Out of Nowhere

Chapter One:

Grissom's jaw twitched as he sat there silently and observed the doctor. He knew the man was guilty of murder but they didn't have enough proof. This case wasn't any different that half a dozen others except this case had gotten to Grissom. It was personal.

"Thank you for your time and your theories, but you said it yourself: You don't have a case." Lurie and his attorney started to leave.

"It's sad, isn't it, doc? Guys like us. Couple of middle-aged men who've allowed their work to consume their lives," said Grissom quietly.

Lurie stopped and listened. Brass thought it was strange that the man would stop to hear what Grissom had to say even though he knew they could not hold him. Perhaps it was Grissom's tone that got his attention. There was a sadness to his voice.

"The only time we ever touch other people is when we're wearing our latex gloves. We wake up one day and realize that for fifty years we haven't really lived at all. But then, all of a sudden ... we get a second chance." Grissom has caught Lurie's full attention now.

"Somebody young and beautiful shows up. Somebody we could care about. She offers us a new life with her but we have a big decision to make, right? Because we have to risk everything we've worked for in order to have her." I could have had Sara. She would have loved me.

Grissom looked down at his pad. "I couldn't do it." His eyes mirrored the sadness in his heart. He looked up and their eyes met. I gave up the only woman I've ever loved.

"But you did. You risked it all." Grissom continued to stare at Lurie but he looked away for fear that Grissom would see the truth reflected in his eyes.

"And she showed you a wonderful life, didn't she? But then she took it away and gave it to somebody else and you were lost so you took her life." I should have risked it all for Sara.

"You killed them both, and now you have nothing." I have nothing.

Vincent Lurie responded quietly, "I'm still here."

"Are you?" asked Grissom.

Through the glass, Sara watched Grissom sitting at the interview table, her image reflected in the glass. Brass glanced at Grissom as he left the room. Lurie and his attorney left. Grissom lowered his head and shook it. He was tired. The man had taken the chance he had denied himself and he ended up killing the one person who loved him. The irony of it hit home.

He was no better than Lurie. At least Lurie had killed quickly. Each time Grissom turned Sara away, he added another cut. I've become one sick bastard. I enjoy watching her bleed. I enjoy seeing her hurt over and over. I'm no better than Lurie. I don't like the person I've become.

Sara watched in disbelief as Grissom remained seated and stared at the table. She wondered what he was thinking at that moment. She started to go into the interrogation room but decided that she would be the last person he wanted to see right now. His words played over and over in her head. She wanted to comfort him but she didn't know how. She would never want him to risk his job. She had never thought about their situation. She wondered if she had worked on another shift if things would have been different.

The thought of never working with him made her sad. If he still rejected her she would not even have the pleasure of his company but then again at times it had been very painful to work with Grissom knowing that he did not return her love. Her head had begun to pound and she made a retreat to her office.

What do you mean Grissom is gone?" yelled Catherine.

Ecklie grabbed her by the arm and led her into Grissom's office. His face had already turned red prior to getting down to the lab and he wasn't about to go into any details.

"You will be acting supervisor until he gets back. That is if he comes back."

"What do you mean by that? What happened to Grissom?"

"That's all I am going to tell you." Ecklie started to walk away and then decided he had better not bury the hatchet too deep since Willows would be the natural person to replace Grissom if he never returned.

"Look Willows, I don't like this any more than you do but he made a written request over my head for a leave of absence and I just found out about it myself."

"When did he make the request?"

"Three hours ago. Don't bother trying to call. He left his gun, ID and cell phone here on his desk." Ecklie pointed to the contents in plain site. Catherine's heart sank. Grissom had finally had enough.

Catherine watched as Ecklie walked down the hall. She made a bee line to the break room where the others were waiting.

"The grapevine is correct. Ecklie just told me I'm acting supervisor. It seems Grissom requested a leave of absence a few hours ago."

"When will he be back?" asked Warrick.

"He may not come back."

Sara dropped the coffee cup she had been holding and its content spilled onto the table. No one seemed to care since they were still trying to digest the latest information.

"I don't believe that. Grissom wouldn't up and leave and not say anything to us," said Nick. "Would he?" He looked around for some validation but got none.

The room got very quiet. They could not imagine the office without Grissom.

"I don't understand it. Why now?" asked Catherine. "He has always confided in me and not a word." Sara felt a pang of jealousy. Grissom had never confided in her although she had offered an ear, a hand, an embrace, a… Sara didn't finish the thought. Anything she had ever offered had been rejected and now he had left. Her stomach was churning and her eyes were burning. She just wanted to get out of there. As soon as the shift was over, she headed out the door. She slowed when she saw Brass standing by her car.

Brass was a good friend. He had befriended Sara even though his long time friend, Grissom did no such thing.

"How about some breakfast?"

"Not this morning. I'm afraid I wouldn't be much company. We just heard about Grissom." Sara kept her face turned downward. She didn't want Brass to see the tears that had begun to fall.

"That's why I wanted to have breakfast with you. I need a favor."

Brass had never asked anything of Sara.

"Your treat?"

"It's the least that I can do for what I am about to ask you."

Brass had peaked Sara's interest. She got into Jim's car and they drove away.

Note: I am going to be writing this short story as I continue with The Sessions. Let me know how you like it so far. Any suggestions are welcomed. I have already completed 4 chapters but they have to be proofread. Thanks to those readers who leave me reviews. Its the reason I continue to write. You're great!