Disclaimer: I don't own Grissom, worse luck, Catherine or any of the gang. I just play in their sandbox. Dedication: Thanks to AbyKitten for being patient and betaing and vividlyblue1 for putting me up to this! Author's Note: Posting this against my better judgement because it's a WIP but Jac and Angie here you go!
Chapter 5
Nick saw the anger on Catherine's face at the interruption, "Sorry," he said, "but we thought this was important. One of Greg's finds popped an ID."
Catherine looked at him, waiting for him to continue, "Well?" she asked, resisting the urge to start tapping her foot in anger and impatient.
"Dominic Cantanelli," he stated.
She stood there pronouncing the surname over and over, Nick could almost she her taste it. "That name sounds vaguely familiar, but I don't know why?" she replied still taxing her brain for a connection.
"Apparently he's the boss of one of the more connected drug bosses in Nevada," Nick explained, "but we don't know his connection to Grissom." The frustration was darkening his eyes. "Since we can't send anyone out to question him till we know this family is safe, Warrick, Sara and I are going to go through the bosses old cases and see if we can scare anything up."
Catherine whistled, "That's a lot of cases, Nick"
He shrugged, "All we have just now is time," he replied and headed of to find the others.
Knocking first Catherine went back into the room. "Now, where were we?" she asked and Grissom raised his gaze to stare at her. She couldn't remember when she'd seen him look worse and it almost made her cry, but now was not the time for tears, they would help no one.
"Ah yes," she continued, "I was just about to ask you to explain what you were going to do with that?"
Evering looked at the young woman and then at the syringe in her hand, "This is used to collect samples from the base of the urethra, similar to what would happen to a woman during a pap smear," she answered succinctly.
Catherine smothered a gasp. No wonder they had wanted this done here and it was easily obvious why Grissom had dreaded this woman's arrival. "Isn't that painful?" she asked and then felt stupid. God of course it would be.
"Can we save the discussion for later," Grissom asked, an almost plaintive tone in his voice, "it isn't gong to get any easier talking about it."
Both women nodded feeling insensitive. They'd been talking about it as if it was an empirical test that fascinated them forgetting that affect it would have on the man who had to undergo it.
Grissom stood waiting his hands balled into fists. He let out a small-strangled cry as the test began; sweat beading on his upper lip. Catherine walked up and took his right hand in both of hers. "Breathe, Gil" she urged him, "breathe."
"She's right," Evering added, "in through the nose and out through the mouth, it should help take the edge off."
He did as he was told, clinging tightly to Catherine's hands not realising he was hurting her. Tears sparked in her eyes, but not for the pain he was causing her, Eddie had done far worse for sheer enjoyment, but for the distress he was in.
"There now," Evering stated, "that's all done." Catherine could hear Grissom's sigh of relief as he rearranged his clothing. "Most of these test results should be ready by tomorrow, however, you'll have to wait longer for the Hepatitis C and Aids tests." She paused looking at each of them in turn, "a positive result for either will be known in twenty to forty-eight hours of course, but a negative one will take five months to prove conclusively. You are aware of that aren't you Mr Grissom?"
Gil nodded, it was going to be a very long five months he hoped. But maybe now he could finally get out of here. He longed to be on his own, to try and get some grip on all that had happened to him. One more phone call and it should be over, once Brass' men located the Jordan family and made sure of the safety.
"You're also aware that you shouldn't have unprotected sex until you know the full results of all these test I trust?" Evering concluded, she didn't really feel it had to be said, but in her position she had to be sure.
"That's hardly going to be a concern, doctor," he answered tightly, "but thank you for the reminder."
Samantha Evering packed away all her things and prepared to leave. "Perhaps you would like to see Greg before you go?" Catherine asked her, she was quite prepared to give Grissom some time on his own, but Evering robbed her of the excuse. "No that won't be necessary," the doctor, replied," I don't want to disturb him right now and we've made dinner arrangements for later this week, but thank you." She smiled at the younger woman accepting her courtesy. "I believe Captain Brass said he would see me out if you'll just direct me to his office?"
Catherine took her chance this time and escorted Evering to Brass' office personally. She didn't want to be away from Grissom too long, but she knew that everything was beginning to crowd in on him. What she was worried about was him being on his own when the final phone call came in, she didn't know what sort of parting shots these maniacs might make and she wanted to be there just in case.
Grissom stood looking out the open door of his office, just watching the normal workings of the night going on about him. It seemed difficult to believe that instead of leading the investigation as normal, he was the investigation. He wondered how the 'kids' were getting on, but didn't want to be with anyone right now. He thought of finally being able to go home and realised that he didn't want to. He didn't know where he would go, but home at the moment had bad memories and he wasn't sure he could face them. Was he afraid there might be someone waiting for him? No he didn't think so, it was too soon. They would probably let him sweat things for a while and then when he least expected it they would pounce again.
The phone rang and as he reached for it Catherine came running back into the office. She looked flushed, she looked worried. He didn't blame her, he was as well.
"Grissom." He answered. Catherine studied his face as he made notes, they were clearly up holding their end of the bargain again. He seemed to be writing directions and she suddenly realised that the family didn't even stay in Vegas. It would take hours for Brass and his men to get there. They would never have found them.
"Right," Grissom said. He flushed, "don't expect me to be holding my breath." He snapped and then ended the call and threw the phone on the desk. "Do you want to give this to Brass or shall I?" he asked her.
"No need," she replied, taking the note from him she walked to the door. As she reached it an officer appeared, "Take this to Captain Brass personally for me, he should be back in his office in about ten minutes, wait for him." The man nodded and then left.
"Once this is all settled you are coming home with me." Catherine told Grissom, not prepared to take no for an answer. "That's not practical, Catherine and you know it. Lindsey will be there and I don't want her to see me like this."
"Lindsey is at my sisters," Catherine answered, "she'll take her to school, then she has a sleep over tonight and then will be staying with my sister for the rest of the week. It's all been arranged."
Grissom grimaced, he wasn't sure he wanted this. He could feel his body beginning to respond to the lack of amphetamines in his blood stream. He wasn't going to be a very nice person to live with for the next week or so until the symptoms settled down some. It was the last thing he wanted anyone to witness.
"Don't worry, Gil," she reassured him, "Doctor Evering came well prepared. She has given me some medication that should help with the withdrawals and with the wounds you've suffered." She saw him stiffen, she started to grow angry but buried it. He could take his privacy issues too far. Did he honestly think she was going to let him suffer on his own? He didn't know her as well as he thought he did.
"Get your stuff together and meet me out front in ten minutes," she ordered him, "don't make me coming looking for you now," she added the warning with a smile.
"Yes, mother," he replied, knowing she had won again.
