be so surprised, things get stolen from here all the time. Them sci-fi nuts, you know, they're big collectors," Brian explained.
"Do the initials E.T. mean anything to you?" Nick asked.
"No, just the..." Brian spoke as he pointed up.
"Honey, we have a 3:00," his wife spoke up
"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah."
"So business is good?" Nick asked
"Oh, yes, never better. You know, I mean, people, they come to Vegas to get rich or to get hitched. I mean, you know, that's not why we do it, though. Is it, honey?" Brian asked and his wife shook her head. "We believe in love, you know, in just whatever form it might take. Are you two married?"
"No," Jessica answered as Nick just shook his head.
"No? All right, well, we're open 24 hours. There's a toll-free number right there on the back, all right?" He handed the brochure to Jessica. "Don't let this moment pass you by," he continued before turning to Nick "She's gonna getcha," Brian added before he and his wife left and Nick chuckled.
Nick and Jessica stepped out of the Chapel of Intergalactic Love and out onto the sidewalk. A man dressed as Al Capone approached them.
"Hey! You kids don't want to get married by Spock or whatever his name is in there. What would your mother say? Here." He handed them a flyer. They look around and saw the other chapel gimmicks standing out on the sidewalk trying to drum up business. They saw a pink Cadillac in a garage.
"Come on, all you hound dogs, get married by the king at the Burnin' Love Wedding Chapel." Elvis spoke over a P.A. system.
"Viva Las Vegas, man," Nick mused as he slipped his glasses on.
Wednesday August 31st, 2004
10:37 a.m.
CSI DNA Lab
Nick and Jessica walked into the lab. Jessica picked up the file folder and looked through it.
"Please don't do that," Chandra spoke up.
"Oh, sorry. Uh, I was just looking for our alien DNA analysis," Jessica explained as Nick looked through the scope.
"Not yet," Chandra answered as Nick looked up at her.
"Come on, where's your intellectual curiosity?"
"I hardly considered it a priority," Chandra answered.
"It's very neat in here. You're very neat, Chandra." Jessica mused
The printer printed out the results and Chandra turned to get it. "Thank you."
David Hodges stepped into the lab to report to Nick and Jessica. "Your shovel from the desert?" he began before looking over at Chandra and saw her struggling to pull the print sheets out of the printer. "Dug into the paint history of somebody's car. Black enamel undercoats, general motors, '60s vintage. Three layers of primer plus an acrylic top, pink."
"A pink Cadillac?" Jessica asked surprised as Det. Travis stepped into the DNA lab to report to Nick and Jessica.
"Hey. E.T. phoned home. I got an I.D. off the hearing aid," he began before looking over at Chandra as well. "Our alien is Reverend Edward Thomas of 49 Stuart Street."
"Oh, the Chapel of Intergalactic Love," Jessica realized
"We've already been there," Nick continued
"Well, if the reverend is dead, who's running the place?" Travis mused.
"Could you please take this somewhere else?" Chandra spoke up frustrated.
"We know where there's a pink Cadillac," Nick began before smirking as he continued in an Elvis imitation. "Thank ya. Thank ya very much," Nick and Jessica turned to leave and Chandra sighed
Thursday September 1st, 2004
7:45 a.m.
Burnin' Love Wedding Chapel
Nick and Jessica were going over Elvis' car when he spotted something and smiled. "Jessica."
Looking up Jessica walked over to join him and looked at the car side. "Let's go talk to the king."
Jessica and Nick walk into the chapel and watch from the back. "So as the one and only king of rock and roll, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You get over there and kiss that bride! All right! There we go!"
"Does Elvis look familiar to you?" Jessica asked as Elvis, a.k.a. Brian, lifted his Elvis glasses off and saw them standing in the back. Jessica waved to him and Nick nodded.
"That's the stuff!"
"Do karate if you do, right?"
"Viva Las Vegas Viva Las Vegas" various guests spoke up
"That's right, that's right." Brian as Elvis answered.
