Chapter 12
After the run they were both very hungry so Sara offered to make some lunch and Grissom agreed. Once they reached her house someone was knocking at the door.
"Can I help you?" Sara asked as the tall skinny man turned around. He was wearing a postal uniform and holding a package.
"Yes ma'am. This is for a Mr. N. Stokes. Is he in?" The postal man asked pointing at the house.
Sara looked at her watch and sighed. "He won't be home for a couple of hours. Can I sign for it" The man smiled and nodded.
"It would make my job a little easier, yes you can." He passed a clipboard and pen and waited for her to sign the form before handing her the package.
"Thanks." The man headed back to his van while Sara and Grissom went inside. "I wonder what it is?" Sara mused placing the small box on the kitchen unit.
Grissom saw the logo and grinned. The logo showed that of an electrical appliance company. Nick had obviously ordered the piece he needed to fix the drier, but forgot about having to sign for it. "Looks like your brother is covertly trying to fix something." Grissom said still grinning and trying not to rat Nick out.
Sara examined the book and furrowed her brows. "You know, I seen that logo before a few times. He doesn't usually get parcels, but now and then he'd get sent this same sized box with the same logo. I've been trying to figure it out for ages and I just can't piece it together." She said staring at the box.
Grissom leaned over her shoulder and placed a kiss on her neck. "Food is good for the brain function."
She looked back at him and smiled. "We are hungry aren't we?"
"I can cook omelettes if you want. Cheese sound good?" Sara turned and raised her hands to his waist.
"Yummy, but I can cook." She reassured him.
He kissed her briefly on the lips and shook his head. "I'm sure you can, but I want to cook while you figure out the puzzle in front of you."
Sara grinned. "You know what that is and what it's for don't you?" He nodded. "Oh come tell me."
Shaking his head, he stepped back and went to the fridge. "You can find out yourself if you look at the evidence. Eggs, milk and cheese got." He pulled out the ingredients and put them on the counter. He looked around and asked. "Frying pan and jug?" Sara pointed to a cupboard to the left of him and picked up the package.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After eating the omelette they sat on the couch. Sara snuggled against Grissom's chest as she continued to think about the package and what Nick would have in common with it other than him ordering it. Grissom kissed her hair. "Driving you crazy isn't it?" He asked and she nodded silently. He chuckled. "Your the kind of person who will look at the evidence until you get the answer aren't you?"
"And tell me you don't?" She said looking at him.
She turned her head to rest between his shoulder and neck as he spoke. "I can tell."
Sara cut him off. "Don't you dare. You may have inside info, but I'll figure this out for myself."
He smiled at her. "I gotta go. Warrick will be looking for me and I've still got to go work." Sara sat up and faced him.
"Work?" She asked sadly. "Where?"
Grissom pushed himself up and Sara stood with him. "I've got a part-time job at the coroners and sometimes I work at the weekend."
Sara was opening the door as Nick reached for the handle. "Hey Sara." He looked behind her and smiled. "Grissom."
"Nick." Grissom turned to Sara as Nick walked passed them into the kitchen. Grissom moved to the door so Sara couldn't see Nick pick up the parcel and disappear to the basement. "Catherine is having a house party tonight, why don't you and Nick come."
Sara effortlessly wrapped her arms around his neck. "You want 'me' to come?" She asked surprised at the offer.
In turn he slipped his hands round to her lower back. "Yes, I know you don't like that sort of thing, but Warrick makes me."
She laughed. "And you want someone to talk to so you're not alone." She said looking into his eyes as they turned lighter than his already bright blue.
Shaking his head his leaned into her. "Not someone, you." He said brushing his lips with hers.
"Ouch Shit." A loud curse was shouted from the vicinity of the basement.
Grissom chuckled against her mouth and she pulled back. "I think I just put the puzzle together." She said giving him one quick kiss and letting him go. "I'll be there, don't worry."
