Well hey there!
Amidst my work on Culmination, I have also had a few one shots in my drafts for several weeks.. this being one of them.
This story was obviously written before JF announced she would not be returning for season 2, so please bare in mind it's technically not cannon as we all know now they will not be staying in Vegas.
At the time I wanted to explore some of the feelings they both had being back, Sara's specifically, because I feel like if done right, they could have kept them together and her at the lab.
Ultimately I think the decision Jorja made was the right one - for many of us CSI is a love story and would be hard to watch without the "matched set".
Here's my musings of what may have happened before and after that rollercoaster scene we all still can't stop thinking about, and what may have happened to lead them to stay in Sin City.
Rated T for sexual content, but nothing graphic or smutty. Just sweet, sweet love.
As always, I do not own anything but my daydreams.
Enjoy, friends.
GSR, As Always. Xx
Home
"Did you see his face?" Gil huffed with satisfaction as they walked side by side through the police station.
"We got him, Gil." Sara smiled, turning her tired face to her husband and reaching for his hand. It was weathered and warm in between her cold, long fingers. A familiar feeling that reminded her of home.
Home had become a fairly relative term throughout the duration of their relationship, but more so the last six weeks. They'd been staying in an over priced, luxurious hotel room courtesy of their old friend and casino mogul Catherine, and had essentially been living out of suitcases. Once they'd realized they'd be in town for longer than they had anticipated they had gone shopping to expand their wardrobe a bit, but for the most part, they had practically been nomads.
With Gil's lingering land sickness they hadn't really officially decided what their next step would be. If they would return full time to the Ishmael, or if they would find a small condo or apartment somewhere to call home. They hadn't even discussed where that more permanent dwelling would be, if they so chose to settle down.
Sara had thoroughly enjoyed being back at the lab.
Gil was right, years ago, when he wrote that she was 'made for this job'.
Even in her fifty year old body and despite the new techniques, Sara had felt at home being back at the lab. Back in the field.
While she obviously didn't enjoy the emotional toll of the job any more than she did six years ago, she had to admit she loved the thrill of the chase. The problem solving. The puzzles and the science.
She had also found herself enraptured in the idea of working along side her husband once again, this time with no secrets to hide. They could hug in the lab. Exchange knowing glances. Tease one another. Hold hands down the hallway as they made their way to the car. Steal each others fries playfully or share a coffee mug at the break room table.
It had all been so familiar, yet so new at the same time.
She had realized she had so much still to learn and felt like she had so much left to offer. She loved her work. She had forgotten just how much.
Gil, she knew, was aging.. but despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding their return, he had also clearly enjoyed being back in Vegas. Hell, he'd brought the work 'home' with him and been irritatingly distracted by it. She also knew, though, he left the lab years ago for a reason.
At 65, almost 66, he thought he was done with fingerprinting and autopsies. He was still fascinated, of course. He was a scientist first and foremost. It ran through his blood. But he thought he was done with this chapter of his life.
When he left Las Vegas years ago, they had spent time in Costa Rica and when they weren't wrapped limb in limb in their cramped and humid tent, he fully immersed himself into their research projects. In Paris, when they weren't making love midday in their sunny, bright apartment and walking the Seine with pastries, he committed his secular time to his teaching and his students. In Peru, he was all but married to his archeological research and entomological explorations, leaving his actual marriage in the wind. On the boat, he dove right into the study of marine mammals and habitat preservation when he wasn't making up for lost time down below with his hands all over her body.
While he had initially left Las Vegas to be by her side, she had often found she was still the one tagging along with him and following his lead.
She always was, after all.
Ever since that morning in San Fransisco in 1998.
They'd locked eyes and she was hopelessly magnetized to him.
She'd go wherever he went for the rest of her life. She'd decided that years ago.
Now, though, he was tired.
She could see it on his face. In the way he carried himself.
She didn't know if a full return to the boat would even be possible with his health, and if it wasn't, Sara found herself wondering where exactly they would end up.
