Chapter 28
Wednesday May 24th, 2006
11:15 p.m.
CSI Break Room
"Hey Griss, why the meeting?" Catherine asked as she sat down.
"Have a bit of news for you all," Gil explained as he sat down among them. "As of this afternoon, Ecklie has resigned and is transferring out to a lab in Michigan."
"What?" everyone asked in shock before Greg's forehead smacked the table.
"You okay Greggo?" Warrick asked concerned.
"Just fine," he answered from against the table.
"Okay…well, while he has an...inspirational talk with the table over there..." Catherine began looking back at Gil. "Who's taking over for Days?"
"Atwater's promoting Carson from days."
"Carson..." Nick mused before placing him. "Oh, hey, he's not that bad."
"Exactly, so hopefully things will work out," Gil nodded and rose.
"So have you told Sara?" Jess asked as Gil was heading out the door.
"No need," was the response they got and they looked at one another completely confused, other than Greg who was still communing with the tabletop.
"Well, that just proved that theory," he began after a moment as he sat up.
"What theory?" Jessica asked
"Last night before I came into work Sara showed up on my doorstep. She asked for the pictures, gave me a lecture on the evils what the pictures could do to Ecklie's family, "even if he is a bastard his family doesn't deserve to suffer", and left. Pictures, negatives, everything in tow. I was ready to hand over my birth certificate and the scarf my aunt Lola caught at an Elvis concert that is sealed and framed with a picture of him that is signed, by the time she left..." he trailed off with a shudder.
"Anyone else thinking Sara had a talk with more than just Greggo here?" Warrick asked after a moment.
"Oh, that's a proven fact," Jim's voice drew their attention to the doorway. "After she finished with Greg, she went to Ecklie, then hit me here at the office. She went home with me standing there with my tail between my legs and a standing invitation for her and Grissom to come to dinner whenever they want, just have to give me twenty-minutes notice."
"Wow," Catherine whispered. "She got that out of you...sheesh."
"That's nothing. The invitation is good on five different occasions," Jim sighed before turning back to the hallway. "I'd keep an eye out for her, she might come after you guys next," he called before leaving.
"No, she won't," Gil spoke as he walked past the doorway seconds later, chasing after Jim for his case.
"Okay, I think this night just went from bizarre to Twighlight Zone..." Catherine shook her head. "I'm heading back to my case, at least there shouldn't be any twists in that like this," she added before rising and leaving the room.
"I'm with her. If I start hearing the Twighlight Zone music...I'm so running for the hills," Greg agreed before disappearing.
"I didn't see that one coming... did you?" Nick asked Jess and Warrick as the three were left behind.
"Not really, but looking back on it after the fact, makes sense. Figures it would be Sara and Gil who automatically jump to the let's not destroy our mortal enemy and instead just push him in a direction that helps him and us," Warrick mused.
"I take it you all heard the news," Sara's voice drew their attention to the doorway.
"Good guess," Jessica teased as she rose and walked over to give her best friend a hug. "You actually went to see Ecklie. On your own?"
"He's harmless. Besides, we have a deal. He moves and leaves Vegas alone, he'll get the negatives in the mail in a few months. Until then, he has to just trust that I'll be true to my word and no one will see them, not even Gil."
"And he trusts you, damn, what did you say to him to get him to leave?"
"That's for me to know and you to never find out, Nicky boy," Sara answered with a smirk. "So, how's the coffee today?"
Thursday May 25th, 2006
4:15 p.m.
Grissom/Sidle Townhouse
"That sounds so romantic," sighed Lindsey as Sara finished her story about the dinner she and Gil had while at Disney World, at Victoria and Albert's.
"It was," Sara grinned. Thirty minutes earlier the last of the guests for the afternoon's festivities had arrived, and Catherine had promptly kicked Nick off the couch so she could sit next to Jessica, and herself and begann questioning about anything they did for the two of them. Which of course had led to the story about dinner at Victoria and Albert's, and Lindsey no doubt now planning how to find a guy and go to Disney World with him.
"You know, now none of us can never live up to the impression you've made on all of our significant others, you know that right?" Greg asked as he looked over at Gil.
"You'll find your own unique ways," Gil answered with a shrug and Greg just rolled his eyes.
"It's okay, Sweetheart," Mia reassured him but behind his back winked at the three women on the couch.
"Don't you love having a fourth member to our little group?" Catherine asked with a smile.
"Here, here," Sara agreed with a laugh.
"Definitely," laughed Jessica
"Fourth member? But there's a lot more than four people here..." Greg asked confused. Which only caused the women, including Mia, to laugh even harder.
"What am I missing?" Greg asked looking at the other men in the room, who were snickering into their drinks.
"Duh," Lindsey spoke up rolling her eyes. "It's called the Las Vegas version of the Ya Ya Sisterhood."
Sara just about spit her drink across the floor when she heard Lindsey's answer, and Jessica quickly patted her on the back as she choked, while Catherine just lost it and it was beyond anyone how she didn't fall off the couch from laughing so hard.
"Except our version is full of genius and women who carry guns," Jim's deadpan thought had Mia on the floor and Lindsey giggling as well.
"Okay then, I think it's time we break out something other than stories," Sara began after she stopped laughing.
"And what does that mean?" Catherine asked eyeing her.
"It means presents of course," Sara smiled.
"Oh! Presents! YES!"
"I thought Lindsey was the one under fifteen?" Sara asked leaning over to Catherine.
"So did I," Catherine agreed as Lindsey just stared at Greg.
"Mom...can I start spending more time with you and the other members of the YYS? Something tells me it might be dangerous for my mental state to be around him..." Lindsey asked after a moment.
"I'll be back," Jim spoke up before disappearing from the room and his laughter drifted back to them.
"Hey! I'm not that bad," Greg pouted and Mia just patted his hand.
"You can hang around us all you want," Catherine promised her eldest daughter with a smile.
"Okay, we definitely need to do presents, in a nice quiet, non-Christmas Morning insanity fashion," Sara spoke up shaking her head. "And hand over Abby," she ordered before Warrick laughed and handed his daughter over. "I'm making up for lost time with this one," she smiled as Gil rose and disappeared for a few minutes. Coming back, he had Jim laden down with bags, all sadly not see through to those waiting to see what was in them, and Gil had a few bags as well.