"I can pick you up at 8pm, Nick too." He offered as she walked him out to the porch.
"He will be with Nicola, but I'll take you up on that."
"Ok, see you tonight." She watched him walk down the street and turned to the basement door with a grin.
"Nicolas Stokes, you better have a god damn good reason why you've broken the dryer."
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Quickly hiding the broken piece, he hooked up the new and stuffed the wet clothes back in and turned it on. "What are you dribbling about Sara? Nothings wrong with the dryer."
She walked down the steps and grinned at the package paper in the waste paper basket. "Hide the evidence Nick in a less obvious place and where did you hurt yourself?" Nick shook his head and put his hand behind his back. Looking at him sternly he brought his hand back out and she gasped. "Nicky, it's bruised. What did you do?" She took his hand carefully and looked at it.
"Just shut the lid on it that's all." Nick knew he shouldn't have said anything. "I mean I shut the dryer door on it." He stumbled to recover.
Sara nodded unbelievingly. "Becareful in future bud." She said heading back up the steps.
Nick grinned. "I will, oh.what did Grissom say?"
"Party tonight at Catherine's place. You up for it?" Stupid question, but a valid one at that.
"You bet. I'll ask Nicky and Greg can call Lib. They can come too right?" He asked pushing the broken piece of the dryer further under the pile of dirty washing with his foot.
"Yep. I'm gonna read then go shopping, see you in a bit."
"Sure. Bye Sara." He called as she left the basement completely. He breathed a sigh of relief and then grinned. "P-a-r-t-y." He said scarily as he clasped his hands together.
Chapter 13
Shopping went as planned, but reading again after putting the groceries away went with a bit of a hitch. Rushing around was not on the agenda and when it came to 8 o'clock. Sara was wearing jeans and just a black silk bra while she brushed her hair. So when a knock came at the door she ran to the top of the stairs and shouted down. "It's open Gil."
Grissom opened the door and caught a glimpse of Sara walking back into her room with no top on just a bra and pants. "I see your ready." He teased.
She poked her head out of her room and gave him a stern look. "Wipe that grin of your face mate. I fell asleep." He smiled and walked up the stairs towards her. She looked at him as he made his way up to her. "What are you doing chum, back down stairs. I'm not ready yet."
She backed into her room as he got to the top step. "I've seen you in a towel Sara, what's the difference."
"The fact that I was covered is the difference." Sara giggled when he looked her up and down playfully. "Ok, now wait there." She pointed at the hallway carpet.
"Here?" He said grinning widely.
"Ooh such a smart-ass." She replied pulling her shirt on and buttoning it. She picked up her jacket and put her purse in her pocket. "Right, done." She turned to him and smiled. "Now, come here."
"Are you sure. Won't your mum mind that I'll be in your room alone, with you?" He asked mock worriedly.
She creased her eyebrows. "Gil, you just saw me get dress and like you said, you've seen me in a towel, what's wrong with you being in my room?"
He walked up to her and enveloped her in his arms. "Absolutely nothing. I was just being a gentleman and asking permission." He said before kissing her slowly.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she moaned into his mouth. "Mmmm."
Trailing light kisses down her chin he said. "We should go."
"Yeah, before we change our minds." She giggled.
"Hmmm." He murmured against her skin.
Stepping back he took her hand and led her down stairs and out to his car.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The house was packed with college kids and Nick was no where to be seen. Sara and Grissom stood in the kitchen talking to Libby.
"So you and Greg are serious?" Sara asked as Greg snuck up behind Libby and slipped his arms around her waist.
"We are." Greg answered for her. "You wanna dance Lib?" He asked sweetly.
"I would love to." She put her drink on the counter and followed him into the living room.
Grissom looked down at his drink and chuckled, making Sara turn around. "What's so funny?" She asked raising a single eyebrow.
He placed his drink down and grabbed her hand. "Come with me." He led her out to the back were there was no one around. The concrete patio was large enough to have once been a pool lying underneath it. Swinging her round to face him, he shyly asked. "Sara. Do you know how to dance?"
