November 2014
Life goes on. It's something Sara'd been accustomed to in her life. She was tough, strong. All the events that had taken place in her life to get her to where she was today made her this way. The divorce, now two years behind her, was just another challenge to make her stronger, more emotionally resilient. At least that's what she told herself in order to get past it.
Now, two years later, life went on. She continued to be D.B.'s star pupil, maxed out on overtime every month, devoted her life to her work. But that was about it for her. She couldn't bring herself to date, it was too complicated in every aspect. Firstly, no one outside the forensics field would understand the long hours, unplanned early call ins, and burden of the job. This left having to fish off the company pier, something Sara knew she couldn't do again. Every aspect of a potential relationship with anyone she worked with—whether it be a detective, EMT, or what have you—would cause to many parallels to the good days with Grissom. But beyond any of that, she simply had no desire to. She'd had her one love, and she knew that nothing would compare. Why waste her time? She thought.
But there was one thing outside of work that Sara had going on. Eli. The team had been reconnected with Warrick's son after Tina got into some trouble a couple years back. At the time, Eli had to be taken to foster care pending the investigation and rehabilitation of Tina—Tina who they found to be raising Eli in an unfit home filled with drugs and mess.
"I'll take him." Sara assured Tina when this was all happening, "I just expedited the paperwork to become his foster parent. He'll be in good hands, and when this is all over you'll have him back." She'd watched Tina sob at her words.
Sara couldn't let Eli grow up in foster care, even if it were to only be six months or so. So she'd fixed up the guest bedroom and turned it into Eli's temporary room. And as promised, Eli returned home to the care of his mother once she was back on her feet. The whole ordeal turned out to be good for Sara too as most of this was going on just shortly after finalizing the divorce. Eli had been a great distraction.
Even now, Sara goes over to their house a few times a month to check in on them, make sure they've got everything they need. She'll spend a few hours helping Eli with his homework or just hanging out with him, creating a strong bond with the boy.
And once a year—which was twice now since she became a part of Eli's life—Sara would take a picture of a Eli on the anniversary of Warrick's death and send it to Grissom. Eli, who was a spitting image of his father right down to his piercing green eyes. She'd write up a few short paragraphs on what Eli's been up to—school related successes, personal life, milestones accomplished. It was the only contact they'd had after the divorce. And after receiving the letter Grissom would text her, "Thank you."
Grissom picked up his mail. In the two years since the divorce he'd gotten a place out in Santa Monica to be closer to his mother—though he was rarely ever there. His life had continued to be filled with traveling, consulting work and explorations. But soon he'd be joining a new cause—A new journey. He'd be working to preserve sharks in international waters with one of the leading organizations on the forefront of that mission. He'd gotten himself a charter boat not too long ago, it's final sale going through today, actually. In just a few hours he'd be back on the doc signing the final paperwork.
He threw his keys on the table and flipped through the mail: Bills, newsletters from his alma maters, more bills and—a letter from Sara. He glanced toward the calendar, realizing quickly that the anniversary of Warrick's death was in two day's. He sighed, how has it been so long? The pain of Warrick's death was something Grissom carried around with him every day. There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't think of his fallen colleague, the son he'd never had.
Grissom tore open the envelope and let the photo slide out. He slowly lowered himself to a chair at the table and looked over the photo, smiling at how much Eli was growing. He opened the accompanying letter, noting that Sara tried her best to slow her penmanship so that it was legible, but it was still chicken scratch. He smiled.
Gil,
Eli is doing well. I continue to visit with him a few times each month and he's grown so much—both physically and personally. He just turned ten a few weeks ago. He's excelling at math, science and history but is still having trouble with english—he's not a big reader. But he's working hard. He's perceptive and caring, always volunteering to help in anyway he can.
He's growing fast too, already 5 feet tall with no end in sight. Tina is doing well, she's gotten herself back on track, cleaned up her act and got a nursing job and a senior citizen's facility in Henderson. All in all, Eli has a good life. Warrick would be proud.
Until next year—
S.S.
Grissom pinched the bridge of his nose hard and closed his eyes. Warrick's image came to his mind instantly. He'd let it sit there for a moment longer, searching the details of his face for the similarities in that of Eli's. A small smiled danced on his lips at the thought of Sara tutoring Eli, spending time with him. It warmed his heart to know that she could be there for him.
He'd wanted to see Eli the last time he was in Vegas. He was there just a few months ago to attend the funeral of Heather Kessler's granddaughter. He and Heather continued to share a subtle communication over the years. They were each other's only friends really—the only people that always been there for them. He'd wanted to see Eli then, but thought it'd be inappropriate so he did not.
Grissom made his way to the docks.
"Gilbert." A deep voice called from the end of the doc. "I'll be right there."
Grissom waited for the man to dismount from the boat he was on and walk up the dock to meet him. He extended his hand, offering a tight gripped handshake. "You ready to do this?"
