Chapter 11
Sara, again managed to avoid seeing Grissom. If she even breathed near him, he started an argument. She was getting sick and tired of having to defend herself to him. She got on with her job and he criticised every move. The littlest thing as a miss placed fibre and he was there in a matter of seconds to shout at her.
Sitting heavily at the diner table. She ordered a large black coffee. "You should eat something with that Sara." Came a voice from another table.
"I'm not hungry Warrick." She said tiredly.
Warrick moved his coffee and sandwich to sit opposite her. "What happened?"
She looked at him. "What makes you think something happened?"
He smiled. "You're here on your break. You hardly ever take a break. Especially with this case your on. You'll have the guy in a day."
Sara shook her head and thanked the waitress for her coffee. Taking a long drink, she looked across at Warrick as he took a bite of his sandwich. "It's not my case, never was. It was always Grissom, Brass and O'Reilly's. Never mine."
Warrick sighed. "He's just trying to protect you Sara."
Drinking her coffee, she glared at Warrick. "No he's not. He's annoying me and undermining everything I do and say. Nothing seems to be right anymore. I might as well just quit. He's not letting me do my job." She stared into her cup and swirled the liquid around.
"I hope your kidding Sara." Warrick asked with a small smile.
She raised her head and shook it. "No."
His smile disappeared. "It's not that bad Sara. Talk to him. Sort this thing out before you do anything rash."
Sara finished her coffee and stood. "I'm sorry Warrick, but if he's not willing to listen, then how am I suppose to talk to him? He's ignoring me if I approach him about anything and if I do anything wrong, he's there in a flash. I'm sick of this whole thing and I'm finished with it."
Warrick watched her retreat and quickly grabbed his sandwich as he threw some money on the table. Running across the road back to CSI, he noticed Sara's car gone and continued towards the front doors.
********
Grissom pulled on his jacket and grabbed his keys. Turning the light off and locking his door, he turned towards the exit. As he approached the door, he saw Nick, Catherine and Warrick standing next to his car. Walking towards them, he tilted his head to one side. "What's going on?" He asked when neither moved from blocking his driver side door.
Catherine crossed her arms over her chest. Nick dug his hands in his pockets and Warrick leaned against the car. "Time to sort this mess out Grissom." Warrick said.
Not understanding what they were talking about, he pulled his keys from his pocket. "What are you talking about? And move from my car. I'm heading home."
Nick shook his head with everyone else. "You need to talk to Sara."
Grissom's face hardened. "Move, all of you now."
Again, no one moved. "She's thinking of leaving Gil. You are going no where but Sara's. Right now." Catherine told him.
Grissom's face fell. "Leave?" He asked quietly.
Warrick nodded. "She was very upset earlier. She was drinking black coffee, which we all know she does not drink unless she's angry and upset and when I saw her, she was beyond that."
Nick moved away from the car and walked towards his own car. "If she leaves Grissom, then I'm going too."
Catherine and Warrick's heads turned to the young Texan in surprise. "Nicky." Catherine shouted.
Nick turned as he opened his door. "She's like a sister to me guys. I'm not sitting around anymore and watch while he shoots her down every night. I should have done something sooner."
Grissom opened his mouth to speak, but Nick closed his door and drove off. He turned back to Warrick and Catherine, but they were walking towards their own cars. Watching his team go home, Grissom opened his door and tossed his briefcase on the passenger seat. Climbing in, he sat with his head leaning back against the headrest. 'Oh Shit' He thought.
********
Sara sank into the hot bubbly bath water and tried her hardest to calm her nerves. Leaning her head back, she let her arms float on the water surface. Just as she reached for the soap a knock came from the front door. Moaning irritably, she ignored the intrusion and stayed where she was. After twenty minutes of soaking, soaping and relaxing, Sara crawled out of the bath and wrapped a large towel around her. Padding through to the kitchen, she turned the coffee maker on and opened her fridge. Just as she pulled out a carton of milk, came another knock at the door. Placing the milk back in the fridge, she walked to the door and opened it. "Yes." Seeing who it was, she groaned. "What did I do now Grissom? Must be bad if your making house calls. Just leave me alone and yell at me tomorrow or some thing."
"Sara." He said angrily.
"Go away." She closed the door, but forgot to lock it.
Grissom knocked again and walked in. "I'm not here to argue Sara."
Sara turned and held her towel closer to her. "You're trespassing Grissom, leave before I call the police." She warned.
Not believing her, he closed the door quietly and looked around. "Where's Molly?"
