Chapter Twenty One:

He grimaced when he felt the blow from her arm as she pushed him away trying to scramble out of bed.

"Sara, sit down!" he said. She sat back down in the bed pulling her legs up glaring at him.

"I met Lady Heather and Brass at a restaurant down town. She had some information about one of her partners. She wanted to avoid the whole search warrant thing again," he said.

"This partner?"

"Lurie," he said.

"I already knew that," she said. Grissom felt the beginning of an ulcer.

"You knew?"

"Vincent told me some time ago. He was quite embarrassed that Howard and the other surgeons talked him into getting involved in the business. It seemed to be a good investment but he doesn't approve of what goes on," she said. She looked at him. "If you had mentioned it, I would have told you the connection but…"

"Do you know he withdrew fifty thousand dollars during the time that a hitman by the name of Franklin received a deposit for a hit and was seen the leaving the parking garage where Howard's body was found?"

"Howard's death was a suicide….the parking garage holds over three thousand cars. Who's to say he was meeting about another hit," she said. "I'm sure if you asked Vincent about the money he will tell you…located Franklin yet?"

"No." he said.

"Grissom, do you have anything to connect Lurie with the murders?"

"You know the answer to that," said Grissom.

She sat there quietly.

"Sara, I was never alone with Heather. Brass was there the whole time. She hugged me before she left. I guess that's when the perfume was transferred to my shirt," he said.

"I'm sorry. I jumped to conclusions."

"I don't want to pry into your business…"

"Grissom if we're going to have a relationship then we need to be able to ask each other anything including where we've been…you never asked me…"

"I'm trying really hard not to screw up," he said.

"Asking me where I've been is not screwing up…telling me where and what I can do…that's screwing up."

He sighed.

"Want to know?"

"I'm not sure." He admitted. "Is it going to hurt?"

She frowned.

"Not trying to tell you where and what you can do…"

She half smiled.

"I've been meeting with my PEAP counselor every chance I can get."

"Oh…oh," he said sounding relieved.

"I've been…trying to work through the domestic violence stuff and the…the rape. It hard facing that…I'm still trying to do that. I've also been trying to work through all of this," she said.

"Are you still unsure about me? Sara, I'm not going to push you away…."

"I think I know that now. I don't like it that you're obsessed with Lurie but I don't want you to think I'm slipping around meeting him. I'm not. I did see him once to let him know about us…"

His head jerked up.

"Look, I'm still in one piece."

"That's not funny," he said between clenched teeth.

"Sorry."

"Sara?"

"Yeah"

"How are you dealing with the counseling sessions?" he asked needing to change the subject.

"It's exhausting. I think I cried so much during the last two sessions I was afraid you would get a call…I listed you for emergency purposes," she said.

"You should have told me," he said quietly. "I could go with you…"

"No…I need to do this on my own," she said sadly.

"You don't have to be alone. You have me. I'm your family….if you'll let me," he said.

"Even after I almost slept with Vincent and then threw it up in your face to hurt you. I did that intentionally. I wanted to hurt you," she said between swiping of tears.

There was silence.

"Griss?"

"Yeah?"

"I can imagine how much it would hurt me if you…were that intimate with Heather."

"It was my fault…If I didn't push you away…I'm sorry…I made you doubt us even after I made love to you… that's what really hurts Sara. I did that to you."

She swiped at her eyes and then pulled him over until he was lying on her. She pulled his head down bringing his lips to hers and he moaned when her tongue sought out his as she arched her body toward his. He deepened the kiss as he caressed her cheek with one hand and his other explored the rest of her body. He released her lips and grinned when she moaned. He began to move away but she pulled him back again, this time locking her legs around his waist. His lips trailed down her neck and she arched her back when his lips lingered on the delicate skin above her breasts. He tried to pull back once more but she stopped him again.

"Grissom?"

"Sara…when you're ready…when you're sure about us…I don't think we should…"

"Grissom?"

"Yeah?" he said gruffly.

"Stop screwing up and make love to me," she whispered.

"You're in control here," he said smiling.

