Chapter 20
The drive to work was uncomfortable, with both Sara and Grissom trying to switch mindsets from "this is a person" to "this is a coworker." As they pulled into the parking lot, Sara let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Reaching to give Grissom's hand one last squeeze, she told him, "Relax. We can do this."
Grissom nodded, but privately he wasn't so sure. Now that the damn had broken, could they really erect a false one every night? He supposed they'd have to try.
They entered the building as far apart as the double-doors allowed, then proceeded to get stuck in the breakroom doorway as they both tried to enter first. Sara threw her hands up and said in an exasperated voice, "Don't you have any manners, Grissom? Ladies first, geez!"
Catherine, settled on the couch, shot the pair a worried look. Had Grissom gotten himself in trouble with Sara again? Well, she reminded herself, they'd had the entire twenty-minute drive from Sara's apartment to argue. She sighed, supposing she'd have to play peacemaker for another night.
"Alright, guys. Back to your corners," she ordered, steering Sara toward the coffee pot after she gave Grissom a push in the direction of the table. "Now, what's the fight about this time?"
"What fight?" asked Sara in a puzzled voice.
"Nothing!" Grissom exclaimed at the same time.
Catherine raised her eyebrows. "Well, which was it? A fight about nothing, or no fight at all?" Sara shut her mouth, lips tightening to a thin white line.
Grissom had a feeling Sara was going to make him deal with this by himself. "Whether Sara and I fight is really not the business of the team, Catherine."
Catherine shrugged. "Hey, whatever you say, Gil. Just thought I'd try to head off the sniping before it started. As long as you two don't go at each other's throats and leave your own blood at a crime scene, I'll leave it alone. But," she shook a finger at them, "I still think you guys need to talk this out. You fight too much, you're making the rest of us jumpy."
"Look, Cath, we're not fighting, ok? I was just annoyed because he was making fun of my driving," Sara tried to explain.
"As Grissom would say, 'methinks the lady doth protest too much'," Catherine said with a shake of her head. "Now, I'm off to find company that's more stable than you two. Page me when you've got assignments."
When their coworker was well clear of the break room, Grissom and Sara turned in unison to face each other. "Now what?" Sara hissed. "She thinks we're fighting, which means she's going to be watching, trying to police us."
Grissom shrugged. "We do the best we can, Sara. Better she think we're fighting than thinking that we're fu—um, dating." As he said it, he realized that he had no idea if they were "dating" or not. "Er, I mean, that is, if we're seeing each other outside of work," he hedged.
Sara reached toward him, pulled her hand back, scanned the area, then reached back out and patted his hand. " 'Dating' is fine with me if it's fine with you."
Grissom nodded shortly, embarrassed by his slip. "Well what I meant to say was that if she thinks we're fighting, then she won't expect us to be doing…anything else."
Sara knew he was right. She also knew what Grissom had been about to say before he inserted "dating." Good to know he wasn't just interested in her brain, she mused. "Ok, Gris, you're right as usual. Now, let me concentrate so I can work myself into being mad at you." At his worried look, she shrugged. "What can I say, I'm a method actor."
She lowered her voice. "So, you want to, uh, stop by for breakfast after work? I'll make you pancakes - I think you've learned your lesson about the quality of my cooking."
Grissom frowned. "Sara. Not here." He knew he sounded cold, but he was terrified that someone would notice this change between him and Sara.
Taking a step back from him, Sara nodded angrily. "Hey, don't let your emotions shine through or anything, boss. And don't let lil' old me get in the way of your plans. I'll be in Greg's lab, checking the results on my murder from yesterday night." As she turned her back to him, she thought, "Well, at least it won't be difficult to pretend I'm mad at him."
