Chapter 2 – So Many Reasons
On his way from the lab towards the break room, Greg was stopped in his path by an unfamiliar presence at the front desk. He wished he could say he noticed the young woman's face first, but with her head bent, and her untamed hair covering her features, Greg was forced to take in her svelte figure instead. He slowed his pace as he took in the woman before him, silently praying that she had paperwork waiting for her.
Her hair was dark, with bright red streaks weaving through her thick waves, cascading down her back like an unruly river. She wore a black sweater, cinched in the middle to accentuate her tiny waist. Her shapely legs were wrapped in black fishnet stockings, stemming out from a plaid pleated skirt, which was not too short, yet not too long. Just right, Greg thought, as he tried to control the racing in his chest. He followed her legs down to black Doc Marten boots, and Greg swooned on the spot.
With no one at the front desk to help, she brought her hands up to her mouth, nervously chewing on her nails. She abruptly turned around, and Greg found it hard to breathe as her large brown eyes connected with his. Quickly her look of consternation faded, but for a moment she kept her fingers absent-mindedly at her mouth. He saw the way her fingers skimmed over her lush, glossy lips, so innocently seductive that Greg swallowed hard to keep from salivating. A smile broadened as she bounded her way over, and Greg couldn't help but look around to see if her attention was directed to another source. It wasn't.
"Hi, my name is Tessa Jensen. I'm looking for a Dr. Grissom?" Before Greg could answer the wiry brunette, she continued. "I'm here to fill out some paperwork. My first night is tomorrow, and I wanted to get a head start on things, but there's no one here to help me, maybe because I'm early. I tend to do that." She stopped momentarily, realizing she just accosted a complete stranger. She placed a hand on Greg's arm and continued. "Oh wow, I'm so sorry, do you even work here?"
In the time it took her to stammer through her introduction, explanation and apology, Greg was able to find his voice in time to answer. "Yeah. Yes. I'm Greg. Greg Sanders." He paused to extend his hand. Her hand was small and Greg, still in a starry-eyed trance, marveled at how perfectly it fit into his. He brought his gaze up from her hand and once again focused on her perfect pout. Realizing it may be rude to stare at the exquisite lips of a stranger, he refocused to her eyes. Huge, brown, gorgeous eyes, full of life and...completely absorbing all his thoughts. He shook his head and tried to focus. "It's…uh…it's nice to meet you, Tessa. Would you like me to show you to Grissom's office?"
With her hand still nestled in Greg's, Tessa clasped her other hand onto his and squeezed tightly, her eyes shining with sincere gratitude. "That would be great, Greg, thank you so much." She let her hand linger in his for a moment as they both stared at each other. Realizing that they were still holding hands, both abruptly let go, Greg nervously shoving his hands in his pockets and Tessa tucking her hair behind her ears. She offered him a shy smirk as if this kind of thing happened all the time, and Greg took that as a sign to lead the way.
They started to walk down the hall, and Greg's mind was racing with all kinds of questions he had for the new girl beside him. He shook his head again when he realized a marriage proposal was at the top of the list. There was something about this girl that drew him in instantly; her energy was addictive. And smoking hot didn't even begin to cover it. But Greg was determined to play it cool.
"So Jensen. Is that…Norwegian by any chance?"
Tessa turned to look at him, brows raised in wonder. "Yeah, it is, actually. I'm half-Norwegian, half-Italian. How'd you know?"
Greg stopped himself before he did a fist pump at his correct assumption, opting instead to keep up the nonchalant façade. "I'm actually half-Norwegian myself."
"Get out. Rock on." Tessa threw him the horns, flashing a tiny wrist cuffed in a chunky, black leather watch and bopped her head to a silent rock beat, seeming to enjoy a tune that only she could hear. Maybe that was the case, Greg thought, because I tend to do the same thing.
Greg was completely smitten.
They approached Grissom's office only to find it empty, and remembering Tessa's admission of being early, he realized that they could possibly have some quality time to kill. Already Greg was thinking how the playing field was far from even.
"Well, it looks like Grissom isn't around at the moment. You wanna stick with me for a little while? I could show you around, keep you company."
