Chapter 4
Knocking on the door again, he tapped his foot impatiently on the ground. No answer came and his heart started to beat more rapidly. "Sara!" He shouted softly through the hard wood door.
Looking around the mat on the ground and the pots on the window, he ran his fingers over the top of the door and stopped when he found the spare key. Opening the door, he placed the key on the table. Listening for any sound, he closed the door quietly.
Walking towards the bedroom, he jumped when the bathroom door swung open and Sara screamed. "Jesus Christ Grissom!"
His eyes scanned her quickly as he stepped back. She was clutching her towel very close to her body as she tried to step back into the bathroom. His earlier futile worries were popping back into his head. "I'm sorry. I just. I was." He looked up, but saw she was looking anywhere but him. "You left work. I thought."
Sara nodded. "Yeah. I was tired. Nick gave me a ride."
"Oh." Was all he could get out. His heart was betting incessantly in his chest as he tried to understand what was happening.
"I should get some sleep." Sara said quietly.
Grissom nodded his head slowly and let her pass him. He didn't turn, the feeling inside his gut was terrifying him. Without turning, he kept his eyes on the wall. "Is there something your not telling me Sara?"
"What would I not tell you Grissom?" Came her voice.
Rubbing his eyes beneath his glasses, Grissom sighed. "Did I do something wrong? Something to upset you?" He waited for an answer, but go none. He turned slowly and locked eyes with Sara as she stood behind him.
"I don't know." She shook her head. "I'm confused."
Grissom didn't move, he nodded. "I did do something didn't I? I'm sorry for what ever it is." Sara gave a smug smile and chuckled lightly. She watched his eye narrow and his brows knit in confusion. "You've lost me." He muttered weakly.
Sara sobered and reached up to brushed her hand down his face. "I saw you in the DNA lab. Thinking." She stopped and waited until he registered what she was referring to. "You looked upset, confused, sad, lost. I could go on and it got me thinking-"
Grissom didn't let her finish. He stepped closer to her and pulled her to him. "I don't regret anything we did Sara."
^*^*^
She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tighter. "But I saw-"
"I was all that you said. I'm just trying to figure out what's going to happen." He pulled away slightly and smiled. "I've never been a dad before Sara and the only thing I regret, is not doing this sooner. I'm 48 Sara. I'm not sure what that means, but I want to see our child grow up." He stopped and dropped his eyes. "I was afraid I wouldn't be there when he needed me."
Sara pulled him closer and held him in a strong embrace. "Don't think like that. Anything can happen. To both of us. You scared me earlier. I thought you didn't want this baby. I thought you didn't want me." She sighed and kissed his neck. "I'm just plain scared. I've never been a mum before."
Grissom chuckled. "It seems we're both new at this."
"It's just life telling us we still have lots to learn and you know we both love learning new things. It's a challenge." Then she whispered into his ear. "A new life time puzzle."
Melting into her completely, Grissom sighed with relief. "I'm glad you're here to tell me what needs to be known and done. I'd be lost without you."
Sara smiled. "Ditto."
Grissom chuckled and pushed Sara back into her room. "I'm tired. Mind if I stay here?"
"It's a good thing you brought spares yesterday. The others would wonder if you'd been home at all." She grinned as he began undressing.
He looked up at her. "We need to talk about that."
"About a lot of things, I think." She agreed, climbing in beside him.
"Later." Grissom mumbled into Sara's neck.
Sara lay on her back and Grissom curled around her protectively. "Ok." She mumbled back before both succumbed to sleep.
^*^*^
Weeks went by, some fast, some slow and soon a month had gone and Grissom was getting more and more excited, though he was cool and collected at work, he was bouncing around at home. Nights Sara stayed at his were warm and calm, they would cuddle up in front of the television or they would be at Sara's in the same position, reading a book or listening to music as they talked. Time was none existent when they were away from work.
