Journey Through the Past- Chapter 14
Grissom noticed the uniformed officers enter with the "doctor" and take positions near the door. He warily watched the man in the white coat settle down in the chair he had pulled up next to Grissom's hospital bed. Waves of nausea rolled over him, but the dizziness and headache that he had experienced earlier had retreated to a distant memory thanks to the medication that Dr. Jones had given him in his IV. Grissom tried to remember what had happened, but everything seemed fuzzy and out of focus. He tried to move his hands, and then remembered the restraints. The confused man settled down against the pillow under his head and turned his attention to "doctor" seated next to the bed.
The "doctor" regarded him for a moment and smiled slightly. "How are you feeling, Gil? I imagine that you feel a little disoriented right now. The medication that Dr. Jones gave you should be taking hold by now. How's the head feel? Still feel a little lightheaded?" asked the "doctor."
Grissom thought for a moment before replying. "Headache and dizziness are gone. I…I don't remember much of anything. Where am I? I should know you. You seem familiar…I can't seem to place you…" said Grissom in a faltering voice.
"Dr. Mallory. Dr. Lucas Mallory. Does that sound at all familiar to you?" inquired the "doctor."
Mallory…Lucas Mallory…something from my past…but what?...something happened…something bad…can't remember… Grissom tried to recall why that name should trigger a sudden surge of trepidation. "A little…I should know you from the past…you and I…"struggled Grissom in a hoarse whisper.
"Gil, let's start with what you do remember, shall we?" interrupted Mallory in a patient tone. "Tell me your full name, birth date, where you were born."
"Gilbert Arthur Grissom. I…I…my birthdate is August 17, 1956. I was born in Santa Monica, California but grew up in Marina Del Rey," he replied in a quiet voice.
Looking towards the doctor and then glancing down at his right wrist and left arm, Grissom cleared his throat and whispered, "Why the restraints? Can they be taken off, please?"
"Gil, the restraints are for your own protection. Your last episode was quite violent. You really gave the guards over there a hard time. Gave Officer Baker quite a shiner. For the time being, Gil, you will have to put up them," said Mallory.
"Don't…don't call me that. Don't call me Gil. I'd..um..prefer Grissom, please," said Grissom looking away. I don't want this man calling me Gil. I don't trust him. Why? We obviously had some kind of history together…
Mallory seemed momentarily taken aback and then his eyes slightly narrowed. "Okay, Grissom, then. Can you tell me why?" inquired the "physician."
I can't tell him that I don't trust him. I don't. Something is off. This all feels wrong. I need to see someone more familiar…to anchor myself. "I don't know why. "Grissom" just seems more comfortable somehow," was the reply.
The man gave him a shrug, "Okay, then Grissom it is," he said with a smile. "Do you remember what happened prior to being in the hospital wing? You were coming down from a high…crashing rather badly it seems."
The memory of the "episode" that landed him in restraints came crashing through. The familiar sense of panic descended down upon him. Suddenly the room started to constrict, and he found it hard to take a breath. He thought he might vomit as the bile rose in his throat. He looked wildly at the man sitting next to him and then at the guards. Grissom started to shake uncontrollably.
"I don't…I don't understand…I don't…I haven't…" gasped the panicked man.
Mallory stood up and laid a firm hand on his Grissom's shoulder and said softly, "Grissom, you're still in denial. It looks like we have our work cut out for us, don't we? I can see that you remember me telling you about your possible prison term and what landed you here. You need to accept this before you can move on and truly get well. I'm going to give you a little something to help you relax. We'll work this out together, and you'll be able to face your addiction and face your actions. Then you'll be able to move forward."
Grissom tried to calm himself. He didn't want to be given anything. Eyeing the syringe that seemed to magically appear in Mallory's hand, Grissom anxiously pleaded, "No…no…I'll be okay…I just need to think. Please, I don't want to be given everything. Please, don't give…" I just need control. I need to feel steady, not out of balance.
Mallory ignored Grissom's pleading and injected into the IV line a powerful combination of hypnotic and hallucinogenic drugs. The restrained man's eyes quickly glazed over and his breathing slowed. Mallory observed Grissom's hands slowly unclench and relax under the restraints. He watched Grissom settle back down in the bed gazing sightlessly at the ceiling and the "doctor" smiled widely.
"That's better, my friend. You and I are going to become close friends. You are stronger than I anticipated. Maybe Kenny was right. I'll end up killing you before the game is finished. But it doesn't mean that we won't have some fun before it ends."
Mallory patted Grissom's leg fondly and, humming to himself, left Grissom swimming through a haze of confusion.
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Scott observed Sara through the narrow window of the door. He needed to connect with her so he had made the excuse that she had requested some additional toiletries. Although the monitors to her cell were constantly on, he knew that he could safely "talk" with her without being observed as Mallory was busy with Grissom and Jones was making rounds with the other patients housed in the other section of the clinic. Still, he needed to make sure that his back was to the camera just to be safe so that they could not be observed conversing with one another.
