Chapter Seven:

Watching Over the Watcher

Although he may not be the guy some women think of
As handsome to my heart
He carries the key

Gershwin

"Griss…"

Grissom grabbed Sara by the hand and yanked her behind him.

"Sara….stay away from him. He's not me!" yelled Grissom.

Sara winced from the pain of his action which did not go unnoticed by Gracen.

His hand balled into a fist as he glared at Grissom.

"Grissom…this is Gracen. He's…a friend," she explained.

Grissom's eyes shot to Sara and then back at the man.

Gracen tried to step back but Grissom pulled out his gun.

"Grissom don't! He's not done anything."

"Who is he? Sara…why does he look like me?" ordered Grissom.

Gracen held his side.

"Grissom, he's hurt. He's been shot…please put down the gun," pleaded Sara.

"Shot? Sara, gunshot wounds have to be reported."

"He was shot protecting me. He…"

"Sara…don't," whispered Gracen.

"Grissom can help you," replied Sara. "Grissom…he was there when Nick and I…"

Grissom pulled her further away from Gracen.

"If he was there…he was the other assailant," warned Grissom.

She tried to break free but Grissom refused to release her.

"Griss, he hasn't hurt me. Please listen," she begged. She struggled to get free but his grip tightened.

Gracen stepped toward Grissom. "Let go of her! You're hurting her!"

"Stay back!" ordered Grissom.

"Grissom listen! He was there…but at the time he…looked like Nick."

Grissom gawked at Sara.

"I know it sounds crazy…but…"

"Sara…he doesn't believe you…me," Gracen warned.

"Sara, call Brass." Grissom's eyes pleaded with her.

Sara glanced between the two.

She reached for her cell and Grissom released his hold.

He lurched at her when she moved toward Gracen.

"Sara!" yelled Grissom as he grabbed her arm once more.

Gracen lunged at him but Grissom shoved him away causing Gracen to fall back toward the couch.

Blood oozed through his shirt.

"Gracen!"

Sara jerked from Grissom's grasp despite the immense pain it caused and knelt beside Gracen.

"Sara move away from him!"

"Grissom stop it!"

"We'll compare the evidence to his DNA…we'll let the evidence speak for itself."

"He said he was there. I know he was there…but not like you think!"

"Sara, listen to what you are saying. You're not thinking clearly. He couldn't have worn a disguise so that he looked like Nick!"

"He looks like you!" she spat. "Grissom…it's not a disguise…he can transform himself."

He stared at the uncanny resemblance.

"If you think he can change appearances so easily then….let him do it now."

Sara glanced down at Gracen.

"I…can't," he admitted.

"Sara, you are not thinking clearly…you have a head injury. Move away from him," pleaded Grissom.

"If I change…right now…I can't change back. I'll return to my original…appearance."

"What's wrong with that?" she whispered.

"You…prefer…the way he looks," he said quietly.

"I never cared how someone looked…but rather how they were inside."

Gracen smiled sadly. "That's my Sara."

Grissom bristled, angry that Sara trusted this stranger so easily.

"Sara…I'll try…I'm afraid…it might deplete my strength and then I can't heal myself," Gracen warned.

Grissom scoffed at the accusation. "Better do it quickly then. Prove it."

Sara glared at Grissom.

Gracen grabbed her hand. "For you."

He closed his eyes and concentrated.

Nothing happened.

Grissom cursed as he started to reach for Sara again.

Gracen's body jerked as if he were having involuntary spasms.

"He's having a seizure!" she cried.

Both gasped as he changed before their very eyes.

They each grabbed him as his body continued to shake violently.

Within minutes his body stilled.

Sara stared at the body.

She'd never seen the man before.

His hair was jet black and she was sure his eyes matched his hair.

He was very handsome and muscular in stature.

Sara covered her mouth when he appeared to be dead.

Grissom checked for a pulse.

Sara held his hand tightly as she urged him to wake.

"Grissom help me please!" she begged.

