AN: Thanks for the continued support. Here is the next chapter.
Chapter 6: Finding out
Nick cleared his throat before answering Grissom's question. "She's the one that I..." He paused again and shook his head. "Griss, I'm confused, what's going on? How do you have her phone? How do you know Hailey?"
He cleared his throat before answering the younger man's question. "I was her teacher in Paris."
"Wait a minute, you were that teacher she was talking about that night we met. She told me she studied in Paris and that there was a teacher she looked up to, even though he hadn't been there very long. I can't believe I didn't piece that together. It's because of you she wanted to become a teacher and was working her way up to a PhD." There was another short pause before Nick continued. "Ok, now that I got the how you know her out of the way. How do you have her phone?"
Grissom cleared his throat again and closed his eyes, wishing he didn't have to say the words to someone he cared about. "Nick, something happened, she was shot in the parking lot at the park (He heard Nick gasp while he continued) "She was rushed to the hospital."
"How bad was it, and don't lie to me, Griss."
Grissom then spoke softly while opening his eyes, now seeing a detective coming his way. "It was pretty bad, I believe it will be a miracle if she makes it out of this."
Nick cursed softly before asking with concern. "Her daughter?"
"She was with her, but from what I could tell, she wasn't shot. She's ok, at least physically."
Nick sighed. "Least that is something. I'm going to the hospital."
"Ok, I'll meet you there."
"Alright, thanks Griss...for being there for her, I'm glad she had at least one familiar person with her."
"I wished this didn't happen to her, but you're welcome."
"Me too, bye Griss, see you later."
"Bye Nicky."
The moment they got off the phone, the detective was right there asking questions, and he provided all the information that he knew, even giving Hailey's phone to him, before heading back to the play area, Hank following him slowly.
When he could see Sara and William, William was on the swing while Sara was pushing him and asking him questions to distract him. But the minute they saw Grissom, William wanted the swing stopped as soon as possible before getting off and running to him.
"Daddy!"
Grissom wrapped his arms around his son the second he could and closed his eyes while holding on to him tightly.
"I love you so much, buddy."
"I love you too, daddy."
After they pulled back, which by then Sara was near them as well, Grissom smiled at his son while cupping his cheek. "Why don't you go back to swinging while I talk to your mom."
William sighed. "Grown-up talk?"
Grissom nodded. "Yes."
"Ok." He then looked down at Hank with a smile. "Come on Hank." But when Hank wasn't moving an inch, William looked sad as he looked at his father again. "Something is wrong with Hank daddy."
Trying to keep his emotions down, Grissom replied. "He could be just tired buddy, why don't you go play without him for now."
After William nodded the little boy turned and finally ran back to the swing set while Grissom stood up watching his son for a few minutes in silence until Sara cupped his cheek and asked. "What is it? Or the better question is who was it? Do I even have to ask?"
Hank wasn't the only one to recognize that tone of scream and it was still ringing in her ears.
Grissom nodded his head and cleared his throat, still trying to keep his emotions down. "It was Sadie." Even though Sara was half expecting that answer, she still gasped and placed her other hand up to her mouth as her husband continued. "Hailey was the one that got shot, it was bad Sara. I uh, I don't know if she's uh..if she will..." He trailed off and Sara brings her husband into her arms for comfort.
After a few minutes, he finally felt enough composure to tell her something else, so as they were pulling back, he did just that. "There is something else you should know. Hailey was the woman that Nick had met at the bar."
Sara looked at him in shock. "What? How do you know that?"
"I found her phone while he was calling her. I told him what happened, and he said he was going to the hospital."
She nodded, still shocked about everything she just learned the last few minutes before replying. "And I suspect that's where you want to go too?" He was going to open his mouth, but she gave him a smile while cupping his cheek again. "I get it, you don't have to explain anything. You can just drop us off at Nick's then go there."
As much as she wanted to be there for Grissom and Nick, they do have a son to think about and she wanted to keep him out of this as much as possible. Plus, it wasn't like she knew anybody else here to watch him.
Grissom shook his head. "Actually, how about you drop me off at the hospital. You can have the vehicle."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, let's go."
After he gave her a nod, they got their stuff and called their son over so they could pack up and leave the park.
When they made it to the front of the hospital, they shared a soft kiss, said I love you, then Grissom told William he loved him too and that he'll see him later before getting out of the vehicle and walking towards the building.
