A/N: Another fantastic chapter by co-writer Jellybean. Thank you also for the amazing reviews. Every single one is appreciated. However, this is the last chapter - for now - until other chapters are ready. Hopefully, it will be a shorter wait than the previous bunch of chapters. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 74

Dana was surprised that Sayers' head didn't turn 360 degrees "Exorcist-style." But despite that, there was still a slow, theatric head turn in Dana's direction. "I'm going to skip over the … well, I'll use your word, malfeasance involved in getting an unaired commercial I paid for. But I'm not going to sit here and discuss said commercial because it is a fact that the City of Las Vegas and any branch of the Clark County government has no say — and constitutionally should not have any say — in a commercial being aired for my campaign for a political office."

"And yet, we still need to discuss it because that commercial could be the lynchpin as to whether I represent my client in a settlement case or I represent him in a settlement case and a lawsuit involving the City of Las Vegas, Clark County and the district attorney's office."

Sayers laughed. "What do you think this is? Has your version of the law become a grocery store 'Buy One, Get One' promotion?"

Although a rhetorical question, Dana offered a resounding, "No. It is a plan of litigation, one that takes into consideration the incredible damage done to a man's career of service and the continued damage that will be done by a petty display of 'saving face' by a public official who has not made intelligent choices."

The room's temperature had heated up quite enough for Godinez. "OK, let's stop there. Ladd, as I said to Ms. Osorio, I cannot pressure you in any direction to change your commercial, but I can advise you that changing the commercial in a very small way could resolve a lot of things for you and secure you from any personal or professional litigation."

"Thank you, Ralph, but I'm a big boy," Sayers said, not even caring about an endorsement from the mayor. "There is nothing wrong with the commercial."

"Mr. Grissom's face is front and center, you know that. If you want to make your point, use another face. Use Dunbar, the man's dead. Use the other ex-CSI you put in jail."

"Ladd, you're absolutely right about my office having zero say in your commercial. I cannot make you do anything about it," Godinez said. "But take the evening and give it a thought. Ms. Osorio might not be the only one who voices the concerns she established. There can be so pretty big cons for you airing the commercial as is. I say that as a colleague."

"I'm not changing the commercial," Sayers said as he went to stand. "This is a ridiculous conversation, and I have another appointment. Ralph, I'm going."

"Hold on," Godinez directed as he picked up his phone. "You're not leaving until we make that phone call to HR. I'll get the director on the line now."

The mayor's chief of staff led another wordless escort, this time of the exit and this time of two people. While Sayers was out the front door like a shot, the chief of staff spoke with Dana about securing an appointment with the city's legal team concerning the settlement litigation Dana discussed with the mayor prior to Sayers' arrival.

The two offered cordial goodbyes, and Dana took a seat on a nearby couch to call her office and relay some of the particulars to get the settlement litigation moving forward. Then she took the time to retrieve her sunglasses, pop a stick of gum in her mouth and make sure her car keys were in her hand at the ready.

She took the stairs in the public parking garage to the fourth floor and was surprised to see someone standing next to her car. "Do you need a ride back to your office, Mr. Sayers?"

"I'm not EVER forgetting that bullshit you piled on in there, missy. If you think you can get away with talking to me like that, you're sorely fucking mistaken."

Standing her ground, Dana's critical gaze never left Sayers, even as she took the gum from her mouth, rolled it between her thumb and forefinger to form a small ball, and unceremoniously drop it upon the ground. She continued a few steps closer to her car. "None of what I said was bullshit. What you are doing to Gil Grissom is bullshit."

"Do you really think you have the upperhand here?" Sayers asked. "How the FUCK do you think I kept the whole thing about Dunbar under wraps, huh? You think that was done by magic? It was done because I got the media in my pocket."

Dana took a deep breath. "You know, I knew you weren't going to change that commercial."

Still full of bluster, Dana could tell Sayers was stunned by the admission and the way it was spoken with absolute, and apathetic, clarity. Dana took the silence as an avenue to continue.

"The whole Dunbar case… my God, I can't even imagine the nightmare that was for your office," Dana started. "Here's the sheriff using violent criminals for a revenge campaign… I mean there's no way anyone could have seen that coming. Even someone in the district attorney's office who worked with Dunbar ad nauseum. And kudos to you for burying that story way down the pipeline. Honestly, that was one helluva job. Especially with a kidnapping case involving a pregnant woman."

Dana's voice and accompanying gestures could almost be construed as supportive.

"Why the hell would you make that face front and center? Talk about opening a can of worms you fought tooth and nail to seal shut. But then you have to wonder, so, why not put Patrick Davies' face there?"

While the question deserved an answer, Dana knew Sayers wouldn't offer one.

So she did.

"Yeah, but talk about another can of worms, ehh counselor? Boy oh boy talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing."

Dana took a step closer to Sayers, who was standing three feet from her call with his arms tightly across his chest. "From what I understand, he applied to your office for an investigator position. Would have been a good fit, I guess that's why you two got chummy. You probably saw a little bit of a young Ladd Sayers in Patrick Davies. Well… minus the whole murder for hire thing."

