AN: Thanks for the reviews, here is the next chapter. And those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you all had a good holiday.
Chapter 9: Friday Night
Two days later
With them being apart two years, they had a lot of catching up to do, and not just with the more physical stuff, they talked a lot, watched movies, even did a few crossword puzzles together and played some of their favorite board/card games, anything that allowed them to just be together in their own world. But eventually Friday did come, and like Sara said, that evening was reserved for dinner with Nick and his girlfriend.
When Sara was in a nice light pant suit, she walked into the bedroom from the master bathroom just as Grissom was finishing buttoning up his shirt, and when he turned to her, he raised an eyebrow as he noticed she kind of looked a little disappointed. "What?"
She walked up to him as her eyes started sparkling a little. "No suit and tie?"
He shook his head with a smirk. "You know how much I don't really like to wear them."
Of course when he was a CSI, and he had to appear in court or some 'party', he would for the job, but now that he hasn't been a CSI for years, he hasn't worn many suits since.
When she stooped in front of him, he cupped her cheek as he continued in a more serious tone. "But I can see you're a little disappointed on that."
She whispered next, like she was baiting him. "And you know how much I love seeing you in them."
Seeing her eyes darken a little, they knew they were going down a path they had no time for, so he cleared his throat and whispered back. "Then maybe I'll just have to wear one very soon."
She placed her hand on top of his as she smiled. "And I would love that very much."
He smiled back, and they just looked at one another, loving this and many other moments they've shared the last two days.
After a few more seconds, she clears her throat and steps back, allowing his hand to come off her cheek, before she spoke. "We better go, or we'll be late."
Grissom nodded in agreement before they walked out of the bedroom so they could grab their jackets and walk out of her apartment to enjoy a night out with a friend and get to know more about the woman he was dating.
Once they arrived at an Italian restaurant, Sara told the hostess that there should have been a reservation for 4 under the Stokes name, and after she smiled with a nod, she lead them toward the back of the restaurant, where more of the private seating was, and once they got there, which they were the first two there, she left them with the menus.
After helping Sara to her seat, Grissom sat down next to her before they grabbed their menus to see what they wanted to eat and drink, then no more than five minutes went by before they saw the other two being led to the table.
Sara and Grissom stood up from their seats to greet them, and once Sara had greeted both of them, her and Whitney walked to the table, leaving Grissom and Nick standing face to face, and Nick had to admit he wasn't sure what this interaction would turn into because he didn't tell Grissom about Sara being here, so he cleared his throat and started to speak. "Listen Griss..."
But he gets cut off when Grissom spoke with a smile and an understanding look in his eyes.
"You don't need to explain anything, Nicky. I get why you didn't tell me, you wanted to protect her, and I understand. In fact, if I was in your shoes I probably would have done the same thing."
Nick nodded, feeling a little more comfortable. "I just don't want to see her heart get broken again."
"And that's not going to happen, I give you my word."
The younger man started to smile after seeing the seriousness in the older man's eyes. "So, you guys are really working things out?"
Nick then saw more glow in the older man's eyes than he saw a few seconds ago, and definitely more than when he first saw him last Sunday, as he replied. "It's still going to take time, I get it, but so far so good."
"I'm glad to hear that, honestly."
Seeing the truth in the younger man's eyes, Grissom surprised Nick when he brought him in a hug and whispered. "Thank you, and not just for the comment, for being there for her when she needed it the most."
Hearing the tone in his voice, Nick knew he was talking about a certain rough spot Sara had been through, so he nodded one more time as he patted his back. "She's my best friend, I would had done anything for her, but you're welcome."
As the guys started to pull back from one another, Whitney smirked. "So, what do you think Sara, should we leave and let them have the table to themselves?"
Sara chuckled as Grissom and Nick headed back to the table with smiles on their faces before Sara shook her head while Grissom sat down next to her. "Honestly, I don't think I can do that." She then smirked as she looked at her man. "I don't want the competition, I like to have him to myself."
Whitney chuckled as she slipped her hand into Nick's. "I understand completely, because I feel the same way." Just as Whitney was pulling back from kissing his cheek, the waitress had come over to their table and asked if they were ready to order, and after they did and she had gone to turn in their orders, Grissom asked to know more about Whitney and how she met Nick, which she told him.
After dinner
Once dinner was done and the bill was taken care of, which Grissom bought, Sara excused herself from the table so she could use the restroom, and when she walked out of the stall, Whitney was at one of the sinks touching up her lightly coated lipstick.
As Sara was finishing on washing her hands, Whitney spoke with a smile as she looked over at the older woman. "So, I know the evidence is staring me right in the face, especially after that comment you made earlier, but just to really confirm it, Grissom was more than a boss to you, wasn't he?"
Sara knew this was going to be brought up by her sooner or later, so after she took a few paper towels from the dispenser, she wiped her hands with a nod. "It's a long story, but in short, yeah. And now..."
Whitney cuts her off with a knowing smile. "You guys are working your way again to getting everything you ever wanted."
"Yeah." After Whitney nodded again, she was walking past Sara to head to the door, when Sara spoke again after clearing her throat. "I just hope you don't hate me too much."
Whitney turned around with a raised eyebrow. "Why would I hate you?"
"Well, because of your brother." When the younger woman now looked at Sara with more confusion, she continued with a small smile. "Oh, come on. Are you telling me that not once you thought of setting me up with him?"
