Affliction

Chapter 11.

Grissom pulled up in the driveway and helped Sara out of the car.

“How are you feeling?”

“Alright I guess, still can’t believe I passed out.”

“You need to eat.”

“Gil, I…”

“Don’t argue with me Sara, please.”

Sara silenced.

“Doctor Grissom?”

Grissom turned to see the officers standing outside they’re squad car. “We will be watching the house until told otherwise sir, so if you need anything, you know where we are.”

“Great.” Sara mumbled. “Babysitters….”

Grissom nodded and took Sara’s arm leading her towards the house.

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Sara sat on the sofa her knees pressed against her chest, rocking herself slightly. It had been almost twenty four hours now since Michael had been taken and still no word. She looked up to see Grissom holding out a plate and a glass. She looked into his eyes and then at the sandwich and the glass of milk. She took it without argument.

“Make sure you finish it. “ Grissom said demandingly but softly.

“Are you not eating?”

Grissom walked back to the kitchen and came back with a plate of his own. Sara made a faint grin as he sat beside her. She took a bite into her sandwich and it was actually quite welcoming. Her eyes met Grissom’s as he watched her.

“I’m eating okay?” She mumbled with her mouth full.

Grissom smiled and began eating.

It didn’t take long for them to finish. Grissom took Sara’s empty place and placed it on top of his own.

“Feel a little better?”

Sara nodded. “Yes.”

Grissom smiled as he looked deep into Sara’s eyes but the pain he saw made him shiver.

Sara reached across and stroked the gauze on his face. She shifted a little closer. “Can I…?”

Grissom nodded and Sara gripped the gauze between her fingers and gently pulled it from his skin. She eyed up his wound and placed a soft hand over it.
Grissom held his hand over hers.

“It’ll be fine. Heal in no time, I doubt it will scar.”

Sara still bit her lip. “I am so sor…”

Grissom placed a finger over her lips with lightening speed. “Don’t say it, please. I don’t need you too and I don’t want you too.”

Sara nodded but her eyes filled with tears. Grissom scooted closer and took her into his arms. She held on tightly and never wanted to let go.

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Grissom cleared away the dishes. Sara had disappeared to take a bath almost an hour ago and it was getting very, very late. He placed the final plate back in its place and went in search of his wife. He entered the bedroom.

“Sara?” Nothing. He checked the bathroom. She wasn’t there. Grissom frowned but then sighed. He knew where she was and went to her.

He hovered in the doorway of Michael’s bedroom. Sara sat on the bed closely hugging Michael’s pillow, taking in her sons scent. A single tear fell down her cheek.

“Hey.” Grissom said softly as he kicked off the doorway and walked towards her.

“Hey.” She replied.

He sat down beside her, taking her hand in his and holding it tightly. He was so worried about her. This was not helping her pregnancy.

“Why haven’t we heard anything? Why hasn’t she called?”

Grissom swallowed hard. “I don’t know. I think she knows we are suffering more not knowing anything.” He tightened his grip on her hand.

“Do you think she’s hurt him?” Sara turned to Grissom only to see fear in his eyes. He knew what Kate was capable of and his son at her mercy, he didn’t even want to consider what she may do. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He bowed his head. The thought of his son in the hands of this psycho made his stomach turn and he could feel the bile rising in his throat. It was too much. Tears slid down his cheeks and for the first time, he broke down, sobbing.

Sara’s face crumbled. “Oh baby…” She cried pulling him into a tight embrace. She held him tightly as he cried into her shoulder.

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Grissom stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He looked at his watch. 4am. He splashed water rapidly on his face.
He’d managed to grab about an hours sleep after he and Sara had collapsed on the bed after he’d broken down. That was three hours ago. Since then he’d paced around the living room, cleaned the kitchen, twice, upset every book in his library and worn out the grass in the back garden pacing around the flower bed. The only comfort he felt was that Sara was still asleep, although he knew it was through exhaustion, she needed the rest. He however, was going crazy. He needed to know what was happening at the lab and he need to know now. He walked into the living room and flipped open his cell. Just as he was about to dial it rang…Catherine. He quickly answered it.

“Catherine. What do you know? Please tell me you have something.”

Catherine sighed. “I had a feeling I wouldn’t be waking you. How’s Sara doing?”

“She’s sleeping, thankfully. She’s exhausted, frightened, stressed, but sleeping. Please tell me you have some news.”

Catherine silenced for a moment.

“Catherine?”

“Sorry Gil, we still have nothing. We know who one person in your house was, but tracking him down is a totally different matter, we have tyre treads from your driveway so we are trying to pin point the vehicle. Right now that’s it. “

“Who was in my house? Kate?”

“It’s not her print, but she still could have been there.”

“Who’s print is it?”

“Joshua Stevens. Bobby Stevens brother.”

Grissom swallowed hard. “And you can’t find him?”

“It’s complicated.”

“I need to see what you have. His file.”

Catherine hesitated.

“Please Catherine. Let me help. Or at least let me look.”

“Okay, are you coming here?”

Grissom thought. “I don’t really want to wake Sara, can you send someone here?”

“Yeah, I’ll send Nick. He refuses to go home and get some rest so I think a break from the lab will do him good…oh hang on a minute…”
Grissom could hear mumbling in the background, Brass talking to Catherine.

“Gil I have to go.”

“Catherine? What is it, what’s happening?”

“Claire just woke up.”

Grissom sighed with relief. “Thank god.”

“I’m going to see if she can talk, I’ll send Nick over.”

“You’ll let me know about Claire right?”

“Sure. I’ll call you later.”

