The State of Nevada vs. Richard M. Bathory had been a media sensation the first time around and was proving to be macabre commotion the second time around. The technicalities that Bathory’s battery of lawyers had drawn up to keep him from the death chamber were tenuous at best but what they lacked in strength they had made up in volume. Many of the motions had been summarily tossed before any retrial had even been considered but the final judge to view Bathory’s legal team’s requests decided to err on the side of caution in a capitol murder trial.
            After Catherine and Greg had fed everyone the friends had all sat around the deck and watched the sun come up. It was rare that they ever got to enjoy a sunrise, a drawback to working graveyard. By the time their day was done the sun was usually up or they were too exhausted to notice.
            When the yellow-orange rays crested the city’s horizon Gil Grissom’s eyes fluttered and fell still as he succumbed to his exhaustion and Sara’s gentle fingers caressing his scalp. Taking their cue from the unconscious man, one by one they had stood, yawned and stretched on their way out.
            Sara had let Grissom sleep in the chaise as long as she dared before moving him into the bedroom. She had hoped he would go directly back to sleep, knowing how desperate his body and mind were for rest. Grissom awoke antsy, his mind focusing on the trial later in the day.  So, Sara set about unwinding him the one sure fire way she knew how.
            Grissom and Sara arrived at the courthouse at 10am to find the entire team, Jim Brass, Sofia Curtis, Al Robbins and David Phillips waiting outside the courtroom. Sara almost wept at the sight of all of their friends there.
            “There here for you Gris,” she whispered in his ear as she let go of his hand to go speak with Sofia.
            Grissom walked up to Brass and Catherine. Brass held out his hand while Catherine took hold of his left arm, gently hugging it.
            “Thanks for getting the suit, Sofia,” Sara said with a bright smile. She and Sofia may have had a slightly complicated relationship in the past, mostly due to Grissom, but Sara knew Sofia could be counted on.
            “Well it looks good on him,” Sofia smiled back.
            “Yea, Grissom said it was a ten year old suit so I guess it’s good he goes with the classic, timeless style,” Sara quipped before heading towards Grissom and the rest of the group as they all entered the court room.
           
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            Jake Toller pulled his baseball style cap down a little farther on his head as he watched Gil Grissom approach the group standing near the courtroom doors. Leaning one shoulder against one of the granite pillars that ran the length of the hall, Jake tried to keep an eye on Grissom without being seen. The man looked different to Jake since the last time he saw him. His beard was gone but it looked like he might be starting a goatee, or just not shaving well and he didn’t look so run down. Of course being free probably helped a lot, Jake thought as he took a half-step back to keep himself mostly hidden behind the pillar.
            Markus had told him to wait and watch the trial. If everything was ready and the moment was right he would be given a signal to set their plan in motion, if not they would wait until the next day. Jake hoped against hope it would be today. He was tired of waiting and wanted to get it all over with.
            Once Grissom was lead into the courtroom. Jake quickly reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone. With his thumbs stabbing away at the buttons of the phone, Jake informed Markus that the show was about to begin.

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            The dark tinted sunglasses hid the perpetual angry glare that had been permanently etched into Donny Kempler’s pale, pink face. As far as Donny was concerned it was lucky for Scott Abrams that the police had him, because Donny would have taken immense pleasure in pounding his head into pulp. He’d screwed up and missed killing Mickey and then got his dumbass caught by the police. They were just lucky that Abrams had delivered the ID badge before his big fuck up.
            Donny didn’t like luck. It was better than nothing but it meant that something hadn’t gone as planned and Donny liked plans. He had lived by plans and lists and rules for years now and it made him feel more in control, more comfortable in the world. Sure they were Richard and Markus’ plans and rules but Donny didn’t mind because the Bathory brothers had become the focal point to his existence.
            Pulling angrily at the tie around his neck as he sat in the corner booth of Donna’s Diner, Donny Kempler kept one eye out the large glass windows and one on the woman across from him. She seemed to be holding up so far. Markus had given her something to make her pliable but functional.
            Donny eyed her for a moment, wondering how much of the former Federal Marshall was still left behind those dark eyes of hers. She had been ignorant of Markus and his true intentions when she had first agreed to go out with him. Markus could be amazingly charming and to Donny his seduction of the woman was effortless, even if it had taken him awhile to bring her fully under his control but eventually they all do.
            Except for that suck, Grissom, Donny thought a momentary flash of anger shooting through his mind. Donny had thought the man would break quickly. He was some kind of scientist, a geek in Donny’s mind, and should have been a quick and easy break. But he had withstood Markus and all his lessons day after day. If he hadn’t escaped, Donny was certain the man would be dead now. Dead but not broken, Donny thought curiously.
            The knowledge that their nemesis had a weak spot and that it was a woman had whetted Markus’s appetite, which vicariously aroused Donny. Daciana had said her man Garbeaux had found Grissom’s whore’s apartment and Donny had begged Markus for the chance to grab her. But Markus had told him in his most soothing voice that they needed to wait, that Richard came first and then…Donny smiled at the possibilities.
            The vibration at his hip interrupted Donny’s thoughts as he quickly snatched the phone up and read the text message. With a mutter curse he snapped the phone shut, returning it to its place on his hip. Markus had them sitting in a holding pattern for the moment. WAITING! Donny had never been good at waiting.

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            Markus had been sitting outside the courthouse on one of the many benches spaced along the front of the building when he saw Gil Grissom approach. It wasn’t the man’s changed appearance or the mildly dangerous aura he was exuding that caught Markus by surprise. No, it had been the beautiful brunette holding his hand as they entered the building.
            A sinister grin oozed out upon Bathory’s face as he paid witness to the protective way Grissom lead her through the glass doors. One hand held the door while the other rested on the curve of her lower back, guiding her forward. So, Grissom this is your woman!
            Bathory had used threats to Grissom’s co-workers against him. How foolish of me not to consider someone closer. An Achilles’ heel to exploit, he mused.
            “Hmmm” It was risky but Markus wanted to get a closer look at Grissom’s companion. Rising from the bench, he folded the sports paper in half and casually tipped it into a nearby trash bin as he made his way to the doors that Grissom and the woman had just entered. Markus made a cursory check of the interior before entering the building. It would do him no good to have Grissom spot him before he had a chance to implement his plan.
            The Clark County courthouse was your typical government building. It was architectural efficiency, blended with bureaucracy and a splash of the grandiose. The foyer was large with a mixture of granite and stone. There were wide open staircases that led to other floors as well as a set of elevators and that is where Markus spotted Grissom and the woman.
            Markus walked over to the glass case that held the building’s directory, pretending to read it as he kept the two people in his peripheral view. Waiting on the elevator the woman spoke to him. She must have whispered to Grissom since he leaned into her as if trying to hear her words better. Whatever she said must have been welcomed for the man smiled warmly at her before kissing her temple.
“Love is the most beautiful of dreams… and the worst of nightmares,” Markus silently quoted as he turned to leave barely containing the sinister glee that had crept into his black heart. Once Richard is free, I think I will take Daciana’s man and pay Grissom’s Lady Love a visit!