Once he was in, he headed straight to the reception desk, but was stopped midway when he heard Sadie as she ran up to him. "Mr. Grissom you came." Then surprised him with a hug, but he didn't hesitate on hugging her back in return.
While they were pulling back, he spoke after clearing his throat. "I hope it's ok that I am here."
Sadie nodded with tears in her eyes. "Of course."
He then asked in concern. "Are you ok, I mean you didn't get..."
She shook her head, still sniffling. "I didn't get hit, she told me to run, she tried to protect me, but I couldn't leave her, I couldn't leave her, Mr. Grissom."
Grissom tried to reassure the young girl. "It's ok, you did nothing wrong."
Before any more questions were asked another woman's voice was heard, so Grissom looked in her direction, which she was an older woman that in Grissom's mind wasn't old enough for a cane but was walking with one, coming towards them. "Did I hear you are Mr. Grissom? Professor Grissom?"
Grissom nodded with a smile as he held out hand. "Yes, but you can call me Gil Grissom, ma'am."
The older woman by 12 years to Grissom, smiled while taking Grissom's hand. "Rose Tucker. My niece told me a lot about you. How you inspired her to become a teacher. Thank you for helping her realize her dream."
Still not use to getting compliments, he cleared his throat with a shy smile while they released hands. "She was one of the best students I ever had." He then finished softly. "You raised her well, Mrs. Tucker."
Rose looked at him sadly. "You know her story then."
Grissom nodded. "I do, and I'm sorry for your loss, or should I say losses."
Rose, who was around 5'5, thin with black/graying hair, sighed. "Her uncle and I did the best we could after her parents died."
When Hailey was six years old her parents died, so her father's brother and his wife, who unfortunately didn't have any kids of their own, took her in.
Grissom nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "And you two did, trust me."
Rose nodded with a smile, her brown eyes a little bright. "Thank you, Gil."
Before any more questions were asked again, there was a clearing of the throat and Nick's voice was heard behind him. "Griss."
Grissom turns around and gives Nick a warm look. "Nicky." He then introduces him to Hailey's aunt. "This is Hailey's aunt Rose."
Nick smiled at the older woman while holding out his hand. "Nice to meet you ma'am."
While Rose took Nick's hand to shake and nod, she was looking at him, trying to think how he knew her niece, then Grissom spoke while looking at Sadie. "And Nick this is…."
Nick cuts him off with a smile as he looked at the young girl. "Sadie. I know, you look just like your mom."
Sadie looked shocked. "You knew my mom?"
"Barely. We just met a week ago, but you were all she could talk about. She loves you so much."
Sadie nodded while trying to keep her tears at bay while Rose spoke, finally figuring it out. "You are the young man she had met at the bar."
Nick didn't know how much Hailey had told her aunt about the night they had met, but he did confirm it. "Yes, ma'am."
Rose smiled. "She was really happy that night when she came home and told me about this man she had met at the bar. It had been a while since I've seen her that happy."
Nick gave her a warm smile as he replied. "I enjoyed meeting her as well. More than you know."
As Rose gave him a wider smile, a doctor was walking up to them, and while the look on his face was neutral, the air around them shifted instantly.
He stopped in front of the group, cleared his throat and asked. "Mrs. Tucker, I have an update on your niece, if you'll come with me."
Rose shook her head and placed her arm around her great-niece. "I'm sorry doctor, but whatever you have to say you can say right here in front of them as well.
He nodded. "Very well." After another pause, he told them the devastating news, as much as they tried, they couldn't save her.
Sadie started sobbing while Rose's knees just about buckled, but Nick was right there holding onto the older woman as the doctor explained what had happened and why it wasn't successful.
Once he was done and had said sorry for their loss, he left the group alone, and Nick asked if Rose needed to sit down, which she nodded before they headed over to the chairs.
When she was settled, he then asked if she wanted anything to drink, but she had declined and asked for a moment to be with Sadie alone, who was still shaken up, so the two men nodded before walking outside to get some air.
After they stopped walking once, they were outside, Grissom looked at Nick sadly. "Nick, I'm sorry. If that's right for me to even say to you, I know you two had just met..."
The younger man cuts him off softly. "Your sorry does mean something to me. I mean, yeah I know we had just met and never officially had a first date, but I still feel a loss."
Grissom nodded as he brings him into his arms for a hug, which surprised Nick at first because it's usually the other person who has to initiate the hugs with him, of course unless you were Sara, but he didn't hesitate to hug him back in return.