"I am." Grissom spoke with a smile. The idea of setting off to Sea excited him immensely. He believed in the work this organization was doing and it afforded him the opportunity to be part of something bigger while still maintaining his loner status.
"What are we naming her?" The boat salesman asked as he handed Grissom the final paperwork.
"Ishmael."
"Hu, didn't take you for the biblical type."
Grissom just smiled in return and signed the papers. A week later he'd return to these very docs and see his boat, the word "Ishmael" now painted across it.
September 2015
"Sara. I know you're vying for the directorship." D.B. spoke slightly hushed to Sara as the rest of the team took their positions across the casino to investigate the explosion. "The stage doesn't get much bigger than this, you want the case?"
She nodded, "Good it's yours. What do you think? First blush?"
"Terrorism."
"Why do you say that?"
"Vegas is terrified."
Sara took the reigns leading the team to comb through the casino's debris. She was already rallying the troops, doing her best to bring up morale. She knew this was going to be a lengthy investigation, and she needed everyone to bring their A game.
Greg and Morgan now stood in D.B.'s office handing over the clear evidence baggy with the gold square inside it. The gold square that they've now concluded to have flown out of the bomber's breast pocket at the time of the explosion. After some work in the lab, Greg was able to extrapolate the etching on the gold square to reveal the initials "LHK". After a quick search, he'd realized it's link to Heather Kessler.
"So who is Lady Heather?" D.B. asked while examining the contents of the evidence baggie.
"She's a sex therapist Grissom had a thing for back in the heyday. Not like a sexual one—More like an intellectual one." Greg quickly refocused at the sight of D.B.'s indifference to the past escapades of the CSI team members from long ago, "Anyway, he worked a couple cases with her—And against her."
"So what do we think? That she has some involvement here?"
"We don't know." Morgan spoke up, "But we'd like to know why a piece of metal with Lady Heather's initials on it few out of our bomber's jacket."
Just then Ecklie emerged in the doorway, causing both Morgan and Greg to turn. "Lady Heather? Again?" Ecklie walked into the room further to talk. "Too bad our Lady Heather expert is no longer here." He paused a moment to think, "Maybe Sara knows where he is?"
"I don't know if that's a great idea. I don't think we need Grissom here just because he has a history with someone who may or may not be involved in this."
"It's a high profile case, and I think it makes sense to exhaust every bit of help we can get."
"Do what you need to do." D.B. nodded to Ecklie, giving him the unneeded approval to bring in external help.
Sara walked out of the lab to head to her car when she was stopped in her tracks by the sound of Ecklie's voice shouting her name.
Ecklie. It's funny how some relationships can change so drastically with time. When Sara first came to Vegas, Ecklie was like the stereotypical antagonist that everyone loved to hate. He was always jumping ahead of evidence, siding with media, doing the bare minimum to get a conviction and getting in the Grave Shit Team's way. Now, all these years later, Ecklie had changed. He'd become the asset the lab needed and a proven friend of the teams.
She turned around to face him.
"This is going to sound like an odd question," Ecklie began, "But do you know where Grissom is?"
Sara couldn't even hide the shock on her face. No one really ever even brought him up anymore since their divorce was made public. "Grissom?" Her voice proved just as shocked.
"Yeah."
"Let me see. Grab a globe. Spin it. Look for the blue and pick an ocean. He could be anywhere. Why?"
"We think Lady Heather might have something to do with the bombing?
"Lady Heather?" The news of the gold square had yet to make its way to her, "Well... even if she did, what would that have to do with my ex-husband?"
"Lady Heather is in the wind. Alright? We're getting a warrant for her house as we speak."
Sara shook her head in obvious conclusion, still not seeing what this had to do with Grissom.
Ecklie continued, "C'mon if anybody knows this woman inside and out it's Grissom. I figured he could provide some deeper insight—"
She cut him off, "Conrad. With all due respect this entire building is working the bombing case. Greg and I have history with Lady Heather. We've got it covered."
"I know Sara but this bombing is international news now. I'd feel better if we at least exhaust all our resources. Do you at least have his cell?"
Sara laughed, "Yeah—But I haven't called it in over two years so I don't know if its still his number." Ecklie of all people should understand that. His divorce in the early 2000's is what caused him to be such a stick in the mud early on.
Ecklie gave the number a try.
"Hello?"
"Grissom?"
"No." The coast guard cadet explained the situation Grissom was in. Late last night they'd found him trespassing another fisherman's vessel. His hands covered in blood of Shark fins. Now Grissom Sat on the dock, hand cuffed. Waiting to be charged.
The coast guard cadet allowed Ecklie to speak with Grissom. He held the phone to his ear:
"Well if that's the case Ecklie I'll need to come down there. But you're going to have to get me out of this first."
"Alright put him on."
Grissom glanced back to the coast guard who then took the phone to his own ear.
"Let him go."
Finally, Grissom thought, It paid to have Ecklie on his side.
"You sure about this Sheriff?"
"Yes. And give him a lift to the airport. His flight takes off in two hours."
