A/N: Last chapter. Kinda corny. Forgive me...
The annoying chirp of the phone ringing pierced Sara's almost silent apartment. She nervously wiped her eyes and breathed deep to stop her sobs, then went over to the Caller ID in her kitchen and checked it.
Brown, Warrick.
Sara didn't really need to hear any more of Warrick's insane laughing, but as long as it wasn't Grissom, she didn't exactly mind. She picked it up.
"Sidle."
"Hey, Sara."
"Hey, Warrick."
"Look, Nick and I are sorry we laughed at you. We were being...really immature."
Sara nodded. "You can say that again."
"Well, I won't, since you seem to get the picture. Listen, Nick, Catherine and I are heading over to Club Rio in about an hour. You wanna come?"
Sara rubbed her forehead. "Oh, I-I don't know..."
"C'mon, it'll be fun."
The brunette asked, "Just you, me, Nick, and Catherine?"
"Uh-huh."
"No one else, not even Grissom?"
"Look, Sara, I don't know what Grissom did to you, but he won't be there."
At least, not to her knowledge...Warrick thought with a smile.
"Well...fine. Okay. I'll come."
"Okay, good. Meet the rest of us at Club Rio at ten."
"Okay. See you, Warrick."
"Bye."
When she heard the line go silent, Sara hung up. She let out a great sigh and ran a hand through her hair.
Why do I feel like there's something more to this?
As she pushed open the door and the booming music and darkness hit her, Sara realized she had made a mistake in coming. The pounding beat of the music assaulted her ears, and the drunken young adults throwing themselves around didn't help at all. Scanning the room, she found her co-workers --- minus Grissom.
"Hey, guys," she said, managing a smile.
They all greeted her back. She leaned over to the bartender and ordered a greasy martini.
Sara was a little reluctant to talk to Catherine after seeing the conversation in Grissom's office, but she wasn't one to hold a grudge. Catherine gave her a pat on the shoulder and smiled. "Hey, how you holing up?"
"Pretty good," Sara lied. The bartender interrupted. Sara took her drink and paid for it. She sipped the liquid and flipped her hair. "Who are these guys? They're good," she said, motioning to the rock band on the stage.
Nick shrugged and sipped his beer. "Some local group."
Warrick tapped Sara on the shoulder. "Sara, could you come here a second?"
With an awkward look towards her other friends, she followed Warrick to a deserted corner and leaned against the wall. Her questioning look offered Warrick a chance to speak.
"Sara, you know...I didn't exactly hear what happened, but if I know Grissom well enough, he didn't mean to."
Sara was suddenly a bit annoyed her love life was now an open book. "We had a great thing going, then he stupidly lets it slip that he wasn't the one who originally sent me my orchid? The only thing that kept me here? What the hell do you mean 'he didn't mean to'?"
Warrick sighed and tipped his head back a bit. "Why don't you just give the man a chance?"
She sneered. "Because he doesn't have a chance. He gave it up."
"God, you've never noticed the look he's always had in his eye whenever you're around? It's not exactly inconspicuous to the rest of us."
"Warrick...why the hell is my personal life such a hot topic?"
Warrick was about to answer when a very unexpected call went out from the local rock band.
"Is there a Sara Sidle in here? Sara, if you're here, you've been requested up by the stage."
Sara cast a glance at Warrick, who shrugged. She thrust her martini into Warrick's hands and made for the stage. Sara looked at Catherine and Nick when she passed.
Why was Catherine grinning?
She tried her hardest not to think about it. The dancers parted as she approached, a few staring at her.
"Sara Sidle?" the handsome lead singer asked her.
Sara nodded.
"A song has been requested for you."
Sara's mouth opened a bit. "From...From who?"
"From me."
She didn't even have to turn around to face the man that voice was coming from. Grissom's strong arms encircled her body, bringing her into his embrace. He gently kissed her neck, but she looked away.
"Grissom..."
"Forgive me?"
She turned again and laid her head onto his shoulder. "Give me a dance I'll remember."
He had every intention to.
