Acquired Knowledge

Day 5 San Francisco. 1999.


7am

The shrill sound of an alarm clock stirred Sara from sleep. She was having the most wonderful dream and she didn’t want to wake up. It wasn’t until she tried to move to turn it off, that the heavy mass lying snugly behind her pulled her tighter.

It was then she realized it hadn’t been a dream at all. Gil Grissom was here in her bed, they had made love for most of the night. She laughed remembering him ordering the Chinese food naked. It was the most amazing night of her life. She was fully awake now and she turned to look at him. He looked so perfect when he slept. She touched his cheek, caressing it, his five o clock shadow scraping against her skin.

Grissom opened his eyes and smiled at her.

“Hey there handsome, good morning” She said, stealing a light kiss.

“Good morning to you too” Grissom said not quite awake yet.

As he leaned in to steal the kiss back, Sara’s other alarm clock began to sound. It reminded her that she had a morning session, the conclusion to the DNA lecture, was due to start at 9am.

“I wish I didn’t have to go” she said laying her head her across his chest.

“Me too” Grissom said still dozing.

Sara looked up at him then kissed his chest before replacing her head to where it had been resting. Grissom lifted his hand and stroked her hair.

“What time will you be done?” Grissom asked wondering if he had time to go to the hotel and pack for his flight home the next day and get back before she got home. That way he could spend the rest of his time here with her.

“I don’t know, it’s the last day of the semester so it shouldn’t go on too long” She said Sara slipping her hand under the blankets and running her hand across his sleeping flesh.

“I think he’s earned a rest don’t you?” Grissom said as he felt her actions.

“Okay… Fine I’ll leave him alone but he owes me" Sara said smiling her eyes full of mischief as she crawled up his body until she lay on top of him.

“What are you going to do?” She asked.

“Don’t know, I guess I should go back to the hotel and get a change of clothes. I should probably start to pack” Grissom said trying not to mention his departure the next day. It was going to have to be talked about, it had to happen at some point it may as well be now.

Sara hopped out of bed and grabbed her robe from when it landed the night before.

“I’m going to take a shower, and then make some coffee.

You want anything” She asked as if she hadn’t heard him.

“Sara” Grissom said, knowing she was deliberately avoiding the issue.

“Sara, I think we should talk about tomorrow” Grissom said trying again.

Sara sat back down on the bed.

“Look, I know we have a lot to talk about , but lets just… , lets just have today okay. I promise we will talk, just not today.” She finished speaking and kissed away he refusal.

“Okay we have today together, but tonight we talk. Deal.” He said hold out his hand.

“Deal” Sara said reluctantly shaking his hand.

Grissom pulled her back onto the bed pinning her. He kissed her with the same passion they had shared so many times the night before. Sara’s alarm began to ring again.

“How many alarms do you need?” Grissom said smiling down at her.

“Holy crap, its 7:30 I better get moving or I’ll be late.

While Sara showered Grissom got up and pulled on his pants. He went to her kitchen; he could hear her singing in the shower. He walked to the kitchen to make some coffee. He was just reminding himself that he must tell her she has a lovely singing voice when he noticed the San Francisco Crime lab personnel application form on the counter.

He was flicking through it and called to her.

“I thought you sent your application into the Crime lab” he said.

“I did" she said coming out of the bathroom tying her robe.

“That’s for the proficiency exam. If I want to do it this year I have to apply before the summer starts”

She took it from him and put it back on the counter. Slipping her arms around his waist she pulled him in to her embrace. He leaned in and kissed her newly washed hair.

“Do you want breakfast?” Grissom asked as he walked to meet her.

“I don’t really have time.” Sara spoke as she broke from his arms and began to gather up her notes from yesterday's lecture.

Sara could see the disappointment in his eyes. She walked back to him cradled his cheek in her hand.

“I have an idea.Why don’t you go and get something for dinner and we can stay in again and eat here” she said. The meaning of what staying in meant was understood and Grissom smiled feeling a twinge in his groin.