"Okay, did you two decide to buy out Florida or something?" Catherine asked with a smirk.
"No, we just visited five theme park complexes in Central Florida, one of which has four parks to its name, another has two parks. Then we had the dinner show, Miami, the Florida Keys, not to mention we hit up north when we went and saw Scor..." Sara shrugged.
"Well, I for one am quite happy regardless," Greg smiled as he rubbed his hands together eagerly.
"And isn't it going to kill you to find out that we're dividing gifts up by location and then rank, because I'm evil after all, after the children of course," Sara smiled.
"Damn," Greg grumbled.
"Greg!" every woman yelled before Mia smacked him over the head.
"I'm not five anymore," Lindsey sighed.
"We know, we're preparing him for when he has children of his own," Sara smiled and Lindsey nodded in agreement. "So, you guys get to come along with us on our trip so to speak," Sara continued after a moment, Abby was sound asleep in her arms, so movement was a bit limited, but she didn't care a bit. "You get gifts in order of when we were there."
"Which means the Kennedy Space Center is first," Gil continued glancing at the bags. "Jim, can you hand me that one on your left?" he asked before Jim did as he asked.
Gil rummaged around the bag for a moment before producing four boxes. "Two for the lovely Lindsey, and two for Catherine to open for Abby," he smiled as he passed them in either direction.
"Go ahead and open one Linds," Catherine spoke up and Lindsey looked between the two wrapped boxes.
"One's from me, one's from your Uncle Gil," Sara explained with a smile.
"Which ones from who?" Lindsey asked curious.
"Linds, one has bug paper, the other doesn't," Warrick laughed.
"Good point," Lindsey smiled before turning to the box from Sara. Tearing the paper off she opened the box and pulled out a pink tank top that said 'Space Princess' and had the NASA logo underneath. "Oh cool!" Lindsey grinned as she looked up at Sara. "Thank you!"
"Your welcome," Sara laughed as Lindsey turned to the other box before looking up at Gil.
"It's not bugs, is it?" she asked warily and all the adults started to snicker as Gil rolled his eyes.
"No, I only got anything bug related for your Aunt Sara," he replied and Lindsey grinned before tearing into that one as well.
"Oh wow!" Lindsey grinned. "It's a crystal growing kit."
"Crystals?" Warrick asked as Lindsey flipped the box over.
"Crystals you may grow: amber geode, amber cluster, quartz single crystal, amber single crystal, quartz geode," she read. "Thank you Uncle Gil."
"Your welcome," Gil smiled.
"Leave it to him to move from Chemistry sets when she was seven to Crystals when she's a teenager," Catherine laughed as Lindsey continued to look over her new kit. "Okay, Abby's turn," Catherine smiled as she turned to the two packages, wrapped like Lindsey's. "You do realize this one isn't old enough for science kits, right?" she asked looking over at Gil.
"Of course. Open my gift if you don't believe me," he answered and she rolled her eyes once more.
Catherine smirked at him before opening his present. "Bears?" she asked when she removed the lid. Inside were four small bears, the size of Beanie Babies. One red, one white, one blue, and one black.
"They're the NASA bears. The Red one is the Count Down Bear, white is the Shooting Star bear, Blue is Zero Gravity, and Black is the American Hero bear," Gil explained. "Figured if she was going to have the teddy bear collection Sara is insistent on starting for her, she might as well have some collector bears."
"And those were his exact words when he saw them," Sara rolled her eyes.
Catherine laughed as she looked between the two. "Okay, so how much influence did she have on the gift?"
"None," he defended himself.
Sara snorted. "He only got them because I was eyeing them and he had yet to find something for Abby," she rolled her eyes with a smile though.
"Alright, alright, I admit she had a good deal of influence on the gift."
"All I wanted to hear," Catherine grinned. "And thank you. We'll make sure she knows her Uncle Gil picked them out all on his own," she added with a wink as Warrick snatched the box to look.
"Okay, next gift," Greg spoke up and Catherine threw the ball of wrapping paper from the bears at him.
Which prompted a five-minute wrapping paper war and Lindsey wondering if her aunts and uncles were indeed grown-ups, at least in the case of Greg.
Finally, Gil confiscated the paper and Catherine turned back to the second package. Opening it she gasped slightly. "Oh Sara it's adorable," she smiled as she looked at the other woman before pulling the small pink dress out of the box for everyone to see. Up on the left part of the chest was a butterfly, and across the bottom were five flowers with the words Kennedy Space Center underneath.
"I thought it was when Gil described it," Sara smiled before giving Catherine a one armed hug.
"Okay, on to the adults." Greg announced before getting hit by the newest piece of wrapping. "What?" he asked looking around the group.
Jim received his tie, which he laughed about; and Catherine got a kick out of the coffee mug that had the NASA logo and said 'I Need My Space'. Warrick opened his gift to find a lighter and looked up at the two questioningly, to which Gil shrugged and Sara laughed.
"I couldn't resist," she explained. "You never know when you might need a lighter on the job, and I'm not going to be around like last time," she shrugged and he laughed.
"Next time I roast a pig, I'm having you there regardless," he answered and she shuddered.
"Okay, moving on from that image," Sara and Catherine chorused and Nick and Jessica got their gifts.
Jessica couldn't help the giggle that escaped when she opened her box only to discover a long sleeved pink cotton shirt with the same logo as Catherine's mug.
Nick immediately put on the navy blue and white ball cap that said Kennedy Space Center with an American Flag in the middle.
"Is he already wearing it?" Sara asked Jess with a smile.
"Yep," agreed Jessica with a laugh
Sara grinned and looked over towards Gil who rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, you win," he continued shaking his head and Sara just smiled smugly.
"Something tells me you wouldn't share if we asked so..." Catherine sighed. "Alright, let's let Mia have her gift so Greg can have his."
"Hey, I thought we were doing this by rank?" Greg pointed out.
"Well of course, but she's your better half so," Catherine shrugged with a smirk.
"Oh brother," Greg sighed and Mia laughed.
"When I heard about this, I couldn't resist," Sara explained as Gil passed a box her way.
Mia raised an eyebrow before opening the package to find a coffee mug with cats dressed up like astronauts and she giggled. "Oh that is cute."
"Thought you'd like it."