Thursday September 1st, 2004
10:06 a.m.
LVPD Interrogation Room
"You want to tell us about the scratch on your Cadillac?" Nick asked in the interrogation room
"I mean, come on. That's more than just a scratch. I mean, it's nothing compared to the vandalism or the stress. I mean, come on. It's a war out there, you know? Marriage is money in this town and every chapel owner wants more. I mean, last month, middle of the "I Do's," a rock comes flying through my stained glass," Brian explained
"Were you in a war with Ed Thomas?" Jessica asked
"We found the shovel near the body. The paint transfer matches your car," Nick continued.
"Well, I guess Ed was at war with me," Brian began. "I mean, I was looking for a truce. At first I thought that he was ignoring me, and then I remembered about his hearing problem. He was dead when I got there, I swear it. It must have been a heart attack or something. And so I took him out to Area 51 and then I buried him."
"Why would you possibly take him all the way out there?" Jessica asked
"Because it's what he would have wanted."
"And so then you just took over his business?" Nick asked as he sat back.
"Yeah, well, I mean, it seemed like a good idea at the time, you know? Keep spreading the love."
"The coroner determined that Ed suffered from Marfan syndrome, similar to Abe Lincoln," Jessica began changing the subject slightly.
"Abnormally long fingers, arms, legs, scoliosis." Nick explained
"So, what does that got to do with me?" Brian asked confused.
"The syndrome weakened Ed's abdominal aorta. When you found him, he wasn't dead, he was unconscious. He was bleeding internally," Jessica explained softly.
"Yeah, the coroner found dirt in his stomach and his upper airways, underneath his fingernails. He died from asphyxia, all right, but it was post-burial," Nick explained.
Brian's eyes widen in horror and he started to cry. "I think I'm going to be sick. I'm sorry."
Thursday September 2nd, 2004
8:05 a.m.
CSI Break Room
"All right ladies and gentlemen. I think it's official that we all had an interesting night. I say we all go to breakfast. My treat." Grissom said as he walked into the Break Room where the team was gathered. Jessica patting Greg's arm supportively.
"Now?" Catherine asked looking up at him. She had returned to work after what happened at the Night Club, figuring work would be the quickest way to forget at the moment.
"Now," he answered with a smile.
"All right," she sighed before standing up. "So where to boss?"
"Usual," he replied before heading out of the office, and the others followed.
Thursday September 2nd, 2004
8:35 a.m.
Local Diner
"So," Warrick began after everyone had gotten their food, as he looked over at Jessica. "We all pretty much get to kill Sara for never mentioning this amazing friend she had in Frisco. Would you be willing to share some "Sara" memories?"
Jessica looked up at him before glancing at each of the others. Catherine, Greg, Nick, and Grissom. They were all watching her with hope shinning in their eyes, if not their faces…a.k.a. Greg. Looking back at her plate of waffles she debated her options for a few moments. Finally nodding she looked up at Warrick. "A few."
"Oh goodie!" Greg replied instantly and Jessica shook her head slightly as she smiled.
"What would you like to know? Although bear in mind, some things I will not share," she added as a warning and the others nodded. "So?" she asked as she picked up her knife to start cutting her waffles.
"Well, what was Sara like when you two met?" Catherine asked.
Jessica smiled. "Bossy as hell and yet quiet as a mouse. She drove the counselors nuts at camp, telling them they were doing things wrong. But when we were working, she was so quiet. Then again so was I…until the explosion."
"Explosion?" Greg asked, his eyebrows shooting up.
"Yeah, the idiot working next to us decided to roast marshmallows over his Bunsen burner…on high. The flame caught the marshmallow on fire. He panicked and threw it trying to shake the flame out. Part landed across the room on another burner, part in the marshmallows bag. Next thing we know, marshmallows were EVERYWHERE. Everyone was covered and Sara was pissed. She went off on this guy for forty minutes straight. I was scared out of my mind, I shared a cabin with this nutcase."
