Since I Met You - Chapter 3
Jun. 13th, 2007 02:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lizwontcryTitle: Since I Met You
Author: Butliz
Rating: T
Spoilers: Everything through 7x23
Disclaimer: I so don't own them.
Summary: Sara's mother is sick, and Sara feels like she's finally ready to face the past. But how will that effect her future? A look at Sara and Grissom's past, present and future.
A/N This is your standard how they met story, which we've all read before, but I tried to put a little bit of a different spin on it. Oh, and it's the longest chapter...ever. As always, thanks to GSFanatic for the awesome beta skills, and thanks to everyone for the thoughtful reviews. Please do continue, I love hearing what you have to say.
Chapters: 1,2
1995
It was definitely not love at first sight. Many years later they'd be able to laugh about it, but at the time, neither of them could find the humor in the situation.
Sara was in her second year of graduate school at Berkeley, getting her graduate degree in theoretical physics. She found physics to be not only fascinating, but oddly calming as well. Physics made sense to her. Physics gave her something to do with her brain other than think about the obvious, and that was particularly satisfying to her.
She had a hard time making friends because she was always so busy, but sometimes she thought she was so busy because she had a hard time making friends. Sometimes it was frustrating, this need to cram her brain full of knowledge in order to keep her mind occupied. But she found when she was in a social situation, the talk always somehow turned into what the others did before coming to college, and she didn't have much to contribute to that conversation. She never felt comfortable enough to tell a semi-stranger, "Well, when I was young? My dad knocked around my mom. Sometimes he went for my brother and me, too. Then my mom got really pissed off and killed him in a fit of anger. Oh, and growing up in foster homes was totally awesome!" No, she wasn't quite comfortable indulging that kind of information.
So Sara's graduate school experience at Berkeley went much the same way it did her 4 years at Harvard: she went to class. She went to the library. Sometimes she'd go to a lecture if it sounded interesting. When she read about the seminar on the forensics of a double murder by a respected entomologist, she took note. Her graduate studies were coming to a close and she still wasn't sure what path to take. She could easily be a physicist in a lab, but recently she had become interested in law enforcement. She read something in a physics journal about how scientists were solving crimes, and how new technology was making that happen.
She was actually looking forward to the seminar. She asked some of her professors about Dr. Gil Grissom, the entomologist, and they all had exceptional things to say about him. He was apparently a crime scene investigator in Las Vegas, one of the most respectable crime labs in the country.
The first day of the seminar, she arrived early and sat in the front, something she always did, not only because she sometimes had bad vision and needed to sit in the front to see, but because she always seemed to have a lot of questions and the teachers got annoyed if she was sitting in the back.
After a few minutes of going over some notes from her other classes, a man who was presumably Dr. Gil Grissom entered the classroom. She was the only one who had made it so far; there was still 10 minutes until class started. She glanced at him while he unpacked his things, and smiled appreciatively. He was in his late thirties, early forties, and was already going gray. He looked like he once had a muscular build but hadn't been able to make it to the gym in a few years. He wore glasses which highlighted his blue eyes. And, from what she could tell, he had a nice ass.
Once he unpacked his things, he finally turned around and saw her sitting in the front row. She hoped he didn't notice her giving him the once over.
"Hi, I'm Dr. Grissom. Are you the TA they sent over for me?"
She opened her mouth to protest but he went on.
"Could you pass out these handouts when the students get here? I know they might look a little complicated, but I'll explain them."
Curiously, she looked down at the handouts. They were basic information on forensics, with math and science and everything else thrown in. Basic equations she could do in the dark.
"Oh, and when you pass those out, do you think you can get me some coffee, too? I meant to get some before I got here, but I was running a little late."
He smiled at her, a killer smile that almost made her forget how much she wanted to kick him in the head.
He turned around, apparently done talking to her. She cleared her throat loudly and he turned back around.
"Uh, Dr. Grissom, my name's Sara Sidle. I have a bachelor's degree in physics, and I'm about to get my graduate degree in theoretical physics. These handouts seem pretty basic to me. And no, I won't hand them out. And I probably won't be getting you any coffee, either."
And what killed her was he didn't even look embarrassed in the slightest. He just chuckled and said, "Oh, well, thanks for coming early. I guess my TA will be here soon, huh?" And that was the end of that conversation.
She wanted to hate him and she wanted to discredit everything he said. But in spite of herself, she was actually fascinated by his lecture. He was smart, witty, and an expert in the subject. She found herself captivated by the whole idea of science and forensics, and by the time he finished talking, she was pretty sure she knew what she was going to be doing with her life. The man was quite persuasive, if not completely cocky and annoying.
