after a long absence due to health reasons i'm back with a new story. ethereal theory is on hiatus, pending an overhaul while i refamiliarize myself with the story and its continuation. this story starts after the two mrs grissoms and sees our two geeks venturing off on a new quest. sadly i don't own anything to do with csi... happy reading, reviews are always appreciated.

Exhausted, Sara parked her car in the driveway of her home and leaned her head back against the seat, closing her eyes. In the three weeks since her investigation at the deaf college, she and her mother-in-law had been making a concerted effort to get to know each other and get along. It seemed to be working, reflected Sara, thinking of the breakfast she had just shared with Betty. They had much in common, and Sara's ASL had improved dramatically over the early morning meals they had shared most days since their joint Skype conversation with Grissom. As her thoughts turned to her husband Sara sighed; he had promised yesterday to be home within a week, but as she grabbed her bag and got out of the car Sara wished more than anything that he was home now so she could go inside, shower and crawl into bed with him; snuggle up together and fall asleep in his arms. Putting her key in the lock she listened for Hank's familiar paws scrabbling at the door, waiting for her. When she didn't hear him she frowned and pushed the door open, stepping into the cool air and locking herself in. She ditched her keys, cell and bag on the small hall table and kicked off her sneakers with a relieved sigh. She whistled for the dog, wondering where he was as she wandered toward the kitchen. In the living room the two kittens she had adopted a few weeks ago were sprawled across the back of the couch, fast asleep. Her dog was not in the kitchen so she wandered to the small home office where she had been working the evening before. No Hank. Yawning, Sara headed for the bedroom, pausing when she heard water running. A familiar backpack and pair of duffle bags were dumped rather unceremoniously at the bottom of the bed; a smile spread over her face as she hurried into the bathroom. Standing with his back to her as he stripped off his shirt, Grissom hadn't heard her come in over the noise of the shower.

"Well this isn't quite the welcome home I was expecting this morning," said Sara lightly. Grissom dropped his shirt and spun around, grinning as his gaze fell on his wife. Sara ran the few steps to meet him and wrapped her arms around him as his locked around her, hugging her tightly. When Sara looked up at him, Grissom kissed her soundly, knotting his fingers in her hair as he held her to him.

"I missed you," he breathed, when their lips parted.

"I can tell," replied Sara, kissing him again. "You smell like an airplane," she informed him, wrinkling her nose as she stepped back and unfastened her belt.

"I wanted to surprise you," he answered as he tested the water in the shower. Sara grinned and stripped off her clothes.

"Where's Hank?"

"In the garden. Why are their two kittens in the living room?"

"I didn't tell you I found them?" asked Sara, shocked as she tossed her bra in the direction of the laundry basket.

"No dear, you didn't."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I had. They were abandoned by the grocery store; I couldn't just leave them there. I gave them Shakespearean names because it reminded me of you," she said as she pulled the shower door shut behind them. Grissom smiled softly at her,

"They seem nice and friendly, and Hank likes them."

Sara turned her face up to the hot spray, relaxing. Grissom let his gaze wander slowly over her body as he washed his hair and soaped his body. Then, while his wife shampooed her hair, he massaged shower gel into her skin, kissing the back of her neck as his hands roamed over her shoulders, back and hips. Sara leaned back against him, letting out a happy sigh as the stream of water washed over them, rinsing away the soap. Turning in his arms she pressed her lips to his chest and worked her way up to his lips, where her tongue begged entry to his mouth. Grissom pushed her gently against the shower wall, pinning her there as he kissed her back, passionately. His hands roamed over her torso, caressing her breasts and running over the toned muscles of her back and stomach. Sara locked her arms around him as his lips dragged over her neck, shoulders and further down. Her knees trembled as he kissed the valley between her breasts before returning to lips. Grissom allowed one hand to tease her nipples mercilessly as the other ventured lower, slipping between her thighs. Sara's head rolled back and rested on the shower wall, her eyes closing with a gasp. She plunged her tongue into his mouth as he brought her into another impassioned kiss. Sara groaned deeply as her husband's fingers stroked and probed and then finally slipped inside her, caressing her most intimate areas. Sara let out a soft cry as he brought her to a climax and collapsed against him, into his arms, breathing heavily. Grissom held her close, kissing her softly and caressing her gently as she calmed. Sara slipped her arms around him and snuggled against his chest as her breathing returned to normal. Looking up at him she pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

"I missed you," she whispered into his ear. "Welcome home." Grissom's arms tightened around her for a moment before he turned off the water.

"I missed you more," he returned, grinning at her as he grabbed a pair of towels and handed her one. They dried off quickly and headed to their room.

"Where's Hank?" yawned Sara, stretching out on the bed. Grissom reached over and ran a hand down her smooth side, his finger tips stroking her silky skin.

"Outside, chasing dust devils." Sara giggled at the thought of their dopy dog. "I'd better let him back in," said Grissom. Wrapped in his towel he ran down to the hall to the kitchen back door and let Hank in. The dog bounded over to his basket and dove in; indignant meows sounded as two cats leapt from the bed and stalked off. Laughing he returned to the bedroom and slipped into bed, lying on his side, facing his wife. He told her what had just transpired, still amused.

"Do you like the kittens?" she asked, concerned. Grissom pulled her flush against his body, peppering her face with soft kisses.

"They're lovely," he assured her, playing with strands of damp curly hair that framed her face.

"I named them Romeo and Juliet," grinned Sara; Grissom laughed at her reference to one of their first dates, and the heated debate of the play that had led to their first truly intimate encounter. "Did you work late?" he asked as he ran his lips over her collarbone.

