Chapter 10
The flat was dark and quiet when he opened the door. "Warrick must be staying at Catherine's tonight." He turned the living room light on. "It's in my room." He put Sara's bag on the kitchen counter and led the way to his bedroom.
Sara looked around from the doorway; a bit nervous about being in his home let alone his room. She saw a photo on his desk and walked towards it. Picking it up she turned to Grissom. "Who's this? She's pretty." What really caught her eye were the same bright blues eyes, the same as Grissom.
Grissom turned from his closet. "My mother and yes she is pretty." Grissom forgot about the paper and took the picture from her.
"Where is she?"
"She runs an art gallery in Venice." He said placing the picture back. "Where's yours. I mean, wasn't she supposed to be home a few weeks ago?"
She sat down on his bed and scanned the room. "Yeah she did, but went to see relatives somewhere south."
"What about your dad?" Grissom asked sitting down next to her.
"He died a long time ago." She spied a large frame.
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok, I miss him, but I was little when he died." She pointed to the wall where the frame hung. "You collect bugs?"
Grissom smiled. "Yeah, butterflies mostly. Do you like bugs Sara?" He asked turning to her.
When she looked at him he realised they were sitting close together, mere inches from her smile. He took in every inch of her face with his eyes.
"You have your mothers eyes." She said tracing the outline of his cheekbone. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it.
His smile grew as he leaned into her. Both hearts were beating together at a rapid rate as she closed the small gap between them. Their lips brushed softly. Her hand found the collar of his shirt and grasped it tightly as he pushed his tongue into her mouth. The kiss was long and deep. Pulling away for air Sara rests her head against his.
They stayed in the same position for a few quiet minutes trying to control the rush of emotion that ignited in both their hearts.
"Sara." His question was cut short when her lips found his again. He found her waist and began to manipulate the flesh that peeked between her blouse and jeans. His mouth moved to her neck and teased to flesh with his tongue. He pushed her back until he was lying slightly on her warm body. Her fingers tangled in his hair as he placed light kisses along her jaw. His hand glided down her side, over her hip to her thigh were he stopped. He just kept his hand there, not moving it.
"It's ok Gil." Sara said softly into his ear as she lowered her arms to his back and hugged him. He kissed her once more and buried his face in her neck.
They knew why they stopped, it was too soon and they both knew that. He wrapped his arms around her and cuddled her closely. Something special had been created between the two and neither wanted to rush into it and spoil the moment with regret because everything happened too fast, so they held each other and closed their eyes as the emotional rush drained their energy away and coaxed them into sleep.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When the clock on Grissom's bedside table changed to 4.23am she opened her eyes. Turning her head she came in contact with those baby blues. She then realised she had fallen asleep.
He was watching her as she slept. Her face was so peaceful and smooth under his touch. His hand brushed some hair over her shoulder as she turned her head to him some more.
"You must have been tired." He said wrapping a stray lock around his finger.
She smiled. "I was. I've been keeping myself busy."
Grissom looked at the silky hair around his fingers. "Me too."
Sara watched his face and saw pain looking back at her. She was thinking that maybe this was a good enough time to ask where he's been and what happened so many weeks ago.
"Did you go anywhere special? Warrick said you'd taken off somewhere." She noticed his eyes closed, but couldn't see his face completely. "Open you eyes. Please.I like their colour." She pleaded softly.
He did and locked onto hers with a small smile. "I had to get away."
"Why?"
"You ask so many questions." She grinned and matched his smile. He leaned into her and whispered. "I like you Sara." He pulled back and chuckled. He felt like he was in pre-school and had his first crush on a girl.
She blushed and whispered back. "I like you too." Sara looked at her watch and frowned.
She sat up and buttoned her jacket she still wore. "You need to go home don't you?" He asked sadly.
Standing up she cocked her head to one side and smiled. "Nick will be sneaking in at about 5am and I need to get home and grill him about it."
"Oh." He stood up and walked out into the kitchen to get her bag. "I'll drive you."
Sara slung her bag over her shoulder. "It's only around the corner."
"I want to though." He said opening the front door.
She smiled widely at him. "Ok." She waited for him to lock the door and made their way to his car. "Can we walk?" He looked at her and nodded.
As they began walking Sara slipped her hand into his and looked up at him as he tightened his fingers around hers in return. "I'm sorry about not meeting you on the bleachers after practise."
"I figured you had something else to do."
