Grissom didn't like hearing what Brass was saying, but had to agree with him on several points. He had been given many chances with Sara, but he never took them, and now she had found love with another man; his best friend. Plastering his best bullshit face on, Grissom replied.
"I'm not punishing her. There was a case and somebody had to take it. Greg is too new and I doubt his stomach could handle it. I needed Nick and Warrick for the quadruple homicide and Catherine for the B&E/Rape case. I chose Sara because she likes to work alone and because I felt that she was best suited for the case. I'm not being spiteful, I'm being logical. Now if you don't like the way I dish out the cases then take it up with Ecklie. Now, get out of my office. I'm busy!" he demanded
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The coroner had just retrieved the body and Sara had collected evidence from the surrounding area. She followed the coroner's van back to town and when she got to the lab she walked by Grissom's office and looked inside to see him at his desk. She dropped her evidence at the door and walked in, slamming the door behind her. She stood stock still, her shoulders squared and addressed him in a curt tone.
"You can be mad at me all you like. But as I explained to you the other day, you had your chances but never took them. What did you expect me to do, sit around and wait for you to make up your mind? I have to move on with my life and since you didn't show interest until it was too late, what do you expect me to do? You barely acknowledge my presence, let alone show me the slightest hint of emotion. So I found someone who's not afraid to show emotion and he's in touch with himself. But like I said, its not serious yet. We're still getting to know each other. We've made no commitments to each other. We've just shared a few meals and had a few walks. I'm still willing to explore things with you. But I swear, if you keep giving me the shitty cases, nothing will ever become of us." she explained
"Well, since you said things aren't serious, then have supper with me after shift. We can discuss things." he countered
"I'm willing discuss things with you over a meal. Fine. After shift." she replied
The plans having been made, Sara turned on her heel and left Grissom's office. She picked up her evidence bags and took them to one of the exam rooms. She felt somewhat lighter after having vented at Grissom. She was now mentally free to deal with her floater. She went down to the morgue and stood by as Doc. Robbins began the autopsy. He determined the cause of death to be from a number of injuries including, but not limited to blunt force trauma to the back of the head along with some serious lacerations to his torso and a slit throat. This guy had really been worked over.
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Shift was over and Sara waited for Grissom to lock up his office. In the locker room, she grabbed her back pack and went to wait in the hall. She looked outside and saw Brass pull up and went to see him. Leaning in the passenger window, she explained what was going on.
"I'm having dinner with Grissom. But I'll be home in a couple of hours. Let yourself in if you like."
Confused, Brass asked her what was going on.
"I thought you were pissed at him. I thought you and I were dating." he said
"We've discussed this, Jim. Things between you are casual. We've made no commitments to each other. You know I have feelings for him and have for quite some time. I just want to give him a chance. He finally got the balls to ask me out and I want to see if we're compatible. But don't worry; I don't get the feeling that things are gonna work out. He's too emotionally closed off and secretive. I just want to be able to say that I gave him a chance. I'll be home in a couple of hours." she explained
"Well, if you're sure. I'll be there when you get back." he said, dejected
She backed off from Brass's car just in time for Grissom to close things up and come outside. He didn't see Jim leave and figured that Sara was just standing outside waiting for him. The crossed the lot and climbed into his car. Sara thought they would go to the diner, but they went to his place instead. He cooked them a nice meal and they ate in companionable silence and when they were done, they sat and watched the tellie for a bit. After about an hour Sara stood up and stretched her limbs. She looked down at Grissom and saw that he'd fallen asleep. She hated to leave him without word, so she scribbled down a note and left quietly.
Walking down the street, several blocks from her apartment, she pulled out her cell and called Jim's cell. After a few rings he picked up.
"Hey, I'm on my way home. No, he fell asleep on the couch. I left him a note and left. I think I was right; I feel no sparks. I don't believe he and I would ever work out. I'm about two miles from home, so maybe an hour or so. That's not necessary. Well, if you insist. I'll walk back to the gate and you can pick me up there. Thanks."
Sara turned around and walked back to the gate of Grissom's apartment complex and waited for Brass to come by. It was only a matter of a few minutes before he showed up. Sara climbed in and they drove back to her apartment.
Standing on his balcony, Grissom saw Sara get into Brass's car and drive off. He was upset for a couple of reasons, 1) because she'd left without waking him and 2) because she left him for Brass.
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Back at her apartment, Sara and Jim stripped down and went to bed. Though they'd shared a bed on more than one occasion, for some reason Jim felt the need to show his feelings for Sara. As they settled in, under the covers, Jim placed a hand on Sara's cheek and drew her into a uncharacteristically passionate kiss. Sara felt warm all over and Jim's manhood was ever growing and Sara could feel it. Their hands began to roam all over each other's bodies, exploring every reachable inch. In mid kiss, Jim pulled back and looked Sara in the eyes.
"Are you sure you want to do this? We can wait if you want. I'm in no rush." he said softly
"I've been waiting for this for several years. I'm nothing if not patient, but for this, I want it and I want it now." she replied
They continued to grope and grab as they kissed and licked their way to carnal bliss. Jim rolled Sara onto her back and straddled her between his muscular thighs. He dipped his head down to kiss her one more time and smiled.
