Chapter 9
TUESDAY MORNING
The sun broke through the tent and Sara turned to find no Grissom beside her. Opening her eyes fully, she could see the door open. Raising her head some more, she could make out that Albert and Grissom were talking. Grissom held two cups and turned towards the tent.
"Morning." He said moving to sit beside her. "Here." He handed her a coffee and brushed hair from her face.
She smiled at his gesture and drank some coffee. Just as Grissom was going to lean in and give her a morning kiss, Nick's voice stopped him. "Hey Sara? You awake?"
Sara looked at the door as Nick appeared and crawled to sit just inside the door. "Nick." She greeted into her cup.
"I was wondering if you'd go into town and pick up some decent food?" He looked from Grissom to Sara, then the rest of the tent.
"Yeah, sure." Sara swallowed the rest of her coffee and held out her cup. "Hey, can you get me some more coffee?"
"No problem." He took her cup and vanished.
"Didn't want him inspecting the one sleeping bag." Sara explained.
Grissom leaned into her and kissed her softly. "I'm sorry if I was too ruff last night." He said breaking away and looking into his coffee.
Pulling one hand away from his cup, she brushed it across her cheek. "You want to come with me to town? No body but us?"
He looked into her eyes and smiled. "I'd like that."
Gazing back into his blues, she went serious and caring. "And no, you weren't too ruff. Last night was incredible." She kissed his palm and raised it to her cheek, which he caressed.
Albert stood by Nick and poured some more coffee into the cup. Looking at Grissom and Sara, he smiled. "Hey Nick? Can you find Brian for me, he's supposed to have breakfast for us and he's not back yet? I'll give that to Sara." Nick nodded and wondered off in the direction that Brian disappeared the night before.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"You know the best thing about being alone with you is?" Grissom asked looking out the side of the jeep.
Sara smiled. "What?"
Grissom's fingers entwined with hers and rest on her leg. "Being able to touch you without the other's seeing." He leaned over and kissed her quickly on the lips.
"We need to think of a time and place to get caught you know?" The jeep turned into the store car park.
"Later." He said climbing out and walking round to help her. Sara wrapped her arms around his neck and played with his curls. "We'll stop by the joke shop before we head back." He murmured teasing her lips with his. Sara's tongue probed his lips and smiled before kissing him deeply.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TUESDAY AFTERNOON
"Hey, Griss? Come look at this." Sara stood in front of a tall shelf of jokes and trickery toys.
Grissom chuckled and approached her from behind. Placing his hand on her hips, he whispered. "Griss?"
Sara looked at him over her shoulder and nodded with that smile he loves. "I like it."
He pursed his lips and agreed. "Ok." He looked up at the shelf and narrowed his eyes. "What did you find?"
"That." She pointed to an artificial tank that housed some very life like reptiles. "I don't like them and neither do Nick or Greg."
Smirking, he reached around her and picked one large toy up. "Not keen on them myself, but I think it might work."
"You know the best thing about playing tricks?" Sara asked turning around to face him. Before she continued, she noticed his collar all crumpled up. Making eye contact she straighten his collar. Grissom smiled down at her. "We can blame it Nick and Greg."
Grissom's smile grew and lowered his head to hers and kissed her lips softly. "Let's start on Jim and Catherine's surprise." He said playing with a stray strand of her hair.
"Anything in mind?" She asked giving him a kiss on the cheek and looking around the rest of the shop with his hand firmly in hers.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"It's getting late." Nick mumbled looking at his watch for the hundredth time.
Albert shook his head and pulled out some soup packets from his rucksack. "Stop worrying. Gil won't let anything happen. Here," He tossed the packets at him. "Put those on and I'll find the bread."
"I know I said to get them two alone, but what if something's happened?" Nick poured the contents into the pan and sighed. "I'm just worried." Nick said looking up at Albert's frustrated glare.
"They're fine Nick, trust me." Albert grinned and went in search for the bread.
Chapter 10
Sara was humming and singing along to the music that the radio was playing. Grissom turned in his seat and watched her. She drove confidently, relaxed and seemed to glow with the sun shining brightly down on her.
Her sunglasses reflected the sun and a film of light bounced off the dashboard. Her fingers on her right hand tapped to the beat of the music and her left rest on Grissom's knee. He covered her hand and she looked at him briefly.
