Chapter 2

He turned the key and pulled away from the curb.

"I have my own car," Sara said tentatively.

"We'll come back for it if I have not killed you by then."

In what seemed like mere seconds, Grissom was maneuvering his Tahoe in the driveway of his townhouse.

"Why are we here?" Sara said refusing to move from her seat. She stared straight ahead and her arms were cross protectively over her chest.

Grissom did not say a word. He got out and opened Sara's door. Sara started to protest but as she looked into Grissom's eyes she thought better of it.

When they reached Grissom's living room, he began to pace like a caged animal. He shoved his hands in his pockets. Sara sat on the edge of the seat.

"Sara...I don't even know what to say to you," he said his breath coming in sporadic rasps.

"What the hell were you thinking? Why did you go to Heather's?"

Sara looked at her unmanicured hands again. She took a page from Lady Heather's book. She told the truth. "I needed to know if you were seeing her and I was afraid that you wouldn't tell me if I had asked. I just needed to know. I wanted to know if she was the reason you don't want to be...if she is the reason that you don't want me!"

Grissom stopped cold. He walked slowly to where Sara sat.

Sara peered up into his eyes. She had started to cry softly.

"Oh God. Oh God. I can't believe I am doing this. I am so sorry Grissom. I just thought that if I figured some things out then I could move on."

He knelt beside her.

"Sara," he stopped and started again. "I have been trying to navigate this situation without hurting you." And myself. Maybe only myself

"I know that you think that you want to be with... I know you think that we could have shot but I think that I might know better... Sshhhh....let me finish."

"I am old, bad tempered and very hard to get along with. I am set in my ways. I require a lot from people and because of that I have few friendships. The only people I am able to form any bonds with are as difficult and complex as I am. which is why I have some measure of comfort with you and the rest of the night shift. You are young, vibrant and beautiful. Sweetie sometimes I look across the lab at you and I stop breathing. I can't move and I know if that is how I act at work where I am comfortable...I wonder how would I act if we were in an actual relationship. I know myself. I do this casual dating thing well. I'd want you here with me. I'd want all your time. I would not be able to let you out of my sight. I could not work. If you went out to a scene with Nicky or Warrick, I would be beside myself with jealously. Darlin, what you see on the outside is not even a tenth of what I am."

Sara looked into Grissom's eyes. They were burning with intensity.

"And you don't think I know that? You don't think I know who you are?"

Grissom smiled, "Heather kept trying to convince me that you felt something like that."

He sat back on the floor and rested his back on the edge of the subtle leather. It then that he noticed that she wore a skirt and that her legs were bare Sara slid off the edge of couch and sat next to him.

"Why do you have on a skirt?"

"I thought I was going to get called to court after shift. "

"You never wear skirts."

She picked a piece of lint off the back skirt, "It's stupid."

"Tell me," he said softly.

"I thought that maybe, I thought that maybe I wasn't feminine enough for you. I thought that you wanted someone more..."

"You know Catherine is always dressed so...you know and then I saw Lady Heather at the crime lab and I just thought," she looked at him. "I told you it was stupid."

"Sara Sidle. You flatter me. You could wear a burlap sack and still drive me crazy."

Grissom was quiet for few seconds.

Without even knowing it he reached out and touched her bare leg. "Where are your stockings? It's kind of chilly out."

"I am so not good at this stuff. I had a run in my stocking an hour after it I put the skirt on. Catherine says that I am impossible,"

He was stroking soft patterns on her calf. He absentmindedly found his way up to her thigh.

Sara leaned back and closed her eyes. Grissom got on his knees in front of Sara.

"You are so beautiful" .

Sara let a soft moan escape from her lips. He leaned down to kiss her and his lips touched her. Her mouth yielded quickly, his tongue found hers.

All at ounce his hands were everywhere. Inching up the bare flesh under her skirt.

"Sara? You don't have on panties."

"I only had the hose on and then when they ran." A pink stain rose to her cheeks.

"And you were going to court like that? No wonder all the men are so enamoured with you."

"All the men?" She returned his steady gaze.

His hands needed the firm flesh of her backside.

"Sara, I am not going to be able to stop and once we do this, there won't be any getting rid of me."

Her hands found their way under his shirt.

"I know, I know" she blew softly in his ear. Roughly he began to unbutton the delicate pearl buttons that fastened her blouse. It was taking too long. Giving up, he used both of his hands to rip open the front of her blouse. The buttons spilled across the floor.

Swiftly he stood up and pulled her behind him towards his bedroom. When the reached the bedroom, he sat on the bed and positioned Sara standing in front of him.

"Sara. You need to figure out how to get out of these clothes as quickly as possible or I am going to tear them all off."

"Gil. I..." she stopped

"Say it again."

"What?"

"Say my name. Say Gil."

"Gil. I have not been with a lot of people. I..."

"Sara," he said as he unzipped the back of her skirt. He watched as the soft material fell around her long elegant feet.

"Take of your bra."

Her fingers were trembling but she managed to undo the clasp as Grissom's wandered along the curve of her west.

He stood and pulled her closer to him. His hand found the opening between her legs.

"You are so wet." He pressed two fingers into her. Sara's mouth opened in a silent gasp.

"Open your eyes."

Sara opened them. She was surprised to see that he wore only his boxers.

"You are the most beautiful woman."

Sara moaned louder.

"I can't believe that I finally touching like this. It feels like I am dreaming."

Just then her cell rang.