CHAPTER NINETEEN (PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW...)

“I..crossed the line.” Brass admitted grimly. “I got involved..waaaay involved.”

It was not exactly news to Grissom. “I wasn’t sure, Jim..but, I don’t think anyone else has a clue..if that’s a concern.”

“I don’t give a shit about that.” The other man grumbled. “It’s the fact..I let it get so far out of hand that I almost got someone killed that I was responsible for.”

Grissom understood the weight of such a responsibility.

“Gil..I don’t..” Brass didn’t know where to start. “Remember that day. Not that clearly and that’s been bugging the shit out of me.” He blurted it out.

“What?” The other man questioned. “What do you mean ‘you don’t remember that day’?”

“I guess I hit my head or something when I pulled Weena out of harm’s way..everything is murky. That’s what they said happened.” It was such a relief to tell someone. “I don’t know. What I thought was ‘memory’, apparently isn’t..thank God. Bits and pieces fit but...” He struggled to get it ‘right’ in the telling. “No..I still couldn’t say truthfully what exactly went down. I faked my reports from what I had.”

“You faked ..” Grissom stopped repeating everything, annoyed he was doing it. “That doesn’t sound right, Jim. Not about the reports..” he dismissed. “The other..”

“I’m not sure if I remember the details or that I’ve been told them and accept it for fact but..” He put it on the line. “I wanted to run it by you. I know you’ll keep it in confidence..right?”

“What exactly do you remember..as opposed to what someone has told you? Can you be specific?”

“That’s what had me so bummed. In MY version..I didn’t save Weena. The hit went down.” He closed his eyes for a beat, rapidly moving past that part. “I can see it just as clear as day but..Mahone is real. I’ve checked him out. I’ve read the reports filed by the Justice Department.” He forced himself to go slower. “So..I have to be wrong. It’s just..what? What could cause this crap? Any ideas?”

Grissom digested all being said.

“I have tried to remember and I had this big honkin knock on the side of my head.” Jim showed the man the still swollen area. “It’s tender and my head hurts like crazy..the headaches were shitass painful ones..for days!”

Grissom inspected the area meticulously.

“A person can hit his head and forget things..right?” He sought the man’s answer.

“You should have come to me. When this happened.”

“Yeah, well..” Brass sat back in his chair, lowering his eyes for a beat. “I was scared shitless..that it would go in my package. That I was looney or something. I was hoping it was a combination of stress and..the situation with Weena coming to an end.”

“You have recalled some of it though.”

“Most of it, actually..” Jim was quick to advise. “Except..that day.”

“Run it through..step by step.”

“...We were on the boat..” Jim shook his head. “Can you believe I allowed her out in the open like that?”

“You were on the boat.” Grissom kept him on track.

“I heard this.. ‘pop’. I recognized the sound immediately. I know an automatic rifle when it’s being fired, for God’s sake.” He tried to keep the exasperation out of his voice. “I turned and...”

“Ok.” Gil did not like the fact the color had drained from the man’s normally tanned face. “Then what?”

“...Then..the Feds came on board, returned fire and we got Weena the hell out of there. They picked the fucker up at the docks..he’s in custody. I’ve interviewed him myself.”

“What did he say.”

“I want a lawyer.”

Grissom sighed heavily. “Great.”

“I know I should have told you but it was just so..surreal and I was reeling from losing contact with Weena so abruptly. Hell..I don’t even remember saying a decent ‘goodbye’” Brass disgusted. “I do remember...” Something suddenly materialized in his mind.

“What?” Grissom picked up on the fact.

“It’s ..nothing.”

“You’re tying my hands, here, Jim.” Grissom was not happy with the reply.

“I asked her if she was pregnant, damn it!” Brass managed between clenched teeth, embarrassed beyond belief to be airing his dirty laundry before others..even this man.

“And she said?”

“She said...” it was stressed. “Children are little trolls who suck the life out of you.”

“Excuse me?”

“She was paraphrasing Major Tom..Tom Harligan?” Jim explained. “The village idiot?”

Grissom..relaxed. “Oh.”

“I was the experienced one, Grissom..I know that. I always use protection..always! But..”

“You talked to her after the shooting, you’re sure.” The man’s interest was elsewhere clearly.

“I wouldn’t have allowed her to go without knowing one way or the other. It had to be..when I made the decision to turn it over to the Feds.”

Grissom sat back, his mind processing all data.

“It’s not that I don’t believe Weena is in the WRP. I do. But that damned dream seems so real and it just keeps reoccurring..over and over.” Brass was more than frustrated. “And not being able to reach her..to verify..to see for myself. I probably sound paranoid.”

The man leaned forward, bracing his forearms on his upper thighs. “The other is unthinkable but I keep going back to it in my head. I wake up nights in a cold sweat, reliving the damned scene. Is there something wrong with me?”

“But..you said it was better.”

“..Yeah..it’s better.” He eased back, forcing his body to relax. “I called Mahone. I told him I had to talk to Weena. To hear for myself that she was ok. He put me off but..last night. He called.”

“And?”

“He said he explained the situation to his superior. The guy is an asshole. He said with me being on the same side and all..” Jim couldn’t fault the facts. “He expected more professionalism from me but Mahone sidestepped a few rules and..”

Grissom waited patiently.

“The long and short of it is..I asked a question only Weena would know and ..he came back with the right answer.” Brass cut the tale to the bone.