Unlocking the door and walking over to the woman sitting on the cot, Scott handed her the bottle of shampoo and soap he held in his hands. Sara accepted them with a questioning look but thanking him all the same with a gesture of her hand.
How are you feeling today? gestured Scott putting a slight smile on his face.
Sara signed back, I'm okay, Scott.
Scott hesitated for a moment, not sure how to proceed with the questions he had in mind.
Sara signed again. Scott, what is it? You want to ask me something.
There's nothing wrong with you, not like the other patients. Why are you here? Why a prisoner? What do you have to do with the man they say is my father? Scott signed in a rush.
Sara smiled wanly and said softly and gesturing at the same time, "Scott, I hope that you can read lips because my signing is a little rough, but I will sign what I can."
Scott smiled back and nodded and indicated his ears. I can hear, too, but probably not as well as you. Then he shrugged. Nobody knows how much I can hear, not even Jones. I haven't let anyone know. Everyone treats me as though I'm totally deaf.
"Grissom and I work together. We're both scientists, crime scene investigators. Umm, we're good friends…closer than most," Sara said, not sure how much to reveal to Scott the nature of the relationship she had with Grissom.
She continued, "I'm not sure why I'm here except that it has something to do with Grissom. This Mallory wants to hurt him somehow. I got caught up in the middle and was taken prisoner."
Scott gave her a quizzical look. Why hurt him?
"For revenge. Grissom was responsible for sending him to prison for murder," replied Sara.
Scott shook his head. My father is an addict and has hurt other people. That's why I ended up I'm here. To keep me safe from him. Dr. Mallory was his therapist and my father turned on him. My father should be in prison.
Sara stared at Scott. Slowly she articulated her words, "No, Scott, you've been fed lies. Grissom is a good man, an honorable man. Mallory is the evil one here."
The young man took a step back. Sara had given him more questions than answers. If he trusted what Sara had told him, then how much could he trust Jones? Jones had been that father to him because Grissom was not there. Jones had raised him and had taken him under his wing. Denial and anger crossed his face. That means Jones has been lying to me my whole life. That can't be true. He's been my father, not, not this Grissom!
Sara quickly signed and said, "Scott, Grissom never had that chance. He thought you and your mother were dead. He never knew you were alive. If he had, he would have done anything to find you. Surely your mother talked about him. What did she tell you?"
Scott shook his head violently. No, you're wrong. This can't be true. Grissom is not what you think. He's fooled you just like he fooled my mother. My mother…my mother, she told me he was dead and that he was an honorable man. But I know now that she lied because he's not dead. I'm in no way related to that man strapped down in the hospital wing. You should see him. He's a wreck. He can't be my father. He back quickly out of the room, slammed the metal door, locking Sara in once more.
Sara sat back in defeat. Well, that just went great. What was I thinking? I pushed too much at him. Good thing I didn't tell him about us. Now what?
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The under sheriff was feeling pretty good about things. As far as he knew, Ecklie had told Graveyard to move on. He would go to Grissom's team and voice his frustration and tell them he would investigate the case himself and not rest until the two were found. McKeen just didn't know that he himself had been under surveillance. The under sheriff did not realize that to Grissom's team, he was still their number one suspect.
Under Sheriff McKeen walked briskly through the crime lab looking for Catherine Willows. He would be properly upset and concerned over the fact that the investigation was not going well. McKeen had covered his bases and was not about to make any mistakes now. The missing CSI's would be taken care of in due course and no one would ever know his ties to Mallory or the 5th Street Knights. In fact, McKeen would turn out to be the hero in all this and so Jeffrey McKeen was willing to bide his time.
"Willows!" he said in a serious tone as he entered Grissom's office.
Catherine looked up from the file she was perusing and quickly closed it. She shook out her long blonde hair and cocked her head to one side. "Under Sheriff, what can I do for you?" she said in an icy tone.
Hesitating at the sudden drop of temperature that seemed to have permeated the room, McKeen cleared his throat. "I just dropped by to let you know that even though Graveyard has been ordered to move on to other cases, Grissom and Sidle will continue to be my top priority."
"Right. Thanks Under Sheriff. I'll tell my guys, and I'm sure that my guys will appreciate that you'll be doing everything you can to find Grissom and Sara," said Catherine stiffly.
"Well, I should be going. You'll keep me informed of any new evidence that your team comes up with?" McKeen asked as he turned to exit the office.
"Of course. You'll be the first we call if anything turns up," said Catherine.
"I'll look forward to talking to you then," said McKeen.
"Like hell we will," muttered Catherine under her breath, opening the file in front of her.
A/N: This chapter is a little shorter than I anticipated. I had to divide it somewhere and thought this might be a good place to do so. As always, please review. I anxiously await all your thoughts……