Hi guys. Here is the promised epilogue. I'm so stoked that you liked the
story. Again, thanks for all of the reviews and encouragement. I can't
believe I actually finished my first story. Peace.
Epilogue
***********************************
Sara couldn't believe how good it felt to finally be standing in her very own living room. No nurse Ratchet. Well, she thought, there appeared to be a nurse Grissom that wasn't going to let her out of his sight. She could deal with that. After all, he did have a cute butt. Sara tried to push that thought to the back of her mind as Grissom came into the apartment, carrying the couple bags containing clothes and various accumulated hospital stuff.
"I don't even have to ask." Grissom smiled at her. "Being home after leaving the hospital is beyond words isn't it?"
Sara nodded and reached for his hand. He squeezed it and leaned in for a gentle kiss.
"I'll just put these in the bedroom before I get too preoccupied with your lips, Ms. Sidle."
"I didn't know I was that captivating?" She gave him a sly smile.
"Sara, you have no idea." His face was totally serious and she felt herself flush at his intense stare.
"I'm flattered, Griss."
He gave her a boyish grin and took the bags into her bedroom. He placed her medications within easy reach on the nightstand and took the extra bandages into her bathroom.
"You're supposed to take your meds again in a fifteen minutes." He walked back into the living room to find her sitting rigidly on the sofa. Her expression was a mix of pain and fear.
"Sara? What is it?"
Her eyes were unfocused. Grissom took a careful step toward her. Finally, she shook her head and looked at him.
"I'm sorry, Griss. I just got caught up for a minute. Thinking."
"About what?" He didn't want to hover and made his way to the kitchen to grab a couple of bottles of water.
"Uh, not sure. I know this sounds stupid, but I guess it just hit me that we're not there anymore? You know?"
He didn't answer, sensing she had more to say.
"We're not with Dunn. He can't hurt us." She paused and a small sob shook her body.
Grissom crossed into the living room and knelt down beside her. Her hands reached out to him as he cupped her face softly, before leaning into a gentle embrace.
"I wasn't going to cry," she sobbed.
"Why?"
"Didn't want to give him the satisfaction."
Grissom used both hands to raise her face to his. He stroked each tear- stained cheek.
"You're not giving him anything. Dunn's out of our lives. Remember, you told me that. You cry because you hurt. That's for you, Sara. Dunn has nothing to do with it."
"I guess."
"Sara, since when do you guess?"
"I don't."
"No, you don't. So think of the facts. Dunn will be standing trial in a couple of months. Nothing is a certainty, but with the evidence, I think he'll spend the next two decades in prison."
"You don't know that, Grissom."
"You're right. All I know for certain is that he's in County lockdown awaiting trial." He paused and moved closer to her face. "And I promise you I will do everything in my power to make sure he never hurts you again."
"I know you will." She leaned her forehead into his and took a deep breath.
"Good. Now, do you want your pain meds?"
"I'm OK, Griss. They just make me all fuzzy."
Standing and taking a seat beside her he reached around and begun stroking her back.
"I don't want to argue with you, Sara, but you know what the doctor said. The closer you adhere to the regimen, the less stress your body's under and the quicker you'll heal."
"Thank you, Nurse Grissom."
"I'm serious."
"Can't you just sit here with me for a few minutes. I'll take the pills in a bit."
"Good enough," Patient Sidle.
"But, only if you keep rubbing my back. I've never had such a handsome nurse."
"You drive a hard bargain."
"That's why you love me."
"One of many reasons, yes." He leaned over her and placed several kisses along her neck and shoulder.
"Is this entirely proper for a nurse patient relationship?" She giggled and turned toward him. The sudden movement caused her to yelp in pain and sent her hand to her ribs. Grissom pulled back immediately, worried eyes searching her face.
"Sara?"
"I moved too quickly."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been kissing you. You really should be in bed."
She smiled broadly and gave him a seductive wink. "I totally agree, Griss."
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
"Yeah," she conceded. "But you're gonna be one worn out puppy once I'm completely healed."
"I'll look forward to it, my dear."
"Oh, God, now we have to have The Discussion."
"What discussion?"
"The Acceptable and Unacceptable Terms of Endearment discussion."
Grissom smiled. "I think this is why I don't do relationships."
"Ok, that little witticism of yours means you're making dinner tonight."
"And who else would? I can't have you eating take-out on your first night home."
"Don't switch topics, Griss." Sara sat forward and fixed him with a serious gaze.
"I'm all ears, sweetie."
"Ok, first of all here is my list of endearments that I find horrible. Sweetie tops the list, followed by Baby, Snookums, Sugar and Dear."