“You can help me fill out my application” Sara said, leaning in and kissing him along his jaw line as she spoke.

“Okay” Grissom said perking up.

“While we’re eating we can talk” he said capturing her lips before she could say another word.

Sara dressed and left for her lecture. Grissom promised to change his clothes and meet her back at her apartment. Grissom had showered and gotten dressed, he began to wash up the pile of dishes they had used the night before. Granted it wasn’t as nice as the real experience he was looking forward to in Chinatown, but it was good Chinese food. He remembered how hungry he was. Not surprising they had certainly worked up an appetite.

He lifted he ladybug cup he had bought her and placed it on the counter smiling as he remembered how she reacted to the small gift. He looked around her apartment for a pen and paper he wanted to make a list of things he needed to pick up for later. Finding both items he sat at her desk and began to make a list. number one flowers for Sara. He smiled to himself as her wrote her name.

Sara’s phone rang. Grissom wondered if he should answer it. Deciding against it he let the machine get it.

“Hey, I’m not here, you know what to do” The machine beeped.

Grissom smiled hearing her voice.

“Hey Sara, its Dee, We missed you last night. I guess you were out with that old guy again. Hannah told us all about it. I know you thought he could help get you that job you wanted but dating him to get it, that’s low sidle” She ended her sentence with a little laugh and then continued.

"I’m just calling to say I think it’s awesome that you got it. You always were a science geek. Oh and by the way, Ken was there last night he was asking if you were seeing anyone. I know you said that you were over him but I think he really does love you Sara and deep down you know you’re still in love with him. Anyway call me later"

Grissom couldn’t move. The words replaying in his head.

“I know you thought he could help you get that job you wanted, but dating him to get it”

Was that why she was with him? For a job. Grissom began to replay the last week in his head. Why did she come to his class? All her questions, the tripping on the stairs, the coffee, were they all ways to get close to him so he could help her?.

No Sara wouldn’t do that. Not his Sara. As the minutes ticked by Grissom was becoming more and more confused. Who was Ken? Sara never mentioned a Ken. Yes she’d mentioned something about a brief relationship but she had never said she loved him. Was this all part of some way to advance her career? Grissom had to see Sara.

Grissom arrived on the campus grounds at 11:30am. He walked to the science building just in time to bump into Professor Walsh.

“Why Dr Grissom, you're still in San Francisco. Well it must be fate. You never gave me your contact details. You left behind some of your slides in the projector. Dr Crowe left them in my office this morning"

"Come with me and I’ll get them for you.” He said turning and heading into the building.

Grissom didn’t want to talk to anyone, except Sara, but he followed him in assuming that Sara lecture was still going on. He got the slides and was thanking the professor when the noise level jumped. The doors of the lecture hall opened and the students poured out. He watched for Sara, when he saw her she was talking with Hannah and they were giggling and Sara was blushing.

He could see her head out through the main door over the professor’s shoulder. He was anxious to catch up to her but the professor was still talking.

“Thank you so much professor but I really have to be going” Grissom said shaking his hand as he was walking away. Leaving the man calling after him.

Grissom ran to catch up to Sara, but was stopped in his tracks when he caught sight of her. A young blonde man had grabbed Sara from behind while she was talking to Hannah. Sara squealed and playfully smacked him.

Grissom watched as they talked, Hannah had walked on. Sara seemed to know him well. She was talking and nodding her head. He watched as the young man took her hand.

Sara was blushing; he froze in horror as the young man leaned in and kissed her.

Grissom’s heart stopped.

Sara was saying something to him. He watched as the young man walked away still holding her hand until the space between them became too wide and their hands broke. His eyes locked on Sara she had her hands over her lips. As if by magic Hannah returned to her side. He watched as Sara began to speak to her friend. Hannah Screamed in delight at what ever Sara said and linked her as they walked on.

Grissom was thrown into confusion. Just then the professor caught up to him again.

“Dr Grissom, you never gave me your contact information for the lectures we discussed"

“What, oh yes I’m sorry” Grissom said, in a shocked daze he had no idea what the man was talking about. He must have been asking him to do a series of lectures when Sara had appeared but Grissom’s mind hadn’t heard a word. He handed the professor his card.

