A/N Back from my amazing weekend away with my 9 yr old daughter -she is definitely an adrenaline junkie, considering the types of roller coasters she was going on. Definately not the little kid types. As always, many thanks for the reviews and and to piccolina789 for the beta.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and Sara moved restlessly in the bed. She stilled a moment before turning onto her side, facing the window of the bedroom. The continuous flashes of lightning were bright enough to penetrate her sleep.
Grissom's side of the bed was empty. She turned over to glance at the clock. 2.16 am.
Another flash of lightning illuminated the bedroom briefly, followed a second later by another boom of thunder.
A sense of uneasiness clenched in the pit of her stomach. Since Ecklie's phone call, Grissom had been withdrawn and distant, saying only that Ecklie wanted to see them at the lab at 11.30 am the next day.
Today, she mentally corrected. Today could be the last day of our careers.
Lightning flashed again, but there was no sign of any rain, at least not yet.
Climbing out of bed, she shrugged into her dressing grown, thinking that perhaps he was in the living room.
The downstairs of their townhouse was cloaked in darkness and it bore no sign of him. The feeling of unease grew, before she realised he was outside on the veranda. He was wearing only his t-shirt and boxers. His feet were bare.
His arms were taut as he gripped the railing. His head bowed, unmindful of the storm that was brewing in the distance.
She gathered the fabric of her dressing gown closer, as she moved toward the veranda.
"Gil?" she called his name softly, wanting to make her presence known. He didn't give any indication that he'd heard her.
When she came up beside him, his knuckles were white from gripping the railing so tightly. Still he didn't acknowledge her presence, or show any signs if he was really aware she was there.
"Gil, come back to bed," she coaxed gently. "It's going to storm any minute and you're gong to get soaked."
Still no response.
Tentatively she reached out and rubbed his broad shoulders. She could feel the tension in the taut muscles of his arms, as a tremor rippled through him like a current.
She knew, that this time leaving him alone with his thoughts was not what he needed.
She gathered him in an embrace, his body stiff and unyielding. She stroked the hair on the back of his head, and then gently rocked them both back and forth, soothingly.
The thunder that rumbled sounded closer now, and forked lightning split the sky, in constant, bright flashes.
The rain was closer now too, she could smell it; like damp autumn leaves.
It had been ten minutes since she'd embraced him, and still he was unyielding against her, but she didn't release him.
Suddenly, she had the unshakeable fear that she was losing him. Even the knowledge of the baby wouldn't be powerful enough to make him stay. They'd both risked so much – he more than her – to be together.
Now their entire future hung on Conrad's decision.
It would break them - break him – if Ecklie decided to fire them. She'd tried to tell herself, and Grissom, that Ecklie's investigation would prove nothing. She told him that it would run its course and they'd be reinstated and things would go back to normal…or as normal as could be, now that the team knew about their relationship.
Her heart ached as she held him, wishing she could do more for him to soothe his fears. But how could she do that when she was just as afraid as he was?
"I love you, Gil," she whispered softly in his ear, unable to hide the quiver in her voice, just as a fat drop of rain landed on her hand.
She felt more rain as three more drops struck her bare skin.
Thunder boomed loudly directly overhead followed by another flash of lightning. Sara felt Grissom wrap his arms around her waist, hugging her tightly against him, his head buried in the space between her neck and shoulder.
The heavens opened.
Grissom pulled into the car park of CSI headquarters, twenty minutes before they were due to meet with Ecklie. He turned off the engine, but made no move to get out of the SUV.
Sara heard him swallow loudly and she turned to face him. The feeling of nervousness gripped them both. Grissom's head was bowed, as he stared down at his lap. His lips were thin and white against his tanned skin, a muscle twitched in his cheek. He sighed, raggedly.
She reached out her hand, grasping his hand that lay on his lap. His other hand was clutching the keys so tightly, the knuckles were white.
He swallowed again, his Adam's apple bobbing as he raised his head and stared at the building in front of them.
He'd risked everything to be with Sara, and now he was facing the cold reality of the consequences.
He'd tried to contemplate a future without Sara and the baby, and he couldn't do it. He loved her, their unborn child and his job – and he wanted all three.
His eyes turned towards Sara, who was watching him with concern. She tried to smile reassuringly, but wasn't quite able to pull it off. She was just as scared as he was.
