Family Matters
By Briana Douglas
Chapter One:
The Car Game
Tonight was the night that the CSI's went on there all paid vacation to Colorado.
They all piled into a Denali and headed to their hotel. On the way, the boys decided to bug Grissom while he was driving.
"Grissom, can we ppplllleeeeaaassseee stop?!" Greg echoed in his ear from the back seat.
"Why?" Grissom asked looking in the rear view mirror. The CSI's took to cars the hotel. Nick, Greg, Grissom, and Sara were in one car. While Catherine and Warrick were in the other. But the put all the bags in their car so it wasn't wasting gas.
"I'm hungry!" Greg whined. Grissom hated it when Greg whined simply because he wouldn't drop it until he got his way.
"No." He replied without hesitation.
"Sara, I'm hungry!" Since he failed annoying Griss, he went after Sara.
"You heard your answer." She said not glancing from her forensic magazine that she brought for the ride.
"Greg how can you be hungry we just ate about 1 hour ago?" Nick played along. Greg and Nick had worked on a plan to keep them occupied for the ride. And they were going to have fun with the two dull CSI's.
"I'm a growing boy Nick! I need to eat. DUHHH!!!!" Greg got right in Nick's face and suck out his tongue.
"Why, you little brat!" Nick yelled and grabbed him and gave him a nuggie. Greg started to yell for Sara but didn't call out her name. It was time to send their plan in to action.
"Mom! Nick hurt me!" He started his whining again. When Greg called Sara "Mom" Grissom couldn't help to look at her. And was amazed at her reaction. She very calmly lifted her head from her magazine and looked back at the boys.
"You deserved it. I saw what you did to provoke your punishment. Maybe next time you shouldn't stick your tongue so close to Nick's face." She then turned around and began reading. Nick pointed his finger and Greg and laughed in a mocking way. Grissom saw this out of is rear view mirror. He fought back a smile. However, was brought out of his thoughts by Sara.
"Nick you provoke him, I'll let him hit you back." She very simply put without looking up from her magazine.
"But I didn't do anything Mommy." Nick lied and put a good 'I don't know what you're talking about look' on.
"So you didn't just point your finger at your bother and mock him?" She replied flipping the page.
"No I just…"
"Nick tell the truth or I'll make your father pull over and have you walk a mile." Sara was always good at keeping her threats. Grissom smirked at what she said. He couldn't believe she referred to him as their father. This since they were calling her mom made them married. But deep inside him, he liked that arrangement.
"Yes ma'am." Nick bowed his head.
"Say you're sorry to Greg. And Greg I want you to say sorry to Nick." She commanded. The boys put there heads down and smirked. Sara foiled their plan.
"Boys I don't hear you!" She raised her voice a little.
"Yes ma'am." The boys said in unison when they heard Sara raise her voice. They both said their sorry and turned back to the widows to occupy them for a little bit. Sara took deep breath and shook her head. Grissom noticed this. He looked down to see her smirking to herself as she read. He couldn't help but laugh to himself. He didn't think Sara would ever stoop to their battlefield and win. But she did, and won.
Two hours later, they were at it again.
"Greg move your feet!" Nick shouted.
"No, my feet were here first!" He shouted back.
"I don't care, move I want to lay down the way you are too. It's not only you in the back you know!" Nick yelled back.
"Would the both of you just get along!?" Grissom shouted back at them. He was extremely frustrated with them shouting. Sara looked at him; the sudden out burst struck them all. Sara noticed he was gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles where turning white. It kind of scared Sara and if it scared Sara it certainly scared the boys.
Sara looked at the boys who were pale white.
"We will stop soon guys don't get to comfortable. Greg will you please sit up right and get ready to get out. Nick you too." Sara took her eyes off the boys when they looked like they had some color back in their faces. She turned her attention back to Grissom. His knuckles were still white. Sara put her hand over his. He loosened up and looked down at her. He saw the concerned in her eyes. That is until he winked at her. She then understood what he was doing. He was joining the game.
"Dad are you mad at us?" Nick asked
"No. Daddy just has a headache." Grissom replied. It was the truth he started the headache before they left. He was still afraid that it was going to turn into a migraine. After his reply, the boys eased a little. When Sara went to remove her hand, Grissom stopped her. She looked at him confused. He didn't know how to explain it but with one touch of her hand his headache started to stop throbbing. She tried to read his eyes and got a look that pleaded her to keep her hand there. She obeyed his eyes.
"Good, but just so you know. The rule is that you go after the oldest, Nick you screwed!" Greg said to lighten up the mood. Grissom and Sara smile at each other and laughed. Greg felt proud to lighten up the mood.