Whitney then chuckled with a smile. "Ok, you got me there. Maybe once or twice." As Sara smiled with a cheeky grin, Whitney continued with a more serious tone. "But the more I thought about it, the more I realized, while it may have worked out between you two for awhile, I think deep down you would have eventually felt that something was still missing. So, believe me, I love my brother and I want to see him happy, but with you it wouldn't have been long term, and he would have ended up with an even more broken heart, so in the end, I think it is better that nothing romantic happened between you two."
Sara felt relieved about that because if there would have been problems with them, then she knew it would be tough to hang out with Nick outside of work on a regular basis, and she didn't think she could do that, her and Nick had a very good friendship and she liked that it continued past their working hours.
"Thank you, Whitney."
"I understand the heart wants what it wants, you can't control it or change its mind, no matter how hard you try."
Sara chuckled with a nod. "You got that right." Then she finished almost sadly. "Because I don't know, there were times I almost wished I could."
"I know what you mean." After a short pause, Whitney continued. "And hey, if you ever want to talk about it, we can do that."
As wonderful as her friendship with Nick is, she never really hung out with Whitney one-on-one, so maybe it was time she really hang out with her, especially if things get more serious between Nick and her, so Sara nodded with another smile. "Sure, and if we want to turn it into a true girls night out, I know a few other women we could invite."
Whitney smiled with a nod. "I would really like that."
"Alright, sounds like a plan."
With one more nod, the women finally walked out of the bathroom, meeting the guys at the entrance of the restaurant before walking out in the parking lot.
When they stopped at Nick's vehicle, and while Grissom was saying goodbye to Whitney, Nick looked at his best friend with a smile as he cupped her cheek. "I finally see it."
She smiled with her eyes sparkling. "See what?"
"That happiness look, it has been a very long time since its truly been there, and I've missed it. I'm glad it's back."
"Me too, and as far as I'm concerned it will be staying there."
Nick nodded as he brought her in his arms for a hug. "Then good for the both of you, you guys deserve this."
Sara wrapped her arms around him as she whispered. "Thank you."
As they pulled back a moment later, he continued. "Have a good night."
"You too."
They kissed each other's cheeks, and after Sara said goodbye to Whitney while Grissom and Nick did a hand shake, Sara and Grissom headed towards her vehicle, which was about 5 cars down.
When they got into her vehicle, Sara in the driver's seat, Grissom asked. "Where to now? Back to your apartment?"
Sara shook her head. "Not yet, if you don't mind."
Grissom shook his head and replied with a smile. "I'll follow you anywhere." Then he smirked. "Even at times when I don't have a choice."
Sara started chuckling a little as she started the vehicle before she started to drive.
Once they arrived at the destination she wanted, they got out of the vehicle, then after taking his hand, they walked forward for a bit before they reached the railing, and when they stopped, he looked over at her and asked. "The dock is really where you wanted to go?"
Sara shrugged as she looked out in the darken horizon. "Why not?" Grissom just nodded as he also turned his head to look at the darken horizon, then after a few minutes of silence except for the water hitting against the dock and boats, she asked. "What's it like out there?"
"With Work or in general?"
"Both."
Grissom took a moment before commenting. "Well, I will tell you one thing, sometimes it definitely gives you time for your thoughts." He moves his arms so his hands were on the railing as he looked down at his boat while he continued. "And they can lead to some not so good ones."
Sara placed her hand on his shoulder and whispered. "Hey now, don't go there, we are working on it, it's ok."
Grissom nodded as he stood up straight and placed his hand over his shoulder so he could take her hand before speaking with determination in his eyes. "It will be, I'll make sure of it."
She uses her free hand and cups his clean-shaven cheek with nothing but love in her eyes. "We both will."
They kissed softly on the lips, and after they pulled back, she continued. "So, tell me more about your job, since surprisingly that wasn't what we talked about much the last two days."
Grissom nodded before he moved so her back would be against his chest and his arms were wrapped around her waist as he told her more about his job and cases, then after a bit, when he was done, she asked. "Will you ever take me out on your boat?"
He smiled and whispered in her ear. "Sure, one of these days I'll gladly take out there."
With the combination of his breath in her ear and the slight wind coming through, it made Sara shiver a little, which he felt it, so he asked with concern. "You cold?"
"Just a little."
He pulls back, making her miss the warmth she did have, as he continued while taking his jacket off. "We can't have that."
Before she could say anything, he had already placed his coat over her shoulders, making her smile as she slipped her arms through the sleeves. "Thank you, but I was going to say we could just head out."
"Well, why not both then, you can use my jacket until we get there."
She then turned around and cupped his cheek before speaking softly. "I love you."
He smiled with his eyes sparkling. "Not that I'm complaining, but where did that come from?"
"After not saying it for two years, I want to say it as much as I can." Then she smirked. "You got a problem with that?"
"No, Dear." After he pecks her lips, he whispered against them. "In fact, I love you too."
They smiled against each other's lips before they did a few more pecks, and after they pulled back, he held out his hand. "Let's go home." Then realizing what he just said, he cleared his throat and tried to amend his words. "I mean your ho..."
But Sara cuts him off as she slipped her hand in his. "No, you said it right the first time. I mean after all, it will be your home once you come back, right?"
"Absolutely."
"Alright, then, let's go home."
After he gently squeezed her hand with a nod and smile, they headed toward the vehicle so they could go home, both happy they could gall it theirs once he's back for good.
AN: Hope it was ok. More soon. Please Review.