Her hand was still grasping his, but as he felt her try to pull her hand away, he curled his fingers around hers and squeezed.
"I'm sorry Dr. Grissom, but you and Miss Sidle need to sign the visitor's book," said Officer Mitchell, as they headed automatically through force of habit, in the direction of the lab.
Mitchell looked uncomfortable as he sensed Grissom's humiliation. He retraced his steps, and quickly signed the book, before quickly grabbing a Visitor's badge for both himself and Sara.
Grissom's feeling of humiliation deepened when Mitch then escorted them to Ecklie's office. He'd walked these corridors unimpeded for years. He wondered if this was an indication of what was to come, and if this would be the last time he'd ever enter these familiar walls again.
Ecklie didn't waste any time inviting them into his office.
"Take a seat," he invited as he settled into his chair behind his desk.
Neither Grissom nor Sara took up his offer, so Ecklie got right down to business.
"I don't want to drag this out, anymore than I have to," he began as he leaned back in his chair, looking up at them.
"Do we have a job or not?" asked Sara, pointedly. "That's all we really need to know."
"Sara," Grissom warned. This was bad enough, without winding Ecklie up further. "That is not helping."
Sara turned towards him with her mouth open, ready to argue the point, before remembering how he'd been acting the night before, and again in the SUV. She knew he was on edge, and she thought better of it, closing her mouth without saying a word.
"The new sheriff wants to make an impression and at the same time make an example of you, by firing you both," stated Ecklie. "Despite the results of my investigation…which shows that neither of you acted inappropriately at anytime."
Grissom swallowed, as his stomach lurched and his heart raced.
"So, that's it?" he just barely managed to say.
Straightening up in his chair, Ecklie leaned his elbows on his desk, clasping his hands together.
"There is no evidence that you abused your authority at anytime. None of your cases were compromised and neither was the chain of custody. The only thing you're guilty of, apart from the obvious, is that you continued to do Sara's performance evaluations. Therefore, against the sheriff's judgement, I'm re-instating you both."
Grissom's breath caught in his throat, as he and Sara glanced at each other in stunned surprise. Had they heard him correctly?
Ecklie watched them, with a bemused expression on his face.
"There will be a few changes however," he said.
"Are you going to split up the team again?" Sara asked, still trying to comprehend the fact that they were both keeping their jobs.
Ecklie shook his head, remembering what had happened last time he'd split up the team.
"No. You'll both stay on grave shift and Gil will stay on as supervisor. However, from now on, Catherine will do Sara's performance evaluations."
Ecklie directed his attention solely on Grissom.
"There's one more thing, Gil. As an official reprimand you'll receive a pay cut for a minimum of three months."
He reached into the top drawer of his desk and drew out their weapons and I.D badges, and handed them to their respective owners.
Grissom leaned against the SUV, still not able to believe what had just happened.
It didn't matter that he'd have reduced pay for the next three months – for him it had never been about the money. An hour ago he had faced losing everything.. it was a small price to pay.
Hw shook his head as he glanced over his shoulder at the lab. Had what just happened really happened?
Suddenly, his legs left like rubber as the anxiety and stress of the last week and a half drained from his body. He began to shake as the relief overwhelmed him.
If it hadn't been for Sara standing next to him, he'd have slid down the side of the SUV. Luckily, from where they were standing, the vehicle hid them from any prying eyes.
"Gil, are you okay?" Sara asked in alarm, as she attempted to prop him up against the car.
He hung his head as he bent over, his hands resting on his knees, his breathing coming in quick gasps.
"Just need…a minute, honey," he gasped in between gasps of air.
Sara rested her hand on his shoulder supportively, as she bent down slightly and watched him carefully, wondering if she should go back to the lab and get some help.
But even as the thought crossed her mind, Grissom's breathing slowed, and returned to normal.
He hunched down, resting his head against the car, his eyes closed as he blew out a breath of relief.
Sara hunched down next to him, resting her hand on his knee. The car keys dangled limply from his fingers.
"Okay now?" she asked, moving her hand from his knee to brush his cheek.
He nodded.
Slowly, he rose to his feet still feeling shaky, but otherwise okay.
Sara leaned in, kissing his cheek lightly, as she grabbed the keys from him. Her stomach rumbled as her appetite returned.
"Let's grab a celebratory lunch," she suggested, rattling the keys. "I'm driving."