Since I Met You - Chapter 10
Jun. 26th, 2007 11:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lizwontcryTitle: Since I Met You - Chapter 10
Author: Butliz
Rating: Teen
Spoilers: Everything through 7x24
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. As always, thanks to the tireless beta-ness of GSFanatic.
Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
A/N - Thanks for the feedback on the last chapter. I feel loved.
2007
From: NickTexStokes@aol.com
To: SSidle@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, May 18th, 2007 3:00 A.M.
Sara,
You've probably heard that we caught the miniature killer. Man, when Sofia told me about that freak Natalie's apartment, it scared the crap out of me. But Grissom says you're fine and in California, so that's good to hear. We don't know what you're doing over there, but we all hope you're doing okay and getting some much needed rest. We miss you, though. Things definitely aren't the same without you.
Love, Nick
P.S. - Um, Grissom said something weird, something about...love...or something. You know what? It's probably nothing. Come back soon!
*********
From: LeggomyGreggo@gmail.com
To: SSidle@gmail.com
Sent: Saturday, May 19th, 8:27 A.M.
Sara,
I know you're probably freaked out about the miniature killer being after you and all that, but I'm a little freaked out by Grissom admitting he's, like, freakishly in love with you. What happened to us, Sara? I thought we were forever! Anyway, we all miss you, but I think I may miss you a little more than anyone else. Come back to me soon!
Love forever, Greg
*********
After Grissom told her about Natalie, Sara heard about the girl on the news. She was intrigued by this girl who looked so innocent and sweet, and she couldn't help comparing their situations. She wondered if Natalie knew Sara had been in the foster care system for 7 years. Grissom told her about the woman who took Natalie into foster care. She had to give Natalie up after only a few days because she was putting all the other girls in danger. Her temporary foster mother said that after a while, it was easy to tell the difference between a damaged child and a broken child. Natalie was definitely broken, while Sara somehow made it out of foster care merely damaged. Even if the girl was planning on kidnapping Sara and doing horrible things to her, Sara felt sorry for her. She hoped Natalie was getting the help she needed.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, things weren't going so well. Laura was deteriorating before their eyes. Sara and Robbie hired a nurse, who came in the form of Nurse Nancy. Robbie admitted to Sara that he was pretty much afraid of Nancy and Sara was inclined to agree. Nancy was stocky, scowly, and almost just plain mean. Fortunately, Laura and Nancy got along like 2 old friends, so they kept her around.
Laura was going to the hospital daily to receive chemotherapy, but it wasn't working the way anyone hoped. Dr. Hawthorne, Laura's neurologist, told Sara and Robbie they could only do palliative therapy now, which meant that they were only trying to increase her survival, not cure the cancer.
"There isn't much left we can do," Dr. Hawthorne told them. "I know Dr. Williams told you the cancer has spread and our options are limited at this point."
Sara and Robbie knew this. They also knew their mother didn't have much fight left in her. Laura gave up a long time ago on trying to feel good about anything, much less her own health.
After a particularly rough day of chemo, the siblings took their mother home. Nancy had the day off, so they weren't afraid of coming in contact with her. Laura went right to bed, not even taking the time to complain about anything before she drifted off to sleep. Sara and Robbie sat by her bed, watching their ailing mother rest.
"Remember when Dad took us to the zoo?" Robbie asked Sara.
"Of course. That's one of the only things I remember about him anymore," she said.
"Yeah, me, too. Isn't that strange?"
"Not really. It was a good day. I think we've both tried our share of ways to block out the bad days."
Robbie nodded. "What do you remember most about that day?"
Sara thought about the time her dad took them to the zoo when she was 7 years old. She remembered the cotton candy. She remembered the monkeys making strange faces at everyone, and she thought at the time it was more annoying than amusing. She remembered being a little scared of how massive the lions looked. Most of all, she remembered her father holding her hand and pointing out all the interesting sights they came upon.
"I remember Dad getting really excited about seeing the giraffes. He took, like, 100 pictures," Sara said, smiling. "He put me up on his shoulders, but even up there we still weren't as tall as the giraffes. It was all he could talk about on the way home. Oh, until you puked the entire contents of your stomach out in the car."
"Yeah, too much cotton candy, I guess," Robbie said, matching Sara's smile.
"Do you think she meant to kill him?" Sara asked her brother.
If the sudden change of direction surprised Robbie, he didn't show it.