Catherine was about to burst with the information that Sara was pregnant and it was Grissom's, but she was threatened by both if she even thought about it at work. She stayed quiet, but deep down, she was about to pop and let the news out.
^*^*^
Grissom stood in the reception area, reading his messages when his name was called from behind. He looked up and turned. Spying the person over the rim of his glasses, he gave an irritated smile. "Conrad, I thought you worked the dayshift?"
Conrad Ecklie ignored Grissom's sarcasm and approached him. "I was wondering if I could talk to you, in private?"
Grissom eyed the daywalker suspiciously and nodded. Leading Ecklie to his office, he noticed him looking about. "Something wrong Conrad?" Grissom asked as he entered his office and rounded his desk.
Ecklie closed the door and stood behind the visitors chair. "Not yet Gil, but there might be." Grissom didn't say anything, but sat down and linked his hands together, waiting for Ecklie to continue. "A case was compromised." He stated.
"Which case?" Grissom asked, still not understanding where the other man was heading.
"Doctor Jack Taker." The words tumbled slowly from Ecklie's lips and Grissom's stomach turned into one large knot. Not getting a response, Ecklie continued. "Evidence was lost and what we have now is not enough to hold him."
Grissom shook his head. "That's not possible. Three murders, three sets of evidence, records, reports, photographs. It was all there." Sitting up. "What are you saying Conrad?"
Ecklie sighed and sat down. "Jack Taker's lawyer got him out on unsubstantial evidence and is at present roaming the streets. The case has been compromised in a big way, evidence is missing."
Standing, Grissom scratched his chin. "Are you say they were stolen and now a child murderer is free to continue killing innocent children?" Getting no answer, Grissom turned to Ecklie.
"Yes."
^*^*^
Catherine checked, rechecked, relogged, reread, redid everything to see how much evidence was taken. Hours after shift ended, she was still sitting there. Sara was doing the same with the murder cases, going through them and checking them against lists they had taken before sending it all to court. Getting more and more agitate, Sara stood and decided to get something to drink.
Grissom was sitting in a booth near the back of the diner when Sara walked in. She ordered a sandwich and an ice tea. She turned while she waited and smiled when she saw him. Telling the waitress she was staying, she walked towards the back of the diner.
"I thought you'd gone home." She greeted, sliding onto the bench beside him.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and kissed her cheek lightly. "I'm not tired. I figured, I'd wait until you wanted to go home."
Sara leaned against him and sighed. "I'll be here a lot longer, so you might as well go home. I can stop by yours when Cath and me have finished."
Grissom nodded and drank some of his coffee. "I'm staying anyway." He set his coffee down and leaned his head on hers. "I'll finish the paperwork on my desk."
"Gil?" Sara asked, sitting up as her sandwich and ice tea was placed on the table.
Grissom reached out and took half her sandwich. Before taking a small bit and replacing it, he said. "Yeah."
"Remember we talked about living arrangements?" Grissom stopped chewing and swallowed. Sara smiled reassuringly and continued. "I was wondering if I could move in with you. I know you suggested it in the first place, but I wasn't sure. I mean, I've never moved in with anyone before."
She was rambling and he loved it when she did that. He hugged her as she picked up her half eaten sandwich. "I'd like that."
Sara grinned and took a bite, leaning into him as she ate. They talked about how they were going to fit Sara's stuff into his house.
^*^*^
Catherine latched onto Sara's arm as they left the hospital. They were laughing and smiling as they walked towards Catherine's car. Sara had just been for a check up and were on their way back to the lab to meet up with Grissom and Nick. Warrick was at a conference in Utah and wouldn't be back for two days.
Arriving back at the lab, Catherine and Sara departed at the locker room door. Catherine headed towards the rest rooms and Sara headed to Ballistics. She was looking for Grissom and when he wasn't in his office, she figured he was working on the bullets found at the scene he and Nick were working on.
