Chapter 35

Grissom and Sara stood holding each other in the middle of the locker room. Her fingers playing with hair at the nape of his neck, Grissom could feel his skin tingling where she touched him. Had it really only been a few days since he landed in Vegas, since he first saw her in that hospital room?

When he arrived, Grissom had no idea what he was walking into. Had no expectations of her. He just wanted to see her, to talk to her. To apologise. Now she was standing in his arms. Clinging to him with all the strength she possessed, after telling him she wanted to marry him. Again.

There was a part of Grissom's brain, that told him it wasn't right. That she didn't mean it. That it was just a reaction to the case. But when he looked into her eyes, he saw nothing but unwavering certainty.

"Let's go," Sara said against his neck and Grissom pulled away, frowning down at her a little. "Right now."

"Sara," he started, but she only shook her head.

"We've waited long enough, Gil," she said. "I don't want to wait any longer." Her eyes were clear, but there was something in her face. An urgency he hadn't noticed before.

"Sara, is this because…" She cut him off.

"This isn't about him, or the case," she assured him. "It's about everything."

"I don't…" he trailed off. Everything what?

"We always waited, Gil. Always waited for the right moment. But while we were waiting something would always happen. Nick. Natalie. Costa Rica. Peru. Uganda. We have been waiting for each other from the moment we met. Even while we were married. I was waiting for you, and you were waiting for me. I'm tired of waiting. I know what I want. And I don't want another thing to come around, while we were waiting once again. I love you, Gil. I want you to be my husband and I'm not willing to wait another moment for that to happen."

She was looking at him so fiercely, so intently, Grissom could feel the force of her gaze as it bored in his eyes. His face softened into a warm, loving smile and he pulled her chin up. Capturing her lips once more with his own.

Grissom lent his forehead against hers, breathing her in and marvelling at the love that threatened to overwhelm him.

"Neither am I," he said, softly. His eyes flicked open to see her gazing up at him, tears lining her eyes as he smiled at her. "Just, no Elvis," he added with a smirk and Sara laughed. Throwing her arms around him and holding him tight. Grissom brought his hands up to her back, pressing her in as he nuzzled into her hair.

The couple left the locker room, Sara needing to let Russell know she was heading out for the night before they could leave. They found the supervisor in his office, talking to Catherine. He looked up as they entered.

"Hey, Russell" Sara said to the older man. "We're heading out." Grissom could see Catherine's eyes narrowing a little as she looked between the couple before them, but Russell was only focused on Sara. His brows lowered in concern.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yeah," Sara replied. "I'm fine." She flashed Russell one of her 'Sidle Smiles' and the taller man's face relaxed a little.

"You sure? I know this is all a little…"

"I'm fine, Russell," Sara said, cutting him off.

"Alright," Russell said, dragging out the word a little. "I'll let PD know so they can send someone to Catherine's."

"Oh, uh." Sara glanced up at him quickly before turning her attention back to her boss. "Actually, we were going to, uh, get some food before heading home," Sara said, Grissom could see the colour creeping into her cheeks. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed Catherine take her phone out of her pocket and send a text. She caught Grissom's eye as she put the device away, giving him a shadow of a wink before turning her attention back to the two CSI's.

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Sara," Russell said. "Jimmy's still out there…"

"It's alright, Russell," Catherine interrupted. "We're all going. The old gang hasn't really had a chance to catch up since this started."

Grissom looked over to Sara, raising a brow at Catherine's statement. So much for not waiting. She gave him an apologetic smile, shrugging a shoulder slightly.

The three of them left the office, Russell not even bothering to watch them leave as he went back to pouring over the case files. Grissom was studying Sara out of the corner of his eye. Mind working furiously to find a way for the pair of them to slip away, unnoticed, for a few hours. Nick and Greg were already waiting for them at the labs entrance.

Grissom caught Sara arm, holding her back as Catherine went over to the two men. He glanced at the trio before looking back at Sara.

"I'll talk to her," he said quietly.

"It's ok, Gil," Sara said, a little resigned.

"No it's not," he replied. "I thought we agree no more waiting?"

"And how are you planning on dissuading Catherine from this rather impromptu dinner date?" She asked. Sarcasm lining her voice, but also a hint of yearning. Wanting to escape their friends just as much as he did.

"I'll think of something." Grissom glanced once more at the threesome by the door, his brows lowering in confusion as he saw all three grinning at them. Catherine winked at Nick before making her way back to the newly reengaged couple.

"Come on," she said, taking Sara's arm and pulling the younger woman away. Grissom felt her arm slip from his fingers as Sara gave Catherine a puzzled look. The redhead only smiled even more. "Nick and Greg will take you," she said to Grissom.

"Cath," Grissom said, following after the two women. "What are you…"

"Come on, Gil," Catherine said as they approached Nick and Greg, she flicked her hair over her shoulder and flashed him a cheeky grin. "Did you two honestly think we were about to let you slip off and get married without us? Again?" And, without another word, the FBI agent whisked Sara away. Grissom stood gawking after them, his mouth opening and closing, before turning to the two younger men beside him.

"How did she?" Grissom asked.

"It's Catherine," Greg said with a shrug. "She knows everything." Grissom only raised a brow.

"She overheard you in the locker room," Nick said, pulling his jacket over his shoulders. Grissom just stared at them, his mouth slightly agape. He shouldn't be surprised. Catherine always had a knack of knowing things she shouldn't. Always had a propensity for putting her nose into other people's business.

"Come on," Nick said when Grissom made no indication of moving. "You don't want to be later for your own wedding."