After they pulled back from one another, Nick cleared his throat before speaking. "I'm going to go back inside, you should call Sara and tell her what happened." Grissom nodded while Nick headed towards the door, but then he stopped and turned around to look at Grissom again. "And I'm sorry for your loss as well, I know she was only your student, which may have not been for very long, but I happen to know from personal experience that, despite what people may say, you do care for all of your students."
Grissom gave him a small smile. "Thank you, Nicky."
Nick just nodded before walking inside the building while Grissom turned back around, grabbed his phone from his pocket before hitting speed dial #1 and placing it up to his ear.
A moment later he hears her sweet yet concerned voice. "Babe."
He replied softly. "Sara." He then had to clear his throat before finishing. "She didn't make it, she fought like hell, but it was just too much damage."
Grissom heard her sniffle a little. "I'm sorry Griss."
Grissom closed his eyes and sighed. "Thank you, I wish I could have…."
He trailed off and she replied. "I know babe. Me too."
They spent the next few minutes trying to comfort one another, then Grissom sighed. "I'll see if Nick can drop me off at his place once we leave the hospital."
"Ok. I'll see you when I see you. Can you give Sadie a hug for me?"
"Yeah. I love you. Tell William I love him too."
"I will, and I love you too."
After they hung up, Grissom wiped a few tears off his cheeks before walking back into the hospital.
When he got back to the chairs in the waiting area, Grissom noticed Sadie wasn't with them, so Rose told him she needed a moment to herself and that she should be back shortly. But after ten minutes and Sadie wasn't back yet, Grissom offered to go search for her, which he found her on the maternity floor after asking the nurses if they had seen a young girl with Sadie's description.
As he got closer to her after walking out of the elevator, he cleared his throat before saying her name softly as to not scare her. "Sadie."
Sadie wiped tears off her cheeks quickly before turning to look at Grissom. "Mr. Griss…"
Grissom cuts her off with a small smile. "How about you just call me Grissom, none of that 'Mr.' stuff."
Sadie nodded sadly as she looked through the window to see all the newborn babies, and after a moment of silence, she sighed. "I just don't know what's going to happen to me now." Grissom was about to reply, but she continued before he could. "I know they tried to hide it from me, but Aunt Rose is very sick, that's why we were moving here so my mom could help take care of her. So, what's going to happen to me when she leaves me as well?"
Feeling bad for this little girl, he placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke softly again. "We'll figure it out, I promise."
Sadie turned around and looked into Grissom's eyes as she asked. "Just like you'll figure out who killed my mom?"
Grissom cleared his throat and kneeled down so he was more eyelevel with the little girl. "Sadie, I'm sorry, but I'm not a CSI anymore. I haven't been one for years so I can't work the case." Sadie nodded as she looked down before Grissom spoke again while lifting the little girl's chin up. "But I do have it on good authority that Nick and his team will."
Sadie shook her head as she asked softly. "But you can't really promise me that he will figure it out."
"No, we are not supposed to promise anything. But if I know Nick like I think I do, he won't quit until he does, there won't be a stone unturned. Now that, I can promise you."
Sadie nodded and was going to go right for a hug, but she stopped herself before asking. "Permission to hug?"
Grissom nodded with a smile. "Granted."
As they were sharing a hug, Grissom tells her it's also from Sara, and that just made Sadie hug him even tighter.
"Thank you for being here for me."
Grissom took a breath as he replied. "You're welcome, I just wish it wasn't under these circumstances."
"Me too."
When Sadie and Grissom made it back to the waiting area, they see Nick and Rose sharing a hug, and after they pulled back, Nick looked at Grissom and asked. "You need a ride to my house?" Grissom nodded before Nick looked at Rose again. "And how about you and Sadie, need a ride home?"
Rose shook her head with a small smile. "We are going to stay a little bit longer, I'll call my driver when we are ready to leave."
With her eyesight not very good for driving the last 10 years, she has her own personal driver.
"Ok. But of you do need anything let me know."
"I will, thank you Mr. Stokes." She then turned to Grissom "And Dr. Grissom."
After the men nodded and said goodbye, they walked out of the hospital, which Grissom noticed Nick walking with a little determination, ready to get out there and solve this case for the Tucker family.
AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. Find out what happens next, and I will also say we are halfway through the story. Hope you are all having a safe/wonderful weekend. Until next time.