"No, I saw Cath talking to you and that's not good." They rounded the end of the street and crossed the road.
"I take it she takes it upon herself to size up the girls you meet?"
"Pretty much and usually I don't see them again or they don't talk to me. She always explains in depth about how I'm always volunteering for local autopsies and my fascination with bugs, which scares them away."
"Well, I like dead bodies strangely enough and I'm not all that bothered about bugs either. Although she did say something about you being stubborn and having had many girlfriends."
They crossed another road and walked down the street towards her house. "I can be stubborn and there hasn't been that many."
"I can be stubborn too and I'm the same in the relationship department." He smiled at her as they cut across the grass of her lawn. They stopped at the door. "Well, now we know each other a little better, would you like to come running with me tomorrow?"
"How do you know I run?" He released her hand and brushed some flower petals from her hair that had fallen in the wind.
"You don't really expect me to believe that you play baseball and keep in good shape without at least running once a week are you?"
He laughed and shook his head. "What time? Seeing as tomorrow is today."
Sara opened her mouth then closed it. He was right it was Saturday and early. "11am good?"
"Perfect." He said against her lips. She leaned into his chest bringing her hands to his waist. He pulled away and looked at his watch. "You have five minutes before he's home."
"I'll see you in a few hours." He nodded and started walking away a she closed her door.
As he walked down the road back towards his flat, he had a permanent smiled glued to his face. He didn't mess it up and he didn't push her. He was probably the happiest person right now. All he needed was to grab a few hours sleep and he could see her again.
Chapter 11
Orange sky had turned to blue and filled the living room, spreading over the long couch. Nick wandered through the door at 10am and stopped in the hallway to look at the sleeping beauty curled up amongst the cushions. He made little noise as he made himself breakfast. She woke to the toaster popping up and the sweet smell of jam.
He was dishing up the second plate when she walked into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and yawning delicately. "Morning." She sat down and took a small bit from her toast. "You just get in?"
"Yeah, sorry. Don't tell mum."
She shook her head. "You know I won't. So where'd you stay?"
Sitting at the island in the middle of the kitchen with his toast coated with jam, he grinned at her. "Nicola's."
Eyes couldn't have been wider as she looked at him closely. "You take your pill's?" He was expecting something else, but it also reminded him. He shook his head sorrowfully. "Nicky you know you should take them morning and night. If you don't you'll get ill."
"I know, I forgot. I'll take them now." He went to a kitchen cupboard and pulled out a brown prescription bottle.
Putting her plate in the sink, she stood and stretched. "Well, now I've badgered you, I'm taking a shower then going running. See later 'Stud'." Nick sprayed water from his mouth as she retreated upstairs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The shower was just what she needed. The hot water cascaded over her as the steam floated around the bathroom. She stepped out and wrapped a large towel around her while she dried her hair. She put her watch on and saw the time as a knock came at the door.
"Nicky get that would you?" Sara shouted down the stairs.
"I'm a bit busy Sara." Nick shouted back from the basement.
"I can't go."
"Neither can I."
Sara looked at herself and sighed. "Let's scare the neighbours." She muttered as she walked down the stairs.
She opened the door. "Morn..." Grissom stopped when he saw what she was wearing. As smile light up his face after the essential shock of seeing her partly naked. "You running in that?" He waved his hand at her towel clutched tightly to her skin.
"Very funny." She smirked at his playfulness. "I'm a bit late, sorry."
Shaking his head as she let him into the hallway. "I can wait." He watched her walk back up the stairs and saw the skin of her thighs as she climbed the many steps. His eyes blinked slowly at the picture of her in only a towel. He would love to see her in just a towel again if it meant being able to see her soft slightly tanned skin.
A loud 'thud' got his attention. Nick came slowly up the steps of the basement carrying a basket of clean clothes. He looked up and stopped in the doorway. "Grissom, what you doing here?"
"Waiting for Sara." Nick's face looked panicked at the sound of her name. "What's up? I heard a bang."
"Erm, don't tell her, but I just broke the drier." Grissom laughed. "She'll kill me."
"I know a bit about them, you want me to have a look?" Grissom offered as Nick started folding up the clothes in the kitchen.
"Can if you want, but I can do it. To be honest it's not the first time, but she doesn't know that." Grissom shook his head and jumped when a hand found his.
"Hey." Sara squeezed his hand and turned to Nick's surprised eyes. "You take them?"