"Are you done?"

"This is where I'm going with this," Dana said. "Patrick Davies is a stain on your reputation, and I get that, I truly do. And Patrick must have done a number on dragging Mr. Grissom's name in the mud. So much so, when Patrick suggested prison instead of jail for lockup for Mr. Grissom you thought that was a good idea, despite it making very little sense."

"So, honestly, I guess I understand why you have Mr. Grissom front and center. Because you ride that, 'He's still guilty' card like a champ," Dana continued. "But what you are doing is ruining a man who doesn't deserve any more damage thrown his way. Hence my use of the word 'malfeasance' for what you are doing."

Sayers snarled, and gave the lot a quick look around to see that there were not prying eyes or prying ears. "You really think this display of 'I know better than you' is going to get me to have sympathy for that pathetic client of yours? You want to work with Ralph on a settlement? Fine, go right ahead. He's a weak guy, so I'm sure you will get what you want. But go after me?" Sayers let out a sarcastic chuckle before turning absolutely serious. "You do that and you will rue the day, lady. You're nothing but a naïve, stupid, pissy-ass fool."

Dana cracked her neck from side to side. There was no mirth in her voice. In a succinct tone she said, "You do have connections, Mr. Sayers. There is no doubt of that. But the baggage here is not good to carry. At some point the shit will hit the fan. It won't be good for you."

Sayers licked his lips. "You and your father can go fuck yourselves."

He turned to leave before Dana even had a chance to respond. It was always about getting the last word for Ladd Sayers. And he was going to get it.

Dana did watch him leave, and noticed he stepped on her gum that she dropped to the floor. Now that she was alone, she felt safe to open her car and get inside. She looked at herself in the mirror and retrieved her lipstick. As she applied the makeup all she could think about was what Sayers said — how he had the media wrapped around his finger.

Well, sometimes it's not just the media that can do damage to a political campaign.

It was 10 p.m. in the Grissom household, and that meant it was snack time for Sara. Carrying a cup of yogurt and a few graham crackers, she makes her way to the bedroom. Grissom was in the bathroom, checking out his bruised shoulder. After putting her snacks on her nightstand, Sara went to him.

"You need me to put some cream on that or something?"

"You know, I think it hurts more now than when I first got it."

"Well, you've been carrying Daniel around a lot lately," Sara said, as she rubbed his back. "Would medicated cream help?"

"Nah, let's just lie down in bed."

The two settled in bed with Grissom cuddling against Sara who was sitting up with her pillows propped up behind her. She was munching on a cracker while Grissom used the remote to put on a channel that had sports highlights.

More engrossed in her snack, Sara heard a bing of a text message. She grabbed her phone off the night stand and took a look at the message. She smiled when she read what Greg wrote.

Handing the phone to her husband, Sara said. "Here. It's for you."

A look of confusion on his face, Grissom sat up and took the phone. He read the text aloud. "Message for G. Grissom via Prego Sara. Stop. Dear Mr. Grissom. Stop. Please change the channel from the ESPN highlights to channel 17. Stop. Very important viewing. Stop. Prego Sara has never seen this movie and that must be rectified. Stop."

Then another message binged.

"I'm serious, Grissom. Change the channel."

"Does he have a camera in here?" Grissom asked.

Sara snorted. "No. If he did, he wouldn't be able to talk to either of us. But I think your viewing habits are just predictable."

Grissom changed the channel to 17, which was showing "The Goonies," a 1985 movie about a group of misfits — The Goonies — who discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate's long-lost treasure. "You've never seen The Goonies?"

"Nope. Have you?"

"I have. It's cute."

Grissom took his position cuddling against Sara as they watched the movie. The one thing that got Sara was the movie's setting. "Did they shoot this in northern California? It kind of looks like it, but it kind of doesn't. Is it Washington?"

"Actually, it's Oregon," Grissom said. "Northern coast, I believe."

"Wow. It's pretty."

"Oregon's a beautiful state. It has a beautiful coastline, forests just on the other side of it with huge trees, and even a desert."

"A desert? Really?"

"Yeah. The dunes there are fascinating."

"You've been there?"

"For a very short time," Grissom said. "I thought about studying at the University of Oregon for a while."

"Do they have a good entomology department?"

"That was years ago. I'm not sure. But it's a good university."

"Interesting," Sara said softly as they continued to watch.

The two watched in silence and Sara finished her yogurt. Then came a commercial break.

"Las Vegas has its bright lights and dark side. Fortunately, the city has a champion for justice on their side, someone who is always ready to shed a light on justice. Ladd Sayers."

Their expressions turned sad as they viewed the commercial, especially when Grissom's mug shot was front and center.

As the spot droned on, Sara spoke over it. "He didn't change it."

"No. Did you really think he would?"

They both braced themselves for this possibility. But they promised each other they would not wallow in negativity over the commercial.

Besides, they knew their attorney had a plan of action.

"I guess the shit's gonna hit the fan now."

Grissom nodded and snuggled closer to his wife. "Well, it's his fault. It's not like Dana didn't warn him."