Chapter 21
I don't own CSI but I do love to play with them! It's the sincerest form of flattery!
Sad to bring this to an end. It's been fun! I hope you will take a moment and let me know that you enjoyed the story! So close to 200 reviews! That touches my heart! Thank you thank you thank you! 200 would be AWESOME! Looking forward to Wednesday's episode – I will be sorry to see Catherine leave. Looking forward to writing for you again soon!
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"Are you decent?" Catherine asked Grissom as she got into her car to leave the lab.
"Of course I'm decent." Grissom seldom played in to Catherine's frequent innuendo. Today was no different.
"I'm bringing you dinner," Catherine said, "Will you be able to let me in?"
"Yes, I'm up on the crutches," Grissom advised, "No problems. I should be back on Monday."
"Great," Catherine said, "There's a lot of work for you to catch up on!"
"Wonderful."
"So I'll be there in about 30 minutes. Chinese food ok? Or would you prefer pizza?"
"Chinese is great."
After hanging up, he turned and looked at Sara.
"Catherine is on her way over," he told her, "do you want to put some clothes on or be naked in my bed when she gets here?"
Sara rolled her eyes.
"If the sex wasn't so mind-blowingly good, I'd leave you!" she threatened.
He smiled. He was capable of so much when it involved loving Sara. He'd never had a lover who referred to his love-making as mind-blowing; but he would surely be able to get used to it.
"Actually," she answered, "I think I will run home and get some clean clothes, check my mail and run by the hospital to check on Sam."
"You could always have the mail forwarded here," he suggested.
He looked at her, realizing he may have overstepped.
"I mean, if you wanted to…" he finished.
She stopped dead in her tracks.
"Gilbert," she said, apparently shocked by the suggestion and it's implication, "You don't waste any time do you?"
"Sara," he began, ready to do damage control, "It's not like we just met – I've been in love with you for years. I've just been a damn fool not to do anything about it."
"I know."
"You didn't have to agree that quickly!" he protested. He knew she was right.
"Dr Grissom," she replied, leaning over to kiss his cheek, "We've both been alone for a long time, I think that moving in together might be…rushing things."
"OK, but the offer remains open," he agreed, "Whenever you are ready, I want you to feel at home here. Or at the house. Whichever you prefer."
"Grissom," she hugged him, "Wherever you are, I am at home."
He knew how sincere she was being. Home was a challenging concept for the woman who had so much trauma in her childhood. The fact that she felt comfortable here was in itself, a triumph.
"Now," she answered, "I'm going to get dressed and get out for a bit. And don't you try to tempt me into staying any longer or our little secret might be blown."
"Catherine would not be a good person to tell," he said cautiously, "She wouldn't intentionally hurt either of us, but she's not good with secrets."
"Tell me about it!" Sara laughed as she was pulling on her jeans, "She couldn't wait to tell everyone about you and Heather!"
"What about me and Heather?" Grissom asked, seeming confused.
"Don't play dumb," Sara answered, "You know full well."
"No, really," he answered, "Does she think I slept with Heather?"
"Yes, the whole lab does!" she answered.
As she pulled on her shirt and jacket she looked at him incredulously. "You didn't sleep with Heather?"
He hesitated.
"No."
"Seriously?" she asked.
"I would never lie to you Sara."
"Well," she said, shaking her head, "I'll be damned! You really never had sex with her?"
"We are friends, Sara," he answered, "Nothing more."
"Good to know," she answered, putting on her boots, "For that, you get a special treat tonight!"
"Don't be gone too long ok?" he asked, "I'll miss you."
"Text me when she leaves and I'll be right back."
"Deal."
She slipped out the front door, locking it behind her, and headed out to her apartment.
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Catherine arrived shortly after, bearing Chinese food as promised.
They sat down and had a leisurely meal. Two good friends enjoying each other's company.
"So," Catherine said, "Stella confessed to everything. Brass said the minute they got her into interrogation; she started crying and broke down. He thinks she might go for the insanity deal."
"If she has a good attorney, that's what they should do."
"How are you doing Grissom?" Catherine asked, changing the subject.
"I'm fine, healing quickly."