“Thanks Cath and I’m sorry about earlier, you know….”

“Gil its fine, I’ll call you. Bye.”

Grissom flipped his phone shut taking a deep breath, so relieved Claire was alright.

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About an hour later Grissom answered the door.

“Hey Nick.”

Nick stood, a stack of files in his arm.

“Hey Griss, how you doin?”

“Alright, I guess, come in.”

“Thanks. How’s Sara?”

Grissom sighed leading Nick into his office. “About as well as you’d expect. She’s sleeping.”

Nick nodded and placed the files on Grissom’s desk. They both sat.

“This is what we’ve got…” Nick began. “Finger print. Joshua Stevens. Ex US marine, tough nut, dismissed from the army six months ago, when you read the file you will know why. Tyre tracks from your driveway, night Mike was taken. Sadly that’s it. Nothing else was taken from...erm here…the scene. We didn’t find anything else. Oh wait…the bullet, the bullet taken from Claire…but we don’t have anything to compare it too so…” Nick fidgeted nervously.

“It’s ok Nick, relax okay?”

Nick sighed, smiling faintly.

Grissom rummaged through the files when the word ‘bullet’ suddenly echoed through his mind. He frowned.

“Nick? There’s nothing here about Kate escaping custody?”

Nick shook his head. “Err no, didn’t see how that would be relevant. She escaped. We know that.”

“Everything is important Nick. How did the bus get run off the road?”

“The tyres were blown out.”

“How?”

Nick knew where Grissom was going with this. “You think the weapon used to blow out the bus tyres could be the same one that took down Claire?”

Grissom nodded.

“But how does that help us?”

“It will confirm to me that Kate is involved. So far nothing links her to taking my son. No physical proof anyway. This might…I need to know Nick, I need to know what I’m dealing with.”

“Sure, let me call the lab, I’ll ask them to get bullet comparisons done from the two scenes.”

“Thanks.”

Grissom sat at his desk as Nick popped out into the garden to call Catherine.
Sara emerged in the doorway, dressed in a robe.

“Hey…” She yawned softly.

Grissom looked up. “Hey…”

“What’s all that?” Sara pointed at the files.

“Files from the lab, Nick just brought them over. I was…just going crazy…I have to do something.”

Sara smiled a little as she approached him. “That’s what makes you Gil Grissom and I wouldn’t expect anything less.” She perched herself on the edge of the desk, studying him. He looked so tired.

“Did you sleep much?”

Grissom nipped at his bottom lip. “A little.” He looked at his watch. “And you should still be in bed.”

Sara pursed her lips at him.

“Hey Griss….” Nick reappeared. “Oh, hey Sar.”

“Hi Nick.”

There was an awkward hush for a moment, Nick unsure of what to say. He looked at Grissom.

“Do you mind if I shoot back to the lab? With Catherine at the hospital they need all the help they can get.”

“Hospital?” Sara said quickly getting to her feet.

Grissom held up his hands to calm her. “It’s fine. Sure Nick, call me about the bullet when you get the results okay?”

“I will see you guys later.”

“Bye Nick.”

Sara looked at Grissom. “Why is Catherine at the hospital?”

Grissom stood, walking around his desk he pulled Sara into a soft embrace.

“Claire woke up.”

Sara emitted a gasp of relief. “Thank god.”

“Yeah, Catherine’s gone over there to see if she can give a statement. Tell us something, anything that might help.

Sara sighed. “Fingers crossed.” She eyed the files. “Need any help?”

She wanted to help too and it was more of a plea then a request. Grissom’s arms encircled her waist.

“If you want too.” He said softly.

“I want too, but first, I need to take a shower. Wait for me?”

“How about I make some breakfast while you shower?”

Sara opened her mouth ready to argue that she didn’t feel like eating but as
Grissom peaked a frown knowing what she was thinking; she fell short on her desired response. She closed her mouth and fiddled with his collar.

“Okay.”

Lightly stroking his growing stubble her eyes got lost in his for a moment. The joy and sparkle that shone there so aggressively two short days ago had fizzled away and died. She saw nothing but pain and fear. It crippled her to see it.

“I love you, you know that?”

Grissom smiled faintly. “I know.”

Sara leaned forward, her lips brushing over his, slowly and softly. “I won’t be long.”

Sara headed for the bedroom and Grissom walked to the kitchen. He walked to the fridge to grab a box of eggs and froze. Pictures of Michael, drawings and pictures he had made smothered the door. Grissom clenched his eyes closed, struggling once again against his feelings. He quickly opened the fridge, grabbing the eggs and some milk. Walking to the counter he stopped again. Michael’s high chair propped up against it. Everywhere he turned he saw his son. He dropped the milk and eggs on the counter. He couldn’t take any more and a tear rolled down his cheek.

Sara pressed her palms to the shower wall, leaning forward. The water was refreshing, giving her body back a little life that it sought so desperately. She was so lost in her own little word she didn’t hear the shower door open and Grissom slide in behind her.
His hands softly slithered to her stomach and she jumped, turning quickly. She met his blood shot eyes. Her face saddened quickly seeing her husband’s distress. He was an emotionally strong man, she knew that, but the man before her was currently a shell of Gil Grissom.

“Oh baby….”

She pulled him to close. Her fingers slid through his hair as his face dropped to her shoulder. He sobbed uncontrollably. The water cascaded slowly over both of them as she held onto him tighter. Grissom’s body almost became dead weight and Sara softly lowered them both onto the shower floor. Afraid if she didn’t he would probably collapse onto it. She cried with him now as their two fragile bodies so desperately tried to hold on…