"Sara, your ribs," he cautioned.

"Help me or I'll do it myself," she pleaded.

Grissom shifted most of Gracen's weight toward him.

They lifted him gently. Grissom headed toward the couch but Sara protested.

"He needs to lie down."

Grissom glanced toward the bedroom.

Reluctantly he agreed.

They carefully carried him to the bedroom, mindful of his wound.

Once he was there, Sara grabbed a blanket and placed it over him.

"What can we do about the wound?" she asked.

"Sara we need to call the police…and an ambulance."

"No! What do we say? My friend is a shape shifter so be careful when you're poking around on his insides?"

Grissom studied the man.

"Sara…who is he? Better yet, what is he?"

She licked her lips. "Someone who watches over me."

Grissom stared at her. "How long have you known him?"

"Honestly? I think I've known him for years…but he's never approached me…made himself known until…recently."

"He's been pretending to be me?" asked Grissom.

"He used your appearance…so I wouldn't be afraid…let myself…know him."

"How well do you know him?" he challenged, glancing around the room.

His eyes made accusations that she had no intentions of answering.

It was none of his business.

He had made his choice a long time ago.

"I know he won't hurt me."

"How can you be so sure? Sara…you don't know what he is…he's not human…or if he is then he had some form of mutated ability to shape shift. The scientific world will…"

"No one can know," she pleaded.

"You can't let him stay here with you. You don't know what he's capable of doing?"

"He protected me Grissom! He took the bullet meant for me. I should be dead but because of him, I'm alive and he's hurt. I'm not going to turn him away nor am I going to put him at jeopardy. You don't have to stay."

"Do you think I'm going to leave you here alone with him?" he yelled.

Gracen moaned.

"Gracen?" Sara sat down on the edge of the bed and took his hand.

Dark orbs stared at her.

"Gracen, are you alright?" she begged.

He attempted to raise his hand in order to cup her face but was too weak.

She squeezed his hand.

"Do you want us to call an ambulance?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Sara…you…can't."

"You're safe with me," she urged.

Gracen looked at Grissom.

Sara glanced between the two.

"Grissom won't tell anyone. You're safe. I promise," she declared.

Grissom's jaw twitched.

Gracen grimaced from the pain.

Sara quickly examined the wound. "You're bleeding!"

Grissom stepped forward and examined the wound. "It looks like the wound broke open."

"Grissom, I have a first aid kit in the bathroom."

He returned with the kit and within a few minutes Gracen was bandaged.

Grissom pulled Sara away from the bed.

"Sara…think about this. I don't think you should be alone with him when you know so little about him."

"I'm not leaving him," she challenged.

Grissom eyed the man. He whispered softly. "Sara….please."

She folded her arms across her body. "I'm staying here with him."

"You have to report to work tomorrow," ordered Grissom.

"You gave me a week off," she gritted.

"That was…before this. You're safer at work than…here."

"I'm taking a week," she replied.

He stepped closer. "We don't know that much about him."

"No."

"I don't like this," he fumed.

Sara glanced at the man in her bed.

"Then get used to it because he is staying in my bed."

The words stung and for a second he flinched.

He'd tried very hard not to read too much into Sara's concern for the man's wellbeing and in fact it was a little ego boost that she was attracted to Gracen because she thought it was him.

Now, however, she sat holding this man's hand, talking soothingly to him.

The man was younger and much more attractive than Grissom.

"I'm staying," he shot back.

"You have to go to work," she replied.

He grumbled, knowing that the unit was already stretched too thin with Nick and Sara still out.

"I'm taking off," he declared.

"The lab needs you," she spat. "I don't."

He gulped for air, not sure why her words seemed to stab him in the chest.

He cursed inwardly. "I'm coming back…after shift. I expect you to report in."

"Grissom, there is no need."

"Yes, there is. You're too close to this thing. You feel you owe him because he protected you. Sara, he could be a very violent man…he could rape you."

