Chapter 11- Manicotti Mud Follies

Chapter 11- Manicotti Mud Follies

"Man, I haven't seen a storm like this since I was in college at LVU!" Warrick said, coming in the door of Catherine's house.

"Weather channel says it's the biggest storm Vegas has seen since 1932."

Catherine replied, helping Warrick out of his wet jacket.

"Good news is due to the weather, Ecklie closed the lab for the night. We are on standby however in case Brass's guys need help with accidents."

"Yeah especially on the I-15. I've seen so many wrecks on the turnpike. You would think people would learn to slow down. Ah well we wouldn't have a job if not for desperate, idiotic people."

"Heard from Lindsey?"

"Yes this morning. My sister was going to break out the finger paints for the girls to keep them out of the rain. Lindsey loves them so they'll be busy for hours." Catherine said smiling at the thought of her daughter squishing in the paints.

"Cool so looks like we are stuck here together. What are you up for?"

Catherine blushed as a naughty image of her and Warrick flashed in her mind.

"Darth Vader, C3PO, and a whole lotta action. How about Return of the Jedi?" She said trying to hide her thoughts.

"A woman after my heart. Sexy, sophisticated, and addicted to Star Wars. A dream come true." Warrick said wrapping his arm around Catherine.

"Sounds like you got this all figured out. Well I hope your stomach is ready too. Mrs. Anioli made me the biggest lasagna I have ever seen!"

"Ah, make a grown man hungry!"

"Oh damnit!"

Catherine's sudden outburst startled Warrick.

"What's wrong?"

"Mrs. Aniloi went to Florida this morning, and I am supposed to watch Manicotti for her."

"She went to Florida and left dinner cooking? Won't it be burnt?"

"No silly, Manicotti is her white Labrador. And he's outside in the doghouse. I need to go over and get him. He can sleep in the garage on Lindsey's old mattress."

"In this rain you are going for him? Asked a surprised Warrick

"She only lives next door. I won't melt, Warrick!"

"Damn, well let me help at least."

Ten minutes later they finally entered Mrs Anioli's yard. The rain whipped at them. If Catherine didn't know better, she would have thought she was in Florida during a hurricane. Manicotti was so excited to see her, he charged at Catherine and knocked her into the mud. Warrick having to be the hero joined her in the puddle a minute later when his boots slid.

Slowly they made their way back to Catherine's house. Ten minutes later two wet, muddy CSI's and one smore colored dog entered the garage.

"This is the perfect situation. There is no way we can go into the house with all this mud. And I have no clothes in the garage, except some of Lindsey's old dresses."

"Yeah and pink doesn't look good with my hair color." Warrick said with a big smile

"Oh I don't know I think lavender might go well with your eyes." She said wiping dirty bangs out of her face.

"Well I guess we act like adults and do it like this. I will turn around and you can strip to your undergarments, then go outside in the rain. Then when you come in I will do the same."

"Sounds like a plan, but you go first. I need to make sure this dog is tied to the garage door or he will sneak in the house."

"Cool." Warrick stripped down to his grey boxer briefs and went outside to the pouring rain. It was a liberating feeling. He closed his eyes and started running his hands through his muddy hair. A moment later, two seductive hands began lathering his chest and stomach with soap. He could feel his manhood come to life.

"Been a long time since anyone's given me a shower." He said with a smile.

"It should happen more often. Someone needs to get those hard to reach places." Her voice was low and sexy.

"Hmm we'll see about that."

Warrick turned around pulling Catherine into his growing stimulation. Using his thumb to brush off the fleck of mud on her bottom lip, he moved in and pushed his lips over hers. She melted into him. He could feel the soft skin of her back and sides. Her breasts pressed into the hardness of his chest. Her hands came up his sides, she could feel the tiny chill bumps forming.

So he's ticklish

Warrick felt Catherine's hands on the waistband of his shorts. Slowly taking her hand, he moved it lower so she could feel his desire.

"I want you, Warrick." She said a little breathlessly

"Catherine, I want you worse, baby. But I want you to be sure. I don't want to be like Eddie or that clown from the casino. I want to take good care of you."

"Warrick you have been there for me all the times I have needed you. You are strong when I need you to be, and so gentle. Lindsey loves you, and her mom is starting to think she loves you too. I am ready for you, for this. Just tell me when I wake up, you will be at my kitchen table with me drinking coffee."

"I can't agree to that."

Catherine moved to pull back but he held her firmly in place.

"I like milk when I wake up, coffee second."

Catherine laughed and moved up to kiss him again. The rain still pounding on top of them.

Chapter 19- Rain Delay

By the time Grissom got to Las Vegas the rain was at a steady downpour. He had never seen anything like it in his entire Nevada life. The streets were flooded and though he was in a large SUV, he had to be careful not to stall out. He had tried to contact Catherine at the lab to check on everything but the signal was dead.

