Chapter Nine: Discovered

Grissom smiled and nodded as he pushed play. "Thought we could replay that night at the barn." He turned and took Sara into his arms. "Though, we could just get straight to the point."

She gazed into his eyes. "Which point would that be?"

"The point of me kissing you." He murmured close to her lips.

"You're very confidant Dr Grissom." She teased as she stepped away from him.

Grasping her hand, he walked a few steps into the open space of his living room before turning her and twirling her under his arm.

"I'm not so confidant Sara." He told her as the music filled the room.

She grasped onto his shirt and pulled him into a much intensified kiss. Gasping for breath, she pushed him away and started to slowly unbutton her shirt.

Grissom reached up to his own buttons and started pulling them free as he stepped up against her. He claimed her mouth with his in a heated kiss before abandoning his shirt and pulling her against him.

Sara turned her hands between them and finished unbuttoning his shirt. Sliding her hands from his stomach around to his back, she pulled his shirt from his pants, all the while returning the slow kisses that she was receiving.

~*~

"How many CD's did you put in?" She asked.

"Hmm, just two." He replied.

Snuggling up closer to his warm body, she sighed. "I haven't heard this one."

Chuckling softly into her ear, he pressed a kiss to her temple. "I think you were otherwise occupied at the time, honey."

"Mhmm."

Listening to the music filling the living room, hallway and bedroom, they snuggled and closed their eyes, savouring the memories and sensations they had just shared.

As the song ended, Sara lightly pushed her body on his and towered over him with her hands coming down to rest either side of his head.

Grissom smirked and ran his hands up the back of her bare thighs to rest on her hips.

"You won't pressure me, will you?" She asked suddenly, her face as serious as if she were talking about a case.

His smirk faded and his eyes wrinkled as he frowned. "Have I gone too far?" He asked.

She shook her head and lowered herself onto her forearms so she was closer to him and her fingers could play with his hair. "I mean, this was inevitable." She told him. "I wanted to and you wanted to, but-" She sighed and pressed her forehead to his. "We're still working towards this stage, aren't we?" She asked, opened her eyes to stare into his with many questions reflecting in her dark brown eyes.

He breathed out slowly and hummed and affirmative as his arms snaked around her waist to hold her to him. "I know what you're saying Sara. But I think we both know that we've past our hold ups after this."

She looked down at him for a long time before sighing into his kiss as he pushed up his chin.

Hooking his leg over hers, he gently turned them until he was laying over her body, resting against her and relaxing into their kiss.

Before the moment could escalate, the music from the stereo abruptly stopped in the middle of the song.

Grissom's lips pulled back from Sara's throat to cast his eyes towards the door.

The sound of the refrigerator opening and closing settled a heavy slab of cold ice into both their stomachs.

Slipping quietly from the bed, he opened his wardrobe and reached for his old baseball bat. He turned to Sara as she was pulling on his shirt and her pants. "Stay here honey, ok, don't move." He whispered, cupping her cheek to look into her eyes, relaying his words tenfold with his intense blue orbs.

Pulling on his boxers that were sitting by the open door, he grasped the bat in his right hand. He stepped into the hallway and continued to move slowly towards the living room.

His eyes scanned the motionless room with investigator eyes and looked over at the stereo to see that the power had been turned off. Checking to make sure that it wasn't a power cut, he dropped his watchful eyes to his VCR to check the time. If the power had turned off, then his clock would have been reset. By the looks of it, it was still set and blinking away.

Brandishing his bat once more, he moved through the living room to the kitchen where the familiar sound of his coffee pot was chugging as fresh coffee was being brewed.

Finding his voice, he round the column that was blinding his view of the kitchen. "Who's there?" He made it around the column and raised his bat slightly to give him a good swing if he needed it. "What are you doing in my house?" He called again, this time more sternly as he spotted a figure standing by the coffee pot.

As the figure turned, he could make out white suit like pants with creamy heeled shoes. A light blouse and a matching white suit like jacket. When he reached the face of the person standing in his kitchen, his heart stopped and his right hand, holding the baseball bat, lowered quickly.

"Catherine."

~*~

"Hello Gil." The silky voice greeted with a warm smile following. "Sorry about the intrusion, but I knocked. Guess you were in the shower huh?" She asked, spying his wet hair and slightly glistening body.