He loved his boat. He would never give it up, and would want to still spend as much time as possible on it. She knew that.
She loved the boat because he was on it, but in reality, it didn't hold any emotional connection for her aside from it being the place she had reconnected with him six years before. She'd never been attached to places, maybe because of her upbringing and constant moving around. To her, the boat had only been a home for her because he was there with her.
Anyways, neither of them were the kind of people who could just sit around and do nothing, regardless of where they lay their heads at night.
The thought of her husband just reading the newspaper, watching TV, going golfing and puttering around the garden all day every day made Sara physically laugh. Even more horrifying, the thought of being a retired stay at home housewife brought an unpleasant shiver to her spine.
Sara was not the kind of women who would or could spend all day cooking and cleaning and sitting idly. Maybe when she was 87 and ailing, but at 50 she knew she had so much more to do.
Her mind was sharp. She was still in good physique. She needed to keep herself busy and being back in the lab had only solidified that for her.
She didn't really know where his mind was, they hadn't discussed it yet but now that Wix was in custody and their friends were safe, Sara couldn't help but wonder if Vegas was drawing Grissom back as much as it was her. Max had basically told her there was a place for her at the lab, if she so chose to take it.
The idea made her laugh.
After all of these years, all of the corners of the globe they'd travelled to.. would they actually end up back in Sin City? She was still always the one trying to leave, and now she wanted to come back?
She sure as hell knew that if they did, they would live like normal humans and wake and rest with the sun. Years of Grave Shift had left countless wounds on both of their personal and physical lives.
But would he be willing to stay?
For her?
Come back home, so to speak?
Not only had she loved the work, but she'd loved getting to know the new team.
Admittedly, they were not the team she knew and loved from years ago. No one would ever replace Greg and Nick... even Morgan. The city held the ghosts of Warrick and Julie, and it was oddly comforting. Even Catherine claimed a special place in her heart. Russel, too, had taken her under his wing and become a close friend she still kept in touch with to this day.
Allie and Folsom made her smile and often reminded her of herself and Greg back in the day. Full of life and enthusiasm, and had enough energy to still go for an artery blocking breakfast or drinks after a 37 hour shift. Also, she was certain there was some kind of romantic chemistry happening there, and her curiosity genuinely got the better of her. She wanted to see how it unfolded.. maybe even offer some advice. She was, after all, an expert in office romance.
Hugo was no Al or Dave, but he was a character of his own. His quirky nature was endearing and he was brilliant. His oblivious honesty was something so genuine and Sara couldn't help but enjoy his company. He wasn't even that bad of an artist, either.
And Max, god, she loved Max. She was the kind of woman Sara would have no issue working under and with. She was supportive and enthusiastic. Wildly intelligent without being condescending. She didn't hold any grudges and didn't question their intentions or experience once. She had trusted them, had been transparent and allowed them freedoms in the lab, and had proven to be not only an exceptional law enforcement officer but also a wonderful friend.
The two of them had even gone out for a drink a few times while Gil was stuck in his 'homework' projects or at the doctors, and it was nice to have another woman in her life to spend time with. Sara typically got along better with men, she always had, but there was no denying the satisfaction that came with having a 'girlfriend' to confide in and joke with. Max was fun. Reminded her of the kind of fun she used to have with Morgan and Julie.
Gil was undoubtedly and forever her family. Her best friend. He was all she ever wanted and needed...
But it was nice to have some friends again. The kind of friends who become family. Friends who share the same interests and priorities and work. The kind of friends who don't really care if you show up to their 7am Chinese takeout Christmas 'dinner' smelling a little like decomp because you got caught at a scene.
As they walked down the hall, Sara smiled to herself, remembering Christmas of 2013 when Nick hosted 'family dinner'. She was newly divorced, had just worked a disgusting, putrid scene and showed up late at his door smelling like a sad excuse for lemons and rotting flesh with a six pack peace offering.
As it would I turn out, Greg and Morgan had also been late.. so instead of a Stokes home cooked meal, they had ordered Ming's and were playing drunk Jenga.