"No, I had breakfast with your mother, again. She's really taking this getting to know each other seriously; I think we've had breakfast together almost every day in the last three weeks, and spent two of my days off together," reflected Sara. "My ASL is getting really good," she gasped, squirming as Grissom worked his lips further down her body.

"That's nice, dear," he mumbled, kissing, licking and tasting his way over her belly.

"So you're finished in Peru?" asked Sara, hissing with pleasure as he flicked his tongue over her nipple. Grissom propped himself up on his elbows, leaning over her and looked down into her face.

"You want to know about Peru now?" he asked.

"No," gasped Sara, "but I really want to kiss you." She raised her head enough to press her lips to his, letting her hands slide down his body. Grissom plunged his tongue into her mouth, pressing her into the pillows and pinning her down as he ravaged her lips and neck. Pulling away from his mouth for a moment she managed to get out, "can't wait any longer."

"Oh good," Grissom forced out, his breathed ragged as he gazed into her eyes, "me either." Their eyes held each others as they joined together for the first time in too many weeks. The depravation of each others' company for so long meant that their time together was not as prolonged as usual, but the intensity was unparalleled. Lying in a tangle of arms and legs, the sated couple curled around each other happily.

"I love you," whispered Sara, shifting so she could gently kiss his lips.

"I love you too," replied Grissom, pulling her against his chest and gazing into her chocolaty eyes.

"Wherever you're going next," sighed Sara, happily, "I'm going with you. I don't want to be away from you any longer."

"I want to be with you too, always," he admitted. "This separation is too hard." He pressed his lips to her forehead, his fingers tracing designs on her arm. "So where do we go from here?" he mused.

"Who wants your skills next?" asked Sara, giggling at the thought of all the institutions who had offered her husband work.

"That depends on what you want to do," he replied.

"That depends on where you want to go," she teased.

"How about Dartmouth College," he suggested.

"The East Coast huh, real seasonal weather. How long for?"

"The end of the winter semester; one of their biology staff is taking emergency leave. I've been asked to cover a couple of her classes and conduct a series of guest lectures."

"When?"

"Starting in a month, if we go."

"Ten months; your mother will have a fit," commented Sara. Grissom stared at her.

"Are you really concerned about that? We can visit her during school vacation if we want to. Or she can visit us. If we go, that is."

"Where would we live?"

"Faculty housing; a small but furnished apartment near the campus and they agreed to medical benefits."

"Ok," said Sara, trying to wriggle even closer to him.

"Ok?"

"Yeah; I only came back to CSI temporarily and I've been here over a year. I want more time with you. I'll find something to do there, and I love the east coast; I went to school there remember!"

"Of course," he murmured, bringing her lips gently to his. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," she replied, kissing him back amorously. Their peace was suddenly shattered when Hank leapt onto the bed, colliding with his owners and nearly knocking Sara to the floor. Grissom grabbed Sara as the dogs' momentum sent her flying. Hank slithered off the other side of the bed in a clatter of claws on the wooden floor. Sitting up, Grissom helped Sara up too, just as Hank attempted a second, more refined, entrance onto the bed.

"Are you alright?" asked Grissom, concerned, as he saw Sara rub her arm.

"Fine," she replied, frowning at the dog. "Down Hank, you know better than that." With a sigh the dog relocated himself to the floor. Moments later the two kittens waltzed into the room and climbed onto the forlorn dog, playing with him. Turning to look at her husband with worry in her eyes, she asked, "We can take them with us, right?"

"Yes, I checked that pets were welcome." Grissom took her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist as she crawled into his lap, facing him.

"I guess I'd better tell Catherine she needs that replacement, and soon," said Sara, linking her arms around his neck as she gazed into her private oceans that were his eyes.

"Yes," agreed Grissom, his hands exploring her body, his lips tracing her collar bone and neck, "but not right now."

"No," concurred Sara, as desire filled her body. Capturing his lips in a fervent kiss, she let a hand slide between their bodies and succumb to gravity. Feeling his immediate reaction she groaned and pressed her hips into his. Feeling her heat against him Grissom shifted, trying to enter her again. Sara smiled at him, that special smile that made his bones feel weak and his desire skyrocket, and moved back slightly, teasing him. He took the opportunity to kiss the milky white breasts in front of him, making Sara moan and writhe in his arms as he swirled his tongue around her nipple before letting go and moving up her torso and neck to her lips once more. She lifted her body without letting go and he shifted so they joined together in their familiar intimate paradise. When their position became too passive for them, Grissom carefully moved them both so they were lying down, his body covering hers. They were slower this time, but no less passionate and loving. When they lay, exhausted, sated and glowing with happiness, pressed together, her head on his chest, his arms holding her too him, Sara realized just how much she couldn't do without him now.

"What are you thinking?" she asked sleepily.

"That I don't want to leave you again." She laughed softly.

"Ditto," she yawned, and moments later so did Grissom.

"Then it's resolved; we stay together," he declared, adjusting the sheets so they were properly covered. They were quiet for a few minutes before Grissom remembered something he wanted to ask her. "Has mother been bothering you about our sex life again?" he asked.

"Not since you gave her a lecture last week. She does keep asking me if she's going to get any grandchildren though," said Sara with a sad sigh. Grissom swallowed as he thought about that painful subject, shifting his arms to cradle her against his body.

"What did you tell her?" he asked, concerned.

"I told her that I don't have an answer to that question," she replied, quietly.