"Yes I took them." Nick said sarcastically.
Grissom turned to her. "You ready?"
"Yep, see you later Nicky." She pulled on Grissom's hand and he followed willingly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The day was hot and barely any breeze, but that didn't stop the few people sitting on park benches reading or watching their children play on the grass.
Grissom and Sara had been running for half an hour when they reached the wood on the far side of the park. It was cool and both runners welcomed the shade.
Sara kept teasing Grissom about his muscles and how she wondered if he did more physical activity than just running and baseball. His reply was that of 'wouldn't you like to know' and she eyed him playfully.
As they emerged from the depths of the wood Sara stopped for a drink of water from the drinking fountain. Grissom watched and waited, as he was about the get some water when Sara splashed him. "Hey!"
Sara giggled and stood back, but didn't get far when he quickly filled his cupped hands with the cold liquid and threw it up in the air. Gravity took hold as Grissom held her so she couldn't escape the aerial attack. "Ahh, so cold." She wrapped her arms around his body to hide from the water, but it didn't work when the water covered both in it's descent.
"That'll teach you to pick fights with me." He chuckled into her ear.
Sara licked a stray droplet from his neck. "Who said I was picking a fight?"
"Hmmm. me, but I can see your plan unravelling now." He pressed his body against hers while he enjoyed her lips and tongue on his neck.
Finding more droplets and cleaning them away she smiled. "My plan huh?" He planted a light kiss on her shoulder and nipped it playfully. "Ow." She giggled into his neck and scrunched his T-shirt in her hands. "Ok, ok. I just wanted to get close to you." He pulled back and hugged her tighter. She brushed her lips with his lightly. "And kiss you." He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her tenderly.
Breaking apart before the kiss deepened, brown and blue held each other as they slowed their breathing. His thumb brushed her red cheek gently as he leaned his forehead to her shoulder.
"I've never felt this way before." He said still breathless from the kiss.
Sara gripped his damp T-shirt. "Neither have I, but it feels great." It was only a whisper, but he heard it clearly.
He moved his mouth to her neck and kissed it lightly before meeting her soft eyes. "You will tell me if I'm going too fast, won't you?"
Her hand brushed back some sweaty curls from his forehead and smiled. "I will."
The flat was dark and quiet when he opened the door. "Warrick must be staying at Catherine's tonight." He turned the living room light on. "It's in my room." He put Sara's bag on the kitchen counter and led the way to his bedroom.
Sara looked around from the doorway; a bit nervous about being in his home let alone his room. She saw a photo on his desk and walked towards it. Picking it up she turned to Grissom. "Who's this? She's pretty." What really caught her eye were the same bright blues eyes, the same as Grissom.
Grissom turned from his closet. "My mother and yes she is pretty." Grissom forgot about the paper and took the picture from her.
"Where is she?"
"She runs an art gallery in Venice." He said placing the picture back. "Where's yours. I mean, wasn't she supposed to be home a few weeks ago?"
She sat down on his bed and scanned the room. "Yeah she did, but went to see relatives somewhere south."
"What about your dad?" Grissom asked sitting down next to her.
"He died a long time ago." She spied a large frame.
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok, I miss him, but I was little when he died." She pointed to the wall where the frame hung. "You collect bugs?"
Grissom smiled. "Yeah, butterflies mostly. Do you like bugs Sara?" He asked turning to her.
When she looked at him he realised they were sitting close together, mere inches from her smile. He took in every inch of her face with his eyes.
"You have your mothers eyes." She said tracing the outline of his cheekbone. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it.
His smile grew as he leaned into her. Both hearts were beating together at a rapid rate as she closed the small gap between them. Their lips brushed softly. Her hand found the collar of his shirt and grasped it tightly as he pushed his tongue into her mouth. The kiss was long and deep. Pulling away for air Sara rests her head against his.
They stayed in the same position for a few quiet minutes trying to control the rush of emotion that ignited in both their hearts.
"Sara." His question was cut short when her lips found his again. He found her waist and began to manipulate the flesh that peeked between her blouse and jeans. His mouth moved to her neck and teased to flesh with his tongue. He pushed her back until he was lying slightly on her warm body. Her fingers tangled in his hair as he placed light kisses along her jaw. His hand glided down her side, over her hip to her thigh were he stopped. He just kept his hand there, not moving it.
"It's ok Gil." Sara said softly into his ear as she lowered her arms to his back and hugged him. He kissed her once more and buried his face in her neck.
