I hold no rights to anything CSI except to look upon them lovingly each Thursday night.
I have to give thanks to Peggy who keeps my writing on the up and up. She's my proofreader, my editor, and my friend. (P/M Thanks for the suggestions for this chapter.)
A/N OK, this is my slightly twisted idea of how to get myself on the show. Yes, sadly, I'm an actor as well as a writer but a dreamer most of all. I would play Gwen. Please, R&R!
Family, Like It or Not
Chapter 11
"Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit." This is not how Gil was used to waking up.
"Sara, honey, are you ok?" Sara was sitting on the edge of the bed with her face in her hands.
"No Gil, I'm not ok. Do you know what today is?"
"July 6th."
"Yes. But, what is the significance of today?" Well, they were officially celebrating Independence Day a few days late because of their schedules. Just as Gil opened his mouth to explain all the virtues of Independence Day, Sara continued. "I don't want to hear the historical reference of Independence Day. I mean the other significance."
Gil wracked his brain with 'events' he may have forgotten but came up empty. "Honey, you're going to have to tell me, I'm not running on full throttle yet." He was careful to blame his lack of memory on having just woken up.
"It's their anniversary, Gil. They didn't tell us and we didn't remember." Gil could hear the sadness and regret in her voice and a little hormones too. He was careful not to mention it, though.
"Whose anniversary, Sara?"
"Jim and Gwen's, our best friends."
"Honey, they've only been married what, a month? How can it be their anniversary?"
"Gil, sometimes you are such a guy. They've been married exactly a month; it's their one month anniversary."
"Oh." Gil didn't want to get into trouble, but he didn't recall doing anything for their one month anniversary.
"We were still in Hawaii for ours, remember?"
"Right." He didn't remember but knew better than to say so.
"It was different for us, Gil. We went to Hawaii for a month. Jim and Gwen came here. So for their anniversary, they came back here to the house on the lake."
"Sara, if they had wanted to be alone, they wouldn't have asked us to join them."
"I know Gil; but they asked us, not the whole team. And now they have a house full of people and their toddler sharing their bedroom."
"Well, what are we going to do about it then?"
"I don't know." Sara said sadly.
After a short pause for thought, Gil said, "I do. You see if you can get in the shower and leave the rest to me. Operation Anniversary is underway."
"What are you going to do?"
"For now just leave it to me, and I'll fill you in after you're showered and dressed."
"Are you sure you can handle this? Maybe I should stay here and help get things rolling."
"Nope, I've got an idea, and I'm going to run with it," Gil said.
Sara gathered her stuff and headed to the bathroom. "Hopefully I can get in the bathroom and back to Gil to see what he has planned," she thought.
"Brass, where do you want me to set up the horse shoes?"
"There's a good sandy spot just before you get to the path up the hill. Do you see it Rick?"
"Yeah, I got it."
"Daddy, Bruno and me are tired, can we take a nap now?" Jim checked his watch and realized it was passed Sammy's usual nap time.
"Hey, Pal, I'm sorry. Daddy lost track of time. Come on let's get you tucked in. Honey, I'm gonna take Sammy in for his nap."
"Ok, Jim. I've almost got the meat and the non-meat meat ready for the grill so don't be too long."
"I don't think that will be a problem. He's practically asleep on his feet." They exchanged a quick kiss, and Jim took Sammy to their room followed closely by Bruno.
"Boat's ready Gris, everything exactly the way you asked. Even the champagne is on ice!
"Warrick, Gwen can't have champagne, she's pregnant!"
"No worries Gris, Nicky got…" Warrick turned to Nick, "what'd you say it was called, Nicky?"
"Sparkling white grape juice. I got the biggest bottle they had. All the other stuff is already hidden in the shed," Nicky finished.
"You guys are the best! Has Greg gotten back from his mission yet?"
"I haven't seen him yet, Gris. He called twenty minutes ago and said it's all taken care of. I'm sure he'll be here any second," Nick said just as Greg pulled the Denali into the driveway. "See?"
"Gris, I took care of everything. They need to be out there by 6:00pm tonight, or they may miss it." Greg said as he jogged up to the man.