"If you mean did she know she was going to kill him right up until she actually did it, no. I really think it was a spontaneous decision. I think he mindfucked her so bad that she didn't even know right from wrong anymore. That's what I think."
"I don't know, Rob," Sara said. "She's not such an easy target. I think she stopped fighting back for a while because it was easier that way, but the more quiet she was, the more deep in thought she was."
Robbie looked at Sara and frowned.
"You really think that?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I do. You forget that I've seen enough death and murder and lying and backstabbing to last anyone a lifetime. When I was younger, I definitely thought she had no idea what she was doing. But I've changed my mind."
"I forget, you deal with that kind of stuff every day," Robbie said, his frown disappearing. "How do you do it?"
"I do it because of her," she said softly. "I do it for the victim. Even when the suspect is the victim, like she was."
They both fell silent, watching their mother sleep and wondering where it all went wrong.
********
From: GreeneyesBrown@msn.com
To: SSidle@gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, May 17th, 2007 4:13 A.M.
Sara - Girl, you've sure got everybody talking around here. All it took for Grissom to declare his love for you was a crazy lady threatening to kill you, huh? Well, good for y'all. Of course I knew before everyone else (remember the veggie burger? Please!), but I was still kind of surprised that Griss just blurted it out like that. I think Nick and Greg are kind of in denial about it.
Anyway, I hope you're doing okay wherever you happen to be. Come back to us soon - there's someone out here who isn't doing so well without you.
- Warrick
*********
From: Forensicchick@yahoo.com
To: SSidle@gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, May 17th, 2007 11:47 P.M.
Sara - I've been thinking for a few days about what to say to you, and I think I've figured it out - I'm sorry. I know you and Gil have had your moments over the years, but I figured both of you moved on. Before you get upset, I only thought that because you've both been so content lately, and I just figured you found someone to make you happy. Well, you did, and I'm glad. If I had known for one second that you guys were together, that he was in love with you, I would have never opened my mouth like that when we were processing Lady Heather's scene. Fishing off the company pier is okay if you have the right fishing pole, and I think you and Gil do.
We all miss you, Sara, and I'm not ashamed to say some more than others. Like I told you before you left, if whatever you left behind is real, it'll still be here when you get back. And, Sara? He's still here.
- Catherine
********
Laura woke up a few hours later. Robbie left for work, but Sara was still in Laura's room, reading a book and occasionally checking to see if her mother was still breathing. The book wasn't very interesting and Sara found herself thinking, as usual, about Grissom. They hadn't talked much lately, and she assumed he was still dealing with fall out from the miniature killer situation. She missed him. She missed him a lot, but she was a little distressed about the state of their relationship. Not for the first time, she wondered if their relationship would be any different at all when she came back home, if he would try at all to take his mind off everything else he was always so focused on and maybe spend a little quality time with her. She wondered if she'd still be his afterthought.
"What are you thinking about, dear?" Laura asked hoarsely, making Sara jump out of her chair.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Laura said, smiling.
"Of course you meant to startle me, Mother, that was the point, wasn't it?"
Laura laughed, but quickly stopped. Laughter was painful these days for her.
"You know me so well, don't you? Anyway, what were you thinking about?"
"Oh, you know...boys." Sara said.
"Oh, really? Any particular boy on our minds these days?"
"Well...you know," Sara said, because she knew her mother already figured it out. One thing Sara learned was that Laura didn't need things explained to her. She was more likely to explain right back to you in greater detail.
"Your boss, huh? Is he also the man that taught that seminar, the one that convinced you to take up law enforcement?"
Sara nodded, wondering how her mother could be so perceptive.
"Is he a good man?" Laura asked, her tone serious.
"Yes. Yes, he is," Sara said, missing Gil Grissom more than ever.
"He must be, if you've followed him this far in your life. How long ago was that seminar?"
"Well, it was in 1995, so 12 years ago." Sara thought about how long she'd known the man she loved. 12 years was a long time, a good third of her life. They'd only been together 2 years, and 10 of those years were spent hoping, dreaming, longing, seeking, and learning.
"He would never...he would never hurt you, would he, Sara?"
"Of course not, Mother! He's never laid a hand on me!" She said, maybe too strongly.
"I mean...sorry. No, he wouldn't do that."
"It's okay, I know what you're thinking. Only a weak woman would fall in love with someone who would hurt her. I used to think that too until it actually happened. Things change, Sara. They change, and there's only so much a woman can stand."
Sara didn't have anything to say to that. Instead, she said, "Do you miss him?"
