AN: Thanks for the reviews, here is the last chapter.
Chapter 28: New Beginnings
After the bride and groom had their first dance as husband and wife, it was time for the rest of the guests to enjoy the dance floor, so among them was Tim and Lindsey, Mariah and Devon, and Nicole and Kevin.
And if Lindsey didn't know any better, she could swear that Tim's team members were staring at her ever so often, so she looked at her dancing companion and asked. "Is it just me, or am I being stared at by your friends/co-workers?"
He smiled because he got that feeling too, then nodded. "I don't think it's just you."
"But why?" She paused for a second before gasping softly. "Wait a minute, they know you didn't make it back to the hotel room last night, don't they?"
He didn't lie to them, and he wasn't going to lie to her, so he nodded. "Yes, I told them I was with you all night."
"What did you tell them?"
"The truth, that nothing happened." They smiled at one another before he continued. "Which I know is sort of the truth, as I recall there were a few kisses here and there, but they didn't need to know that part." When she looked worried on what his team must have thought about her, he finished with comfort in his eyes. "We didn't do anything wrong last night." Then he couldn't help but smirk. "In fact, we were probably the innocent ones of the group, or at least I think so, Kevin and Nicole can be pretty hard to read some times, so who knows what actually happened between them last night."
Lindsey paused for a second before looking at him a little shocked, then smiled. "Wait, no, really? Your team..."
She trailed off and he chuckled. "I'm afraid so. But really, if you knew them for as long as I have, it really isn't that surprising, about time actually, and as long as they're happy, I'm all for it." Lindsey just nodded with a smile as they continued their dance in silence.
Over towards the middle of the dance floor, Devon held Mariah close, but not too close to cause suspicion, or at least that's what they thought, and they couldn't stop smiling at one another, so finally they spoke at the same time. "What was last night to you?"
They chuckled nervously before Devon spoke first. "It was a great deal to me, and I'm never going to regret it."
Mariah nodded, then cleared her throat, telling him how she felt. "I've had a crush on you for almost three years now, so last night meant more to me than you can possible know."
Devon smiled. "I'm so happy to hear that."
She smiled in return before asking. "So, we are really doing this?"
"Yes. In fact." He stopped to clear his throat before asking. "Mariah Owens, I would very much like to take you out on a real date when we get back to San Diego."
Mariah was beaming by now when she nodded. "And I accept your date offer, Devon Murray."
Now they were both beaming, ready and excited for this new step between them.
A few dancing couples away from them was Nicole and Kevin, and after a few moments of silence, she sighed and said. "Kevin..."
But he cuts her off with a nod. "I know, we will be in the real world in a few hours, so it's time to deal with the 'buts'." She started to smile, trying to no laugh, and he noticed how hard it was for her, so he whispered. "Go ahead."
She chuckled slightly and shook her head. "I'm sorry...ok, Serious now."
"You good?"
She nodded with a smile. "Yeah, I'm good." Then she cleared her throat and continued. "In fact, I haven't felt this good in a long time."
"Me neither." He cleared his throat and continued. "I know how much you still love him, a part of you always will, and I'm ok with that."
Her eyes started to water, but she kept them in the best she could so she wouldn't draw attention. "Are you really sure?"
There was no hesitation when he answered. "Yes, as long as I'm with you, I can handle anything." She nodded with a sniffle as he continued after clearing his throat. "And that brings up Carson. I know he had a dad, the best one he could've had as far as I'm concerned, and I know I can't replace him, nor would I even want to try, but I do love him. I loved him the minute I met him, mostly because he's apart of you, the best parts." They were both almost in tears as he finished. "I know this is going to take time, especially for him, but I'll wait until you two are ready for me, us, all you have to do is let me know."
She nodded with a smile. "Thank you Kevin, for your understanding and patience."
He smiled and cupped her cheek, wiping a few tears off of it quickly before anybody noticed and said softly. "Hey, I've waited fifteen years already, what's a few more."
Of course he hoped it wouldn't be years before they truly started something, but he was willing to wait until she was absolutely sure and ready.
As she chuckled at that, Sara, who had been standing on the sidelines, couldn't help but keep her eyes on her team, then she smiled as she felt her husband's arm slip around her waist from behind before she asked. "Do you see something different with them?"
Grissom looked at his colleagues for a moment or two, and he had to admit their body language did seem different, not to mention the smiles looked a bit more radiant than usual, and even though he knew weddings can bring out happiness in people, he didn't think it was only the wedding that was causing the look in their eyes, so he started to smile as he whispered. "No doubt in my mind."
