Chapter Seven
Catherine sat in the visitors chair.
She was watching him closely as he gulped down a whisky.
He'd never started drinking at the beginning of a shift before.
That was until he found the termination on his desk.
She just waited and watched as he palmed another letter.
It was opened, but he hadn't said anything about it.
Filling his glass for the second time, he stared at it in a daze.
** ** ** **
Earlier that day he was woken by a knock at the door.
Taking the letter from the postman, he looked down and noticed the handwriting straight away.
Thanking the postman, he closed the door.
He had to stop himself from opening it while standing.
Sitting on the couch, he slowly opened the envelope and pulled out the letter with shaky hands.
Unfolding it with care, his other hand pushed his glasses on.
Taking a deep breath, he sat back against the cushions.
'Hey, I wanted to tell you in person, but I knew that if I saw you, I wouldn't be able to go through with it. This is something I never thought of doing, but I'd do anything to keep how we feel about each other and not ruin it with bad press. The lab was everything to me, but you were why I came to Las Vegas in the first place. I know your hurting right now, so am I.
I got home and found an offer that was more of a lifeline. I didn't want to take it, but I knew we weren't going to be able to keep what we have if I stayed. Everyone at work would have noticed and you would have suffered. I'm not doing this to punish you. I could never do that, not to you. You mean more than anything to me and that's why I've left. Yes, I left this morning while you were sleeping. I didn't want to have anything. anyone, stop me.
Maybe in the future we'll meet again and our lives won't be so difficult and we won't have so much to loose. I will be waiting for your call if you need me. I'll be there, but I need to help both of us by saving what we have. Don't blame yourself Gil. None of this is anyone's fault. You can't choose who you fall in love with and that's what happened.I fell in love.
We never discussed what we would do when the time came, but it hit me more strongly when you left that evening for work. Never leave this woman by herself, she thinks too much. I don't know if you'd call it 'coming to your senses' but I'm thinking this is the best.
If you think about it. This is the ideal way to sort problems out. It sounds harsh, but I don't mean it to. Being away was what I suggested a few weeks ago remember? Maybe I'll come back, maybe I'll stay in this new job and we can start something new, fresh. Some place with no rules saying we can't be together and believe it or not, I would do anything for that.
Don't avoid me, don't shut me out. Talk to me. Tell me what you feel and what you think. This is what I've been trying to tell you for years and when I finally get access to that brain of yours. I find I'm not only honoured, but scared. Scared that I can fall in love with you all over again when you tell me your secrets or flash me a smile, tilt your head to one side and give me your annoyed look, or the exasperated one. Gil Grissom, You've turned me into a hopeless romantic and I will wait for you forever.
With all my love.
Sara'
Surprising himself, he smiled and chuckled at the same time.
She loved him.
But he already knew that.
The part that made him smile was the hopeless romantic and that she'd wait forever.
He couldn't ask her to do that and yet, she's doing it all the same.
He checked his watch and his smile faded.
The reality that she was gone had set in.
And that he had to work.
** ** ** **
Now he sat in his office chair with Catherine watching his every move.
She waited and observed as he stared at the envelope.
Her eyes light up when he spoke suddenly and more lightly than he had in days.
He weighed the envelope in his hand, his hand bouncing up and down slowly as he indicated the letter inside.
"The thing that I can't get is that she's gone, but still wants to see me." He pushed his untouched glass away and grinned as he looked up.
Catherine returned his grin as she saw the light bulb go on over his head.
He had it.
That light bulb glowed and lit up the room.
He reached for his phone and dialled in a number as he thumbed through his rolodex.
She listened carefully and narrowing her eyes at him slightly and only getting a genuine smile, she laughed a little and watched.
** ** ** **
She sat behind her desk and signed the last piece of paperwork.
Now she knew why he'd be tired and pissed off after finishing a slow shift.
All the paperwork that would suddenly appear on his desk and in this case, her desk.
"Hey boss." A voice came from the doorway.
She looked up and smiled. "Cameron. You have that report finished or do you need a couple more hours?"
Cameron was a CSI level 2 and was a good young man with many diversions. He'd been at the crime lab for two years and was still going strong.
"I need about 2. I'm trying to help Andy clear her last case. She's having problems with finding a clear match on the substance used to light that fire in the basement."
"The arson case on 5th right?" She asked, looking for a report that came across her desk that evening.
