Chapter Three:
It's a Beary Merry Christmas
She stepped into the break room and they waited as she filled her cup.
"Tree still there?" asked Nick.
"Yep," she replied with a smile.
"You still think it was a mistake?" asked Greg.
Sara bit her lower lip. "The person left notes."
"Notes?" asked Catherine as she stepped forward.
"These notes were addressed to you?" asked Warrick. "Wait, you said notes."
"Yes," she admitted. "I came home and found a gift."
"You didn't say anything about a note yesterday," complained Nick. "What did it say?"
"It was typed. It told me there was a…Santa," she replied.
All eyes gawked.
"A Santa?" asked Greg. "What was in the gift?"
"Both notes were the same. They were left on my fridge," drank Sara.
"Oh now, I'm really worried," complained Catherine.
"We should have the notes analyzed…for fingerprints," ordered Warrick.
"None…did that," she confessed.
Greg grinned but it soon faded. "Why won't you tell us about the gift?"
"I know who it is," Sara said with a smile.
"Who?" They asked in unison.
"Brass."
"But he said…"
Sara's hand halted Greg.
"I uhm told him about this gift…that I wanted as a child…he was the only person I ever told," explained Sara.
"You asked for an easy bake oven," chuckled Nick.
"I did not!" huffed Sara.
"I hoola hoop," chimed in Greg.
"Naw…she's more like…a chemistry lab 500," said Warrick.
"I had no interest in chemistry back then," announced Sara.
The others looked shocked.
"You didn't like chemistry?" asked Grissom as he showed up.
"You asked for a doll?" asked Catherine sounding shocked.
Sara made a face.
"We're going to keep guessing until you tell us," chuckled Nick.
"I'm going to work," replied Sara.
"Grissom, have you been…" Warrick stopped as Catherine glared at him.
"Guys, I think you should get to work," said Catherine.
"Who died and left you boss?" whined Greg.
"Get up and get out," warned Catherine.
They scampered out the door.
"Clearing the room for a reason?" asked Grissom.
"Have you been leaving these gifts at Sara's?" asked Catherine.
"What gifts?" asked Grissom looking lost.
"You know, never mind. I didn't think it was you," she sighed. "You don't have a romantic bone in your body."
He continued to look confused as she left.
Brass smiled as Sara appeared in his doorway.
"Don't you have the wrong doorway?" he teased.
"Thanks for the bear," she said. "And the tree."
"I'm confused again," he admitted.
"Okay, if you want me to say it…I believe. I believe in Santa…not really but…"
"You got another gift?" he asked looking serious.
"Come on Jim. It's you. I got a huge bear…just like the one I described to you," she smiled.
He stared back.
"You're doing this," she persisted.
"Honey, I didn't get you the tree or …the bear."
They both stared at one another.
"No one else knew," she stammered. "I told you…only you."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"You must have mentioned it. You told someone?" She asked.
He shook his head.
"Think, Sara. You never…"
She was already shaking her head.
"Maybe…someone overheard our conversation at the diner," he offered.
"The same person who delivered the tree," she stated.
"Sounds like…a stalker," he admitted.
"Great…just great," she whined.
"Maybe I should come over this evening," he stated.
She nodded.
They met in her parking lot.
She took a deep breath and unlocked the door.
They stepped inside.
She glanced over at the fridge and pointed to the note.
Brass cleared the apartment before picking up the note.
"Sara, there is a Santa," he read.
They glanced around.
"See anything different?" he asked.
"Not yet," sighed.
"Where was the bear?" he asked.
"On the bed," she replied.
They walked into the bedroom and Sara stared at the bed.
There was a new cotton gown along with matching slippers lying next to the bear.
"New?" asked Brass.
She nodded.
He gathered the gown and the slippers, placing them in an evidence bag.
"No fingerprints on the door," she said. "I'll uhm check with the neighbors."
She returned later. "No one saw anything…of course, they're usually asleep."
"Maybe you should stay…"
"I'm not leaving," she countered.
"Sara, this person keeps getting into your apartment," he reminded her. "He could get in here while you're asleep."
"I use the dead bolts…there's no way," she reasoned.
"Still, I think…"
"Take the…clothes…see if you can find out anything," she whispered.
They were waiting for her once again in the break room.
She answered them without waiting for the question.
"Gown and slippers," she announced. "Brass took them."
"We know. Hodges has been analyzing them," smirked Greg. "Not sure he's ever touched a woman's gown."
