Chapter Fourteen:
He regretted it the moment the word left his mouth but for the life of him he could not understand why she had just walked in there…with him.
She gulped. "I was tired of the look in your eye," she breathed.
She did know…
She didn't want me to examine her because of my indecent thoughts…
What kind of man am I?
"I'm sorry. I tried but…"
"Not your fault. I just thought that…I mean…I'm not beautiful…but I am…a woman…and I thought I would get some…reaction out of you but I didn't and it hurt. I could see that you did not like doing the exam but I didn't want Rogers or…him. I finally decided to let Rogers when you wouldn't even let me help you."
"Help me?" he asked.
"You didn't want me to see you…preferred another man…Rogers…which is okay…but…it just hurt."
She laughed out loud and it unnerved him.
Her laughter turned to tears. "I mean I had hoped you would desire me and yet all I can attract is some pervert like Dover…and…" there was a catch in her throat.
"Oh God, Grissom. Did I lead him on? Did I…"
"No! You didn't! Sara, listen to me. Your only mistake was letting him close the door. You knew that the moment it happened. I heard you Sara. I heard your pleas and I couldn't do a damn thing about it!"
He was holding her now as her body racked with sobs.
"You're wrong about something else," he added. "I wanted you…I want you. I was angry at myself for feeling…some very indecent thoughts when…I was supposed to be examining you…work…not…"
His hand gently stroked her hair. "Sara, you have no idea what you do to me…do you?"
She shook her head.
He tilted her head and kissed her fully on the lips. "You're so beautiful, Sara…even an old entomologist can see that," he whispered.
Brown eyes stared intently at blue.
"I've never known what to do about this," he said. "We did lose our friendship….and it was my fault. Understand? All of this has been my fault."
He wasn't sure whether she believed him or not as she continued to cry.
He cradled her in his arms ever mindful of her injuries.
He grabbed the blanket and wrapped it securely around them.
She felt safe and warm in his arms as she rode out the effects of the pain medication.
It was a sense of floating as she lay there no longer feeling the ribs or the throbbing in her head.
She felt very little now as she felt herself being shifted.
His actions were slow and gentle.
One more shift and he was lying there with her body securely tucked in beside his.
He adjusted the pillow so that her head was propped.
"I'll wake you in an hour," he said.
"No sleep," she murmured.
"Sleep," he urged.
"Dreams," she countered.
"Only good ones," he promised.
She remembered each time she was awakened.
Her lips would feel his as they coaxed her awake.
Just as she felt she were drowning in the feel of his body and yearned for more, he was coaxing her back to sleep by the melodious sound of his voice.
He knew when the pain shot wore off.
She tightened her hold on his shirt, waiting for the pain to ease.
It had been a slight shifting of her body and she had paid dearly for it.
His hand stroked her hair, as his lips kissed her tenderly. "I can give you something again," he offered.
She slowly shook her head not wishing to sleep anymore.
"Pain meds are worse than sleeping pills," she gritted as she finally stretched for the last time.
Her cheek was a shade of green with a slight twinge of purple.
His fingers traced the bruising.
She felt self conscious of the bruises and tried to turn away but his hand gently turned her to face him.
"We have two and half weeks left," he stated.
"I can't wait to see what happens next," she gritted.
He was quiet for a moment and she realized he was choosing his words carefully.
"Griss…what..is it?"
"In two and half weeks we go back…to the lab," he breathed.
"Yes, we do," not liking the sound of his voice.
His hand stroked her hair.
"We have two and half weeks…together," he said again.
"You said that…Grissom…"
"But then we go back…to the lab."
She looked confused.
He kissed her at that moment.
It was different than the others kisses.
When his lips left yours, she tried to pull him back.
"Two and a half weeks…that's all we have," he said once more.
It was then she realized his meaning.
"Why?"
"We'll be back at the lab…not here."
"But…"
A thousand thoughts zipped through her brain at the implication of his statement.
We can be together here…
But not when we leave…
Together….
Then..
She shook her head despite the pain as she gulped down a sob.
"Sara, we have two and half weeks…"
"This is a dream…just a dream," she breathed.
She grabbed his shirt as she continued to shake her head.
"Stop, you're just hurting yourself," he grieved.
"Hurting myself? How do you think it will feel when we…two and a half weeks…then…"
She gulped through the wave of emotion.
"I don't know…what I can do…to make this right," he gulped himself. "But we have two and a half weeks."