Cameron smiled. "Yep, that's the one. What you got?" He asked, seeing her lift a thin file.
"Tox report. Andy wasn't sure of the results so I sent them back to be re- tested. Tell her the paraffin and unknown was the substance she's looking for. Ask Scott if she wants more details."
"Thanks I'll do that. You have a nice weekend." Cameron said before leaving.
"You too Cam." She shouted and returned to clearing the mess on her desk.
** ** ** **
Still in her office, she sat back and opened a book.
Loosing interest quickly, she found herself staring at the phone and willing it to ring, but it never came.
She put the book on the desk and leaned back into her chair as she closed her eyes.
A shadow appeared, blocking the light from the open door of her office.
"Hey Boss."
Her eyes snapped open as she sat up and stared at the person occupying her doorway.
Her mouth was slightly agape as her eyes drifted over the figure.
Starting at the feet, the black suit pants, the black leather belt, the white shirt and the black suit jacket. Her eyes continued to survey the body and moved up and took in the chin, mouth, nose, eyes, hair and back to his eyes again,
She couldn't speak, so she stood.
The blue eyes were staring back at her with same intensity.
She moved around her desk to stop in the middle of the room.
She watched as he closed the door without his eyes leaving hers.
The urge was killing her.
She took one step and he quickly closed the distance to stand practically on top of her.
Their eyes held as they reached for each other.
Lips met hastily as hands pulled their bodies closer together.
The feel of him touching her was intoxicating and deeply missed.
It had been weeks since her move to San Francisco and not once had they contacted each other.
He pulled back breathless and cupped her cheek as his blue eyes burned into her browns.
She turned her head and closed her eyes against his touch.
She kissed his palm and leaned up to kiss his chin, his cheek and his ear.
"I missed you so much." She whispered.
He crushed her to his chest in reply and dipped his head to her neck to place a heated kiss on her flushed skin.
"Sara?" He moaned as she suckled his earlobe into her mouth.
"Yes Gil?" She murmured, pulling the skin below his ear gently by her teeth.
"Let's go home." He suggested.
Any place, his or hers was home, as long as they were together.
She pulled away and grabbed her coat and keys before entwining her fingers with his and leading the way to her car.
** ** ** **
He waited patiently as she unlocked the door to her new house.
She slipped the key into the lock and turned it.
She leaned back when she felt his hands hold her hips and pull back slightly.
She pressed her back to his chest as she cracked the door open.
He lowered his head and tasted her shoulder.
She was glad she wore a strappy top to work as he rained kisses to her collarbone around to her shoulder blade.
Slipping her fingers into his hair, she pulled his mouth closer to her skin as she leaned her head back onto his shoulder to give him more access.
Moving forward, he pushed his hips into her ass and groaned into her ear as she pressed back and ground lightly into him.
They moved through the door and with the heel of his shoe, the door shut quickly.
She turned in his arms and wrapped them around his neck, pulling him closer.
He looked into her eyes with passion and love as he leaned into her and kissed her with slowness and tenderness, she felt her stomach flip and her heart burst.
"Gil?" She whimpered.
He pulled back slightly and smiled. "I love you Sara." He said quietly and softly.
She grinned and kissed his lips lightly. "I love you too."
Grasping his hand, she pulled him in the direction of her bedroom.
He followed her as they climbed the stairs.
Reaching the top step, he pulled her back against him and ran his hands over the front of her body. "I want to make love to you." He whispered.
She sighed and smiled. "Bedroom honey." Her giggle died on her lips as he turned her and pressed her into the wall beside her bedroom door.
Their eyes met and locked as his hands travelled her body agonisingly slow. He started from her left thigh and worked his way upwards. His eyes never leaving her and watched her face as her head fell back against the wall and she struggled to keep her eyes open.
His hands were like flames, they burned into her skin.
She opened her eyes at the feel of his lips on her chest.
She hardly noticed that he'd pulled her shirt over her head.
Feeling the wetness and the cool air from the air conditioning blow over her body, she shivered and moaned as his lips pulled in a lace covered breast.
She felt like her legs were going to give way at any moment.
Pushing his shoulders back, she listened to his grumbled protest as she pulled on his arm and moved their activities into the bedroom.
He looked at the large bed and grinned.
A large four poster bed sat in the centre of the room.
She turned to him and began unbuckling his belt.