"Cats?" Warrick asked curious. "So does that mean we now know something that you like?"
"Mmm hmm, but the women already knew," Mia smiled.
"It's official, women talk to other women a lot more than they do to men" Warrick teased.
"Darn right," Catherine agreed.
"And now we should probably let Greg have his gift," Sara smiled and Gil produced it with a dramatic flourish. Passing it to Greg everyone kept it a few seconds longer than necessarily just to tease the younger man and when he finally got it Greg stuck his tongue out at them.
"Hmm, kinda heavy. Not exceptionally...square shape...is it a figurine?"
"Nope."
"Signed picture of an astronaut?"
"You want one?" Sara asked surprised.
"No," he shrugged. "But I'll take that as a no...aha! It's a game," he continued with a grin.
"Just open it," everyone yelled.
"Really now, just ruin my fun," Greg mumbled as he opened the box then looked up at Gil then Sara. "Okay, this is so not funny."
"What isn't?" Nick asked.
Greg rolled his eyes before pulling out The Idiot's Guide to NASA.
"No, that's funny," argued Jessica as she giggled.
"I don't get any love around here," Greg cried.
"Well, if it makes you feel better, we brought you food," Sara smiled and he perked up.
"Food?"
"We wanted to do this the scientific way and see just whether or not Freeze Dried Food tastes halfway decent," Gil explained as he produced eight smaller bags. Passing them around, one for everyone except himself, Sara, and Abby.
Greg grabbed his and opened it. "Spaghetti dinner and Chicken and Rice dinner," he read as he pulled out the two packages. "Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, and a side of Strawberries and an Ice Cream Sandwich. Cool."
"We figured you could give yours to Greg," Sara spoke up and Mia smiled.
"Did you guys participate in this study?" Nick asked curious.
"Of course. Well Gil had the dinners. I tried the two types of ice cream and the strawberries. Oh and stole his ice cream sandwich," Sara smiled.
"Fair enough. So what the heck did you guys get yourselves?"
"Ornaments and a candle holder for me. Gil got the NASA Mission Reports...all of them," Sara laughed.
"Mission Reports?" Jim asked looking over at the man. "You went on vacation, and bought educational material."
"It's very intriguing. You get to learn everything about the missions," Gil defended.
"And moving on before the lot of us end up cracking up again," Catherine began immediately. "So after Kennedy you guys went to Universal right?"
"That we did," Sara smiled and Gil shook his head before going hunting for the next batch of gifts. "Oh and if you ever go, you have to ride the Dueling Dragons Roller Coaster at Islands of Adventure. I couldn't see a thing and I was still scared out of my mind. The coasters pass within feet of each other at parts."
"We all know why he went to Florida now. All those roller coasters," Jim spoke up as they opened their gifts.
"That was just a bonus," Gil replied with a smile.
"So, did you guys go to any interesting restaurants?" Lindsey asked as she looked up from her gifts.
"We went to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville," Sara replied. "And I raided that store as well."
"She did a lot of shopping," Gil teased.
"Such is life," Sara shrugged. "So, we have gifts for some of you from there as well."
"Margaritaville?" Jim asked as if they'd lost it.
"Yes Margaritaville," Sara replied rolling her eyes. "And you just ended up first, Mister thinks it's ridiculous or something."
"You got me something from Margaritaville?"
"More then something,." Sara grinned evilly.
Finding himself with a box, Jim raised an eyebrow but carefully opened it just the same. Almost as if he was afraid of what might come out. Pulling out a shot glass that said 'It's My Own Damn Fault' he raised an eyebrow.
"Oh!" Greg cried excitedly. "It's the song," he continued with a grin before breaking out in said song.
"I don't know the reason I stayed here all season.
Got nothin' to show but this brand new tattoo.
It's a real beauty, a Mexican cutie.
How it got here I haven't a clue.
Wastin' away again in Marqaritaville
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
Now I think, hell it could be fault.
I blew out a flipflop, stepped on a poptop.
Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home.
But there's booze in the blender, and soon it will render
That frozen concoction that helps me hang on.
Wastin' away again in Marqaritaville
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But I know, it's my own damn fault."
Jim just stared at Greg when he was done before looking over at Gil and then Sara. "You two are not funny."
Instead of answering Sara merely smirked as Gil passed Jim another box. Jim stared at him for a moment before opening the box and snorting. "You two are insane," he finally spoke as he held up a salt shake that said 'Searching for My Lost Shaker of Salt'.
"Jim, when you meet my family it will all become clear," Sara smiled.
"You have no idea," snickered Jessica.
"That reminds me. I haven't told you," Sara began looking at Jessica.
"Told me what?" asked Jessica in confusion
"Well, you know that Scor kidnapped us and took us up to the Ark and all."
"The Ark?" Catherine asked confused.
"Nickname we gave Scor's place. All the animals," Jessica explained.
"Yeah, he's got a few thirty, forty dogs," Sara continued. "But Gil met Frank Jr," she continued to Jessica.
"He did did he?" asked Jessica with a giggle. "And? What was Frank Jr's reaction to meeting Gil?"
"He just wanted Gil's drink. Poor thing didn't realize Gil was only drinking sprite," Sara laughed.
"Who's Frank Jr?" Greg asked confused.
"Frank's son," Sara replied.
"Who's Frank?" Catherine asked.
"Oh, he's deceased now," Sara answered with a shrug.
"So, not making sense you realize that right?" Warrick spoke up.
"Frank's an alligator," Gil sighed.
"An alligator?" echoed through the room.
"What?" Sara asked looking around the room. "Frank Jr's a gator, fourteen feet long, fourteen-years-old. He's Scor's oldest baby."
"Your brother has a pet alligator?" Catherine asked incredulous.
Sara looked over at Jessica seriously. "They did meet my brother right? I didn't just dream up that insane game of Jesters, did I?"
"No, not unless we shared that dream since I seem to recall singing my heart out that night in more ways than one," replied Jessica.
"That's what I thought. And sorry, again," Sara sighed before looking back at the group. "You all met my brother and you're in shock that he has a pet alligator?"
"Well, yes, he's a bit out of his gourd, but a pet alligator?" Greg asked.
"What do you feed a pet alligator?" Warrick continued.
"Well, I suppose it varies by owner," Sara mused.
