Chapter Thirteen:

No longer Watched

He had meant to explain his outburst but then his phone began to ring.

He glanced at Sara.

"Grissom."

"Did you show Sara the photo of Randle?" asked Brass.

Grissom shuffled through a folder and pulled out a photo.

"Do you recognize this man?" asked Grissom.

Sara snatched the photo from his hands.

She studied it and then handed it back to him. "He was in the café with the other man."

"Jim…positive I.D. Is there an address on his driver's license?" he asked.

"He hasn't lived there in over a year. Are you okay? You sound a little off?" asked Brass.

"We're turning into the lab now. Keep me posted," he said.

She shot out of the vehicle as soon as he stopped.

He sighed in frustration, wiping his sleeve across his forehead.

"You look bad," said Catherine, startling him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you," she confided.

"The warehouse case is breaking," he shared.

"We know…Greg overheard you barking out orders to Vartann and then Brass earlier. Don't you think you need to ease up a little?"

"I'm sorry. I'm on edge. This guy is still out there."

"Are you talking about the accomplice or Gracen Merci?" she asked.

"Both," he fumed.

She whistled. "Merci has you rattled. I guess he is making a move on Sara."

Grissom got out of the vehicle. "Not now, Catherine."

Catherine grabbed his arm. "Sara…is falling for this guy. If you have any feelings for her you need to act quickly…or it may be too late."

Tell me something I don't already know…

"I need to get to work," he said as they stepped into the lab.

It bothered him that Sara refused to make eye contact with him, gripping her pencil until it snapped.

Greg smirked and handed her another one.

"A little on the edge?" he whispered.

Sara refused to talk, swiping the pencil from his hand.

"Just trying to be helpful," Greg offered.

He began handing out assignments when his cell phone went off.

He thought it was Brass but the caller I.D. showed it was from Gracen.

"Grissom."

"I found Randle," he said.

"Where?"

"He's at the café. The waitress is trying to keep him there. I don't want Sara anywhere near this place. Keep her with you. I know she'll be safe with you."

"Don't interfere," warned Grissom.

"I won't unless he tries to leave then I'll stop him."

Sara's eyes stared at Grissom.

He closed his phone and then headed toward the door.

He fumed when Sara followed.

"Is there a break? Has Randle been apprehended?" she asked.

"He's been spotted," he admitted as he began spouting off details to Brass in order for a patrol unit to be dispatched to the area.

"Is Gracen involved?" she asked.

"He…called it in."

She continued to follow him but he halted. "Sara, you are not to leave this lab. Understood?"

"Why can't I come with you? It's our case."

"You were only assisting. It's safer if you remain here."

"Gracen got you to agree to that, didn't he?"

"I would have restricted you to the lab."

Sara, I care just as much as he does…

"Fine. What do you want me to work on?" she asked.

"Help Catherine."

"Oh yippee," she griped and it made him grin slightly. "I'll let you know as soon as he is in custody."

She felt distracted trying to focus on reviewing the evidence in the layout room.

"Is something wrong?" asked Catherine.

"No…just…"

"Going over the same spot over and over," chuckled Catherine at the embarrassment on her coworker's face. "Got boyfriend problems?"

"No."

Sara glanced at her watch.

"No word…on this Randle guy?" asked Catherine.

"Apparently not."

Greg skidded into the doorway.

"Grissom wanted me to come and get you."

Sara hurried toward the entrance of the lab.

She halted when two uniformed officers led Randle down the hall.

He sneered at her as they passed.

Brass followed as well as Grissom.

She opened her mouth but then halted when Gracen appeared with Vivian beside him.

Vivian glared at her as they approached.

"Sara…my office," said Grissom softly.

"Can I come too?" asked Brass.

Grissom glanced at him and continued walking. "You have an interrogation to do."

"And miss out on all of the fun in your office?" teased Brass.

Brass winked at Sara as he opened the door of the interrogation room and then closed it.

Sara remained, immobile until Grissom's hand took her by the elbow and led her toward his office.

She glanced back and saw Gracen with Vivian following them.

"Griss, what is going on?" she whispered.

He didn't answer but waited until they were inside his office and then shut the door.

"Gracen, I do not have to be here!" yelled Vivian.

"Keep your voice down," warned Gracen.

"Why? It appears that some humans already know about us….whose fault is that?" she snapped.

Gracen forcibly shoved Vivian into a seat.

She huffed but did not try to get up.

"Randle was caught alone…with an envelope containing twenty five thousand dollars in cash along with a key. I compared it to the one I have…and it belongs to your apartment," explained Grissom to Sara.

Sara swallowed as she glanced at Gracen and Vivian.

"Vivian, I warned you about trying to hurt Sara," gritted Gracen.

"As you humans would say, you have no proof that I was involved," she smiled.

"I know you did it," said Gracen.

"Prove it…by their standards," she spat.