Bobby wasn't about and when she popped her head around the door. She noticed a mop of curly grey hair over the top of a microscope. She smiled and walked into the room. Moving around the large table, she walked quietly up behind the man. He was intently staring through the eye piece and writing at the same time. His head looked down, then back up. He was unaware of Sara getting closer.
He jump as she ran her hand down his neck. Gasping as he tried to find the words. "God Sara, don't sneak up on me like that. I'm an old man. Jesus."
Sara smiled and brushed her fingers around the collar of his shirt as she leaned into his ear. "I wouldn't be pregnant if you were an old man Gil."
Grissom chuckled and dropped his head slightly as her fingers began to gently massage his neck. "How did the hospital go?" He groaned and sighed at the feeling of her warm hands on him.
"Great. The doctor says everything's fine." She dipped her head and kissed his neck. "Gil?"
"Mmm?" He murmured, his eyes closed and his head dropping further forward.
"Put your pen down." She whispered.
Grissom's eyes snapped open and his hand lifted the pen from the notepad he had been writing notes on and looked at the long line scratched across the white paper. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I guess that's what happens when you have a beautiful woman doing wonderful things to you in a quiet lab."
"I can think of other wonderful things I can do to you in a quiet lab and massaging your neck is not one of them." She said seductively.
Chuckling, he turned on his stool. "I'd love to explore that thought with you, if." He held up a finger to emphasise. "If, Bobby and the rest of the lab wasn't ready to barge in at an given time." Sara raised a single eyebrow and grasped his hand. She lowered her head and wrapped her tongue around his finger. Grissom watched her mouth closely as she sucked and nibbled. "Not here." He groaned and pulled his hand free.
"I have a better idea." Sara said softly and stepped back to allow him to stand.
"And that would be?" He asked, gathering his things and turning to her.
She smiled and moved aside for him to lead the way out of the room. "We can go home and I can show you exactly what other wonderful things I can do to you, but in the quietness of our own home." She watched and waited for his reaction. He grinned and quickly planted a kiss on her lips. She'd take that as a yes.
^*^*^
Knocking on the door again, he tapped his foot impatiently on the ground. No answer came and his heart started to beat more rapidly. "Sara!" He shouted softly through the hard wood door.
Looking around the mat on the ground and the pots on the window, he ran his fingers over the top of the door and stopped when he found the spare key. Opening the door, he placed the key on the table. Listening for any sound, he closed the door quietly.
Walking towards the bedroom, he jumped when the bathroom door swung open and Sara screamed. "Jesus Christ Grissom!"
His eyes scanned her quickly as he stepped back. She was clutching her towel very close to her body as she tried to step back into the bathroom. His earlier futile worries were popping back into his head. "I'm sorry. I just. I was." He looked up, but saw she was looking anywhere but him. "You left work. I thought."
Sara nodded. "Yeah. I was tired. Nick gave me a ride."
"Oh." Was all he could get out. His heart was betting incessantly in his chest as he tried to understand what was happening.
"I should get some sleep." Sara said quietly.
Grissom nodded his head slowly and let her pass him. He didn't turn, the feeling inside his gut was terrifying him. Without turning, he kept his eyes on the wall. "Is there something your not telling me Sara?"
"What would I not tell you Grissom?" Came her voice.
Rubbing his eyes beneath his glasses, Grissom sighed. "Did I do something wrong? Something to upset you?" He waited for an answer, but go none. He turned slowly and locked eyes with Sara as she stood behind him.
"I don't know." She shook her head. "I'm confused."
Grissom didn't move, he nodded. "I did do something didn't I? I'm sorry for what ever it is." Sara gave a smug smile and chuckled lightly. She watched his eye narrow and his brows knit in confusion. "You've lost me." He muttered weakly.
Sara sobered and reached up to brushed her hand down his face. "I saw you in the DNA lab. Thinking." She stopped and waited until he registered what she was referring to. "You looked upset, confused, sad, lost. I could go on and it got me thinking-"
Grissom didn't let her finish. He stepped closer to her and pulled her to him. "I don't regret anything we did Sara."