"Well, what does Chris feed his?" Catherine asked.
Sara looked over at Jessica and smiled. "Vodka," they chorused.
"Vodka?" everyone repeated, well other than Gil, Lindsey, and the two all-knowing sisters of the man who actually fed his pet alligator vodka.
"Vodka," Gil answered as Sara and Jessica giggled. "You won't believe it, he just walks over to the gator and gives it vodka through a tube. Either that or the gator gets Jell-O Shots..." he continued shaking his head.
"Do we even want to know how you know the Gator likes Vodka?" Jim asked after a moment.
"Sara's fault," Jessica spoke up
"Hey! it was an accident," Sara argued.
"You spilled half a bottle of vodka," Jessica pointed out.
"I was drunk off my butt," Sara countered.
"And this makes it not your fault how?" Jessica asked.
"My darling brother decided to get his sister drunk off said butt because it was her twenty-first birthday."
"True. I still wish I could have been there to see you drunk for the first time. Scor has such fond memories," Jessica giggled and Sara groaned.
"I have to kill that man eventually."
"So how did Sara spilling half a bottle of vodka lead to the gator being an alcoholic?" Nick asked with a smile.
"You ever seen a six-inch long gator run?" Sara asked with a smile. "It's hilarious. One minute Frank was across the counter sitting in a dish of water, the next he was in the middle of the vodka pool enjoying lunch. Scor's got it on video."
"Well that video was quite entertaining," Gil mused.
"Oh, shut up," Sara grumbled.
"What was on the video?" Greg asked.
"Nothing!" Sara spoke up immediately.
"Nothing my foot," Jessica snickered.
"Okay, someone has to tell," Catherine smirked as she looked between Sara who was blushing thirty shades of red, Jessica who was snickering into her soda, and Gil who was looking up at the ceiling as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.
"Tell or I'll be forced to hunt down your brother's number and request a copy," Catherine threatened.
"Oh, for the love of DNA," Sara groaned. "Okay, so basically I got drunk off my butt, and decided to give Catherine's early career a shot...and there is more to it. But that's all I'm sharing."
"Early career?" Greg asked confused before the light bulb literally went off over his head. "You were stripping? On video?"
"You do realize your jaw is touching the floor, don't you Sweetheart?" Mia asked looking at her boyfriend.
"Not to say I'm in the same boat as Greggo over there, but you? Stripping?" Warrick asked surprised.
"She wasn't stripping," Gil answered, fighting back a smile as Sara continued to add a few more shades of color.
"I was pole dancing alright? No removal of clothing was involved," Sara grumbled.
"You were pole dancing?" Greg asked once more.
"Save me," Sara cried as she let her head fall back on the couch.
"You brought this on yourself Chica," chided Jessica.
"I was twenty-one and my brother was determined to get me drunk, so much so I ended up in the hospital to get my stomach pumped. And I brought it on myself?" Sara asked with a sigh.
"You didn't have to drink everything Scor gave you, you know," replied Jessica
"Half of it he said was coke," Sara argued.
"And this is the man who steals your father's brownies," Jessica pointed out.
"Yeah, yeah…I know," Sara groaned. "He's as trustworthy as Frank Jr when you leave steaks on the grill."
"He steals your father's brownies?" Nick asked. "What's the big deal about brownies?"
"Nothing," Sara and Jessica spoke up.
"And isn't it time we moved on to other gifts?" Sara continued looking over at Gil.
"Probably. Although I'm still wondering about those brownies myself..."
"Oh they're nothing," Sara replied with a smile. "So, on to Catherine's gift."
"My gift?" Catherine asked as she received a box of similar size to the one Jim had. "You gave me a shot glass as well?"
"Well my theory was, you don't want to use them for shots, use them as collectibles or to hold paper clips or something."
"That works," Catherine agreed as she opened the box. "Oh, now this one is cute," she laughed as she held up the shot glass that had a blue and gold macaw and a scarlet macaw holding a bottle of tequila, over the words 'Wastin' Away Again in Margaritaville. Orlando'
"I thought it was too," Sara smiled as the others opened their gifts, except Greg who didn't have any, and was of course, pouting. After Warrick and Catherine had seen the stuffed parrot for Abby, dressed in a Hawaiian print shirt and straw hat even, which the newly awakened Abigail had seen, claimed, and it now shared her space in her Aunt Sara's arms; they finally gave Greg his gifts.
Opening the first in a mad rush, Greg grinned like the Cheshire cat when he found a shot glass, his having three parrots with sunglasses and the lyrics, Fins to the left, Fins to the right. Which of course had the youngest CSI immediately humming the tune.
Mia stopped him with a slight smack to the back of his head and he moved on to the other gift, this time the Cheshire cat was gone, in his place was what must have been the only look the group would ever have into the childhood of Gregory Hojem Sanders. He was clutching the shirt to his chest as his head bobbed around and Catherine laughed at the picture.
"You used to do that when you were ten Greg?" Nick asked with a smile.
"This is the best gift," Greg answered with a grin.
"Mind letting the lot of us see it? I mean besides the fact that it's a brown shirt..." Catherine trailed off and Greg looked at her horrified.
"It's not a brown shirt," he repeated still horror-stricken. "It's okay, little one, she didn't mean it," he continued to the shirt.
"Has he lost his mind?" Lindsey whispered to her mother.
"We often wonder if he ever had it," Catherine answered with a smile.
"Come on Greg, let them see the shirt," Sara spoke up with a laugh and Greg sighed before grinning.
"See? It's the best shirt!" he announced as he turned it around so the could see the design on back, of a scarlet macaw in a cap carrying a flip flop in it's beak as it walked on the shore. And the words 'Blew Out My Flip Flop...Stepped On A Pop Top'
And everyone other than Gil, Greg, and Sara promptly busted out into laughter.
"We can never let him go to that restaurant," Catherine spoke up finally as she caught her breath.
"He'll never leave," Mia agreed with a smile.
"Actually I was more concerned about him ever attending a Jimmy Buffett concert," Sara mused.
"Oh those are a complete BLAST!" Greg spoke up with another grin.
"Dear God help us, he's been," Sara sighed dramatically.
"Oh yeah, they're the best. All day party in the parking lot...then you get inside. You have to go someday," Greg continued bouncing around once more.
