ON BROKEN WINGS
CHAPTER SEVEN
"Debbie, I can't believe you use street drugs. You're a nurse for Chrissake! You should know better!"
"It's not like I'm smoking crack," she said angrily.
"How many ODs do you get a week?"
"You can't OD on Ecstasy."
"That isn't what I asked."
Sara's cell phone rang again.
"Sidle," she snapped, fuming.
"It's Grissom."
"Oh. Hi."
"I just caught a cab and realized you need a ride back to your car too. Do you want me to pick you up?"
Her voice calmed. "Riiight. I forgot that we cabbed it back here."
"Still feeling fuzzy-headed, huh? Like me?"
"Yeah. I am. Yeah, that'd be great, Gil, thanks."
"See ya in a few."
"Bye."
Sara snapped her phone shut and paced up and down, thinking hard. She felt good about the fact that Grissom was being so considerate, and even better that they seemed to have a real future at last, but was torn in her feelings about Debbie. They had enjoyed a great, hot, fun relationship up until now. But this was a serious breach of trust. Did we even use protection?...what if I...what if she...oh help. This is so not me, to be so irresponsible...I'm a workaholic!
Debbie Marlin just looked at her anxiously, in silence, hoping not to make things worse.
Sara took another deep gulp of coffee. "Did we even use condoms?" she said coldly.
"Um, no, we didn't."
"Great." Sara said sarcastically.
"I'm on the Pill."
"How nice for you. I'm not. And I don't think Gris and I are ready to be parents after just one night. Not to mention we're both law enforcement. If there's a random drug test that's it for our careers. Finito. We're done. Do you get that?"
"Yes," she said quietly. "I'm so sorry, Sara."
"Yeah, well, I'm not ready to say 'It's fine' just yet. I need to think." The CSI gathered up her things. "I'm going to wait outside."
"Sara, wait. Wait! I'm sorry!"
"No. I'll call you later." The door slammed.
The ominous black Mercedes followed Grissom's taxi to the bar and then his SUV back to Debbie's apartment. The driver parked at a distance to watch as it pulled to a stop and Sara hopped in. That they kissed briefly behind the tinted windows and talked for a moment made him even more enraged. That bastard is kissing the woman I love. Again the man trailed them, this time to the crime scene, but the sight of all the police cars and uniformed men around made him too nervous to stay.
It was the usual hard long bloody smelly slog at the scene. Followed by the usual 8+ hour shift. Gris and Sara had to put their thoughts aside and their needed conversation off until it was done and he was driving her home.
"She drugged us, Sara."
"I know."
"And it could have been cut with anything. We could have been seriously impaired today."
"I know."
"And then there's the legal aspect."
"I know."
"Stop saying that. Please."
"Sorry."
He glanced from the road at her. Even squinting, with her lips pursed, and drumming on the armrest annoyingly, she was beautiful. And that mind was a thing of wonder.
"Not to mention we didn't use any protection last night," Sara added.
"We didn't? Oh. Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I asked her."
"Shit."
"Shit is right."
"What are you going to do, Sara?"
"I could take a morning after pill."
He gulped. "You would? You will?"
"I don't know, Gris, there's so much to process," she said distractedly. "One thing at a time."
"Good point."
"But..."
"But what?"
"Excuse me, but last night you were all over her! And part of me is siding with her, because I care about her. Part of me is grateful for what she did."
"What? You are?" Grissom sputtered.
"I am. She was right, that you needed a push. She was right, that you needed something to let down those damn inhibitions of yours."
"So you had to trick me to get me into bed?"
"I wouldn't! I didn't!" she yelled. "But how long were you going to wait? To string me along?"
Grissom glowered but couldn't come up with a response.
"There it is. The elephant in the room. Elephant, I'd like you to meet Gil Grissom. Grissom, this is Mr. Elephant."
"Very funny," he snapped, but then couldn't help it as a small grin appeared. It was a relief to have this in the open at last.
"You're right," he said finally.
Sara smiled. "Thanks."
"I'm sorry. I apologize for...playing with your feelings...as I have."
He was rewarded with a big Sidle grin and bright brown eyes. "I've been waiting a long time to hear that." She kissed him on the cheek and he crinkled his eyes at her.
"I, uh, didn't mean that, necessarily. I meant, what are you going to do about Debbie?"
"And me, you mean?" Their eyes met. He nodded. "You want me to break it off." She sighed.
He grimaced but said nothing.
"I can't just turn my feelings on and off. You know this."
Grissom squeezed her hand and smiled crookedly at her. Sara smiled back and said softly, "I guess you know that better than anyone. I think I...and yes, we...need another night together. I just need that. Do you?"
He was lost in thought, examining his feelings. "Maybe. I'm not a one night stand kind of guy."
"Yeah. You're not. It's just...I do care about her. She's been good...to me...for me."
"Okay, honey. I do have feelings for her too. One more night." There was a pause.
"Do you love her, Sara?"
"Not like I love you." Whoops! I didn't mean for that to slip out.
There was an awkward silence. Sara held her breath. Grissom whipped the car to the side of the road and braked. She squeaked in surprise. He pulled her by the shoulders into a passionate kiss.
"I love you too."
TBC
A/N: I am enjoying each and every of your reviews as always. Please keep it up! So sorry I've gotten behind on answering them all. If I didn't have 4 stories in progress, yikes, I maybe would do better. Bear with us as we know the destination but the road is winding all around.
Rage took a nasty fall and is banged up. Please send him a note? (that's rage edit with a period in the middle). And look see if you'd like to review one of his stories? He doesn't have my fan club yet (LOL) and as his beta and friend I'd like to see his talent appreciated. Thanks. There are some of you that are as faithful as the tides: BillyJorja, toothchick, CSIfan8686, GSRCSILVR25, caz1969, gsrfan34...and more, all of you...luv ya. Wander52, welcome to the party, hope you feel better. And SweetSouthernComfort and HeartsandEyesDelight? You make me laugh. Hey go read their stories. They're better than mine.
You all rock. And roll. And rock some more!
