Ch. 5: Ask Not, Want Not [warrick pov]
"So Grissom, what's with the beard?" I ask motioning to his face.
"What do you mean?"
"You heard him." Catherine says touching her chin. "What made you decide to grow a beard?"
"I had no idea it bothered anyone that much."
Nick turns away from the TV screen to look at Grissom. "I don't think it's that bad. It just takes some getting used to."
"Yeah." I agree nodding.
"You two are men, you're opinion doesn't really have any basis on appearance." Catherine says chuckling.
"Hey! We can appreciate good looks!" Nick exclaims.
"In women, but face it when it comes to other men you could really care less."
We look at each other and shrug. "I guess you're right."
"Well then Sara, what do you think of Grissom's new beard?" Nick asks turning to her.
She looks at Grissom without any interest. I've seen that face before. Every time we work together, she's got that look on her face. It doesn't do much for her either. Sara a very pretty woman when she smiles or has that bright look in her eyes. Someone should tell her.
"It's his decision." She says.
"We know it is his choice. We are asking what you think about it, since you're a woman."
"Well I like clean shaven men, because it is hard to find a man that looks attractive with a full grown beard." She shrugs. "But I'm also used to his beard."
"How can you be..."
Grissom cuts Nick off. "I had a beard when I met her."
"And shaved it a week later." Sara added watching the TV again.
She really seems to be blocking out a lot tonight. I mean even more than usual. I worry about her. It's sad but I think Grissom may be responsible for all of it. He's a good guy but he doesn't have much regard for people's feelings. He tries to look at everything scientifically and logically. That is a good thing in our line of work and in the world, but when it comes to relationships the quality tends to set fire to everything it touches.
Grissom has been trying to approach Sara like a puzzle, when he should just see her as a woman. Like I said, Sara is nice looking and she's got a great personality to match Grissom's. She can be stubborn and just as unrelenting, but he won't see that. It has been going on for too long and it is really showing in both of them. Personally I think Grissom should just do what I did with Gloria. He should tell Sara how much she means to him (he obviously cares a lot for her), and kiss her. Yet Nick had a point earlier --it may be too late now.
"Well I agree, the beard has a becoming appearance for you." Catherine says suddenly suggesting I should drive her home tonight. "Not to mention it makes you act like a bad ass."
"Catherine I do not act any differently with facial hair than I do without it."
"Oh yeah you do." She looks around the room. "Must be all the testosterone concentrated in a fuzzy patch too close to your brain, because we can all vouched that you've changed a great deal over a few months."
I smile at the thought. I look over at Sara and she is nodding in agreement, which makes my smile break into a laugh.
"I'll disregard everything you say from now on." Grissom says dryly.
"Fine." She says sitting up to look at her watch. "I'm going to call Lindsay at her slumber party to make sure things are going as smoothly as if I were there."
Nick immediately takes Catherine's chair to stretch out, and as soon as Nick gets up Sara slides away to draw up her feet so they are between her and Grissom.
"Anything you guys want to watch?" Nick says flipping through the channels. "Usually they have some kind of party thing on."
I realize I'm the only one paying attention to what Nick just said. "Whatever you chose will be fine."
As Nick surfs the channels, I notice Grissom staring at Sara again and sigh.
When I turn back to the television for relief, Nick has stopped on an infomercial for workout equipment. "Looks like the advertising companies are taking advantage of the general resolution for the upcoming year." I say.
"Yup." Nick sighs. "No one really keeps them anyway."
"The gym equipment or the resolution?"
He glances over a me. "Both."
I nod. "True, but sometimes a New Year's commitment can change the whole year."
"It would be the first I've heard of." Sara mumbles catching our attention.
I frown at her. "Hey you got to see the good in a New Year's Resolution, not the fact that most aren't held throughout the year."
She remains quiet.
"Do you have one, Sara?" I ask trying to reach her again.
"Run the Vegas Marathon." She says turning to me.
I see something going on behind her eyes and wonder what she's really thinking.
"You're no fun, Sara." Nick interrupts and my contact with her is lost in an instant. "My New Year's resolution is to leave more time for friendships, which are most important to me."
I see my opportunity and take it. "That's a great resolution. Hey Gris, do you have one?"
He knits his brow. "Not yet."
"Not yet?" Sara asks suddenly. "Aren't you supposed to have these things planned?"
"Don't worry, when I know you'll know." He says catching a glimpse of Catherine walking back towards us with a the bottle of wine from the kitchen and several glasses.
"Hey, why did you change it the channel?" She takes the remote from Nick and turns it back to Clark, who is announcing we have four minutes to go.
"How's Lindsay?" I ask her as she sets down the wine glasses and starts to pour the round of drinks.
"Oh I got the third degree for calling because it was uncool. She's having fun and told me not to worry." She says passing out the wine to everyone but Sara because her glass is still half full. "Now before we set a foot in January first, I want to announce my resolution."
I smirk over at Sara. She returns the favor, but her smile seems half-spirited. It's good enough, I say to myself turning my attention back to Catherine.
"I plan to spend more time concentrating on the finer things in life. Lindsay and you all are my family, and I hope we have a better year ahead."
"Here! Here!" We all bellow together, though some with less spunk than others.
I raise my glass. "I vow to not get a single speeding ticket."
They all laugh, because they all know how I can get behind the wheel of a car.
"Does anyone else have one?"
"I already told mine." Nick says. "I want to spend time strengthening friendships."
"Another good one. Sara?"
"Sara doesn't have one." I say with a wink in her direction. "Grissom, have you decided to promise what you want to promise the New Year?"
He glances around the room, spending enough time one each of us. "No I haven't got one yet."
"Yet?" Catherine shakes her head. "Well may you achieve it."
We all raise our glasses in a toast as the countdown begins at ten seconds.
_tbc_