"And I think that is our cue to move on in the gift department," Sara laughed.
Two hours later, they had eaten their meal out in the living room and gone through the gifts from Busch Gardens, Sea World, Arabian Nights, things from the Keys, the girls getting a laugh after Sara coming back with a ton of stuff having to deal with Key Lime...pie, shampoo and cream rinse, other beauty products...Although the biggest eye roll happened when they saw what Gil had gotten himself in Key West...a butterfly. Typical Gil Grissom. Although to be honest the butterfly was gorgeous, sort of iridescent with blues and pinks in its wings...very...rainbow-ish was Greg's statement.
After he got a pillow thrown in his general direction by Sara, they moved on to the last of the gifts. Disney World.
"Why do I have a shirt that has Grumpy and says 'I'm with Dopey'?" Jim asked after opening his first gift. Lindsey and Abby had both been spoiled rotten with their gifts and were currently sleeping in Abby's case, and Lindsey was writing away in her new Tinkerbell notebook, with her Tinkerbell pen.
Sara's giggle left him even more confused but Jim just shook his head. "So, who is this suppose to be pointing to?" he asked after a moment.
"Dopey," Sara answered with a little knowing smirk.
"Should I be afraid of whatever it is that she knows that I don't know?" Jim looked over at Gil who shrugged. "Evil people. Both of you," he continued as he folded the shirt.
"Evil people who brought you cigars," Sara corrected with a smile.
"True...okay, you're forgiven."
"Thank you, and moving on," Sara smiled, the sign that the girls were free to open their gifts now. Guys had gone first, other than Greg, when it came to Disney World gifts.
Mia opened hers first, and was thrilled with the various mementos and such. Although they had to wonder what was in the larger package that Sara was keeping by her side, a small knowing smirk gracing her lips. After Mia had gone through her other packages Sara sent the box her way and sat back with an even bigger smile.
Mia looked up at her before shaking her head and opening the package, only to squeal as she pulled away the bubble wrap...which caused everyone in the room to look at her in surprise. Pulling the object out she showed the snow globe that was in the box. It was shaped like an hourglass, with Tinkerbell in the top section, and the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio in the bottom half. Around the hourglass were jewels and other flowers and scrolls decorating the hourglass, with the Fairy Godmother sitting on top of the globe, and Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather around the sides. "Thank you!" she smiled and Greg shook his head.
"Fairies...it had to be fairies," he spoke before Mia reached over to smack him over the head so fast they never really saw her hand leave the globe, other than the fact Greg was rubbing his head they might have thought they imagined the smack that echoed through the room.
"Well, I take it we have learned Mia's two favorite things," Warrick mused. "Cats and Fairies."
"Exactly," Jessica agreed with a smile as Mia continued to just smile and hum along as it played When You Wish Upon a Star for a few moments.
"My turn then?" Catherine asked after a few minutes.
"Yes it is," Sara agreed and Catherine started on her own gifts. Opening the smaller of the boxes she found a charm bracelet. Pulling out a hand-written note by Gil if she recognized his writing she began to read. "First off, Sara made me write this, why she only knows. Second, here's what I'm being told to write...Tinkerbell is just one of the charms on the bracelet. If you look, you'll find a baby bottle, baby slipper, and a double-heart locket charm to hold a photo, actually there are three, and how Sara did it...I'm still not quite sure. One has the initials L.M.W., another has the initials A.S.W., and seeing as you were so nice to inform all of us what you intend to name the son coming your way, there's one with the initials G.N.B. Since we didn't have pictures of Lindsey as a baby, you get the joy of putting a picture in, not to mention one for Bertie, yes we've given your son a nickname already, once again, blame Sara." Looking up from the card Catherine raised an eyebrow at Gil who shrugged then looked over at Sara who was smiling. "Well, we couldn't very well call him by his first name...seeing as the name is already in use by at least me." She shrugged and both Catherine and Warrick laughed before she went back to reading.
"As for the locket for Abby, Sara for some reason had a picture of Abby on hand, I believe it's one of the first pictures of her if my memory serves me correctly, so you don't have to worry about that particular locket. Basically this, and I am quoting Sara here, who I believe is quoting the people at Disney, "whimsical, sentimental keepsake" is dedicated to welcoming baby and celebrating with mom. And who better to get this for, than the only woman we know who's trying to break the Guinness record for children in one year with single births. But really now, please don't try to go for another one this year...I don't know if the lab could survive..." Catherine finished before looking back at Gil. "You don't know if the lab could survive?" she asked and the other men in the room suddenly looked everywhere but at Catherine or Gil.
"Well, we couldn't survive having you on maternity leave for that long, you're such an integral part of the team after all Catherine," Gil replied with a smile and she looked at him a moment before shaking her head.
"Good save Gil," she laughed before turning to Sara. "And thank you, I love it."
"I thought you might," Sara smiled. "But really, can we put off the next Willows-Brown child for a few months after Bertie is born? I need time to figure out how to get another one of those lockets...Bribery can only get you so far sadly," Sara sighed.
After Warrick helped his wife don her new bracelet, she moved on to the other gifts, laughing when she found herself with a set of keys from Pirates of the Caribbean. 'Since she was the Queen of bossing the boys around as a whole'. After various other gifts, she found herself with a good size box wrapped similar to the one that had housed Mia's snow globe, which was in Mia's lap, and every time Greg tried to pick it up he got smacked.
Glancing over at Sara, Catherine shrugged and started to open the box, soon pulling out a snow globe. "Disney Villains?" she asked with a smile as she saw the Evil Queen, Jafar, Cruella, Malificent, Hook, Hades, and Ursula, who was next to the Evil Queen; gathered in a circle around the globe that housed the phantom face from the Evil Queen's mirror. On the front of the globe under the actual globe and Ursula and Hades was a 'ribbon' that had a small skull in the center at the top. The banner read ''Ask your question, the skull then press, to find the answer of no or yes'. Underneath that writing was a small scroll that read 'The Phantom Says...' and in this case the answer was unsure.
Catherine raised an eyebrow as she smiled at Sara before turning back to the globe. Turning it on they heard the tune 'Grim Grinning Ghosts' and eerie glitter swirled inside the globe. "Hmm, what to ask..." Catherine mused. "Is Greg going to be putting his puppy dog face to use in order to get his Disney World presents?" she asked before pressing the skull. Seeing the answer she started to laugh, "The Phantom says Yes," she announced.