"I have this feeling I'm participating in some sort of study." She smiled and turned the music down. "I've noticed you watching me for twenty minutes Griss, what's up?"
Grissom smiled at his new nickname and gave her hand a gently squeeze. "I can watch you can't I?"
"Ah, now that would depend on whether you were going to dissect me or undress me with those wonderful blue eyes of yours."
Raising a playful eyebrow, he smiled and looked away. "Wouldn't matter what I would be doing, as long as it's only me doing the undressing."
Sara grinned and turned her hand palm up to entwine their fingers. "What's that film? 'For your eyes only'."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TUESDAY EVENING
"JESUS CHRIST!!!!" - Nick.
"SHIT!!!!" - Greg.
Grissom and Sara sat quietly eating their spaghetti bolognaise. They both exchanged a quick look before lifting their forks and clanking them together. Albert shook his head and sat back with his coffee cradled in his hands.
"WHAT THE." - Catherine.
"FUCKING HELL!!!" - Jim.
Brian looked at everyone with a confused look. Nick's tent seemed to jump off the ground as he himself jumped in the air when he tried to coax the intruder out with his long torch.
"How the fuck did that get in here?" Nick shouted. "Greg, get something to kill it with, Jesus."
Sara and Grissom slid down to the ground and leaned against each other as the laughter that was being suppressed wrecked havoc on their motor skills. Their plates lowered to their laps as they tried to hide the amusement and laughter so they weren't caught for their daily deed of trickery.
"Jim, get it out of here."
"ME?" Jim backed away from his tent and pulled Catherine with him. "Just leave it, maybe it'll go on its own.
"No, get it out now." She pushed him towards the tent and he carefully crawled inside. "You get it?"
"Uh, sort uh." Nick and Jim both exited their tents at the same time and turned to each other simultaneously.
"Stokes." "Brass."
They shouted in unison. "What the hell is this huh? Lake dips, whipped cream, webs of string and glowing food. What's with you?" Jim threw the toy down and kicked it towards the fire. While no one was looking, Albert picked it up and stuffed it inside his rucksack. Nick was the next to throw the offending item to the fire and this time it was Sara whole quickly snagged it.
"Um, guys." Catherine tried to get their attention, but they were too gone.
"This was your idea of a prank?" Jim shouted.
Nick stood his ground. "No, you saying you didn't plant this?" Jim nodded. "Then who did?"
"I don't have a clue. You two are the resident clowns, go figure." Jim turned to Catherine and pulled her into a hug.
By the fire Sara was quietly crying with suppressed laughter and her body shook. Grissom put his hand on hers and squeezed for her to calm down before they figured it out.
TUESDAY NIGHT
"God, that was priceless." Sara giggled.
"You nearly blew the whole thing." Grissom chuckled.
"I did not." She smacked his arm playfully and rolled onto her side.
"The only thing stopping you from cracking up was the death grip you had on my hand." He showed her and grinned. "Not that I mind."
Sara kissed his hand and let him wrap his arms around her and pull her close. "Mmmm. It was good to play a joke on the joker."
"It was." Grissom kissed her head and sighed as his eyes slowly slipped shut.
EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING
Albert and Brian were feeling a bit left out of the loop, so they got up early. 7am and they were standing in front of Sara and Grissom's tent.
"You get that side, I'll get this." Albert instructed.
"Get away from the tent guys." Grissom's voice made them jump, but was pointless as the whole tent came sailing down.
Snickering and shuffling was heard as they retreated.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sara sat up abruptly. "What the?" Raising her hands and trying to grope for something other than the tent that seemed to be plastered to her.
Grissom raised an amused eyebrow and watched her futile attempts to find the door. He cleared his throat trying to get her attention, but it didn't work. He chuckled and pulled her back by the waist. She landed on her back with her head on his shoulder. She looked up at him. "Something you forgetting?" He motioned his hand over her body.
"Would help?" She agreed seeing herself in nothing but her panties.
Grissom pushed himself up on his elbow and looked over her. "Help who?"
She smiled and pulled his head down to her and devoured his lips in a strong deep kiss. "Hmmm. Morning." She murmured and giggled as his fingers tickled her sides.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Well, that didn't have the desired affect." Brian said tapping his foot on the log and staring at the collapsed tent.
Albert laughed. "That would depend if it was the inside or the outside you wanted to have the affect." Brian play punched Albert's arm and joined in with the laughter.