She looked at him and grinned. "I do."
Watching her carefully he took a step closer. "Teach me." He whispered in her ear seductively.
She took a deep breath and pushed her hands up his back to his shoulder blades at the sensation of his warm breath on her ear. She pulled back and nodded. "Place you hands here." She helped him guide his hand to her waist. "And the other one here." Grasping his hand in hers she looked into his eyes and smiled. "Just follow what I do."
He looked down at their feet for a second then back to her eyes. She placed her other hand on his shoulder and began to move slowly so he could follow. He looked down again and chuckled. "Mmmm." He hummed as he pulled her closer and pulled their hands to his chest. "You're a good teacher."
She shook her head. "Basics and you're a smart man." He chuckled again and rests his head against hers as they danced to the slow song that belted out of the large speakers in the house.
"I like this." He said quietly.
Keeping their positions as they moved around the patio she murmured a question. "Like what?"
"Being here with you, holding you and dancing with you." He reeled off lightly. Sara smiled and moved her head to his shoulder as he pulled her closer.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"How long have they know each other?" Warrick asked laughing softly at the precious display in the garden.
Catherine smiled. "I should be asking you that question seeing as you found out before me." She quipped.
"Approximately three to four weeks I would guess." Nick chimed as he stood next to them.
Warrick smiled and turned to him. "It seems a lot longer than that man."
Catherine nodded. "More like years. I've never seen Gil so." She couldn't find the words, but it was there on the end of her tongue.
Nick found the words and grinned. "In love I would say."
Catherine and Warrick laughed and looked back out the window. "Yep." The both said in unison.
"The last two weeks played hell for both of them I guess. Sara didn't tell me what happened between them, but I can tell you she was not our Sara anymore when she couldn't see him." Nick explained drinking some of his water.
"Well, that was my fault." Catherine admitted. Seeing Nick raise a questioning eyebrow she continued. "I." She shrugged and smiled. "I sort of stuck my nose in."
Warrick laughed and helped her out. "It's a habit and I just can't find a way to stop her." Catherine poked him in the ribs to shut him up.
"Anyway, I spoke to Sara a few weeks ago and told her about Gil, you know? a bit about his past, old girlfriends, his hobbies. You know the usual." She shook her head and grimaced. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Nick nodded solemnly and smiled. "Couldn't he have told her himself?"
Catherine and Warrick laughed at this and shook their heads. "Gil is very quiet and keeps things to himself. He hardly even cracks a joke, but." Catherine looked at the couple dancing closer than close on the patio and sighed contentedly. "She seems to bring those walls he's been building up, crashing to the ground. I've never seen him so happy. He's been joking around and talking more since he first saw her."
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"We have an audience." Sara whispered glancing briefly at the three standing at the window.
Grissom slowly pulled back; his eyes darted from her eyes to her lips and smiled lovingly. Leaning closer he brushed his lips across hers. Her hands reflexively tightened as she allowed him to deepen the kiss.
"I don't care who's watching." He murmured into her mouth as the kiss slowed. Sara smiled and lightly traced the outline of his lips with her tongue. He groaned and opened his mouth to allow her to push her tongue passed his as they duelled tenderly.
"COPS! SCRAMBLE!" A young male voice shouted from the roof. The whole house was emptying as two patrol cars pulled up.
Sara laughed as she looked around at the few people standing still in the living room while the police asked for the party host. Grissom never took his eyes of Sara as she scanned the garden for a back way. Grabbing his hand she led the way towards a gate at the bottom of the garden. Once the gate was closed he pushed her up against the garden wall, pressing his body into hers.
Her eyes glistened as she caressed his face. "Take me to your place?" She asked.
Looking into the depths of her eyes he smiled and she did in return. "Are you sure? I can wait." He said softly.
"I can't, I want you." She whispered pulling his head forward and kissed him passionately.
