The Breaking Point

Summary: Sara meets NYC.

A/N: Thoughts will be shown as ['Calm down']. Signing will be shown as: /*Calm down*/.
Gaelic will be shown as ("xxxxxxx").

Chapter 12: In the Swim of Things

Sara took a cab from the airport to the Ritz-Carleton Hotel where a suite had been booked
for her. ['At least Ecklie had gotten me a decent place to stay.'] She checked in and
followed the bellman to her suite. After he left her bags on the bed as she directed she
sat down on the couch in the sitting room. She looked around the suite and saw a large
basket of fruit and several vases full of roses. Her face lit up and she walked over to
see who had given her the flowers and fruit hoping all the while it was Gil.

~

My Dearest Sara,

I hope the sweetness of this fruit will wash away the sorrow of our parting.
However, sweet the fruit it cannot compare to the sweetness of your lips which I
miss so much I cannot tell…

Gil

~

['Oh my…']Tears threatened the corners of her eyes. She looked for the card that came with
the flowers.

~

Honey,

They say aromas are the strongest triggers for memories…remember our first dinner
together when I finally woke up "and smelled the roses"…I miss you more than I can
tell…I'm repeating myself…All rational thought is gone in your presence. I only
feel the love and cannot but think of your sweet face. My dearest Sara…I'll dream
of you tonight…and tomorrow and tomorrow until your return…

Gil

~

And now the tears did fall. ['He is so sweet when he wants to be…I could smack him…and kiss
him…and kiss him and…well I'll save that for when I get home. Oh Gil…I want to be
there…I'll dream of you tonite…']A knock on the door drew her from her reverie. When she
neared the door she noticed a small lcd monitor built into the wall and a control panel
where a red lit button was flashing.

She pushed it and her visitor became visible on the monitor. "Miss Sara Side?" Sara
noticed the young man and woman were wearing the same pants and t-shirt combination.
Their t-shirts wore the logo "Geek Squad".

"Yes"

"We are here to install and setup your new laptop and internet connection. May we come
in?"

"May I see some identification?" They produced ids which were held up to the camera
outside. Satisfied she let them in her room. The two young people were followed by a
third who had gotten off the elevator with a large dolly which contained a computer
station and a computer chair.

['Who's paying for this…'] She wondered. ['Not Ecklie I'm sure.'] "Who's paying for all this?"

"Have no fear Miss Sidle. A Doctor Gilbert Grissom has paid for the T3 line, the web cam,
this new laptop the computer table and chair. You will have 24/7 tech support from
Michelle and me…My name is Roger by the way…"

He handed her a card. "That is your special 24/7 account number, it has our 24/7 cell
number. Any thing you need…software…access…whatever call us any time day or night. It's
all paid for."

"Now if we can have a few minutes of your time while we set things up and transfer any
files you need. Oh there is a special website setup for you totally encrypted very
secure…You know your Doctor Grissom is quite talented man. I know some people who would
be very interested in talking to him about some of the innovations in the website he set
up for you and this encryption software."

"He setup for me…"

"Well actually I understand he's in the hospital so he had a Greg Saunders do the physical
work but I believe Mr. Sanders said and I quote 'That bugman is full of surprises…this
security software is the bomb?'"

Sara laughed out loud and it felt good. She hadn't realized how tense she had been. ['I
guess Gil is feeling a bit better…Noreen is a godsend.']

For the next hour the members of the Geek Squad labored to set up the laptop and the
workstation. They showed her how the web cam worked, how to activate her access to the
website, how to change passwords and transfer files from her lab laptop to this new
laptop.

She thanked them when they left. The first thing she did was change her password. She
found she was required to type a special paragraph into the laptop as a special
precaution. The Geek Squad told her that only she would be able to use the laptop; it was
secured not only by her password but by the unique way she typed which was different for
each person. She noticed several programs that she didn't know. She clicked on one and
saw that it was a beta search engine. The welcome page welcomed her personally and
informed her that she had been granted access to this beta website and permission to use
the new high speed Internet II.

Her excitement began to build. She had read about this ultra high speed version of the
internet that ran parallel to it and was available only to selected government and
university department during its shakeout phase. No wonder they had installed a t3 line.

