Chapter 10

Sara had just hung up the phone with the local Sheriff. He wanted to know how long she was going to be in town. The city council had allocated a pretty hefty budget for a forensics contract. He asked her if she was interested.

She looked out the kitchen window and watched the waves splash around the lighthouse that she used to play in as a child. This would be an amazing place to raise a child. But did she want to do that by herself? She sighed as turned away from the window. She missed Grissom.

She heard a car pull along the gravel road. Her parents weren't expecting anyone as far as she new but this was small town and people often showed up unannounced. She stood at the back door looking to where the car had parked. She didn't recognize it. The blue nondescript sedan looked like a rental.

She blinked in rapid succession as she saw who emerged.

Gil saw her first. He drank in every detail of her. Her hair was now past her shoulders, her pale skin had acquired some color. She looked as though she had gained some much-needed weight.

They kept their eyes on one another as Gil walked across the lawn.

He came to where she stood in the doorway. He wanted to take her in his arms but he didn't want to frighten her.

They stood in silence for a time.

"Sara?" It was a question, would she talk to him?

She stepped away from the door. He followed her into the large white washed kitchen.

She leaned against the counter and folded her arms over he belly protectively. She searched his face for something. She didn't, no she couldn't name what she looked for.

"Can you ever forgive me?"

"I already have." He saw a glimpse of the gap between her two front teeth.

"I want to try and explain things to you. If you will let me."

She nodded slowly. He took a step towards her. His hand went around her waist. "Oh sweetie." He buried his face in her hair. She smelled of fresh morning and sea air. He rained kisses all over her sun kissed face.

"Wanna go for a walk? So we can talk."

He put a jacket around her shoulders to stave off the morning chill. He held her hand as they walked along the shore. He told her about his father, all things he was afraid of, the counseling, even his encounter with Heather. Finally he asked her about them.

"Honey, why did you let things get so far out of hand? Why did you put up with it so long?"

She did could not look him. She'd turn these things over and over again in her mind.

"Do you remember the first day we met? Not in class. The day we really met."

"O'Dell's...you were drinking that awful imported beer that you favored." He rolled his azure eyes and shook his head.

"I fancied myself very cosmopolitan."

"And you convinced me to drink it. God that stuff was awful. But I drank it for four solid weeks. For you."

"And went to see the eclipse and you walked in front of me. Not much. Just a little. I held your arm. And for the first time since I was a kid, I didn't have to navigate by myself. I didn't have to figure how where were going or how to get there. It was like that for four weeks. You talked to all the waiters. You ordered all the wine. You made all the plans. I felt so free and safe and taken care of. Up until that point, I hadn't realized how tired I was how much of my energy was spent being in charge."

He remembered looking down and realizing that her strong hand was resting on his bicep. He'd felt proud, exhilarated all at once.

"So when we started seeing one another. It just felt familiar and safe. Because I trusted you and believed in you so much I figured that whatever you said must be for the best. I had made so many mistakes over the last few years...the drinking...that silly thing with Hank. I had just lost control of my life and I guess it seemed better to just let you take control."

They were quiet for a long time. Eventually she looped her arm though his and rested her face against him.

Eventually she looped her arm though his and rested her face against him. As she stifled a yawn, he steered her back to her parent's house.

"You still not feeling well?" he asked as he followed her back to her room.

"Actually I'm feeling great considering."

"Considering?" She pulled an ancient quilt around. He sat next to her on the bed.

He saw a hint of worry in her dark eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Gil I...I should have told you this before now."

One of his hands came to rest on hers. He smiled. "Based on all the things I just dumped you with, I am sure that you get a pass."

She sighed heavily. "Notice anything different??

He shrugged. "Your hair is longer. You gained a little weight. If possible, you are more beautiful than ever."

Sara silently cursed her family's skinny genes. She took his hand and put on his stomach. He surprised to find is quite rounded. His face flooded with recognition.

"Sara?"

"Yes."

"A baby?"

"Yes." She grinned enthusiastically

The joy in his features quickly fell away as he considered his own father. Raymond Grissom had been a marginal human being and piss poor excuse for a parent.

"Gil? Are you scared?

He buried his face in his hands. "Terrified."

She ran a hand over his back. "Me too."

"Yeah?"

"We'll do it together."

He leaned to kiss her. "Together."