Disclaimer: See Chapter 20.
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21
The next morning he was startled awake by Sara's quick movement out of bed. It took him a moment to register the sound of her throwing up in the bathroom. He was quickly by her side and pulled her hair back as she rinsed her mouth out at the sink. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah. I don't know what came over me! It must have been something I ate last night, I guess. I didn't eat anything weird, though."
"Maybe it's just anxiety."
"Maybe."
"You want me to get you some toast or something?"
"No, I'm okay, really. I would like some coffee, though."
"Okay, come on. If I know my mother, which I do, she's probably got the coffee made and a big enough breakfast in progress to feed an army."
She looked down at her cotton shorts and tank top, "Do I need to change first?"
"No, I'm not. And don't worry, if you don't want to eat, don't. You don't need to make yourself sick."
"Oh, I'm eating! I'm starving."
He was still chuckling as they entered the kitchen, drawn to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. As he suspected, his mother was knee deep in pancake and waffle batter, had French toast and hash browns in the oven and omelets in a skillet. After pouring two cups of coffee and handing Sara hers, he offered his help.
Sara offered also, "I can help, too."
As if it was her routine, Anna immediately started handing out orders. //Gil, you can finish up these pancakes and don't let the omelets burn. Sara, you can man the waffle maker and take the two pans out of the oven when the timer goes off. I'll finish with the table.//
Silently, they both did what they were told and when they sat down to a beautifully set table, saw there was also a fruit salad, a selection of juices and milk and any pancake or waffle topping a person could ask for.
//Breakfast is my mother's favorite meal.//
"I can see that."
//I usually make sausage, bacon and Canadian ham, but Gil told me that you're a vegetarian, so I skipped that part this time.//
Smiling, "Thank you for the gesture, but you could have made it. I'm not opposed to watching other people eat meat. I actually used to eat it myself."
//Yes, I know. Before the whole pig experiment.//
When Sara turned to Grissom, he explained//After I realized how much I hurt your feelings the day I asked you to clean up my hamburger experiment and then handed in your LOA form, I wrote to my mother. I believe she told me I was a fool, and she was right. She also never forgets anything.//
"So that's where you get it!"
They all laughed and seemed to never stop for the rest of the weekend until their tearful good-byes. He was deeply touched to see that even Sara was sad to go. They were both silent on the way to the airport and he caught her staring at her ring more than once.
After they were seated on the plane, he took her hand in his, "Thank you for this weekend."
"No, thank you."
"What were you thinking about in the car on the way here?"
"I was thinking about how much fun I had this weekend and how much I adored your mother."
"And?"
"And I was thinking that I hate to see it end."
"And?"
"Grissom, just tell me what you want to know."
"What were you thinking about when you were staring at your ring?"
"I was thinking about having to take it off tonight before work."
"Does that bother you?"
"Yes."
"Then leave it on."
"I can't. You know that. People will ask questions."
"So?"
"So? We have no idea what the ramifications could be for us being together."
"Sara, no one has to know anything you don't want them to know. If you want to keep the ring on, then keep it on. When people ask, and I know they will, tell them you're happy and in love with a man who thinks you are his perfect gift in life. If they are your friends, they will be happy for you, just knowing that. I'm not asking you to lie."
"I'll think about it."
"Good."
Once they landed they decided he would drop her off at her place and she would bring a packed bag to work with her and go home with him later. With a couple hours to kill before work, he decided to make a couple stops before going home.