The first slivers of sunlight were just breaking through the curtains when Grissom awoke. He looked at Sara who was still asleep. God, she is beautiful! He just watched her for a while. He listened to her rhythmic breathing. It was good to see her sleeping. She had been having trouble since her abduction. He wanted her to sleep as long as she could. Finally he leaned in and kissed her softly. She stirred at his touch and woke up.
Sara spoke in sleepy tones, "Good morning."
"Good morning"
"I haven't slept that well in weeks since..."
"Me either. How about some breakfast? I'll have it sent up to the room."
"Sounds good to me."
Grissom picked up the phone and ordered room service.
"Hello, I'd like to have some breakfast sent up to my room. I'd like two mimosas, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast and a pot of coffee... 30 minutes, sounds fine, thank you."
"MMMMM sounds good."
"I need a shower, care to join me?"
"Why Dr. Grissom, I'd love to."
Thirty minutes later breakfast arrived and they moved it out to the balcony. Grissom put the do not disturb sign out on the door and joined Sara out on the balcony.
"Breakfast smells good. Want a cup of coffee?"
"I'd love one but first... (He hands her a mimosa) Here's to...us and our future."
"To us and the future."
"Wow, I haven't had anything to drink in a long time. I need to sit down."
"Let's eat before it gets cold."
They enjoyed their breakfast together talking about everything and nothing. They were not worried about anything and were just a normal couple.
"I called and reserved the room for one more night. I also called work and told them I would not be in tonight."
"We have to go back to reality some time. What are we going to tell everyone?"
"The truth. I told you, no more secrets."
"We have to plan a date and pick a place. I want to keep it small. Just a few friends."
"Sounds good to me. How about somewhere outside? When?
"Soon. I don't want you o get cold feet again." She smiled her Sara smile at him.
Grissom smiled back. I've made up my mind and nothing will change that."
"How about November?"
"Sounds good."
"Pinch me. Is this really happening?
"I have a better idea."
He leaned in and kissed her and they made love again.
Grissom and Sara returned to work on Monday night. For Sara, it was only a visit. She had another two weeks of recovery time before the Doctor will release her to return to work. On Sunday they had gone ring shopping and Sara was sporting a simple square-cut solitaire engagement ring. The two of them walked into the break room. Grissom had his arm around Sara's waist. She was carrying two bottles of sparkling cider and champagne glasses.
Nick was the first to notice them. "Hey, guys. How are you? Sara what are you doing here?"
Warrick always the observer noticed the glasses, "What's with the glasses?"
Brass and Doc Robbins walked in at that time.
"I got your page and, as requested, I picked up Doc Robbins."
Grissom opened the bottles and poured everyone a glass.
"Sara and I have something to tell you. We're getting married. Sorry it's not champagne but it's almost shift."
Catherine blurted out, "I knew it."
Warrick turned to Nick, "You owe me 20 bucks, man. Pay up!!"
Nick paid Warrick the 20.00.
Grissom gave Nick the raised eyebrow look.
"Yeah, I bet Warrick that you'd never propose. He said you would."
Grissom smiled and Sara punched Nick and thanked Warrick. This was their family.
Greg chimed in, "Congrats! So, Sara, I guess this means no dating me?"
Catherine was ready to plan a wedding. "When's the date?"
A voice from the doorway said, "The date for what?"
Everyone turned to see who it was... it was Ecklie!!
"What's the party for?"
"Hello, Conrad."
"Gil, Sara, how are you feeling?"
Grissom spoke for both of them. "Better. Thanks for asking."
"What's going on here?"
"Sara and I are getting married in November. We just came in to tell everyone. Sorry for not inviting you, I didn't think you'd still be here."
Ecklie, with a smug look on his face, "Congratulations."
Sara, spoke first, "Thanks, Ecklie." The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife.
"Gil, we'll talk later. I'll leave you to your celebration. Your shift starts in 15 minutes. I trust you'll be done by then."
"Of course and by the way... it's non-alcoholic cider."
Nick and Catherine stifled a laugh. Ecklie shot them a dirty look.
"Good. We'll talk later. Come by my office." Ecklie left.
Nick was hardly able to maintain until Ecklie left the room. "What a jerk!"
Grissom quipped, "I wouldn't expect anything less from him."
Sara spoke the fear everyone had. "He's going to try to transfer one of us out of spite."
Grissom reassured her. "No, he won't. I told you I have it under control. Just leave it up to me."
"I better get going so you can get to work. I'll see you in the morning."
"I'll have Jim take you home. Jim, do you mind?"