Laura looked thoughtful. Then she had a coughing fit, and Sara rushed to the kitchen to get her some water. When Laura settled down, she talked.
"Yes, I miss your father. I miss him very much. Things were good before they got bad, you know. He was a decent man before he started drinking so much. Before you and your brother were born, he used to talk all the time about how much he was looking forward to having kids. I knew he'd be a good father, and he was when alcohol wasn't involved. We were in love, Sara, and that was all that mattered most of the time."
They both went into their own worlds of thought for a moment. Sara had many more questions for her mother, but Laura looked so frail and delicate, she didn't want to upset her any more than she had to.
"Sara? Why do you call me 'Mother'? You used to call me Mama, or at least Mom."
"I don't know...I guess I'm just not comfortable calling you 'Mom' yet. You know? I don't know. It made sense in my head."
Laura laughed. She coughed, took a sip of water, and then laughed again.
"Well, it's now or never, right? I'd like you to call me Mom. Is that okay?"
"Of course...Mom. Of course it's okay."
Laura nodded, looking more tired and sad than Sara had seen her look in days. So, when Laura drifted off to sleep again, Sara covered her mother with a blanket and left her alone.
********
When Robbie came home after work, Sara decided to pay a visit to her old job. She kind of missed old Martin and Hannah and wanted to see how the team was doing. Before she left, she had to look up the directions online because she had no clue where it was. She'd always been terrible with directions.
After countless wrong turns, Sara finally found herself at the lab. She introduced herself to the secretary at the front desk, who directed her to Martin's office. Martin was sitting at his desk, doing some paperwork when Sara knocked on the door. He looked up, startled to see his former star employee.
"Sara Sidle! How nice to see you!" Martin said, smiling. She came in and shook his hand.
"Hi, Martin. I was in town and thought I'd stop by and say hello."
"Well, we're always happy to see you. How are things in Vegas?"
"Same as here, just with more strippers and breast implants," Sara said, suddenly missing Las Vegas.
"Of course, of course. And Gil? How is he doing?"
"Oh, he's busy working, as usual. He can rest a little easier now that they found the miniature killer." At least I hope so, Sara thought with slight bitterness.
"Oh, yes, that woman that made miniature crime scene dioramas, right? It's been all over the news. How creepy!"
"What's creepy?" Sara heard a familiar voice say. She turned around to find Hannah grinning at her.
"Sara! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I wanted to see you, of course!" She said, giving her old friend and colleague a hug.
"What's new with you, lady? What are you doing in San Francisco?"
"I'm visiting my mother," Sara said. She wondered if she should add anything to that, but left it alone. They didn't have to know everything.
"Ah, that's nice. Well, I was just going to lunch. Do you want to join me?"
"Yeah, that would be fun," Sara said. It would be nice to talk to someone about something other than cancer and death for a while. Well, cancer anyway.
Martin, Sara and Hannah walked out to go to lunch together. On their way, she heard another familiar voice say, "Hey, where's the fire?"
She didn't want to turn around. She knew the voice, and she didn't want to look that voice in the eye. But she did anyway, because that was the polite thing to do.
"Hi, Chris," she said, trying hard to smile.
"Oh, wow. Hi, Sara. Good to see you." He did not look happy. Sara hadn't been back to San Francisco for nearly 7 years, but all the strange feelings were still in the air.
Hannah seemed amused by the situation. "Chris, would you like to join us for lunch?"
"Uh, no, that's okay. Hot case, you know."
He was staring at Sara as he talked. She finally had to look away.
And then the awkward scene was over. She went with her old co-workers to lunch and they had a nice time. Sara told them the trials and tribulations of Las Vegas; they filled her in on what she had missed in the world of San Francisco crime lab politics. It was a nice afternoon and she couldn't help but dread going back to the house. And she also couldn't help but wonder what Grissom was doing, and why he didn't seem to care what she was doing.
********
From: thebugman@aol.com
To: SSidle@gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, May 24th, 2007 3:42 A.M.
Honey -
I miss you. I miss you a lot more than I thought I was going to. I hope you're getting everything out of this experience that you wanted to; you deserve to get some peace of mind. I'm sorry I haven't called you more; there's just been a lot of strange things going on here and I'm trying to put out a lot of different fires.
Just know that I'm thinking about you, and I love you. I've loved you for a long time, and if I were still a religious man, I'd be thanking God every day for bringing you into my life. In fact, I do that anyway.
Bruno misses you, too. He's claimed one of your t-shirts as his own, and he sleeps with it all the time. It's a little pathetic, really, how much us men miss you.