Catherine and Warrick were snickering, the mental picture of Sara covered in marshmallow, hand on hip, going up one side and down the other of this boy too much.
"So what happened that night?" Grissom asked with a smile.
"Sara woke me up with a candle, bag of marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. After we all had to have our hair cut off and we were stuck with pixies, she decided we could use the chocolate. We were up until dawn talking. After that, nothing could separate us."
"Bonding by marshmallows." Greg laughed. "I'll have to try that."
"Not in my lab!" Grissom shot immediately.
"And if I have to cut my hair because of you, you're dead."
Greg gulped and nodded slightly before looking away from Catherine. "So, you knew her when she liked meat. What was her fav place to eat?"
"Fairfield."
"Fairfield?" Nick and Warrick echoed.
"Never heard of it." Greg continued.
"That would be because Fairfield is a city," Jessica smirked.
"How did we go from food to towns?" Warrick asked
"Very carefully," Jessica replied with another smirk. "Senior year her science class took a trip to Travis Air Force Base. There she met Bev Kincaid. Bev went to one of the local high schools in Fairfield and was in the R.O.T.C. program. The group was discussing lunch options when Bev told them about Dave's. A hamburger place next to Armijo."
"Armijo?"
"Bev's high school," Jess replied with a smile.
"Wasn't Armijo the school that Pat Morita went to?" Grissom asked out of nowhere as Nick turned to him shocked.
"You know this how?"
"Nicky, I do watch something other than Discovery Channel," Grissom began with a sigh.
"Years ago I saw Mr. Morita in a movie and decided to learn a bit about the man. And it is hard to forget such an interesting place as Armijo High School in Fairfield, California."
"Oh."
"Who knew, Griss may have seen Karate Kid," Warrick teased.
Grissom rolled his eyes. "I'll have you know those movies can be very scientific."
"Oh really? How?"
"We ever manage to watch them together, I'll explain," he countered with a smirk as Nick shook his head. Catherine and Jessica just laughed.
"Before we start an argument on the better aspects of the Karate Kid series, although my vote is for the fourth one," Catherine began with a smirk. "Was it the same school, do you know?"
"Yeah, it was," Jessica confirmed.
"So you were saying…" Greg prompted.
"Oh yeah, so the class decided to go to Dave's. Amazing hamburgers. I'm telling you these things are six inches thick. No fries, but they have these to die for milkshakes. Practically any flavor, and so thick you could probably plant a tree in ten of them and it would never move. That's a Sara saying by the way."
"Interesting…" Warrick mused. "So she liked this hamburger place, still doesn't explain why the town was her fav place to eat."
"Well, that day at Dave's she met Bev's boyfriend Wally, controlling jerk that one, they ended years ago. But she also met Wally's best friend Bernie… Bernie Vanderbogart."
"Vanderbogart!" Catherine nearly spit her coffee out. "Good God. Did his parents just join their last names?"
"We use to wonder that same thing," Jessica laughed. "Sara and Bernie hit it off, and they started dating and not long after Fairfield became our favorite place. It was near Lake Berryessa, had Dave's, the drive-in, Hof Brau…Now there's a restaurant. It's owned by this Greek family, the Karahalios'. Sweethearts, they loved Sara and I. Course it helped we were there every other weekend. Saw them when she visited a few months ago now, their daughter owns it nowadays. Christina saw us and was yelling for her parents. People thought we were family…then again, after fifteen years, I suppose we are."
"Sounds great, wonder why she moved so far away," Warrick mused over his coffee.
Jessica shrugged as she glanced at Grissom quickly before looking back at the others. "Other than that, there was also the Korean Bar-B-Q place, and Nut Tree and Coffee Tree in Vacaville."
"Busy area."
"Sort of. Back then there was a lot of open land. Now…Fairfield and Vacaville and Suisun, it's on the other side of Fairfield from Vacaville, well they've basically joined to be as big together as San Francisco is. Between the three they have seven High Schools."
"Damn, how many people go to the High School?" Warrick wondered.