After the run they were both very hungry so Sara offered to make some lunch and Grissom agreed. Once they reached her house someone was knocking at the door.
"Can I help you?" Sara asked as the tall skinny man turned around. He was wearing a postal uniform and holding a package.
"Yes ma'am. This is for a Mr. N. Stokes. Is he in?" The postal man asked pointing at the house.
Sara looked at her watch and sighed. "He won't be home for a couple of hours. Can I sign for it" The man smiled and nodded.
"It would make my job a little easier, yes you can." He passed a clipboard and pen and waited for her to sign the form before handing her the package.
"Thanks." The man headed back to his van while Sara and Grissom went inside. "I wonder what it is?" Sara mused placing the small box on the kitchen unit.
Grissom saw the logo and grinned. The logo showed that of an electrical appliance company. Nick had obviously ordered the piece he needed to fix the drier, but forgot about having to sign for it. "Looks like your brother is covertly trying to fix something." Grissom said still grinning and trying not to rat Nick out.
Sara examined the book and furrowed her brows. "You know, I seen that logo before a few times. He doesn't usually get parcels, but now and then he'd get sent this same sized box with the same logo. I've been trying to figure it out for ages and I just can't piece it together." She said staring at the box.
Grissom leaned over her shoulder and placed a kiss on her neck. "Food is good for the brain function."
She looked back at him and smiled. "We are hungry aren't we?"
"I can cook omelettes if you want. Cheese sound good?" Sara turned and raised her hands to his waist.
"Yummy, but I can cook." She reassured him.
He kissed her briefly on the lips and shook his head. "I'm sure you can, but I want to cook while you figure out the puzzle in front of you."
Sara grinned. "You know what that is and what it's for don't you?" He nodded. "Oh come tell me."
Shaking his head, he stepped back and went to the fridge. "You can find out yourself if you look at the evidence. Eggs, milk and cheese got." He pulled out the ingredients and put them on the counter. He looked around and asked. "Frying pan and jug?" Sara pointed to a cupboard to the left of him and picked up the package.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After eating the omelette they sat on the couch. Sara snuggled against Grissom's chest as she continued to think about the package and what Nick would have in common with it other than him ordering it. Grissom kissed her hair. "Driving you crazy isn't it?" He asked and she nodded silently. He chuckled. "Your the kind of person who will look at the evidence until you get the answer aren't you?"
"And tell me you don't?" She said looking at him.
She turned her head to rest between his shoulder and neck as he spoke. "I can tell."
Sara cut him off. "Don't you dare. You may have inside info, but I'll figure this out for myself."
He smiled at her. "I gotta go. Warrick will be looking for me and I've still got to go work." Sara sat up and faced him.
"Work?" She asked sadly. "Where?"
Grissom pushed himself up and Sara stood with him. "I've got a part-time job at the coroners and sometimes I work at the weekend."
Sara was opening the door as Nick reached for the handle. "Hey Sara." He looked behind her and smiled. "Grissom."
"Nick." Grissom turned to Sara as Nick walked passed them into the kitchen. Grissom moved to the door so Sara couldn't see Nick pick up the parcel and disappear to the basement. "Catherine is having a house party tonight, why don't you and Nick come."
Sara effortlessly wrapped her arms around his neck. "You want 'me' to come?" She asked surprised at the offer.
In turn he slipped his hands round to her lower back. "Yes, I know you don't like that sort of thing, but Warrick makes me."
She laughed. "And you want someone to talk to so you're not alone." She said looking into his eyes as they turned lighter than his already bright blue.
Shaking his head his leaned into her. "Not someone, you." He said brushing his lips with hers.
"Ouch Shit." A loud curse was shouted from the vicinity of the basement.
Grissom chuckled against her mouth and she pulled back. "I think I just put the puzzle together." She said giving him one quick kiss and letting him go. "I'll be there, don't worry."