- Grissom
Author: Butliz
Rating: Teen
Spoilers: Everything through 7x24
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. As always, thanks to the tireless beta-ness of GSFanatic.
Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
A/N - Thanks for the feedback on the last chapter. I feel loved.
2007
From: NickTexStokes@aol.com
To: SSidle@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, May 18th, 2007 3:00 A.M.
Sara,
You've probably heard that we caught the miniature killer. Man, when Sofia told me about that freak Natalie's apartment, it scared the crap out of me. But Grissom says you're fine and in California, so that's good to hear. We don't know what you're doing over there, but we all hope you're doing okay and getting some much needed rest. We miss you, though. Things definitely aren't the same without you.
Love, Nick
P.S. - Um, Grissom said something weird, something about...love...or something. You know what? It's probably nothing. Come back soon!
*********
From: LeggomyGreggo@gmail.com
To: SSidle@gmail.com
Sent: Saturday, May 19th, 8:27 A.M.
Sara,
I know you're probably freaked out about the miniature killer being after you and all that, but I'm a little freaked out by Grissom admitting he's, like, freakishly in love with you. What happened to us, Sara? I thought we were forever! Anyway, we all miss you, but I think I may miss you a little more than anyone else. Come back to me soon!
Love forever, Greg
*********
After Grissom told her about Natalie, Sara heard about the girl on the news. She was intrigued by this girl who looked so innocent and sweet, and she couldn't help comparing their situations. She wondered if Natalie knew Sara had been in the foster care system for 7 years. Grissom told her about the woman who took Natalie into foster care. She had to give Natalie up after only a few days because she was putting all the other girls in danger. Her temporary foster mother said that after a while, it was easy to tell the difference between a damaged child and a broken child. Natalie was definitely broken, while Sara somehow made it out of foster care merely damaged. Even if the girl was planning on kidnapping Sara and doing horrible things to her, Sara felt sorry for her. She hoped Natalie was getting the help she needed.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, things weren't going so well. Laura was deteriorating before their eyes. Sara and Robbie hired a nurse, who came in the form of Nurse Nancy. Robbie admitted to Sara that he was pretty much afraid of Nancy and Sara was inclined to agree. Nancy was stocky, scowly, and almost just plain mean. Fortunately, Laura and Nancy got along like 2 old friends, so they kept her around.
Laura was going to the hospital daily to receive chemotherapy, but it wasn't working the way anyone hoped. Dr. Hawthorne, Laura's neurologist, told Sara and Robbie they could only do palliative therapy now, which meant that they were only trying to increase her survival, not cure the cancer.
"There isn't much left we can do," Dr. Hawthorne told them. "I know Dr. Williams told you the cancer has spread and our options are limited at this point."
Sara and Robbie knew this. They also knew their mother didn't have much fight left in her. Laura gave up a long time ago on trying to feel good about anything, much less her own health.
After a particularly rough day of chemo, the siblings took their mother home. Nancy had the day off, so they weren't afraid of coming in contact with her. Laura went right to bed, not even taking the time to complain about anything before she drifted off to sleep. Sara and Robbie sat by her bed, watching their ailing mother rest.
"Remember when Dad took us to the zoo?" Robbie asked Sara.
"Of course. That's one of the only things I remember about him anymore," she said.
"Yeah, me, too. Isn't that strange?"
"Not really. It was a good day. I think we've both tried our share of ways to block out the bad days."
Robbie nodded. "What do you remember most about that day?"
Sara thought about the time her dad took them to the zoo when she was 7 years old. She remembered the cotton candy. She remembered the monkeys making strange faces at everyone, and she thought at the time it was more annoying than amusing. She remembered being a little scared of how massive the lions looked. Most of all, she remembered her father holding her hand and pointing out all the interesting sights they came upon.
"I remember Dad getting really excited about seeing the giraffes. He took, like, 100 pictures," Sara said, smiling. "He put me up on his shoulders, but even up there we still weren't as tall as the giraffes. It was all he could talk about on the way home. Oh, until you puked the entire contents of your stomach out in the car."
"Yeah, too much cotton candy, I guess," Robbie said, matching Sara's smile.
"Do you think she meant to kill him?" Sara asked her brother.
If the sudden change of direction surprised Robbie, he didn't show it.
"If you mean did she know she was going to kill him right up until she actually did it, no. I really think it was a spontaneous decision. I think he mindfucked her so bad that she didn't even know right from wrong anymore. That's what I think."