^*^*^
She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tighter. "But I saw-"
"I was all that you said. I'm just trying to figure out what's going to happen." He pulled away slightly and smiled. "I've never been a dad before Sara and the only thing I regret, is not doing this sooner. I'm 48 Sara. I'm not sure what that means, but I want to see our child grow up." He stopped and dropped his eyes. "I was afraid I wouldn't be there when he needed me."
Sara pulled him closer and held him in a strong embrace. "Don't think like that. Anything can happen. To both of us. You scared me earlier. I thought you didn't want this baby. I thought you didn't want me." She sighed and kissed his neck. "I'm just plain scared. I've never been a mum before."
Grissom chuckled. "It seems we're both new at this."
"It's just life telling us we still have lots to learn and you know we both love learning new things. It's a challenge." Then she whispered into his ear. "A new life time puzzle."
Melting into her completely, Grissom sighed with relief. "I'm glad you're here to tell me what needs to be known and done. I'd be lost without you."
Sara smiled. "Ditto."
Grissom chuckled and pushed Sara back into her room. "I'm tired. Mind if I stay here?"
"It's a good thing you brought spares yesterday. The others would wonder if you'd been home at all." She grinned as he began undressing.
He looked up at her. "We need to talk about that."
"About a lot of things, I think." She agreed, climbing in beside him.
"Later." Grissom mumbled into Sara's neck.
Sara lay on her back and Grissom curled around her protectively. "Ok." She mumbled back before both succumbed to sleep.
^*^*^
Weeks went by, some fast, some slow and soon a month had gone and Grissom was getting more and more excited, though he was cool and collected at work, he was bouncing around at home. Nights Sara stayed at his were warm and calm, they would cuddle up in front of the television or they would be at Sara's in the same position, reading a book or listening to music as they talked. Time was none existent when they were away from work.
Catherine was about to burst with the information that Sara was pregnant and it was Grissom's, but she was threatened by both if she even thought about it at work. She stayed quiet, but deep down, she was about to pop and let the news out.
^*^*^
Grissom stood in the reception area, reading his messages when his name was called from behind. He looked up and turned. Spying the person over the rim of his glasses, he gave an irritated smile. "Conrad, I thought you worked the dayshift?"
Conrad Ecklie ignored Grissom's sarcasm and approached him. "I was wondering if I could talk to you, in private?"
Grissom eyed the daywalker suspiciously and nodded. Leading Ecklie to his office, he noticed him looking about. "Something wrong Conrad?" Grissom asked as he entered his office and rounded his desk.
Ecklie closed the door and stood behind the visitors chair. "Not yet Gil, but there might be." Grissom didn't say anything, but sat down and linked his hands together, waiting for Ecklie to continue. "A case was compromised." He stated.
"Which case?" Grissom asked, still not understanding where the other man was heading.
"Doctor Jack Taker." The words tumbled slowly from Ecklie's lips and Grissom's stomach turned into one large knot. Not getting a response, Ecklie continued. "Evidence was lost and what we have now is not enough to hold him."
Grissom shook his head. "That's not possible. Three murders, three sets of evidence, records, reports, photographs. It was all there." Sitting up. "What are you saying Conrad?"
Ecklie sighed and sat down. "Jack Taker's lawyer got him out on unsubstantial evidence and is at present roaming the streets. The case has been compromised in a big way, evidence is missing."
Standing, Grissom scratched his chin. "Are you say they were stolen and now a child murderer is free to continue killing innocent children?" Getting no answer, Grissom turned to Ecklie.
"Yes."
^*^*^
Catherine checked, rechecked, relogged, reread, redid everything to see how much evidence was taken. Hours after shift ended, she was still sitting there. Sara was doing the same with the murder cases, going through them and checking them against lists they had taken before sending it all to court. Getting more and more agitate, Sara stood and decided to get something to drink.
