Where the Grass is Greener

Chapter Four

Sara was slowly getting back to normal, although she would not talk about her break down to any one, not even Warrick. She remembered what caused it, and what finally pushed her over the edge, but she was not ready to actually confront the reasons and discuss them. She took her pills as the doctor prescribed, and she felt better.

Warrick had been very supportive of her. Catherine, Nick, and Grissom had been too, but Warrick had paid more attention to her more than the others. Grissom bore the brunt of her break down, and he was feeling guilty.

Warrick was truly a friend through everything that Sara had been through. Her life felt a little less lonely and empty, although coming home to an empty apartment still hurt her, she was not too bothered by it. She was thinking about moving to another apartment complex. She had two months to think about it. She was on paid leave, so she had time to think, relax, and take care of anything that needed to be taken care of. She didn't want two months, she wasn't that insane, was she? Two weeks would have been sufficient.

Sara had been browsing through a new clothing catalogue when the phone rang. She got up and answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey girl," Warrick greeted her.

"Hey," she said.

"Do you want to go out tonight?" He asked casually.

"Sure," Sara said. "That should be good for me."

"Okay, I'll pick you up at seven-thirty," he said. "Wear something nice."

"Okay," Sara said. "Bye."

"Bye."

Sara needed to go shopping. She had nothing "nice" in her closet. Where was he taking her anyway? It didn't matter, as long as she was able to escape her apartment for a few hours, it was fine with her.

Sara grabbed her keys then headed out.

She went to Saks Fifth Avenue. She wanted to get something nice. She browsed through the racks and tried on certain clothes. The whole process of picking up and trying on was frustrating because she could not find what she wanted. It was going to be a long afternoon, and the store was getting crowded. She normally didn't shop at Saks, but she wanted to look her best. It had been a while since she bought new clothes anyway.

She looked at different dresses, and she realized she didn't have what men liked to call 'a little black number' within the confines of her closet. She couldn't remember the last time she wore a dress, let alone owned one. It was sad.

She picked up a nice black spaghetti strap dress. She looked at in on the hanger first then she went to try it on. It was a perfect fit. It was small and sleek. She smiled at herself in the mirror. She was happy with her self image. The dress accentuated her body and it went well with her new haircut. No one had really noticed her changes except Warrick. She then scowled.

"Don't be stupid," she said, unzipping the dress and putting it back on the hanger. All she had to do now was find some shoes and some jewelry.

***

Warrick thought that Sara needed a little R&R. After all, she was going to be on leave for two months. He didn't want Sara to have another break down just from pure boredom. She needed to get out more and see things instead of living in, as she so ironically put it, a 'fishbowl'. She was one to talk about Amelia when Sara was lonely herself.

He didn't know what he was feeling for her. She was certainly different, and she opened up to him, which made him feel honored because Sara didn't open up to just anybody. She carefully guarded her past and personal life.

He asked her to go out with him somewhere. He told her to wear something nice. He knew by now she would be out shopping, a woman's prerogative when it came to things as this. He couldn't picture Sara shopping though. She was too impatient for that, he imagined. The crowds, the long lines, the lack of tasteful clothing. It had to be frustrating.

He just shook his head and glanced at the clock on his wall. It was three-thirty in the afternoon. He decided to go run a few errands then he would come back and get ready to go pick up Sara.

***

After about two hours of shopping, Sara stopped in the food court to get some lunch. Most of the places in the food court had meat. Mr. Panda was the most vegetarian friendly. She ordered two egg rolls, fried rice, and rice noodles with sweet and sour sauce. She sat down and began to eat. After her lunch, she would go home and prepare for Warrick to pick her up.

She looked at the throngs of people walking by, doing their shopping, eating, leaving, running after their children. Usually it would annoy her, but on this particular day, she didn't let it bother her. Life was too short, and she couldn't spend her life holed up in her apartment because of her quirks about society. She was thirty-three years old, and she didn't want to waste anymore of her life being lonely. Only she could make herself truly happy. Only she could get herself to the place where she needed to be.

As for Grissom? Sara smiled. She got up and threw her feelings for him, along with her trash, away. She picked up her bags and never looked back.

On her way out, she ran into Hank and Elaine, of all people.

"Wow, Sara," Elaine said with a sarcastic grin. "I'm surprised to even see you out in the light of day."