Grissom stood there a moment, before shaking his head and looking at himself. He ran his left hand through his wet curls before his eyes snapped up to meet hers. "What are you doing here and how the hell did you get in?" He demanded.

Catherine smiled and walked towards him. "I have a key, remember?" She watched his face as she got closer and before she got close enough, she smelt the distinct odour of musk about him. Her smile disappeared. "What's going on?" She demanded her own question.

Grissom furrowed his brow and shook his head. "I want you to leave. You're trespassing on my property."

Ignoring him, she pushed past and marched across the living room. "Who the hell?-What the?" Her words melded into one as her anger boiled and her curiosity heightened.

Following behind her, he snagged her arm and turned her to him so he could block her way to his room. "Answer the question Cath, what are you doing here?"

Snatching her arm from him, she glared. "I'm moving back."

Shaking his head, he scratched at his beard. "What?" He asked confusedly.

"I said I'm moving back to Vegas. I'll be back at work tomorrow night." She informed him with a menacing glare as she glanced towards his open room door.

"You'll have no job." He told her angrily.

Catherine stopped her observation of the bedroom doorway and looked at him. "What do you mean I'll have no job?"

"Exactly what I said. Cavallo won't re-employ someone who quit. You'll have a hard time talking your way back Catherine, so just hold your breath and go back to where ever you came from."

She stared at him with her mouth hanging open in shock.

"I don't want to ever see you again." He spat out and turned away from her.

"Guess you found some slut to take my place huh!?" She taunted.

Grissom slowly turned when he reached his bedroom door. "Say all you want Catherine; you don't know anything about me."

She gurgled with haunting laughter as she faked wiping her eyes. "My sweet Gil, I'm the only one who knows you." She pinned him with her angry eyes. "In and outside the bedroom, my dear. So don't let your guard down, I'll get my job back, you watch me."

Casting his eyes to his side, he held out his hand to Sara. She hesitantly approached him and took his hand.

Catherine watched as the mystery woman stepped into view and straight into Grissom's embrace. She was stricken with surprise. "Sara?" She gasped.

"Hey Catherine." Sara sighed sadly as she avoided the blonde's surprised face.

Taking in the brunettes dishevelled appearance, the creased jeans, bare feet, Grissom's shirt and wild hair; she could clearly see what had been happening here. Taking all this on board, she straightened her shoulders and put on a brave face. "Well, I hope you're happy." She told Grissom. "But remember, I'll be back at work in no time."

"Goodbye Catherine." He pointed to his front door, signalling the end of this uninvited visit.

~*~

Sara pulled the blanket that was wrapped around her, tighter. She watched as Grissom made them some lunch. They hadn't spoken since Catherine had left them alone. It was starting to worry Sara more than anything.

What if he was thinking that it was over? What was she going to do if he decided they couldn't continue seeing each other? She knew she would be heartbroken for ever if anything happened now. She had just started to believe the things he was telling her, sharing with her. Now she was scared he was going to close off to her and forget what had happened between them.

Her heart was pounding in her chest as she shifted on the couch to bury herself deeper into the blanket. She was cold and she knew it was the dread lying in the pit of her stomach.

"Here." He offered her a hot cup of coffee before sitting down on his coffee table.

She took the cup and slowly sipped it, casting her eyes ahead of her or into her cup.

"You ok?" He asked.

Not sure what to say, she shrugged and shook her head.

Grissom moved to sit on the couch, close to her so he could cover her hands that were holding her coffee cup. He looked into her saddened eyes. "What are you thinking?"

Sara sighed and closed her eyes briefly. "Griss," She turned her head to look at him. "I can't stop thinking about what you're going to do now." She told him honestly, tears springing to her eyes.

"Hey," He said soothingly, taking her cup away from her hands to move closer. She watched his hand absently put her cup on the table as he gathered her into his arms. "I'm not going to leave you. I've already told you this Sara, and I promised you."

She clutched to his body hungrily. "I don't want you to leave." She whispered into his chest.

"I'm not going anywhere. We're stuck with each other honey, I promise you that. After everything we've been through, I'm not going to walk away." He pulled back to hold her face in his hands. "I love you."

