Sources

Chapter 31

Grissom stayed in the hospital under observation for 24 hours. Finally, to his great relief, his doctors released him to Sara's care with strict instructions that he should not return to work for at least a week.

"I still can't believe Catherine gave you a week's vacation to take care of me," he grumbled as she drove him home. "Some temporary supervisor. Granting last-minute vacations left and right."

Sara smirked at him. "The weird thing was how excited she was about it. I heard her mumbling something about someone getting his head out of a microscope. any idea what that's about?"

He fought back a smile. "Um. I love you?"

"Good answer."

They spent the evening quietly, watching movies and eating Chinese takeout. By the next day, his headache was nearly gone and his energy level was back to normal. She reluctantly left him alone for several hours while she ran some errands.

"I'm home!" Sara yelled, stumbling through the doorway of the townhouse with three bags of groceries. "Little help?"

Silence greeted her.

"Chivalry is dead," she muttered, throwing items into the refrigerator and pantry. Suddenly her brow furrowed. "Grissom? You okay?"

When she still received no answer, she checked the living room and bathroom, then the bedroom. No Grissom. Her eyes narrowed, and she ran back into the living room, peering out the window. His car was gone.

"Goddamn it, Grissom," she fumed. Walking over to the front door, she saw the envelope.

It was taped to the door, right under the peephole. A simple white envelope, with the word "Sara" written in Grissom's bold print. She felt the flutter of fear in her chest. He would never leave you like that. He'd have the decency to say it to your face. But logic was taking a backseat to her insecurities, and she lifted the envelope with trepidation.

Sitting down on his couch - his couch, not theirs - Sara swallowed hard, forcing herself to open the envelope. She pulled out the single sheet of paper and read.

Dear Sara,

First of all, shame on you. Not only would I never leave you by writing it in a note, but I would never leave you. You know me better than that.

Shuddering a sigh of relief, she continued reading.

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, you're probably getting angry at me for going somewhere instead of resting.

Sara glared at his words. Damn right, she thought.

Well, you will have plenty of time to yell at me. when you find me. I am waiting for you now, at the spot where I first realized I was in love with you. Find me quick, Sara. I miss you already.

Yours, always. Grissom.

She squinted, rereading the letter several times. The spot where he first realized he was in love with her?

Throwing on a pair of sunglasses, Sara found it hard to hide her grin. A treasure hunt with Grissom as the prize, she thought giddily. How's that for motivation?

Catherine opened her door, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. "Sara?"

The brunette stormed into her apartment. "Is he here?"

"Is who here?"

Sara growled. "Grissom. He ran off somewhere, and I can't find him. I've looked everywhere."

Shaking her head, Catherine struggled to understand. "Isn't he supposed to be recuperating? And, uh, Sara, I'm pretty sure he's not under my couch cushions."

Sighing in concession, Sara stopped her search and plopped down in a chair, her head hanging low.

"Have you tried his cell?"

She snorted. "Try it yourself."

Catherine picked up her phone and dialed. After several rings, his voicemail picked up. "You have reached Gil Grissom," his recorded voice said. "You know where to find me. You just aren't thinking hard enough." She hung up when she heard the beep.

"What does that mean? What's going on?"

Sara had her head in her hands. "He left a note saying I should come meet him at the place where he realized he loved me."

Catherine smiled. "Aww."

"Yeah, aww. Except I can't find him," Sara muttered. "I've tried his place and my place. I combed every inch of the lab, including the curb outside it. The police station. The hockey rink. The bridge under the billboard. I even went to an apartment building that we knocked down walls in. He's nowhere."

"Hockey rink?"

Sara shrugged, looking despondent. Catherine took pity on her, sitting down on the couch to help her brainstorm.

"It'd be a place where you spent time together," she mused. "Even if you weren't there when he had his realization, it would have to be a place that he associated with you. In his own space, his logic would trump his emotions."

"But I've tried everywhere," Sara groaned.

"The other day, you said you started dating when the two of you went to some bed and breakfast in California, right?"

"Yeah."

Catherine shrugged. "Did you try there?"

"No," Sara replied, shaking her head. "Not there. He told me he loved me before that."

"This would be a lot easier if I'd been in the loop about your relationship," Catherine needled, pursing her lips. "Okay, so it's not the lab. Not at your apartment or his house. Not in California. Not at the hockey rink, whatever that means."

When she looked up, Sara's eyes were shining, and a wide grin covered her face. She jumped to her feet, grabbing Catherine in a hug. "Cath, you're a genius!" she squealed.

"Thanks. wait, what?"

Sara was already running out the door, her cell phone in hand. "Hey, it's me," she said into the phone. "You better hope you're checking your messages, buster, because if you're where I know you are, I'm going to kill you and make it look like an accident."

Closing the phone with a snap, she turned to wave goodbye to Catherine. Despite her harsh voicemail to Grissom, Sara's face was radiant with joy. "I've got to go," she called. "Thanks again for your help!"

Catherine waved as Sara's Tahoe took off down the road. Great, she said to herself. Even when I'm actually in the loop, I have no idea what's going on.