Grissom saw the young blonde man heading toward the building again. He wanted to say something or hit him he wasn’t quite sure what. When the young man reached the door he headed passed the two men heading for the lecturer hall.

“Forget something Mister Fuller” Professor Walsh said.

“Yes, my notes. I was rushing to catch up to … someone and I forgot them" He said as he entered the hall.
“A young lady no doubt” the professor said calling after the young man.

"Young love Dr Grissom, if only we could that figure that out. Thanks for your card sorry to have kept you.” he said and turned back toward his office.

Grissom felt sick, he slowly made his way outside, people rushing around him laughing and hugging there goodbyes. The man that had kissed Sara walked out of the building carrying his notes. Grissom watched him. He was younger, and certainly more athletic than he was. Grissom heard another male voice call to the man.

“Ken, over here dude” the other young man waited until he caught up.

Ken. He was ken, the man Sara had been in love with. The man Sara was still in love with. After all she let him kiss her. No wonder she didn’t want to talk to him this morning, her mind was on getting to her lecture, to see ken. Had they broken up, had she used him to make this ken jealous? Is that why she kissed him on the grass yesterday? For him, to see them. Is that why she was crying last night, when he arrived.

He felt like fool, she used him. A pain shot through Grissom like nothing he had felt before. His mind was jammed with possible reasons she would have come on to him. He wondered if that’s why she wanted him to help her with her application for her proficiency test. With a recommendation from him she would surely be offered the test this year. Grissom’s confusion was turning to anger. He had opened his heart to her and she played him like a fool, a stupid old fool.

He felt lost, his anger growing all the time. His cell phone rang it was her automatically his answered the phone.

“Grissom” he said coldly

“Hey I’m on my way home, are you still there or are you at the hotel?” Sara said. She sounded happy.

Grissom wanted to scream at her he wanted to punish her for making him care for her so deeply.

“I’m heading to my hotel now, I have some work to catch up on, I forgot about it. I’ll see you later on.” he said his tone was cold and short.

“Gil is everything okay? You seem so… ” Sara began.
.
“I’m fine I’ll see you later”, he said cutting her off. With that he hung up on her.

Sara wondered what was going on. Why was he acting this way? Sara convinced herself it was her imagination and headed home.

She needed a nap after last night. When she got home she was changing for bed when she saw her Bug mug. Sara crossed to pick it up when she saw Grissom’s list. Flowers for Sara she smiled as she touched the script. It was as she was turning to walk to her bedroom she saw the message light blinking on her machine.

Sara walked over and pressed play and headed to the kettle to make herself some tea before bed. The message played from Dee. Sara laughed at first knowing her friend had meant her jab at Grissom’s age as a joke but when Sara heard the rest of the message she could swallow. Panic set in.

Did Gil hear the message? God knows what he was thinking. The message made everything sound so deceitful when it wasn’t like that at all. That’s why he had been so weird with her on the phone.

Sara tried his cell. It rang once, twice, on the third ring it was cut off. Sara was starting to panic. She ran to her room and redressed and ran out of her apartment with only one destination on her mind, to find Gil and explain.

Grissom wandered the streets of San Francisco for an hour or so. Without noticing he had found his way to the diner where they had shared their first cup of coffee. He sat in a booth facing the one Sara and he had shared. A lump formed in his throat he swallowed it, fighting his pain, forcing it deep down locking it away.

Sara had been to the campus hoping he was there she ran into Professor Walsh.

"Sara, your still here" He said.

"I'm just looking for someone" Sara said hurrying on not wanting to waste any more time.

"Well if you tell me who you’re looking for I may be able to help you find them" He said smiling.

"I'm looking for Dr Grissom, I ... I..." She said the tears welling up.

Noticing her distress professor Walsh took her hands.

"Yes I have seen Dr Grissom, he was here today I had some slides he had left behind" Professor Walsh said hoping this information would be helpful.