She missed that.
Missed the friends.
She would still, always, follow Gil wherever he wanted to go.. but if she really admitted it to herself.. this time she wanted to stay.
"You ready for that sandwich now?" Gil smiled as he squeezed her hand and Sara laughed.
"I'm starving." She nodded, feeling the weight of the case lifted from her shoulders.
"I know a place." He winked, as he led them out of the station and towards their SUV. They had been talking last night in bed about checking out their old favourite diner because surprisingly, they hadn't been back yet, and it was apparently still owned by the same family.
"Actually.." Sara smiled as they approached the vehicle and held out her hand, "I know a place.. I'll drive."
Grissom raised an eyebrow playfully and handed her the keys apprehensively.
"Just trust me." She returned the wink, before hopping into the driver's side and starting the engine.
About half way through the drive, with his hand holding hers over the console, Gil clued into where she was taking him and a bright, boyish grin crossed his face. The Mosaic Casino.
"You know, it's been a while, but I don't recall them serving food on rollercoasters.."
Sara laughed, "We'll eat. I promise. But I'm in the mood for an adrenaline rush first."
"I don't think we've ever actually ridden a rollercoaster together before."
"We have not." She beamed, "But my boss told me a long time ago they can be a great diversion."
"Mm." He nodded, fondly.
"But of course this was also the same boss who seems to think riding rollercoasters enhances arousal and ejaculation, so.."
"Another testable hypothesis?" Grissom joked flatly as Sara parked in the lot out front of the casino and shot him a playful glare.
"We just dodged a few potential criminal charges, I don't think our last stint in Vegas needs to end with public indecency added to that list. Would be a tough one to explain to the Under Sheriff.." Sara quirked as she leaned over and smiled seductively against his lips and in a low, knowing, husky voice muttered, "Later."
She kissed him quickly, before pulling back and reaching her long fingers up to her hair to tie it in a quick ponytail, "Ready, Dr Grissom?"
She knew he loved it when she called him that, even if it was just in jest, because it reminded him of the day they met. She kept calling him 'Dr. Grissom', even after he insisted she drop the 'Dr'. She also knew he loved her in a ponytail.
He'd confided in her years ago that before they got together his private fantasy was of her in a ponytail, like she had been when they met, calling him Dr Grissom.
It had surprised her, because she remembered that day clearly, thinking he had barely noticed her.
Apparently though, the image of her in the second row with her curly chestnut hair up, wearing a plain green t shirt and jeans had been etched into his mind and fantasies for years afterwards. She had blushed the night he told her it fuelled his private releases for years... and then promptly tied her hair up, straddled his waist and called him by the name in a low voice as she rocked her hips against his. Over and over again.
Ever since, Dr Grissom was usually a title she saved only for the bedroom when they were feeling particularly playful and adventurous, but every once in a while she pulled it out in a somewhat public setting to tease him and she knew exactly what she was doing.
"Don't tempt me, Mrs Grissom." He growled as he watched her expert fingers wrap the elastic around her chocolate brown hair. He loved to tear the tie out and watch her locks cascade around her face and then bury his hand in her curls.
He, too, knew what he did to her when he called her Mrs Grissom. Two could play at this game. While she had never officially taken his name the first, or the second time they were married, it didn't fail to excite her when he used it.. again, only ever in private.
He'd called her Mrs Grissom as he kissed the gold band that was safely back on her finger the night after Hodges' trial and was thoroughly rewarded.
"Come on." She rolled her eyes playfully as she hopped out of the SUV and made her way towards the entrance.
...
As he stepped out of the steamy hotel bathroom, freshly showered, Gil looked at his wife in their unmade bed with a grin.
They'd returned from the coaster and ordered in some thai food to the hotel. He drove while she used some kind of app on her iPhone to order the food and it had arrived just after they got in and settled. They ate their spring rolls and vegetable tom yum soups and then he had disappeared for a hot shower while she brushed her teeth and tucked herself into the obnoxiously large California king bed. His muscles were sore from the ride, and from the week's activities at the lab.