Sara grimaced.
"So…any ideas now that Brass has been ruled out?" asked Catherine.
"None," admitted Sara.
"I think you should stay somewhere else just until we find out who's behind this," stated Warrick.
"Well, whoever is leaving these gifts has taste and money," announced Hodges as he appeared at the door.
He walked over and placed the items on the table.
"Nice," acknowledged Catherine.
"I'd wash those since Hodges touched them," teased Greg.
Sara took the bag and headed to her office.
"You think maybe we should take turns staying with her?" asked Nick.
"I'll go first," offered Greg.
"You know, maybe it is just a nice guy…with lots of money…who has a crush on Sara," admitted Catherine.
"You think that Hank guy is trying to make up for being such a jerk?" asked Warrick.
"No way can he afford this," replied Catherine. "This is nice…very nice."
"Do I hear a hint of envy or jealousy?" smirked Nick.
"Oh yeah!" quipped Catherine.
The guys chuckled.
She seemed a million miles away as she worked on the crime scene.
Grissom glanced at her.
"She got another gift," whispered Brass.
"And?"
"Gown and slippers," said Brass.
"Did she like them?"
Brass stared at him.
"It's you!" he gleamed.
"I don't uhm know what you're talking about," struggled Grissom.
"Bullshit!" Brass grinned from ear to ear. He leaned in close. "How did you know about the bear?"
Grissom continued to work.
"You can confess to me or…"
"Her diary…she left it on her bed. It was open…I couldn't resist," he whispered.
Brass chuckled. "So when are you going to tell her?"
"I'm not," he said.
"Wait, you do all of this and you're not even going to tell her?" asked Brass.
"I wanted her to believe…have a good Christmas," he admitted.
"Sorry, but now she believes she has a stalker," whispered Brass.
"Oh."
"Really want her to believe in Santa?" asked Brass.
"Even if it's just for a little while," grinned Grissom.
"I could help," he offered.
"How?" asked Grissom.
"She told me a few things," whispered Brass.
"Like what?"
"She uhm always wanted a dog," said Brass.
"A dog?" asked Grissom.
"Yeah, a dog."
He didn't know that.
"How did you get the tree…"
"I have a key…made it from her set…while she was in the shower at the lab. I hired this company to deliver and set it up."
"Oh, you're bad….but good," grinned Brass.
"Must have cost a lot…"
"She never had a tree of her own," explained Grissom. "I wanted it to be special."
"Oh, it is," smiled Brass. "Got the bill yet?"
"Did she like it?" he asked.
"Sits there and stares up at it," whispered Brass.
Grissom smiled.
It was how he imagined.
"So what's on the agenda for tonight?" whispered Brass.
"Ribbons and bows…with lots of presents under the tree," said Grissom.
"Never thought you had it in you," chuckled Brass.
Sara glanced at the two and Grissom returned to work.
She unlocked the door and stood there at the entrance.
The room was brightly lit with the lights from the Christmas tree. The bottom of the tree was no longer barren. There were presents of various shapes and sizes. Each was beautifully wrapped with a huge bow and ribbon. She glanced around the room and noticed the note on the fridge. She tossed down her keys.
Sara,
There is a Santa….
You just have to believe…
She sunk down on the couch. Her CSI training told her to open the presents so they could be examined. The inner child even wanted her to open them. She chose to leave them as she dragged the bear to the living room floor and lay there underneath the tree.
She sniffled once or twice.
It was a beautiful tree.
She wondered what Grissom was doing with Lady Heather but she decided it was best not to wonder so much.
Don't spoil it Sara….
Forget about Grissom…
He doesn't love you…
Someone cares…
She lay there thinking about all those nights when she cried herself to sleep because she was usually the kid whose parent did not visit.
There certainly wasn't any holiday visits home.
Her mother was in prison.
She somehow always managed to get in a foster home that did not bother with a tree or celebrating.
Oh, her social worker brought her new clothes along with a customized Christmas card.
She rarely took the time to even bother getting up on Christmas day.
She spent it reading a book or dreaming about some far off place.
This was her first real Christmas and for the moment she was determined to enjoy it.
After a thorough wash, she donned the gown and slippers as she lay there on the floor gazing at the tree as her head lay on the bear.
It started as a grin but soon the grin was replaced with a smile and then a fit of laughter.
Note from author:
Nice to see Sara getting into the festive mood...
Take care,
Penny