"I feel fine
Now the rain has gone and the sun has come to shine
Nothing can get me down today
Head over heels
Got my mind made up as I'm driving through the fields
Nothing can get me down again..."
Her chest was pressed against his, and he took her hands; one he pulled to his chest and the other he held out.
"Catch me if you can
I've gotta make a getaway..."
He held her gaze for the longest of moments, scanning her eyes and her lips. He could see her bottom lip quivering slightly, and he smiled. Parting with one of her hands, he ran his thumb across the trembling lip gingerly. His hand slid to the base of her skull. Grissom ran his fingers lightly over her skin. Staring deep into her eyes, his blue orbs focusing into her brown ones, he asked, "Do you love me?"
"As the sun goes down, wakin' up my dreams
And in my mind you're with me once again
Out of my heart, into your head
And inside my heart there's a place for you
And in my mind I'm with you once again
Out of my heart, into your head..."
She repositioned her hands on his shoulders and swayed with him to the beat.
Sara didn't respond; she wasn't sure of her answer.
He always seemed to have a part in rendering her temporarily speechless.
"Chasing the sun
Tryin' to get away
From the rain that's gonna come
Hope I make it all the way..."
"I love you more than anything else in this world," he whispered gently, leaning closer to her.
Okay, now she was starting to forgive him.
"I'm lost in a crowd
Tryin' find my way
But the rain keeps fallin' down
Doesn't matter anyway..."
His hands on her waist, he said, "You're so beautiful...and talented, and kind. You're the woman I've been looking for my whole life."
"Catch me if you can
I've gotta make a getaway
As the sun goes down, wakin' up my dreams
And in my mind you're with me once again
Out of my heart, into your head
And inside my heart there's a place for you
And in my mind I'm with you once again
Out of my heart, into your head..."
She damned how emotional she could get in situations like this. "Griss...what are you doing to me?"
"I want you back," he whispered, "I want to be with you for the rest of my life."
In Sara's heart, she knew where he was going.
"Feel the sunshine
In your heart
In your head
In your own time
Take a look at the sky..."
"G-Grissom, Me too, but..."
"As the sun goes down, wakin' up my dreams..."
He fished out a small, velvet box from his pocket.
"And in my mind you're with me once again..."
Sara pulled away from him, startled.
"Out of my heart, into your head..."In an instant, the box was open, revealing a diamond ring, and he was on bent knee.
"And inside my heart there's a place for you..."
"Sara, will you marry me?"
"And in my mind I'm with you once again..."
The entire room went silent, save the band that kept playing. All eyes were either on Grissom or Sara.
Catherine leaned against the bar. Good for you, Grissom.
Warrick stood with his and Sara's drink in hand, somewhat shocked. Catherine hadn't told him of this.
Nick was utterly flabbergasted. What the hell?
"Out of my heart, into your head..."
With a mega-watt grin gracing her face, Sara threw herself into Grissom's arms and shouted, "Yes!"
"Out of my heart, into your head
Out of my heart, into your head..."
Everyone in the club cheered and clapped furiously. Grissom grabbed the back of Sara's head and quickly pulled her lips to his in the most passionate kiss they had ever shared. He lifted her off her feet and swung her around a few times, then put her safely back on the ground, parting from her lips. She smiled. The audience still clapping, her escorted her back to the posse standing at the bar.
"Man, Grissom, this has got to be the quickest relationship I've ever seen. You two hadn't even kissed until yesterday, and now you're engaged," Warrick mused, handing Sara her drink back.
Grissom grinned. "She's that special to me."
Sara beamed.
Nick approached the couple. "Damn, where did that come from?" he said with an astonished look.
"Okay, okay," Catherine pushed her way in, "leave these two lovebirds alone." Catherine whispered in Grissom's ear, "Exactly as planned. Congratulations."
Grissom nodded and turned to Sara. "Well?"
"I love you so much..." she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Grissom smirked. "I didn't add up there how great you are in bed."
How fortuitous that Nick should pass them at that very moment.
Nick went bug-eyed. "What?!"
Grissom gulped.
Me and my big mouth.
END