-Knowing What You Want Is Key-
Chapter Eleven
About twenty minutes after departing from the lab, Sara and Greg were taking their seats at their reserved table while Grissom pulled up outside the restaurant.
"So, Greg, what are you going to do with your winnings?" Sara asked casually as the waiter poured them each a glass of fine wine.
"Winnings?" He asked confused, taking the proffered menu while Sara took hers.
"Yeah, I believe Catherine said the pot is well over two G's now." And at his shifting nervously in his seat she laughed. "It's okay Greg, I've known about the bet for a while now."
"Sorry Sar." She said shyly.
"Don't worry about it. I actually find it kind of flattering. I figured though that if I ever did go on a date with someone, the least they could do is tell me how they were going to spend their hard earned money."
"I, uh, well. I was given the money this morning before leaving the lab. Warrick was my witness to you actually saying yes, even if it was staged. So I am spending my winnings by treating you, my lovely Sara, to a nice meal, and then I don't know what I'll do with the rest. I'll pay you for your dress. I imagine that shopping with Catherine couldn't have been cheap."
"Well, thank you that's sweet. Take the rest and just have fun with it. You deserve it Greg. You're a good guy to help me like this."
"Eh, I'm just glad I could. I mean it when I say that you deserve the best Sara. You're beautiful, smart, funny. You give me a run for my money that's for sure. Grissom is blind if he can't see that."
"Thanks Greg. For everything."
Outside, Grissom pulled up to the valet parking and paused.
"Cath, this is a little fancy, don't you think?" He grunted, putting the car into 'park.'
"Nope and besides I think it will be the perfect place for you to sit and think about what you want." She retorted, scurrying from the car so he wouldn't see her devilish grin.
Reluctantly, Grissom followed her out of the car and into the restaurant. Once inside, Catherine gave her name, and the hostess gave her a knowing smile as she showed them to their table. Instantly upon arriving at the table Grissom noticed the tall, beautiful brunette who held his heart, sitting a mere three tables away.
"Catherine!" He whispered angrily, motioning to the other couple.
"Oh, hey. Look who's here. What a coincidence. Should we go and say hello?" Catherine said in mock-surprise.
"Catherine." He warned, causing her smile to just grow.
"Oh you're right. They probably want to be alone."
"I'm leaving." He growled.
"No! Gil Grissom you are going to sit down and enjoy a meal with your friend and watch and see what you are letting get away!" She ordered, just as angry as he was.
"Believe me I know." He said glumly.
"Yeah, I know you do. I saw the proof of that all over her body." She joked as she sipped at her water.
"What?" He asked just as confused as Sara had been when she told her. He hadn't been completely sure whether or not Catherine knew of his and Sara's night together. She knew he had hurt her, he knew that, but until now he thought Sara would have kept it to herself.
"Gil. Come on. Do I look stupid? She has whisker burn all over her body, a hickey bigger than Ecklie's ego on her neck, and some pretty distinct bruising that I bet would match your hand prints around her waist." She explained exasperated, and then smiled as he turned the same shade of red as Sara's dress.
"So you know." He was desperately trying to avert his eyes from both her and the woman three tables down.
"Yeah, I know. And I must give her credit because I don't think I could ever still love someone if they did that to me. You really hurt her Gil. A mean, a note? A god damn note! And yet, she's still madly in love with you."
"If she still loved me, she wouldn't be on a date with Greg." He said bitterly a few moments later. He had been so focused on the drink in his hands that he hadn't noticed anyone leaving or approaching.
"Well, at least with Greg I don't have to worry about waking up alone to find a heartbreaking note after I share myself, my bed with him." Came Sara's teary voice across the table from him.
When he looked up, stunned, Catherine was no longer there, she was off dancing with Greg, but Sara was, tears in her eyes as turned away.
"Sara wait!" He yelled after her, not caring anymore about disrupting any of the other patrons in the large room. But she kept walking. He finally caught up to her on the dance floor, with Greg and Catherine only a few feet away. "Sara, please!" He begged, catching hold of her arm and spinning her around to face him, revealing the tears that were freely falling down her cheeks. Greg and Catherine were both watching, frozen to their spots, but ready to intervene if need be.
"What! What Grissom! What do you want! You want to humiliate me some more? Want to stick another dagger to my heart? Or do you just want to fuck me again and leave?" She yelled angrily as she cried. Now, almost everyone in the room were transfixed by the couple on the dance floor. Greg, at hearing Sara's outburst and subsequent confession as to what had happened between, clenched his fists and was about to hit Grissom for himself but Catherine held him back.