Sara rolled her eyes. She did not have time for childish banter.

"Elaine," Hank said. "Sara, what are you doing here?"

"What the hell do you think I'm doing?" Sara spat back.

Hank jumped at her tone.

Sara just raised her hand up. "I don't have time for this. I'm going out tonight, so if you and Mrs. Pedigree, I mean grew, don't mind, I'll be on my way. Nice talking to you."

Elaine scowled deeply, revealing the wrinkles around the corners of her mouth. She was fat, too. Pregnancy did not enhance any of her features.

Hank stepped aside and Sara rushed past Elaine out the store. Sara had never felt so good. It was liberating, and she felt like a new woman. It had to be the pills. Sara couldn't stand the sight of Hank, and every time she saw him, she wanted to yell at him and call him names. The man even had nerve to send her a wedding invitation. Sara tore it up and threw it into her blazing fireplace, burning symbolically her wrath. But today, he wasn't worth her time. She was trying to change her life. She took her break down seriously. And the cause of the break down was because of her struggle with not being able to let go. She had to move on. Move on from Grissom, and from Hank.

As soon as Sara entered her apartment, she went over to her bedroom and looked at her police scanner. Out of habit, she motioned to change the frequency, but she stopped herself. She stood staring at it for what seemed like minutes, but were really a few seconds before turning it off and taking it out of her apartment. She chucked it in the nearest trash can that could hold it. The door man looked at her strangely. After about twenty more minutes, she came back down with a big box of something.

Sara was throwing away all of her old forensic journals, and magazines along with new catalogues that piled up and coupons.

By the time Sara finished throwing away older books and periodicals, her shelves were almost completely empty. She found she had more desk space after getting rid of her scanner. She threw out all of the coupons for take out. It was time to buy some real food. She had not cooked herself a nice, warm, meal in a long time. Biscuits and gravy sounded good. But unfortunately, she didn't have time to make it. She had to get ready to go.

Before Sara got ready, she took a glance around her apartment. She was peeling away her old life. She drove herself crazy. It was time that she changed, and she was changing for the better.

***

As Warrick made his way to the entrance, bearing lilies for her, he noticed a pile of things sitting by the trash can. He looked closer, then he chuckled. He knew who did that. The scanner was evidence enough.

"Who are you here to see sir?" The doorman asked politely and cheerfully.

"I'm here to see a Miss Sara Sidle," Warrick answered.

"Hold on a few seconds sir," the doorman said. He made a call to Sara's apartment. "What's your name sir?"

"Warrick Brown," he said.

"Yes, Miss Sidle, this is Dean," the doorman said. "Were you expecting a Warrick Brown?"

Warrick could hear Sara's voice over the phone.

"Alright sir, you're cleared to go up," Dean said as he opened the door.

"Thanks," Warrick said.

Sara lived on the third floor. He walked up to her apartment and knocked on the door.

"Just a minute," Sara's muffled voice called from within her apartment. He heard her heels click against the hard wood flooring. She opened the door. "Hey."

Warrick was awestruck by her appearance. He'd never seen her in a dress before and she looked stunning. He involuntarily gave her a once over. She was beautiful from head to toe. And he could actually see her toes. She was wearing nice heels.

"Come in," she said. She stepped aside to let him in.

"These are for you," Warrick said, handing her the bouquet of lilies.

"Thank you," she said. "Let me put these in some water and then we can go."

Warrick nodded. He watched her as she walked. Her hips swayed to their own natural rhythm. She had beautiful legs. Cross Country legs. He looked at something else. Warrick had never been in her apartment, so the changes she had made earlier were lost on him. He felt a little embarrassed at ogling at his friend in such a manner. He couldn't deny that Sara was beautiful, but he was her friend, and he should not have been looking at her in the way he did.

Even though Warrick mentally bereted himself, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She was gorgeous.

"Ready?" She asked.

"Yeah," Warrick answered, offering his arm. She smiled an they headed out.

***

Sara knew that Warrick was looking at her. And she also knew that it wasn't in a friendly way. She secretly liked that. She felt so much better about herself that she didn't even blush. She was proud of her appearance.

The lilies he brought her were beautiful. She'd kept the other ones as well and she added it to her décor.