"Mama, we have the weirdest family; don't you think?" Grissom said holding up her had. Their fingers entwined together.
"I do believe so Papa. But you have to deal with the youngest. I like the oldest better." She said sheepishly. Looking back at the boys, Nick had a huge smile and was mocking Greg. And Greg looked a little down.
"The youngest is supposed to be the favorite." Greg said bowing his head acting like we was about to cry.
"Not when the oldest gave me chocolate before the trip, because he didn't want it." She kind of mumbled the last part that only Grissom could hear. He chuckled at her comment.
"Ok, mom I'm really hungry!" Nick said, giving her the puppy-dog face.
"You know your father won't stop for another hour." She said.
"So what was up with, 'we are stopping soon get ready'?" Greg asked.
"To get you to shut up." Sara said without hesitation. "Hold on maybe I can sweet talk him." She whispered the last part to the boys. Grissom didn't catch it because he was so focused on the road and Sara's hand on his. It felt perfect together.
"Papa?" She said in a deep voice that sent chills up Grissom's spine. Grissom looked at her. She was pulling the puppy-dog pout off extremely well.
Grissom loved this side of her. "Yes mama." Oh, she loved this moment.
"Can we please stop and feed our children?" She said. Grissom loved this ride more and more. Grissom looked at the back seat and saw the boys giving him the puppy-dog pout. He couldn't resist.
"Sure." He said in defeat. "But someone call Cath and give her a heads up."
Nick obeyed Grissom's demand.
Minutes later, they arrived at a little roadside dinner. All the CSIs unloaded and the boys ran into the joint. Warrick and Catherine looked at Grissom and Sara confused at the boy's behavior. Sara simply replied, "They are taking a trip down memory lane, they appointed Griss and me, mom and dad."
Catherine tried her hardest not to laugh; as did Warrick but with no prevail. They both busted out laughing. Grissom and Sara exchanged glances and Grissom said, "Well mama we better get in there before our boys burn the place down."
"I agree papa. You coming Aunt Catherine and Uncle Warrick." As she said this Grissom took Sara's hand once again. Catherine notices this and smirked. Grissom lead Sara to the restaurant. Warrick was flabbergasted at what Grissom did. Catherine pushed his jaw up and told him to follow.
They all ate and the boys managed to not burn down the place with their wild behavior. But the bad behavior didn't last long as soon as they saw Grissom glare a disapproving glance at them. They both went and hid behind Sara.
"Mommy, daddy's scaring us." They whispered.
"Just stay close to me and nothing will happen." She whispered back. But loud enough for Grissom to hear. He looked back to her and said, "What makes you so sure I won't punish you to?" She looked at him, and then moved closer. The gap between them was very, very small.
"Because you can't resist me." As she said this, she maneuvered herself around Grissom and into the booth seat. When she sat down, she took her hand with her disconnecting her and Grissom. Grissom was wide eyed. The boys just hoed and sat down. He couldn't believe Sara just did that. He loved this woman and she was playing with him; he loved it. He closed his mouth and mentally told himself, 'Oh, Sara the game is on!' He took the seat next to her. Cath and Warrick took some loose chairs and sat at the end of the booth.
When the waiter came to take their orders, Grissom decided to put his plan together. Sara ordered, but froze when she felt Grissoms' hand on her thigh. He smiled as he gave his order, and then looked down at Sara's shocked face. He just smiled at himself and enjoyed the feeling of her thigh. She moved her hand to his, lacing their fingers. He was a little disappointed, but was glad she still made contact. The rest of the team seemed to be distracted into something, Sara lend to whisper into his ear, "What was that all about?" Grissom sheepishly looked at her.
"You started it, remember, I can't resist." Grissom was stunned on how much they were opening up to each other. The best thing was that everyone thought it was just a game that Nick and Greg started. He loved it, more than a supervisor should. But he loved Sara more than a supervisor should. It made it even more fun simply because he was showing the side he always wanted to show her. And she wasn't resisting.
"Right. I wonder if I said that when we were alone. Maybe it would have been more." She very simply mumbled in his ear. Making his eyes pop a little out of his head.
He looked at her with wishing eyes, making her feel like the only thing in his life that meant something. They came out of their thoughts when the waiter came back with there food. Grissom let go of Sara's hand reluctantly.
When everyone was done eating, they started a conversation again. This is when Grissom moved his hand back on Sara's thigh. She liked this open Grissom hell-of-a lot better than the closed Grissom. She very calmly placed her hand on his. But left it on her thigh. Grissom about had a heart attack! He wasn't expecting her to keep his hand on her thigh. But he be damned that it wasn't going to stay there until she got unconformable about it. When no one was noticing he lend into her shoulder, it made her blush. But Catherine soon brought them out of their little world.
