Close To Me – Chapter 2

Grissom's Hotel Room

"Can I get you something to drink?" asked Grissom as they walked in his hotel room.

"What do you have?"

"Beer… Water…"

"Beer is fine." Grissom grabbed two beers from the mini fridge and met up with Sara on the couch. He handed her her beer. "Thank you."

They made small talk and had a few beers, until Sara stifled a yawn. "You're tired I should just take you home," said Grissom even though he didn't want her to go.

"If you take me home then I won't be tired anymore. It's 2:30 in the morning and I haven't slept yet."

"Neither have I."

"Come on honey," said Sara standing and offering a hand to Grissom. Neither really realized what she had just called him, but she helped him off the couch and led him to the bed anyway. "Since we're both tired let's go to bed. I can't sleep at home I might as well try here."

Grissom yawned. "Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure."

They both laid down on the bed. Sara snuggled in close to him to stay warm. He put his arm around her waist to hold her close to him. They fell asleep pretty much instantly.

The Next Morning

As Grissom woke the next morning he smelled Sara's scent. He smiled to himself then opened his eyes and realized she was still wrapped in his arms. 'Last night wasn't a dream,' he thought to himself.

…Never like a girl to call me honey
But you did and I like that
I keep thinkin' about your smile
Tryin' to read between the lines
Looks like I'll be up for awhile…

Sara started to stir and rolled in his arms. She was facing him and then opened her eyes for the first time. She smiled at the sight of Grissom in the morning. "Good morning," she said.

"Yes, it is a good morning," said Grissom smiling at the sight of her.

"What time is it?"

Grissom leaned up on one arm to look over her at the clock. "7:00…"

"Hmmm… Early."

"Not really."

"Early enough for a Friday morning where neither of us have anything to do."

He smiled, "That's right. So what do you want to do?"

"I don't care. What do you want to do?"

"Well, I guess first of all I think I could use a shower. Then maybe I should take you home so you can get a change of clothes. Then maybe we can think of something to do."

"Well then what are you waiting for? Get in the shower." Sara hit him playfully on the arm. He laughed and got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to shower and change.

Sara laid in bed for awhile listening to the running water while he was in the shower. She smiled and remembered the events of the night before. Nothing really happened but talking. But the memory of spending her first night with Grissom would remain a good one. When she heard the shower turn off she got up out of bed and sat on the couch and turned on the TV.

Grissom changed and dried his hair and walked out of the bathroom to see Sara sitting on the couch. He smiled, that was something he didn't do often but recently he couldn't stop. "You ready?" he asked.

"Yup."

They left the hotel and went to Sara's apartment. All of her roommates were gone. Grissom sat in the living room while Sara showered and changed. He could hear a faint singing while she was in the shower. 'She has a beautiful voice,' he thought. 'I hope I get to hear it in person someday.'

When Sara finished they got back in Grissom's car and started to drive. They went out for breakfast first. Then Grissom decided he should take Sara to the amusement park. "Let's go to the amusement park and ride some roller coasters," he said.

"I don't know. I've never ridden a roller coaster."

"Come on it will be fun. I'll hold your hand if you want."

Sara smiled she couldn't refuse now. "Fine let's go."

They went to the amusement park. Grissom paid for their tickets. They got in line for a roller coaster that looked kind of antique. Sara was suddenly scared. "Griss… I'm not sure about this."

"It will be okay. I promise."

"You promise?"

"I promise," he repeated. He took her hand as the got on the roller coaster. As the roller coaster started to move Grissom saw terror in Sara's eyes. He tried not to laugh but he couldn't help it. She looked at him and gave him a death glare. She gripped his hand so tight.

When the ride was done they got off and Grissom said, "Now it wasn't that bad, was it?"

"Not that bad but that doesn't mean I want to do it again."

Grissom couldn't help but laugh again. She was still holding his hand tight. "We don't have to if you don't want to."

Her grip on his hand loosened and she said, "I don't want to."

He could still see the terror in her eyes. He just smiled. "Okay we won't. Now what do you want to do?"

"Maybe something like the Fair's Wheel or something."

"Okay."

They got in line for the Fair's Wheel. Sara still held his hand. He was enjoying it, probably a little too much.

They had a blast that day. After it got late Grissom took Sara back to her apartment. He kissed her on the cheek before he left.

Still that night Grissom couldn't sleep very well. He would sleep for about an hour then wake up again.

…I should be sleepin'

Instead of keepin' these late hours
I've been keepin'
I've been pacing and retracing
Every step of every move
And even though I'm feelin' so right
I'm so happy still I know
I should be sleepin'
Instead of dreamin' about you…

The next day they hung out again. They had a blast. They went many different places. Their day was interrupted by Sara's cell phone ringing. The person on the other end of the phone was letting Sara know that her last foster dad had died. The last foster home was the one that she stayed in the longest. She got close to that family. When she hung up Grissom could see the tears building in her eyes. She looked at him and before she could say anything he took her into a warm embrace. He knew something was wrong. He wasn't going to ask. If she wanted him to know she could tell him on her own terms. "Let's go back to my hotel room," Grissom whispered in her ear. She nodded and he led her back to his rented car. They went to his hotel room.

TBC...