"I can pick you up at 8pm, Nick too." He offered as she walked him out to the porch.
"He will be with Nicola, but I'll take you up on that."
"Ok, see you tonight." She watched him walk down the street and turned to the basement door with a grin.
"Nicolas Stokes, you better have a god damn good reason why you've broken the dryer."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Quickly hiding the broken piece, he hooked up the new and stuffed the wet clothes back in and turned it on. "What are you dribbling about Sara? Nothings wrong with the dryer."
She walked down the steps and grinned at the package paper in the waste paper basket. "Hide the evidence Nick in a less obvious place and where did you hurt yourself?" Nick shook his head and put his hand behind his back. Looking at him sternly he brought his hand back out and she gasped. "Nicky, it's bruised. What did you do?" She took his hand carefully and looked at it.
"Just shut the lid on it that's all." Nick knew he shouldn't have said anything. "I mean I shut the dryer door on it." He stumbled to recover.
Sara nodded unbelievingly. "Becareful in future bud." She said heading back up the steps.
Nick grinned. "I will, oh.what did Grissom say?"
"Party tonight at Catherine's place. You up for it?" Stupid question, but a valid one at that.
"You bet. I'll ask Nicky and Greg can call Lib. They can come too right?" He asked pushing the broken piece of the dryer further under the pile of dirty washing with his foot.
"Yep. I'm gonna read then go shopping, see you in a bit."
"Sure. Bye Sara." He called as she left the basement completely. He breathed a sigh of relief and then grinned. "P-a-r-t-y." He said scarily as he clasped his hands together.
Chapter 13
Shopping went as planned, but reading again after putting the groceries away went with a bit of a hitch. Rushing around was not on the agenda and when it came to 8 o'clock. Sara was wearing jeans and just a black silk bra while she brushed her hair. So when a knock came at the door she ran to the top of the stairs and shouted down. "It's open Gil."
Grissom opened the door and caught a glimpse of Sara walking back into her room with no top on just a bra and pants. "I see your ready." He teased.
She poked her head out of her room and gave him a stern look. "Wipe that grin of your face mate. I fell asleep." He smiled and walked up the stairs towards her. She looked at him as he made his way up to her. "What are you doing chum, back down stairs. I'm not ready yet."
She backed into her room as he got to the top step. "I've seen you in a towel Sara, what's the difference."
"The fact that I was covered is the difference." Sara giggled when he looked her up and down playfully. "Ok, now wait there." She pointed at the hallway carpet.
"Here?" He said grinning widely.
"Ooh such a smart-ass." She replied pulling her shirt on and buttoning it. She picked up her jacket and put her purse in her pocket. "Right, done." She turned to him and smiled. "Now, come here."
"Are you sure. Won't your mum mind that I'll be in your room alone, with you?" He asked mock worriedly.
She creased her eyebrows. "Gil, you just saw me get dress and like you said, you've seen me in a towel, what's wrong with you being in my room?"
He walked up to her and enveloped her in his arms. "Absolutely nothing. I was just being a gentleman and asking permission." He said before kissing her slowly.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she moaned into his mouth. "Mmmm."
Trailing light kisses down her chin he said. "We should go."
"Yeah, before we change our minds." She giggled.
"Hmmm." He murmured against her skin.
Stepping back he took her hand and led her down stairs and out to his car.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The house was packed with college kids and Nick was no where to be seen. Sara and Grissom stood in the kitchen talking to Libby.
"So you and Greg are serious?" Sara asked as Greg snuck up behind Libby and slipped his arms around her waist.
"We are." Greg answered for her. "You wanna dance Lib?" He asked sweetly.
"I would love to." She put her drink on the counter and followed him into the living room.
Grissom looked down at his drink and chuckled, making Sara turn around. "What's so funny?" She asked raising a single eyebrow.
He placed his drink down and grabbed her hand. "Come with me." He led her out to the back were there was no one around. The concrete patio was large enough to have once been a pool lying underneath it. Swinging her round to face him, he shyly asked. "Sara. Do you know how to dance?"