"Ok, who gets bill?" Everyone looked at each other.
"I'll get it." Grissom coolly answered. With that, everyone gathered their things as he paid. Grissom had to wait, but everyone went to the car. Sara decided to stay behind.
"Wow, big spender." She said as he got his card back.
"You're an expensive date, I tell ya." He cooed in her ear as he took her hand once again and escorted her out of the establishment. As they walked to the car, the team was just astonished at how they were playing this game. They loved how cute they looked together.
Chapter 2:
The Hotel Life
The team stopped at a small town for the night. Grissom pulled up at a small motel off the Interstate. He got out of the sleeping car. Nick and Greg almost fell asleep immediately after eating. Sara on the other hand fell asleep listening to the radio, and holding Grissom's hand. Gosh, he wasn't going to forget this car ride for sure.
Grissom went to get rooms, but there was a problem. They had two rooms but one had 2 beds, the other had 1 bed. Grissom new that the girls weren't going to sleep together in 1 bed. So he decide to ask what the team would want to do. He walked back out to the cars, and woke the boys and Sara up. Catherine and Warrick soon joined them at their car.
"What's the matter?" Warrick asked seeing the puzzled look in Grissom's face.
"Well, we are going to have to fight for beds. They only have two rooms. One with 2 beds. And one with 1 bed." Grissom explained.
"Well me and Sara are NOT sleeping in the same bed!!" Catherine announced as Sara agreed.
"Nothing against Catherine, we're not close enough to sleep in the same bed." Sara simply put it with a yawn at the end.
"Well I have an idea!" Greg announced. "Why don't the girls play rock paper scissors for the 1 bed room? And then the men go for the double. Then two guys sleep in the same bed. But the only thing is that the girls will be split with one of the boys."
The girls exchange glances. The both nodded as if settling something. "Fine." They both said together. Well after 30 min. of rock paper scissors it was decided. Nick and Greg got one of the beds in the double with Cath and Warrick in the other. Grissom and Sara got the single. As they departed to the rooms, Nick cried out, "Grissom don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Grissom looked at him annoyed.
When Nick walked into their room, Sara met them.
"How did you get in with out a key?" Greg was worried now.
"The rooms are connected." She got up and went through the door. Greg and Nick followed her, into their bedroom. Grissom was heading to the bathroom with a towel.
"How rude, not inviting Sara." Nick said sarcastically. Greg busted out laughing and Sara looked annoyed same as Grissom.
"Yeah, it would be funnier with Sara, Grissom." Greg said laughing. Nick did as well. Sara looked at the boys; and did what the boys and Grissom never thought she ever do. Sara grabbed both boys' ears, and pulled them back to their rooms.
"If you boys can't get your minds out of the gutter, your grounded for the rest of the car drive!!" She had a stern voice that told the boys not to joke about it.
"Yes ma'am." The both replied together. Grissom smirk at the boys. Sara walked back into the room, sat down on the bed, and turned the TV on. Before Grissom went to take the shower the boys came back into the room, both looking down at the ground.
"We're sorry daddy." They cracked out in the little kid voices. 'Wow they are not going to stop with this game are they?' Grissom thought.
"You're forgiven." He said simply, out of the corner of his eye he saw Sara smile. The boys went over to Sara after getting Griss answer.
"Mommy, can we watch TV with you?" They asked giving her the puppy dog pout. Sara always was a sucker for that move, when it came from people she loved.
"Sure." She scooted over for the boys to fit. Nick sat down in front of the bed. And Greg got on the bed and laid down, his head on Sara's outer thigh. She started to play with his hair after they got conformable. Grissom couldn't help but get a huge grin on his face. He thought back to the conversation he had with Catherine, about the family forming around him. He couldn't help but agree with what she was saying. It was a very strange family; but it was the family he always wanted. The boys chose their mom. He couldn't believe they chose him to be the dad. But he saw why. They both know his feelings for Sara, and it made a perfect family portage with the boys there.
After getting out of the shower, and changing into some boxers and a t-shirt, he walked out to the main room. What he saw was very precious, that he will always remember. The boys and Sara had moved from their earlier position.
Sara was in the normal sleeping position at the headboard. Nick lay across her feet. Greg was sleeping in an odd position that made him laugh. His head rested on Sara's stomach while his feet flung over Nick's head. Grissom walked over to the boys, and shook them a little bit. Nick was the first to get up.