TUESDAY MORNING
The sun broke through the tent and Sara turned to find no Grissom beside her. Opening her eyes fully, she could see the door open. Raising her head some more, she could make out that Albert and Grissom were talking. Grissom held two cups and turned towards the tent.
"Morning." He said moving to sit beside her. "Here." He handed her a coffee and brushed hair from her face.
She smiled at his gesture and drank some coffee. Just as Grissom was going to lean in and give her a morning kiss, Nick's voice stopped him. "Hey Sara? You awake?"
Sara looked at the door as Nick appeared and crawled to sit just inside the door. "Nick." She greeted into her cup.
"I was wondering if you'd go into town and pick up some decent food?" He looked from Grissom to Sara, then the rest of the tent.
"Yeah, sure." Sara swallowed the rest of her coffee and held out her cup. "Hey, can you get me some more coffee?"
"No problem." He took her cup and vanished.
"Didn't want him inspecting the one sleeping bag." Sara explained.
Grissom leaned into her and kissed her softly. "I'm sorry if I was too ruff last night." He said breaking away and looking into his coffee.
Pulling one hand away from his cup, she brushed it across her cheek. "You want to come with me to town? No body but us?"
He looked into her eyes and smiled. "I'd like that."
Gazing back into his blues, she went serious and caring. "And no, you weren't too ruff. Last night was incredible." She kissed his palm and raised it to her cheek, which he caressed.
Albert stood by Nick and poured some more coffee into the cup. Looking at Grissom and Sara, he smiled. "Hey Nick? Can you find Brian for me, he's supposed to have breakfast for us and he's not back yet? I'll give that to Sara." Nick nodded and wondered off in the direction that Brian disappeared the night before.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"You know the best thing about being alone with you is?" Grissom asked looking out the side of the jeep.
Sara smiled. "What?"
Grissom's fingers entwined with hers and rest on her leg. "Being able to touch you without the other's seeing." He leaned over and kissed her quickly on the lips.
"We need to think of a time and place to get caught you know?" The jeep turned into the store car park.
"Later." He said climbing out and walking round to help her. Sara wrapped her arms around his neck and played with his curls. "We'll stop by the joke shop before we head back." He murmured teasing her lips with his. Sara's tongue probed his lips and smiled before kissing him deeply.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TUESDAY AFTERNOON
"Hey, Griss? Come look at this." Sara stood in front of a tall shelf of jokes and trickery toys.
Grissom chuckled and approached her from behind. Placing his hand on her hips, he whispered. "Griss?"
Sara looked at him over her shoulder and nodded with that smile he loves. "I like it."
He pursed his lips and agreed. "Ok." He looked up at the shelf and narrowed his eyes. "What did you find?"
"That." She pointed to an artificial tank that housed some very life like reptiles. "I don't like them and neither do Nick or Greg."
Smirking, he reached around her and picked one large toy up. "Not keen on them myself, but I think it might work."
"You know the best thing about playing tricks?" Sara asked turning around to face him. Before she continued, she noticed his collar all crumpled up. Making eye contact she straighten his collar. Grissom smiled down at her. "We can blame it Nick and Greg."
Grissom's smile grew and lowered his head to hers and kissed her lips softly. "Let's start on Jim and Catherine's surprise." He said playing with a stray strand of her hair.
"Anything in mind?" She asked giving him a kiss on the cheek and looking around the rest of the shop with his hand firmly in hers.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"It's getting late." Nick mumbled looking at his watch for the hundredth time.
Albert shook his head and pulled out some soup packets from his rucksack. "Stop worrying. Gil won't let anything happen. Here," He tossed the packets at him. "Put those on and I'll find the bread."
"I know I said to get them two alone, but what if something's happened?" Nick poured the contents into the pan and sighed. "I'm just worried." Nick said looking up at Albert's frustrated glare.
"They're fine Nick, trust me." Albert grinned and went in search for the bread.
Chapter 10
Sara was humming and singing along to the music that the radio was playing. Grissom turned in his seat and watched her. She drove confidently, relaxed and seemed to glow with the sun shining brightly down on her.
Her sunglasses reflected the sun and a film of light bounced off the dashboard. Her fingers on her right hand tapped to the beat of the music and her left rest on Grissom's knee. He covered her hand and she looked at him briefly.
