Acquired Knowledge

Day 1 San Francisco 1999.

“Entomology and its role in Human decomposition”

Speaker: Dr Gilbert Grissom.

9:00am- 1:00pm / 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Dr Grissom smiled at the poster which hung outside the Science department building. He looked at his watch 8:00am he was early , He was always early on the first day of these seminars, a chance to set up and get the feel of the room before the students started to arrive.

The building was quiet as he passed through the halls save a few maintenance people and office personnel. He made his way to the main office and introduced himself to the young receptionist.

“Hi, I’m Gil Grissom, I’m the host speaker for the Entomological seminar.” he said smiling at the young woman.

“Oh, Yes Dr Grissom you are in lecture hall one” She said not looking at him but at a list on her desk.” That’s back down the hall turn left and up the stairs to the second floor it‘s the double doors on your right, you can‘t miss it”. She finished speaking and returned to the work in front of her.

“Thank you” He said as he made his way out of the office
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“Professor Walsh will be here at about 8:30 to go through everything with you” The receptionist called after him “He wasn’t expecting … you… to… be… this early” her voice trailed off as he was already gone.

Grissom pushed open the heavy doors into a dimly lit room. It was quite large as lecture halls go, and altough he was almost feeling nervous he shook his thoughts and began to layout the notes and slides he would be using that day.

At 8:30 a tall thin man entered the room.

“Dr Grissom I’m Professor Walsh I run the Science department here, Can I say what an honour it is to have you here. We have been looking forward to this lecture for sometime now. Professor Walsh continued to speak but Grissom’s attention was drawn to the incoming array of students that had started to fill the room.

“Thank you professor I’m delighted to be here” Grissom spoke through a fake smile not that he was being rude he just didn’t do the whole politic thing. He just wanted to get started. It was then he noticed a group of girls enter together. They were chatting and laughing about something or other. They had caught the attention of most of the occupants in the room. They were embarrassed but continued to giggle as they made their way to a row of seats near the front.

Grissom noticed her almost immediately. How could he not she towered over her friends. The young woman followed behind the group, she was about 5"9, of thin build, and her dark hair was swept up in a bun. Your typical student carrying a folder and a backpack thrown over her shoulder. She wasn’t Grissom’s type he preferred a curvier figure, but there was something about her that made her stand out from the others in her group.

At 9:am sharp Grissom began his opening speech. He Introduced himself and began explaining what they would be covering in the seminar. He was doing his best to make eye contact with almost anyone he could. It was however becoming uncomfortably noticeable that her stare was the only one that didn’t falter. Others became embarrassed by his eye contact. She was looking at him holding his gaze, and it intrigued him.

He was still locked in her stare when the sound of giggles took his attention. He hadn’t realized he had stopped speaking. He cleared his throat and shuffled a few pages in front of him and started his lecture. His eyes avoiding that row of seats for the rest of the session.

At 1:45pm the heavy doors of lecture hall one flung open and the noise and bustle of 80 students leaving the room filled the air. They were moaning and grumbling at being late for something or other. The cause of their tardiness was the tall brunette who took the “Leave all questions until the end of the session” to a new level.

Grissom watched the young woman in fascination as she seemed to be oblivious to the scowls and taunts that were directed at her. Instead she was buried in her notes writing furiously. He smiled to himself as the room emptied without her noticing. He walked toward were she sat engrossed in the pages in front of her.

“Hello Miss, you can go to lunch now. We have a lot to cover in the next session. I‘d advise you to get something to eat you may not feel like it after the next set of photos I have“. Grissom said as he grinned in amusement.

“Oh, I’m sorry… I just got caught up in… you know what, never mind, you probably want to get some lunch or get ready .” She spoke as she bundled her books and pages into her bag, stumbling a little as she stood.

“I’ll just go and do this outside” She brushed by him and almost broke into a sprint for the door.

“Oh... and miss?” Grissom called after her.

Sara stopped and turned half outside the room. “Yeah…Yes? Her voice screaming with nerves
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“Thank you for your questions. They offered your fellow students a chance to hear some interesting aspects of recovery I hadn’t planned on going into". Grissom finished with a smile as the tall brunette left the room blushing furiously.

True to his word the next session went as well as he expected. A couple of students looked decidedly uncomfortable as the slides flicked by. By the end of the session Dr Grissom could almost pick out who would not be returning to tomorrow's session.

She however, watched with the same interest she had that morning. When it came to the end, to the “Any questions?” part of the session, 80 pairs of eyes bored into the brunette’s neck. Again she was oblivious and her hand went straight into the air.