She still had her hair up in a messy half ponytail and was dressed in one of his old baseball T-shirt's and tucked into the white covers, presumably in nothing else but her underwear. She was playing a game about crushing candy on her iPad, and he smiled to himself as he pulled on his flannel pj bottoms and made his way towards the bed.
She was beautiful.
Her curly hair wasn't too affected by their handful of rides on the coaster, but her fair skinned cheeks were definitely still pinker than usual from the harsh Vegas night air.
He wanted nothing more than to kiss her again.
"So I never told you," he cleared his throat and smiled as she looked up from her iPad, "I finally found a new place to dock the Ishmael."
"Oh?" Sara nodded casually as she closed her app and placed the iPad on the night stand.
"Yeah. Little place called South Beach Harbor? It's just a little marina in.."
"San Fransisco?" Sara interrupted him as she sat up straighter, "Gil, that's in San Fransisco."
"Yeah." He nodded with a playful, boyish smile. "At first I was thinking San Diego because it's only six hours away, but San Fransisco holds more sentiment, I think. Either way, the bay is significantly closer to Vegas than Peru, and probably has less termites."
Silent, trying to decipher his statement, Sara rose an eyebrow as her husband sat down on the bed and enveloped himself in the warm covers beside her. She felt the quick, cool gush of air against her bare legs as he settled in and it sent a shiver up her spine.
They hadn't spoken about it, he knew she was apprehensive to bring it up given their history in the city, but Gil knew Sara wanted to stay.
After all of these years, he could read her like a book. He'd finally mastered her and learned how to interpret her posture, facial expressions and even her silence, so this situation was no different. He was still oblivious in some situations, but in this one, there was no denying.
Watching her work along side Max and the team made his heart swell. He loved to watch her work.
She threw herself right back into the science and was sharp. She brought a level of experience to the table that none of the other current CSIs had, but she also handled learning the newness of technique with a grace he certainly couldn't.
If he knew one thing, he knew when Sara Sidle was excited and passionate about something.
He'd seen it on her face during his talk over twenty years ago as she sat in the second row and absorbed his words.
Later, when they worked together as co workers, before their intimacy began, he watched her work with enthusiasm and determination. She was never anything short of committed.
After they'd gotten together, too, he'd seen her excited and passionate in an entirely new and erotic context.
He could see it in her eyes when she wanted something.
He knew that even though she loved the sea, she also loved the land and loved having friends and using her brilliant mind to solve crimes again. She loved the puzzles. While he was perfectly fine to sit alone with his bugs and his books and his woman for the rest of his life, he knew she needed the camaraderie of friendship, even if she did profess her general hatred for other people on a regular basis. She loved to share a beer with the guys or even go on the odd spa trip with some girlfriends, she'd confessed to him many years ago.
She needed friends, and not just the kind with blowholes that weigh 30 000kg and swim in the ocean. He'd witnessed it in person the last eight weeks, and it was something he couldn't take from her. Not this time.
She had spent so much of her life being uprooted and going along with him and his heart's desires.. it was time he did the same for her.
She deserved a permanent place to call home.
Being back in the city he had to finally admit to himself that Vegas, while it had chewed them both up and spit them out many times over, was their home.
It was where they got to know each other on a deeply intimate level.
Where they worked and had shared a house and a dog and a life together.
It was where they had fallen in love.
The only place they'd ever felt settled and the only place they ever seemed to be completely emotionally and physically in tune at the same time.
She'd spent so much of her life uprooted from houses and homes and places and people, he couldn't do that to her again now that she'd fallen in love with the team and back in love with the work.
He couldn't just watch her pack her suitcase and hop on a plane and get back out to sea for him. She'd do it, she'd go back for him. He knew that. She always would. She always had. But now it was his turn to fold, and he was more than happy to do so for the woman he loved.