"Aw, thanks, you're too sweet." Once again she laid her hand on Greg's arm and he used every bit of willpower not to grab it. He was finding it near impossible to control the thoughts, far from sweet, that were swirling through his mind.
I could push you up against this wall right here and ravage you with wild abandon.
What has gotten into you, it's like you've never seen a female before. Relax.
Greg shook his head once again to bring him back when he realized that Tessa was speaking to him.
"Where were you going when I completely assaulted you?" Her expression was awkwardly apologetic, but an apology was the last thing Greg wanted. He had all he could do not to thank her for the so-called assault.
"Well, I was on my way to the break room for a bit, gotta tear myself away from that microscope sometimes, you know?" Nick's words of advisement echoed in his ears, and for the first time in a long time, his inability to focus while daydreaming finally paid off.
"Yeah, sure do. I get so involved when I'm doing stuff like that, I just lose track of time. I'm lucky if I remember to actually take a break." She looked thoughtful for a moment and then continued, as if running a race against silence and didn't want to come in last. "How about this. I'll join you, if you want, keep you company while on break and then maybe by the time you're done, Dr. Grissom will be back from wherever he is."
Greg nodded his approval at the idea and they set off towards the break room. "First things first, though. Most people just call him Grissom. Or Griss. Boss-man. The bug guy." It would seem as though Tessa's rambling abilities were contagious, but Greg had always been one to take an idea and run with it. He stopped and turned to look at her when he realized Tessa was smiling at him, a playful look in her doe eyes.
"What?" Greg asked with a hint of nervous laughter, feeling slightly self-conscious.
"Nothing," she said sweetly, her smile growing wider. "You're funny. That's all."
"Funny ha-ha or funny weird?"
"The first one," she said, holding up a small index finger. "I'd need to get to know you, you know, over coffee or something, before I judge the second." He looked over at her, eyebrows raised at her forwardness, and smiled when she looked down shyly and bit her lip to hide her smile. In that moment, Greg knew he had an in. Wanting to get to know him, over coffee? All signs were pointing to good, excellent even, he could feel it.
At that moment, Grissom rounded the corner, his concentration on a file in his hands. He felt the presence of two people, and upon looking up, spotted his new hire smiling shyly up at Greg Sanders, who mirrored the same shy smile back down to her. For a split second, Gil Grissom was taken aback and he stopped to watch them. He knew the look on Greg's face; he was sure he had the same look nearly 10 years ago when he first laid eyes on Sara Sidle. And now, in hindsight, he recognized the look on Tessa Jensen's face as well. It was the same look Sara had the first time she spoke to him after class. Starry eyes. Flushed cheeks. So this is what it must have looked like, he considered. He almost felt badly for having to break up the moment. Almost.
"You must be Tessa Jensen." Grissom's voice startled both Tessa and Greg, as they both looked at him with the wide, guilty eyes of children who had been caught passing notes in class. Grissom only raised an eyebrow at Greg as he offered his hand to Tessa. Greg exhaled when he realized that this was the only admonishment he was going to get from his boss. "I'm Gil Grissom. I'm the supervisor on graveyard."
"It's nice to meet you, Dr. Grissom, sir. I've heard a lot about you," Tessa replied, her animated persona at once quelled by the presence of authority.
"All good things I hope," Grissom said with a wink. Greg narrowed his eyes, but caught himself as he realized that Grissom was just being Grissom. Besides, there was Sara and…he was being completely paranoid. Grissom held up his hand to motion Tessa towards his office. "We have paperwork that awaits you. Shall we?"
"Yes sir." Tessa replied, a nervous smile on her delicate features. She obediently followed, glancing up at Grissom as he started his well-rehearsed, new-hire speech.
"Now, I'm going to need a pint of your blood."
Tessa's eyes widened. "Why?"
Grissom smiled. No matter how many times he made this request, it delighted him to see the reaction. "So many reasons."
She glanced back over her shoulder to Greg, her eyes still wide in surprise. Greg offered her an enthusiastic thumbs-up to calm her before she disappeared around the corner with Grissom.
It was only then he allowed himself the fist pump he had denied himself earlier. He had many reasons to feel excited about this new female hire. So many reasons.