She smiled in return before turning her head to the side so they could look at one another. "You don't think they..."
She trialed off as he nodded. "They could have, and I would take a gamble and say it's not ending here."
Sara sighed before asking. "What should I do then? I would feel too much of a hypocrite if I punish them too harshly."
He nodded in agreement and understanding before replying. "But you are also a boss now, and our job is to be alert and allow as little as possible outside of work issues to get in the way of our concentration." He paused for a second before finishing. "That being said though, if you think they are mature enough to handle their personal and professional lives together, then I say give them a shot. Life can be so short sometimes, and they deserve a little happiness wherever they can get it, as long as it's not harming anyone of course."
Sara nodded in agreement with a smile as she turned around so she could have a better look at him and to cup his cheek before they kissed softly on the lips, then when they pulled back, she spoke. "I'll talk to them."
"Ok, but first." He pulled back a little more and held out his hand. "A dance, Mrs. Grissom?"
She smiled with her eyes sparkling. "Don't mind if I do, Mr. Grissom."
He kissed her hand before he walked them towards the dance floor just as that song was ending.
While the partners were changing, Greg walked over towards Nick and Whitney and smiled at her. "Whitney, I was wondering if I could dance with you."
Whitney looked at him with a smile before looking over at Nick, and he nodded with a smile. "Go ahead, sweetie."
She looked at Greg and placed her hand in his. "I would be happy to."
Greg smiled in return and helped her to her feet before taking her over to the dance floor just as the new song was getting ready to start.
Nick watched them for a few seconds with a smile before looking across the room, seeing Catherine by the drink table watching the guests dance, so he stood up from his seat before walking her way.
Once he was near her, he cleared his throat before speaking softly. "There is something I've been wanting to say all afternoon."
Catherine turned around at the sound of his voice before asking. "Yeah, and what would that be?"
He smiled. "You look very beautiful, which is nothing new because you seem to get beautiful every time I see you."
Catherine's face beamed as she answered. "Thank you, Nicky."
He then held out his hand and asked. "Would you like to have this dance?"
Catherine placed her hand in his with a nod. "I would love to."
He nodded before leading her to the dance floor, then as they started dancing, she started to speak. "If I hadn't told you yet, I'm happy for you Nick."
"Thank you, it means a lot coming from you, and I want you to be happy too."
"I am." She really was, but of course a part of her will always wonder 'what if' when it came to him.
She mentally shook those thoughts away as he continued after clearing his throat. "And I know you don't need a man for you to be happy, but if that day ever comes when one is by your side, he'll be a lucky one."
Catherine tried to keep her tears at bay, but she did sniffle a little. "Thank you."
He brings her closer to him and whispered in her ear. "You know I love you, right."
Of course as far as she knew, he meant that in a friendship way, like the way he felt about Sara, so she wasn't going to question it and said what was in her heart, even though she knew he would take it in a friendship way. "I know, I love you too."
They remained silent throughout the dance, both enjoying this moment together.
After a couple of dances came and went, Sara asked to talk to Nicole, Kevin, Devon and Mariah, who all had worried looks on their faces as she lead them over to the farthest part of the ballroom, then when they stopped, she looked at each of their faces before speaking in a serious tone. "Ok, I'm going to say this once, and this is everyone's one and only warning.
As long as you're not harming anyone, you can do whatever you want when it comes to your personal lives, but the minute you step through the doors to the lab, it becomes your professional lives, and that's when you are on my time, so whatever is going on between you guys in your personal lives, needs to be left out of the lab. So, to make a long story short, I want complete professionalism when you are on my time, do I make myself clear?" To them it was obvious she knew about them, and not wanting to risk their jobs by lying to her, they nodded, and after they did, Sara started to show a smile. "Now as a friend, I'm extremely happy for you guys."
They slowly smiled as they were starting to ease up a little while nodding before Mariah spoke. "Thank you, Sara."
"You're welcome, now why don't you enjoy the party a little more."
After they nodded one more time, the group started to walk away, except Kevin because Sara had said his name, and when he stopped in front of her, she gave him a smile before giving him a hug, whispering in his ear. "Congratulations, I knew she would eventually see it."
Kevin smiled as he hugged her back. "Well, I had to help her see it, and we are taking things slow, but thank you."
They pull back a second later and she nodded. "You're welcome."
A few minutes earlier, while the group had been with Sara, Tim was sitting at the table, smiling their way, knowing exactly what she was talking to them about, but that smile quickly died down when he heard the voice of Nick. "I heard you were into Lindsey Willows."