"I don't know, Rob," Sara said. "She's not such an easy target. I think she stopped fighting back for a while because it was easier that way, but the more quiet she was, the more deep in thought she was."
Robbie looked at Sara and frowned.
"You really think that?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I do. You forget that I've seen enough death and murder and lying and backstabbing to last anyone a lifetime. When I was younger, I definitely thought she had no idea what she was doing. But I've changed my mind."
"I forget, you deal with that kind of stuff every day," Robbie said, his frown disappearing. "How do you do it?"
"I do it because of her," she said softly. "I do it for the victim. Even when the suspect is the victim, like she was."
They both fell silent, watching their mother sleep and wondering where it all went wrong.
********
From: GreeneyesBrown@msn.com
To: SSidle@gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, May 17th, 2007 4:13 A.M.
Sara - Girl, you've sure got everybody talking around here. All it took for Grissom to declare his love for you was a crazy lady threatening to kill you, huh? Well, good for y'all. Of course I knew before everyone else (remember the veggie burger? Please!), but I was still kind of surprised that Griss just blurted it out like that. I think Nick and Greg are kind of in denial about it.
Anyway, I hope you're doing okay wherever you happen to be. Come back to us soon - there's someone out here who isn't doing so well without you.
- Warrick
*********
From: Forensicchick@yahoo.com
To: SSidle@gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, May 17th, 2007 11:47 P.M.
Sara - I've been thinking for a few days about what to say to you, and I think I've figured it out - I'm sorry. I know you and Gil have had your moments over the years, but I figured both of you moved on. Before you get upset, I only thought that because you've both been so content lately, and I just figured you found someone to make you happy. Well, you did, and I'm glad. If I had known for one second that you guys were together, that he was in love with you, I would have never opened my mouth like that when we were processing Lady Heather's scene. Fishing off the company pier is okay if you have the right fishing pole, and I think you and Gil do.
We all miss you, Sara, and I'm not ashamed to say some more than others. Like I told you before you left, if whatever you left behind is real, it'll still be here when you get back. And, Sara? He's still here.
- Catherine
********
Laura woke up a few hours later. Robbie left for work, but Sara was still in Laura's room, reading a book and occasionally checking to see if her mother was still breathing. The book wasn't very interesting and Sara found herself thinking, as usual, about Grissom. They hadn't talked much lately, and she assumed he was still dealing with fall out from the miniature killer situation. She missed him. She missed him a lot, but she was a little distressed about the state of their relationship. Not for the first time, she wondered if their relationship would be any different at all when she came back home, if he would try at all to take his mind off everything else he was always so focused on and maybe spend a little quality time with her. She wondered if she'd still be his afterthought.
"What are you thinking about, dear?" Laura asked hoarsely, making Sara jump out of her chair.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Laura said, smiling.
"Of course you meant to startle me, Mother, that was the point, wasn't it?"
Laura laughed, but quickly stopped. Laughter was painful these days for her.
"You know me so well, don't you? Anyway, what were you thinking about?"
"Oh, you know...boys." Sara said.
"Oh, really? Any particular boy on our minds these days?"
"Well...you know," Sara said, because she knew her mother already figured it out. One thing Sara learned was that Laura didn't need things explained to her. She was more likely to explain right back to you in greater detail.
"Your boss, huh? Is he also the man that taught that seminar, the one that convinced you to take up law enforcement?"
Sara nodded, wondering how her mother could be so perceptive.
"Is he a good man?" Laura asked, her tone serious.
"Yes. Yes, he is," Sara said, missing Gil Grissom more than ever.
"He must be, if you've followed him this far in your life. How long ago was that seminar?"
"Well, it was in 1995, so 12 years ago." Sara thought about how long she'd known the man she loved. 12 years was a long time, a good third of her life. They'd only been together 2 years, and 10 of those years were spent hoping, dreaming, longing, seeking, and learning.
"He would never...he would never hurt you, would he, Sara?"
"Of course not, Mother! He's never laid a hand on me!" She said, maybe too strongly.
"I mean...sorry. No, he wouldn't do that."
"It's okay, I know what you're thinking. Only a weak woman would fall in love with someone who would hurt her. I used to think that too until it actually happened. Things change, Sara. They change, and there's only so much a woman can stand."
Sara didn't have anything to say to that. Instead, she said, "Do you miss him?"
Laura looked thoughtful. Then she had a coughing fit, and Sara rushed to the kitchen to get her some water. When Laura settled down, she talked.