"Great job, Greg. You may just have gotten yourself off decomp duty," Gris said as he left to find Sara.
Sammy woke up from his nap at 4:00 pm. As usual, he was hungry which was perfect timing as Jim had just announced the burgers and steaks were ready! The extended family sat around two huge tables on the deck and took part in great food, great conversation, and great friends. It was about 5:45 pm when Gris stood and started tapping his beer glass with his knife.
"Listen up everyone!" Grissom wasn't an overly eloquent man, but he tried. "We are here at the home of our dear friends, Gwen and Jim Brass. Who, for the most part, didn't want us here. Well…some of us." Gris took the opportunity to look at the four interlopers who hung their heads in mock embarrassment. "Today, as we celebrate the independence of this great country, our hosts celebrate, too. Though it was never mentioned, I would be greatly remiss if I were to let this occasion pass without some celebration. A toast, to Gwen and Jim as they celebrate the one month anniversary of their loss of independence." When Grissom finished his toast, the gathered group laughed and congratulated the couple. Preparations had all been checked and double checked.
"Thanks guys, that was great," Gwen said as she started gathering up some of the plates.
"Oh no, Gwen. We've got the clean up covered. Grissom has more planned for you two." Catherine said as she took the plates from Gwen and headed into the house.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Gwen said to Jim who was equally in the dark.
"Gil, what's this all about?" Brass asked his friend.
"Come on" was Gil's only response, and he and Sara led Gwen and Jim down to the dock. Everyone followed behind closely.
"Ok, you guys, what's going on?" Brass asked suspiciously.
"It was great of you to invite us here for this weekend. It was even better of you to invite the gate crashers to stay. However, all in all, it put a damper on what should be your time together. Sara and I will look after Sammy, and the two of you will head out on the boat."
"Gil, the boat isn't supplied for an overnight trip." Brass had to be practical about things. After all, Gwen is pregnant.
"Jim, I'd be surprised if that boat could hold another thing. We put up supplies earlier today while the two of you were getting ready for the picnic. Now, get aboard and head out to that spot you told me about and drop anchor."
"Why that spot?" Jim asked, again with suspicion.
"Why the rush? We can leave later," Gwen added.
"Nope, that's all part of the surprise. You've got to be there by 6 pm. Get going." Sara smiled as she gently pushed Jim and Gwen in the direction of the boat.
"Sammy, behave for Aunt Sara! We'll see you in the morning!" Gwen said as she blew Sammy a kiss.
"Ok, Mommy, have fun!" Sammy waved furiously as his parents boarded their boat.
"Thanks everyone! Behave in my house!" Jim called as he and Gwen pulled the boat away from the dock.
"They're something else, huh?"
"They're family Jimmy. Are we at the spot yet? Sara said we had to be there by 6 pm."
"Yeah, this is it. Can you help me with the anchor, Hon?"
"Ok. Do you hear something?" Gwen asked.
"It's probably the Community Orchestra; they play here every 4th of July weekend," Jim answered.
"What time is it?"
"5:58 pm. Well, whatever it is, it should be any minute." Jim said as he and Gwen sat on a padded storage bench on the deck of their boat to wait for the remainder of their surprise.
"Jimmy, look," Gwen pointed and together they looked up at the plane overhead. Behind it trailed a banner which read:
Happy Anniversary Brasses – Love, the Gang
"They really are something," Gwen said as her eyes began to tear up. "Dance with me, Jimmy."
"Out here?" Jim asked as he looked around.
"Sure, who's gonna see us?" Gwen answered.
As they danced on the deck of the boat, a flash in the sky got their attention. "Is that at the house?" Jim asked concerned.
"It came from that direction," Gwen said.
"Well, what the he'…" Jim's concern was cut short when the fireworks shot into the sky.
"Looks like the gang decided we needed some fireworks for our anniversary." Gwen said with that smile she gets.
"Come along, Mrs. Brass," Jim said from the steps that lead below deck as he reached back for Gwen.
"I'm coming, Captain," Gwen said with a smile.