“What question?”

The man half smiled. “I asked her..who was ‘Georgina Bailey.”

“Jim..I know that answer as well.”

“Yeah, but..I’ve never told anyone else..”

Grissom nodded thoughtfully.

“So..the dream is just..something I have to accept, right? It will fade in time and..it doesn’t mean anything.” Brass wanted the words said. “I don’t like the situation..but she has to be alright and that’s all that matters. I kinda wanted to check my thinking with you.”

“The dream could be a manifestation of your subconscious reaction to her near death experience.”

“What does that mean?”

“Your guilt over the fact you dropped your guard that day.”

“That makes sense..doesn’t it?”

“Yes.” Grissom lied. Jim Brass needed some down time. He needed to stop the cycle he had been on for the past weeks. There were too many unanswered questions for Gil Grissom to feel comfortable with assuming responses or solutions. He had not had time to investigate the situation. “It makes sense.”

He could see the relief etched on Jim’s face.

“Good.” Brass..relaxed. “That’s..good then.”

Plus the fact..Jim Brass was a trained observer. He would have seen things other people would have missed. If his subconscious was telling him something was amiss..Grissom suspected..something was very amiss.

When he got back to the lab..he determined to find the answers to the questions plaguing his friend and colleague.

Grissom didn’t know what was going on..but, something was up. He was not a man to let a puzzle lay about unsolved.

“Then..if Weena is ok..I’m ..ok.” Jim breathed a sigh of total contentment. “I wasn’t what she needed anyway..this way..” He tried to believe his own words. “She can find someone and..it will be..great for her. She will be..happy.”

“But..will you be happy.”

“I’ll be fine.” Brass forced a smile. “One day at a time...one day at a time.”

“Some of those days may be more difficult than others..just remember..” Grissom cautioned. “I’m here if you need to vent.”

“Hey..you never really believed she was from outer space did you?” Brass was able to joke about it now. “I mean..that was just you being ..you..right?”

“I will take the fifth on that one.” Grissom made it seem like a joke as well. “She was pretty far out there, you have to admit.”

“In a nice way.” Jim gave him that much. “She was sheltered I think..her dad seemed the type..a little controlling if you ask me.”

“You met him?”

“No..just from the impressions I got. From what she told me..”

“Hey..did you see that?” Grissom had arisen, in his excitement. “Off the port bow there..”

Brass checked it out. “Damn! That’s a big sucker!”

“Shotgun!” The men headed down the ladder to the lower deck. The commotion awakened the two sleeping individuals who struggled to their feet. “There she blows, men.” Grissom pointed to the marlin clearing the waves about three hundred meters out. “Show time!”

Brass stood, smiling..watching as Greg and Nick searched for their fishing gear.

“My head feels like it’s inside a five gallon bucket of mush.” Nick shared, grimacing his pain.

“Don’t talk about food.” Greg pleaded.

Jim Brass’ smile widened.

One day at a time. He thought. One fucking day at a time.

He would hold on and..make it through.

He had no other choice.

“Yes..he believes all we have told him. The device came in very handy, did it not.” Calvin Mahone watched the entrance to his office, his conversation one he did not wish overheard by another. “It is good you had the transmissions. We would not have known the answer to his question otherwise.”

He glanced at his own ‘device’, his hand gripping it to connect the transmission conveyance. It resembled Weena’s necklace in appearance but with one alteration..it..now..glowed a warm, effervescent blue. He held a tiny cone-shaped object to his ear, completely concealed by his fingers.

He waited as the person on the other end of the transmission finished speaking.

“Your daughter is well? All is progressing as expected?” The Southern twang was absent from the man’s speech. His tone was refined..cultured. “It is a regrettable thing but, it is for the best, surely.”

Again he paused, listening to the response. “He has a strong will..already he remembers much of what has transpired. I will keep close tabs on him..to insure he does not recall too much.”

The man shook his head hastily. “Of course not. There is never a need for violence. I will protect our people but..not at the expense of another’s life. How could you even...” He ..settled. “Well, alright then. I will handle this end. It seems to be finished, however. Let us hope, at least.”

A pretty woman, in her early twenties came through the door, papers in hand. “Hey, Cal..these were faxed over by the Deputy Marshall..he says he needs some signatures, hon.”

“Sure enough, sweet cakes..leave em on the desk there. I’ll get em out to you in a sec. Nature calls.” He smiled congenially to the unexpected visitor, his accent back in place as if it had never left.

“Oh, shut up already. You’re such a flirt!” She teased. “I’ve always liked that about you. Don’t you go changin, now.”

“Not in this life time.” Calvin assured her.

She left and he grasped the necklace hastily to re-establish the contact he had lost. “Are you monitoring?”

He had his answer. “I was interrupted. I will contact you later tonight, then. May Peace..Unity and Order Prevail.” He nodded his farewell, releasing the necklace. He turned his attention to the papers that were left behind by his co-worker. He hummed Alabama’s ‘God Bless Texas’ as he sighed the copies.

Author’s note: Thus ends Jim Brass’ extraterrestrial love affair. I have had a blast writing this. I hope I have entertained you a little. I trust my love for the character was infectious...I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions..(careful on that one..don’t get too graphic) I’ve met some amazing writers on here..some very kind and supportive people. Thank you all for the time it took to read the story. Your reviews kept me on a constant high! I’m off to read and return the favor!