"Yes, I miss your father. I miss him very much. Things were good before they got bad, you know. He was a decent man before he started drinking so much. Before you and your brother were born, he used to talk all the time about how much he was looking forward to having kids. I knew he'd be a good father, and he was when alcohol wasn't involved. We were in love, Sara, and that was all that mattered most of the time."
They both went into their own worlds of thought for a moment. Sara had many more questions for her mother, but Laura looked so frail and delicate, she didn't want to upset her any more than she had to.
"Sara? Why do you call me 'Mother'? You used to call me Mama, or at least Mom."
"I don't know...I guess I'm just not comfortable calling you 'Mom' yet. You know? I don't know. It made sense in my head."
Laura laughed. She coughed, took a sip of water, and then laughed again.
"Well, it's now or never, right? I'd like you to call me Mom. Is that okay?"
"Of course...Mom. Of course it's okay."
Laura nodded, looking more tired and sad than Sara had seen her look in days. So, when Laura drifted off to sleep again, Sara covered her mother with a blanket and left her alone.
********
When Robbie came home after work, Sara decided to pay a visit to her old job. She kind of missed old Martin and Hannah and wanted to see how the team was doing. Before she left, she had to look up the directions online because she had no clue where it was. She'd always been terrible with directions.
After countless wrong turns, Sara finally found herself at the lab. She introduced herself to the secretary at the front desk, who directed her to Martin's office. Martin was sitting at his desk, doing some paperwork when Sara knocked on the door. He looked up, startled to see his former star employee.
"Sara Sidle! How nice to see you!" Martin said, smiling. She came in and shook his hand.
"Hi, Martin. I was in town and thought I'd stop by and say hello."
"Well, we're always happy to see you. How are things in Vegas?"
"Same as here, just with more strippers and breast implants," Sara said, suddenly missing Las Vegas.
"Of course, of course. And Gil? How is he doing?"
"Oh, he's busy working, as usual. He can rest a little easier now that they found the miniature killer." At least I hope so, Sara thought with slight bitterness.
"Oh, yes, that woman that made miniature crime scene dioramas, right? It's been all over the news. How creepy!"
"What's creepy?" Sara heard a familiar voice say. She turned around to find Hannah grinning at her.
"Sara! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I wanted to see you, of course!" She said, giving her old friend and colleague a hug.
"What's new with you, lady? What are you doing in San Francisco?"
"I'm visiting my mother," Sara said. She wondered if she should add anything to that, but left it alone. They didn't have to know everything.
"Ah, that's nice. Well, I was just going to lunch. Do you want to join me?"
"Yeah, that would be fun," Sara said. It would be nice to talk to someone about something other than cancer and death for a while. Well, cancer anyway.
Martin, Sara and Hannah walked out to go to lunch together. On their way, she heard another familiar voice say, "Hey, where's the fire?"
She didn't want to turn around. She knew the voice, and she didn't want to look that voice in the eye. But she did anyway, because that was the polite thing to do.
"Hi, Chris," she said, trying hard to smile.
"Oh, wow. Hi, Sara. Good to see you." He did not look happy. Sara hadn't been back to San Francisco for nearly 7 years, but all the strange feelings were still in the air.
Hannah seemed amused by the situation. "Chris, would you like to join us for lunch?"
"Uh, no, that's okay. Hot case, you know."
He was staring at Sara as he talked. She finally had to look away.
And then the awkward scene was over. She went with her old co-workers to lunch and they had a nice time. Sara told them the trials and tribulations of Las Vegas; they filled her in on what she had missed in the world of San Francisco crime lab politics. It was a nice afternoon and she couldn't help but dread going back to the house. And she also couldn't help but wonder what Grissom was doing, and why he didn't seem to care what she was doing.
********
From: thebugman@aol.com
To: SSidle@gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, May 24th, 2007 3:42 A.M.
Honey -
I miss you. I miss you a lot more than I thought I was going to. I hope you're getting everything out of this experience that you wanted to; you deserve to get some peace of mind. I'm sorry I haven't called you more; there's just been a lot of strange things going on here and I'm trying to put out a lot of different fires.
Just know that I'm thinking about you, and I love you. I've loved you for a long time, and if I were still a religious man, I'd be thanking God every day for bringing you into my life. In fact, I do that anyway.
Bruno misses you, too. He's claimed one of your t-shirts as his own, and he sleeps with it all the time. It's a little pathetic, really, how much us men miss you.
- Grissom
