Title: "Valentine"
Author: Peggie
Rating: NC-17 eventually
Pairing: G/S, N/OC, G/OC, W/C
Disclaimer: Yeah, know I don't own them yet, just having some fun!
Thanks: Karen for everything!
Note: The deaf who use sign language do not sign standard spoken English.
To facilitate reading the story,however, Maggie and Grissom will use
standard spoken English.
Grissom pulled the Tahoe into the parking lot of Good Vibrations for the fourth time in two days. This time, however, he managed to turn off the ignition, unfasten his seatbelt, exit the vehicle and pass the store before ducking into the Hallmark next door. He wandered down an aisle, silently arguing with himself over his childish inability to go into 'that' store. *You're a grown man. Men and women go in and out of that store all the time. It's clean, brightly-lit and attractively designed from the outside. You CAN do this.* So engrossed in his thoughts, he almost didn't register the tap on his shoulder. He turned around.
"Dr. Grissom?" the red-haired woman signed. "I'm Maggie, from your Speech Reading class."
Grissom smiled and responded, "Maggie, I recognize you. You were absent last week. No signing, just 'reading'. It was tough."
"My sister is getting married in a few weeks." Maggie signed. "We had an appointment we couldn't change. I was wondering if you could do me a favor?" Grissom nodded and she continued, "I have to purchase some, well, stuff for Joan's party. Unfortunately none of the cashiers sign, and you know I struggle with 'reading'. Do you think you could come with me while I finish my shopping? It'll only take about ten minutes. I'm sorry to impose like this, but I really wanted to do my share of the preparation work. You know how people assume if you're deaf, you're somewhat incompetent. I never thought about not having any cashiers who sign - our local stores all do." Gil smiled at the young woman.
"Not a problem, Maggie. It will be my pleasure." He followed her out of the Hallmark store and turned right. She stopped in front of the next store, turned and again signed, "Thank you!"
Without thinking, he followed her in and found himself in "that" store! Blushing and trying not to make eye contact with anyone, he followed Maggie further into the store. Towards the center were several chairs and some newspapers. He touched her arm to get her attention and indicated he would wait there.
Glancing around, Grissom noticed most of the customers appeared middle income and middle aged. There was something rather comforting in that. He still couldn't begin to look at the 'merchandise', but at least had made it into the store. Just as he was getting up the courage to look around, Maggie returned with several items in her basket. "I'm ready to check out. I hope you really didn't mind." She turned and headed towards the checkout counter with Gil behind her.
The cashier was polite, but nervous as he rang up the items. Maggie needed to know if the store would accept her check, their return policy and the total of her order. Grissom handled the communications easily and together they left the store. Turning to thank him again, Maggie noticed the blush. "Oh my God! I'm so sorry, I didn't even think what kind of a store that was! I'm so embarrassed! I hope you don't mind." Her hands flew in her efforts to apologize enough. Grissom gripped her hands gently and said, slowly, "It's OK, Maggie. I didn't mind." He released her hands and continued, signing "Just a little embarrassed. I'll get over it!" They laughed as she thanked him again and turned towards the far parking lot.
Grissom watched her go. He still hadn't gotten Sara her Valentine gift.
Grissom pulled the Tahoe into the parking lot of Good Vibrations for the fourth time in two days. This time, however, he managed to turn off the ignition, unfasten his seatbelt, exit the vehicle and pass the store before ducking into the Hallmark next door. He wandered down an aisle, silently arguing with himself over his childish inability to go into 'that' store. *You're a grown man. Men and women go in and out of that store all the time. It's clean, brightly-lit and attractively designed from the outside. You CAN do this.* So engrossed in his thoughts, he almost didn't register the tap on his shoulder. He turned around.
"Dr. Grissom?" the red-haired woman signed. "I'm Maggie, from your Speech Reading class."
Grissom smiled and responded, "Maggie, I recognize you. You were absent last week. No signing, just 'reading'. It was tough."
"My sister is getting married in a few weeks." Maggie signed. "We had an appointment we couldn't change. I was wondering if you could do me a favor?" Grissom nodded and she continued, "I have to purchase some, well, stuff for Joan's party. Unfortunately none of the cashiers sign, and you know I struggle with 'reading'. Do you think you could come with me while I finish my shopping? It'll only take about ten minutes. I'm sorry to impose like this, but I really wanted to do my share of the preparation work. You know how people assume if you're deaf, you're somewhat incompetent. I never thought about not having any cashiers who sign - our local stores all do." Gil smiled at the young woman.
"Not a problem, Maggie. It will be my pleasure." He followed her out of the Hallmark store and turned right. She stopped in front of the next store, turned and again signed, "Thank you!"
Without thinking, he followed her in and found himself in "that" store! Blushing and trying not to make eye contact with anyone, he followed Maggie further into the store. Towards the center were several chairs and some newspapers. He touched her arm to get her attention and indicated he would wait there.
Glancing around, Grissom noticed most of the customers appeared middle income and middle aged. There was something rather comforting in that. He still couldn't begin to look at the 'merchandise', but at least had made it into the store. Just as he was getting up the courage to look around, Maggie returned with several items in her basket. "I'm ready to check out. I hope you really didn't mind." She turned and headed towards the checkout counter with Gil behind her.
The cashier was polite, but nervous as he rang up the items. Maggie needed to know if the store would accept her check, their return policy and the total of her order. Grissom handled the communications easily and together they left the store. Turning to thank him again, Maggie noticed the blush. "Oh my God! I'm so sorry, I didn't even think what kind of a store that was! I'm so embarrassed! I hope you don't mind." Her hands flew in her efforts to apologize enough. Grissom gripped her hands gently and said, slowly, "It's OK, Maggie. I didn't mind." He released her hands and continued, signing "Just a little embarrassed. I'll get over it!" They laughed as she thanked him again and turned towards the far parking lot.
Grissom watched her go. He still hadn't gotten Sara her Valentine gift.