Title: Perfect
Summary: This one moment... it's perfect.
Spoilers: Technically Nesting Dolls, but not really.
Disclaimer: I hate having to remind everyone I don't own these wonderful geeks. It hurts my soul every time! Alas, no geek ownership for me.
Author's Note: Takes place right after Grissom told Catherine and Ecklie that he wouldn't fire Sara in Nesting Dolls. I started writing this with a different idea in mind, and it turned into something completely different. I do plan on going back and writing my original idea, so keep your eyes peeled. :) Chapter five of Grissom's Doll will be going up tomorrow as well, so stay tuned for that too! Please read and review; I want to know what you think of this one.
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." - John Wayne
The knock at her door is unexpected and unwelcome, so she ignores it. For a moment there's silence, but it comes again after a beat. Still, she ignores it.
Her landline rings, and she ignores this too. Don't people realize she wants to be alone in her misery tonight? The moment her landline stops her cell phone starts.
Even though she hasn't moved from the couch, she knows whoever is at her door is still there, and responsible for all the noise. She's pretty sure she knows who it is too, but won't let herself entertain the thought for long, fearing the crushing disappointment if she is wrong.
Finally, after being ignored a fourth time, he calls out to her. "Sara?"
Her heart soars despite her better judgement, and her name spoken on his lips is what drives her off of the couch and to the door.
Wrenching it open, she is met with his warm blue eyes and a small bouquet of yellow daisies. Her own eyes must have given away her surprise, for he thrusts them in her direction, and simply says, "I didn't want you to be alone," by way of explanation for both his presence in her home for the second time that day, and the beautiful flowers.
She takes them and places them on the countertop, pulling the ragged blanket more tightly around her shoulders. He reaches out slowly, as if she is a skittish animal, and sweeps a lock of hair behind her ear. "May I come in?" he asks softly. She nods, and steps back into her home. He follows, checking to make sure the door is closed and bolted.
She made to put the flowers in a vase, but his hand over hers stops her. "I can do it," he says, and locates one in her many cupboards, displaying them proudly on her tiny kitchen table.
"Have you eaten?" he asks.
She shakes her head.
"Are you hungry?"
Another shake.
"Have you slept since I left?"
Again she shakes her head.
"Are you tired?"
She nods. She is so very very tired.
"Come on then."
He slips his hand into hers, and gently turns her in the direction of her bedroom. She allows him to lead her through her own home, willingly being the follower instead of the leader.
She soon finds herself sitting on the edge of her bed, and watches through glazed eyes as he crouches down in front of her and removes her shoes and socks. He then moves up her bed and pulls down the covers, giving her space to lie back and relax into the warmth.
She fears he will leave her then, but is pleasantly surprised when she sees him remove his own shoes and socks. Still regarding her like a skittish animal, he sinks slowly down onto the bed next to her. "Is this okay?" he whispers.
She nods. Somewhere in the back of her foggy mind, she knows this is more than okay. When he situates himself under the covers next to her, and gently pulls her limp and trembling body into his arms, she realizes what it truly is.
It's meant to be. It's perfect.
-end-