They landed at San Diego Airport and picked up their rental car; a sporty looking silver Lincoln that turned out to have a lot more trunk space than Grissom expected; which was good because between the two of them they has two overnight bags, two suitcases, and two hanging garment bags, plus a large duffel that had been packed full to meet Hank's needs for the trip. Grissom marveled at how much stuff was needed to get two people and a dog through a three-day vacation. Before setting out, Heather spread a blanket that she pulled from Hank's duffel over the back seat. Once she was through with the task, Hank hopped right in without any command to do so.
Once they were settled in their own seats, Grissom reached into the back seat and patted the happy dog's head. As Heather started the car, he informed her "Hank loves a car ride. He probably thinks this is a grand adventure."
She twisted in her seat before backing out of the parting space and rubbed Hank's nose while he licked at her hand. She looked first at the dog, and then at Gil and announced, "He's right. We are off on an adventure and hang on boys, because the fun has only just begun."
Five minutes into the drive from the airport he asked, "So where are we going, or won't you tell me now that we are actually in California?"
She glanced away from the road briefly to smile sweetly at him. "We'll be staying at The Churon Winery Bed & Breakfast in Temecula. It's about an hour drive from here so if you want to nap that's fine. The seats recline, and are heated also if you want to use that feature. Just make yourself comfortable."
"I'll wait until we get there. There's a B & B at the winery?"
"Yes; it's a French Chateau with sixteen rooms and six suites for guests. Pets are allowed as long as you have proper proof of vaccination. I took Hank's records from the file cabinet in your study. They are in his bag. The grounds are supposed to be magnificent. There are daily wine tastings for guests, tours of the winery, and a five course dinner on Friday, and Saturday nights. The real fun starts tomorrow though. Sorry, but I couldn't make it happen today on your actual birthday. My plans conflicted with our flight schedule."
"That's alright; I don't mind. Whatever you're planning I'd like to be awake for it, so tomorrow is good. Last night's case was no picnic."
She waited a moment to give him the chance to elaborate and when he chose not to she replied, "I thought you'd feel that way. I made reservations for us to have dinner there tonight, so we don't have to leave the chateau today at all if you don't want too. We can sleep, take a leisurely walk on the grounds, or a tour of the winery, then have dinner and go back to bed. We should get a good night's sleep though; tomorrow starts early for us.
"And…just what are your plans for tomorrow My Sneaky Little Abductress?"
"Uh-uh; I'm not telling. You'll have to wait and see."
"Alright, I guess I can live with that." He smiled, took hold of her right hand, kissed the back of it, and then placed it on top of his thigh. He laid his head back on the head rest and closed his eyes for a few moments. Then, when he opened them again, He exclaimed, "Hey look, what is that?"
Heather leaned forward in her seat, peering out the windshield and looking up in the direction he was pointing. When she realized what had caught his attention she smiled. "It's a sky diver, or…" She squinted, looking harder at what they saw."…a pair of divers actually; a tandem jump. Do you see that small plane a little further up? That's where they came from. The chute should open soon. They must be in the drop zone. There is probably a diving school not too far from here."
"Drop zone?" He asked as they watched the bright orange and yellow chute open.
"It's the targeted landing area for a skydiver." Heather explained.
"And…you know this how?"
"My dad has jumped a few times." She said being careful to keep an eye on the road while they watched the chute until it floated out of sight.
"You ever go with him?"
"No; not on a dive. He took me up in the plane with him once but wouldn't let me join him on the dive."
"Why not?"
"I was only ten. You have to be at least sixteen, and even then a parent has to give consent."
Grissom considered this. "That seems reasonable."
"I didn't think so at the time. I was furious with him. I demanded to know why he took me up in the plane at all if I couldn't jump out of it with him. He laughed and told me that most of the guys who dive routinely 'aren't quite right' and that there was no way he was going to leave me back at the hanger in the care of a skydiver who willing allowed himself to be nicknamed Catfish."
"Why was he called Catfish?"