Nick and Greg ushered Grissom out of the lab, bundled him into the back seat of Nick's car and the three of them sped off into the night.

"Where are Sara and Catherine?" Grissom asked.

"Don't worry, Griss," Nick said on a laugh. "They'll meet us there."

"Meet us where?"

"You don't want us to spoil the surprise, do you?" Greg asked, looking back at the entomologist with a grin.

Fifteen minutes later, Grissom found himself in one of the smaller suits at the Palermo Casino, tugging at the tie at his neck. When they had arrived, Greg had taken four suits that were hanging in the bathroom and handed one to Grissom. Grinning at the former supervisors raised eyebrows.

"How did you guys manage all this?" He asked, turning from the mirror to examine the two men behind him.

"Come on man," Nick said, flipping the tie into a knot at his throat. "Catherine is just as connected as her old man was."

"Though, to a different sort of people," Greg put in. The young man was fixing his hair in the window, smirking at them in his refection.

"And how long have you been planning this exactly?" Grissom asked. Greg only shrugged.

"You'll have to ask Catherine," Nick replied, sliding the knot in place. The Texan looked over at his mentor, smiling. A knock sounded at the door and Greg crossed the room to answer it. Grissom's smile grew as he saw who was standing at the entrance.

"Jim," he called. "I thought you were still in the hospital?"

"Yeah, well you don't expect me to miss your wedding, again, do you?" The detective said. He looked well. Arm in a sling, but the burns on his face were minor and almost non-existent. Grissom held out his hand to his old friend and Brass grasped it firmly. "So, you nervous?"

"I have done this before," Grissom said as Greg brought over the last suit.

"Yeah. But the last time you and Sara ran off to find the first judge you could, and did the deed over in Costa Rica," Brass said, raising his eyebrows with a small grin. Grissom only gave him a half shrug. Truth be told, he wasn't nervous at all. When he and Sara married the first time, it was quick, neither of them particularly caring about the more traditional aspects of the day. But Grissom had always wished they could have done it properly. Maybe not the whole big white wedding, but more than they did have. At least do it in the company of the people they loved. Their family.

The three men moved around him, Brass begrudgingly allowing Nick to help him with his shirt and jacket, but Grissom took no notice. His mind wondering back to his first wedding. It had happened so fast, over before they even knew it. Grissom could hardly remember any of it. But the proposal, that was something he would remember for the rest of his life.

Only a week after Grissom had arrived at the camp Sara was living, the couple were working by the Celeste River. Grissom documenting the various incest life while Sara collected different forms of vegetation. He glanced over; the view couldn't be more picturesque. Sara knelt on the ground, surrounded by vibrant green foliage. Backdropped with a clear blue waterfall flowing into the river behind her. It was the most beautiful sight Grissom had ever seen.

Sara lent over to clip another sample when she paused, he lips forming into a soft smile. "Gil," she called, quietly. "Come take a look at this." Grissom stood, but Sara held up her hand. "Slowly." He crept over to her, careful to keep his footing on the uneven ground. As he reached her, Grissom knelt down. A smile forming on his face. Resting on a blade of grass, mere inches from Sara's hand, was a butterfly.

It's clear wings beating gently in the humid breeze. Sara reached out a finger and, to Grissom's surprise, the butterfly stepped onto the slender digit. She lifted her hand, bringing the insect between them and Grissom met her gaze over the brown-rimmed wings. The hazel eyes were softened in pure joy, gorgeous and shinning as she looked at the beautiful creature now resting on the tip of her finger.

"Greta oto, I believe," Sara said. "Better known as the…"

"Glasswing butterfly," Grissom finished for her. Sara smiled at him before transferring her gaze back to the insect.

"She's beautiful," Sara said.

"She?" Grissom asked. Sara nodded.

"Male glasswing's are darker in colour and have a small plume of fine hair on their forewing. It's normally tucked under the overlap. But it's mating season, so the hairs should be out." She used her little finger to point out the wing. "There are no hairs here."

"Very good," Grissom said, not even bothering to hide how impressed he was. Even after all these years, this woman still manages to surprise him. "Since when are you an expert on butterflies?"

"What can I say, you've rubbed off on me." She smirked up at him, her lips quirked up in that adorable half smile. Eyes shining as she looked at him.

"I love you," he said, softly. It wasn't the first time he had said it since arriving. He had said it every day, any time he could. Not once missing a chance to tell her. But the way he said it this time, had only been said twice before. Once, when she had woken in the hospital after being rescued from the desert. And the second was when he found her in the clearing only a week before. It was said with such an overwhelming amount of emotion, Grissom could barely breathe.

Sara's eyes widened and her breath caught. The butterfly fluttered her wings and few away, but neither Grissom nor Sara noticed. Grissom reached over to cup her face and swiped his thumb across her cheek, wiping away a tear that slid down her skin. He pulled her close, capturing her lips with his own before encircling her with his arms, nestling his face into her neck.

Inhaling her sent as her hair tickled against his cheek. He had to ask her. Needed too. He had been wanting too, from the moment he arrived.

"Marry me?" His voice was low, rough, trying to keep a hold of the tears that threatened to overtake him as he felt her small, strong hands grip onto his back. She held him tight, her body flush against his.

"I've been waiting for you to ask me that ever since you got here," she said in his ear. Tears fell then and Grissom did nothing to stop them. He was so full, full of her, he didn't care. Sara pulled back, brushing a thumb across his cheek, taking the tears with it. And kissed him.

They were married a few days later, in that very spot. Only the judge and a single member of their research team were present.

Now, they were doing it again with their team, their family, to witness. And Grissom was determined to remember every second of it.