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This City is Contagious
(6)
The Parisian landscape stood defiantly below them as they made their way towards Charles De Gaulle airport. Grissom took a deep breath preparing for landing, for becoming the other self he lived as while in Paris.
As he moved through the airport, he found it bizarre getting used to the sound of announcements in French first. Picking up his luggage he made his way into his second life, following the signs for the Metro.
He always travelled light, leaving enough in Vegas for his short visits and only taking essentials such as gifts for Sara and the team. He adored seeing her eyes light up as she unwrapped the small, quirky trinkets he would bring for her. But the thought made him sad as he realised it had been a long time since he'd seen that sparkle in her eye.
He wondered if she shared that look with him; as he stood on the bustling platform waiting for the next train.
The people around him seemed to be lost in their own words focusing on the books in their hands, the music playing in their ears or the notes they were making ignoring what was happening beyond them.
Grissom found it odd how the best times to think were the times that he was surrounded by people. The silence in the carriages was the perfect place to let questions linger, and let wonderments fill his consciousness. Recently most of his thoughts had been surrounding Sara and their marriage.
The announcement for his stop came, and he let go of the things that flooded his mind as he made his way towards his apartment. It seemed oddly comforting being back in a space he recognised so well. Being in Vegas it felt as if he was in Sara's house, rather than their home.
It was as if they had taken steps back in their relationship, rather than forwards.
He placed he bag down and after showering rested, attempting to sooth the effects of jet lag as they settled into his system. Grissom knew that he needed to get back into the swing of things very quickly as deadlines were approaching. Exhausted, he found it easy to quickly fall asleep not bothering with changing or showering.
When he woke the sun had already set outside and an indigo blue sky stretched out over the landscape. He took at deep breath at the cities beauty- it had been one of the things that had drawn him to Paris in the first place. The architecture, the culture and history created somewhere extraordinary for academics.
Grissom took a shower, making himself a microwave dinner as he paced around considering whether he should call Sara. As the microwave pinged he decided against it, not wanting evidence to support the ideas that had been festering in his mind.
The journey to the University campus was a quiet one; the only people using the metro at the time were youngster heading on a night out. He knew that it was late, and slightly pointless to attempt work but he realised that he just needed to get out of his own head- he needed an escape- a diversion.
He set himself up in his office, admiring the oak furniture and elegant lamps that created the interior. Switching on his PC he let the buzzing sound fill the small space as he retrieved the books he needed to begin planning his next lecture.
With a pot of tea beside him Grissom had lost himself in the work laying on the desk before him barely noticing her entre the room.
Abrielle remained beside the door waiting for him to look up and meet her eye before she made herself comfortable in his personal space. Her slim frame was leaning against the wood her hands tucked into the pockets of her black coat, her dark hair was cropped short held out of the way by a red ribbon, her pale blue eyes surveying him as if he were a specimen.
"Ah, Abrielle, come in." Grissom smiled warmly at her. "I've just made a fresh pot of tea if would like some."
"Merci" she replied sitting down in the chair opposite him pouring herself a mug of tea. She gave him a quick smile before peering at the books before him- reading the titles upside down with ease.
"'Identifying behaviour patterns of Power Reassurance Rapists' sounds fascinating." She mused.
"It is..." Grissom smiled back. "I have to say Abrielle, your paper was remarkable, and you touched upon things I wouldn't have expected..."
"Thank you..." She blushed, turning quickly away from him taking a sip of her tea. Finding the motion endearing Grissom continued with his complements.
"The question you raised about the violence of each crime being reactive and unpredictable...was very insightful." He offered.
"It was something you said in one of our seminars..." She nodded, her eye gleaming in the dim lighting. "How was Las Vegas?"
"It was good." He nodded realising that talking with a student about his marital problems would have been a terrible idea.
"Is this your wife?" She asked pointing to one of the photos on the cabinet behind him.
"Yes," he gave a small smile at the picture of Sara on their wedding day.
"She's beautiful." Abrielle commented, her eyes not leaving the image.
"She really is." Grissom thought out loud.
"How come we've never met her?" She asked curiously.
"She lives in Las Vegas..." Grissom explained, realising once he'd set it out loud their distance seemed insane.
"That is far...must be hard." Abrielle shrugged.
"I'm sorry I never asked- what is it that I can do for you?" Grissom questioned her changing the topic.
"Oh nothing, I just happened to be walking by and I saw your light on...thought I'd drop in and say hi." She beamed at him. "It's been quiet without you here..."
"Ah- now I'm back let the work commence..." Grissom laughed.
"Have you had dinner?" She asked, moving forward in her chair slightly picking up one of the books from his table.
"Unless microwave meals counts...not really." He replied watching her as she flicked through the pages.
"I was heading out for a bite to eat if you'd like to join me..." Abrielle asked; her eyes wide as if to say that this was nothing but an innocent encounter and Grissom realised that he couldn't resist.
This life had been lacking in company- it was a fact that he could not deny. His days were often spent alone cooped up in his office and his nights spent in the confides of his apartment.
"That sounds wonderful..."