"He's not violent…and he's had more than one opportunity to…" she did not finish.

Grissom had already noticed the unmade bed.

Sara was still dressed in her gown.

She had not even noticed her clothing until his eyes raked over her in an accusing manner.

"Tell me Grissom…when did you decide to come and check on me? I talked with you on the phone hours ago."

"I thought you needed time to calm down. I knew you were upset."

"If he had been a violent person I would already be dead. I'll go with my own gut feeling."

Grissom clenched his teeth, guilt eating at his gut as he glanced at the man lying in Sara's bed.

"Are you involved…with him?" he asked.

"Why would that be any of your business?" she challenged.

He looked down at the floor but then held up the bloodied bandage that had been removed. "If his blood matches the blood on your blouse at the crime scene then…"

She quickly snatched it from his hand.

"You don't have a warrant. You're not taking it."

"You said yourself Sara that he was there."

"I was confused."

"How far are you willing to go to protect him?"

"With my life if necessary."

His eyes widened. "I still expect you in the lab tomorrow."

"But…"

"Either you agree to return to the lab or…I'll go to Brass and….please," he added. He didn't like to blackmail anyone.

"Fine. I'll be at work tomorrow."

"You'll check in with me."

"Am I not allowed to sleep?" she asked.

"Check in around 1:00 a.m."

"How do you know I'll be awake then?"

"You've always been awake when I've called you on your night off."

Grissom glanced at Gracen who began to stir.

"Griss…you can leave. I'm fine."

"Does he have a last name?" he asked.

Sara had not even asked. "You're fishing for information so you can run a background check."

"1:00 a.m.," he repeated before he left.

Gracen stirred once more.

Sara sat down on the edge of the bed. "How do you feel?"

"He's worried about you."

"You didn't answer my question," she said.

"He used to sit in his car in your parking lot for hours at a time," said Gracen.

"Why?" she asked.

"He came whenever you worked a bad case."

She was quiet. She had never known that Grissom did such a thing.

"He loves you," he said sadly.

"No, he doesn't."

"I saw it in his eyes. He loves you. He just refuses to do anything about it."

"Why are you telling me…this? Do you want me to be with Grissom?"

"I want you to be happy."

"Even if that means choosing someone else for a mate?" she asked.

"Yes," he said without hesitation.

"And you would be fine with this?"

"It would hurt but…Sara, your needs come first…before mine."

"You never told me how you feel."

"It's worse."

"How can I help?"

"I need rest."

"Do you have an infection?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Gracen, you need to see a doctor. You need to go to the hospital," she urged.

"Sara, I can't. They would run lab tests and see that I'm different."

"There are others like you. I can go to them and…"

"No, you can't. You would be putting yourself at risk…of death. My kind turned their back on me when I walked away from the sect."

She licked her lips, not liking that his life was hanging in the balance because of her.

"Antibiotics…would that help?"

"Yes but…I'll be fine…with plenty of sleep and rest."

"Are you sure? I think I could get some antibiotics."

He took her hand. "I won't put you in harm's way…just being with you helps." His hand caressed her palm. Her pulse quickened when his hand caressed her cheek.

"Do I look…alright to you?" he asked timidly. "I mean I am so much different than him but…"

She grinned. "There's a woman at work… her name is Catherine and she would consider you a hunk."

"Catherine Willows…I know her. I know all of them. I've had to in order to keep tabs on you…to make sure you were safe. I envy your relationship with Greg. He always seems to make you smile."

"He's a good friend."

Gracen smiled but it faded. "When Grissom came to San Francisco, I knew you would soon come to Vegas. He stole your heart the first day you met him."

She fidgeted. "He doesn't want a relationship with me. I've been wasting my time."

"He does love you Sara. I'm not sure why he doesn't act on that love."

"Some people can't. I guess he can't at least he's never did in the past. When I got the emails I thought it was him."

"I know. I sort of wanted you to believe that so you wouldn't…be alarmed when I made myself known to you."

