10.
"Want some more?"
"No, thanks, I'm full." Sara pushed away the empty bowl. She couldn't remember the last time she ate this much ice cream. The big packet was almost empty and most of it ended up in her stomach. Plus cream. Her calories for the next…four days…or so.
"Feeling better?"
"A little bit." She closed her eyes and leant on his shoulder. After her call it took him less than fifteen minutes to come over and bring ice cream. He didn't ask any questions, only let her show where the bowls and spoon were and ate in silence with her, providing a shoulder to lean on.
"He wasn't here. Not this morning, not last night. I checked for it, there was no evidence of Gil in the apartment. And me talking about evidence when the topic is my husband, sounds very suspicious."
"We saw him with another woman yesterday, here in Vegas while he told you, he is in South America. I'm not a cop, but in my world, you have every reason to be suspicious."
"Like I had every reason to drink this bottle of whiskey."
"Why drink whiskey alone, get yourself a hell of a hangover, when you can eat ice cream with me and get…well, with the amount you ate, an upset stomach. Don't worry, I will hold back your hair."
She had to laugh. "No, you won't."
"Wouldn't be the first time I do it."
"The last time was really the last time." And it was such a long time ago, it wasn't real anymore. It was…a kind of old not funny ancient story.
"Good, it wasn't a good reason why you drank back then, I'm glad you chose the ice cream today. And I know, Jack, Jim and Johnny can be pretty good friends, they're friends you want to have around when you're happy. When you're sad, they're no help at all."
"No, there is a better help available." She smiled at him.
"I hope so."
"I know so." She took his hand. "I'm glad and grateful you came. It was a long night, you're not used to work nights and…nevertheless instead of going to bed, get your well deserved sleep, you came here, bought ice cream and listen to my whine."
"That's what friends are for, right?"
"Right." Sara kissed his cheek. "You're good friend…and I wonder…"
"Don't go there, Sara."
"You have no idea what I was about to say."
"Yes I do." He moved away a little bit. "I know exactly what you were about to say and I have to tell you, it's better we don't talk about it. You're hurt, you've every reason to be hurt, but to get even with your husband by saying, what you were about to say, is not the right way. I know I was…I made it quite clear I don't mind us going back to where we left before you went to Vegas, but…not before you make it clear to your husband, the marriage is over. If you want revenge for what Grissom did to you, please do this with somebody else. I'm not available for a little cheat. Sorry."
"Doug…"
"No need to explain or apologize, we can forget about it." He pulled her in his arms. "You're a good person, an honest woman, who doesn't betray her husband."
"I don't want to be a good wife anymore."
"You're a good person, it's in your DNA, you can't change it."
"Maybe whiskey had been the better idea."
"Because it takes away the ability to think straight? Makes people do crazy things, they regret later? No, not your style and we're both not twenty-five anymore. Remember, back then? Rusty Nickel."
"Don't ever mention this place again!" Sara laughed and the awkward tensions she had before, were all gone. This was also so much Doug. She was about to do something stupid and he stopped her, didn't mention it again and just kept going, like nothing had happened. Or reminded her of things, he knew they'd make her laugh.
"Why? We had some real fun there."
"No…not fun we want to mention here."
"It makes you smile. But I think we stop talking about our past and go back to the present. It's time to go to bed. We both have work to do. You go in your bed and I go back to my hotel room."
"You can stay here…on the couch?"
"And get shot by your husband when he comes home? No, no sleep over party until you haven't decided what to do next. And you haven't. Shall I take the whiskey with me or will you be a good girl and stay away from the alcohol?"
"No alcohol, there's no space for anything in my stomach left. I feel very pregnant with ice cream."
"I'm sure you look beautiful when you're pregnant and a mini Sara will be absolutely cute."
"We will never know."
"Never say never." He got up. "If you feel like it, give me a call for dinner. In case your husband decides to come home, tell him the truth, tell him you saw him and demand a very good - and honest - explanation for it. If he's here and you need somebody to support you, you know my number. In case you need more ice cream - go to a supermarket."
"Okay." She chuckled. "Thanks again for coming here."
"My pleasure." He gave her a hug. "I see you tonight."
"In better shape and…hopefully with my dignity back."
"You never lost your dignity. Nothing happened, nothing to regret." He kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep, it was a long and hard night."
"We'll close the case tonight, right?"
"Of course. We're the greatest. But you have to promise me one thing, Sara."
"Whatever you want." And she meant it. Whatever he wanted, she would give it to him. She knew, he wouldn't ask for something she didn't want to do.
"When this case is closed and I've to go back to Frisco, we stay in contact. And it won't be another thirteen years before we have ice cream together again." Doug smiled.
"Deal." She squeezed his hand. A trip to San Francisco to see him again. Like the last days showed, they were still friends and he was a person, she could rely on.