"And the acceptable ones?" Grissom couldn't suppress his grin.
"Sweetheart is OK if used infrequently. Honey is all right as is Loverduck."
"Loverduck?"
"Yeah, loverduck." She grinned at him.
"So I guess you're never going to call me Gil?"
"Only when I'm pissed."
"Good, I never really liked my first name."
"I'll give you a couple of days to come up with your own definitive list of acceptable endearments."
"I'll need all the time you give me."
"I'm sure you will, Batman."
"Um, I like it."
"Griss?"
"Yeah?"
"Wasn't the Penguin one of Batman's arch rivals?"
Grissom narrowed his eyes at Sara.
"All right, who told you about the damn pajamas? He tried to look stern, but wasn't quite able to keep his grin hidden.
"Let's see," she giggled. "Cath, Nick, Warrick, Greg-"
"I get the point."
"Well since you'll be spending a couple of night here playing Nurse Grissom?"
"One, I didn't bring the pajamas in question and two, I'll be sleeping on the sofa."
Sara couldn't help laughing at his serious expression.
"C'mon, Griss, we're two adults barely capable of physical contact without painful consequences. I think we'll be safe sleeping in the same bed."
"Are you, uh, sure? I really don't mind the sofa."
"I'm sure your shoulder would feel much better in my bed, along with the rest of you."
Grissom blushed, but nodded.
"I'm still not wearing the penguins."
"Oh, didn't I mention that I ask Cath to pick them up from your place? She should be here any minute."
"Ok, now you're taking your medicine."
She smiled slyly.
"I've got a proposition for you, Griss."
He eyed her warily.
"If you wear the penguin pajamas tonight, you'll only have to wear blue jeans three days a week."
A wide grin spread across both their faces and they leaned in for a kiss.
"Done deal, Sara."
THREE MONTHS LATER
Charlie Dunn was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 18-25 years in prison. He has a really weird cellmate.
Grissom and Sara moved in together two months after she was released from the hospital. And, yes he continues to wear jeans three days a week. Sara is delighted when, every two weeks, he dons a suit so they can go out for a romantic dinner. Both are now fully recovered and, as Sara promised, Grissom is one sore, but satisfied puppy.
Warrick and Brass continue to pursue Catherine. She simply hasn't been able to make up her mind.
Nick is still seeking the perfect girl. Greg continues to pursue anything with breasts.
Epilogue
***********************************
Sara couldn't believe how good it felt to finally be standing in her very own living room. No nurse Ratchet. Well, she thought, there appeared to be a nurse Grissom that wasn't going to let her out of his sight. She could deal with that. After all, he did have a cute butt. Sara tried to push that thought to the back of her mind as Grissom came into the apartment, carrying the couple bags containing clothes and various accumulated hospital stuff.
"I don't even have to ask." Grissom smiled at her. "Being home after leaving the hospital is beyond words isn't it?"
Sara nodded and reached for his hand. He squeezed it and leaned in for a gentle kiss.
"I'll just put these in the bedroom before I get too preoccupied with your lips, Ms. Sidle."
"I didn't know I was that captivating?" She gave him a sly smile.
"Sara, you have no idea." His face was totally serious and she felt herself flush at his intense stare.
"I'm flattered, Griss."
He gave her a boyish grin and took the bags into her bedroom. He placed her medications within easy reach on the nightstand and took the extra bandages into her bathroom.
"You're supposed to take your meds again in a fifteen minutes." He walked back into the living room to find her sitting rigidly on the sofa. Her expression was a mix of pain and fear.
"Sara? What is it?"
Her eyes were unfocused. Grissom took a careful step toward her. Finally, she shook her head and looked at him.
"I'm sorry, Griss. I just got caught up for a minute. Thinking."
"About what?" He didn't want to hover and made his way to the kitchen to grab a couple of bottles of water.
"Uh, not sure. I know this sounds stupid, but I guess it just hit me that we're not there anymore? You know?"
He didn't answer, sensing she had more to say.
"We're not with Dunn. He can't hurt us." She paused and a small sob shook her body.
Grissom crossed into the living room and knelt down beside her. Her hands reached out to him as he cupped her face softly, before leaning into a gentle embrace.
"I wasn't going to cry," she sobbed.
"Why?"
"Didn't want to give him the satisfaction."
Grissom used both hands to raise her face to his. He stroked each tear- stained cheek.
"You're not giving him anything. Dunn's out of our lives. Remember, you told me that. You cry because you hurt. That's for you, Sara. Dunn has nothing to do with it."
"I guess."
"Sara, since when do you guess?"