"What do you care?" Sara turned and walked into the kitchen. Standing by the coffee maker, she pulled out two cups and poured some coffee.
"What's going on Sara? Where's Molly?" He asked panicked.
Sara pulled out the milk and added it to the coffee. "Gone home Grissom, where else."
Grissom watched her from the living room. "Chris came for her? Why didn't you tell me?"
Putting the milk away, she slammed the fridge door shut. "None of your business Grissom. She wasn't staying for good. We both knew that. Chris is her father and he came for her two weeks ago." She pushed his coffee towards him over the counter. "Drink and go."
"You didn't answer me Sara. Why didn't you tell me?" He took the coffee.
"I tried, but you didn't want to know. What was the point? I can't get anything right. You told me so yourself only three days ago. I don't know what's got into you, but I don't deserve to be treated like an idiot or some dumb level 1 CSI. I know what I'm doing and I get yelled at because someone else bulls up. For two weeks, you've had a go and now it's starting to piss me off. Either you quit being a self righteous pratt or I'm going."
Grissom stared at her as she spoke. His cup was back on the counter as her words sank in. "I'm not being self righteous." He sated matter of factly. "Nor am I a pratt. I'm trying to understand what's going on between us and I don't know what to do."
Sara snorted inelegantly. "Bullshit." Grissom's eyes widened. "There is no us. You put a stop to that."
Grissom round the kitchen island and stood in front of her. "You walked away Sara, not me." He said softly, interrupting her.
"No." She shook her head. "You didn't answer a question and that didn't matter. It was after that, that confused me. You seemed to shut yourself away from me. I wanted to talk, but you avoided not just the question, but me." She said quietly. "The question didn't matter Grissom, the fact that you won't talk does and blaming me for everything at work is not the way to solve problems, it makes them worse."
"I'm sorry." He said moving to stand inches from her.
Sara's eyes found his. "It's got nothing to do with being sorry Grissom. I could live with being shouted at, but not by you. I don't deserve your hate for something I haven't done."
Her words stung him. "I don't hate you Sara." His hand came up to touch her cheek lightly.
"Yes you do. We can't even bare to be in the same room anymore. If you want me to leave, I'll leave, but don't yell at me anymore. I didn't do anything wrong." As she said this a single tear fell. "Even if you don't want to be friends anymore, at least be civil at work. That's all I ask."
Grissom's heart was beating madly in his chest. 'How could she think that.' His thumb brushed the tear away. "Don't leave Sara.. Not because of this. I couldn't bare you leaving me. I was upset, angry that I couldn't talk to you. It's me Sara. I'm angry at myself and I took it out on you. I shouldn't have let you leave that night. I should have gone after you. I'm so sorry I've been so mean to you. I wish I could do things right, but I can't. My mind says one thing and my mouth says another. I can't change that." Her eyes closed as his thumb grazed her bottom lip. "I could never hate you. I was wrong at work. I took my miserable life with me to work and took it out on the one person I care about more than life itself." Sara's eyes opened and locked with his. "Don't leave because of me." He begged.
She dropped her eyes and held his hand to her cheek. "I don't want to." She whispered. "I." She was cut off by Grissom's lips on hers. Sara reciprocated and deepened the kiss. Grissom's arms slid around her towel clad waist and pulled her against him. Sara's hands ran up his arms to rest around his neck. Her fingers tangled in his hair. Pulling away for air, their eyes locked for a moment before Grissom's eyes wondered over her half naked body. Sara watched as his hand slid from her waist to inside the towel. She gasped at the contact as his fingers ran over her stomach to her hip. Her eyes closed as she leaned her head on his shoulder. He held the towel in place with his hand and continued to explore her body with the other. Grissom looked down at her exposed neck, he dipped his head and kissed the skin lightly. Sara shuddered at the sensation and held him tighter.
Grissom leaned his head against hers and hugged her close. "My life would end if you left Vegas. I'd do anything to keep you in my life Sara." His voice was soft in her ear.
"We need to start talking Griss. This is not to happen again. You hurt me. All those things you said hurt me." She whimpered.
Grissom's eyes fluttered shut against the tears. His arms wrapped around her small body. "I'm so sorry. I missed you so much, I missed being with you, holding you, kissing you, talking to you about baby feeds." Sara smiled into his neck. "I would never intentionally hurt you, but I did and I'm never going to forgive myself for that. Neither should you." Sara tried to pull away, but Grissom held her closer. "No Sara, it's what I deserve. I'm not good at this and even when I'm trying my best, it's my worse. I don't even deserve your friendship after what I did."
