Chapter 20
"Sara?" Grissom asked softly. "What does it say?"
"What? Oh. It's just a note from my friend downstairs." Sara handed the note to Grissom. "She was just worried because she hadn't seen me come home for a couple of days. We look out for each other."
Sara opened the door exposing herself to her colleagues. Her home was exactly what Grissom and Catherine had expected-immaculate. Everything was in its place. Books alphabetized by subject. CD's organized by style then alphabetized.
"Catherine, you can have my room. I'll take the couch. Let me show you where things are." Sara said over her shoulder as she takes the bags from Grissom.
"Sara, I can just as easily take the couch. I don't want to put you out more than I already have."
"You're not a put out Catherine. Besides, you need a quite place to rest and get better. It's not a problem, really."
Catherine follows Sara down the hallway into the bedroom. "Wow Sara, this is beautiful. It looks like a little private retreat."
"Thanks Catherine. Other than work, this is where I spend most of my time. I want to come home to something warm and cozy. The bathroom is right here, the linens are in the closet by the tub. Make yourself at home. I'm going to fix some coffee, would you like some?"
"Sure. Do you mind if I just lay down for a bit?"
"Be my guest." With that Sara leaves the bedroom and closes the door behind her. As she makes her way into the kitchen, she notices Grissom putting a CD in the player. "What did you chose?" she asks.
"I hope you don't mind, but I chose one from your classical collection."
"I don't mind at all. Catherine is resting and I'm going to make some coffee. Would you like some?"
"Sure." Grissom says as he makes his way into the kitchen. He comes up behind Sara as she is trying to reach for the coffee on the second shelf of the cabinet. As she raises her arm up, she nearly doubles over from the pain in her chest. She finds herself once again struggling to breath.
Grissom firmly yet gently and keeps her from falling over. "Sara, you have to be careful." He turns her around to face him. "Look at me Sara. Breathe slowly. Small shallow breaths." He pulls her face up so he can look into her eyes and help her through the pain. "Listen to the music and relax. You're going to be just fine. You just have to be careful." Sara's breathing returns to normal, but Grissom keeps his grip on her.
"I'm fine Gris. Thanks. Guess I didn't realize how bad I hurt."
Not letting go of her, Grissom replies. "Bruised ribs take time to heal. You have to be aware of the movements you are about to make or you'll have this same problem all over again." As he talks to her, he is amazed at the color of her eyes. He moves his hands to cup her face, staring intently into her soul. "You know, the eyes are the windows to a person's soul. You have a very pure soul, always looking out for the other person."
Not quite sure what to make of the situation, she responds quietly. "And yours is very loving and compassionate. With a soul like that why is it so hard for you to let others see your emotions?"
Grissom leans in and gently kisses her on the cheek. He watches her reaction as he pulls away. Seeing the approval on her face, he leans in once again and kisses her soft lips, taking in her warmth. She places her hands on his sides and returns the kiss, softly yet passionately. "Sara, I care for you deeply. I'm sorry I can't say it any other way. This is hard for me, to let you see my like this. Showing emotions makes me feel vulnerable, out of control." He pulls her head to his chest and holds her there, not wanting the moment to end. The coffee pot makes its final spurts as the coffee finishes brewing. Sara slowly backs away from Grissom and finishes the coffee. Handing Grissom's cup to him she says, "I care for you deeply, too Gris."
"Sara?" Grissom asked softly. "What does it say?"
"What? Oh. It's just a note from my friend downstairs." Sara handed the note to Grissom. "She was just worried because she hadn't seen me come home for a couple of days. We look out for each other."
Sara opened the door exposing herself to her colleagues. Her home was exactly what Grissom and Catherine had expected-immaculate. Everything was in its place. Books alphabetized by subject. CD's organized by style then alphabetized.
"Catherine, you can have my room. I'll take the couch. Let me show you where things are." Sara said over her shoulder as she takes the bags from Grissom.
"Sara, I can just as easily take the couch. I don't want to put you out more than I already have."
"You're not a put out Catherine. Besides, you need a quite place to rest and get better. It's not a problem, really."
Catherine follows Sara down the hallway into the bedroom. "Wow Sara, this is beautiful. It looks like a little private retreat."
"Thanks Catherine. Other than work, this is where I spend most of my time. I want to come home to something warm and cozy. The bathroom is right here, the linens are in the closet by the tub. Make yourself at home. I'm going to fix some coffee, would you like some?"
"Sure. Do you mind if I just lay down for a bit?"
"Be my guest." With that Sara leaves the bedroom and closes the door behind her. As she makes her way into the kitchen, she notices Grissom putting a CD in the player. "What did you chose?" she asks.
"I hope you don't mind, but I chose one from your classical collection."
"I don't mind at all. Catherine is resting and I'm going to make some coffee. Would you like some?"
"Sure." Grissom says as he makes his way into the kitchen. He comes up behind Sara as she is trying to reach for the coffee on the second shelf of the cabinet. As she raises her arm up, she nearly doubles over from the pain in her chest. She finds herself once again struggling to breath.
Grissom firmly yet gently and keeps her from falling over. "Sara, you have to be careful." He turns her around to face him. "Look at me Sara. Breathe slowly. Small shallow breaths." He pulls her face up so he can look into her eyes and help her through the pain. "Listen to the music and relax. You're going to be just fine. You just have to be careful." Sara's breathing returns to normal, but Grissom keeps his grip on her.
"I'm fine Gris. Thanks. Guess I didn't realize how bad I hurt."
Not letting go of her, Grissom replies. "Bruised ribs take time to heal. You have to be aware of the movements you are about to make or you'll have this same problem all over again." As he talks to her, he is amazed at the color of her eyes. He moves his hands to cup her face, staring intently into her soul. "You know, the eyes are the windows to a person's soul. You have a very pure soul, always looking out for the other person."
Not quite sure what to make of the situation, she responds quietly. "And yours is very loving and compassionate. With a soul like that why is it so hard for you to let others see your emotions?"
Grissom leans in and gently kisses her on the cheek. He watches her reaction as he pulls away. Seeing the approval on her face, he leans in once again and kisses her soft lips, taking in her warmth. She places her hands on his sides and returns the kiss, softly yet passionately. "Sara, I care for you deeply. I'm sorry I can't say it any other way. This is hard for me, to let you see my like this. Showing emotions makes me feel vulnerable, out of control." He pulls her head to his chest and holds her there, not wanting the moment to end. The coffee pot makes its final spurts as the coffee finishes brewing. Sara slowly backs away from Grissom and finishes the coffee. Handing Grissom's cup to him she says, "I care for you deeply, too Gris."
