This finishes this short story of Eli! Thanks for reading.
?You think this is funny. All those years, I thought Gil was this lonely workaholic, going home to cockroaches and fetal pig experiments!? Catherine had been on this subject for twenty minutes. ?Those two were keeping each other company?for how long! I worried about him for years?I always thought he had this thing going with Lady Heather.? She tossed her hair as she turned to look at Brass. ?You knew about this. You kept me in the dark! That time we found him with Heather?when she was nearly killed?you knew he and Sara were together.?
Brass was trying unsuccessfully not to laugh. Greg was not even attempting to hide his mirth. Nick drove; he had already announced he had been in the dark about the subject of Catherine?s rant.
?I?ve told you everything?for how long? Any juicy gossip, or fact, I?ve made sure you knew. I should never forgive any of you?Sara included.? Catherine pretended to pout, which didn?t last long, before she heard actual snickering from the back seat. ?That includes you, Greg! I can still send you out for dumpster duty.? She reached up and moved the mirror so she could see Greg. ?You knew. Did Sara tell you? Fess up!?
Greg shook his head. ?I want protection before I tell!? His foot was propped between the seats. He continued, ?Actually, I sort of figured it out myself.?
Nick spoke, ?Okay, how did you figure it out? I was there every day and saw nothing. Even though, when I think back on that time, I remember those two always had something going on?Sara was Grissom?s pet?we all knew that much. I tried to set her up with a friend?I think Warrick knew?he told me to forget it, ?Sara was Grissom?s woman?. I thought he was joking. I guess I didn?t realize?? his voice trailed off as the other three in the car began to laugh.
Greg shifted, leaning forward to talk in a hushed voice. ?I was at the grocery store one morning, just buying some food, when I saw Sara. She did not see me so I followed her?thinking maybe we could eat breakfast?or something. She goes down the pet food aisle and who do you think is standing in front of the dog food?? He smiled as he realized he had their attention. ?Yep, Grissom. They stood there talking about dog food, Grissom puts a big bag in the cart?Sara?s cart?and I knew. No one buys dog food if they don?t have a dog and?this is when I knew?he put his hand on her. Sort of sweet actually, and I just stood there in a stupor until they disappeared.?
Catherine had turned around in her seat. ?When did you see this??
Shaking his head, he grinned, ?A long time ago!?
?How did you know, Jim? Come on. It?s just the four of us; no one else will ever hear this. It?s time to tell.?
Jim Brass knew that if Catherine Willows knew something it would become public knowledge. He also knew the couple of this conversation would never return to Las Vegas, at least not to work.
?I learned Gil had Sara?s medical power of attorney when I gave him mine?that was before I was shot. He was very open about it?said he would put it with Sara?s. And very casually said that Sara had his.? Brass wiped a hand over his head. ?That by itself wasn?t really enough?I knew he trusted her. After I was shot, the two would visit me?come in together and I started watching them. Over time, I can?t remember what made me think they might be a couple?lovers, and I did not mention it to either one, but one morning I was having a pity party of one. I drove to Gil?s place?he had moved by then?knocked on his door with a bottle of the good stuff.
?When he opened the door, I went in, didn?t wait for an invite. We had a drink and I could hear someone else in the house?the shower, the hairdryer?Gil never said a word, we just had another drink. He wasn?t uneasy; he wasn?t trying to hide anything. Then, Sara walked into the kitchen, looking fresh as a daisy until she saw me! It took a couple of heartbeats before she says ?hi, Jim,? as if she were in the hall at work, then asked me if I wanted something to eat. Just like that.? He chuckled. ?None of us ever mentioned it again?they were living together then, right under our noses, and we didn?t know a damn thing about it.?
Catherine started laughing. Nick joined her as Greg soft punched Jim?s arm and they began to laugh. Catherine tried to stop laughing and hiccupped, causing more laughter from the three men.
* * * *
Sara and Gil Grissom had no idea of the amusement they had generated in their visitors. After a busy morning and breakfast with their friends, the two sat in the porch swing, each holding a baby, watching their older daughter as she followed her brother.
?Daddy,? the boy said, ?can we go to the play park?? He held a little car above his head, out of reach of the little girl who happily took another one he offered. ?Just you and me??
Grissom glanced at his wife who carefully shielded her smile with a hand. ?Yes, Eli, we can.?
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