Chapter 9: The Phone Call
"So what's Ecklie's problem?" Sara lathered the shampoo in her hands. "Come here."
Grissom leaned down into Sara's soapy hands. The shampoo smelled like berries; like Sara. He liked being so intimate with her with something so simple as a shower. He was never the smooth or cool lover, he was nervous about everything. The touches, the glances, everything. He was glad Sara wasn't, or if she was she didn't let it show.
"It's not really him but he warned me that some people are accusing me of being a bad supervisor. Their argument is that if I would have stood my ground with you, officer Tally might still be alive." He said as she ran her hands through his hair and down the back of his neck. He closed his eyes at the feeling. "That feels so good."
She smiled and began to rub his neck muscles. "Well if you stood your ground, Jarod would have just waited until the next time arrived, and another officer could be dead. Maybe even me. It could have been worse." Sara rinsed her hands under the shower then moved around him so he had access to rinse his hair. She was glad her apartment had such a big shower. Both of them were.
He rinsed his head and let the water cascade down his back. He looked at her with water in his eyes. "Were you preoccupied because of our fight?"
"No. I was preoccupied with the scene. I was mad at you, but I didn't take it to a scene. We agreed to keep our private relationship and work separate. I did." She smiled. "I know I don't always take your advice but I did that day."
He reached down and grabbed her wrist to view the stitches as the water ran over them. "Sara if I didn't find you in time..."
"But you did." She finished before he could reminisce anymore in the past. "You have nothing to worry about Gil. We are not going to let them remove you from supervising the graveyard shift without a big fight."
"Well looking at the bright side, it wouldn't be inappropriate to see you if I was removed as acting supervisor. We could stop sneaking around." He smiled as if the entire threat meant nothing. He would risk his job for her, but she wasn't going to let him give up his job for her.
She shook her head in disapproval. "That's not an option. I refuse to let you give up your first love because of me."
He raised an eyebrow. "You refuse to let me?"
"Yes and you know I am good to my word."
He leaned in and kissed her wet lips. She snaked her arms around his waist to pull him closer. "I have work." He whispered as he pulled away from her. Any longer and he would really be late. He still had to swing by his place to get clean clothes too. It was hard to deny Sara once she begun so he had to stop before it started.
She let him go. "Have fun without me."
He stole a quick kiss. "Not going to happen." He stepped out of the shower onto the bath mat, while Sara soaped up. "What are you going to do today? Let me guess it doesn't involve resting."
"You know me too well." She called out. "I was actually thinking of going for a run."
"You run?"
She poked her head out. "You sound surprised."
"I just had no idea." He shrugged. "I know you don't want to hear it but please don't push yourself too hard."
"Who? Me?"
"Sara..." He warned.
She went back to washing her hair. "It helps me clear my thoughts. I'll be fine. My ribs don't hurt at all."
"Just don't run so hard okay?"
"I won't bugman."
He smiled. "I thought you didn't like pet names."
"Not the ones directed at me."
He raised an eyebrow but he dropped it. It wasn't a bad nickname. He could grow into it. He went to the bedroom to get dressed. There was a major break in his case, possibly a conviction. He was eager to get it done so he could see Sara again. He slowly completed getting dressed by stealing his shirt back from Sara. When he put it on it no longer smelled like him, it had her scent all over it. It made him smile. All this smiling made him realize that he has never been happier. He imagined it would look strange to show up to work with a smile on his face. Even that made him smile.
"Sara I am going to go. I'll lock up behind me." He called into the bathroom.
"Hey," she poked her head out just in time to see him. "See you after shift?"
"Yeah we can talk some more."
She responded with a smile. She couldn't believe they were 'talking' like it was the easiest thing in the world. "Love you." She said.
The words were comforting and couldn't be more natural. "I love you too Sara." He walked over to the shower and kissed her deeply. "Don't run too hard okay?" He said backing away.
"I won't."
"You better not." He laughed. "I have plans for later."
Before she protest a surprise he was gone.
~ * ~
The steam clouded Sara's eyes and made her breathing labored as the hot water ran out. She wrapped herself in a towel and went to her room to get dressed. She didn't bother drying her hair, she just threw it in a ponytail. She got dressed in her normal attire; shorts, a tank top, and a sweatshirt. Sara never wore shorts any other time except when she ran. They gave her liberty to push her long legs to the limit. The sweatshirt was an old gray one that she always ran in for her cool down. She tied it tightly around her waist and found her running shoes in their place to put them on.
She told Grissom she ran to clear her thoughts but she really didn't have much to clear up. She never felt so good. Her relationship with Grissom seemed so natural now. She didn't need to clear her head.
One thought did weigh heavily on her mind though. Grissom wasn't bothered about the threats against his position. He was a man in love with his work and she knew this and understood it. Her own passion for work was like his own. So it was his shocking comment in the shower that made her worry. He would drop everything for her. She wasn't used to being in a relationship with Grissom, let alone in any type of relationship where he was so honest and open with her. When he said 'I love you' she couldn't breathe. She never thought he would say something so serious so soon, if ever. But then again he never ceased to surprise her. She guessed that is precisely why this bothered her. He never says anything he doesn't mean. He plans his words, so saying that he would even think about giving up his job for her was concerning. She didn't know what he would do but didn't want to be the reason he lost his job. She made sure to get to the bottom of it tonight.
She nodded her head in agreement with herself and began to wrap her wrist again when the phone rang.
"Now what?" She grumbled as she walked over to the phone. "Sidle."
"Miss Sidle, it's Ecklie."
Her tone was even. "Something I can do for you Ecklie?"
"I just wanted to inform you that you have been cleared. Things can go back to normal. Have a good day."
"Hey Ecklie?!" She wasn't excited to talk to Ecklie but she had to know if Grissom was in any real trouble. Grissom was always out to protect her and he would never tell her directly so she took the opportunity to find out.
"Yes."
"Is Grissom in trouble?" There was a sigh at the other end making Sara bite her nails. It was quiet for some time. She thought he hung up, but then he spoke.
"I don't know how serious it is but he under a microscope now. It's all in the departments hands if they want to proceed to an investigation."
"Does he know that?" She was grasping for straws as to why Grissom wasn't caring the way he should.
"Yes he knows. Look I really shouldn't be talking to you about this. Catherine already had my ear bent for the passed hour trying to get me to do something but..."
"But you can't. I know about internal investigations." Sara also sighed on the other end. That's what brought her to Vegas to begin with. She cleared her throat. "Hey we know what you did for him and we all appreciate it."
"Don't go getting soft on me Sidle. I am the guy to hate remember?" Ecklie smiled on the other end at his own joke but it was gone as quickly as it came."Well have a good day."
"You too." She said sadly and hung up. She stared at her phone then began to pace back and forth. No matter how calm and happy she was before, it made no difference. She was too worried now. She was beyond worried, or concerned, she was biting her nails again. If Grissom was investigated they would surely find out about them. She didn't want to be the cause of any further distress. She looked at the phone then at the door. She couldn't talk to Grissom until after shift. She glanced at the door again. Now it seemed she needed to run to clear her head before she had a breakdown. She threw open the door, hurriedly locked it behind her, and sprinted down the steps.
tbc...