[CSI] A Call to Darkness 1/4
A Call to Darkness
Sara/Grissom, 1620 words, PG-13,
Leaving this city meant leaving Grissom behind.
The air had turned brisk and she watched as the leaves danced across her eyesight; swirling around in a dazzling display of color and poetry. She leaned back on the park bench she was occupying and tugged lightly on the scarf tied loosely around her neck. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of early fall; something she had missed all the years living in Las Vegas. No other season compared to fall in its richness and diversity. Sara smiled to herself. Actually it was nice to experience a season other than hot and dry. It had been a very long time.
The letter had appeared one day in her mail. What she thought was another innocuous mix of catalogs and pre-approved credit card applications had given way to the legal size letter with a college embossed on the front. She thought she knew what it was. Leaving it lying on her kitchen island she walked away from the letter, unopened, and the ramifications she knew hid behind its seal. It stayed there, untouched, for three days. On the morning of the third day she finally plucked up the courage to address the letter. With slightly shaking hands, she opened the letter and withdrew the note from inside. It was a request from an east coast college to fly, at their expense, to their campus and interview for a teaching position. She was, the letter acknowledged, highly skilled in her profession and they were eager to ascertain if she would be interested in teaching those skills to others. Her track record spoke for itself and she had come highly recommended.
Sara’s curiosity had been piqued all the while she had felt a stone settling itself deep in her stomach. This was the out she had been looking for. Or so she thought. Now that her out presented itself so clearly to her, she was hesitant to deal with it. If she did, it would make it real. It wasn’t until three days later that she gathered the courage to call the name and number at the bottom of the letter. Tom Matthews. His voice was pleasant and soon Sara had found herself agreeing to fly out to meet him next week. She knew with that phone call, she would be on the precipice of something life changing and was terrified.
Later, when Sara spoke to Grissom in order to request personal time, her perception of his indifference, reassured her that she had done the right thing. He had merely glanced at her, nodding his head in approval. He neither took the time to address her directly nor asked her anything that he would deem to personal. This only reinforced Sara’s determination to have a successful trip. Strangely enough, she found herself looking forward to the trip. The East Coast was nothing if not beautiful in the fall.
So, on this crisp autumn afternoon, Sara found herself sitting on a park bench, watching leaves tumble around. She glanced at her watch and realized that it was time to go. This was it, the moment that could potentially change her life. She walked swiftly through the park and hailed a cab that would lead her to the college.
The ride was not long enough to dissipate her nervousness. She entered the college building and had to keep reminding herself that it was just brick and mortar. Her concession to the interview was in slight pumps and tailored slacks. Not her everyday attire. Her heels clicked mutely on the floor as she made her way to the elevators. The envelope had indicated that Mr. Matthews was on the third floor.
Upon arriving on the third floor, Sara was greeted by his assistant with a soft smile, “Sara Sidle?” At Sara’s nod of ascension the assistant continued, “You can go right in, he’s been expecting you.”
Music drifted softly out of a stereo situated behind the professor’s desk. He stood up as Sara approached his desk and offered his hand. Sara has never been the type of woman to care about her looks or carry around a handbag, but just this once she wished she had a comb, or moisturizing lotion so he wouldn’t have to feel her dry hands when they shook. She was surprised at her attraction to this stranger. Maybe it was the eyes. Blue eyes that reminded her of Grissom. She felt a pang of regret at the thought of him. Would he miss her? She silently berated herself for once again thinking of Grissom and turn to look at the man standing before her. His black hair was thickly laced with grey and she discovered his eyes weren’t really blue; more aquamarine which appeared to change colors as the light them. Different. He extended his hand to the chair in front of his desk and Sara sat down.
Sara listed to Tom talk to her about the details of the job and all the benefits. She dimly heard him enumerate about how excited they were that she was considering leaving Las Vegas. For the first time in so many years, Sara felt herself becoming a ‘devil may care’ type of woman and could feel it rushing through her system. She was going to do this. She was going to leave and start over. This time there was no one else involved. She was leaving on her own terms for the right reasons.
Why did she feel like her heart was breaking in two?
She realized that Tom had stopped talking and was staring at her. She smiled to cover her awkwardness and he leaned closer to her, “The job is yours; if you want it.”
Sara smiled broadly, “I accept. When do you need me to start?”
+
On the flight back to Vegas, Sara stared out the window and thought about what she had committed to. She had known even before she had boarded the plane, that she was going to take this job and now she had to go back to Vegas and face this, this vortex of change she had instilled on herself. She had a lot to accomplish over the next few weeks. She would stay in Vegas through the holidays and start her new job after winter break. It gave her a little time. She wondered how much she would need to get over him.
