Firstly I would again like to thank GSRgirlforever for being THE BEST betaer EVER!! That isn't an exaggeration in my opinion either. She may have actually saved my life from angry fans of this story.
Second I realize this took a while but with homework and my little bro, I've been having mental blocks and at the point where I may actually commit homicide.
Please don't kill me.
CHAPTER TEN
The rising sun burned at Grissom's eyes until they adjusted, but he made no attempt to move from his position against the balcony. Could he really do it? The idea of marrying Sara had always been a daydream, but change her? Turn her into a mythical creature of the night? The door reopening startled him from his thoughts.
"Dad's here Gil."
They were nowhere, yet they'd been discussing it for hours. Grissom tightened his grip around Sara's waist as her head fell on to his shoulder. With Terrance and their father arguing loudly, Grissom knew their situation was bad.
"Can you two keep it down? Sara just fell asleep."
"Sorry" came the perfectly timed apology. Henry sat on the mattress by his eldest son, Terrance disappearing into another room of the apartment.
"She really is special, isn't she?"
"I feel like you did with mom." Silence filled empty space for a moment. "Would you have changed her?"
"Not a day goes by that I don't ask myself that Gilbert."
"I don't know what to do dad. I could save her life, but at the same time I could completely fuck it up."
"In the end, you might not have a choice. Talk to Sara, it's her decision whether you like it or not."
"Terrance said something similar to that."
"He's right and you know it."
"I know. I just don't know if I could do it though."
"We'll see if we get there." Henry patted him supportively on the back. "And watch your language."
Grissom was talking quietly on the phone to Catherine when Sara finally woke.
"I don't know. If I knew I'd tell you Cath. Just...deal with it. There isn't much I can do about that." Grissom hung up, sighing heavily.
"Griss?" His head snapped around quickly, before he sat beside her on the mattress.
"Hey, did I wake you?"
"It's fine. What do we do about Vegas though? We've been gone over a week and my shirt is falling to pieces."
"We can go shopping late, I need some new stuff as well. As for Vegas, I don't have a clue." A heavy, awkward silence drifted between them.
"What about us? Its like Terrance says something stupid and you start ignoring me."
"Its not like that. Terrance said something, then dad repeated it. I'm just trying to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to do." Brown eyes questioned blue as she silently begged him to go on.
"Terrance made that comment about us lying about getting married. With all the crap that's going on, they both think...that it may be the only option we've got. Then they started talking other stuff and my head won't stop spinning."
What the hell? Sara suddenly understood what he meant. The fact that Terrance had even mentioned marriage had shocked her, the fact that they had been discussing other things was a slightly scary thought.
All thoughts were shoved aside when Terrance and Henry ran through the door looking a tad bit apprehensive.
"They're here."
"What do we do? There's no way I can get her out of here."
Someone began banging loudly on the front door.
"Gil, its Jim and Heather, open the door." Three sighs of relief sounded simultaneously around the tiny apartment, Henry leaving to invite their guests inside. Heather pulled Grissom into a hug before punching his arm repeatedly.
"You leave without a word, then some cop calls, complaining that you attempted to throw a guy through a wall. Now we find you in the same guy's apartment. What the hell's going on Gil?"
"If you'd stop hitting me, we're in a bit of trouble."
"No one is supposed to know, now they feel threatened because if some one can figure it out, others will too and we'll have a problem." Henry tried to explain.
"We'll figure something out though."
"I already figured it out." Grissom sounded out from his position on the mattress by Sara's side.
"Why didn't you say something?" Heather asked but he paid her no attention, instead choosing to stare down at Sara.
"They'll send someone with experience to hunt us down. The likelihood is they'll take out the weakest link first and from first hand experience, there's no way any of us could take them on. No matter how this pans out, I'll lose you."
"We have another option Gil." He tore his gaze from hers, turning back to his father.
"I told you, I'm not taking that one." He practically growled in response.
"So what do we do?"
"Us four, we stay here. Heather, get Sara as far away from here as possible."
"I'm not leaving." Sara spoke up quickly, making everyone but Grissom jump.
"I don't know what else to do Sara. My hands are tied...I can't lose you. The only way to keep you safe is to let you go." The others silently slipped away as Sara rested her hand on his cheek. "I love you, but I need to do this."
"I love you too Gil."
Her heart sounded profoundly in her chest as she pulled him down, joining their lips in a tentative kiss. His icy tongue slid passed her lips, sending a familiar chill down her spine. Unknowingly, they became horizontal on the mattress, hands disappearing beneath shirts and loosening buttons.
Even after relieving each other of said shirts, neither made to push any further. They simply reveled in the sensations of his cold chest against her warm, bra clad one. Her fingers lost themselves in his hair, pushing her lungs to the point where she was sure they would pop. Reluctantly, she pulled away to breathe.
"Dont leave me." She begged.
"I have to, even though I don't want to. I'm sorry." He moved to stand up.
"Just... lay with me for a while."
He lay on his back, pulling her to him as she laid her head where his heart should have been. Henry and Terrance watched in shadows, both concerned for his attachment.
"Why do we have to break both their hearts dad? It's not right. This is the first time I've seen Gil happy in years."
"I know Terry. I know."