So I haven't been writing much but I really wanted to post some Sandle fun- so I've thrown together a Valentine's Day special ;)
I hope you all enjoy this- please read and review.
I also hope you all have a wonderful commercialised holiday!
Disclaimer: I own zilch
Pale Pending
Sara tapped her nails against handle of the trolley as she slowly browsed the shelves with cynical suspicion studying the red and pink Valentine's Day specials. She had no use for the candles, wine, chocolates or matching key rings. Even if Grissom had been there he would have not indulged in any of the frivolous things that symbolised it holiday. With an irritated sigh she rolled her neck back, a knot forming at the base at the reminder of her marriage. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she wondered if it would be fate- her husband calling to apologise for a cancelled trip- but finding herself thankful at the sight of Greg's name.
"Hello Gregory" She answered stopping with a smile picking up one of the novelty items on the self pretending to read the description on the back.
"I'm bored" He announced in a dull tone the noise of the TV slowly muting in the background as he took a deep breath.
"I see...And you're calling me because?" Sara smirked carefully watching the couple ahead of her excitedly picking up a bottle of the cheap red wine with the special label designed to drawn couples in on the sugar sweet lure of romance.
"I was hoping you could entertain me..." Greg stated with a yawn. She could imagine him stretched out on his sofa, running his hand casually through his hair while pretending not to watch Desperate Housewives on the screen. A knot tied in her throat as Sara recalled the last time they'd had a similar conversation- the result had been a disastrous blurring of lines she would never be able to forget despite all of her insistence.
"And how would I do that?" Sara chucked throwing one the obscenely large chocolate hearts into the trolley for the undoubted time of the night where she would find herself crumbling underneath what her life had become.
"I don't know... tell me a joke, dance for me, or read me bed time stories... there are many things you could do Sara... chose any..." He continued; his sarcastic tone filling her ear as she stopped to let another loved up couple pass her buy.
"It's Valentine's Day Greg, don't you have plans?" She asked attempting to recall the last time Greg had been on a date. But she couldn't think of anything beyond that night.
"Apart from the 6 pack of beers and watching home renovation programs pretending to care... no" He told her a little sadly. Empty love lives were a side effect of the job but Greg had done his best not to let it get him down. But the older he had gotten the more it seemed to take its toll on him.
"Who says romance is dead huh?" Sara smiled casting her eyes over the watched wrapped around her wrist.
"Everyone" Greg replied shortly with snort.
"That's not true, romance is alive in well in Walmart right now...and it only costs $3.99" She laughed picking up a set of matching mugs wondering when morning coffee had become such a romantic occasion.
"I'm not a cheap date Sara... It's going to take you more than that to get my pants off" He said matter-of-factly alongside the sound of a beer can opening in the background as he continued to make himself comfortable for the lonely night ahead.
"Who said I wanted to get your pants of Gregory? I might have plans..." Her tone giving her away as it became clear to both of them that they would be spending the night alone. And though it was oh so tempting to give in and admit defeating finding comfort in each other's arms it was not the right thing to do.
"Oh really... What plans?" Greg enquired taking a swing of his beer.
"There is a ready meal for one here with my name on it." Sara said with as much false enthusiasm as she could muster. "I might even light a romantic candle for the occasion. But I'm a miserable married woman you should be flexing that little black book and wining and dining some lucky lady...You know solo movie night is not going to get you laid..."
"Don't remind me of the women in this town Sara...There's only one person I'd date and she's not available" Greg informed her.
"Oh? How do you know she's not available? It's Valentine's Day...anything can happen." Sara tried to encourage him.
"Well... since she's Emma Stone I don't think she'd be interested in little ol' me... No sure who would be to be honest with you" He continued knowing that it would irritate her that he had decided to name a celebrity.
"Oh I don't know about that. You have a lot to offer a girl... I'd probably set my sights a little lower than Emma Stone though..." Sara rolled her eyes once again having to move out of the way.
"Well there's someone else..." She knew who he was talking about immediately. They had shared a night of weakness; they had found themselves unable to resist the temptation of feeling the warmth of another's touch.
"Then she's a lucky girl... what's she like?" Sara refused to drop the pretence knowing that if they spoke about what had happened they'd find themselves lost. As much as she wanted to put it behind her she would imagine the ghost of his touch when their eyes met or they ran into each other.
"She's beautiful, funny, smart... she knows me better than anyone else..."
"Sounds like she's perfect for you..." Sara said in a quiet voice glancing around as if scared someone would know what was happening between them.
"Well when she realises it- things will be perfect" Greg sighed and it was easy enough to tell that he didn't expect that to happen any time soon.
"Sometimes you need to take initiative Greg. We may pretend to be all aloof and disinterested but really we want the heart shaped chocolates and dozen roses." She frowned rearranging the things in her trolley.
"I've been wearing my heart on my sleeve for 13 years..." He stated in a small voice, the tension crackling through the phone lines.
"Maybe we should be discussing this over dinner instead? I'm not sure the valentine's aisle is that appropriate..." Sara replied realising that the time had come they were going to have to talk about what had happened between them and what it all meant.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Greg realised that after all of these years he was still nervous- still worried that Sara would break his heart properly and he would never recover.
"No, I'm not... but you're supposed to spend today with the people you love...right? Give me a few hours" Sara instructed him moving away from the Valentine's Day items.
"I'll see you then- bye" There was a click followed by silence.
Sara picked up milk placing it in her trolley wondering how she had managed to get herself into such a complicated situation. She and Greg had always cared so much for each other but somehow their friendship had been their down fall. Perhaps it had been inevitable that one day this would happen?
It's that what they say? Men and women can't just be friends.
It felt as if all of these years they had been more than friends- they had been on the edge of love refusing to fall into the inevitable.
It was time to finally decide whether they were in or out of this and it struck Sara she didn't have to give it a second thought. She didn't want to lose Greg. She didn't want to walk away from the man that saved her every time, that made her smile, that wiped away her tears and promised her that everything would be already when it felt as if the world was crumbling around her.
Sara turned returning once again to the Valentine's Day items realising that it was her turn to sweep Greg off his feet.