"Griss stop." She pleaded with tears.
"You deserve someone who can give you everything, not some second rate old man." His voice was low and defeated.
Sara pulled back and stared into his eyes. She held his face in her hands. "You are not second rate. Don't let the past two weeks do this Griss, not with me. I won't let you put yourself down like that. Not unless its me." Grissom blushed and smiled. Sara's thumbs brushed his cheeks dry from his previous tears. "I will choose who I want to be with, not you." He nodded. "You're not old Grissom, your not second rate. You're the best CSI in Vegas and you're the nicest, kindest, caring man I've ever had privilege to know and work with. I wouldn't change you for the world, but you have to talk to me."
"I can only try Sara. No promises." His hands took hers and brought them down to entwine them.
"That's all I ask. No more running away, no more avoiding and no more beating ourselves up. I get to do that." Sara grinned, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.
Grissom chuckled and kissed her lightly. "Anytime Sara." He whispered against her mouth. Grissom let the towel fall to the floor as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her towards her bedroom. "But only at home." He said firmly with a small menacing smile.
Sara laughed and pulled him down on top of her. "You should be scare you know?" She grinned running her hands through his tight curls.
"Oh, I am. But right now, we get to fight for control in a 'personal' argument." He imitated her as she raised her eyebrows at him.
"Wanna place a bet?" She asked seriously.
Grissom thought about it for a few seconds and shook his head. "Wouldn't want to loose my precious dollar with no experiment to make sure I can at least pin you to the bed and have my way." His tone was full of amusement as his eyes darkened.
Sara gazed into his eyes lovingly and brushed his cheek with her fingertips. "You and your experiments." She smiled.
"Gotta love em." He laughed and she pulled his head down.
"Oh I love em alright, but I love you more." Sara watched closely as Grissom reared back slightly, but still close to her lips. "What?" She asked quietly.
He shook his head and smiled. "I love you too." He whispered. Sara smiled and lifted her head to kiss him slowly and tenderly.
"Stay with me." She asked as he kissed her neck.
"Forever." He murmured as his body and hers joined as one and let all the worry's and bad times disappear, for a time.
THE END
Sara, again managed to avoid seeing Grissom. If she even breathed near him, he started an argument. She was getting sick and tired of having to defend herself to him. She got on with her job and he criticised every move. The littlest thing as a miss placed fibre and he was there in a matter of seconds to shout at her.
Sitting heavily at the diner table. She ordered a large black coffee. "You should eat something with that Sara." Came a voice from another table.
"I'm not hungry Warrick." She said tiredly.
Warrick moved his coffee and sandwich to sit opposite her. "What happened?"
She looked at him. "What makes you think something happened?"
He smiled. "You're here on your break. You hardly ever take a break. Especially with this case your on. You'll have the guy in a day."
Sara shook her head and thanked the waitress for her coffee. Taking a long drink, she looked across at Warrick as he took a bite of his sandwich. "It's not my case, never was. It was always Grissom, Brass and O'Reilly's. Never mine."
Warrick sighed. "He's just trying to protect you Sara."
Drinking her coffee, she glared at Warrick. "No he's not. He's annoying me and undermining everything I do and say. Nothing seems to be right anymore. I might as well just quit. He's not letting me do my job." She stared into her cup and swirled the liquid around.
"I hope your kidding Sara." Warrick asked with a small smile.
She raised her head and shook it. "No."
His smile disappeared. "It's not that bad Sara. Talk to him. Sort this thing out before you do anything rash."
Sara finished her coffee and stood. "I'm sorry Warrick, but if he's not willing to listen, then how am I suppose to talk to him? He's ignoring me if I approach him about anything and if I do anything wrong, he's there in a flash. I'm sick of this whole thing and I'm finished with it."
Warrick watched her retreat and quickly grabbed his sandwich as he threw some money on the table. Running across the road back to CSI, he noticed Sara's car gone and continued towards the front doors.
********
Grissom pulled on his jacket and grabbed his keys. Turning the light off and locking his door, he turned towards the exit. As he approached the door, he saw Nick, Catherine and Warrick standing next to his car. Walking towards them, he tilted his head to one side. "What's going on?" He asked when neither moved from blocking his driver side door.
Catherine crossed her arms over her chest. Nick dug his hands in his pockets and Warrick leaned against the car. "Time to sort this mess out Grissom." Warrick said.
