Waking up next to him was bliss. Sara outstretched her arms and memories of the night before came flooding back as her forearm brushed against his bare back. Typically Sanders, he had taken up all the space, sprawled out on his front, half in, half out of the bed. She sat up and ruffled his hair, the bed sheet forming tightly over her chest. He stirred slightly before only just opening his eyes; the events of last night had obviously taken it out of him. He smiled at her before rubbing his eyes and shuffling onto his side, outstretching his arms. She chose her moment quickly and wiggled in beside him, she felt him close his arms around her as she pressed her forehead against his chest.
"Morning," her words were almost a whisper.
"Mmm, not morning, sleeping," was his response, "What time is it?"
She shrugged and nuzzled her face into him as he rested his chin on her head. They lay in silence for a few short moments, allowing her to drink in the feeling of his skin against hers and indulging in a moments peace. That was until the sound of pagers destroyed this peace. She felt his chest move as he sighed. They were needed. Sara rolled herself away and leaned out of bed, fumbling for her pager whilst Greg got up and pulled on his Calvin Klein's before stalking out of her bedroom on the hunt for his clothes. She grinned into her mattress as she watched him move; she hated to see him go but she loved to watch him leave.
She threw the covers back and headed for the shower before he had chance to get there before her, a mischievous grin was plastered on her face as she crept away. Unfortunately, upon returning with his clothes bundled up under his arm, he spotted her and clocked onto her plan instantly. She was nearly there when she felt strong arms grab her around the waist and pick her up.
She wriggled free and it instantly became a game of who could get to the shower first. They were like a pair of teenagers, she hadn't felt like this in a long time and she was loving every second. She managed to get there but he dragged her back out, all the while the sound of their laughter echoed off the bathroom tiles. They, inevitably, kissed and made up in the shower.
The next few months were far beyond anything either of them could comprehend. She didn't know about him, but Sara had never been this happy, and she was pretty sure she had never felt like this about anyone ever before. He'd taken her out for dinner, they went to the movies and grew closer and closer, becoming more of a couple each day and still nobody had noticed, despite numerous close calls in the locker room, and one very close encounter in the labs storage cupboard.
She slung her car into her usual spot and adjusted her rear view mirror so she could see him. She saw him cruise by, tapping his fingers on his steering wheel and singing along to a song she couldn't hear. She smiled to herself as she watched him park up, his car now blocking her view. She pulled herself out of the car and wondered over, like an innocent teenager with things far from innocent on her mind. She watched her feet walking before looking up at him with her signature smile which he returned lopsidedly.
He quickly scanned his surroundings before putting a hand out to her and hooking a finger into one of her belt loops, pulling her forwards towards him and planting a kiss on her forehead. She loved the way he treated her like precious treasure, and as he looked into her eyes and ghosted his fingers along her jaw, she felt as if he was looking into her soul, she felt a little bit more together, a little bit more complete and as she stared into his eyes she felt like she had found what she had been searching for. Her heart continued on fluttering as she indulged herself in this new found feeling she had discovered for him, could she be falling in love?
"You... are very beautiful," she beamed at this comment, and fell a little further.
She opened her mouth to reply but she saw his eyes dart to his right and his smile dissipate. She quickly pulled away from him as his arms fell to his sides like dead weights. Her heart sank at their necessary secrecy.
"I'll see you later," she whispered to him whilst she still had time. She took one last look at those dark brown eyes and saw a flicker of sadness. She smiled weakly before heading inside, passing Nick on her way. "Her Nick," she smiled warmly and he grinned back, heading in Greg's direction.
As she approached the doors she glanced back and caught his smile. She felt surge of happiness ripple through her, a feeling she was addicted to already.
"Sara," a familiar voice disturbed her from her daze. Looking up, she saw the bearded face that had awoken her from her thoughts. "Sorry to call you in, but we're swamped," he said, handing her a file, "Las Vegas never sleeps," he threw her a smile before heading back on himself towards his office.
She sighed as she opened the file, but a frown quickly appeared as she read through it. The details were harrowing, and the scene of the crime was familiar to her. She swiftly followed the path to Grissom's office.
Upon arriving, he was sat at his desk, glasses on, deep in thought and in paperwork, "This is out in the desert,"
He raised his head and looked over his glasses at her, "Yes?" she scanned the map of the area carefully and continued to thumb through the file he had just given her. "Is there a problem?" There was a problem, but she couldn't admit to it, not to him. Without looking up, she shook her head and made her way back out. She could feel his eyes on her as she left, "Grab Warrick, Brass is already there," she heard as she left his office.
She felt an ache in her throat as she made her way to the break room and a sadness in her stomach, as if she'd lost a close friend and in a way, she had.