"Class of '02 was record setting with a thousand freshman. '03 was even bigger. And that's just Armijo."
"I used to think my class was big," Greg sighed. "So, Fairfield was her fav restaurant," he began with a wink. "Whatever happened to this Bernie."
"He and Bev have four kids and counting," Jessica smiled
"Sara's boyfriend ended up with his best friend's girlfriend. Interesting...very interesting," Nick mused as the waitress arrived to take their plates.
"So, anything else?" Greg asked as he sat back
"Like what?"
"Childhood?" he suggested "Or not," he continued as they literally watched her shut them out, her expression went from happy and smiling to completely blank as she regarded them with cold eyes.
"Well," Jessica began a moment later. "I don't know about you guys, but we did just finish a night's shift and I'm beat. So…see you guys tonight." she continued as she gathered her things.
"Night," they called as they watched her leave.
"What did you guys do to Jessica?" Jim asked as he walked up. "Figured I'd find you here. Wanted to let you know we got the guy for you case Warrick."
"Thanks. And we have no idea," Warrick replied as Grissom shook his head. Standing he walked over to the counter to pay the tab.
"Well, Jessica did have a point, we all have work tonight," Warrick began after a moment as he turned to gather his things.
"Quite so," Catherine agreed as the rest of the group followed suit.
"See you guys tonight." Nick called as he headed towards his car. Moments later the restaurant was devoid of any members of the CSI and another day in Vegas was continuing on its normal route.
Monday September 6th, 2004
9:52 p.m.
CSI Lab
"Jessica?"
Turning Jessica raised an eyebrow as Nick hurried to catch up with her. As she looked up into his eyes she felt a slight flutter in her stomach before shoving it away. "Can I help you Mr. Stokes?"
"Actually," Nick began taking a mental step back when she was so…cold. It had been a few days since their breakfast, but she hadn't been nearly as cold as she was after they brought up Sara's childhood. "Grissom sent me, we just got the call, looks like there might be a new victim."
"Damn," she muttered before turning completely and nodding for him to lead. Nick shook his head and moved to lead her towards the car that was already waiting to take them to the newest location.
When they arrived they stepped out and Nick headed to check in with Brass while she headed towards the front door. Only to be stopped by one of the officers at the scene.
"Ms. Sidle, good to see you again," the man spoke as he joined them. Turning to look at him she started to explain she wasn't Sara when he continued. "I know it's been quite some time, but I wanted to check and see that you were doing all right since that night. No more drinking and driving right?" he continued dropping his voice as she just stared at him.
"Drinking and Driving?" Nick asked confused behind them as the poor officer jumped a good ten feet.
"Uh…" the man began glancing at Jessica and she took her glasses off. His face suddenly became quite the peculiar shade of white. "You aren't Sara Sidle…"
"No, I'm not. But I know for a fact she would not be happy with this conversation," Jessica snapped
"Look Jess, I know Sara and you are like this," Nick began crossing his fingers. "But Sara is family. And if something happened I need to know."
"No, you don't." she replied evenly.
"Jessica, you can stay and hear or go let Jim fill you in. Either way, I am getting this story."
"Fine," she growled before turning to the officer who was looking between the two of them as if he had just been dropped in the tiger cage at the zoo. And was holding a T-bone. "You were saying?"
"I'd rather not."
"I'd rather you did," Nick answered as the man looked over at Brass. "He can't help you."
"Don't you need to process the scene?" the detective asked hopefully.
"Yeah, we do. But you can answer this question in two minutes flat so…" Jessica replied with a sigh.
"Fine. Look a few weeks ago I pulled Sidle over. Technically she was over the limit, but they had just lowered it so we gave her a break. Called her supervisor, he came to get her and that's the last that I know about the situation. I saw you, thought you were her and wanted to see how she was doing. I apologize for making the mistake. And if Sidle does return, or if your supervisor or Brass gets upset, I am telling them that the two of you, you" he continued looking at Nick. "especially threatened my life. Do you understand me?"