Not understanding what they were talking about, he pulled his keys from his pocket. "What are you talking about? And move from my car. I'm heading home."
Nick shook his head with everyone else. "You need to talk to Sara."
Grissom's face hardened. "Move, all of you now."
Again, no one moved. "She's thinking of leaving Gil. You are going no where but Sara's. Right now." Catherine told him.
Grissom's face fell. "Leave?" He asked quietly.
Warrick nodded. "She was very upset earlier. She was drinking black coffee, which we all know she does not drink unless she's angry and upset and when I saw her, she was beyond that."
Nick moved away from the car and walked towards his own car. "If she leaves Grissom, then I'm going too."
Catherine and Warrick's heads turned to the young Texan in surprise. "Nicky." Catherine shouted.
Nick turned as he opened his door. "She's like a sister to me guys. I'm not sitting around anymore and watch while he shoots her down every night. I should have done something sooner."
Grissom opened his mouth to speak, but Nick closed his door and drove off. He turned back to Warrick and Catherine, but they were walking towards their own cars. Watching his team go home, Grissom opened his door and tossed his briefcase on the passenger seat. Climbing in, he sat with his head leaning back against the headrest. 'Oh Shit' He thought.
********
Sara sank into the hot bubbly bath water and tried her hardest to calm her nerves. Leaning her head back, she let her arms float on the water surface. Just as she reached for the soap a knock came from the front door. Moaning irritably, she ignored the intrusion and stayed where she was. After twenty minutes of soaking, soaping and relaxing, Sara crawled out of the bath and wrapped a large towel around her. Padding through to the kitchen, she turned the coffee maker on and opened her fridge. Just as she pulled out a carton of milk, came another knock at the door. Placing the milk back in the fridge, she walked to the door and opened it. "Yes." Seeing who it was, she groaned. "What did I do now Grissom? Must be bad if your making house calls. Just leave me alone and yell at me tomorrow or some thing."
"Sara." He said angrily.
"Go away." She closed the door, but forgot to lock it.
Grissom knocked again and walked in. "I'm not here to argue Sara."
Sara turned and held her towel closer to her. "You're trespassing Grissom, leave before I call the police." She warned.
Not believing her, he closed the door quietly and looked around. "Where's Molly?"
"What do you care?" Sara turned and walked into the kitchen. Standing by the coffee maker, she pulled out two cups and poured some coffee.
"What's going on Sara? Where's Molly?" He asked panicked.
Sara pulled out the milk and added it to the coffee. "Gone home Grissom, where else."
Grissom watched her from the living room. "Chris came for her? Why didn't you tell me?"
Putting the milk away, she slammed the fridge door shut. "None of your business Grissom. She wasn't staying for good. We both knew that. Chris is her father and he came for her two weeks ago." She pushed his coffee towards him over the counter. "Drink and go."
"You didn't answer me Sara. Why didn't you tell me?" He took the coffee.
"I tried, but you didn't want to know. What was the point? I can't get anything right. You told me so yourself only three days ago. I don't know what's got into you, but I don't deserve to be treated like an idiot or some dumb level 1 CSI. I know what I'm doing and I get yelled at because someone else bulls up. For two weeks, you've had a go and now it's starting to piss me off. Either you quit being a self righteous pratt or I'm going."
Grissom stared at her as she spoke. His cup was back on the counter as her words sank in. "I'm not being self righteous." He sated matter of factly. "Nor am I a pratt. I'm trying to understand what's going on between us and I don't know what to do."
Sara snorted inelegantly. "Bullshit." Grissom's eyes widened. "There is no us. You put a stop to that."
Grissom round the kitchen island and stood in front of her. "You walked away Sara, not me." He said softly, interrupting her.
"No." She shook her head. "You didn't answer a question and that didn't matter. It was after that, that confused me. You seemed to shut yourself away from me. I wanted to talk, but you avoided not just the question, but me." She said quietly. "The question didn't matter Grissom, the fact that you won't talk does and blaming me for everything at work is not the way to solve problems, it makes them worse."
"I'm sorry." He said moving to stand inches from her.
Sara's eyes found his. "It's got nothing to do with being sorry Grissom. I could live with being shouted at, but not by you. I don't deserve your hate for something I haven't done."
Her words stung him. "I don't hate you Sara." His hand came up to touch her cheek lightly.
"Yes you do. We can't even bare to be in the same room anymore. If you want me to leave, I'll leave, but don't yell at me anymore. I didn't do anything wrong." As she said this a single tear fell. "Even if you don't want to be friends anymore, at least be civil at work. That's all I ask."