He made love to her. It had been too long. He sensed she did not care to bother with foreplay and he quickly entered her, feeling her already moving in a rhythmic motion beneath him until he was sure who was really in control. He grinned letting her set the pace and then finding himself begging for his own release. He heard a soft moan that was his undoing and they climaxed together each still clinging to the other as they tried to slow their breathing.

"Were you waiting for me to…" she began to ask.

"Yes, I was."

She slightly jabbed him in the ribs.

"I've been waiting for you…I was afraid you didn't want to after what I said about…"

"Sara, I was only trying to show you I was willing to be the submissive here…letting you be in control…"

"Sounds like some of Lady Heather's teachings," she said.

"How would you…"

"Vincent told me about the type of business Heather runs."

"Did he ever…no I'm stopping…I don't want to discuss Lurie while I'm in bed with you."

"No he never and neither do I." she said.

He wished she had not agreed so easily.

"Sara?"

"We haven't discussed this but now that you're in counseling, this will…"

"I submitted the paperwork to Catherine and Ecklie to be switched to her supervision."

He leaned forward to stare at her.

"When?"

"A couple of days ago."

"Are you sure you want to switch?"

"I know I don't want to hide our relationship much longer."

"Good. Neither do I. Now that we have that out of the way, Sara…your things?"

"Are you sure you want me here all the time?" she asked. "Sometimes, I'm a mess after the counseling sessions."

"I want you all the time."

"I guess we can discuss merging of things."

"Good. Could we keep this bed?" he asked.

"Has anyone else slept in it besides me?" she asked.

"No."

"Then yes."

"The first day we get off, we can work on moving over your things," he said as he pulled her close.

"Griss?"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad this is home now," she said with a sniffle.

"Our home Sara," he whispered as he kissed her lovingly.

He watched her that night while they were out in the field glancing at her when her back was to him watching for signs of fatigue but there were none. They spent little time sleeping while catching up for lost time. She worked with Greg combing through the debris of the wreck. It was situated on a steep hillside blocked by several boulders.

"I'm going to try to get to the other side and get a better shot of the vehicle. Hand me the kit when I'm positioned," called Sara.

"Wait, why you?" asked Greg.

"Because I've done rock climbing and I weigh less than you," smiled Sara.

"Anything on Franklin?" asked Grissom to Brass.

"Not yet."

"Did get permission to bring Lurie in for questioning about the fifty thousand…going to do that this evening," said Brass. "How's Sara?"

"We're going to merge houses. She's already requested a transfer to Catherine's supervision."

Brass grinned. "Well, you really have gotten your…what are they doing over there?"

She started to climb up easing her way over to the side when the rocks gave way causing the vehicle to slide. Sara suddenly found herself on top of a moving vehicle sliding down the hillside. It stopped and she tried to catch her balance without moving too much.

The noise had caused the others to look up when they saw Sara in immediate trouble. Once the vehicle stopped, Sara quickly snapped the pictures and then noticed something sticking out of the broken windshield. "There's something here," she leaned forward and slowly pulled out the bag containing several packaged drugs and several different forms of identification.

"Looks like we have a drug dealer with several fake or stolen IDs…" The car began to move and she threw the bag to Greg who caught it.

"Sara, get down from there," yelled Grissom.

"Already ahead of you," said Sara as she tried to inch her way off the back end of the vehicle but the rocks gave way once more causing the vehicle to slide down the hillside. It tilted downward causing Sara to be thrown forward. She disappeared from their sight as the others ran toward the last sight of the vehicle. Sara held on as she looked downward knowing she would have to jump off or risk going down the entire hillside.

She jumped as the vehicle continued to slide until it flipped several times down the hillside. She hit the hard ground wincing as she landed on a rock. She gasped at the pain in her side as she felt her ribs cracking from the hit. She could hear the others calling her as she tried to catch her breath before letting the darkness overtake her.

Note from author:

Thanks for the thoughtful notes. My father is fine..had tests run today…got little writing done but there's always tomorrow… I am excited about the ending….turning out to be long…several chapters with just our geeks love birds far far away….keep the reviews coming.

Take care!

Penny