Here's the final chapter. Thanks for reading.
A half hour later, Sara was holding a lid in her hand with her face almost inside a pot of apple cider. "This smells so good. I can't wait to try it."
"Well, it won't be ready for another hour or so. Why don't we watch one of the movies I brought?"
"Sure." Sara placed the lid back on the pot and followed Grissom to the living room.
Grissom picked up White Christmas from the table and held it up for Sara. "Let's watch this one."
She laughed. "I hadn't pegged you for a musical type person."
"There's a lot you don't know about me," he said somewhat seriously, but with a smirk.
"Here," Sara grabbed the movie. "I'll go put in on. Go sit down."
Sara put in the movie and sat away from Grissom on other end of the sofa.
The movie started playing and Grissom looked over at Sara.
"What?" Sara asked, feeling Grissom's gaze.
"Why don't you come and sit over here."
"I'm fine here."
"But it's lonely over here," he said playfully.
Sara just looked at him with raised eyebrows and turned her attention back to the movie, shaking her head. She couldn't figure out what had gotten in to him.
"Okay," he sighed. He got up and sat down a little too close to Sara.
"What are you…" she began but then stopped when he put his arm around her.
"That's better."
As Sara snuggled up to him when he pulled her closer, she definitely knew things were changing between the two of them.
An hour and a half into the movie, the doorbell rang. Grissom looked at the clock on the wall and smiled.
Sara pulled out of Grissom's arms and got up. "Would you mind stopping the movie until I come back?"
"No problem."
She walked to the door and opened it half-way. Standing outside were Greg, Brass, Nick, Catherine and Warrick. All were holding Christmas gifts.
"Merry Christmas," they all cheered.
Sara could say nothing. Her mouth was hanging open in complete surprise.
Grissom came up behind her and opened the door all the way. He looked at Sara with a wide smile as he took in the expression on her face. "Come on in guys. You can put the gifts under the tree and help yourself to some hot apple cider in the kitchen. There are cups in the bag on the counter."
Sara looked to Grissom as they moved from the door and closed it. "You did this?"
"Yep."
"I don't understand."
"They all missed celebrating the holiday with you. They wanted to throw a little party before start of shift tonight. It wasn't the same around the lab with you gone."
"I wasn't gone, just working at a different time."
"It wasn't the same. It's not the same. Sara, since the day you left for swing shift, we've been counting the days until you'd be coming back. We all miss you." He grabbed her hands and held them, waiting for her to look up at him. When she did, he offered, "I miss you."
"I miss everyone too. But I miss you the most."
Grissom smiled in response and it was a smile she had never seen before. A smile she wanted to remember forever.
Before Sara knew what was going on, Grissom pulled her close and his lips were on hers.
"Merry Christmas, Sara," he said smiling when they finally pulled apart.
Sara struggled to breathe and not topple over. Her entire body felt like mush. She was finally able to meet his eyes a few seconds later. "Merry Christmas, Gil."
Grissom leaned towards Sara again and gave her another kiss. When he felt Sara returning the kiss, he deepened it.
Grissom broke them apart a minute later, remembering they had visitors. "We'd better go join the party."
"If you say so," Sara replied breathlessly.
He smiled, dropped his hands to her waist, and guided her to the kitchen to join in on the festivities.
The End.
I hope you all enjoyed the story. I know I definitely had fun writing it all this week when I was bored at work. Though I must admit, some of the sad parts were at bit difficult to write. Let me just say I was glad I was alone for a majority of the time I was writing it. LOL
As always, I love reviews. I thrive on them. :)
