Chapter twenty Eight:
The gang got to take a trip down memory lane when there was an investigation at a High School. Sara determined that some memories were better forgotten. She laughed at the guys talking about their attempts at conquests. She was glad that Grissom had no stories of such to tell. She never liked the guys who were only interested in sleeping with a girl and then dumping them. She particularly liked Greg's stories. She determined that he was most definitely a geek like she and Grissom but he was a funny geek. She would have liked to have known him then.
"Sara, you seem a bit quiet. Is there anything wrong?"
"I was just thinking about those teenagers who died. They were such senseless deaths. I feel sorry for the parents. It must be hard to lose a child like that just when they were beginning their lives."
"I think it bothered Nick because he found out who had really killed the young man."
Grissom began to kiss Sara on the neck and she began to giggle. Grissom raised his head and stared at her. "That was not the reaction I was looking for."
"I'm sorry but that thing tickles." She pulled at his beard. He felt his face and looked at her.
"You don't like it do you?"
"I don't mind if you want to keep it."
Grissom pulled her up from the bed and led her into the bathroom. He lathered up his face with soap. He then reached for the straight razor and handed it to Sara. Sara's mouth fell open. She sat the razor down and backed away but he coaxed her back into the bathroom. He was determined to have her do this. Sara tried to calm her nerves. She picked up the razor and faced him.
"Do you trust me?"
"Intimately." She supported his head with her hand and she began to run the blade across his skin. Gently she took one stroke after another. When she finished, she gently wiped his face. He turned to look in the mirror and smiled at her. He then turned to her and for some reason he felt the urge to ask her, "Do you trust me?"
Sara turned and walked away. Grissom grabbed her arm and looked into her eyes. She doesn't trust me anymore.
"Rule number one. We have to trust each other."
"Gil, we both know we have been deficient in that area. End of story."
"We keep coming back to this and I think we need to talk about my leaving."
"Planning another trip?" Her words dripped with sarcasm. He flinched. She regretted saying it like that but she was worried. She wondered if she would wake up and find him gone one day. Another sabbatical or whatever he wanted to call it. She just knew she couldn't… no she wouldn't go through that again.
"I guess we have put this off long enough. Sara, I didn't handle the leaving very well. I should have just came right out and told you. I won't put it off next time."
"Next time, I won't be waiting." The words hung in the air.
"Sara, eventually we need to sit down and talk about where we are going with this relationship. I'm trying to plan for the future but you want to remain in the present. I'm not sure that I can do that. It's not in my nature."
"Our work is part of who we are as a couple. Working with you over the years is the only thing that kept me going. I can't imagine not being able to work with you anymore."
"Would you rather work with me or have this?" Grissom was hoping she would pick the latter.
Sara did not respond. She knew she would give up her job if she knew it jeopardized their relationship. Still, she just wasn't ready to change their lives so drastically.
"Did you like teaching?"
"Yes, I did but I didn't like being away from you. It hurt Sara."
"Good. It was no picnic here."
"At least you had the gang and Bruno."
"You had Hodges but I guess you didn't know he was taking your course on line."
Grissom frowned.
"Speaking of Bruno, would you mind if we put him in some dog training classes?"
"Bruno? What's wrong with my baby?" Grissom loved that she had become so attached to the dog.
"I would like to know that if you ever needed help, he would protect you."
"Have you forgotten the bathroom incident? You're his daddy but you didn't get past him." Grissom had forgotten.
"He must really love you."
"Actually, we took a defensive course while you were gone." Grissom was surprised to hear this.
"I thought that if you ever came back and broke things off, Bruno could keep you away if you ever tried to come crawling back." Grissom didn't know whether to believe the last statement or not. He didn't plan to find out.
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