DISCLAIMER: The usual applies (characters are not mine, no profit, etc). You didn't think I'd forget a disclaimer and let you sue me, did you? *raises eyebrow*
SUMMARY: Post 'Inside the Box'. Here's what COULD happen. ;)
A Sense of TimeBy Jane Moss
Sara arrived a few hours after the streets went dark. Now that they closed the case, she would have to slip back into nightshift. This was her last time working days. Sara had to admit that work hasn't been running as smoothly without Grissom, but nevertheless she couldn't complain, as she saw him after work. Being completely honest to herself, she could have never seen it happen, especially after he refused her dinner invitation so bluntly just weeks before. She wondered if she should really be so forgiving after what he'd put her through the last few months. Old grudges had to be let go, as she could not ruin what they achieved now for the sake of pride.
Soon, she was standing at his door, her instinct briefly rendering her unsure whether to knock loudly or run away before it's too late. She tried to laugh off her own childishness at something so trivial. She had spent the last two nights with this man, for God's sake! Before she could debate the issue further, her hand knocked firmly on the door of its own accord. Then again, this was his house. His personal space.
"Sara?" she heard him ask from the other side.
"Yeah, it's me!" Sara raised her voice, to be sure she was heard.
He opened the door and looked somewhat pleased by her presence. She wondered if it was due to her visit or his previous isolation. A little bit of both?
"Please come in," he stood back.
"Thanks" After he had closed the door behind her she made a move to take off her light jacket. "Why is it so dark in here?" she asked as he made his way deeper into the apartment.
"No reason," he called back cryptically. "Please make yourself at home" he looked at her briefly before dropping his head to the side and disappearing into another room. She smiled to herself at seeing his signature move. Something smelled delicious. Sara wanted to follow the scent but curiosity held her back. The living room was indeed in semi-darkness, but the bright lights of Vegas provided enough illumination to see quite clearly. She quickly began to inspect anything interesting lying on tables and shelves. Books, journals… Technically, it was out in the open. She stored a mental picture of the room she guessed he spent most of his time in… when he was awake, at least.
"Would you like something to drink?"
Sara jumped slightly, at the sound of his voice.
"Umm… what have you got?"
"Wine?"
She looked surprised for a moment before answering, "Sure"
"I never got to try this one," he came back with a bottle of 'Chianti Classic' and two glasses in his hands. "Never seem to have the right company" What exactly did he mean by right company?
"Thanks" She didn't know what else she could say. "So… um… what's with the lights?" He looked puzzled for a moment. "The LIGHTS" she repeated.
"I heard you, Sara"
"Sorry" She was sure if it weren't for the darkness he would have seen her blush.
"It's quite alright. My eyes got tired today. I was at the computer a lot to pass the time. They sting less in the darkness"
"Hmm…" she sipped her wine, "Working days and seeing real sunlight sure doesn't compare with those artificial lamps. Until now, I was worried of becoming a zombie!"
He quickly swallowed his wine to keep from spilling it as he chuckled.
"And I suppose that goes for real darkness as well… though I just wish I could see exactly what I'm drinking," she looked down at her glass.
Grissom pursed his lips in thought only briefly before leaving his seat in search of something. In a moment he was back and when he lighted a match, she could see it was a candle. Suddenly the atmosphere in the room shifted to warm and intimate and she wondered if it was Grissom's intent or merely a side effect.
"Grissom?" She continued when she had his full attention. "Why didn't you tell me?" His brows knitted together in confusion. "About your hearing…"
She was serious and probably still upset. He looked down at his feet, taking a breath, in an attempt to find the right words. He didn't know how to explain it the right way. "It was something personal. I didn't want anyone to know."
"You told Catherine," Sara pressed further, watching him squirm. He wouldn't meet her eyes and soon she looked away as well. "Do you really trust me so little?"
"Sara, it's not like that and you know it-"
"I KNOW it?" she raised her voice, but immediately remembered his recent operation and forced herself to calm down. "You sure have done a lot to show me…"
There was a long silence before he spoke again. "Catherine had to know. She was replacing me as supervisor." Sara looked down. She knew he would put up the logical argument. "I meant to tell you. I thought it would be easier after the surgery. If it turned out fine you wouldn't have the need to worry and if it failed, you'd have found out anyway..."
"Only you wouldn't have told me if it worked, would you?" Sara looked straight at him. "There would be no need"
"Sara, I'm sorry you're upset, but I feel it was still my decision," he defended himself.
"I'm not angry because of me," she shook her head, "How could you face something like that alone? Didn't you think we'd be there for you if you'd just told any of us?"
Why suddenly move to the plural? "Are you talking about yourself or the lab?"
"I-"
"Sara, look at me, please"
She let out a breath. "I would have been there for you," she clarified staying silent for a moment, "I just keep saying it over and over again and you just never seem to listen."
Grissom stared at her in confusion once more. Sometimes this woman was really too much for him to figure out. "I don't know what to say," he told her honestly.
"It's confusing, right?" she repeated her earlier words.
After a long uncomfortable pause, Sara was sure that they were back to square one and as soon as she would make the move to leave, they would get back to their game of masquerade, feigning professionalism and indifference.
"Are you hungry?"
What was he planning to do? Treat her to a nice dinner by candlelight and then just pretend it never happened?
"No" Sara looked on at the single candle on the table in front of them. How sad it was that there was no way around some things. She couldn't do this by herself. If he was not prepared to give her anything, then what difference did it make to her? It was her life. She didn't need him, if he didn't want her. Why did it have to be so utterly difficult with this man?
Sara felt him sit softly by her side. He was very close and for a moment she remembered the warmth she felt last night. She took a slow breath before she lifted her eyes up to his, deciding to mask nothing. For the very last time.
He was so close. She let herself reach out and touch his cheek with her warm hand. It was his mild surprise, which prompted her to keep it there and gently stroke his face with her thumb.
"Sara…" His breathing was irregular and he had to look down, breaking their eye contact. She could see the internal battle he was facing. Suddenly he was unsure and indecisive.
"Would you like me to stop?"
He placed his hand over hers to keep it there. "Sara, I… this isn't right…"
"Meaning… this is not what you want?" her eyes were searching his.
"I'm so much older than you…"
Her features softened. "That's okay." There was a hint of a smile on her lips as she touched his other cheek so that she cradled his face in her hands. He felt enveloped in her warmth.
"Sara," he placed his hand on her wrist, "I'm your supervisor..."
"Shh…" she looked at his lips before their eyes locked once more. "Nobody will find out if you don't want them to," she said, her voice soft, persuasive and completely irresistible to him. Her hot breath lingered on his lips. At that moment all he could hear was his own wild heartbeat. At that moment all he could do was hold himself against the strong force of attraction.
Suddenly she leaned forward and gently tasted his soft lips. It was almost intoxicating. He leaned in and claimed her mouth, as his arms snaked to her back to press her closer and closer. Her hands stroked his neck and back madly as their kiss grew in their hunger for each other.
Suddenly he pushed her back to catch his ragged breath. He looked at her seriously. "Sara… I won't be able to let go… ever."
"Who says I'll let you go?" she smiled, teasingly, before pushing him back on the sofa and getting on top of him.
THE END
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There! Finished! I would like to thank everyone who reviewed! *bows* Thank you all! I hope I can get my muse to write some more! – J.M.:)
