Here is the next chapter. It should be a little longer. Thanks again to all who have reviewed!!!
Chapter 8
The song had ended, but Sara wanted to pretend that it wasn't over. She looked into Grissom's eyes and smiled. "Thank you." She said. Grissom looked slightly puzzled, "For what?" Sara smiled bigger. "For this." Grissom kissed her lightly. "You're quite welcome." Sara could hardly believe this was happening and she didn't want it to end. She leaned in and kissed him again. He kissed back, this time more forcefully and passionately. They kissed for a moment, but were interrupted by the phone ringing Sara jumped a little. Grissom stopped for a second and looked at her. "What's wrong?"
Sara looked at the phone. "It's ringing."
Grissom looked slightly disappointed. "Oh."
Sara answered it, trying to be as calm and ambiguous as to what had just taken place as possible. "Hello."
"Sara? It's Catherine." said the familiar voice into the phone.
"Oh hi Catherine." said Sara a little more gloomily than she meant to.
"Well, Sara, don't sound so excited to hear from me." Catherine joked.
Sara apologized. "I'm sorry Catherine."
Catherine shook her hair out of her eyes at the other end of the phone. "Don't worry about it."
Sara smiled a little. "So, what's up?"
Catherine continued. "I was just calling to see how you two were working out. Make sure everything was going alright."
Sara smiled and looked over at Grissom, who was trying quite hard to hear what Sara was talking about and who she was talking to. He was making some progress, which Sara could see from the large grin on his face, much like a little kid who discovers a secret. "Things are going great, Catherine. Really."
"I knew things would be. Hey listen, I got the county to pay for Grissom's full medical leave, although the forms say he had his appendix removed and will be out at least two months. I had to lie in order for Grissom to keep his job. I also got them to pay you for a month of paid leave due to your grandmother's recent death."
Sara laughed at these lies. "Good one, Catherine."
Catherine chuckled a little too. "Thanks." She said dryly.
"Hey Catherine?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Your welcome. Send my love to Grissom."
Sara nodded. "I will. Bye."
"Bye."
Grissom looked at her. "Catherine?" Sara was pleasantly surprised that Grissom could hear her conversation. Sara nodded. "You could hear that?" She asked.
Grissom smiled. "Yup. But what did she say, I didn't catch the last part."
"Well, the good news is that both you and I are getting paid for a month or two on paid medical and personal leave."
Confused, Grissom asked, "Well, what's the bad news?"
Sara smiled. "She had to lie. You had appendicitis and my grandmother has died. If she told everyone you had surgery for your hearing, you could have possibly lost your job. So now we're both covered. What do you want to do today, anyway?"
Grissom thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to Lake Mead and go swimming, or boating or something."
Sara replied, "Sounds good, except…"
"Except what?"
Sara walked towards Grissom and gingerly touched the stitches where the incisions had been. "You can't get these wet."
Grissom sighed. "You're right. Hmmm… I know! Let's have a picnic in the park!"
Sara laughed and smiled. "Yeah, that does sound like fun. I'll make the sandwiches if you will get the blanket and picnic stuff together. What kind of sandwich do you want?"
Grissom replied quickly. "Surprise me." He smiled.
Sara laughed a little. "Okay."
Grissom walked to the hallway closet and pulled down a quilted blue blanket and a basket he had gotten a while ago, but he couldn't remember what for. He then walked into the kitchen and starting putting plastic plates, forks and knives into it. He also grabbed two glasses and wrapped them in some cloth napkins. He opened a cabinet and found a champagne and slipped that in as a surprise for Sara.
Meanwhile, Sara had made several kinds of sandwiches. A peanut butter and jelly, her favorite, a cucumber and cream cheese and a cream cheese and olive. She had also started on a small fruit salad of bananas, apples and oranges.
"You ready?" Grissom asked.
Sara looked up. "Yup. Let me just put these in the basket and we can go." Sara started towards the basket.
Grissom stopped her. "Here, let me do that."
Sara smiled. "What are you hiding Mr. Grissom?"
Grissom smiled as he placed the sandwiches and salad into the basket. "You will just have to wait and see, Ms. Sidle." Sara laughed and started towards the door. Grissom followed closely with the blanket and basket in hand. They waited in the hall as Grissom locked the apartment. He placed his hand at the small of her back as he guided her to the elevator. Sara pretended not to notice. They entered the elevator and rode down in almost silence.
"I'll go get the car." Sara offered.
"That won't be necessary." said Grissom.
"It's fine. You stay here, you have a lot to carry and shouldn't be doing anything strenuous anyway. So I'LL get the car and YOU stay here." said Sara
Grissom laughed. "I always said you were stubborn."
"Oh yeah? Well, you're, you're hardheaded." retorted Sara.
"Overbearing."
"Hypersensitive."
Sara and Grissom glared at each other for a moment and both starting laughing. "I'll go get the car." Sara said while still laughing.
"Fine. I'll be right here." Grissom said.
