Chapter 21

Gil and Sara walked hand in hand in the snow as they explored the small wooded area behind the cabin. Sara wanted to tell him about her doctor's appointment, but was not sure how to bring up the subject. Thankfully she didn't have to.

"What did your gynecologist say?" he asked.

"The effects of the pill should wear off soon," she said.

The gynecologist had said that sometimes it takes a while to conceive after the woman stopped taking her birth control pills.

"So that means it can happen any time," Sara said, unaware of the fact that it already had started.

"Then I think we should make some changes at the house," he said, smiling.

They enjoyed their month away from the city. They took walks, went snowmobiling and they even tried skiing. Their nights were spent taking in the beauty of the mountains and making love.

Their last night they were sitting on the porch wrapped up in a blanket. It had snowed that morning so there was a fresh blanket of snow covering everything.

"It is so beautiful here," Sara said.

"It lets you know where you stand in the scheme of things," Gil said.

"Look," Sara said, "She came back to say good bye."

The doe and her fawn had come back almost every night. She loved to just sit and watch her. Sara stood and very slowly walked toward the doe.

The doe lifted her head, Sara was afraid she would bolt, so she stopped, the doe looked at her, then the doe walked to within two feet of Sara.

The fawn, who had followed its mother, walked right up to Sara and rubbed it's head against Sara's leg. Sara slowly lowered her hand and stroked its head.

The doe nudged her baby, looked at Sara as if to say "It's been good to know you" then they both took off for the woods.

Sara went back to Gil, "That was so fantastic. How can anyone want to harm such a magnificent creature."

Gil assured her he did not know. "Let's get inside," he said.

She nodded and took his hand.

"Let's have a picnic," Sara said.

Gil looked at her as if she were crazy.

"I remember one winter when I was small," she said. "Before….."

Gil knew what she meant, he just smiled at her.

"It had rained all that day and I could n't go outside. My mother spread a blanket on the floor and we had an indoor picnic."

Gil smiled, as he went to the bedroom and got a couple of blankets and some pillows. He spread one out in front of the fireplace, tossing the other on the floor. He then went to the kitchen and helped her get their "picnic" supplies together.

She had cheese,fruit and a loaf of French bread. He got a bottle of wine. They sat on the blanket and ate and talked about their future.

"How do you see us in ten years?" she asked him.

He smiled. "You still in my arms and me loving you," he said.

She kissed him.

"How about you?" he asked.

"Me still loving you, too. And us sitting on the porch watching our children playing."

"Children?" he said.

"Sure, a girl and a boy," she said smiling.

He just raised an eyebrow at that thought. Gil kissed her, "A boy and a girl?"

"Aw hum," she said.

"Interesting," he said.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"Getting one of them started," he said.

"I like that idea," she said starting to stand.

"Right here," he said starting to unbutton her top . "I have always fantasized about make love in front of a fireplace."

Sara smiled. She was more them willing to help his fantasy become reality.

"Let's stay right here," she said after they had made love.

He smiled at her, grabbed the pillows and the other blanket. He covered them both, cradled her in his arms, they slept on the floor in front of the fireplace.

The next morning they reluctantly packed and headed back to Vegas.

"I want details," Catherine said.

"Gil was so cute," she said. "He was trying to make everything perfect that first night. He had candles and soft music. He stared the fireplace and even wore some silk pajama bottoms."

Catherine smiled.

"What was so sweet was he was nervous, a lot like the first time we made love," Sara added, giggling.

Catherine giggled.

"What?" Sara said.

"I am just trying to picture 'tough as nails' Grissom nervous," she said.

"The rest of the month was fantastic. The snow was perfect," Sara went on, "And there was this doe."

Sara told her all about the momma and her baby and everything that had happened their last night.

"It came right up to you?" Catherine said amazed.

"Yes," Sara said. Then she told her about the fireside picnic.

"How romantic," Catherine said. "I wish Warrick would do something like that."

"Speaking of 'Warrick'," Sara said. "How you decided where you want to go on your honeymoon?"

"We haven't even talked about it," Catherine said. "He says any old place is fine with him."

"The wedding is in three weeks," Sara said.

"Tell me about it," Catherine said. "At least I did get him to agree on BUTTERFLY FIELD. He loved your and Grissom's wedding there."

"Maybe you should just make all the arrangements," Sara said. "You know, just go where you want to go."

"That sounds great, but it would be nice if he participated," Catherine said.

"Well, Gil made all the honeymoon arrangements," she said, "you tell him he can make the wedding arrangements and you'll take care of the honeymoon."

Catherine was thinking about that when Gil came in the break room with assignments.

"Nick has the flu," Gil said. "But it is a light night, we should be ok."

Warrick and Sara went to a body dump in the landfill. When they got there Warrick said, "I think I will call Griss, there are bugs all over the place."

Sara felt lightheaded. "What is wrong?" Warrick asked.

"I feel sick," Sara said walking far enough away as to not containment the crime scene.

She got sick, not once but twice. She grabbed a bottle of water, rinsed her mouth and went back to where Warrick was.

"Might be the decomp," Warrick said.

"Decomp never bothered me before," she said.

"Maybe you have Nick's flu?" he said.

Sara covered her mouth and ran this time.

"Grissom," Warrick said on the phone. "Something is going on with Sara. She is puking all over the place."

Sara walked back to Warrick again.

"Griss said for you to wait in the car, he's on his way," Warrick said.

Thankfully Sara went to the car. A few minutes later Gil pulled up, he went to Sara first.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Flu I think," she said.

"Shift is almost over, take yourself to the doctor. I'll help Warrick," he said.

"But," she said trying to protest.

"GO!" he said. "If you have the flu, you will make everyone else sick."

Sara threw her hands up in the air and left.