"I don't."
"No, you don't. So think of the facts. Dunn will be standing trial in a couple of months. Nothing is a certainty, but with the evidence, I think he'll spend the next two decades in prison."
"You don't know that, Grissom."
"You're right. All I know for certain is that he's in County lockdown awaiting trial." He paused and moved closer to her face. "And I promise you I will do everything in my power to make sure he never hurts you again."
"I know you will." She leaned her forehead into his and took a deep breath.
"Good. Now, do you want your pain meds?"
"I'm OK, Griss. They just make me all fuzzy."
Standing and taking a seat beside her he reached around and begun stroking her back.
"I don't want to argue with you, Sara, but you know what the doctor said. The closer you adhere to the regimen, the less stress your body's under and the quicker you'll heal."
"Thank you, Nurse Grissom."
"I'm serious."
"Can't you just sit here with me for a few minutes. I'll take the pills in a bit."
"Good enough," Patient Sidle.
"But, only if you keep rubbing my back. I've never had such a handsome nurse."
"You drive a hard bargain."
"That's why you love me."
"One of many reasons, yes." He leaned over her and placed several kisses along her neck and shoulder.
"Is this entirely proper for a nurse patient relationship?" She giggled and turned toward him. The sudden movement caused her to yelp in pain and sent her hand to her ribs. Grissom pulled back immediately, worried eyes searching her face.
"Sara?"
"I moved too quickly."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been kissing you. You really should be in bed."
She smiled broadly and gave him a seductive wink. "I totally agree, Griss."
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
"Yeah," she conceded. "But you're gonna be one worn out puppy once I'm completely healed."
"I'll look forward to it, my dear."
"Oh, God, now we have to have The Discussion."
"What discussion?"
"The Acceptable and Unacceptable Terms of Endearment discussion."
Grissom smiled. "I think this is why I don't do relationships."
"Ok, that little witticism of yours means you're making dinner tonight."
"And who else would? I can't have you eating take-out on your first night home."
"Don't switch topics, Griss." Sara sat forward and fixed him with a serious gaze.
"I'm all ears, sweetie."
"Ok, first of all here is my list of endearments that I find horrible. Sweetie tops the list, followed by Baby, Snookums, Sugar and Dear."
"And the acceptable ones?" Grissom couldn't suppress his grin.
"Sweetheart is OK if used infrequently. Honey is all right as is Loverduck."
"Loverduck?"
"Yeah, loverduck." She grinned at him.
"So I guess you're never going to call me Gil?"
"Only when I'm pissed."
"Good, I never really liked my first name."
"I'll give you a couple of days to come up with your own definitive list of acceptable endearments."
"I'll need all the time you give me."
"I'm sure you will, Batman."
"Um, I like it."
"Griss?"
"Yeah?"
"Wasn't the Penguin one of Batman's arch rivals?"
Grissom narrowed his eyes at Sara.
"All right, who told you about the damn pajamas? He tried to look stern, but wasn't quite able to keep his grin hidden.
"Let's see," she giggled. "Cath, Nick, Warrick, Greg-"
"I get the point."
"Well since you'll be spending a couple of night here playing Nurse Grissom?"
"One, I didn't bring the pajamas in question and two, I'll be sleeping on the sofa."
Sara couldn't help laughing at his serious expression.
"C'mon, Griss, we're two adults barely capable of physical contact without painful consequences. I think we'll be safe sleeping in the same bed."
"Are you, uh, sure? I really don't mind the sofa."
"I'm sure your shoulder would feel much better in my bed, along with the rest of you."
Grissom blushed, but nodded.
"I'm still not wearing the penguins."
"Oh, didn't I mention that I ask Cath to pick them up from your place? She should be here any minute."
"Ok, now you're taking your medicine."
She smiled slyly.
"I've got a proposition for you, Griss."
He eyed her warily.
"If you wear the penguin pajamas tonight, you'll only have to wear blue jeans three days a week."
A wide grin spread across both their faces and they leaned in for a kiss.
"Done deal, Sara."
THREE MONTHS LATER
Charlie Dunn was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 18-25 years in prison. He has a really weird cellmate.
Grissom and Sara moved in together two months after she was released from the hospital. And, yes he continues to wear jeans three days a week. Sara is delighted when, every two weeks, he dons a suit so they can go out for a romantic dinner. Both are now fully recovered and, as Sara promised, Grissom is one sore, but satisfied puppy.
Warrick and Brass continue to pursue Catherine. She simply hasn't been able to make up her mind.
Nick is still seeking the perfect girl. Greg continues to pursue anything with breasts.