A/N: Thank you to everyone reading and reviewing. The Aida summary is courtesy of http://archivio.opera.it
Sara Sidle checked her hair and make-up one last time. Still good, she sighed. When Grissom advised her to dress formally for their date, she knew she had to brace herself for anything. It was rare she had occasion to wear a beautiful gown, and she wasn't going to waste it.
She couldn't imagine what adventure he had planned for tonight; so far their dates had consisted of the standardized "dinner and a movie" and the not so standard visit to the Forensic Anthropology Facility. Up to this point in their fledgling relationship, Gil had proven to be full of surprises. She smiled to herself as she heard the knock at her door.
Stunned. Yes, stunned was the word Sara could use to describe her reaction upon opening her door to a tuxedo clad Gil Grissom. The word 'yum' also applied, she reasoned once the 'stunned' wore off.
"You look…exquisite," Gil remarked softly. He knew it was impolite to stare, and yet he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She wore a knee length spaghetti strapped gown, the coppery color highlighting her hair and eyes in a breathtaking fashion. Her hair was swept up, with a few loose wavy tendrils framing her face.
"You're pretty exquisite yourself."
"Shall we?" he offered her an elbow.
Sara's curiosity piqued as the Bellagio valet drove away with the car. Bellagio? Though the famous hotel and casino was probably the most beautiful in Las Vegas, Sara had difficulty viewing it as anything but an ornate crime scene. "Uh, Griss, I mean Gil, why are we here?" That's right, she reminded herself, the date guy is Gil.
"Dinner," he responded as if the answer should be obvious and pointed toward the Olives restaurant across the manmade lake. Reaching the restaurant required a hike through the casino, and as with all casinos, the planners had made certain that the route was circuitous, winding around bank after bank and strategically placed slot machines. Above the familiar din, a woman's squeal could be heard.
Sara rolled her eyes, "Sounds like someone just won five bucks."
"Or someone snatched her purse," Gil deadpanned.
The maitre d' greeted them with a smile as Gil introduced himself, "Ah, Dr. Grissom, right this way." He led them to a table overlooking the lake. Another squeal resounded nearby.
"A lot of purse-snatchings around here," Sara mused dryly.
The food was superb, as was the view. Sara had caught glimpses of the renowned show of fountains and lights many times, but had never taken the opportunity to actually watch it. Gil had succeeded again. She turned her attention back to him with a grin.
"Thank you for taking me to the body farm. It makes me feel like a freak to be fascinated with something like that, but what can I say? I am what I am."
"You're always wanting to learn, Sara. Your brain never stops. That's one of the things I love about you," Grissom told her candidly. He continued, seemingly unaware of the significance of his previous sentence, " 'People like you and I do not grow old, no matter how long we live. We never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born'."
"To whom can we attribute that little gem?"
"Einstein."
"So," Sara asked after the waiter had delivered their meals. "The formalwear gives me the impression there's more on the agenda for the evening than dinner at Olives."
"Well, this is something that I'm pretty sure is new to you. I don't know if you'll like it. I'm hoping, but I don't know."
"Try me."
"It's a fundraiser for charity. Black tie affair," he studied her face for a reaction. "They're doing a production of Aida."
"Opera?"
"Is that good or bad? We can skip it."
"Like you said, it's new to me. I don't have anything against opera, I've just never been exposed to it," she smiled widely for him. "Why would someone who's always wanting to learn pass up an opportunity for a new experience?" She wasn't feeling quite bold enough to add verbally what she was thinking: I wouldn't want to deprive you of what you love about me.
Gil and Sara took their seats in the box, following the usher's direction. She decided to use the time before the show opened to study the provided program, hoping to get an idea of what she was about to see. The performance was in it's original Italian, and she knew she'd need all the help she could get.
As the opera began, Gil frequently leaned in to whisper into Sara's ear, keeping her abreast of the story.
"Ramades has been chosen by the oracle to lead the Egyptian army against the Ethiopian invaders. He jumps at the chance, because he's in love with Aida, an Ethiopian slave and he wants to prove his bravery to her. She, of course, is mortified. She's never shared the information that her father is Amonasro, the King of Ethiopia. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Pharaoh's daughter is Amneris, and she's in love with Ramades, too."
"Sounds like a soap opera…wait minute, that's probably where the term came from," she chuckled, blushing.
Sara surprised herself by enjoying the music and the story. She was completely enthralled. The second act began with the victorious Ramades returning from battle.
"One of the soldiers Ramades has captured is Amonasro, but he has no idea that the prisoner is the King of Ethiopia," Grissom explained. "As a reward, the Pharaoh gives her daughter Amneris to him for marriage."
"This is amazing," Sara told him under her breath. The performers poured their heart and soul into the opera, charging it with emotion.
"Ramades and Aida are planning to run away together, but she feels obligated to help her father. She asks Ramades about the city's defenses, and he tells her about an unguarded pass. When Amonasro steps out of the shadows and reveals his identity, Ramades feels betrayed by Aida. He's arrested for giving crucial information to the enemy and sentenced to be buried alive."
Sara watched in fascination as Amneris approached Ramades in his cell.
"Amneris tells him she'll secure his freedom if he'll stay with her and renounce his love for Aida. But he refuses to betray the woman he loves, choosing death instead."
"Why is Aida at the execution?" Sara asked Gil as the final scene began.
"She's come to die with him so that they can spend eternity together."
"Wow, that's dedication."
As the curtain fell and the lights came on, Gil turned to his date, "So, what did you think of the operatic genre?"
"Not what I was expecting," she grinned. "I was pleasantly surprised."
"Would you like to come in?" Sara asked nervously as they stood outside her apartment.
Gil paused for a moment before answering, "I would. But I won't. Not yet." Inwardly, his stomach lurched as he prayed she would understand.
"Okay," she smiled sweetly. As she turned to open her front door, Gil gently yet decisively turned her back around to face him. Answering the question in her eyes, he brought his lips passionately to hers. His hands moved to her hips, pulling her close. Sara instinctively reached up to run her fingers through his hair and deepened the kiss. After a few moments, Gil pulled away and smiled, one hand still on her hip, the other caressing her cheek.
"Good night."
"Good night," she murmured.
TBC