Grissom was sitting in a booth near the back of the diner when Sara walked in. She ordered a sandwich and an ice tea. She turned while she waited and smiled when she saw him. Telling the waitress she was staying, she walked towards the back of the diner.
"I thought you'd gone home." She greeted, sliding onto the bench beside him.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and kissed her cheek lightly. "I'm not tired. I figured, I'd wait until you wanted to go home."
Sara leaned against him and sighed. "I'll be here a lot longer, so you might as well go home. I can stop by yours when Cath and me have finished."
Grissom nodded and drank some of his coffee. "I'm staying anyway." He set his coffee down and leaned his head on hers. "I'll finish the paperwork on my desk."
"Gil?" Sara asked, sitting up as her sandwich and ice tea was placed on the table.
Grissom reached out and took half her sandwich. Before taking a small bit and replacing it, he said. "Yeah."
"Remember we talked about living arrangements?" Grissom stopped chewing and swallowed. Sara smiled reassuringly and continued. "I was wondering if I could move in with you. I know you suggested it in the first place, but I wasn't sure. I mean, I've never moved in with anyone before."
She was rambling and he loved it when she did that. He hugged her as she picked up her half eaten sandwich. "I'd like that."
Sara grinned and took a bite, leaning into him as she ate. They talked about how they were going to fit Sara's stuff into his house.
^*^*^
Catherine latched onto Sara's arm as they left the hospital. They were laughing and smiling as they walked towards Catherine's car. Sara had just been for a check up and were on their way back to the lab to meet up with Grissom and Nick. Warrick was at a conference in Utah and wouldn't be back for two days.
Arriving back at the lab, Catherine and Sara departed at the locker room door. Catherine headed towards the rest rooms and Sara headed to Ballistics. She was looking for Grissom and when he wasn't in his office, she figured he was working on the bullets found at the scene he and Nick were working on.
Bobby wasn't about and when she popped her head around the door. She noticed a mop of curly grey hair over the top of a microscope. She smiled and walked into the room. Moving around the large table, she walked quietly up behind the man. He was intently staring through the eye piece and writing at the same time. His head looked down, then back up. He was unaware of Sara getting closer.
He jump as she ran her hand down his neck. Gasping as he tried to find the words. "God Sara, don't sneak up on me like that. I'm an old man. Jesus."
Sara smiled and brushed her fingers around the collar of his shirt as she leaned into his ear. "I wouldn't be pregnant if you were an old man Gil."
Grissom chuckled and dropped his head slightly as her fingers began to gently massage his neck. "How did the hospital go?" He groaned and sighed at the feeling of her warm hands on him.
"Great. The doctor says everything's fine." She dipped her head and kissed his neck. "Gil?"
"Mmm?" He murmured, his eyes closed and his head dropping further forward.
"Put your pen down." She whispered.
Grissom's eyes snapped open and his hand lifted the pen from the notepad he had been writing notes on and looked at the long line scratched across the white paper. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I guess that's what happens when you have a beautiful woman doing wonderful things to you in a quiet lab."
"I can think of other wonderful things I can do to you in a quiet lab and massaging your neck is not one of them." She said seductively.
Chuckling, he turned on his stool. "I'd love to explore that thought with you, if." He held up a finger to emphasise. "If, Bobby and the rest of the lab wasn't ready to barge in at an given time." Sara raised a single eyebrow and grasped his hand. She lowered her head and wrapped her tongue around his finger. Grissom watched her mouth closely as she sucked and nibbled. "Not here." He groaned and pulled his hand free.
"I have a better idea." Sara said softly and stepped back to allow him to stand.
"And that would be?" He asked, gathering his things and turning to her.
She smiled and moved aside for him to lead the way out of the room. "We can go home and I can show you exactly what other wonderful things I can do to you, but in the quietness of our own home." She watched and waited for his reaction. He grinned and quickly planted a kiss on her lips. She'd take that as a yes.
^*^*^