"No, it's fine I'm headed back to the PD any way."
"Thanks, Jim." He turned to Sara, "Sara, I'll see you when I get home."
He wanted to kiss her but not in front of everyone. He'd come along way but he was still the supervisor.
He watched her leave with a lingering look down the hall.
Grissom turned to his team. "OK, now back to work. Catherine you have a DB at the Tropicana. Take Greg with you. Nick and Warrick, you have suspicious residential fire in Henderson. I have tons of paperwork and apparently a meeting with Ecklie. Call if you need anything."
Catherine turned to Grissom before she left, "Good luck with that."
They all left to their assignments. Grissom walked down the hall to Ecklie's office. He entered without knocking.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, Congratulations on your engagement. I'm happy for you, really. But, this does create a problem. You can't be Sara's supervisor any longer, departmental policy."
Grissom expected Ecklie to say that. He had done his research and had found a loop hole to exploit. He could play politics when he had to. He just didn't like it.
"That's fine, Catherine can do her evaluations and case reviews. I won't be involved. It has never been a problem, but if it makes you feel better, we can do it this way."
"Catherine is not a supervisor anymore."
"She is still qualified to do the job and the Sheriff agrees that this is in line with Departmental policy. The policy states that I cannot evaluate her not that we can't be on the same shift. Catharine will be doing that"
"What? You went to the Sheriff?
"We ran in to him yesterday while we were ring shopping. We told him and he came up with this plan."
Ecklie looked mad enough to kill Grissom. He didn't like being out witted.
Ecklie, through clenched teeth, "Fine, we will try it this way. But one misstep and I am transferring one of you. I'll be watching you."
"I'd expect nothing less from you, Conrad."
Grissom walked out of Ecklie's office with a satisfied knowledge that he had once again gotten the best of Ecklie. It's not hard to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person. Grissom, most of the time wouldn't have bothered taking Ecklie's bait but he just could not resist this time. He walked back to his office to attack the mountain of paperwork on his desk. The phone rang. It was Sara.
"Grissom"
"What did Ecklie say?"
"He threatened to transfer one of us. I reminded him of departmental policy and told him about the Sheriff's plan."
"Oh, man. Ecklie must have been pissed off."
"Yeah. It was...gratifying to point that out to him."
Sara laughed and said, "I love you."
"Get some rest. I love you, too
"I'll see you when you get home."
"Bye"
Sara and Grissom were busy planning their wedding and had decided who to ask to stand up with them at their wedding.
Grissom went to talk to his prospective best man.
"Jim, I have a favor to ask you."
"Shoot."
"I would like you to be my best man at my wedding. We have been through so much in the past 15 years. I can't imagine anyone else I'd like to have with me."
"Wow, I'd be honored."
"Thanks, the wedding is in November."
Sara was talking to Catherine at the same time.
"Sara, Grissom said you wanted to see me? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I just have a favor... actually two favors to ask of you."
"Sure, What?"
"Would you be my maid of honor at my wedding? I know that we got off to a rocky start, but over the years, I have come to consider you my best friend."
"I'd love to be your maid of honor. What's the other favor?"
"Gil and I would like to get married as Sam's estate in Seven Hills. We want a simple wedding, outside and private. Do you think you could let us use the grounds for the wedding?"
"Wow, sure. I don't think that will be a problem."
"Thanks. Want to help me plan this wedding? You know that Gil will be totally useless at this."
Catherine laughed, "You're right. I won't tell him you said that."
"Thanks again."
Grissom and Sara's wedding day finally arrived. The only people at the wedding were Nick, Greg, Lindsey, Doc Robbins and his wife Judy, Warrick and his wife Tina, and Sophia. Sara wore a simple but elegant, long, white, silk dress. She wore her hair down in soft curls and a crown of flowers. She looked simply stunning. When Grissom saw her he could hardly breathe. He just stared at her in awe of her beauty. The spell was finally broken when she arrived at the altar.
"You are stunning."
"Thanks. I love you."
"Are you ready?"
"I've never been more ready for anything."
They turned and faced the minister and the ceremony began...
The minister spoke the age old words that had married countless couples: "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride"
Grissom kissed Sara in a kiss that held the promise a future together and the love that he had for her. It spoke of what would come later in the honeymoon suite.
Just as they kissed……. Ring!! Cell phones. It was Ecklie... He needed the team to report for work. There had been a heist at the Palms hotel and there were 11 DB's and an entire casino floor to process.
Sara was seriously pissed off. "Crap! This is our wedding day. Ecklie will pay for this."