Her mind wandered over the various scenarios that could happen and wondered if anything could make her change her mind. Would Grissom confess his undying love and devotion to her? Better yet, sweep her off her feet with elegant conversations comparing her to vast affection for his butterflies. Sara smiled broadly at these unlikely thoughts. Not Grissom. Her smile faded as she thought about how much she would miss him, probably for the rest of her life.
+
Sara stopped outside his office door with a letter clutched desperately in her hand. She paused and took a deep breath. She could do this, could get through this. She knocked and smiled as she walked in, “Grissom, do you have a minute?”
He looked up over his glasses at her and nodded. She sank into the seat in front of his desk and handed him the letter. He looked at her quizzically and started to open it. Sara started to speak, words rushing out so she could say what she had been practicing for two days. “I got this really great opportunity that I could not pass up. I felt it was time for me to make a change in both my career and my personal life. Over the past few two years, I discovered how much I enjoyed teaching Greg and watching him develop has been a pleasure I wasn’t expecting. I’m hoping to experience that reward by accepting this teaching job.”
She took a breath and stared at Grissom. His hand had stopped, letter partially in envelope and he simply looked back at her. She took heart in his silence and realized that once again she had surprised him. She waited for him to say anything.
“Sara…um, this comes as a surprise. I didn’t realize that you had been looking for another position.” Grissom frowned slightly as he retracted the rest of the letter and started to read the contents. He looked up at her and she could see the echo of sadness reflected in his eyes.
“I wasn’t looking, Grissom. It came to me and honestly, it feels right. Also, its more than two weeks, I won’t be leaving until the end of December so that gives you almost two months.” Sara paused, “Unless of course, you need me to leave sooner.”
Grissom started at that. “No Sara.” He seemed too stumbled over his words, unsure of how or what to say. “We, I would appreciate you staying while….we look for a suitable replacement.” He leaned back, seemingly satisfied with what he said.
Sara inwardly winced at the sound of replacement coming from Grissom. She knew that this was going to hurt and just wanted to leave without breaking down in front of him. She smiled and stood up to leave. “Thanks Grissom. Whatever I can do….”
She turned to leave and almost made it to the door when she heard Grissom call out to her. “Sara, all these years…I mean we, you and I, we’re still friends, right?”
She smiled sadly at him. This was the giant declaration that she had not been holding her breath for. “Yes, Grissom, we’re still friends. I never asked you to stop.” She left, knowing that she had made the right decision. It was time to go.
Grissom stared after her, “And I never told you how I felt.”
original post
Sara/Grissom, 1620 words, PG-13,
Leaving this city meant leaving Grissom behind.
The air had turned brisk and she watched as the leaves danced across her eyesight; swirling around in a dazzling display of color and poetry. She leaned back on the park bench she was occupying and tugged lightly on the scarf tied loosely around her neck. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of early fall; something she had missed all the years living in Las Vegas. No other season compared to fall in its richness and diversity. Sara smiled to herself. Actually it was nice to experience a season other than hot and dry. It had been a very long time.
The letter had appeared one day in her mail. What she thought was another innocuous mix of catalogs and pre-approved credit card applications had given way to the legal size letter with a college embossed on the front. She thought she knew what it was. Leaving it lying on her kitchen island she walked away from the letter, unopened, and the ramifications she knew hid behind its seal. It stayed there, untouched, for three days. On the morning of the third day she finally plucked up the courage to address the letter. With slightly shaking hands, she opened the letter and withdrew the note from inside. It was a request from an east coast college to fly, at their expense, to their campus and interview for a teaching position. She was, the letter acknowledged, highly skilled in her profession and they were eager to ascertain if she would be interested in teaching those skills to others. Her track record spoke for itself and she had come highly recommended.
Sara’s curiosity had been piqued all the while she had felt a stone settling itself deep in her stomach. This was the out she had been looking for. Or so she thought. Now that her out presented itself so clearly to her, she was hesitant to deal with it. If she did, it would make it real. It wasn’t until three days later that she gathered the courage to call the name and number at the bottom of the letter. Tom Matthews. His voice was pleasant and soon Sara had found herself agreeing to fly out to meet him next week. She knew with that phone call, she would be on the precipice of something life changing and was terrified.
Later, when Sara spoke to Grissom in order to request personal time, her perception of his indifference, reassured her that she had done the right thing. He had merely glanced at her, nodding his head in approval. He neither took the time to address her directly nor asked her anything that he would deem to personal. This only reinforced Sara’s determination to have a successful trip. Strangely enough, she found herself looking forward to the trip. The East Coast was nothing if not beautiful in the fall.
So, on this crisp autumn afternoon, Sara found herself sitting on a park bench, watching leaves tumble around. She glanced at her watch and realized that it was time to go. This was it, the moment that could potentially change her life. She walked swiftly through the park and hailed a cab that would lead her to the college.