They knew why they stopped, it was too soon and they both knew that. He wrapped his arms around her and cuddled her closely. Something special had been created between the two and neither wanted to rush into it and spoil the moment with regret because everything happened too fast, so they held each other and closed their eyes as the emotional rush drained their energy away and coaxed them into sleep.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When the clock on Grissom's bedside table changed to 4.23am she opened her eyes. Turning her head she came in contact with those baby blues. She then realised she had fallen asleep.
He was watching her as she slept. Her face was so peaceful and smooth under his touch. His hand brushed some hair over her shoulder as she turned her head to him some more.
"You must have been tired." He said wrapping a stray lock around his finger.
She smiled. "I was. I've been keeping myself busy."
Grissom looked at the silky hair around his fingers. "Me too."
Sara watched his face and saw pain looking back at her. She was thinking that maybe this was a good enough time to ask where he's been and what happened so many weeks ago.
"Did you go anywhere special? Warrick said you'd taken off somewhere." She noticed his eyes closed, but couldn't see his face completely. "Open you eyes. Please.I like their colour." She pleaded softly.
He did and locked onto hers with a small smile. "I had to get away."
"Why?"
"You ask so many questions." She grinned and matched his smile. He leaned into her and whispered. "I like you Sara." He pulled back and chuckled. He felt like he was in pre-school and had his first crush on a girl.
She blushed and whispered back. "I like you too." Sara looked at her watch and frowned.
She sat up and buttoned her jacket she still wore. "You need to go home don't you?" He asked sadly.
Standing up she cocked her head to one side and smiled. "Nick will be sneaking in at about 5am and I need to get home and grill him about it."
"Oh." He stood up and walked out into the kitchen to get her bag. "I'll drive you."
Sara slung her bag over her shoulder. "It's only around the corner."
"I want to though." He said opening the front door.
She smiled widely at him. "Ok." She waited for him to lock the door and made their way to his car. "Can we walk?" He looked at her and nodded.
As they began walking Sara slipped her hand into his and looked up at him as he tightened his fingers around hers in return. "I'm sorry about not meeting you on the bleachers after practise."
"I figured you had something else to do."
"No, I saw Cath talking to you and that's not good." They rounded the end of the street and crossed the road.
"I take it she takes it upon herself to size up the girls you meet?"
"Pretty much and usually I don't see them again or they don't talk to me. She always explains in depth about how I'm always volunteering for local autopsies and my fascination with bugs, which scares them away."
"Well, I like dead bodies strangely enough and I'm not all that bothered about bugs either. Although she did say something about you being stubborn and having had many girlfriends."
They crossed another road and walked down the street towards her house. "I can be stubborn and there hasn't been that many."
"I can be stubborn too and I'm the same in the relationship department." He smiled at her as they cut across the grass of her lawn. They stopped at the door. "Well, now we know each other a little better, would you like to come running with me tomorrow?"
"How do you know I run?" He released her hand and brushed some flower petals from her hair that had fallen in the wind.
"You don't really expect me to believe that you play baseball and keep in good shape without at least running once a week are you?"
He laughed and shook his head. "What time? Seeing as tomorrow is today."
Sara opened her mouth then closed it. He was right it was Saturday and early. "11am good?"
"Perfect." He said against her lips. She leaned into his chest bringing her hands to his waist. He pulled away and looked at his watch. "You have five minutes before he's home."
"I'll see you in a few hours." He nodded and started walking away a she closed her door.
As he walked down the road back towards his flat, he had a permanent smiled glued to his face. He didn't mess it up and he didn't push her. He was probably the happiest person right now. All he needed was to grab a few hours sleep and he could see her again.
Chapter 11
Orange sky had turned to blue and filled the living room, spreading over the long couch. Nick wandered through the door at 10am and stopped in the hallway to look at the sleeping beauty curled up amongst the cushions. He made little noise as he made himself breakfast. She woke to the toaster popping up and the sweet smell of jam.
He was dishing up the second plate when she walked into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and yawning delicately. "Morning." She sat down and took a small bit from her toast. "You just get in?"
"Yeah, sorry. Don't tell mum."
She shook her head. "You know I won't. So where'd you stay?"
Sitting at the island in the middle of the kitchen with his toast coated with jam, he grinned at her. "Nicola's."