"Perfectly," Jessica replied with a smirk. "And don't worry, he'll take the fall," she added as she looked at Nick. "Shall we then?" she asked coldly.
Nick merely nodded before heading towards the house once more. Behind them the detective turned and banged his head against the hood of his car for the next five minutes.
Monday September 6th, 2004
11:08 p.m.
CSI Lab
"You aren't going to do what you're thinking about doing," Jessica spoke for the first time since they had spoke with the detective.
Nick remained silent as they continued towards the room where the others were waiting to hear about their latest victim. Shaking her head Jessica handed him the evidence. "Take that to the lab. I've got to take care of a few other things before you go and make everyone's lives a living hell."
"Yeah sure," Nick answered as he took the bags and started down the hall towards the lab.
Jessica turned in the opposite direction from Nick to start her search for Grissom. As she made her way through the halls, she came to the break room where she ducked in to gather her wits and her thoughts and to take her frustrations out on something that would not require a trip to the hospital. When the door shut behind her, Jessica picked up a glass on the coffee table and hurled it against the wall with growl of frustration. "Why Sara? Why?"
So caught in her own turmoil, Jessica didn't even hear the door open or someone enter until a hand landed on her shoulder. "Jessica?"
"Jesus Christ Greg, give me a heart attack why don't you," sighed Jessica when she turned to see who had joined her in the room
"Sorry," he apologized immediately. "But are you alright?"
"I'm fine Greg. I just learned something I don't think anybody was supposed to know and now Nick knows as well and I don't really think it's something that should be talked about, not without her permission first at any rate," explained Jessica. "You seen Grissom?"
"Nope, he's probably either in his office or at the case room. So I'm guessing that's what the glass did to you," Greg smiled.
"What?" asked Jessica in confusion
"Glass you threw. I was going to ask what it ever did to you. I'm assuming now it was just something handy and that Nick is to blame for it's untimely death," he explained with a grin.
"Something like that," agreed Jessica with a small smile. "Better it than my hand at any rate."
"Definitely. Well I'll let you go hunt Griss down. I have to go see how things are going in the lab before heading to the case room as it is so...but I'll take care of the glass for you" he added with a nod towards the door. "Good luck."
"Thanks," replied Jessica before heading out of the break room to resume her search for Grissom, who was decidedly not in his office which left only one place to look. The case room...with Nick. "Oh hell..." she cursed quietly before quickly making her way back to the case room, getting there just as Nick was finishing telling the others what they had found.
"Ahh Jessica, there you are," Grissom smiled as she opened the door. "Nick just finished filling us in on the scene," he trailed off as his smile faded.
"Did he?" she asked coolly, a rather cold look directed at Nick before turning back to Grissom.
Catherine and Warrick both caught the look and glanced at each other, Warrick's brows lifted before they looked back at her and Grissom. Before Grissom got a chance to reply in any way, Nick spoke up.
"Were you going to tell us?" he asked bluntly and the majority of the room's occupants turned to look at him in complete confusion as Jessica rolled her eyes.
"Excuse me?" Grissom asked confused as to what Nick was talking about or why Nick was suddenly glaring at him as if he was debating how to set Grissom on fire.
"I don't think it's really his place to tell anyone anything about someone else's personal life Nick. How would you feel if you found out that Grissom had told everyone something that was private, especially after the fact? If she wanted everyone to know, she would have told you herself," snapped Jessica.
As Nick turned to look at her, the others in the room looked at each other in greater confusion, especially Grissom who was now trying to figure out what the hell Nick and Jessica were talking about, until his brain finally put two and two together and he sighed. But before his brain had answered the question, Nick was making a bigger ass out of himself where Jessica was concerned. "You know Jess, I said this earlier. I don't know why she kept this silent but as far as I'm concerned. She needed us. And we were unable to be there for her because someone in their infinite wisdom chose to keep us out of the loop AND considering that we do work in the same business as the police I find it damn funny that this was not known at least to those of us gathered in this room. Which means that he had to have kept it silent, not to mention you Brass." Nick glanced over at Jim who was quickly putting things together as well. "Oh! So now you know what I'm talking about," he continued as he turned to Grissom after hearing the older man sigh.