"You're sure?" he asked
Running her hand on his thigh, Sara replied by taking his major organ in her hand and rubbing it gently. In that instant he thrust himself inside her and pounded away as she moaned and called out his name repeatedly. The visions of him in his faded jeans invaded her mind as she thought about his member stressed against the denim of his jeans. Now she knew what it felt like to have him inside her and damned if she wasn't pleased as hell; he was truly packin' a large pistol. As his pace quickened and she rocked her hips in time with his motion, she could feel the oncoming of her climax and as she came she inadvertently dug her nails into his back as she called out his name once more. Jim's climax came right on top of Sara's and as he spent himself, he collapsed on top of her, his heart racing and behind his closed eyes all he could see were brightly colored spots bouncing around. After a few minutes of catching their breath, Jim rolled off of Sara and lay beside her with his left arm stretched out. She rolled over onto her right side and snuggled up to him; her hand on his chest, she could still feel his heart racing.
It was several minutes before either one of them spoke and when they did, it was Jim.
"So, how do you feel?" he asked
"I feel perfect." she replied
"That's only because you ARE perfect; in my eyes, at least."
"I think its more like you make me feel perfect when we're together."
They lay there for several minutes before succumbing to sleep and when they fell off it was to dreams of one another and the most perfect encounter either one of them had had in quite some time.
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For the better part of the day Jim and Sara cat napped between love making sessions and when it was time to go in neither of them wanted to go in because they were exhausted. They talked it over and in the end they both called in sick. Both of them had more than enough sick leave and decided to use some of it.
Jim and Sara were on the couch talking when Jim brought up vacation time and going somewhere. Sara didn't know that Jim had a cabin at Tahoe that he hadn't used in quite some time. The idea sounded good and they both decided that when they went in the following day they'd put in requisition forms for vacation leave.
After that, they both spent the rest of the day on the couch or in bed thinking about their vacation to come. They would work scenes for two weeks and then they'd take three weeks for vacation.
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At the same time, Grissom was in his office filling out a vacation form of his own. The business with Sara had hit him hard and he decided he needed to get away for a while. He would go where he always went when he was forced to take time off; Tahoe. He'd usually rent a cabin and stay for a few days or a week or two; however long he was forced to take. The last time he went to Tahoe was the previous year, when he'd sprained his ankle and was under doctor's orders to take time off of work. He'd stay at the lab for a couple of weeks in order to get his caseload in order and deal with Catherine, who hated being left in charge of Grissom's group.
He picked up his desk phone and called the lodge to reserve his cabin; the same cabin he always stayed at. He liked the familiarity of it; the same cabin every time. He knew the owners of the lodge, as he'd had a couple of cases in the area and the owners were so grateful that they told him that whenever he wanted to stay there all he had to do was call and he'd have a cabin free of charge. He suspected that the cabin was free of charge because he handled the cases with speed and discretion; and without any of the other guests becoming alarmed or even alerted. It was like he wasn't even there; he was so fast and efficient.
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The two weeks seemed to fly by as Jim and Sara grew anxious about their vacation; three weeks in the woods and hoping for a white Christmas. Their vacation would fall between the week before and two weeks after Christmas. They would return to work shortly after the new year.
Time had come and as Sara finished up her last case, she got a call from Jim. She answered with a smile.
"Hey, what's up? Oh, ok. I'll be done within the hour. Ok, I'll see you when you get here."
Jim had called to say that he was leaving the precinct and that he was going to go by his house to pick up their bags, so they could leave for Tahoe right form the lab. Sara had been spending quite a bit of time at Jim's as of late and thusly had several changes of clothes at his place. He got home, grabbed the two duffel bags and set out for the lab. He arrived just in time to catch Sara walking outside and to see Grissom throwing a gym bag in the trunk of his car.
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Since Sara had been on her feet all day and Brass behind his desk most of the night, he decided he'd drive them to the cabin. During the drive Sara fell asleep and as he drove he periodically looked over at her and smiled to see her peacefully sleeping. He knew that she'd probably be up all night because of her nap during the drive.
Little did either of them know, but they were being followed by Grissom who was a couple miles behind them. When they arrived at Jim's cabin and Sara opened her eyes all she could see was beauty all around. It was a nice two story cabin with a screened in porch. Climbing from the truck and grabbing her bag, she and Jim went inside and unpacked their things. It was still light out and Jim watched Sara unpack her bag he noticed her butt and snuck up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She placed her hand on top of his and gave a little squeeze.
Within his grasp, she turned round' and her eyes met his gaze. There was no lie in his eyes when he said he wanted to make love to her right there and then. They stripped down to nothing and made their way to the bed where they copulated like never before. This time they took things slow, gentle touches and caresses, little nibbles and licks of the tongue in the crook of Jim's neck. Sara had decided early on that she loved the way he tasted when he was all sweaty. She loved the sweaty, salty taste of him.
As their session lasted for more than two hours, the sun began to go down and when they had achieved the ever elusive mutual climax, they lay in bed; spent. After an hour of laying in bed, Sara got up and went to the window, dressed in Jim's cast-off t-shirt. Looking out the window, she could have sworn that she saw Grissom's car drive by. She tried to get a plate number, but only succeeded in getting a partial.
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Grissom had just arrived at his cabin and it was nearing dark. On the way to his cabin, on the dirt road, he could have sworn that he saw Brass's car parked in front off one of the cabins. It was the right model and colour, but what would the odds be that he, Sara and Jim would all, unknowingly, vacation in the same spot? He made a mental note to take a walk the next day and check out the cabin, because if Jim was staying at that cabin, then Grissom wanted to make sure they'd stay as far away from him as humanly possible.