"Why couldn't you just introduce yourself years ago?"

"It's not permitted."

"Why?"

"In order for an…angel to have direct contact with a human, it must be sanctioned by Him. Since He doesn't talk with us anymore…I had to wait until you asked for help."

"But I didn't…"

"Yes, you did….as a child."

Sara couldn't remember.

"I stayed in the shadows until I just couldn't help myself...I couldn't stay away. I used Grissom's appearance so I could get close to you. Believe me, I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to confuse you but...at the time I didn't see any other way."

"That was a bit deceptive. Isn't that bending the rules...if angels have any rules?"

"Yes, we do...but I'm only part angel. My mother was a human."

"Where are your parents now?"

He looked down at the covers as he placed his hand behind his head. "They're dead."

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "Angels can die then?"

"Yes."

"May I ask how they died?"

"It was my fault. My decisions put them at risk so they were not protected…they were killed. Sara, this is too painful to speak about."

"I'm sorry."

He closed his eyes. "Lie with me," he whispered.

Sara curled her body up next to his.

His arm encircled her. "Search your heart closely Sara. I want you more than anything but only if you fully understand the consequences of your decision."

"What would be my consequences?" she asked.

"You would live as long as I would. You would see your friends live out their lives and then die. Judgment is still some time off in the future…no one knows when that will happen except our Creator. We have some time yet…here on earth. You and I would be bound together until that time. I would pray for eternity but that is not my decision. Bearing a child is possible but it seems most of us are barren…I might not be able to give you a child. Once we are mated, our bodies are connected. We will feel each other's pain as well as happiness. If one of us should die then the other would die as well. There is also the possibility that by giving yourself to me that you could be condemned as well."

"I'm an atheist. I have no religion."

"Then I'll spend whatever time I have remaining to convince you that there is a God and his Son is your savior. I know. My great grandfather was there at his crucifixion. Even then we watchers were watching how mankind would fare. My great grandfather mourned for the sin He had to bear but He chose to give up his life for you….humans. My great grandfather never forgave himself for not fighting against Satan when he had the chance. He often spoke about how he missed the sound of our Creator's voice."

Both were silent for several minutes.

"Sara, don't hate our Creator for what happened to you as a child. He loves you. His love for you is deeper than the ocean. He mourns for his lost children. He exists. He sent His Son for your salvation. Don't dismiss it so easily."

"I'm not…I won't," she whispered.

He kissed her on the forehead.

She tilted her head up in order to gaze at him.

Her hand felt his forehead. "You're hot. You have a temperature."

"Yes, I do. The infection is worse."

"Gracen…"

"Sleep, Sara. I need to sleep," he said as he drifted off.

She lay there in the crook of his arms, watching him sleep. He was a complete stranger yesterday and now she felt as though she had known him her entire life. She glanced at the clock.

Why did Grissom never come to my door but sat in his vehicle?

She slowly slipped from Gracen's arms as she went to the living room. He answered the phone on the first ring.

"I'm still fine," she whispered.

"Is he…still there?" he asked.

"Yes. Grissom, he has an infection. He needs medical care."

"Take him to a hospital."

"You know we can't do that. Griss, he took the bullet meant for me. If anything happens to him...then..." she didn't finish.

He couldn't imagine what he would have done if Sara had been killed.

He'd prayed out loud relentously as he drove to the crime scene, fearing what he would find when he got there.

Grissom was silent for a moment. "I could get some antibiotics."

"From Doc?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Grissom, please."

"For you. I'll do it for you…not him." It came out sounding like a jealous ex but he didn't care. "Promise me, you'll be careful."

"I will."

Note from author:

Well, a little more background info...when I meant rating "M+" it was meant for the entire story...I know this is an unusual story but its GSR never the less. LOL Believe it or not there is smut coming...I am posting early because today is going to be crazy and I'm not sure when I will get another chance so don't disappoint and leave a review for each chapter. Don't make me hunt you down in cyberspace...LOL

Take care,

Penny