"Nick, even I didn't know about this and I have known her a hell of a lot longer than anyone in this room. If she didn't tell me, her best friend of all people, than that should tell you something. I was just as surprised as you when that patrol man started asking how I was doing. I still think that this is something she wanted kept private," argued Jessica before either Grissom or Brass could answer.
"Hold on. You were mistaken for Sara?" Brass spoke up before growling slightly. "I'm going to kill him.
"Don't bother, he was threatened by Nick here with bodily harm. Trust me, he didn't want to tell," Jessica defended the man. In return Brass merely snorted.
"What the hell is going on?" Catherine spoke up.
"Should I tell them or do you want to oh great and wise decision maker," Nick asked sarcastically as he looked at Grissom who was watching him with cold eyes.
"I think you should tell them Nick. You're the one so determined to share someone else's secrets," snapped Jessica. "At least if she asks I can always tell her I was against this from the start."
"No Jessica. He probably should, but I owe her at least this much as to put it in a better light than it might come with Nick's mood," Grissom spoke before Nick could answer in any way. "And don't worry Jessica. I'll make that clear to her as well." he continued to her before looking back at Nick. Regarding the younger man coolly he began
"After the Parker case, I received a call that Sara had been pulled over. She had been stopped and tested, and they had made the decision to not book her for a DUI. Technically speaking she was over the limit, but as the state had just lowered it, and as a professional courtesy they didn't arrest her. However, they did have to call her supervisor. After I learned that she was not harmed, I went down to the station and picked her up. I took her home and she went on vacation the next day. Jim and I made the decision together that we would keep this from all of the lab and it was to remain known only to those at the station that night. We both knew that Sara deserved the chance to remain out of the lab gossip mill."
"Which is when she showed up at my door in California," commented Jessica.
Catherine, Warrick, and Greg remained silent for a few moments before Catherine stood up and walked over to Nick. "When she gets back, and she decides to kill you...don't come to me for help," she spoke calmly, though her eyes were flashing. "But at the same time...I'm glad I know," she continued before turning to Grissom. "And if this happens to me, I would hope you would do the same for me as you did for her," she smiled softly. Grissom nodded but remained silent.
"She's right you know," Warrick spoke up. "Man, don't get me wrong I think that we should have been there for her. But at the same time...was that really smart going up against Grissom like that?"
"Yeah, even I'm not that stupid," Greg added as he rolled his eyes. "Although...has anyone considered that this could be a reason why she left?"
"Excuse me but that is most decidedly not the reason she left, I can guarantee you that much," snapped Jessica, her emotions still running high. "By the time she left me in San Francisco she was more like the girl I've known for the past twenty years than when she first came, nor the girl that called me not two days before I got transferred here."
Everyone stared at Jessica in shock as she turned and stalked from the room before looking at each other. Jim shook his head and choose that moment to tell Nick exactly how he felt.
Jessica's feet took her to the break room where she contemplated throwing another glass around the room before flopping herself onto the couch as she thought back to the last time she had seen Sara...
"Coming!" Jessica called as she made her way to the door. "Look Michael, I told you, I'm not interested," she continued as she opened the door.
"Good to hear Chica Maria. But you probably should start dating."
Glancing up she grinned before jumping at the other woman. "Sara!"
"Hey Jyn," Sara replied with a laugh as they hugged. "Okay Jess, I need to breathe…Jess…Jess!" she started to squeak as the lack of oxygen started getting to her.
"Oh sorry!" Jessica replied as she stepped back finally. "Oh God girl, I've been waiting for you to get your sorry butt back here to the land of musicals and chocolate."
Sara laughed. "And I've been waiting to get back here to hear you say that. Damn girl, what have you been doing with yourself? You look great," she continued as she stepped back and got a good look at Jessica. "Although Love, we have got to get you out of those fitted T's."