Tim looked toward his right and saw Nick, Grissom, and Greg standing there, and while they wouldn't normally intimidate people, they had no problem looking like that with this issue, so he swallowed and cleared his throat before nodding, even sitting up straighter in his chair. "Yes, uh, Yes sir."
"Well, then I guess you should know how much Lindsey means to me, to us, and if we hear that she has been mistreated, mislead or you break her heart, just know that three people who are on her side has a collective of over 50 years of experience of being a CSI, do I make myself clear?"
Tim swallowed again and nodded, knowing exactly what that meant. "Crystal."
Nick smiled with a nod. "Good, now enjoy the rest of the party."
After he nodded one more time, the three guys turned and walked away, who were very proud of their performance, so they smiled, and just as they were half-way, Lindsey, who had been in the restroom, sat down next to Tim with a smile, but then she noticed he almost looked white as a ghost, so she asked with concern. "What's wrong?"
He took a breath and shook his head, then he smiled a little before saying. "Your uh, I guess you call them, Uncles?" Lindsey nodded with a smile, knowing who he was talking about, before he spoke again. "Just subtly suggested on using their full range of CSI skills on me if I ever hurt you."
She looked a little surprised. "No, they didn't?"
He chuckled with another nod. "They really did."
She then took a breath before replying softly. "Well, they could be pretty harmless compared to what my mother could do."
He also took a breath before he replied as he placed his hand on top of hers. "Then I guess I better not hurt you if I value my life."
She turned her hand over so the palm of her hand was against his while she smiles in return, but she was also being serious. "I hope not."
Now he became more serious. "I won't, I promise, you can count on me. Like I said last night, we'll make this work."
They felt an instant attraction, so they decided they wanted to see what happens, even though they knew it wasn't going to be easy.
She smiled as she moved her head to his shoulder, and just as he kissed the top of her head, Catherine spoke to Sara, who was now standing next to the drink table watching the scene. "Should I be worried about that guy?"
Sara shook her head with a smile. "Nah, he's a good young man." Then she smirked after taking a sip of her water. "But, I'll keep an eye on him just in case, and I'm sure Nick and Grissom will too."
As Catherine started chuckling with a nod, Greg and Grissom had walked up to them, and Greg spoke as he held out his hand towards Sara. "You up for one more dance?"
Sara smiled as she sat her water bottle down and placed her hand in his. "With you? No problem."
She shared a loving look with husband before Greg took her out on the dance floor, and while they danced, Grissom couldn't keep his eyes off her, and he spoke in an almost trance like state. "Look at her, she looks so happy."
Catherine smiled as she looked at the couple dancing too. "Yeah, and it's because of you." Then she smirked while she looked at him again. "So, congratulations for finally lifting your head up from the microscope."
Grissom chuckled, remembering those words from a long time ago, then nodded. "Thank you, not only for your words, but for being the best friend anybody could have asked for."
"You're welcome, but you know it wasn't always easy."
Grissom chuckled again with a nod. "Oh, don't I know it, but you stuck around anyways."
"And I always will, any time you need me." Grissom gave her a smile and one more nod, before she cleared her throat and held out her hand. "So, what do you say, have one more dance in you?"
"Sure, why not."
Once he placed his hand on hers, she took it before leading him to the dance floor, and even though the last dance wasn't the slow pace duo type, they all had a great time.
Hours later
Once the reception was officially over, which the bride and groom took off a little bit before that time, the rest of the group said goodbye to one another before the San Diego team went to their hotel rooms to change and check out, then after playing on the slots for about an hour, they headed for the airport so they could get on the plane and head home.
When it was announced that it was time to board the plane, Grissom stood up and held out his hand to his wife with a smile. "So, Mrs. Grissom, you ready to go home?"
Sara smiled in return, placed her hand in his and replied as he helped her up. "I would say yeah, but when I'm with you, no matter where we are, I'm already home."
He smiled warmly before they kissed softly, and after they pulled back, he whispered lovingly. "I love you."
"I love you too."
They kissed one more time before following her team, including Nick and Whitney, to their plane so they could go back to San Diego.
It had been an usual year, but since they had somehow found their way back to another, in their minds, it was a successful one. Now they couldn't wait to see what life has in store for them, just as long as they were facing it together.
AN: Well that's it, I hope overall you enjoyed the story. Thanks for the huge support on this one, and really on all of my stories, it really means a lot to me, and keeps me motivated on writing more.
If there is still an interest in the sequel, it should be out soon, so be on the lookout. Until then, have a safe and wonderful weekend, and always remember, GSR4ever!