Grissom noticing the other student’s contempt for her stopped her, mid question.

“Look I understand that we were late this morning so if any one would like to go now they can.” On his last sentence his eyes settled on her

“If you have questions, I will be here for a little while.”

With that he dismissed the class and he returned to his desk. There were a few students left including her. He worked his way through the remaining students answering each question in turn until he was left with her.

“Well”. Grissom said “Maybe we should sit” he said pointing to his desk.

“Okay… I just have a few questions I won’t keep you.” Her voice giving away her nervousness.

“Well before we begin, please call me Gil, Dr Grissom is a bit of a mouthfull and I’m guessing we will be here a while.” Grissom said as he pointed to the sheet of paper she had in front of her filled with questions.

“Um… I don’t think I could. I um… I…” She couldn’t look at him her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink.

“Okay, how about Grissom or Doc” he said trying to put her at ease.

“Doc is okay… I guess.” she replied feeling a little a little more relaxed.

“Now although I think Miss is lovely I’d much rather know your name.” He was smiling at her as he spoke.

“Oh … of course I’m sorry, it’s Sara… I’m Sara Sidle.” Sara extended her hand in reflex to her words.

Grissom took her hand and felt something he had never dreamt of feeling with her. A spark or a chill he couldn’t quite place it, but it was there and it puzzled him. How could he be moved in this way by someone with whom he wasn’t normally attracted to physically?

“Well Sara. May I call you Sara?” The nodding of her head giving permission he continued.

“Well Sara ask away.” he finished by sitting down not missing the opportunity to take in her full figure as she reached for the other chair which was snug under the desk. He found himself looking at her ass as she pulled the chair around to face him. He Corrected himself almost immediately… Almost.

The time flew by for Grissom. Never had he been so tested by someone outside of the field and it thrilled him firstly, to find himself in such a position. Secondly to be brought there by someone so young and yes it had to be said beautiful. Grissom found it odd that he was thinking these things about her. Sara's voice shook him out of his train of thought.

“Gosh look at the time. I’m so sorry. I must be keeping you from something.” As Sara spoke he noticed she had a new confidence in her tone.

She wasn’t sorry at all, in fact, she had truly enjoyed his company. It had been while since Sara had spent time with a man, whose sole mission wasn’t to get into her underwear?

“Not at all Sara, I told you this morning it makes all my research worth while when I get a response, even if it is from only one student.” He said chuckling at his joke.

“Besides I haven’t any plans for tonight.” Grissom said looking at his watch.

“8:30pm. your right it is late. I’m sure that your boyfriend will think I’m stealing you away.” Grissom busied himself waiting for her reply.

“Oh, its okay no one will miss me.” Sara realised how sad and pathetic she sounded.

“I mean I’m not seeing anyone”. She cringed as she spoke “Why would he care if you’re seeing anyone you idiot.” she thought to herself.

“Really, I find that hard to believe.” Grissom said as he finished packing up his papers and slides.

He was flirting with her and he was enjoying it. He noticed the lovely shade of pink that had once again ravished her cheeks and couldn’t help but grin.

“Do you need a hand… with your stuff?” Sara asked trying not to sound like a total geek but failing miserably.

“No thank you. I got it. Grissom said moving toward the door.

“Okay well I’ll see you tomorrow Dr Griss… I mean Doc.” She flashed him a smile that went straight to his heart and continued to his groin.

“You’re not leaving?” Grissom asked.

“Not yet I want to finish my notes, I’ll see you tomorrow” she said, turning back to the desk.

“I’ll look forward to it Miss Sidle… I mean Sara.” Grissom spoke in a gentle tone as he left the room leaving her writing in her notebook.It suddenly stuck him, he really meant it.

Later that night Grissom lay in his hotel room wide awake. His body clock was still on Vegas time. His mind Drifted from Vegas to San Francisco and to the tall brunette who had had such an affect on him.

Grissom found himself replaying her questions in his head thinking of answers that would have been funnier and more playful.

“What am I doing? He said out loud to the empty room.

He was acting like a teenager with a crush. She was a young, beautiful, obviously intelligent woman who wouldn’t look twice at him.

Would she?

Her response to his flirting hadn’t been negative. She had told him she wasn’t seeing anyone, why did she tell him that?

Was she telling him she was interested? He was starting to drift off to sleep. He pulled the comforter over his shoulder and closed his eyes smiling to himself. Yes he was certainly looking forward to tomorrow. Sara Sidle was a puzzle to him. One he would enjoy solving over the next few days.

TBC.