Gracen grabbed her hand intertwining his fingers with hers.

Sara thought it was odd that he would touch her much less hold her hand.

"Stop!" she begged.

"Were you involved?" he asked.

Vivian tried to break free.

"Vivian, as your intended I demand you tell us…now!"

"Yes! I did it! You were mine. We are betrothed. You had to bond your blood with hers…like she is worthy to receive yours…to mate with you."

"I'm going to report this to the sect. You know what is going to happen," he warned.

"Do you think that I care? I fall further and further every day…because of her. She took you from me!"

"Vivian…you've known…about my feelings for her…for years."

Grissom's eyes shot to Sara and then back to Gracen.

"You never acted on them. You stood in the shadows and did nothing while she…lived a life without you. Ever since you chose to act on those feelings you haven't been the same. You've neglected your work…it used to mean something to you. You made a difference and now…you want to fall…for her. Nothing good will come of it."

The air felt stifling in the room as Sara stood quietly.

Vivian lurched at Sara but Grissom blocked her.

Gracen jerked her back into her seat.

"Our parents decided for us… betrothed us together…but you and I both know that it is no longer binding within the sect. We have the right to choose…who we take as a mate. I do not want you. I made that clear well before I divulged my feelings for Sara. Even if Sara were not in my life, I would not choose you. I do not love you…nor will I ever love you. My heart has always belonged to one person…Sara."

Sara swallowed.

Gracen didn't like being so harsh but he had no choice. "I hoped that in time you would have removed your name from mine in the book of betrothals but you've refused. By attacking Sara, you have attacked me. Her blood flows in me. I have the right to have our names stricken from the book…we are no longer betrothed. Your family has no right to use my family's wealth or stature to further your selfish and greedy gains."

He held up her hand. "Our ties are broken…forever."

"No!" she pleaded as she tried to hang on to his hand but he yanked it away releasing her hand.

"Gracen….don't!"

"It should have been done years ago. It's finished now."

The moment their hands were separated, Vivian cried out as if in pain.

Gracen's hand trembled but then balled into a fist. "We could have done this…without the pain but you've refused…now it's done."

Vivian cradled her hand as if she were in pain.

Sara couldn't help but notice how Gracen's hand shook uncontrollably.

"It will pass," he said softly. "Vivian and I…our ties are broken…both physically and spiritually."

He knew none of it made any sense to Sara. He stepped closer. "When two angels are betrothed,...Vivian and I…were linked spiritually. It was to prepare us…for when we decided to fulfill the ritual. I never felt anything for her…but I felt everything when I was around you. By taking her hand like that she could not lie to me…nor could I to her. By withdrawing my hand…I've broken all physical and spiritual ties with her. It's painful but it was necessary since Vivian refused to release herself from me so I've done that for her."

"Could you be released…from me?"

"Only in death. I ingested your blood because I knew in my heart that you were the only person for me."

Sara smiled slightly, knowing that Grissom had overheard the declaration.

Gracen took a deep breath and then looked at Grissom. "Grissom, you don't have any proof that she gave the money to Randle…even if you did the sect would never allow a…fallen…angel to stand trial. I assure you she will be punished…by the sect…not me."

"If Randle implicates her then she will be arrested," warned Grissom.

Vivian smirked.

Gracen rolled his eyes. "No doubt Vivian disguised herself when she met with Randle…his eye witness testimony will be flawed."

Grissom's phone rang.

"Grissom."

"Are you having fun in your office yet?" asked Brass.

"Not as much as you. It would seem."

"Randle claims he was paid by Angelina Jolie to off Sara. He said she promised him a role in one of her upcoming movies."

Grissom closed the phone. "She pretended to be Angelina Jolie…Randle will most likely head to the psyche ward."

"Can I leave now?" bit out Vivian.

"Next time Vivian you attempt to harm me, I won't be so…forgiving," warned Gracen.

"Forgiving? You forcibly broke your betrothal to me…you've shamed me! Now no angel will want me…the almighty Gracen Merci has declared I am not worth…having," she cried.

"You brought that on yourself. I gave you years to release me and you didn't so now it's done."

A loud sob escaped Vivian's mouth. "What makes her so special?"

He stepped aside, hoping she would pass.

Vivian glanced down at her hand. "Gracen," she pleaded.

"It's done."

She slammed the door on her way out, grumbling when an officer was standing nearby to escort her out of the building.

The three of them stood there for a moment in silence.

Gracen took a step toward Sara but then stopped not wanting to talk further in front of Grissom.

"I'll talk with you later," she managed to get out.

Gracen's hand caressed her cheek briefly and then he left.

Sara and Grissom remained.

"We should get back to work," she said in a strange voice.

"Sara…are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes. I guess I can do field work now."

"Are you up to it?" he asked.

"My head is clear…clearer than it has been in years. I think I can drive myself…also."

She fled before another word could be said.

Note from author:

That sort of sounded final...