Grissom's heart was beating madly in his chest. 'How could she think that.' His thumb brushed the tear away. "Don't leave Sara.. Not because of this. I couldn't bare you leaving me. I was upset, angry that I couldn't talk to you. It's me Sara. I'm angry at myself and I took it out on you. I shouldn't have let you leave that night. I should have gone after you. I'm so sorry I've been so mean to you. I wish I could do things right, but I can't. My mind says one thing and my mouth says another. I can't change that." Her eyes closed as his thumb grazed her bottom lip. "I could never hate you. I was wrong at work. I took my miserable life with me to work and took it out on the one person I care about more than life itself." Sara's eyes opened and locked with his. "Don't leave because of me." He begged.
She dropped her eyes and held his hand to her cheek. "I don't want to." She whispered. "I." She was cut off by Grissom's lips on hers. Sara reciprocated and deepened the kiss. Grissom's arms slid around her towel clad waist and pulled her against him. Sara's hands ran up his arms to rest around his neck. Her fingers tangled in his hair. Pulling away for air, their eyes locked for a moment before Grissom's eyes wondered over her half naked body. Sara watched as his hand slid from her waist to inside the towel. She gasped at the contact as his fingers ran over her stomach to her hip. Her eyes closed as she leaned her head on his shoulder. He held the towel in place with his hand and continued to explore her body with the other. Grissom looked down at her exposed neck, he dipped his head and kissed the skin lightly. Sara shuddered at the sensation and held him tighter.
Grissom leaned his head against hers and hugged her close. "My life would end if you left Vegas. I'd do anything to keep you in my life Sara." His voice was soft in her ear.
"We need to start talking Griss. This is not to happen again. You hurt me. All those things you said hurt me." She whimpered.
Grissom's eyes fluttered shut against the tears. His arms wrapped around her small body. "I'm so sorry. I missed you so much, I missed being with you, holding you, kissing you, talking to you about baby feeds." Sara smiled into his neck. "I would never intentionally hurt you, but I did and I'm never going to forgive myself for that. Neither should you." Sara tried to pull away, but Grissom held her closer. "No Sara, it's what I deserve. I'm not good at this and even when I'm trying my best, it's my worse. I don't even deserve your friendship after what I did."
"Griss stop." She pleaded with tears.
"You deserve someone who can give you everything, not some second rate old man." His voice was low and defeated.
Sara pulled back and stared into his eyes. She held his face in her hands. "You are not second rate. Don't let the past two weeks do this Griss, not with me. I won't let you put yourself down like that. Not unless its me." Grissom blushed and smiled. Sara's thumbs brushed his cheeks dry from his previous tears. "I will choose who I want to be with, not you." He nodded. "You're not old Grissom, your not second rate. You're the best CSI in Vegas and you're the nicest, kindest, caring man I've ever had privilege to know and work with. I wouldn't change you for the world, but you have to talk to me."
"I can only try Sara. No promises." His hands took hers and brought them down to entwine them.
"That's all I ask. No more running away, no more avoiding and no more beating ourselves up. I get to do that." Sara grinned, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.
Grissom chuckled and kissed her lightly. "Anytime Sara." He whispered against her mouth. Grissom let the towel fall to the floor as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her towards her bedroom. "But only at home." He said firmly with a small menacing smile.
Sara laughed and pulled him down on top of her. "You should be scare you know?" She grinned running her hands through his tight curls.
"Oh, I am. But right now, we get to fight for control in a 'personal' argument." He imitated her as she raised her eyebrows at him.
"Wanna place a bet?" She asked seriously.
Grissom thought about it for a few seconds and shook his head. "Wouldn't want to loose my precious dollar with no experiment to make sure I can at least pin you to the bed and have my way." His tone was full of amusement as his eyes darkened.
Sara gazed into his eyes lovingly and brushed his cheek with her fingertips. "You and your experiments." She smiled.
"Gotta love em." He laughed and she pulled his head down.
"Oh I love em alright, but I love you more." Sara watched closely as Grissom reared back slightly, but still close to her lips. "What?" She asked quietly.
He shook his head and smiled. "I love you too." He whispered. Sara smiled and lifted her head to kiss him slowly and tenderly.
"Stay with me." She asked as he kissed her neck.
"Forever." He murmured as his body and hers joined as one and let all the worry's and bad times disappear, for a time.
THE END