"Alright. I'll arrange transport and relinquish him into your custody."
"It's your lucky day pal. I'd tell you not to leave town but it looks like you're going to Sin City."
Grissom sighed. He'd heard chatter about what happened in Vegas as the other cadet's spoke amongst themselves. He knew it was a grave shift case. He knew he'd need to go into the lab. He knew he'd be seeing Sara.
Sara. That's what frightened him the most. He hadn't spoken to her since the divorce, he knew nothing about what was going on in her life—except her annual updates of Eli. Until this point, he'd been able to keep his last good memories of being with her at the forefront of his mind, discarding the bad ones toward the end of their relationship. But now that would all most likely be undone when he'd see her again. He was terrified of getting in her cross hairs, knowing full well that an angry Sara is not something one would ever want to be on the receiving end of.
"Vegas." He spoke stoically.
Grissom walked into the lab for the first time in six years.
"Sir? Can I help you." The woman behind the receptionists desk was not Judy. This took Grissom aback instantly.
"I'm here to see Ecklie. Gil Grissom."
"Yes. Mr. Grissom, he left this vistor's badge for you. He said you'd know where to go." Grissom took the badge and pocketed in, not bothering to clip it to his shirt and walked on. Down the hallowed hallways. People walked past him, not giving him a second look. People he'd never seen before, where knew department lab coats. He looked around, the equipment was unlike anything he'd ever seen, people he did not know oppressing it. The whole place seemed starkly different. Of course he knew life moved on once he left, but it was another thing entirely to see it.
A young redheaded girl walked briskly past him as he stood by his old office.
"Dr. Grissom!" A voice spoke hesitantly. He turned to see the same redhead girl had turned back around after passing him. "Oh my god! Hi! Welcome back! It's been a long time since I saw you last! But, oh hey—check it out. CSI level 1! She spoke exuberantly. "I did it! You know what the crazy thing is!?" She whispered her next words, "It's my first day." He watched as she glowed, talking to him animatedly so. Who is this girl? And why does she know him? He listened on as she continued, "Do you want to take my blood or offer be a chocolate covered grasshopper?" Grissom furrowed his brows—he hadn't done that since Holly Gribbs joined the team... And this girl was far too young to have been around then, "Oh but I've got to go, It was great to see you! As always. See ya!" and with that she turned to leave.
Grissom watched her disappear down the hallway, feeling completely out of place and confused. He turned back around to continue down the hall to look for Ecklie. Upon turning on his heels his breath caught in his throat.
"Sara." Her name slipped from his tongue instinctively.
"Gil." Her voice was soft and calm, mimicking his own.
He felt awkward suddenly, "I'm back." He offered.
"I see that."
He opened his mouth to speak but nothing would come out. He couldn't breathe. His palms started to pulse with the quickened beating of his heart. She looked amazing. Beautiful—even more so than the images of her he'd kept preciously tucked into the corners of his mind.
"Gil!" Saved by Ecklie. He shook his hand, "Thanks for coming in. Let's step into D.B.'s office." Ecklie moved past him to cross the threshold into D.B.'s office—once Gil's.
"Who's D.B.?" Grissom mouthed to sara with furrowed brows. Is that some sort of poor attempt of a nickname for a CSI? Dead Body?
The three gathered in the office.
"D.B., Grissom." Ecklie introduced the two.
"Hi, I'm Diebenkorn Russle. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." D.B.'s eyes darted toward Sara, to make sure she was alright. A gesture not unnoticed by Grissom.
"My brains used to sit on that shelf." Grissom spoke a bit nostalgically, realizing this was the first time in his old office since the day he left for Costa Rico.
"Yeah. I traded in the brains for mushrooms. Hope you don't mind."
"Gil, we could really use some insights on Lady Heather. The most pressing issue is this." D.B. handed Ecklie the gold square to show to Grissom, "At the blast sight we found a piece of Gold Metal with the letters LHK inscribed on it." Grissom looked at the evidence baggie, now within his old.
"Well that's her logo but I don't know what this is."
"When's the last time you spoke with her?"
"Few days ago. By phone."
"Guess your cell service is better than it used to be." Sara spoke without thinking of the mixed company they were in.
They were interrupted by Catherine who walked briskly into the office. "Gil!" She moved in to hug him.
"Sara your warrant came in." Ecklie handed Sara the paper, "Lady Heather's house is all yours."
"Good, Grissom and I will go check it out." Eyebrows raised by everyone, especially Grissom and Catherine. Grissom suddenly felt very nervous. "I'll meet you by the car." Sara left the office to head for the locker room.
"Good luck with that." Catherine spoke through a somewhat amused grin.
"Want to give me a heads up? What am I in for?"
Catherine simply laughed in response, "Beats me. I was already gone when you two split up." She turned toward D.B. silently inviting him to join in.
"It's not really my place to comment."
"Uh hu," Grissom nodded slowly.
"But you better get out there, she doesn't like to be kept waiting." D.B. said somewhat encouragingly.