After the laughter settled down, and Greg stopped rolling his eyes every few moments because of the laughter, it was Jessica's turn.
Finding herself with two bags, one labeled for her and one for Nick she shrugged and handed him his before she opened the bag, only to find a set of Bridal Minnie Mouse ears.
Nick opened his bag only to find a black felt top hat with Mickey Mouse ears. Laughing, he took his ball cap off and put the top hat on before helping Jessica put her ears on.
"You think she's trying to tell us something?" Jessica asked Nick through her giggles
"Who Sara?" Nick asked with a smile. "Never..." he laughed and Sara just sat there with the smile they normally knew as Grissom's.
"Okay Chica, what's next?"
Sara smiled and the next box was passed Jessica's way. "I figured we needed to start our own collection of sorts," Sara explained as she unwrapped the box
After taking a look in the box at the various figurines from Fantasia, Jessica got up and walked over to where Sara was sitting, giving her a hug. "Thank you, Sis."
"Your welcome," Sara smiled as Jessica stepped back. "Although I'll warn you, come Christmas and the wedding, when we give Jack and Laura their gifts...expect to be hugged to death."
"So noted," Jessica said retaking her seat next to Nick.
"Yes, I think she tried to deprive Disney of every last bit of Fantasia related objects they had," Gil spoke up with a smile.
"When you meet my mother, it will all make sense," Sara smiled knowingly. "But on to your next gift," she continued to Jessica.
Jessica opened a box similar to the ones Catherine and Mia had received and she too found herself looking at a snow globe. Surrounding the globe itself were willow trees, a pumpkin and a garden bench along with the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella, her wand raised and sparkles could be seen just under the branches of one of the trees. The globe itself contained Cinderella in her ball gown, now ready to meet her prince. Flipping the switch on the bottom of the globe, the song 'Bibbity Bobbity Boo' started playing and the sparkles above the Fairy Godmother's head starting to twinkle.
"Wow," commented Jessica. "Thank you."
"Your welcome." Sara smiled. "I couldn't resist. All of us have characters that seem to be linked with us, how God only knows. But so help me, if I'm either Belle or Eeyore, you're definitely Cinderella," Sara giggled.
"That she is," agreed Nick
"HEY!" cried Jessica giving Nick a shove.
"Still no clue as to how that's a bad thing..." Gil mused
"I am not a princess," argued Jessica.
"Well, little thought here... Cinderella was never a princess to begin with; she only married a prince. She was just uniquely special and one of a kind. But hey, if you don't want to be compared to 'Cinderella', why not think of it as being compared to Danielle from Ever After," Sara shrugged with a smile. "Seeing as she was the one to rescue him..."
"True," agreed Jessica. "I just don't like being thought of as a princess is all because that's not who I am but I do love the story so thank you again, Chica."
"Your welcome, and I know what you mean," Sara smiled.
"Okay, so is that all of her gifts?" Greg asked after a moment.
"Impatient ones must wait longer," Sara replied. "Didn't you hear the prediction of the all knowing snow globe?"
"We should probably let him open his gifts...We need to get to work soon," Gil pointed out.
"He's got a point," Sara sighed. "Alright, pass him his gifts.
"Yes!" Greg grinned as he got his first box.
"Oh cool! A Dopey hat!" Greg grinned as he opened the box and put the hat on.
"No..." Jim began looking over at the two who were smirking.
"Oh wicked!" Greg announced seconds later when he pulled out a shirt bearing Dopey that said "I'm with Grumpy."
"Oh my God," Catherine cried before laughing. "Oh that's just classic."
After everyone stopped laughing over Jim's face, and he finally joined in, Greg opened the rest of his stuff, mostly Dopey related of course, which the man loved. Sadly the evening was coming to a close, and everyone gathered their things, got last hugs before heading home, except for Lindsey and Abby who were staying with Sara for the night as it was one of Catherine's last nights at work.
"That went well enough," Gil mused as Lindsey was out saying goodbye to her mom and Warrick, Gil watching from the window.
"Very," Sara agreed.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay, no headache today," Sara smiled up at him as she lifted Abby and made her way to the kitchen to heat up a bottle.
"That's good, we can tell your doctor that tomorrow."
"Yes, we can," Sara agreed just as the door opened.
"Yes, we can what?" Lindsey asked as she walked in.
"Watch the collection of Disney DVDs I brought back from Florida," Sara answered from the kitchen.
"Cool," Lindsey grinned before heading into the living room once more.
Thursday June 2nd, 2006
2:38 p.m.
Office of A.D.A Stephen Stokes
"Jessica honey, pacing isn't going to make the time go by faster," chided Charlotte lightly as she watched her future daughter-in-law try to pace a whole in her son's carpet.
"I know that Charlotte, it's just…I know what's on those tapes and what it must be doing to Sara, Gil and Nick to have to listen to them again. I wish I could be in there with them but I know that if I am…I'll just lose it like I did the first time and that was not pretty," replied Jessica as she continued to pace much to Charlotte's dismay.
"Jessica darling, there is nothing you can do about that," argued Charlotte as she grabbed a hold of Jessica's hand and pulled her down onto the couch next to her, wrapping an arm around Jessica's shoulders and letting Jessica rest her head on her shoulder. "From what Nick told me this morning when he asked me to be here with you, this is not something he wants you to go through a second time. He told me how hard it was on you the first time, and after what happened to your parents...well, no one deserves to have anything like that happen and if it's better for you not to be present then I'm sure that your friend Sara will understand. And speaking of Sara, I still have yet to meet the young woman that brought you into my son's life."
Before Jessica had a chance to reply, there was a short knock on the door before it opened to reveal Nick's face as he peeked his head in.
"Knock knock," Sara's cheerful voice called from behind him. "May we come in?" she continued and Nick jumped lightly.
"Quit poking me in the back Sidle," Nick rolled his eyes before glancing back behind himself.
"Come in Sara," replied Jessica with a giggle from her spot next to Charlotte.
"Ah now, if that isn't a sound for sore ears," Sara laughed in response. "Now move it Stokes before I let Sahidi play horse and move you for me," she continued.
