ONLY THE STARS WILL KNOW
Chapter 3
Sara pulled the bear close to her and kissed it, "You owe me a hundred bucks," she said laughing.
"You take IOU's?" Kelly asked, shaking her head.
Sara laughed, "Sure."
Over the course of the next few weeks Kelly was proven wrong more then once, Gil would send Sara small gifts, they talked on the phone almost every night and twice Gil flew to San Fran to spend long weekends with Sara.
"I don't get it," Kelly had said, once after Gil had left, "You to have been seeing each other for close to a month and you still have not slept together?"
Sara smiled, "We slept together."
"So you have had sex with him?" Kelly said, giggling, "I want details. Is he as good in bed as he looks?"
Sara smiled, "How would I know."
Kelly was confused, "But …. But you said you slept together?"
"We did. I spent the night at his hotel. But just because you are in the same bed you don't have to have sex. We just cuddled and he held me as we slept."
"And your ok with this?" Kelly questioned.
"Most defiantly." was Sara's reply, "Gil told me from the very start that that part of our relationship will not happen until he is sure. He told me that sex and love have to go together."
"And he's not sure he loves you?" Kelly questioned.
"Oh I think he is sure he does, I think he is just not sure how to handle it yet," Sara said, smiling, "I mean, the age thing bothers him and the fact that he will be my boss has him a little unsure of himself"
"Well he had better make up his mind soon, you are leaving tomorrow, what if you find some other handsome young fella?" Kelly asked.
Sara laughed, "I'll send him to you."
Three days later Gil introduced Sara to the rest of the team, almost immediately Nick started to hit on her but a stern look from Grissom made Nick change his mind.
"That was swift," Catherine said, as they walked toward the car, assignment in hand, "That's Gil's girl."
"What makes you so sure smarty pants?" Nick asked.
"Oh for heavens sake," Catherine said, "Do you not have eyes? The way they looked at each other, the soft way he said her name, not to mention that he is not going to SAN FRAN this weekend."
Catherine made sure to emphasize the San Fran part mostly because when Gil introduced Sara he said she was transferring in from San Francisco and Gil had made no secret of where he went each weekend, just whathewas doing there.
Nick slapped himself in the head, "I should have put it together. Grissom in love, how's that for a kick in the ass." Then Nick shivered, "I can't picture Grissom naked and having sex."
Catherine laughed, "I don't think he has?"
Nick gave her a funny look, "What?"
In the car on the way to their scene Catherine explained to Nick why she felt the way she did.
It took no time for the whole lab to know that Sara Sidle was off limits, and she liked it that way.
Over the next three months Gil and Sara spent as much time together as their shift would allow, the more they were together the more Sara was sure she was right about Gil holding back his feelings.
One evening Gil was sitting in his office talking to his best friend, Jim Brass, Captain LVPD. "Just open your mouth and tell her," Jim said, in response to Gil's question.
"I don't know," Gil said.
Jim leaned forward, "Gil, she is crazy about you and it is obvious to anyone who has a pulse that you are in love with her too. But I'm tell you, keep waiting and it will be to late."
Jim was right, Gil knew it, how long would a beautiful young woman wait for a cranky old geezer like him.
Gil started to say something when his phone rang, "So much for a quiet night," Gil said, jotting down some information and heading for the break room.
"Pile up on International - officer involved shooting - mugging in the park and a possible arson on Industrial," Gil said to the team, handing them their papers, "Hell of a night for Sara to be off, I could use some help."
"Call her," Catherine said, "You know she'll come in."
Gil nodded, picked up his cell phone and dialed Sara's number.
"Um, Hello," came a very strange and unsure male voice.
"Who is this?" Gil questioned, almost afraid Jim was right.
"Um, this is Officer Tim Reed, LVPD. May I ask who you are?"
Gil's heart stopped, "Grissom, Crime Lab. I am trying to reach Sara Sidle."
"Um, Sir," Officer Reed said, "I am in Desert Palms emergency room, this phone was in the pocket of a mugging victim. Um, she is in treatment right now, she was unconscious when we got to her, no ID, just this phone."
Panic filled Gil's voice as he described Sara.
"Um, yes sir," the officer said, "That's her."
"I'll be there in a minute," Gil said, grabbing Catherine and his kit as he headed for the door. On the way Gil filled Catherine in on what he knew, what was not much. "Jim is on his way to the park along with Nick," Gil said, "He'll call when he finds something. I need you to process Sara, I am to close, I have to stay "hands off"."
In the hospital, Gil questioned the doctor and nurse who tended to Sara while Catherine went into the room.
"Miss Sidle will be fine," the doctor said, "It appears she hit her head when she fell that was what caused her to pass out but outside of some black and blue places, a knife wound to her hand and a major head ache, she will be fine. I do think she should take a day or two off."
Catherine came from Sara's room, "She is asking for you." Then to the doctor Catherine asked, "She wants to know about the man?"
Gil stopped and turned to face the doctor.
The doctor said, "From what I can gather Miss Sidle was jogging in the park and came upon a group of kids beating an older gentleman. When she tried to stop them, the boys turned on her. You can tell her that Mr. Jenkins will be fine," the doctor added, after a pause, "He took a severe beating and I am sure Miss Sidle's actions saved his life."
Gil went to Sara's room and gently put his arms around her, "Thank God you are all right, my love," Gil said.
Sara questioned Gil about the older gentleman and after being assured he was fine she started to tell Gil as much as she could about the three boys who were attacking him.
"Darling," Gil said, "That is not important. You are going to be all right, that is all that matters. I don't know I could go on without you, I love you so." Gil softly kissed her.
From the doorway they heard someone clear their throat, "That is why you are "hands off" remember."
Gil turned to fine that Jim and Catherine were watching them.
"Then I will let you take over," Gil said, moving from the bed to a chair next to Sara but never letting go of her hand.
Sara answered Jim's questions as best as she could then after a few more tests and some instructions Sara was released.
"It is a good idea if you stay with a friend," the nurse said, "We don't like people with head injuries to be alone for the first 48 hours."
"I'll be taking care of her," Gil assured the lady as he took the prescriptions the doctor had written and the list of instructions.
"I have taken us off schedule for the next two days, and I got some help from swings so the team will not be short. You will be staying with me," Gil told her matter-of-factly.
Sara only smiled, all she could remember was Gilbert Grissom finally saying those three words she had longed to her him say - "I love you so."
For those of you who have sent me messages wondering when the M comes in, next chapter. My thanks for all your encouragement and comments. I think I am really beginning to like writing. Special thanks to Trish J. (trishaj48) who's stories were my inspiration.