The ride was not long enough to dissipate her nervousness. She entered the college building and had to keep reminding herself that it was just brick and mortar. Her concession to the interview was in slight pumps and tailored slacks. Not her everyday attire. Her heels clicked mutely on the floor as she made her way to the elevators. The envelope had indicated that Mr. Matthews was on the third floor.
Upon arriving on the third floor, Sara was greeted by his assistant with a soft smile, “Sara Sidle?” At Sara’s nod of ascension the assistant continued, “You can go right in, he’s been expecting you.”
Music drifted softly out of a stereo situated behind the professor’s desk. He stood up as Sara approached his desk and offered his hand. Sara has never been the type of woman to care about her looks or carry around a handbag, but just this once she wished she had a comb, or moisturizing lotion so he wouldn’t have to feel her dry hands when they shook. She was surprised at her attraction to this stranger. Maybe it was the eyes. Blue eyes that reminded her of Grissom. She felt a pang of regret at the thought of him. Would he miss her? She silently berated herself for once again thinking of Grissom and turn to look at the man standing before her. His black hair was thickly laced with grey and she discovered his eyes weren’t really blue; more aquamarine which appeared to change colors as the light them. Different. He extended his hand to the chair in front of his desk and Sara sat down.
Sara listed to Tom talk to her about the details of the job and all the benefits. She dimly heard him enumerate about how excited they were that she was considering leaving Las Vegas. For the first time in so many years, Sara felt herself becoming a ‘devil may care’ type of woman and could feel it rushing through her system. She was going to do this. She was going to leave and start over. This time there was no one else involved. She was leaving on her own terms for the right reasons.
Why did she feel like her heart was breaking in two?
She realized that Tom had stopped talking and was staring at her. She smiled to cover her awkwardness and he leaned closer to her, “The job is yours; if you want it.”
Sara smiled broadly, “I accept. When do you need me to start?”
+
On the flight back to Vegas, Sara stared out the window and thought about what she had committed to. She had known even before she had boarded the plane, that she was going to take this job and now she had to go back to Vegas and face this, this vortex of change she had instilled on herself. She had a lot to accomplish over the next few weeks. She would stay in Vegas through the holidays and start her new job after winter break. It gave her a little time. She wondered how much she would need to get over him.
Her mind wandered over the various scenarios that could happen and wondered if anything could make her change her mind. Would Grissom confess his undying love and devotion to her? Better yet, sweep her off her feet with elegant conversations comparing her to vast affection for his butterflies. Sara smiled broadly at these unlikely thoughts. Not Grissom. Her smile faded as she thought about how much she would miss him, probably for the rest of her life.
+
Sara stopped outside his office door with a letter clutched desperately in her hand. She paused and took a deep breath. She could do this, could get through this. She knocked and smiled as she walked in, “Grissom, do you have a minute?”
He looked up over his glasses at her and nodded. She sank into the seat in front of his desk and handed him the letter. He looked at her quizzically and started to open it. Sara started to speak, words rushing out so she could say what she had been practicing for two days. “I got this really great opportunity that I could not pass up. I felt it was time for me to make a change in both my career and my personal life. Over the past few two years, I discovered how much I enjoyed teaching Greg and watching him develop has been a pleasure I wasn’t expecting. I’m hoping to experience that reward by accepting this teaching job.”
She took a breath and stared at Grissom. His hand had stopped, letter partially in envelope and he simply looked back at her. She took heart in his silence and realized that once again she had surprised him. She waited for him to say anything.
“Sara…um, this comes as a surprise. I didn’t realize that you had been looking for another position.” Grissom frowned slightly as he retracted the rest of the letter and started to read the contents. He looked up at her and she could see the echo of sadness reflected in his eyes.
“I wasn’t looking, Grissom. It came to me and honestly, it feels right. Also, its more than two weeks, I won’t be leaving until the end of December so that gives you almost two months.” Sara paused, “Unless of course, you need me to leave sooner.”
Grissom started at that. “No Sara.” He seemed too stumbled over his words, unsure of how or what to say. “We, I would appreciate you staying while….we look for a suitable replacement.” He leaned back, seemingly satisfied with what he said.
Sara inwardly winced at the sound of replacement coming from Grissom. She knew that this was going to hurt and just wanted to leave without breaking down in front of him. She smiled and stood up to leave. “Thanks Grissom. Whatever I can do….”
She turned to leave and almost made it to the door when she heard Grissom call out to her. “Sara, all these years…I mean we, you and I, we’re still friends, right?”
She smiled sadly at him. This was the giant declaration that she had not been holding her breath for. “Yes, Grissom, we’re still friends. I never asked you to stop.” She left, knowing that she had made the right decision. It was time to go.
Grissom stared after her, “And I never told you how I felt.”
original post