"I'm moving, I'm moving," Nick answered before darting into the room and opening the door completely so Sara, Sahidi, and Gil could come in.
"Damn, and it might have been interesting to hear you guys describe Nick attempting to enter a rodeo with my dog as his ride," Sara sighed before smiling. "Oh well. How are you Jyn? And I'm not exactly sure where you are Mrs. Stokes, but it's a pleasure to finally meet the mother of this insane man I consider a brother."
"I'm better now that you all are here," agreed Jessica as she stood up and hugged Sara before stepping back and ushering Charlotte forward. "Charlotte Stokes, I'd like to introduce my best friend Sara Sidle and her fiancé and Nick's and my boss, Gil Grissom."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet the both of you," commented Charlotte. "Especially you Sara," she said hugging Sara. "It's nice to finally meet the young woman that introduced my son to such a lovely young lady."
"Well, it was my pleasure," Sara laughed softly.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Stokes," Gil added as they shook hands.
"Please, call me Charlotte," insisted Charlotte. "How are things going in there?"
"As well as can be expected really," Sara began with a slight shrug. "Stevens really has no leg to stand on in going against the tape so he can't do much with that today."
"Although a few jury members were turning a bit green around the gils," Nick added.
"I can't blame them," agreed Jessica walking over to Nick, who wrapped his arms around her waist. "I remember listening as those tapes were created."
"You and the majority of the room's occupants, Love." Sara sighed softly. "Okay, well court is out for the day, I think the judge needs a break after hearing the tapes as well, but don't let anyone hear me saying thaty" she continued with a half smile.
"William and I would be delighted if you and Mr. Grissom would join us for dinner," commented Charlotte. "William is as eager to meet the two of you as I was and he'll be rather upset if I don't at least extend the invitation."
"Oh," Sara began glancing at Gil. "We'd love to," she continued with a smile to Charlotte.
"What time should we be there?" Gil asked after a beat as he looked over at Charlotte as well.
"William usually makes it home around seven or seven-thirty but you're more than welcome to come over anytime. You know Nick and Jessica are staying with us and I do so miss having a full house," replied Charlotte.
Sara laughed softly. "Well, in that case we'll probably stop by before then. But we have to head back to the hotel for a short while first so..." she shrugged.
"Well, that is fine dear," replied Charlotte. "Make sure you get the directions off Nick first though. On second thought, get them off Jessica. Her's will probably make more sense."
"Mom!" cried Nick indignantly causing Jessica to giggle
"She's got a point Nick, there's a reason I never got directions from you when we were working together," Sara agreed with a smile.
"My directions are not that bad," argued Nick. "Gil help me out here will you?"
Gil raised his hands. "Sorry Nicky, I'm not getting in the middle of this one with a two-hundred foot pole." That was enough to send Sara into her own giggles at the mental picture that formed in her head and Nick just shook his head in defeat as his mother, surrogate sister, and fiancée laughed.
"Well, I'm thinking that should be our cue to head back to the hotel so we can get to your house sooner," Gil spoke up with a smile as he slipped an arm around Sara's waist as she continued to giggle. "We'll see you two later, and Mrs. Stokes…Charlotte, once again a pleasure to meet you," he continued with another smile.
"See you shortly Mr. Grissom, Sara," smiled Charlotte. "All right you two," she continued after Gil and Sara left, "let's get going so that we can get dinner started before your friends arrive."
"Yes Mom," replied Nick as he took Jessica's hand and led her from the room, her giggles following him out.
Thursday June 2nd, 2006
9:46 p.m.
Stokes' Residence
Dinner that night had turned into a fairly good sized BBQ by the time Bill Stokes had returned from work. Stephen and Julia had come by, Stephen to check in and make sure everyone was doing well, having heard about the events at trial from his fellow D.A. Why Julia was there…well everyone had hopes and most realized it probably wouldn't turn out that way.
Surprisingly enough, dinner was a rather nice affair. Charlotte made sure to have some vegetarian hamburgers for Sara, and Sara just shook her head at the smell of all the meat that was being passed around. Figures by the time she experiences a good old-fashioned Texas BBQ, she'd be blind and despise the taste of meat. Then again the mental picture of an old-fashioned Texas BBQ always included the mental image of big sides of beef on a spit, which would bring one back to considering other forms of meat on spits, mainly roasting pig, and that brought on the image from that night…and there went any desire to even consider meat as a nutritional form of life-sustenance in any way shape or form. Outside of the actual food part of dinner, conversation and its companions seemed to go better than anyone imagined. Julia never once made a sarcastic comment, as most feared she would, and talk never went to the trial or anything in that nature. In fact the majority of the meal talk revolved around sharing childhood stories, stories of Nick that only Jess, Gil, and Sara would know, and other such topics.
Now, Sara found herself relaxing in a corner of the kitchen, enjoying the shadows and momentary quiet that gave her pain filled head a break, though she wouldn't give up the night for anything. Out in the backyard, everyone was gathered around the large grill, roasting marshmallows, and no doubt Gil was probably going on about the best way to build the smores she had asked him for when he went out. Of all the people present there, Jess would be the one to argue the physics of a smore and it's proper architecture. No one could ever claim the two of them had been normal…They spent years designing the perfect smore together in honor of the whole reason they became friends.
Then again, she could be wrong about everyone being in the backyard…Hearing the sound of footsteps moving into the kitchen, Sara sat forward and started to ask who was there when the other person began to talk to herself.
So it was Julia who was interrupting her momentary solitude…although Sara wasn't exactly prepared for what Julia had to say...
"God I can't stand that woman," groused Julia as she looked out on the scene in the backyard where everyone was gathered, roasting marshmallows. "I am so sick of being compared to little miss perfect princess Jessica. I can't believe she waltzed into this family and stole what was rightfully mine by family tradition. That necklace should have been mine, not hers. I'm married to the eldest son; therefore I get the family necklace. It's not fair. How can they think she's so perfect? I mean she has a past that is just sick. You would never catch me dating the same men as my friend and yet they still love her. Her face is plastered all over the tabloids and nobody even cares! Why should they since little miss goody two shoes, perfect little princess Jessica can do no bloody wrong. She's perfect in every single little sickeningly way possible."
Sara blinked once, twice, before finding her voice. "Who the hell died and made you Queen?" she demanded.