She looked at him and grinned. "I do."
Watching her carefully he took a step closer. "Teach me." He whispered in her ear seductively.
She took a deep breath and pushed her hands up his back to his shoulder blades at the sensation of his warm breath on her ear. She pulled back and nodded. "Place you hands here." She helped him guide his hand to her waist. "And the other one here." Grasping his hand in hers she looked into his eyes and smiled. "Just follow what I do."
He looked down at their feet for a second then back to her eyes. She placed her other hand on his shoulder and began to move slowly so he could follow. He looked down again and chuckled. "Mmmm." He hummed as he pulled her closer and pulled their hands to his chest. "You're a good teacher."
She shook her head. "Basics and you're a smart man." He chuckled again and rests his head against hers as they danced to the slow song that belted out of the large speakers in the house.
"I like this." He said quietly.
Keeping their positions as they moved around the patio she murmured a question. "Like what?"
"Being here with you, holding you and dancing with you." He reeled off lightly. Sara smiled and moved her head to his shoulder as he pulled her closer.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"How long have they know each other?" Warrick asked laughing softly at the precious display in the garden.
Catherine smiled. "I should be asking you that question seeing as you found out before me." She quipped.
"Approximately three to four weeks I would guess." Nick chimed as he stood next to them.
Warrick smiled and turned to him. "It seems a lot longer than that man."
Catherine nodded. "More like years. I've never seen Gil so." She couldn't find the words, but it was there on the end of her tongue.
Nick found the words and grinned. "In love I would say."
Catherine and Warrick laughed and looked back out the window. "Yep." The both said in unison.
"The last two weeks played hell for both of them I guess. Sara didn't tell me what happened between them, but I can tell you she was not our Sara anymore when she couldn't see him." Nick explained drinking some of his water.
"Well, that was my fault." Catherine admitted. Seeing Nick raise a questioning eyebrow she continued. "I." She shrugged and smiled. "I sort of stuck my nose in."
Warrick laughed and helped her out. "It's a habit and I just can't find a way to stop her." Catherine poked him in the ribs to shut him up.
"Anyway, I spoke to Sara a few weeks ago and told her about Gil, you know? a bit about his past, old girlfriends, his hobbies. You know the usual." She shook her head and grimaced. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Nick nodded solemnly and smiled. "Couldn't he have told her himself?"
Catherine and Warrick laughed at this and shook their heads. "Gil is very quiet and keeps things to himself. He hardly even cracks a joke, but." Catherine looked at the couple dancing closer than close on the patio and sighed contentedly. "She seems to bring those walls he's been building up, crashing to the ground. I've never seen him so happy. He's been joking around and talking more since he first saw her."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"We have an audience." Sara whispered glancing briefly at the three standing at the window.
Grissom slowly pulled back; his eyes darted from her eyes to her lips and smiled lovingly. Leaning closer he brushed his lips across hers. Her hands reflexively tightened as she allowed him to deepen the kiss.
"I don't care who's watching." He murmured into her mouth as the kiss slowed. Sara smiled and lightly traced the outline of his lips with her tongue. He groaned and opened his mouth to allow her to push her tongue passed his as they duelled tenderly.
"COPS! SCRAMBLE!" A young male voice shouted from the roof. The whole house was emptying as two patrol cars pulled up.
Sara laughed as she looked around at the few people standing still in the living room while the police asked for the party host. Grissom never took his eyes of Sara as she scanned the garden for a back way. Grabbing his hand she led the way towards a gate at the bottom of the garden. Once the gate was closed he pushed her up against the garden wall, pressing his body into hers.
Her eyes glistened as she caressed his face. "Take me to your place?" She asked.
Looking into the depths of her eyes he smiled and she did in return. "Are you sure? I can wait." He said softly.
"I can't, I want you." She whispered pulling his head forward and kissed him passionately.