Sara was aware that she and Warrick were walking a fine line between friendship and something much more serious. She didn't know which way they were going to go, but she was ready for it if it came. Sara had been seeing Warrick differently lately, and she found herself falling for him. She wasn't sure if he felt the same way about her.

"So," Sara asked cheerfully. "Where are you taking me?"

"I'm taking you to this club called Simon's," Warrick explained. "The owner's a good friend of mine, and he's going to make your visit special. You are going to be the lady of the house tonight."

Sara smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Warrick said. "And you deserve it."

When they arrived, Warrick dropped her off at the door, then went to find a parking space. A few minutes later, he came back and ushered her in.

The club was crowded and Sara scoured the place for a seat.

"Where are we going to sit? This place is packed," Sara said as Warrick helped her take off her coat.

"Let me take care of that," Warrick said. "Here," he said handing her a twenty. "Why don't you buy us some drinks and I'll come back and get you when I get us a table?"

"Sounds good," Sara said with a smile. "What do you want to drink?"

"Mexican soda," Warrick said. "I'll be right back."

Sara nodded and ordered the drinks. The bartender put on a show while mixing the drinks. Sara was not paying attention. She was looking around the busy club. It was nice and sophisticated. There was dancing and live music. She'd been to clubs much like this one, but the ones that she went to were wilder and more involved. Simon's was a nice place to come and hang out.

The bartender handed her the drinks and she sipped at hers while holding Warrick's. After a few more minutes, he came back to her.

"Right this way," he said. She handed him his drink. "Thanks."

They had a seat near the front of the stage.

"This is very nice," she said. "Thank you."

Warrick was ever the gentleman. He sat down close to her so that he could hear her while the music was playing.

"I'm having a good time," Sara said.

They didn't talk for a while. Sara didn't know what to say to him. She was too busy stealing glances at him. The man was downright sexy. He had on a black sweater with black slacks. That was a nice color on him, but she preferred when he wore blue. Either way, he was still attractive. Sara shook her head. She should not be thinking about him in that way. She wasn't even sure if he felt the same way about her.

It was a good feeling to be out for a change. She had matured since her college days and she rarely went out. She wasn't a very social person, and besides, every guy in the clubs that she went to were always hitting on her and trying to convince her to go home with them. She was willing to admit that she had a wild streak, but that was only because her parents didn't pay attention to her. They could have cared less. She lost her virginity when she turned seventeen. She had instantly regretted the morning. She couldn't even remember who she lost it with. All she remembered was the pain of her virginity and how quickly it ended with no emotions attached. It was amazing how a man could get on with his life so easily, yet a woman couldn't. It puzzled her.

"I can almost see the wheels turning in your head," Warrick quipped. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," Sara said, looking down at her hands. "Warrick, there are a lot of things I want to tell you, but not right now. I want to enjoy myself tonight for once. I feel like a new woman."

Warrick smiled. "I'm glad that you're doing better," he said, avoiding the subject of her break down.

Later, the lead guitarist asked Warrick to come up and back him and the band up on piano. Sara had no idea that Warrick could play the piano until the Amelia Ruben case. They were searching the loft and Warrick played a few notes for some reason. Sara smirked. Not only was he smart, but he was talented.

He got up and walked on the stage. He took his place at the piano. Sara looked on in awe. He played very well, and she couldn't keep her eyes off of him. He played with such passion and he felt it, and so did she. She saw Warrick in a new light. She now had respect for him as a musician, his well-hidden talent.

He dedicated a medley to her. She blushed. At that very moment, she had fallen deeply in love with Warrick.

***

Sara really did enjoy herself and Warrick was glad. It would have been terrible if she did not enjoy herself.

"Thank you," she said. "I had such a great time tonight."

"You're welcome," Warrick said. "By the way, where did you learn how to dance like you did tonight?"

Sara raised an eyebrow. "I never had any formal training or anything. I just dance."

Warrick nodded. He thought that he would have difficulty in the dancing aspect, but he was surprised and blown away by Sara's dancing. She had to have been a twirler or something to be so light on her feet.

"Well, thanks again," Sara said. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. His heart skipped a beat within his chest. She took his breath away. He wondered how he couldn't see such beauty buried underneath her tough exterior before. "I'll see you later. Remember, I'll be here for the next two months, so don't hesitate to call."

Warrick nodded. Sara smiled and then she closed the door to her apartment.

Warrick headed home to his apartment.