Catherine sat in the visitors chair.
She was watching him closely as he gulped down a whisky.
He'd never started drinking at the beginning of a shift before.
That was until he found the termination on his desk.
She just waited and watched as he palmed another letter.
It was opened, but he hadn't said anything about it.
Filling his glass for the second time, he stared at it in a daze.
** ** ** **
Earlier that day he was woken by a knock at the door.
Taking the letter from the postman, he looked down and noticed the handwriting straight away.
Thanking the postman, he closed the door.
He had to stop himself from opening it while standing.
Sitting on the couch, he slowly opened the envelope and pulled out the letter with shaky hands.
Unfolding it with care, his other hand pushed his glasses on.
Taking a deep breath, he sat back against the cushions.
'Hey, I wanted to tell you in person, but I knew that if I saw you, I wouldn't be able to go through with it. This is something I never thought of doing, but I'd do anything to keep how we feel about each other and not ruin it with bad press. The lab was everything to me, but you were why I came to Las Vegas in the first place. I know your hurting right now, so am I.
I got home and found an offer that was more of a lifeline. I didn't want to take it, but I knew we weren't going to be able to keep what we have if I stayed. Everyone at work would have noticed and you would have suffered. I'm not doing this to punish you. I could never do that, not to you. You mean more than anything to me and that's why I've left. Yes, I left this morning while you were sleeping. I didn't want to have anything. anyone, stop me.
Maybe in the future we'll meet again and our lives won't be so difficult and we won't have so much to loose. I will be waiting for your call if you need me. I'll be there, but I need to help both of us by saving what we have. Don't blame yourself Gil. None of this is anyone's fault. You can't choose who you fall in love with and that's what happened.I fell in love.
We never discussed what we would do when the time came, but it hit me more strongly when you left that evening for work. Never leave this woman by herself, she thinks too much. I don't know if you'd call it 'coming to your senses' but I'm thinking this is the best.
If you think about it. This is the ideal way to sort problems out. It sounds harsh, but I don't mean it to. Being away was what I suggested a few weeks ago remember? Maybe I'll come back, maybe I'll stay in this new job and we can start something new, fresh. Some place with no rules saying we can't be together and believe it or not, I would do anything for that.
Don't avoid me, don't shut me out. Talk to me. Tell me what you feel and what you think. This is what I've been trying to tell you for years and when I finally get access to that brain of yours. I find I'm not only honoured, but scared. Scared that I can fall in love with you all over again when you tell me your secrets or flash me a smile, tilt your head to one side and give me your annoyed look, or the exasperated one. Gil Grissom, You've turned me into a hopeless romantic and I will wait for you forever.
With all my love.
Sara'
Surprising himself, he smiled and chuckled at the same time.
She loved him.
But he already knew that.
The part that made him smile was the hopeless romantic and that she'd wait forever.
He couldn't ask her to do that and yet, she's doing it all the same.
He checked his watch and his smile faded.
The reality that she was gone had set in.
And that he had to work.
** ** ** **
Now he sat in his office chair with Catherine watching his every move.
She waited and observed as he stared at the envelope.
Her eyes light up when he spoke suddenly and more lightly than he had in days.
He weighed the envelope in his hand, his hand bouncing up and down slowly as he indicated the letter inside.
"The thing that I can't get is that she's gone, but still wants to see me." He pushed his untouched glass away and grinned as he looked up.
Catherine returned his grin as she saw the light bulb go on over his head.
He had it.
That light bulb glowed and lit up the room.
He reached for his phone and dialled in a number as he thumbed through his rolodex.
She listened carefully and narrowing her eyes at him slightly and only getting a genuine smile, she laughed a little and watched.
** ** ** **
She sat behind her desk and signed the last piece of paperwork.
Now she knew why he'd be tired and pissed off after finishing a slow shift.
All the paperwork that would suddenly appear on his desk and in this case, her desk.
"Hey boss." A voice came from the doorway.
She looked up and smiled. "Cameron. You have that report finished or do you need a couple more hours?"
Cameron was a CSI level 2 and was a good young man with many diversions. He'd been at the crime lab for two years and was still going strong.
"I need about 2. I'm trying to help Andy clear her last case. She's having problems with finding a clear match on the substance used to light that fire in the basement."
"The arson case on 5th right?" She asked, looking for a report that came across her desk that evening.