"Who the hell?" demanded Julia spinning around to find the person the voice belonged to. "Are you spying on me?"
"Why would I spy on you?" Sara countered rolling her eyes.
"Why else would you be in here instead out there with your perfect little friend," snarled Julia in reply.
"Maybe because I'm blind and pairing a blind woman with an open fire is just laying the groundwork for disaster dingbat," Sara snapped back.
"And little Miss Princess couldn't help you with that?"
"You know what, drop the whole wicked stepsister who's been tossed over by the Prince routine alright," Sara countered as she sat back and folded her arms over her chest. "It so doesn't look good on you."
"What the hell do you know," snarled Julia. "You're just an outsider that knows nothing about this family or how things work in it."
"Oh really?" Sara rolled her eyes. "Well, the same could be said for you miss jealous. You're just an outsider and know nothing about how my family works, or anyone in it. And that includes a member of your own family."
"What are you going on about?" demanded Julia. "And I am not jealous."
"Sure you're not. You're so jealous of Jess that you're practically physically green with envy. She took your place in the family in your opinion, got the necklace you expected to get. Hell, it sounds like the only reason you married Stephen was for the honor of being the eldest son's wife...which I doubt you could be that petty, you seem to be a lot more decent than that. But really now..."
"That necklace has been passed down for generations to the wife of the eldest son, which would be me, not the Princess who has had everything she's ever wanted handed to her on a silver platter. Besides, Nick's only marrying her because he knocked her up..."
"Oh, hell no, back up the train there little Miss Priss!" Sara growled as she stood and stepped out of the shadows. "You are not even going to go there, do you hear me? I wasn't here last time you went that route to give you a piece of my mind and you're damn lucky I wasn't. Because you got off easy with everyone else. No one, and I mean no one insinuates something like that about their relationship. And did you even stop to consider the fact that they are still getting married, without pre-natal incentive? What does that say about your little theory miss self-righteous? You think you know everything? Well you don't. And those tabloids you seem to care so much about...well you should know that two-thirds of what they print is false, and I'm not just talking about the articles related to Jessica and I. You hate Jessica for no good goddamn reason. And all your explanations as to why the family should hate her are about as shallow and fact-based as spontaneous combustion, and trust me, that one I've seen proven false first hand! Jessica is not the little spoiled rich kid you think she is. Her life was never perfect, it still isn't. But she survives; as does every person in this world who lives with whatever hand they are dealt! And that whole bullshit that the tabloids went on about in regards to us sharing men? Well that's the biggest lie I've ever heard. I never once dated Nicky that was a load of crap my uncle's lawyer came up with to try and convince the jury that my uncle isn't the first grade creep and monster that he is. As for Thomas and Gil? I'm the only one who has ever dated them in our little universe. Thomas and Jessica are like siblings. As far as Gil is concerned, Jyn may as well be his sister-in-law considering she is my sister every way but biological!"
"Is everything all right in here?" asked Charlotte entering the kitchen. "I thought I heard shouting."
"Everything's fine Charlotte," replied Julia through gritted teeth, grimacing at the same time.
Sara looked over at Charlotte and smile. "Everything's fine," she agreed with Julia.
Charlotte gave both women a scrutinizing look. "We'll talk about this later Julia. You are quickly running out of leeway where I'm concerned Julia. Now then Sara, Jessica is looking for you. It seems she finally managed to get your Mr. Grissom to make the ideal s'more for you."
"Of course, I'll be right there," Sara smiled and Charlotte nodded before turning and leaving. As Sara and Sahidi moved past Julia she paused and glanced towards the other woman. "Look Julia, I'm the first to admit none of us are perfect. But really now, if you want to have any chance with the family you have here, and it's one hell of a great family as far as I can tell, then you need to get over the whole ugly stepsister syndrome you have at the moment. Stephen is a great guy, and if you want to keep him, you might want to realize that he is and realize Nick is not Stephen, or that you two would have mixed like oil and water. He and Jess are happy; she doesn't want to take your place. In fact I'm pretty sure that given the chance she might even want to be friends and in time perhaps truly be family. Just think about that okay?" she whispered before disappearing from the room.
Seconds later her head popped back in sight. "Oh and next time you stick your head up your ass and hurt Jyn, you might want to make sure I'm not around. I don't threaten Nick's life for the fun of it...and even blind I have my resources in disposing of a body," she added with a wink before smiling and disappearing once more.
Friday June 23rd, 2006
11:05 a.m.
Dallas County Courthouse
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, have you reached a verdict?" the judge asked as the foreperson rose from his chair.
"We have, your Honor."
"Will the defendant please rise?" The judge continued and John and Stevens both did as asked. Though Jessica had to suppress a smile, the entire trial it had been evident that John and Stevens were not getting along like they were in Frisco or Vegas.
"Mr. Foreperson?" the judge prompted. "On the charge of Aggravated Kidnapping, how do you find?"
"We the jury, in the case of the state of Texas verses Jonathon Abraham Harwood, on the charge of Aggravated Kidnapping, find the defendant, Guilty."
"On the charge of Unlawful Transport, how do you find?"
"We the jury, in the case of the state of Texas verses Jonathon Abraham Harwood, on the charge of Unlawful Transport, find the defendant Guilty."
"On the charge of Rape in the first degree, how do you find?"
"We the jury, in the case of the state of Texas verses Jonathon Abraham Harwood, on the charge of Rape in the first degree, find the defendant, Guilty."
"On the charge of Sodomy in the first degree, how do you find?"
"We the jury, in the case of the state of Texas verses Jonathon Abraham Harwood, on the charge of Sodomy in the first degree, find the defendant, Guilty."
"And on the charge of attempted Manslaughter, how do you find?"
"We the jury, in the case of the state of Texas verses Jonathon Abraham Harwood, on the charge of Attempted Manslaughter, find the defendant, Guilty."
"Thank you Mr. Foreperson, this court thanks you and the other members of the jury for your service. You are free to go. Bailiff, take the defendant into custody until sentencing, court is adjourned," the judge finished with a bang of the gravel and the court pretty much erupted into sound.
"That was interesting..." Sara mused as she looked to Jessica on her right and Gil on her left.
"Anyone else ready to go home though?"
"I know I am," commented Jessica.
"Same here," agreed Nick
"Let's go home." Gil smiled softly.