AH, THAT MOUTH

CHAPTER SEVEN

Grissom was stunned. Dumbfounded. It was just a kiss; just barely a kiss at that. But it felt like his lips had touched an electric fence. Zing! Wow. Just. Wow. He couldn't move, or speak, or gather his thoughts. Just want...More. He gripped the table to keep from leaping on Sara and bending her backwards in a scorching kiss.

Sara giggled nervously at his blank, bewildered expression, a blush filling her cheeks. When he didn't say anything for what felt like the longest time, she stammered out, "Um. Sorry? That was...inappropriate...I shouldn't have..." I'm not sorry. I knew it would be hot...but I underestimated how much.

"Don't apologize. It was..." Grissom couldn't come up with an adjective of what her lips felt like against his, what had flashed through his nervous system in that fraction of a second. She looks so young...what did that mean exactly? To her? Just a friendly...impulse? What should I do? Say?

Sara grinned at him, her eyes flashing knowingly. "Yeah. It was."

The waitress swooped in then, and the moment was gone, other than a promise of what could be.

"So, what do you think?" Sara asked, sipping her hot coffee.

"Think?" He looked surprised. I think I'm falling for you.

Sara examined his expression for a moment. His eyes flicked from hers to her lips, to every part of her face, hair, torso, and back to her eyes and mouth again. Sara quirked an eyebrow. She hadn't quite mastered his subtlety yet, but there was...a kind of...wistfulness? desire? in his eyes, that wasn't there five minutes ago.

"About my...ambitions," she amended.

"Oh!" Grissom shook himself from his reverie of a deeper, more prolonged, more passionate kiss...and not just one...and not just on her lips. "I think you would be an excellent CSI. I think...you could be almost anything you wanted...but you show a natural aptitude and real talent for forensics."

A brilliant smile dazzled him. "Really?"

"Um hm." Oh, what that gap does to me. Hot damn.

"Wow. Thank you," Sara was blushing deeper now, touched and pleased.

"You're acing my seminar. Mastering the course work. And keeping me on my toes, with your questions."

She pursed her lips, looking flattered. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. It's a pleasure to...mentor you."

She frowned. Grissom mirrored it, kicking himself for deflecting this...whatever it was... "Yeah. Mentor," Sara said reluctantly. "Uh, so what's my next step?"

"Enroll in a course. As many classes as you can. Anatomy, physiology, criminal justice, the list is long. Then an internship, maybe?"

"It'll be tough to add to my course load. Work on my thesis. And keep my part-time job..."

"You work, too?"

She smiled at him. "Yeah. In a garage. I'm a mechanic."

"Really?" Grissom said, impressed, again. "How do you...did you get interested in that?"

"Oh, my brother showed me the basics. I like to take stuff apart and figure out how it works, and how to fix it. And it pays better than waiting tables, you know?"

"I'm sure," he chuckled. "That's an asset, to becoming a CSI. Mechanical expertise. We process vehicles all the time."

"Good."

"But it sounds like, with your schedule, that something will have to give."

"Yes. What, though."

He let her decide.

"Theoretical physics courses," she said at last. "Still try to get my Master's, though. Good thing I don't sleep."

"You don't sleep?" He looked concerned.

"Well, not much. Four or five hours a night. I mean, you did it, work as a coroner and CSI and study and finish your thesis, right?"

"Right. I'd be glad to...

"Yes?"

"Help you, as I can. Advise. Tutor you. Introduce you around, once you're on track. Keep in touch?"

"I'd like that. Very much. Phone, email, what?"

"Both. Here." He pulled out his business card and added his home phone and email address to the crime lab and cell numbers.

"Can I have another card?"

"Sure." He handed her one. Sara scribbled all her contact information on the back and gave it back. He put it away reverently.

"And, Grissom?"

"Yes?"

"I really appreciate this. And I'm glad we're going to keep in touch, after you go back, to Vegas. See each other again," she finished shyly, with a tentative, wistful smile. "I hope."

"Sara, I have a feeling we'll never lose touch. And we will see each other again."

They smiled.

TBC