"You seem to be in great spirits!" she commented.
"I guess the time off was better for me than I expected."
"Well you never take time off, Grissom," Catherine said, "Maybe you should take a few more days off."
"No," he answered, "I'll just save my time off for later."
"For what?" she asked, wondering what had gotten in to her usually driven boss.
"I may take a trip later this year, a real vacation, we'll see."
"Yeah we'll see," she commented, pretty confident that no vacation would be taken later in the year. He never changes, she thought.
Boy was she wrong.
"You know," she began hesitantly, "Since you are so reflective right now, maybe you should think about having a heart-to-heart with Sara."
"Sara?" he asked, "Why would I need to talk to her?"
"Because," Catherine explained, "You could talk about your feelings for her. God knows she has you on a pedestal."
"Um, Catherine," Grissom said, trying to think of how to handle this topic without revealing his current situation, "Sara's fine."
"I know, she's always fine, but she would be better if you would let her know how you felt about her!"
Grissom looked stunned. Did she really know or was she fishing?
"Catherine, I appreciate your concern, but things are fine, really."
"OK," she answered, rising from the table to clean the dishes and put the food in the fridge, "But don't wait too long or she will find someone else."
"How are things going at the office?" he asked, tactfully changing the subject.
"No worries," she answered, "Except for Hodges driving everyone insane with his gossip, but the guys are working on a plan to stop that!"
"Will he survive?" Grissom asked.
"Yes," she answered, "I had a chat with Nick and Warrick and reminded them that he was not an investigator and that they needed to go easy on him."
"He has a lot of potential," Grissom added, "Let's not run him off ok?"
"You got it boss!" Catherine laughed, realizing that he never really was too far from the lab.
"You can handle it," Grissom added, backtracking a little, "I have full confidence in your ability."
"Nice answer," Catherine replied, "You are forgiven."
She looked around to make sure that she had picked up all of the dishes, and checked to see if the garbage needed to go out.
"I'm going to use the bathroom before I go, if you don't mind. I have to go pick up Lindsey from her friend's house before I go home."
"No problem," he answered, "You know where it is."
She walked over to the guest bathroom and realized that there was no paper in the holder.
She was going to tell Grissom she was going to use the big bathroom in his room but he had disappeared, so she walked through his room and in to the bathroom.
"Catherine," he called as he returned from the work area with a folder that he needed to return to the lab.
The bathroom door was open. Where did she go? She wouldn't leave without saying good-bye.
A few moments later, she stood in the bedroom doorway, a small compact in her hand. She looked stunned.
"Why are Sara's birth control pills in your bathroom?" she demanded.
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Greg sat in Samantha's room, enjoying listening to Sara and Sam talk about old times.
"Bean pole," Sam called to Sara, "Do you remember your boyfriend Greg? I was telling Greg here about him, but he doesn't believe me!"
"Oh, did you have to tell him that?" Sara asked, cringing, she knew she would take some real teasing about this.
"You dated an artist?" Greg laughed, knowing that Sara's type was usually tall, dark and geeky.
"Yes," she answered, "It was my exploration period."
"Sam says he wasn't too smart either."
"Yeah," Sam added, "Remember when you called me a misanthrope and he thought you were talking about getting tied up."
"Yes," Sara replied, "He was very cute."
"Bean pole, I'm going to have to head back to California next week."
Sara looked at Greg. He seemed to be aware that this was impending.
"Are you going to be back soon?" Sara asked.
"Well," Sam answered, "Since I now have two VERY good friends in Vegas, I'll be back soon. And often."
"I'm glad." Sara knew that even if they were apart, she and Sam would always remain good friends. But she was very glad to know that the relationship with Greg had progressed to the point where she was promising a return visit.
"I have a contract to cut a demo next month and, God willing, I'll be ok to do the job." Sam paused, "I also have to try and find another drummer. I'll miss George. I need to speak to his parents. They are nice people and I know they are devastated. It will be hard to find someone to replace him."
Sara sat on the bed next to Sam and gave her a kiss on the head. "I'm sorry Sam, I know that will be hard." She paused and reached out to hold her hand. "I love you Sammy," she said, "I'll be back to check on you tomorrow."
