Chapter Nine – Finale

I don't own CSI or 'As You Like It' by William Shakespeare, or the speech or Jacques, even though he's my favourite character too!

So now a week had passed, Sara was sat in a church awaiting her turn to read an extract of Elaine's favourite Shakespearean play, 'As You like It'. Her name was called and she stood and walked down the chilly aisle. Every eye was on her, she stood at the podium. Took a deep breath, closed her eyes and introduced her speech.

'Elaine loved the play As You Like It by William Shakespeare. She especially loved the character Jacques, she found his melancholy attitude hilarious, I remember going to see it with her and her just laughing at Jacques even though she had no idea what was going on. Her favourite speech from the play was one by him, and so now I'm going to read it.

'Jacques: All the world's a stage,
and all the men and women merely players;
they have their exits and their entrances,
and one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
and shining morning face, creeping like snail
unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the canon's mouth. And then the justice,
in fair round belly with good capon lined,
with eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
and so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon*
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his* sound. Last scene of all,
that ends this strange eventful history,
is second childishness and mere oblivion,
sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.'

As she finished she looked up and was surprised to see Grissom sat in the place next to hers. She stepped off the podium and had to stop herself from running down the aisle to see him. She slipped into her seat and he took her hand, she was glad he was here; she had someone to comfort her now.

She rested her head on Grissom's shoulder and he squeezed her hand, promising her without words that he'd never let go.