When the seminar was over for the day, most of the students cleared out. Some stuck around to ask Dr. Grissom some questions, but they too soon cleared out. She was again the only student left in the classroom, and Dr. Grissom gave her an apologetic smile.
"Do you have a question, Miss Sidle?"
How in the hell does he remember my name?! she thought, trying to fight off a smile. What was it about this guy?
"Well, yes, actually. I have a lot of questions, and not just on this seminar. I heard you were a crime scene investigator, using science to solve crimes. I was thinking about a career in physics. You know, white coat, lab, beakers. But I think investigating might be a better use of my time."
_______________________________________
Gil Grissom was intrigued by this woman. She couldn't be more than 24 years old. She was beautiful, although there wasn't anything graceful about her. She had a strange gap-toothed smile that he found particularly endearing. He was embarrassed about how he mistook her for a teaching assistant, but most of the students at his seminars came in right on time or 5 minutes late. He enjoyed how she told him off. She reminded him of his coworker and dear friend Catherine Willows. He didn't meet a lot of strong-minded women, so this Sara Sidle definitely caught his attention.
He suggested they go get something to eat because he was starving. She told him there was a great Chinese place just around the corner.
"You look like a burger guy, but I'm really trying to eat less meat these days," she told him. He chuckled and let her lead him to the Chinese restaurant.
After they ordered, Gil said, "Miss Sidle, I obviously need to apologize for earlier. You know what they say about assuming things."
"That it's a total cliche? Oh, and it's Sara, by the way. And it's okay. Your fascinating lecture more than made up for your little mistake," she said, batting her eyelashes in a delightfully cute manner.
Man, this woman had a nerve, he thought. Moving on, he asked a safer question.
"So when did you decide you wanted a career in law enforcement?"
Sara smiled. He could definitely appreciate that woman's beautiful smile. He made a note to make her smile more often.
"Since I met you, of course," she said, winking at him. "Actually, about halfway through your lecture.
Gil couldn't help it - he snorted. He managed not to snort the water he was drinking out of his nose, but it was a close call.
"Wow, I must be a better speaker than I thought," he said, grinning.
"You're very persuasive, Dr. Grissom," she said, grinning back.
"Please, call me Gil."
"Hmm. I don't know, that sounds kind of formal, really...how about we compromise and I call you Griss?"
"That'll work, I suppose."
"In all seriousness, I've been reading about using science in the field of law enforcement, and I got hooked. I have a strong belief in the justice system, and if I could possibly be a part of that while using science at the same time, that would be amazing. Just...amazing," she said with more conviction than Gil had seen anyone talk about anything with in a long, long time. This woman was like a breath of fresh air.
Over the next couple of days, she would come early to his lecture and take notes vigorously the whole time he talked. Afterwards, they'd eat lunch together while she asked him question after question. She begged him to tell her to shut up if she got annoying, but he just found her refreshing. He enjoyed answering her thoughtful questions. And, well, he enjoyed her. A lot. Definitely too much. It was a good thing he was leaving in a few days, or he would probably get himself in trouble. They had a comfortable rapport with a pinch of flirtation added in to make things interesting. He was intrigued by how fascinated she seemed to be in his field of expertise. She seemed to enjoy his company and his intellect. If she were just a few years older, and he just a bit younger...he would have thought it to be a perfect match. But he felt like he was turning out to be her mentor, and he didn't want to jeopardize that relationship with any hasty moves. Still, no matter how hard they tried to avoid it, their friendship had a deep sexual undercurrent they both tried their hardest to ignore.
On the last day of his seminar, he told her before class started, "I have some things I need to take care of after class. How about I take you to dinner?"
She smiled and said, "Of course, that would be great." She wrote down her address for him, and they smiled peacefully at each other.
He picked her up at 8:00 on the dot. He tried not to notice how absolutely sexy she was looking in her flimsy tank top and swishy little skirt. Is she trying to drive me crazy? He thought impatiently.
"Um, I brought you this," he said, handing her a perfect red rose. "Honestly, I saw it growing in your neighbor's yard and I kind of stole it."
She giggled, a sexy throaty sound that made him just the slightest bit crazy.
"Thank you! It's beautiful. Why don't we go to the pizza place down the street? It's a nice night, we can walk."