"Look who's talking." Jessica countered with a smirk. "But enough, get your butt in herel" she continued waving her hand as Sara moved past her into the hallway. "What are you doing here? Besides risking almost certain death by not warning me."
"I'm on two weeks vacation," Sara began before glancing back at Jessica. "Yeah, I know. I have ten weeks on the book and I actually take two weeks off."
"Yeah, why didn't anyone tell me hell froze over," Jessica countered. "So what's really going on?"
"Nothing, just vacation," Sara replied with a shrug.
"Bull, this is me you are talking to. Now stop the trash and start telling me the truth," Jessica replied as Sara sighed.
"God, I know that look. Fine, fine. I'll spill. You can have everything, just get me plenty of snacks and plenty of lemonade."
"My version or yours?" Jessica asked with a smirk.
"Mine, I don't need anymore alcohol in my system, but feel free to enjoy yours," Sara replied with a smile before turning and heading towards the kitchen.
Jessica shook her head before following her. "All right, how does takeout sound?" she asked as she picked up the phone.
"Heaven, I haven't eaten since I left Vegas."
"You what?" Jessica asked as her gaze whipped towards Sara's face. "Sara Marie Sidle, it's a nine hour drive from Vegas to here. And even if you flew, it's a two hour flight at least. What do you mean you haven't eaten since you left Vegas!"
"Yes mother I know, meals are an important part of life but you can sue me for not following the pyramid of nutrition. I'm sure your lawyer would burst a kidney laughing over it," Sara grumbled as she hopped up on a stool. "Jess please don't do this now, I have way too many things on my brain to worry about eating. Hell, you could probably sneak meat into my food and I wouldn't even notice," she continued with a sigh. "But don't get any ideas," she added with a smirk.
"Fair enough, and like I would have, I know better than to try and slip you meat. I remember when Peter did that the last time we got you here for a day or two."
"God, that man was insane."
"Yeah and you nearly put him in the nuthouse," Jessica countered with a smile as she opened the fridge and pulled two bottles of water out. "Here, drink. I'll call in the food."
"Yes mommy dearest," Sara replied rolling her eyes while Jessica headed into the living room as she dialed the familiar number.
Over a dinner of Chinese food and a raid to get the supplies to last the night the two had stayed up until three a.m. eating 'Making Whoopee Pie' ice cream, nachos and other munchies. During the course of the night they compared the last few weeks and months of their lives, and Jessica did her best to find out what Sara was avoiding talking about… but finally had to give up.
The next two weeks were heaven. They took in a showing of The Producers, attended the Chinatown Night Market Fair, had dinner with the gang, and Peter once more tried to sneak meat into Sara's dinner, so she explained exactly why she wouldn't eat anything that wasn't a vegetable or a fish. Although fortunately Jessica was gone at the time and came back to find Mac, Peter, and Michael all quite green and pushing their plates away. She wisely refrained from asking and enjoyed her meal as the three men glared at her and Sara for being able to eat. A few days spent at Fisherman's Warf, two days in Fairfield, a trip to Sonoma during which they went riding…
And all too soon the two weeks were up and Sara was returning to Vegas. By the time she saw Sara driving down the road, one hand waving out the window, she had come no closer to finding out exactly what had been the reasoning behind the sudden vacation. But she did know a great deal more about Sara's relationship, or lack thereof, with Grissom, including what had happened with Dr. Laurie. Something she had dragged out of Sara when she was half awake and no longer guarding what she was saying so to speak.
And not long after she had been transferred to Vegas and Sara was gone….
Sighing softly Jessica leaned back and rubbed her neck. She hated this, all of it…
"Jessica?"
Looking up at the break room door Jessica frowned when she saw Nick standing there. "What can I do for you Mr. Stokes?" asked Jessica, turning her gaze back away from the door.
Nick sighed softly as he moved into the room and shut the door. "Jessica... " he began looking for the words.