Heather glanced away from the road for a second and flashed him a wide grin. "Because, he was 'all mouth and no brain'."
Grissom raised an eyebrow. "He understood the reason for the nickname and still owned up to it?"
"He did."
"I wouldn't have left you in his care either."
"It's true he wasn't bright, but he wouldn't have harmed me or let anything happen to me."
Grissom winked at her. I'm not worried that he would have hurt you; and I doubt that was your father's primacy concern either. I can just imagine you father returning to the hangar to find poor Catfish tied up tight in his parachute, and no sign of you. He'd go running out of the hangar just in time to see a plane lifting off the runway."
Heather glared at him and reached out and smacked his chest. "Hey, I was a good kid!" She declared.
"I didn't say you weren't, but… I'll bet you're responsible for every one of the gray hairs on his head."
"That's not possible." she said seriously with only a trace of indignation in her voice. "I do have a kid brother, remember?"
"Oh yes; I remember, but somehow I think his gray hair came from his eldest child."
She flashed him a stern look, but the scowl didn't quite reach her eyes. "You know we're still about forty-five minutes away by car." She stated casually.
"So…"
"So…do you want to walk the rest of the way? She hissed. "I'll give you the map and put you out." She smiled at him as if she were offering him another birthday gift.
"No thank you!"
"Then be nice to me. Or else…."
"Yes Ma'am." He said leaning over and brushing a quick kiss across her cheek.
She glared at him again, but her green eyes were laughing at him. "Do you want to stop for some lunch before we get there?" She asked to change the subject.
"I guess we should. What time is it?"
"It's 12:07 pm? Is your watch battery dead?" She questioned him with that all too familiar knowing expression on her face.
He grinned. "Nope; it just fascinates me to see you do that. When I first started spending time at your house, I noticed that I only found three clocks in the entire house. There's the one that came with the stove, one in the solarium, and the grandfather clock in the front parlor. The last two are more for décor than anything else. When I realized there was no alarm clock in your bedroom, I was seriously confused. I'm guessing that your ability to sense time comes from the same place as your ability to read people.
Heather smiled mysteriously and shrugged.
Before reaching their destination they stopped at a sidewalk café called Jessie's and ordered two BLT baskets and waters. While they ate, Hank lay at Heather's side and lapped noisily at the water in his bowl that she'd thought to bring from the car. When he'd had all he wanted, Heather extracted a small piece of bacon from her sandwich and offered it to him. He promptly inhaled the scrap, and sat rigid beside her, his eyes pleading for another morsel.
Grissom eyed him and chuckled, "You have complete control now. He'll do anything you ask."
"I'm aware of that." She stated flashing him a sultry look.
"Of course you are."
"The end of his leash is only secure under the leg of my chair. He could pull free and take off if he decided to, but he won't, not as long as there's a chance he'll be fed."
"Especially bacon; a pack of stray cats could walk by right now and he wouldn't blink twice."
She smiled at Hank. "Do you agree? You want to go find a kitty to chase?"
His gaze never left her sandwich.
"Good Boy; who wants to chase cats anyway?" She gave him another small strip.
Grissom suddenly realized how relaxed he felt. He was content for the first time all week. The day was sunny and peaceful and a warm breeze played through Heather's hair as he watched her feed his dog.
She noticed his gaze. "Yes?"
"Yes what?"
"You're staring Gil."
He shrugged, "Thank you for bringing me here."
"We aren't even there yet." She chuckled, while wiping her hands and mouth on a paper napkin.
"Doesn't matter Heather; I've had a wonderful time already."
"Sweetheart, you really should get out more." She said with a gentle laugh." Especially if all it takes to make you happy is an airplane ride and a sandwich."
He set his sandwich back down in its basket without taking a bite. "There's more to it than that. It wouldn't have been worth doing without you here with me."
In response she stared for a moment and then she silently stood, walked around the table, sat down across his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
When the kissed ended and she attempted to get up Grissom decided to ignore the curious stares of people on the sidewalk, pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again.