He found himself wanting to hold her hand or put his arm around her on the walk to the restaurant. It felt like a date, but it couldn't be. He was leaving in the morning, nothing could happen to indicate there'd be anything interesting between them. He did want to help her out professionally, though. He made a few calls earlier that day, and he felt like he had good news for her.
As soon as they sat down, he told her, "I talked to a colleague of mine. Dr. Martin Thornton, earlier. He's head of the crime lab in San Francisco. I told him about you, and he said you should definitely check them out after you get your graduate degree. They always need intelligent people with a nose for science up there."
And then she smiled again, a smile so beautiful he almost had to look away. How could he leave this enchanting woman behind?
"I don't even know what to say, Griss. Why would you do that for me? I'm...touched."
"Well, I feel like I owe it to the world to give them someone as bright and intelligent as you are. And I feel I owe it to you to give you a chance in the field you're interested in. We need you, whether you know it or not." I need you. He tried to put a stop to that particular thought, and fast.
"Thank you, really. I graduate in a few months, I'll give him a call."
They smiled at each other, and thankfully the pizza came right at that moment. After that, they managed to talk about neutral things, like music and movies. But the undercurrent was still there, and not to be ignored.
They walked back to her apartment slowly, not talking much, letting the night breeze surround them. He did not want to let this woman out of his sight, but he had to. He had a crime lab to get back to. He had a life to get back to, a simple, uncomplicated life that had been working well for him for many years.
When they arrived at her door, they both looked at each other expectantly.
"Griss, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your lectures. You really opened a new door for me and I will always be grateful to you for that."
"Of course, Sara. Keep in touch, okay? I want to know how it works out.”
She smiled at him again, but this time it was different. It was a sensual smile. It was a smile that said, "if you don't kiss me in the next 5 minutes, you will regret it for the rest of your life." It was the only thing he wanted to do at that moment, and it was the last thing he could do. He couldn't kiss her. Not like this. And he had the feeling that if he did kiss her, he'd never want to leave her.
"Sara...I can't. I'm sorry."
He had to look away from the hurt and disappointment in her eyes. It was just too much.
"I understand, Griss," she said. But her eyes told a different story.
She smiled awkwardly and turned away from him, fumbling with her keys to open the door.
He put a hand on her arm. She looked up at him with her deliscious brown eyes.
"You are amazing. In every way. I have to go."
"Don't forget about me," she said softly.
"Never," he said. And then he walked away.
Author: Butliz
Rating: T
Spoilers: Everything through 7x23
Disclaimer: I so don't own them.
Summary: Sara's mother is sick, and Sara feels like she's finally ready to face the past. But how will that effect her future? A look at Sara and Grissom's past, present and future.
A/N This is your standard how they met story, which we've all read before, but I tried to put a little bit of a different spin on it. Oh, and it's the longest chapter...ever. As always, thanks to GSFanatic for the awesome beta skills, and thanks to everyone for the thoughtful reviews. Please do continue, I love hearing what you have to say.
Chapters: 1,2
1995
It was definitely not love at first sight. Many years later they'd be able to laugh about it, but at the time, neither of them could find the humor in the situation.
Sara was in her second year of graduate school at Berkeley, getting her graduate degree in theoretical physics. She found physics to be not only fascinating, but oddly calming as well. Physics made sense to her. Physics gave her something to do with her brain other than think about the obvious, and that was particularly satisfying to her.
She had a hard time making friends because she was always so busy, but sometimes she thought she was so busy because she had a hard time making friends. Sometimes it was frustrating, this need to cram her brain full of knowledge in order to keep her mind occupied. But she found when she was in a social situation, the talk always somehow turned into what the others did before coming to college, and she didn't have much to contribute to that conversation. She never felt comfortable enough to tell a semi-stranger, "Well, when I was young? My dad knocked around my mom. Sometimes he went for my brother and me, too. Then my mom got really pissed off and killed him in a fit of anger. Oh, and growing up in foster homes was totally awesome!" No, she wasn't quite comfortable indulging that kind of information.
So Sara's graduate school experience at Berkeley went much the same way it did her 4 years at Harvard: she went to class. She went to the library. Sometimes she'd go to a lecture if it sounded interesting. When she read about the seminar on the forensics of a double murder by a respected entomologist, she took note. Her graduate studies were coming to a close and she still wasn't sure what path to take. She could easily be a physicist in a lab, but recently she had become interested in law enforcement. She read something in a physics journal about how scientists were solving crimes, and how new technology was making that happen.