"You would just…you think we could just walk away after…"
"Sara, I'm much older than you…more set in my ways than you…I wouldn't…I don't know how to live with someone…in my life. I'm selfish with my time…with my work."
Work…
There was the word that made each cringe.
Take it, Sara…
He's offering two and a half weeks…
You never expected a single night…
She felt her chest tighten at what she was agreeing to do.
Can I just let him go?
Kiss and then never tell…
Never touch again…
"We could never…when we go back…"
"No," he sighed.
His hand caressed her cheek.
"Pretend it never happened…just move on," she clarified.
He nodded.
She stared at him. "You could do that? Just move on after…"
"We don't have to do this. We can be friends…nothing more," he offered.
"Wait, you mean if we…we can't even be friends?" she asked.
"Friends…just friends," he stressed.
"But we could never…in Vegas," she said rubbing her temple.
He shook his head. "Here we have two and a…."
"I know how much time," she bit out. Her head felt it was going to explode.
"Sara…let's just forget it. Let's just be friends," he said as he started to sit up.
Her head protested the moment she sat up, shrugging off any assistance.
"If you need anything, I'll just be other there," he said as he tried to straighten the covers for her.
"Grissom…don't go," she said almost pleading.
He reached over and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm not leaving you. I'm just over there."
He sat down on his bed and picked up a book. "Are you hungry? The tray came a few hours ago but I didn't want to wake you."
She threw her legs over the side of the bed and cursed inwardly at the pain the movement caused.
"Catherine sent us some forensic magazines to read. I'm not sure if you've ever read this one. I got a subscription a few months ago," he shared as he displayed the cover.
She gawked at him and he tried to pretend that nothing had transpired between them.
She rubbed her head.
Grissom quickly knelt down in front of her.
"You need something? Sara, you're turning green," he said as his hands cupped her face.
She glanced around the room.
"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.
"Friends," she whispered.
"Friends," he answered.
She visibly shook.
"Griss…could you hold me?" she asked.
"Sara…"
Her head fell into her hands.
He disappeared for a moment but then she felt his fingers open her hand.
"Take these," he said softly as he handed her some water.
She shook her head but he took the pills from her hand and placed them in her mouth.
She drank the water and he forced her to lie back.
"There's this article I read earlier about…"
"Two and a half weeks," she said as she curled into a ball, wishing the drum in her head would stop.
He glanced over at her. "We don't have to talk about…"
"Two and a half weeks…then we go back…to the lab," she gritted.
"I could ask for a chess game…I could teach you," he offered.
She rolled to the other side, away from him.
He shot off his bed but lingered between his side of the room and hers.
"Can I get you anything?" he asked.
"Two and a half weeks," she agreed.
She felt his hand on her forehead.
"I think we need to take you to the infirmary," he panicked.
Her hand grabbed his. "Lay with me Grissom."
"Sara…"
"Just…until we go…back," she managed to get out.
He started to get up but she refused to release his hand.
She nodded through the pain.
"I don't think…I shouldn't have offered…it's not fair…"
"Shut up, Grissom," she choked.
He pulled her into his arms as she trembled.
"This is just the pain medication talking…Just sleep," he urged.
She grabbed him, pulling him down to her lips.
She kissed him letting herself enjoy the feel of him inside her.
He gasped from the intensity of the kiss.
He left a trail of kisses from her lips to her breast but jerked away as if he had done something wrong.
"Don't stop," she moaned.
"Sleep," he ordered.
"No, I want to…two and a half weeks," she pressed. "Yes…I agree."
"Sara, you're in pain."
"Yes, I am…don't make me beg," she said reaching for him.
He took the palm of her hand and kissed it.
He stroked her hair as he gently kissed her on the forehead. "Sleep."
Her hand entwined with his pulling him toward her.
"Sara…"
"Just need…to feel you…beside me," she murmured.
The pills were already taking effect and she cursed.
"You'll feel better tomorrow," he urged.
He pulled her into his arms as he joined her.
"I'm here," he soothed.
"For two and a half weeks," she stated.
This is crazy…
She'll tire of me…
I'm old…
She's young…
She'll get me out of her system and then move on…
But I'll have these two and a half weeks…
He gulped in air.
I can do this…
This is the best thing…
Once she's sees that I'm right, she'll understand it was for the best…
I'll give in to the chase and then I'll no longer be the forbidden fruit…
Two and half weeks…
Better than breaking one's heart…
We'll still be friends…
We'll still work together…
Note from author:
Is he kidding himself or what....now you know the direction I'm headed in with this story.
Take care.