"Just say it Nick," sighed Jessica, rising from the chair and walking towards the window, her arms wrapped around her middle in a defensive posture, not looking at Nick once since he first entered.
"Look I'm sorry. God knows that is not the right thing to say. You were right. I had no business butting into her business like that. But Jessica...Sara is like a sister to me and out of nowhere she just disappeared... and then I found out about this...and I freaked. I...I just don't know. I was a jerk, I was an asshole...but I couldn't stop. And in all honesty a part of me would do the exact same thing. God, I'm making things even worse, aren't I..." he trailed off as he leaned against the door.
"Now there's a shock for you," mused Jessica from the window.
"Huh?" Nick asked looking up at her
"A man that's willing to admit he's wrong," smiled Jessica sadly. "I'm sorry too for jumping all over you the way that I did. I'm just very protective of Sara, for all intents and purposes she is my sister and this is just as hard on me as it is on the rest of you, if not harder," she finished barely above a whisper.
"Oh Jessica...I'm so sorry." Nick spoke softly as he hesitantly moved over to her. "She's bound to contact us eventually." he continued carefully.
Just as Nick was about to hug her, the door opened and he turned around. "Hey, Grissom sent me to get the two of you. We need to go over the new information from the case," Catherine spoke softly.
"No problem," replied Jessica, quickly turning her back to Catherine to wipe away her tears before quickly looking at Nick, who had stepped back from her a little bit, before following Catherine from the room, Nick trailing behind her.
Once they reached the room the three split up going to their seats before Nick cleared his throat. "All right, so far all we know is that there is nothing that is different from the other victims...except this," he began as he looked over the bible that was in an evidence bag on Jessica's other side.
"May I see?" Grissom asked nodding towards the object.
Jessica nodded and passed the bible to Nick, their hands touching briefly, Nick holding her gaze for a few seconds longer than would be considered normal causing Jessica to blush and quickly turn her eyes back to the table in front of her. /-/Jessica Lynn Harrison...Get. A. Grip! Yes he's cute...okay scratch cute, he's bloody gorgeous, but there is no way he would ever be interested in someone like you...someone with your past.../-/
Nick in turn passed the book to Grissom who looked at it as Nick glanced back at Jessica and smiled slightly.
"Different book of the bible this time..." Grissom mused as he looked up at the others before beginning to read. "The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples….But it was because the Lord loved you…Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not slow to repay to their face those who hate him. Therefore take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today. If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep his covenant of love with you…He will love you and bless you…He will bless the fruit of your womb…You will be blessed more than any other…"
"Any ideas on what the hell he's trying to tell us?" Catherine asked after a moment.
"You're guess is as good as ours," offered Jessica looking around the room. "Th-that's..." she stuttered when her gaze landed on Nick beside her, "That's the only difference between this victim and the last. The bible passages."
Behind her Jim raised an eyebrow when she stuttered before smiling. Glancing up at Grissom he smirked slightly. "Well, now that we know what's different, it seems there's nothing else we can do for now..."
"Except wait for the next victim," commented Jessica quietly, determinedly keeping her eyes on the table to avoid looking at Nick. /-/You have got to get it through you're head girl, Nick will never look at you in that way. You look like his friend...a friend who's gone and vanished without telling anyone where she went. He doesn't see you when he looks at you, he sees her.../-/
Grissom sighed softly. "Well, we do have other cases to work on as well. However, before we go. I'm springing for breakfast again for anyone who is interested."
"Sounds good to me," Catherine spoke up. "So, we'll see you in a few hours if not sooner," she added with a smirk as she and Warrick stood, they still had a bit more sewer flushing to take care of.
Grissom nodded. "Thanks Jessica. We'll see you later," he replied as she left.
"She gets to leave early?" Greg asked looking around.
"She's not working for me Greg, she answers to Frisco." Grissom replied as he stood and left the room as well.
"Oh."
A/N : Exerts taken from Deuteronomy 7:7-13Women's Devotional Bible, NIVcopyright 1990