She was actually looking forward to the seminar. She asked some of her professors about Dr. Gil Grissom, the entomologist, and they all had exceptional things to say about him. He was apparently a crime scene investigator in Las Vegas, one of the most respectable crime labs in the country.
The first day of the seminar, she arrived early and sat in the front, something she always did, not only because she sometimes had bad vision and needed to sit in the front to see, but because she always seemed to have a lot of questions and the teachers got annoyed if she was sitting in the back.
After a few minutes of going over some notes from her other classes, a man who was presumably Dr. Gil Grissom entered the classroom. She was the only one who had made it so far; there was still 10 minutes until class started. She glanced at him while he unpacked his things, and smiled appreciatively. He was in his late thirties, early forties, and was already going gray. He looked like he once had a muscular build but hadn't been able to make it to the gym in a few years. He wore glasses which highlighted his blue eyes. And, from what she could tell, he had a nice ass.
Once he unpacked his things, he finally turned around and saw her sitting in the front row. She hoped he didn't notice her giving him the once over.
"Hi, I'm Dr. Grissom. Are you the TA they sent over for me?"
She opened her mouth to protest but he went on.
"Could you pass out these handouts when the students get here? I know they might look a little complicated, but I'll explain them."
Curiously, she looked down at the handouts. They were basic information on forensics, with math and science and everything else thrown in. Basic equations she could do in the dark.
"Oh, and when you pass those out, do you think you can get me some coffee, too? I meant to get some before I got here, but I was running a little late."
He smiled at her, a killer smile that almost made her forget how much she wanted to kick him in the head.
He turned around, apparently done talking to her. She cleared her throat loudly and he turned back around.
"Uh, Dr. Grissom, my name's Sara Sidle. I have a bachelor's degree in physics, and I'm about to get my graduate degree in theoretical physics. These handouts seem pretty basic to me. And no, I won't hand them out. And I probably won't be getting you any coffee, either."
And what killed her was he didn't even look embarrassed in the slightest. He just chuckled and said, "Oh, well, thanks for coming early. I guess my TA will be here soon, huh?" And that was the end of that conversation.
She wanted to hate him and she wanted to discredit everything he said. But in spite of herself, she was actually fascinated by his lecture. He was smart, witty, and an expert in the subject. She found herself captivated by the whole idea of science and forensics, and by the time he finished talking, she was pretty sure she knew what she was going to be doing with her life. The man was quite persuasive, if not completely cocky and annoying.
When the seminar was over for the day, most of the students cleared out. Some stuck around to ask Dr. Grissom some questions, but they too soon cleared out. She was again the only student left in the classroom, and Dr. Grissom gave her an apologetic smile.
"Do you have a question, Miss Sidle?"
How in the hell does he remember my name?! she thought, trying to fight off a smile. What was it about this guy?
"Well, yes, actually. I have a lot of questions, and not just on this seminar. I heard you were a crime scene investigator, using science to solve crimes. I was thinking about a career in physics. You know, white coat, lab, beakers. But I think investigating might be a better use of my time."
_______________________________________
Gil Grissom was intrigued by this woman. She couldn't be more than 24 years old. She was beautiful, although there wasn't anything graceful about her. She had a strange gap-toothed smile that he found particularly endearing. He was embarrassed about how he mistook her for a teaching assistant, but most of the students at his seminars came in right on time or 5 minutes late. He enjoyed how she told him off. She reminded him of his coworker and dear friend Catherine Willows. He didn't meet a lot of strong-minded women, so this Sara Sidle definitely caught his attention.
He suggested they go get something to eat because he was starving. She told him there was a great Chinese place just around the corner.
"You look like a burger guy, but I'm really trying to eat less meat these days," she told him. He chuckled and let her lead him to the Chinese restaurant.
After they ordered, Gil said, "Miss Sidle, I obviously need to apologize for earlier. You know what they say about assuming things."
"That it's a total cliche? Oh, and it's Sara, by the way. And it's okay. Your fascinating lecture more than made up for your little mistake," she said, batting her eyelashes in a delightfully cute manner.
Man, this woman had a nerve, he thought. Moving on, he asked a safer question.
"So when did you decide you wanted a career in law enforcement?"
Sara smiled. He could definitely appreciate that woman's beautiful smile. He made a note to make her smile more often.
"Since I met you, of course," she said, winking at him. "Actually, about halfway through your lecture.
Gil couldn't help it - he snorted. He managed not to snort the water he was drinking out of his nose, but it was a close call.
"Wow, I must be a better speaker than I thought," he said, grinning.
"You're very persuasive, Dr. Grissom," she said, grinning back.
