Author's note: I don't own CSI but I do love to play with them! It's the sincerest form of flattery!
As always, I really appreciate all of the very kind reviews you have sent my way. I am touched by how much support you guys have shown me during the creation of this story. Thank you! As this is only my third story, I'm still learning, so I take all advice, compliments and criticisms very seriously and do my best to reply to everyone!
Enjoy!
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You are the Woman that I've Always Dreamed Of…
CHAPTER 15:
Grissom returned to work as expected. His first meeting of the day was with Ecklie and the Sheriff, who wanted to know how quickly they could get Sara in for a public appearance. Grissom hesitated.
"McAllister is still out there," Grissom reminded them.
"We can have the place covered with Police, even hold the press conference indoors so we can control who is coming and going," the Sheriff continued. "We've been holding the press back for a week, and I'm not sure that they will wait much longer."
"You mean your not sure they will be interested much longer, so there goes the great press for the city and the PD?" asked Grissom. He already knew the answer.
Talking to Brass later, Grissom revealed how the meeting had gone. Brass had a huge smile on his face. Grissom couldn't believe that Brass was being so cavalier about this.
"Gil," Jim looked at him with a huge smile on his face, "This is the break you are looking for. If Sara is the darling of the press, Ecklie won't be able to push to have either of you fired for dating, or cohabitating!"
"Jim," he replied, "that's brilliant. I had not thought about that at all." He paused and thought for a moment, took off his glasses and chewed the end of the arm. "Let me speak to Sara and see what her thoughts are."
"Ok, but don't wait too long, I don't want you to loose that bargaining chip! I know you don't like politics, but I know that this will work," Jim explained.
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The first night back had been uneventful. As the team was sitting around the table in the break room, Greg asked if Grissom would bring something to Sara. He handed him a small package and a note.
"Just tell her its from me and she'll understand," Greg said to Grissom.
"Are you two behaving?" asked Catherine, a devilish grin taking over her face.
"I have no idea what you are talking about!" replied Grissom.
"When do we get to see her?" asked Nick.
"Soon," Grissom replied, quickly changing the subject, he looked at Catherine and asked "When is Warrick back? I expected to see him today!"
"Tomorrow or Wednesday as long as the case wraps up!" she replied. "Nice job with the change of subject too. I see you haven't changed much!"
"Well that's enough for today folks, lets go home!" Grissom said.
Well, thought Nick, Grissom is leaving at the end of the shift? Wow, maybe he really did change after all!
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Sara was waiting up for him when he got home. She was very excited to see him.
"So, what happened today? Anything exciting? Any interesting cases?" she asked.
"No dear, nothing out of the normal, except…." He paused not quite sure how she was going to receive the plan he and Brass had cooked up.
"Sit down, dear," he said, "I need to talk to you!"
Her heart sank. Please, she thought, not after just one day back, don't leave me already! I trusted you!
"Ok," was all she was able to manage.
"Jim and I were talking about 'this' and he came up with, what I think is a brilliant idea!"
She breathed a sigh of relief. Certainly Jim wouldn't be involved in anything that would break her heart.
"What's that?" she asked.
"We think you should go do the press conference with the mayor and get some good press for the city."
"Ok," she said again.
"Once the media gets a hold of you, Ecklie won't be willing to do anything about 'this' " Grissom smiled.
"Ah," she said, clearly amused at the idea of having Ecklie at a disadvantage. "I'll do it! But under one condition!"
"Anything," he replied.
"You get Catherine to find me something decent to wear and a straightening iron for this hair!" she laughed.
"Anything for you dear!" he replied as he took her hand and moved her away from the cameras.
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The next day, Grissom met with the Sheriff and Ecklie and set up the time and date for the press conference. They would hold it in the auditorium of the PD and would have guards inside and outside in case of any problems. They also agreed to have Sara in a safety vest, just in case.
Little did they know that the press were not the only ones planning on attending!
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Nick pulled up to the arrivals terminal of McCarren International Airport. He parked the Denali and walked into arrivals. He stood and watched the tourists coming in and checking out the myriad of slot machines in the Plexiglas rooms. Some were winners, some… not so much.
He watched for a few moments until a tall black man with a neat appearance and bright green eyes approached him and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Nick, my man, thanks for coming to get me!" he said.
"No problem Rick, you know I probably owed you one anyhow!" Nick replied.
They began to walk towards baggage claim.
Warrick Brown looked at Nick very seriously and said "OK now what's the deal with Sara?"
Nick looked at him, a little surprised.
"Oh man, how did you hear about it?" he asked.
"Catherine told me." Warrick replied.
"Man, all I know is that Grissom and Brass have her locked up somewhere so that no one can get to her and we can't see her!" Nick complained.
"Do you have any idea where she is?" Warrick asked.
"No, not a clue." Nick replied.
They retrieved Warrick's bag and headed towards the truck.
"You know, I have an idea that I may know where she is!" Warrick said to Nick.
"Really? Man, Greg and I would LOVE to see her," Nick replied, "especially considering the fact that she's having to deal with Grissom and Brass by herself!"
"Call Greggo, I'll share on the way back to the lab," Warrick's eyes twinkled.
Sara was just like a sister to the three men. They loved her dearly, each would be willing to do anything for her. They put up with her fixation on Grissom and her smartassed attitude because she was sweet, kind, smart, funny and gorgeous all rolled up into one woman. The idea of not seeing her for over a week was almost too much to handle.
The Denali made a quick stop by the office, picking up Greg Sanders.
"So what are we doing?" Greg asked.
"Warrick thinks he knows where Sara is being holed up!" Nick answered.
"No shit!" Greg said in response to both of the men in the front seat. "How the heck…?"
"One night, just after Griss and Sara had a big blow out at a crime scene, Grissom and Brass had a little too much to drink. I gave them a ride home."
"Oh, no man," Nick said, "she's not at the townhouse, we tried that already!" He sounded disappointed.
"Hold on there cowboy," Warrick answered, "I didn't take Griss home. He gave me an address I was not familiar with, but took him to a big house in the foothills. It looked like a fortress. I think it was on Rio de Camino Real, but I would know the front gate again if I saw it!"
"Dude, let's go!" Greg was literally bouncing in the back seat. "I can't wait to see Sara!"
They didn't notice the dark blue sedan following them.
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Uh-oh!