"I have this feeling I'm participating in some sort of study." She smiled and turned the music down. "I've noticed you watching me for twenty minutes Griss, what's up?"
Grissom smiled at his new nickname and gave her hand a gently squeeze. "I can watch you can't I?"
"Ah, now that would depend on whether you were going to dissect me or undress me with those wonderful blue eyes of yours."
Raising a playful eyebrow, he smiled and looked away. "Wouldn't matter what I would be doing, as long as it's only me doing the undressing."
Sara grinned and turned her hand palm up to entwine their fingers. "What's that film? 'For your eyes only'."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TUESDAY EVENING
"JESUS CHRIST!!!!" - Nick.
"SHIT!!!!" - Greg.
Grissom and Sara sat quietly eating their spaghetti bolognaise. They both exchanged a quick look before lifting their forks and clanking them together. Albert shook his head and sat back with his coffee cradled in his hands.
"WHAT THE." - Catherine.
"FUCKING HELL!!!" - Jim.
Brian looked at everyone with a confused look. Nick's tent seemed to jump off the ground as he himself jumped in the air when he tried to coax the intruder out with his long torch.
"How the fuck did that get in here?" Nick shouted. "Greg, get something to kill it with, Jesus."
Sara and Grissom slid down to the ground and leaned against each other as the laughter that was being suppressed wrecked havoc on their motor skills. Their plates lowered to their laps as they tried to hide the amusement and laughter so they weren't caught for their daily deed of trickery.
"Jim, get it out of here."
"ME?" Jim backed away from his tent and pulled Catherine with him. "Just leave it, maybe it'll go on its own.
"No, get it out now." She pushed him towards the tent and he carefully crawled inside. "You get it?"
"Uh, sort uh." Nick and Jim both exited their tents at the same time and turned to each other simultaneously.
"Stokes." "Brass."
They shouted in unison. "What the hell is this huh? Lake dips, whipped cream, webs of string and glowing food. What's with you?" Jim threw the toy down and kicked it towards the fire. While no one was looking, Albert picked it up and stuffed it inside his rucksack. Nick was the next to throw the offending item to the fire and this time it was Sara whole quickly snagged it.
"Um, guys." Catherine tried to get their attention, but they were too gone.
"This was your idea of a prank?" Jim shouted.
Nick stood his ground. "No, you saying you didn't plant this?" Jim nodded. "Then who did?"
"I don't have a clue. You two are the resident clowns, go figure." Jim turned to Catherine and pulled her into a hug.
By the fire Sara was quietly crying with suppressed laughter and her body shook. Grissom put his hand on hers and squeezed for her to calm down before they figured it out.
TUESDAY NIGHT
"God, that was priceless." Sara giggled.
"You nearly blew the whole thing." Grissom chuckled.
"I did not." She smacked his arm playfully and rolled onto her side.
"The only thing stopping you from cracking up was the death grip you had on my hand." He showed her and grinned. "Not that I mind."
Sara kissed his hand and let him wrap his arms around her and pull her close. "Mmmm. It was good to play a joke on the joker."
"It was." Grissom kissed her head and sighed as his eyes slowly slipped shut.
EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING
Albert and Brian were feeling a bit left out of the loop, so they got up early. 7am and they were standing in front of Sara and Grissom's tent.
"You get that side, I'll get this." Albert instructed.
"Get away from the tent guys." Grissom's voice made them jump, but was pointless as the whole tent came sailing down.
Snickering and shuffling was heard as they retreated.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sara sat up abruptly. "What the?" Raising her hands and trying to grope for something other than the tent that seemed to be plastered to her.
Grissom raised an amused eyebrow and watched her futile attempts to find the door. He cleared his throat trying to get her attention, but it didn't work. He chuckled and pulled her back by the waist. She landed on her back with her head on his shoulder. She looked up at him. "Something you forgetting?" He motioned his hand over her body.
"Would help?" She agreed seeing herself in nothing but her panties.
Grissom pushed himself up on his elbow and looked over her. "Help who?"
She smiled and pulled his head down to her and devoured his lips in a strong deep kiss. "Hmmm. Morning." She murmured and giggled as his fingers tickled her sides.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Well, that didn't have the desired affect." Brian said tapping his foot on the log and staring at the collapsed tent.
Albert laughed. "That would depend if it was the inside or the outside you wanted to have the affect." Brian play punched Albert's arm and joined in with the laughter.