"Please, call me Gil."
"Hmm. I don't know, that sounds kind of formal, really...how about we compromise and I call you Griss?"
"That'll work, I suppose."
"In all seriousness, I've been reading about using science in the field of law enforcement, and I got hooked. I have a strong belief in the justice system, and if I could possibly be a part of that while using science at the same time, that would be amazing. Just...amazing," she said with more conviction than Gil had seen anyone talk about anything with in a long, long time. This woman was like a breath of fresh air.
Over the next couple of days, she would come early to his lecture and take notes vigorously the whole time he talked. Afterwards, they'd eat lunch together while she asked him question after question. She begged him to tell her to shut up if she got annoying, but he just found her refreshing. He enjoyed answering her thoughtful questions. And, well, he enjoyed her. A lot. Definitely too much. It was a good thing he was leaving in a few days, or he would probably get himself in trouble. They had a comfortable rapport with a pinch of flirtation added in to make things interesting. He was intrigued by how fascinated she seemed to be in his field of expertise. She seemed to enjoy his company and his intellect. If she were just a few years older, and he just a bit younger...he would have thought it to be a perfect match. But he felt like he was turning out to be her mentor, and he didn't want to jeopardize that relationship with any hasty moves. Still, no matter how hard they tried to avoid it, their friendship had a deep sexual undercurrent they both tried their hardest to ignore.
On the last day of his seminar, he told her before class started, "I have some things I need to take care of after class. How about I take you to dinner?"
She smiled and said, "Of course, that would be great." She wrote down her address for him, and they smiled peacefully at each other.
He picked her up at 8:00 on the dot. He tried not to notice how absolutely sexy she was looking in her flimsy tank top and swishy little skirt. Is she trying to drive me crazy? He thought impatiently.
"Um, I brought you this," he said, handing her a perfect red rose. "Honestly, I saw it growing in your neighbor's yard and I kind of stole it."
She giggled, a sexy throaty sound that made him just the slightest bit crazy.
"Thank you! It's beautiful. Why don't we go to the pizza place down the street? It's a nice night, we can walk."
He found himself wanting to hold her hand or put his arm around her on the walk to the restaurant. It felt like a date, but it couldn't be. He was leaving in the morning, nothing could happen to indicate there'd be anything interesting between them. He did want to help her out professionally, though. He made a few calls earlier that day, and he felt like he had good news for her.
As soon as they sat down, he told her, "I talked to a colleague of mine. Dr. Martin Thornton, earlier. He's head of the crime lab in San Francisco. I told him about you, and he said you should definitely check them out after you get your graduate degree. They always need intelligent people with a nose for science up there."
And then she smiled again, a smile so beautiful he almost had to look away. How could he leave this enchanting woman behind?
"I don't even know what to say, Griss. Why would you do that for me? I'm...touched."
"Well, I feel like I owe it to the world to give them someone as bright and intelligent as you are. And I feel I owe it to you to give you a chance in the field you're interested in. We need you, whether you know it or not." I need you. He tried to put a stop to that particular thought, and fast.
"Thank you, really. I graduate in a few months, I'll give him a call."
They smiled at each other, and thankfully the pizza came right at that moment. After that, they managed to talk about neutral things, like music and movies. But the undercurrent was still there, and not to be ignored.
They walked back to her apartment slowly, not talking much, letting the night breeze surround them. He did not want to let this woman out of his sight, but he had to. He had a crime lab to get back to. He had a life to get back to, a simple, uncomplicated life that had been working well for him for many years.
When they arrived at her door, they both looked at each other expectantly.
"Griss, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your lectures. You really opened a new door for me and I will always be grateful to you for that."
"Of course, Sara. Keep in touch, okay? I want to know how it works out.”
She smiled at him again, but this time it was different. It was a sensual smile. It was a smile that said, "if you don't kiss me in the next 5 minutes, you will regret it for the rest of your life." It was the only thing he wanted to do at that moment, and it was the last thing he could do. He couldn't kiss her. Not like this. And he had the feeling that if he did kiss her, he'd never want to leave her.
"Sara...I can't. I'm sorry."
He had to look away from the hurt and disappointment in her eyes. It was just too much.
"I understand, Griss," she said. But her eyes told a different story.
She smiled awkwardly and turned away from him, fumbling with her keys to open the door.
He put a hand on her arm. She looked up at him with her deliscious brown eyes.
"You are amazing. In every way. I have to go."
"Don't forget about me," she said softly.
"Never," he said. And then he walked away.
