The Breaking Point

Disclaimer: Don’t belong to me…I wish. I do not own nor make money off any of the characters of CSI. These rights belong to CBS, Alliance Atlantis and Zuiker, Les Moonves and Jerry Brukheimer.

Chapter One - Back in Town

July 14, 2006

Sara had just arrived back in Vegas from the forensics seminar Ecklie
had forced her to attend. She hated going and leaving Grissom to fend
for himself. Ecklie was almost continually on the warpath these days.

Conrad took great joy in finding assignments that would keep Sara and
Grissom geographically separated. The latest thorn in Ecklie's side
revolved around the media splash of events occurring the 4th of July
holidays. Dr. Gilbert Aaron Grissom was the darling of the media once
again, garnering a lot of positive press for the lab as well as him.

It was attention Gil would never have sought on his own but he
accepted nonetheless when thrust upon him. Sara was still somewhat
put out that many were now privileged to share secrets and sights to
which she had once alone been privy.

~~~

Conrad had been in his glory a year ago when the possibility of
Grissom's forced retirement had loomed. The more Gil had suffered the
happier Ecklie had become. Conversely, the mood on Graveyard had
plummeted and the whole lab had taken on an air of darkest anticipation.

The consensus among FOG (Friends of Gil) as opposed to AOE (Allies of
Ecklie); the man had no friends, was it might be best to update
resumes and evaluate whether one and all had reached some crossroads
in their lives and careers. His "family" had been more concerned
whether their friend and mentor would survive. They wondered what
would happen to Sara, then.

~~~

But that was last year. Now, as surely as a phoenix rises from its
own funeral pyre, Gil had emerged from this darkest period of his
life, in most spectacular fashion. His former glories renewed and new
unexpected honors heaped upon his name. He had even become "a media
darling" much to his own consternation and the amusement of the swing
& graveyard shifts. Rumors floated through the lab that something
might be afoot to shake up the entire lab.

Sara had learned a lot in the past year, too. How to become a true
partner in a relationship was one; what true love is as opposed to
worship. She had become politically savvy under Catherine's tutelage
and patience had become her watchword. Her, the famous or infamous
"loose cannon". Patient! She still couldn't come to grips with all
that had happened. Maybe it was good they had their trial of fire;
but she felt nothing was good about the suffering Gil had gone
through. Tears welled in her eyes as she reflected on it

But now, before she could put a key in the lock of their house; the
door opened inward quickly. Two arms reached out and grabbed Sara
Sidle and pulled her roughly into the house.