Sara gave him a watery smile and closed her eyes when he pulled her against him. If he was being honest with her, then he was very good at lying. But on the other hand, he could mean everything he was saying and she so wanted to listen to that side of her conflicted brain. And for once, she did.

"I'm hungry." She sighed, pushing her face into his neck before kissing her way up his jaw to his ear, sucking lightly on the lobe. "We need to keep our energy levels up." She whispered seductively, causing him to shiver delightfully and groan.

~*~

"They're late." He murmured once again as he checked his watch. The towing service had obviously given no indication when they would drop off his Tahoe, but this was taking the piss.

"We did leave it a bit late Gil."

He turned at the sound of her voice to see her standing in the hallway in only his shirt. He sighed with a smile on his face as he walked towards her.

"I called nearly two hours ago." He mock whined, pushing open the shirt to slip his hands along her soft skin. His hands explored already known territory as his body responded to the warmth and sensations of being close to her partially naked body.

Before his mouth to claim hers, loud knocking on his door interrupted them. "Great!" He groaned, pulling his hands back as Sara wrapped the shirt around her with a teasing smile.

"I'll get dressed." She told him.

"Right." He sighed, watching her walk away. He turned towards the front door and sighed again.

~*~

Sara walked up to her apartment with Grissom in tow. She reached her door when Yuki called up from the courtyard.

"Hey Yuki!" Sara called back.

"Good to see you Mr Grissom." Yuki smiled, raising her sunglasses to get a better look at the two of them. "Your phone has been ring for the past hour sweetie, you might want to check the machine." She suggested, having listened to the ringing on and off for a while.

Sara nodded. "Thanks Yuki. Talk to you tomorrow." She turned to her door and opened it, but before she could remove her key, Grissom had wrapped his arm around her waist. She looked back at him over her shoulder with a wide smile. "Hey, something wrong?"

He shook his head. "Everything's perfect."

She smiled widely at him. "Let me change and I'll meet you at work."

Returning her smile, he shook his head. "Let's go in together." He suggested, kissing the back of her neck. "No doubt Catherine has spread the news."

Sara's smile vanished. They entered her apartment. Grissom removed her keys from the lock before following. "She's going to play the innocent in this, isn't she?"

He nodded. "Probably. She's manipulative, but she's also got this side that is sweet enough to get you close, and then go in for the kill."

Watching him from across the room, she could see the sadness in his eyes. "She really used you, didn't she?"

"I guess she does know me." He said softly, not meeting her eyes.

Sara held out her hand to him and beckoned him closer. When he was closer enough, she wrapped her arms around him, lightly rubbing his back comfortingly. "She knew you." Sara whispered. "But I know for a fact that you've changed. I know you better now."

"I only want you to know me Sara."

"I hope I can make you happy and not be like Catherine." She said softly.

Grissom brushed his spiky beard against her cheek and chuckled. "You make me happy, more than anything, when you are near me. I'm beyond happy when you're with me. You could be nothing like Catherine."

"Stop that!" She giggled when his beard tickled her and his hands made their way under her jacket to tease and tickle her. "Gil!" She squealed, laughing when he lifted her up. "We've got to go to work!"

"Hmm, maybe we can continue this later." He chuckled long and happily as she planted kisses all over his face.

"Shower and change in 15 minutes, relax." She told him, pushing away form his strong arms.

~*~

Reaching the front door, Grissom stopped. "You forgot to check your messages."

Sara turned to the machine to see the red light and the single digit number that flashed at her. "Suppose I should check." She sighed.

'You have eight messages.'

'Don't fall for his charm Sara, you're smarter than that.'

'He's using you, just like he used me.'

'Stop fooling yourself honey, you haven't got a chance.'

'I know what you're doing. You can't pull the wool over my eyes like you can his.'

'You're only with him for a promotion.'

'I'm going to make sure you are fired Sara. I'll have you gone within the week.'

'Sleeping with the boss gets you no where.'

'This isn't personal Sara.'

Grissom stared at the speakers on the answer machine as it beeped.

'There are no more messages.'

"That can be construed as a threat Sara." He informed her.

She turned to him slowly. "Are you willing to place your career, and mine, on the line to find out Griss?" She shook her head. "I'm not."

TBC