He pulled his lips from hers. Trying to catch his breath, he leaned away from her and braced his hands on the steering wheel of his blue Denali. "We can't." The kiss has be chaste, but full of emotion. They were telling each other that this was what the wanted. It was what he wanted, but it definitely wasn't something he needed. The results could be catastrophic.
Sara leaned back in her seat and stared out the windshield. Her face was a mask of indifference and Grissom inwardly flinched.
He knew that it was a forced expression. She may have been trying not to yell, scream, or cry but he didn't know.
"Grissom," she started.
Her tone was cool, and Grissom sighed. "Yes, Sara?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
Tentatively, he replied, "...Yes...".
"Why do you like roller coasters?" Sara looked at him, showing genuine interest.
Grissom was startled. Leave it to Sara to change the subject. However, he decided he'd amuse her. Before he could reply, she asked, "Is it the science? The centrifugal force?"
Grissom cracked a tiny smile. "No, this time it's not science. I love the thrill of it. You never know what's going to happen. And for 45 seconds or so you forget everything but the ride."
"It's funny, because I can easily compare our relationship to a roller coaster. Never knowing what's going to happen, which way the track's going to turn. It's thrilling, terrifying and liberating all at the same time. When you look at me like you've just found evidence that will convict a suspect...when you're eyes look at me the way they did at the ice rink, I forget everything but the ride. I feel weightless, Grissom. Just like a roller coaster." She looked at him now, her eyes scrutinizing him and gauging his reactions. He opened his mouth and closed it again. "What is it you're afraid of? Are you scared that this might be the one roller coaster that de-rails?"
Grissom had never put their relationship into perspective quite like this. He reached out a hand, pulling a stray hair that had fallen against her cheek and tucking it behind her ear. She gave him a weak smile that didn't really convey the message of happiness.
Grissom wanted to lean back in and taste her lips again. He wanted to run his hand through her silky hair and tell her everything. He had just begun to bring himself to do it when the familiar, annoying ringing of his cell blared.
"You don't have to answer that."
"Yes, I do..."
Abruptly pulling his hand from her ear, he answered, "Grissom."
He raised his eyebrows at the voice on the other line and leaned out the window of the Denali.
"Oh...hey, Sofia."
"How are you, Grissom?"
"Um...fine...".
"Really?" She replies a little skeptically. "This seems like a bad time, want me to call you back?"
Grissom nodded. "Yeah."
"Okay, bye, Gil."
He shut his phone off and turned to the passenger seat. "Sorry..." he began, but his apology fell on deaf ears. Sara was already climbing the stairs to her apartment. He'd blown his chance again.