Title: Clap On. Clap Off.


"I just don't get it," Greg sighed as he leaned back in his chair, twisting lo mien noodles around his fork, "If this guy was ticked at Grissom for not 'loving' his sister, why would he make Grissom…well…you know…"

"I think it was the fact that at first, he wanted to show Grissom just how hard it was to love someone when they didn't reciprocate." Warrick was standing by the microwave, and turned to look at Greg. "But then, it went awry. And, man, when you're crazy, you're crazy. You know?"

Nick nodded from the doorway. "Except Sara did reciprocate."

"Dud didn't know that." Warrick punched the buttons on the machine before falling onto the sofa. "I hope Griss is back soon."

"Yeah," Greg agreed through a mouthful of food.

"What's this?" Catherine bumped Nick out of her way, "You guys contemplating mutiny, here?"

"'Course not, cap 'in." Nick saluted her, grinning widely.

"I should hope not," she handed out their assignments before going back to Grissom's office to finish the paperwork he had "forgotten" to complete.

Grissom unlocked the door, and ushered Sara in with a hand on the small of her back. The dog greeted them at the door with a few gentle leaps onto them, efficiently knocking Sara into Grissom, and Grissom into the door.

"I think I'm going to go take a shower," he said, walking past Sara, "And brush my teeth," he added as an after thought.

After getting a glass of milk, Sara went into his bedroom and shed her clothes, exchanging the violated pajamas for a t-shirt of his. She picked up the garments and threw them in the garbage. She knew she would never be able to wear them again. She cool hear the water running in the bathroom, and was aware of the fact it would take more than a rush of steaming water to cleanse this event from her partners mind. She climbed onto the bed, reaching over his side for his book, and started reading. Often, he read literature that, pertaining to insects, was far beyond her comprehension. She still read it, however, in the event he might start talking about it and she needed to know something.

She pulled the quilt up to her chest and whistled for the dog, which came bounding in, and positioned himself comfortably in the crook of her bent knees. Occasionally scratching between his ears, she wasn't aware how long she'd been reading when Grissom finally came out. He pulled on some pajama bottoms and a t-shirt before climbing into bed with Sara. "That's my t-shirt."

"I hope you don't mind," she replied, tucking an errant strand of hair behind his ear, "I just couldn't wear those pajamas anymore."

"It's fine. It's better than fine."

Sara closed the book and grasped Grissom's hand. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Of course," he smiled at her, a small smile, but a smile none-the-less.

"Why?"

"I'm sorry. Why what?"

"What…event cause your…condition?"

"That's a long story. Maybe I should save i-"

"If you don't want to tell me, that's okay."

"No, it's not that…it's just…"

"Embarrassing?"

"More like mortifying."

"It's okay."

"Alright…so, when I graduated…I told you I was like a ghost in school? So, when I graduated, I went to the dance, and one girl…she just blew me away. She actually wanted to be around me, unlike anyone else. So, we ended up going to a motel and…one thing led to another. But as soon as she gets my pants off, she just starts…laughing. I don't know, maybe it was just nerves. Anyways, ever since then, I've been very self conscious."

"That makes sense. But I didn't laugh."

He cleared his throat, averted his eyes. "We were in a stressful situation, not like fornication after a dance."

"Could you steer away from the professional terms for now? Look, I wouldn't laugh if I saw you naked for the first time right now."

"Honest?"

"Of course. Because I love you. I think you're very handsome." She ran a hand over his chest and down his stomach before grabbing gently in between his legs. "Everywhere."

He looked her in the eyes, couldn't help but smile.

"I'm really grateful for what you did for me tonight."

"You're welcome." He shifted so he could hold her hand.

"We should get some sleep."

"We've had an eventful evening."

"Yes, we definitely have." With her free hand, she set the book on the nightstand closest to her.

"Goodnight, dear."

The lights turned off seemingly of their own accord when the dog hopped of the bed. "Grissom?"

"Mmhm?" He rolled over and she could feel his cool breath on her face.

"How did the lights just turn off?"

"There's a switch by my nightstand. I don't like to get out of a warm bed."

She knew he could feel her smiling.