Disclaimer: CSI Belongs to CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer
"The Warmth Despite The Cold"
By Wijida
Grissom shut the door
with a nod and the brief comment of 'Just a moment- I'll change my shirt', a
perplexed Sara standing in the hallway, waiting patiently. She'd arrived more
quickly than he'd expected, the air around her lightly scented with something
jasmine- more feminine than he'd normally associated with Sara Sidle.
His wife wore the same scent.
A moment passed before he was able to dial the correct number
on the phone, and the feminine voice
which answered was so obviously rushed that he felt the sudden, mischievous urge
to keep her on the phone
for as long as possible.
"Teri," he greeted her warmly, a sly smile
spreading over his lips as the voice on the distant end became silent, and he
could envision her attractive features contorting, eyebrows raised in slight
irritation.
"Paul," She retorted, and Grissom's smile morphed
into one of amusement as her light chuckle reached his
ears. "Gil- how's the conference?"
"Cold. We've been snowed in- Sara tells
me she's been trying to reach you for days and hasn't been able
to get through. I'm lucky I could now."
"Sara's been trying to get in touch with me?" There
was a hint of something in her tone, a splash of emotion which he correctly
interpreted, and fielded with a well-thought-out response.
"She's been reading in her room,
Catherine. Ten books- she's halfway through them."
"I'm sure you could convince the hotel manager to lock
her in there, sweetheart." The suggestion was followed by Catherine
Willows' ever-tolerant laughter. "You're a CSI Level three- and from what I
gather from the news report, you're probably the highest ranking officer
available. You have to be able to pull some weight."
"Not enough to get Sara Sidle out of your hair forever,
honeybee."
"That'd be 'honey', wouldn't it, Gil?"
"Not to an entomologist, Catherine." Grissom
responded seriously. "Don't worry...I'll keep Sara at bay, and when this is
all over, I'll make sure you and I have plenty of off-time at home."
"I look forward to it." Catherine's voice faded
momentarily, and she sighed. "I do miss you, Gil Grissom."
"I know. I miss you...and the warm bed at home.
Silk sheets...you..."
"Feeling the warmth despite the cold?" She laughed,
Grissom feeling he was warmer at that moment than a
thermal jacket could ever keep him. "I'll see you in a week, Mr.Grissom."
"The conference couldn't be over fast enough. And next
time...you're coming along." He added firmly, hearing her end hang up to
close the conversation.
Neither were fond of goodbyes, Catherine having refused him
the verbal farewell when he'd left for the airport. A hug, a kiss, a wave
through the window were all she would allow...and on the phone, none were
available. The silence, however, always spoke volumes. The recent strings of
endearing nicknames overwhelmed him, hand still grasping the mouthpiece as he
recalled the recent words, the things he'd never once said, and now could never
say enough. He loved Catherine...and to be without her, warding off Sara's often
amorous advances, was sometimes far too exhausting. But the phone call had
energized him, and for that he was grateful.
The earlier knocking resumed, and he opened the door to find
Sara on the other side, cell phone held up to reveal a glowing, green display.
"I made it through." She reported, folding the cell
phone closed and leaning against the doorframe. "But the line was
busy."
"Try again later, then." Grissom replied, reaching
for his jacket and stepping into the hallway, door closing behind him.
"That's all you can do, Sara. Keep trying."
And as he shrugged his jacket onto his shoulders, he could
already feel the warmth.
~End