Out of curiosity she typed her name in the search field. The minute she hit the return
key hundreds of items flashed before her eyes. Within a few seconds, all the information
had been categorized into different categories: Personal, Professional, By Year…She
clicked the Professional button. Her entire career was categorized and sorted by year. It
was spooky. Every detail of her life was there pulled from countless databases from what
sources she didn't know. She hoped that it was secured. It was very scary. She saw an
about box at the top of the screen. She pushed the button.

(Follow the Evidence) Beta II Search Engine Version .974 by Dr. Gilbert Aaron Grissom,
copyright 2003, 2004, 2005.

['I didn't think Gil was that into computers. Well he always learns anything he needs. Do
I dare…should I?'] With trepidation she wondered and then she did it. She typed Gilbert
Aaron Grissom into the search box and hit return.

She wasn't surprised by the amount of information returned but by the breadth that it
covered.

Patents…Inventions…Books…Articles…Athletics…Degrees…CV…Honors…Awards…

She clicked the athletics tab. ['So Gil was quite the athlete in high school. I thought he
said he was a ghost. Let me see Baseball. Starting Pitcher Archbishop Carroll High
School, Marina Del Ray, CA. 30-0 record. ERA 1.24. I think that's good. 2 no hitters.
I have heard of those. Offered scholarship to Stanford, USC. Refused. Drafted by Los
Angeles Dodgers at 18. Never played in minor or major leagues. I wonder what happened.']

['Swimming. Gil was a swimmer. Well he grew up in California on the beach. Archbishop
Carroll High Swim Team. Holds world records for age group in Individual Medley 200, 400,
800, 1600 meters. Individual Medley that's butterfly, backstroke, breast stroke and
freestyle. Invited to 1970 and 1974 Olympics. Refused. I wonder what happened.'] She
clicked the hyperlink for world records and was instantly linked to the Guinness Book of
World Records>Athletics>Swimming>Records Extant>Gilbert Aaron Grissom.

Then she read the following paragraph.

Few athletic records remain extant but Gilbert Aaron Grissom set records for Under 18
swimmers which have yet to be equaled for the individual medley at distances of 200, 400,
800 and 1600 meters. Remarkably although invited Gilbert Grissom never participated in
either 1970 or 1972 Olympics. No reason given.

['Secrets you have so many secrets Gil…Imagine Gil Grissom in a Speedo…']Her face started to
flush. ['Just what I need another fantasy for my dreams…yeah Grissom in a Speedo
stretching…not now…the time stupid seminar.'] Realizing she had less than thirty minutes to
go to the first seminar session. She saved her searches and shut down the laptop, grabbed
her seminar materials and headed downstairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Desert Palms Hospital ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gil was exhausted. When Noreen had gone out to run some errands he had contacted his
friend at Geek Squad corporate and arranged for Sara's new laptop, t3 line, tech support
and software. He contacted his lawyer to courier the special software she would need from
his safe deposit box. He then called a New York City florist to make arrangements for a
welcome to NY surprises.

He knew he had another therapy appointment this afternoon. He felt stiff and sore. Maybe
he could get a massage. He hoped Noreen would bring some more of her tea and broth. It
was the only appetizing food he had consumed since he had been in this place.

("Good afternoon, Dr. Grissom. I hope you are hungry. I brought some lovely stew for you
and I am thinking you can use a massage before your PT. So stew first then a nice
massage.")

("Thank you, Noreen").

The stew was vegetarian. Gil was so hungry he didn't even notice the complete absence of
meat. ['I could get used to this everyday…']

"Ok massage." Noreen helped him remove his pajama top, again handed him a towel for
modesty's sake and helped him remove his pajama bottoms. She lowered the hospital bed and
folded down the top sheets and blankets. As she worked the muscles in his head, neck and
shoulders she used specially scented oil which she had prepared both for its soothing and
analgesic qualities. She could tell that Grissom was still bothered by what he considered
an invasion of his privacy but she thought she also saw embarrassment in his eyes. ['I
canna believe he is embarrassed…he has such a nice solid body…even in this depleted
condition. Any woman he loves will feel so secure and protected in his arms. And those
gentle hands. Such a lover I expect…I wonder if he worries about his age…Men can be such
silly creatures.'] She shook her head as she worked the muscles of his chest and then
started on his right leg. Before she touched his left leg she switched her tactics. "Dr.
Grissom I am going to do some acupressure massage. I want to relieve the tension and some
of the pain in your left thigh before I continue with the regular massage. I want to tell
you what I am doing so there will be no surprises. Ok"

