Title: Boundaries
Author: Evidence
Chapter: 5
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: Thanks to D for the encouragement and the knowledge.
The bright red florescent lights of the Big Town Supermarket danced on Sara's hair. Grissom watched her from a spot adjacent to her as her eyes scanned the bags of dry dog food.
"How about this kind?" She said pulling a large blue bag a few inches off the shelf professing, "Your dogs will love it!"
"What are the ingredients?" Grissom asked trying to find where they were located on the bag.
"Um...here," Sara pointed to the smallest box on the bag where in tiny print the ingredients were written.
"Corn," Grissom responded razing his head. "We can't get this brand."
Sara raised an eyebrow. "I thought corn was good for you."
"Good for us, not dogs, weighs on their digestive system," Grissom said with a shrug.
"So oh wise one, we can't get this dog food?" Sara asked.
"Better not. I don't know much about dogs but that is one thing I know."
Sara began rescanning the bags. "Did you read about it?"
"No," Grissom said with a shake of his head. "An animal expert told me a few years ago. Said some brands that are unhealthy were like cheesecake to dogs."
"Oh you just made me hungry," Sara said with a laugh. "How about this brand? No corn- turkey as the first ingredient."
"I believe that one is perfect," Grissom said with a smile. He usually did his shopping alone so this was a unique treat that he was rather enjoying.
They moved on to dog food cans and choose what they hoped to be some flavorful tastes for Bailey. Sara convinced Grissom to pick some groceries up of his own and began tossing food into the carriage that she thought he would like. Grissom just watched and nodded his head in approval. She knew him so well; the food she had picked out was almost all his favorite foods expect when she added a bag of salad.
"Ah, no salad please."
"It's good for you."
"I'm not a big fan of the taste."
Sara pointed at the various brands of salad dressing. "That's why Paul Newman invented these," she said with a grin.
Bailey jumped off of Grissom's now ruined couch and ran to see what he had received.
Sara opened the bag of dry dog food; the large German Shepard gobbled it up. "Well it might not taste like cheesecake but he certainly likes it."
"Maybe he's into being healthy," Grissom said, not seriously. He was busy restoring his fridge and trying to get his courage. Finally he found his tongue. "There's plenty of food here now...would you like to stay for breakfast?"
Sara's heart skipped a beat and the hands she had in her pockets grew sweaty. "Sure," she responded slowly.
"Um...toast with that jam you got me perhaps?" Grissom asked, head still in the fridge making it easier for him to speak to her.
"Yeah that sounds great and maybe a banana."
"Okay I'll get it started."
Sara petted Bailey's head until Grissom was done setting the kitchen island and the toast had browned.
"All set," he said, the hand on the knife smearing the raspberry jam unsteady and shaky/
"Thanks," Sara responded taking a seat feeling like she had entered some surreal fantasy.
Grissom handed her the plate and proceeded to ask her which juice she would like seeing Sara had picked up both orange and apple juice for him. Sara chose orange and Grissom poured himself a glass as well.
They ate in silence, Sara's stomach slightly tossing with a mixture of excitement and fear. Grissom eating quickly again not knowing what to say or do. Bailey sat by them looking for droppings but none fell. Sara would pat his head every few minutes to let him know she realized he was there.
"That was very good, thanks," Sara said wiping her mouth with her napkin. "I better get home so I can get some sleep."
"Oh of course," Grissom said standing up.
Sara smiled. "Um, Grissom you have a little jam on your lip."
"Oh," Grissom said slightly embarrassed. He tried to wipe it off with his napkin but missed.
"Wait, let me help," Sara said removing the napkin from his hand and then the jam from his lip.
He swallowed. His feelings rushed through every bit of him, feelings he hadn't felt since Sara had brushed chalk off his face.
They both stared at each other frozen in time, waiting to see what the other would do next. Then the phone rang.
"Damn," Grissom muttered under his breath going to grab it. Sara hadn't even noticed- her mind was at other places at the moment.
Bailey barked as Grissom picked up the phone. Sara finally out of her trance asked, "Who is it?"
"Yes, Nick, I understand," Grissom said loudly to answer her question. "We'll be right there. Um...I...yeah, I'll call Sara. Bye."
"What's up?" Sara asked watching him replaced the phone back in it's cradle.
"Evelyn Jasper was attacked at her house."
Sara shook her head but nothing surprised her anymore. "Nick's at the scene?"
"Yes, of course he wants us to go there."
"I guess we will have to forgo sleep," Sara said pushing back her hand with her hand, "And a shower."
"Luckily you look good without the shower," Grissom said it quickly and felt the color rise to this cheeks.
"Thanks," Sara replied softly.
"We better bring Bailey out and then had to Mrs. Jasper's." Grissom grabbed Bailey's new red leash from where he had placed it on his door. "Come on boy, daddy will bring you for a quick walk."
"Are you a father now?" Sara said with a grin.
"I didn't even realize I had said it. Part of our nature as humans to call ourselves their fathers or mothers, some semblance of control."
"Oh well I was going to say it was sweet," Sara smiled dazzled by his blue eyes.
Grissom returned with Bailey quickly and Sara left this time following him in her own SUV. She felt noticablely the absence of his presence. Driving along she glanced often at the empty passenger seat and the indentation of the fabric where he had sat. Her hand involuntary touched the cloth as if she were reaching out to touch him.
To be continued...