At 7:15pm he stopped at the Pack and Shop to get Sara some carnations. Grissom had always loved carnations better than roses. The older lady at the register smiled sweetly when he walked up. His hands were full with red and white carnations and a bottle of Dr. Pepper. She carefully wrapped the flowers in three plastic bags and handed him his receipt.

"Be careful in that rain. The worst of the storm hasn't even gotten here yet. I hope those flowers are for a lovely lady you can cuddle up with."

"They are, and thank you." He smiled at her, a renewed sense of happiness, despite the weather.

He turned down Miller Ave, just one small block away from his Sara.

His Sara

The two words together brought him butterflies. He saw a black Mercedes with a flat tire stuck in a rain gutter. A short figure sat behind the wheel. Grissom pulled over and ran to the door. A little old lady rolled down the window.

"Are you ok?" Grissom asked.

"I was supposed to be at my daughter's house with this roast. I have been sitting here for an hour and a half, but I am glad to see someone stop."

"My name is Gil Grissom, I work for the Las Vegas Crime Lab. Can I give you a ride to your daughter's house?"

"Oh that would be wonderful. Can you get the roast too?"

He knew that he should be annoyed at the delay but he thought of his mother and hoped that someone would help her if she were in this situation.

"I'll get it, stay here, you're in a drainage hole, the current is fairly strong."

He quickly grabbed the roast and her purse and ran it to the Tahoe. He came back looking at the water near the tires. It was almost two feet high. Without any hesitation he reached into the Mercedes, picked the little lady up in his arms, locked the door, and carried her to the Tahoe. Then he jumped into the front seat.

"God bless you Mr. Grissom. I thought I might stay there all night."

"It's all right, I'm just glad I came this way. Please call me Gil."

"My name is Vivian, Vivian Marquette. You can call me Viv."

"Well Viv, I am happy to meet you and your pot roast. Now where does your daughter live?"

As it was Viv's daughter only lived three miles from Sara. He pulled into the driveway, opened the door, and carried Viv to the front door.

The woman who opened the door was in tears.

"Mom! Oh my God are you ok? Are you hurt?"

Viv started to laugh.

"I am quite all right. Gil you can please put me down."

Grissom did as he was told, then jogged back to the Tahoe to get her roast and her purse. He was about to say goodnight, when Viv firmly took his hand and led him inside.

"Gil this is my daughter Marie. Marie this is Mr. Gil Grissom from the Las Vegas Crime Lab."

"Noni!" A little girl with the blackest hair Grissom had ever seen, came running at Grissom.

"And this is my grandaughter Margarite. Margarite say hello to Mr. Grissom."

"Hi."

"She stood staring at the man, a puzzling look on her face. Such a jumbled mind for a five year old.

"Margarite, why are staring at Mr. Grissom?" Marie asked.

"Mommy, does his face scratch his little girls like daddy's little one does to mine when he kisses me goodnight?"

Grissom blushed. He would have to trim the beard when Sara gave birth.

Gave birth?

Now where did that come from? But he could feel the butterflies churning as he thought of Sara as a mother.

"Actually Margarite, I don't have any children. And my pet tarantula doesn't seem to mind."

"Noni, what's a tera tantula?" She asked trying to say the word the way he had.

"A tarantula is a big hairy spider, my sweet girl."

She thought about this for a minute and then making a face she said, "Ewww, I don't like spiders. But I like butterflies."

Grissom leaned down and smiled at the little girl.

"Most girls like butterflies. When I come back I will bring you a big bright blue and purple one, in a jar."

"To have?" She said with the joy only a child can express.

"To have." He said

Squealing in delight, she ran forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. And then kissed his furry cheek.

"I gotta go tell Harry about this!" She said and ran upstairs.

Grissom felt like a big fluffy marshmallow. He never realized how much he wanted to be a daddy. But he knew that Sara was the mother of his children, and that he wanted to make them as soon as possible.

"Harry is Margarite's favorite teddy bear. She never leaves him, unless it's naptime." Marie said.

Turning to her mother, Marie crossed her arms.

"Mom what happened to you, you were supposed to be here two hours ago?"

"Your Aunt Beatrice called me, and you know how she likes to talk forever. Well I left the house and the rain was pouring. A big truck splashed my windshield and I wrecked into the curb. I was there for an hour and a half before this handsome fella came to my rescue."

Marie smiled at Grissom for the first time. "Thank you so much for helping her. There are so few people in this world that would help. I wanted to go look but my husband's car broke down and he has mine at work."

"No explanations required. I am just glad I could help. I need to be on my way though. Miss. Vivian if you call my cell tomorrow, I will make arrangements to get your car repaired and back to your home." Grissom said smiling,

"You are such a good man. Thank you, I will call you. Are you sure you can't stay for pot roast?"

"Thank you but I have a date. Goodbye and please tell Margarite I will bring her butterfly over next week if that's all right."

"She will be so happy for show and tell at school. Thank you again Mr. Grissom." Marie said warmly.

Grissom headed out to the Tahoe. He checked his watch, 8:55pm. Time to see Sara. The storm clouds grew thicker, the rain still pouring.