Grissom tried not to be apprehensive but he remembered yesterday's events all too clearly.
But he like the idea of relieving the pain in his thigh. As Noreen continued he felt some
strange twinges and some sharp pains but then a relaxing release. He let go the breath he
had been holding. "Now that wasn't so bad. Now I going to touch your thigh please tell
me if I'm hurting you, ok."

"Yeah I mean I will."

It still hurt but he could manage. She continued down his leg. "Okay. Now I'm going to
help you turn over and I'll work on your back." Carefully Noreen showed Grissom the best
way to turn over on his stomach. She continued her careful massage of his back, shoulders
and legs. "All done." She helped Grissom turn back over again. Then she helped him back
into his pajamas. Grissom did feel better but he hoped that today's therapy session went
better than the last. He had to work on his speech today, too. Tomorrow was that awards
ceremony. He wished Sara was here now. He knew he would miss her tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~ NYC - Ritz Carleton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The seminar was as boring as she thought it would be. There was an hour break before the
next lecture started. She debated going back upstairs to her room and settled for a quick
sandwich with some bottled water from the buffet. She decided as she finished her
sandwich to explore the rest of the hotel amenities. As she stretched and walked towards
the lobby she noticed quite a few other conferences and seminars were taking place at the
hotel. She scanned the announcement boards as she debated what to do next when she was
stopped cold. "Holistic Healing: Alternatives to Modern Medical Practice." ['Talk about
serendipity…'] She noted that several of the key seminars were repeated in the evening hours.
['Massage therapy…acupuncture…acupressure…herbs and spices…the vegetarian way to
health…lightening therapy…meditation…pain management…This is so
unbelievable…hydrotherapy…water therapy…swim away from pain…I have got to go to some of
this…I will ask at front desk about where I can register…Thank you Conrad Ecklie…God who
thought I would say that…']Sara quickly walked to the front reception area she only had
twenty minutes before she had to go back into her own seminar.

"Hi, I'm Sara Sidle a guest at the hotel attending the Forensics Seminar…I was curious
about the Holistic Healing Conference. Is it too late to register?"

"Oh Miss Sidle a special delivery came for you a little while ago. Registration yes we
have special instructions to provide whatever you require. I will take care of that for
you. I will have your materials for you when your lecture is finished. Now if you would
sign for this package. Thank you. Now if you have the time, our chef would like to talk
to you about your preferences for meals. He is a very good vegetarian chef. You will
have about two hours before the evening session of Holistic Healing starts. This is from
the time your Forensics Seminar ends. And if there is anything else we can do for you
please call us. Oh here is our private extension. Remember 24/7 we are here to serve
you. Good afternoon Miss Sidle."

['Wow I could really enjoy living like this…Gil you really don't have to do this…but God I
love it.'] Not wanting to be late she hurried back into the lecture hall and sat in the
back desiring a little more privacy to see what was in her package. She opened the
package carefully. Inside were two envelopes. The first one contained a short note.

~

Sweetheart,

Just in case you need anything please use the card in the other envelope. Don't
worry about a credit limit. Your value to me is without measure. I miss you so
much I can't stand it. Please let me do this for you. Knowing you are cared for
in my absence gives me so much pleasure it makes your absence from my side more
bearable. Til we meet again…know that I love you…that I will always love you.

A lonely bugman in Vegas

~

['Grissom…I am going to run out of Kleenex on this trip…You shouldn't be so free with your
money…I wonder…How much is he worth?...']She realized how very little she actually knew
about Gilbert Aaron Grissom, Ph. D. ['We definitely need to talk when I get back…But he is
being so sweet…so generous…Oh Griss…God I miss you too.']

TBC