Chapter Thirty Six:
Grissom leans back in his chair. Pen poised over the paper, Sara's name at the top of the blank page. His mind void of thoughts, of words, his eye line moving to the side, taking in the small picture leaning against his phone. A bright picture of Sara, kneeling in the sand with Hank at her side, smiling at the camera. Abandoning the task, he stands and moves towards the window in his office. Looking out onto the cold walkways on the campus grounds. The students rushing from building to building to get to class. His mind takes him back to the first time he met her. Her bright eager face, her notebook crammed under her arm, the loop of her water bottle balancing dangerously on the end of her finger whilst she applied her lip balm walking into his lecture. As the doors behind her banged shut, every head turned to look. She was older than the average student in the hall, he could tell but she fit right in with the 20 something year olds, girls judging her, boys worshipping her. She came down the stairs quickly to find a seat on the front row, that had been abandoned when the topic of the class was delivered. Some poor young blonde girl grew sick to her stomach at the words double murder in a garage. She mouthed her apology to him and sat down quickly, pulling her pen from her ponytail she began scribbling down the information on the board. He had to shake himself back into focus before he could continue delivering his class.
An hour into the lecture, he knew she was different. Something about her stood out, she raised her hand to ask questions. Offering insight into the topics discussed with a knowledge that greatly outweighed that of her classmates. When his lecture came to an end, all the students filed out quickly, leaving her and a few other stragglers behind. One young man came up to him and asked him if he was free to ask some further questions, looking at her over the mans head he dismissed him quickly, stating he was busy but maybe next time. The disgruntled student shrugged his bag over his shoulder and turned to find Sara stood behind him, mumbling an apology he snaked around her, his eyes never leaving her as he filtered out of the room just as quickly as everybody else had.
'Sorry I was late. I couldn't find a parking spot.' She shoved her pen back into her hair.
'It's ok. I had only just started.' His tongue pokes out and nips back into his mouth quickly. She steps forward, extending her hand.
'Sara Sidle, CSI Level 2.' He tilts his head towards her, that's why she seemed to know so much, why she is older than the rest. She must be at least 30 years old surely. Taking her slim hand in his, he shakes it firmly, her soft skin settling in his.
'Gil Grissom, CSI Level 3.' He retorts, smiling at her.
'Dr Grissom, World Class Entomologist and leading crime scene investigator in the second-best crime lab in the country.' She corrects him.
'Somebody did their homework.'
'I'm here for extracurricular studies, I have some questions. Do you have the time?'
'For Sara Sidle, CSI Level 2? Of course.' They smile at one another, then the door bangs open, a young girl barrels down the steps to mid-way down the hall, ducking down next to the end desk she grabs her cell phone from the floor, looking up at them both stood by his desk, she smiles and runs back up the stairs, leaving them alone again.
'There is a coffee shop just off campus, Bean Around the World. It's a 15-minute walk max?'
He collects his things and chucks them into his briefcase, picking up his jacket from the back of his chair, he moves back around to stand next to her, his hand on the small of her back.
'Lead the way.'
Entering the coffee shop, the man behind the counter greets Sara in a friendly fashion.
'Hey Sara, the usual?'
'Yes please, and…' She turns to Grissom, he peers up at the board above the man's head, taking his glasses off he locks his eyes with hers.
'Hot chocolate please.' She smiles at him and shakes her head, of course he picks on of the most expensive drink on the menu.
'A hot chocolate for Dr Grissom please Cal.' She walks over to a set of comfy chairs, pulling them closer together and drops her bag on the floor. He follows but doesn't go to sit. 'Sit down, Cal will bring them over.' She plops herself down in one of the high back chairs and pulls her hair from its elastic. He slips down into the chair next to her, watching her run her fingers through her hair, attempting to tame the mass of curls spilling out of her hands. Cal walks over, staring at Sara whilst he places the tray down on the table.
'You still like blueberry muffins right SanFran?' She leans forward, brushing her hand on his as she takes the muffin from him placing it down next to her cup. The silly nickname not going unnoticed by Grissom.
'Didn't you ask me that yesterday?' She purses her lips at him and Grissom watches as the young man practically cums in his pants. Looking towards Grissom, he smiles and nods, taking the tray away, leaving their drinks on the table in front of them.
'Boyfriend?' Grissom leans forward, picking up the muffin, tearing it in half, raising it to his mouth.
'No. He's just a friend, I'm in here a lot.'
'Ah, do you do this with all the professors who guest lecture at the college?' Chewing not so gracefully on the muffin.
'Just the interesting handsome ones.' She picks up her now half muffin and rips it apart, dipping some into her coffee, then bringing it up to her mouth. Grissom watching in pure disgust. 'What?'
'You're a strange one Sidle.' She laughs, taking a sip from her cup.
They sit for hours, question after question. Scribbles into notepads, cups, and cups of coffee, moving onto herbal tea. Until Grissom realises, he is late to a faculty meeting back on campus.
'Sorry for keeping you tied up for so long.'
'Don't apologise, it's nice to talk to someone in the same field who can handle the gore and glamour of it all without throwing up.' She smiles at him, he beams back. 'How old are you?'
'26. Why?'
'You seem older, a Level 2 at your age is quite an achievement. Your parents must be proud.'
'I graduated early, scholarships.' He nods, reaching into his bag he grabs a piece of card. Scribbling on the back he jots down a few numbers.
'My details. I'm only here for a few days. Email me or call me if you have any other questions?' She takes the card from him and stares down at it for a few moments, turning it over taking in the silver print on the front reading DR Gilbert Grissom.
'Thank you, Gilbert.' She moves to stand, to shake his hand again. He holds her for a moment too long, the warmth of her touch drawing him into her.
'Thank you, SanFran.' She smiles the biggest smile at him and drops his hand.
'You better go. You're already late.' He nods, dropping his gaze to the dozen cups piled on the table now between them. He bends and picks up his briefcase.
'Bye.'
'Bye.'
A heavy knock on his office door startles him back to present day.
'Come in.' He turns back towards his desk, standing behind the solid oak.
'Hi, Dr Grissom, is now a good time?' A young man, no older than nineteen steps into the room. Grissom recognises him from his class earlier today.
'Yes, come in, take a seat..?'
'Michael.'
'Take a seat Michael, what can I help you with?' Grissom takes his seat, gesturing for the young man to sit down.
'I have some questions, is that ok?' He pulls a small notebook from his bag, placing it on his lap alongside a pen.'
'Of course, fire away.'