Eyes couldn't have been wider as she looked at him closely. "You take your pill's?" He was expecting something else, but it also reminded him. He shook his head sorrowfully. "Nicky you know you should take them morning and night. If you don't you'll get ill."
"I know, I forgot. I'll take them now." He went to a kitchen cupboard and pulled out a brown prescription bottle.
Putting her plate in the sink, she stood and stretched. "Well, now I've badgered you, I'm taking a shower then going running. See later 'Stud'." Nick sprayed water from his mouth as she retreated upstairs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The shower was just what she needed. The hot water cascaded over her as the steam floated around the bathroom. She stepped out and wrapped a large towel around her while she dried her hair. She put her watch on and saw the time as a knock came at the door.
"Nicky get that would you?" Sara shouted down the stairs.
"I'm a bit busy Sara." Nick shouted back from the basement.
"I can't go."
"Neither can I."
Sara looked at herself and sighed. "Let's scare the neighbours." She muttered as she walked down the stairs.
She opened the door. "Morn..." Grissom stopped when he saw what she was wearing. As smile light up his face after the essential shock of seeing her partly naked. "You running in that?" He waved his hand at her towel clutched tightly to her skin.
"Very funny." She smirked at his playfulness. "I'm a bit late, sorry."
Shaking his head as she let him into the hallway. "I can wait." He watched her walk back up the stairs and saw the skin of her thighs as she climbed the many steps. His eyes blinked slowly at the picture of her in only a towel. He would love to see her in just a towel again if it meant being able to see her soft slightly tanned skin.
A loud 'thud' got his attention. Nick came slowly up the steps of the basement carrying a basket of clean clothes. He looked up and stopped in the doorway. "Grissom, what you doing here?"
"Waiting for Sara." Nick's face looked panicked at the sound of her name. "What's up? I heard a bang."
"Erm, don't tell her, but I just broke the drier." Grissom laughed. "She'll kill me."
"I know a bit about them, you want me to have a look?" Grissom offered as Nick started folding up the clothes in the kitchen.
"Can if you want, but I can do it. To be honest it's not the first time, but she doesn't know that." Grissom shook his head and jumped when a hand found his.
"Hey." Sara squeezed his hand and turned to Nick's surprised eyes. "You take them?"
"Yes I took them." Nick said sarcastically.
Grissom turned to her. "You ready?"
"Yep, see you later Nicky." She pulled on Grissom's hand and he followed willingly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The day was hot and barely any breeze, but that didn't stop the few people sitting on park benches reading or watching their children play on the grass.
Grissom and Sara had been running for half an hour when they reached the wood on the far side of the park. It was cool and both runners welcomed the shade.
Sara kept teasing Grissom about his muscles and how she wondered if he did more physical activity than just running and baseball. His reply was that of 'wouldn't you like to know' and she eyed him playfully.
As they emerged from the depths of the wood Sara stopped for a drink of water from the drinking fountain. Grissom watched and waited, as he was about the get some water when Sara splashed him. "Hey!"
Sara giggled and stood back, but didn't get far when he quickly filled his cupped hands with the cold liquid and threw it up in the air. Gravity took hold as Grissom held her so she couldn't escape the aerial attack. "Ahh, so cold." She wrapped her arms around his body to hide from the water, but it didn't work when the water covered both in it's descent.
"That'll teach you to pick fights with me." He chuckled into her ear.
Sara licked a stray droplet from his neck. "Who said I was picking a fight?"
"Hmmm. me, but I can see your plan unravelling now." He pressed his body against hers while he enjoyed her lips and tongue on his neck.
Finding more droplets and cleaning them away she smiled. "My plan huh?" He planted a light kiss on her shoulder and nipped it playfully. "Ow." She giggled into his neck and scrunched his T-shirt in her hands. "Ok, ok. I just wanted to get close to you." He pulled back and hugged her tighter. She brushed her lips with his lightly. "And kiss you." He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her tenderly.
Breaking apart before the kiss deepened, brown and blue held each other as they slowed their breathing. His thumb brushed her red cheek gently as he leaned his forehead to her shoulder.
"I've never felt this way before." He said still breathless from the kiss.
Sara gripped his damp T-shirt. "Neither have I, but it feels great." It was only a whisper, but he heard it clearly.
He moved his mouth to her neck and kissed it lightly before meeting her soft eyes. "You will tell me if I'm going too fast, won't you?"
Her hand brushed back some sweaty curls from his forehead and smiled. "I will."