The full horror hit Sara full on. He had been at the campus today.

"What time was this" She said hopeful that he might not have seen her with Ken.

"Let me see your lecture with Dr Crowe had just finished so about 11:45. He said giving her a gentle smile.

He had seen her, Sara wanted to scream.

"DAMN" Sara said as she ran from the building her heart pounding with fear of what he must be thinking. She has to find him and quickly.

Sara rushed to his hotel but he hadn’t been there since the day before. She wrote him a letter explaining the misunderstanding regarding the message from Dee. She also explained what had happened with Ken that day. She knew he wouldn't talk to her but he would read the letter. She ended the note by asking him to call her.

For the next two hours Sara searched for him. She went to every place she thought he might go. Eventually she went to her apartment hoping he would have called She knew time was running out and that he was leaving the next day. She tried his phone again. It was still off.

Grissom wandered back to the hotel the receptionist called him to give him his messages.

“Excuse me Dr Grissom, you have quite a few messages, and this" with the messages was an envelope with his name on it. He knew Sara had written it.

"I think it might be important the young lady seemed very upset. She has been calling all afternoon…” she said holding out the scraps of paper and the letter.

Without looking at them he stuffed them in his jacket pocket and headed toward the hotel bar. He climbed up on a stool and asked for a bottle of Jack Daniels and a glass.

Sara had reached her apartment; after she checked her messages again. She sat on the sofa defeated. Sara gave in to the feelings she had been fighting since she heared the message.

The realization of what had happened hit her,the tears began to fall, her whole body tensed as the reality of what happened spread through her, stabbing her with the unmesureable pain the goes with a breaking heart.

How could this have happened? They were so happy a few hours ago. She wanted to hold him to tell him that Dee had only been referring to his seminar. That he would help her get the job in the lab by her attending his seminar. Having some knowledge of entomology would be a plus some of the other applicants wouldn’t have.

As for ken, she had told him that day that she didn’t love him and that she wasn’t sure if she ever did. He foolishly kissed her in an effort to change her mind but she told him that she was in love with someone else, and that his lips were the only ones she would be kissing from now on. A sob escaped her throat as she collapsed to the floor the pain tearing her apart.

Sara decided that she wouldn’t give up, that she would fight. What they had together was worth fighting for. She would find him and make him see that she loved only him. She dialled the hotel again for the 20th time that day.

“Hello, my name is Sara Sidle I was wonder… “Sara began the same speech she had repeated over and over again that day but the receptionist interrupted her.

“Dr Grissom is here Miss Sidle he just picked up his messages” the reception said.

Sara never even hung up the phone; she took off heading to the hotel. To Grissom.

Grissom by now was feeling the affect of the alcohol. At some point half way through his third double. She had come and sat beside him.

“Hi there, sweetie buy a girl a drink?” She asked.

Grissom made no effort to speak just nodded to the bar tender who placed a clean glass in front of the woman. After another few drinks the woman offered him some company he knew what she was really offering.

“How much?” was all he said.

After they agreed an amount Grissom told her to follow him, as they walked toward the elevator. Grissom’s thoughts were of Sara, in his heart he knew she did care for him. The desire in her eyes when she kissed him. The passion they had shared couldn’t have been a faked. He felt it and she felt it too he was sure. None of this made sense, but his anger returned with full force remembering the kiss that morning. The kiss that shattered his heart.

It was his anger that was driving him forward. He had to finish this. To save what was left of his heart he would banish the last memory of their passion. Replacing it with something that was meaningless.

She had broken his heart and any trust he had for her was gone. He never for a minute thought she was capable of that. He had to rip every shred of her from his mind or he would pine for her. He couldn't allow himself to need her.In his mind the rational side of his brain knew that what he was doing now wouldn't stop him caring for her, but his heart was aching and he needed to stop the pain.

The elevator doors opened and he lead the woman to his room.


Day 6 San Francisco 1999.

Placing his hand on her lower back. Dr Gilbert Grissom guided the young woman through the door of his hotel room…..