Cameron smiled. "Yep, that's the one. What you got?" He asked, seeing her lift a thin file.
"Tox report. Andy wasn't sure of the results so I sent them back to be re- tested. Tell her the paraffin and unknown was the substance she's looking for. Ask Scott if she wants more details."
"Thanks I'll do that. You have a nice weekend." Cameron said before leaving.
"You too Cam." She shouted and returned to clearing the mess on her desk.
** ** ** **
Still in her office, she sat back and opened a book.
Loosing interest quickly, she found herself staring at the phone and willing it to ring, but it never came.
She put the book on the desk and leaned back into her chair as she closed her eyes.
A shadow appeared, blocking the light from the open door of her office.
"Hey Boss."
Her eyes snapped open as she sat up and stared at the person occupying her doorway.
Her mouth was slightly agape as her eyes drifted over the figure.
Starting at the feet, the black suit pants, the black leather belt, the white shirt and the black suit jacket. Her eyes continued to survey the body and moved up and took in the chin, mouth, nose, eyes, hair and back to his eyes again,
She couldn't speak, so she stood.
The blue eyes were staring back at her with same intensity.
She moved around her desk to stop in the middle of the room.
She watched as he closed the door without his eyes leaving hers.
The urge was killing her.
She took one step and he quickly closed the distance to stand practically on top of her.
Their eyes held as they reached for each other.
Lips met hastily as hands pulled their bodies closer together.
The feel of him touching her was intoxicating and deeply missed.
It had been weeks since her move to San Francisco and not once had they contacted each other.
He pulled back breathless and cupped her cheek as his blue eyes burned into her browns.
She turned her head and closed her eyes against his touch.
She kissed his palm and leaned up to kiss his chin, his cheek and his ear.
"I missed you so much." She whispered.
He crushed her to his chest in reply and dipped his head to her neck to place a heated kiss on her flushed skin.
"Sara?" He moaned as she suckled his earlobe into her mouth.
"Yes Gil?" She murmured, pulling the skin below his ear gently by her teeth.
"Let's go home." He suggested.
Any place, his or hers was home, as long as they were together.
She pulled away and grabbed her coat and keys before entwining her fingers with his and leading the way to her car.
** ** ** **
He waited patiently as she unlocked the door to her new house.
She slipped the key into the lock and turned it.
She leaned back when she felt his hands hold her hips and pull back slightly.
She pressed her back to his chest as she cracked the door open.
He lowered his head and tasted her shoulder.
She was glad she wore a strappy top to work as he rained kisses to her collarbone around to her shoulder blade.
Slipping her fingers into his hair, she pulled his mouth closer to her skin as she leaned her head back onto his shoulder to give him more access.
Moving forward, he pushed his hips into her ass and groaned into her ear as she pressed back and ground lightly into him.
They moved through the door and with the heel of his shoe, the door shut quickly.
She turned in his arms and wrapped them around his neck, pulling him closer.
He looked into her eyes with passion and love as he leaned into her and kissed her with slowness and tenderness, she felt her stomach flip and her heart burst.
"Gil?" She whimpered.
He pulled back slightly and smiled. "I love you Sara." He said quietly and softly.
She grinned and kissed his lips lightly. "I love you too."
Grasping his hand, she pulled him in the direction of her bedroom.
He followed her as they climbed the stairs.
Reaching the top step, he pulled her back against him and ran his hands over the front of her body. "I want to make love to you." He whispered.
She sighed and smiled. "Bedroom honey." Her giggle died on her lips as he turned her and pressed her into the wall beside her bedroom door.
Their eyes met and locked as his hands travelled her body agonisingly slow. He started from her left thigh and worked his way upwards. His eyes never leaving her and watched her face as her head fell back against the wall and she struggled to keep her eyes open.
His hands were like flames, they burned into her skin.
She opened her eyes at the feel of his lips on her chest.
She hardly noticed that he'd pulled her shirt over her head.
Feeling the wetness and the cool air from the air conditioning blow over her body, she shivered and moaned as his lips pulled in a lace covered breast.
She felt like her legs were going to give way at any moment.
Pushing his shoulders back, she listened to his grumbled protest as she pulled on his arm and moved their activities into the bedroom.
He looked at the large bed and grinned.
A large four poster bed sat in the centre of the room.
She turned to him and began unbuckling his belt.