Greg stood and kissed Sara on the cheek. "Thank you," he whispered. She smiled. She was glad that she had been able to put two such good people together. Even if they didn't end up as a couple, they would be very good friends, and she knew how hard it was to find really good friends.
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"Gil," Catherine demanded, "You are NOT a good liar."
"Honestly, Catherine," he said, trying to be very nonchalant, "She must have just forgotten it. She and Greg have both been here helping me."
"Gil Grissom," she said sternly, "I backed off the Heather situation because it was none of my business, but I care about Sara."
"I know," he said shaking his head, "So do I."
"I knew it!" she said with great excitement.
"Please Catherine," he implored, "Please don't tell anyone. We want to take this very slowly and I can't jeopardize her career. If Ecklie were to find out, it would be a big problem."
Catherine smiled, "I'm hurt you didn't tell me, but not surprised. And no, I will say nothing. I want you two to be together and be happy. You belong together. "
"Thanks Catherine," Grissom said, accepting her hug, "No one, not even Warrick."
She looked surprised at his implication, "No one, I promise."
She realized how serious he was about this and, for good measure, she kissed him on the cheek, "I'm proud of you. You got your head out of the microscope!"
"Yes," he said, smiling, with his eyes twinkling the way that they did when he was excited, "I did."
"See you Monday," she said as she closed the door behind her.
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Later that night, as they sat in bed listening to her CD's, Grissom related the events of the afternoon.
"She must have been so shocked!" Sara said, "I'm sorry about that, by the way."
"Its ok," he answered, "Its just as much my fault. But I really don't mind her knowing as long as she keeps her promise."
"She will," Sara reassured him, "She loves you and she will do what she has to do to keep you safe."
He kissed her softly.
"What is this song called?" he asked.
"Just the way you are."
"Its perfect," he said, "I do love you - just the way you are!"
"I love you too Gilbert," she answered, "Now how about that promise?"
"Which one?" he asked, knowing full well that he was going to go to sleep very happy tonight.
She kissed him, deeply, soulfully, and moved the big pillow to prop up the cast. Slowly she began to remove his clothing, until he was naked.
"Are you going to join me?" he asked, noticing that she still had far too many clothes on.
"In a sec," she answered, "I have to get something."
She disappeared and was back in a moment. In her hand was a small bottle of massage oil that she had heated in the microwave.
She set the bottle down on the nightstand and began to remove her clothing, slowly, one small piece at a time, just enough to drive him crazy.
She was soon naked and in his bed beside him. She poured a small amount of the massage lotion in her hand and let it drip from her fingers strategically aiming at his most sensitive places.
As she massaged him, the lavender smell began to soothe him and he relaxed quickly, allowing her to move her hands freely around his body.
By the time she reached his already engorged penis, he could barely hold on. The sight of the incredibly sexy woman giving him such an intense experience was beyond anything he could have ever imagined.
Had his leg been in good shaped, he would have grabbed her by the waist and ravaged her inch by inch. There would be time for that. Plenty of time.
And as she read his signals, realizing he was on the verge of orgasm, she spread her legs and directed him into her. She gasped as she felt the contact. The fit was perfect – as if they were meant for each other. As they moved in time with each other, he reached up to her soft breasts and pulled her towards him. He desperately wanted to taste her, to fill his mouth and indulge his senses. She allowed him to touch and taste her, and encouraged his hands to roam her body.
And as they climaxed together, he pulled her to him, holding her tightly as if to prevent the moment from getting away.
"I'll try it." She whispered.
"What's that dear?" he asked, a little confused.
"I'll go to the post office tomorrow and get a change of address card. Let's see how it works out."
He smiled and kissed her again. He was certain that he would never be able to get enough of her.
He was fifty years old, but he was sure that his life had just begun again.
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A/N That's it folks! Thanks for coming along on this ride with me. Got another story brewing… Will aim for starting it after this class.
And don't forget… if you really love GSR, come join us at CSI Forever online dot com. Send me a PM and I'll send you an invite if you'd like to join. We love GSR, smutty stories, and talking about CSI. New members are always welcome!