He nodded, "I figured a ten hour drive isn't too bad when we want to take her out for a week or two, and we can always move her back and forth between the Bay and San Diego when we go visit Nick and Holly."
"Gil?" Sara muttered, her voice cracking from the emotion. "Are you sure?"
Again, he nodded, "You're happy here."
Sara smiled, her voice small as she replied, "I'm happy with you. I told you that when I left six years ago. I'm happy wherever you are."
"Then I'll be here," He quirked with a shrug of his shoulders, "and you can be happy with me and happy with the work."
She furrowed her brows at him, and he continued,
"Besides. If we stay, we can ride every coaster in Vegas together. I'll make us a bucket list." He winked, before his face fell serious again.
"You've always followed me and my heart and my pursuits, Sara." Grissom leaned in and placed a gentle kiss to her lips and threaded his fingers through her soft hair, "I know you're not done yet. And I know we need a proper home. A proper place to settle. We can still travel and be on the water, but I want to stay here, if you do."
It wasn't often Sara was speechless, but he had a way of knocking the wind out of her these days.
"I-..." she began, still in disbelief, "Will you work again? At the lab?"
Grissom shrugged, casually, and winked, "Maybe if you need a consult from time to time.. but I was thinking of seeing if the University or the School for the Deaf need a part time professor or lecturer. Maybe volunteer at the body farm."
Sara nodded, her mind still reeling, "You're sure?"
"I'm sure." He smiled as he leaned in and placed a quick kiss on her lips, "Three conditions, though."
Smiling into his lips, she deepened the kiss and shuffled her body closer to his, "Ok?"
"I want to get another dog." He grumbled as she lifted a bare thigh over his legs and straddled his warm lap, only breaking contact with his lips for necessary breath.
Sara laughed against his lips before she released them and trailed her kisses to his jaw bone. "As long as you don't name it after one of my past boyfriends again, sure."
"I'll make a mental note not to name him Doug, then."
With a quick chuckle, Sara playfully slapped his chest and pursed her lips, "What's your next condition?"
"Unless you're pulling a double... no night shift." He smiled as he pulled her soft lips back down to his and his hands found the hem of her tshirt and pulled it over her head to reveal her milky white torso, "I want you here in bed with me at night."
"Easy." She replied in a low voice and nodded as she moved her lips to his neck and slowly trailed her hands down his side to rest on the hem of his pj pants, "I'm too old to be on grave now anyways. Number three?"
Grissom smiled as his body reacted to her touch and the sight of her in his lap, "You have to break just one more law for me."
Sitting up with a half playful, half serious frown on her face, Sara's eyes searched his patiently.
"I need you to steal something. Lab property." He teased as his fingers traced lightly along the underside of her breasts, causing her to gasp. "You need to steal one of those garage jumpsuits. I've missed seeing you in those."
Sara quirked her lips again playfully as she rose herself up a few inches and her hands began to tug his flannel pyjama pants down his hips to free him.
As he tossed them to the side expertly with his feet and legs, Grissom's warm hands found her cotton underwear underneath the light blanket and encouraged them off as well.
"Deal." She sighed as she lowered herself onto him in an agonizingly slow movement. God nothing felt like this, when they came together.
A few moments of gentle, soft touches and whimpers quickly turned into a passionate and intense exchange of emotion as Sara rocked herself vigorously and enthusiastically against his hips.
As if he could sense she was close, he sat up, careful not to disrupt her rhythm, and took a nipple into his mouth and palmed her other breast as she screamed with her release. He held on for dear life as she shuddered and shook in his arms and he too, followed soon after with his forehead against her tacky sternum.
A minute to catch their heavy breaths turned into several moments of silence and a deliciously dizzying afterglow when suddenly Sara spoke,
"I don't think you need to make that bucket list." She grinned, cheekily.
"No?" Grissom smiled, knowing full well where her mind was.
"I have plenty to ride already." Sara winked, as her lips returned gently to his again before falling to the side and curling into his warm torso and falling into a deep comfortable slumber.
They were home.
END