"Grissom what are you doing in my house?" Nick said very tiredly.
"Nick you're not at home." Grissom said very calmly. Nick then realized where he was. He sat up and looked at Sara and Greg.
"Can you help me move Greg into your guys' bed?" Grissom asked in a whisper. Nick nodded a yes. Grissom had Greg's feet while Nick got the head. They got him on the bed, before they moved the covers over him Grissom took of his jacket and shoes. Then moved him under. Nick soon joined him on the other side. When Nick fell asleep with Greg, Grissom made his escape. But before he left, he glanced over at Cath and Warrick and chuckled a little. Cath was asleep on her side facing away from Warrick. But Warrick lined his body around her and held her as she slept. They looked good together.
Grissom went back into the room, and pulled the covers back. As he slid in Sara stirred and Grissom stopped. She mumbled something, but he didn't catch it. When he knew she was again asleep, he continued in to the bed. After he was conformable, he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to take over.
In the middle of the night, Grissom awoke to Sara breathing with difficulty. She was taking short breaths and it was scaring Grissom. She started to mumble something. Like,"Don't…, leave me alone…, and don't touch her!" Grissom didn't know what to do. He was completely lost of what to do. He remembered Sara once asking to sleep with her, to be there when the screams of the victims became so loud that scared her half to death. To be there to comfort her. 'May be this is one of those things?' He thought. As soon as he concluded this Sara jolted up, screaming and kicking. Grissom didn't have control of his body. His body grabbed her, and as she thrashed and wiggled, he held on tight. As she was thrashing, Grissom noticed her eyes were sealed shut. In the middle of the thrashing Sara suddenly opened her eyes and took deep breathes. She looked around the room, and then focused on the two strong arms wrapped on her. She turned her head and saw the deep blue eyes that she always lost herself in.
He loosened his grip, so he could turn her around. He cupped her face with his hands. He gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb, then leans in to her ear and whispered, "You're safe; no one is going to hurt you. You're safe." She completely lost herself. She wrapped her hands around his mid section. He moved his hands around her shoulders. They held each other, while Grissom kissed her gently on the top of her head. Sara felt safe and protected in his embrace. She fell asleep knowing the nightmare wouldn't come back.
Chapter 3
Sara awoke to Grissom snoring. She couldn't help but giggle at that. She was still lying on his chest, when she tried to move she felt a heavy weight holding her down. She looked down at her waist and saw it was Grissom's arm locking her down.
She literally could not move.
"Where do you think you're going?" Grissom said not opening his eyes. Sara propped herself on her elbow as much as she was allowed and looked at him. When he didn't get an answer he opened his eyes to meet two beautiful brown eyes.
He saw a chunk of hair that fell from behind her ear. He took it in his hand and gently placed it back into place. Sara closed her eyes at the feeling of his touch. Grissom kept his hand on her cheek and rubbed it, in little circles.
"I was going to get a shower but the forces that be," She hinted toward her midsection. "Won't let me up. So for right now I'm stuck here, with you." She was showing humor in her eyes that Grissom hadn't seen in a long time. He couldn't help but smile at her. She gave him the famous Sara smile. They stayed like that for what seemed like forever, which is until a knock on the door parted them. Sara cursed under her breath. Two boys ran in and it was the youngest that jumped on the bed.
"Mommy, Daddy wake up! We brought you something to eat." Nick came in with donuts and coffee. Catherine and Warrick stuck their heads out of the room next door.
Both saying in unison, "Do we smell coffee!!"
"No, you smell nothing of the sort!" Grissom chimed in, while grabbing everything and badly hiding it. Everyone laughed.
After breakfast, they all piled in to their cars and started back on the road. The boys were quite now because the set up the DVD player and were watching a movie. Grissom looked back at them once in while to make sure they were still behaving. Sara had fallen asleep earlier and was beginning to stir. As she woke up Grissom said, "Good morning sunshine." But with a sarcastic tone.
Sara replied with a, "Shut up." With a lot of sarcasm. Grissom chuckled as she rubbed her eyes free of sleep.
"How far are we?" She asked looking out the windows.
"We have another 2 hours to go. Does anyone need to stop?" Grissom asked, knowing that they hadn't stop for at least three hours. Both boys look up from their movie and replied, "YES!"
Sara laughed at the boys. Grissom looked at her; it had been awhile since he heard that laugh. And he didn't realize how much he missed it until now. Sara looked over to Grissom and caught him staring.
"What?" She said with a little giggle.
"Nothing…just it's good to hear you laugh." He said grabbing her hand and squeezing it. He didn't wait to see her reaction because he turned his attention back to the road.