HEAT
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
"Oh! Teri's here? Right. We shouldn't waste her valuable time, then," said Grissom.
Sara and Grissom looked pointedly at Sofia.
"So, we'll catch up later, Gil?"
"I believe we just did." Grissom told her calmly.
Sara hid a smirk. Scratch that, hot stuff, you are getting some every night for a week!
"Time to catch some bad guys, Curtis," she told the blonde.
Sofia looked flustered at their combined attitude and left.
Sara and Gil smirked at each other.
"God, I thought she'd never leave. I was starting to hope my phone would ring, even get a visit from Ecklie..." Sara giggled.
"So," Grissom said.
"Yup. Hey, I thought I'd watch Teri Miller's technique of facial reconstruction. Maybe then I could do it next time.'
"Excellent idea. After all, you did an outstanding job on that Svetlana Melton case."
They grew more serious. Sara had indeed done a remarkable facial reconstruction from the body in the tar, which cracked the case, but it was the case that almost got her fired, and had forced her to reveal her painful past to Gil. Not a happy memory, but Sara was touched at his compliment. She gave him a sad smile.
"C' mon then," Grissom said, getting out of his chair.
They walked into the morgue, where Teri was laying the bones out in order on the slab.
"Dr. Miller?" Grissom said politely. Teri looked puzzled at his formality.
"I don't believe you've met my g...my colleague, Sara Sidle." Girlfriend? Girlfriend? both women thought simultaneously. Did he just almost call me his girlfriend?
"Nice to meet you, Sara." They shook hands, sizing each other up.
"Sara is going to observe the facial reconstruction," Grissom continued in the same chilly professional tone. "It would be good to have someone on staff to help with these John Does."
"Oh! Sure." Shit! I was looking forward to stroking his hands over the clay again. "Right. We've got a Caucasian male, 5' 9", mid to late twenties," she began, explaining the features that led to her conclusions. "No sign of trauma. He looks to have been an athletic type, with a healed left tibia."
"Any idea how long since he died?" Grissom asked.
"Hard to say. With the exposure in the desert and the scavenger activity, at least a year, maybe two." They nodded.
"Gives us a timeline on missing persons. Somebody must be wondering what happened to him. Dental records might be helpful, too," Sara said. Grissom glanced at her proudly.
"Sure. So, we take the skull and..." Teri started adding tubes of clay to fill out the face. Sara stepped closer and watched intently. Doesn't look too difficult. After an hour or two, they had a face, which Sara carefully photographed, and she took extensive notes.
As she was doing so, Teri started talking to Grissom and ignoring Sara, asking him about his time in the desert and expressing her concern.
"I might not be here if it wasn't for Sara," he said simply. Oho! So he owes her. Maybe that's all this is.
"I'm glad you were there for him, Sara," Teri said. "So, you know I'm always happy to come help you out, Gil, anytime," she said flirtatiously. Grissom just looked at her.
"My flight doesn't leave until tomorrow," she continued. "And I believe I owe you for walking out on dinner last time."
"That's quite all right. Unfortunately, I have plans for the evening. I owe my girlfriend a Mexican dinner."
Teri looked stunned. Sara had to turn around to conceal her look of delight.
Teri shook hands and made her farewells and strode through the swinging morgue doors.
Sara grinned at him. "You are something else. A catch."
"Yeah, I am," Grissom chuckled. "And I have a hot girlfriend, too."
Sara smiled and stroked his cheek.
"Chalk?" he asked, remembering a special moment.
"Nope. Magic dust. The magic you have, honey." Grissom cocked an eyebrow. He looked around comically and gave her a smooch, which she returned happily, throwing her arms around his neck.
David Philips happened to be just at the morgue door and observed the exchange. Tactfully, he walked to the end of the hall and waited until the couple came out. Good for you, Grissom. About time. That Sara, she's a beauty, and was so sweet when I made a pass at her, all those years ago. I always knew she was out of my league.
"So am I finally going to have a date with the hot Gil Grissom?"
"Only if I get a date with the sexy Sara Sidle," he smiled.
"Deal."
They finished their shift, both in a fine mood, and drove to Grissom's townhouse to change for their first date. Both dressed up but comfortably, at ease with each other but demonstrating the desire to show how much this meant to them.
The dinner was hot. They ordered lots of cold beer, both getting tipsy, and ordered everything they had for their imaginary dinner. No mariachi band, but a Gil bought a red rose from a strolling flower vendor and Sara kissed him deeply in thanks. Sara and Gil fed each other, licking each other's fingers sensuously and kissing sauce from each other's lips. Their looks became more and more smoldering as the date continued. Grissom was ready to throw himself across the table and ravish her, and Sara looked like she would not object. Oh, no.
Most of the diners watched them with surreptitious pleasure, other than a mother who huffed and made a show of dragging her goggling son out the door. The happy couple was oblivious. Their waiter wished he had a girlfriend as hot as that sweet young thing. They strolled out arm and arm.
"Ice cream?" Sara suggested lightly.
"Later." Gil whispered hotly in her ear, "I want dessert in bed." Sara shivered.
TBC
A/N: I am getting a big kick out of your reviews. Knowing that I make people laugh with my twisted humor, well, that is very gratifying. Thanks.