"No Greg. They need to do this on their own." Catherine warned him quietly.
"Sara, no. I…I…" Grissom started, but he was unsure of what to say or do as he inched closer to her.
"What Grissom! What the hell do you want!" She shouted.
"I want you damn it!" He shouted back, making her flinch, as did Catherine and Greg. "Damn it Sara! That's all I've wanted since that first time I saw you!" Letting his voice drop a little softer. "I want you Sara, all of you. Your heart, your mind, your body. I want to hold you in my arms while you sleep. I want to kiss you in the rain. I want to watch the sun set with you. I want to lay in front of the fireplace playing Trivial Pursuit. I want to kiss the smile from your face when you win. I want to put your toothbrush next to mine. I want to eat frosted flakes together while we read the newest forensic journal. I want to be there to chase away your nightmares after a hard case. I want to tell you how much I love you, but how the thought of how much scares me into doing stupid things and hurting you. I want to curl up with you on the couch and just pick your brain for hours, or do the newest crossword. I want to fill my fridge with all that weird vegetarian food you like because it makes you happy. I just want to make you happy. God Sara, I want to stop hurting you. I want to not be so afraid of my feelings anymore so that I can give you the life that you deserve. I love you Sara Sidle and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you." As he spoke, his own tears began to fall and everyone listened intently to his speech. Around the trivial pursuit comment, he had taken her hands gently in his as she cried.
Sniffling back her tears and taking a slow shaky breath, she took a tentative step forward and spoke.
"So take what you want Grissom. I've been right here all along." Her voice was soft and raspy as she fought back her sobs.
"Sara, I'm sorr…" He was silenced almost immediately by her finger to his lips.
"If you mean what you say, if you want me Grissom, than prove it. Shut up and kiss me." She commanded with the faintest of smiles, causing everyone else to smile lightly as they waited anxiously. They were like little kids watching in amazement at a fireworks display, including the 'oohs and ahs.' Knowing that Grissom was such a private person, she knew this would be the ultimate test of his words. Kissing her in public, with all of these people watching keenly, would prove to her if he was truly willing to do what it takes to be with her. "Come on Grissom. Right here, right now. For all these people whose dinner's we've interrupted. I'm sure they'd all like to see a happy ending." She goaded as she glanced around the room, motioning to all of the people with foolish smiles and eyes that were glued to them. By the time she turned back to Grissom, a middle aged, full-bodied, obnoxious woman stood up and yelled.
"Come on honey, we're waiting! Kiss the poor girl!"
"Yeah, kiss her!" Catherine yelled out, which started the endless chant of 'kiss her' from the many nosy patrons and Greg.
The entire place was in sync, leading him on. After looking around shyly a bright red blush forming on his cheek at his surroundings, he realized what Sara was doing. This was a test of his commitment, and he wasn't going to fail this time. Stepping forward so that their bodies were grazing each other, he cupped his hands on either side of her face and staring deep into her eyes, he leaned in and kissed her. The moment their lips met, the room went into chaos as they cheered and clapped, but for the two engaged in the kiss, they were suddenly the only ones in the room, and time stood still for them. What started as just a simple kiss, filled with love, quickly erupted into something far deeper; filled with passion and a newfound energy. Tenderly Sara's tongue ran along the length of his lips, begging for entry. As he granted her access and their tongues danced together in longing, their hands seemed to take on a life of their own, maneuvering through hair, over necks and shoulders and skimming their backs. When Grissom's hands found Sara's bare back, the electricity it ignited was startling and suddenly they remembered where they were. Oxygen, too, becoming a problem, they slowly pulled apart. The arms still held tightly to each other as their foreheads met and they struggled for breath.
"I love you." He whispered.
Leaning forward, she gave him a soft touch of her lips to his before embracing him a tight hug and whispering into his ear.
"I love you too."
Greg and Catherine were watching excitedly as the music started up and the new couple began to dance.
"She still owes me a kiss." Greg said mock-bitterly. As much as he still wanted to kill Grissom, he knew that Sara had just found her happiness, so he'd be happy for her. But if Grissom did anything to hurt her again, he wouldn't even be able to find his own body.
"I don't think she's going to kiss you now. Her lips seem to be otherwise engaged." Catherine laughed as the disappointment on Greg's face.
"I need to start collecting my payments up front." He sighed.
"Get over it Greg." She quipped.
"Will you kiss me?" He begged.
"Shut up and dance with me."
-The End-