Winter's Rime
Chapter Five
Sara began packing a week after she bought the house. She started taking down valuables first so that she could package them correctly.
She walked down her hallway toward her bedroom, taking pictures off of her wall. Once she had all of them down, she sat in the middle of her living room and went through all of the pictures.
There were some of when she was just a baby, and the others were of her at about nine or ten years old. She had pictures of her parents, her older brother, her younger sister, and the three of them together. She still had albums as well, but she framed the most beautiful pictures of her family. When she saw a picture of her younger self, she felt tears falling down her cheeks. Her memories were fragmented and shadowy. They were like gaps in her life that she had to get through in order to completely pull herself together mentally and emotionally.
She hugged the picture of her parents tight against her chest and she let her tears fall on the corners of the cast iron frame.
Through the blurriness that her tears caused, memories came back to her.
Sara wiped her tears and placed the picture on the bubble paper. Sara covered up her feet with the blanket next to her.
It was all so painful and mysterious, her past. There were things that she wanted to remember but couldn't, but she always remembered things that she tried to forget. Something over the last five years had brought back latent memories of her childhood that she tried so hard to forget.
She sighed and began packing away the pictures, either laughing, scowling, or crying at certain ones when she remembered little instances.
But looking at the picture of her parents made her feel like a piece of her was stolen.
Sara was terrible with languages, and she could not utter a word of French. Sara shook her head at the memories, thinking that there had to be some sort of explanation of what happened that night when she was four years old.
Once she had all of her pictures packed away, she moved on to getting her clothes packed so that she could clean out her closet and get rid of things she didn't need.
Getting over her episode, she was decidedly happy about moving in to her new house. Alex was happy for her as well, and he told her that he was getting her a housewarming gift.
She told him not to, but he insisted, and he told her that she would like it very much.
Her other coworkers heard the news and they were happy for her as well. The guys offered to help her move in and get her other things out of storage for her. She told Grissom that she would need about three weeks off to get settled in to her new house, and he readily gave it to her, proud of the changes she was making.
Catherine was due to come over in a bit to help her pack and get organized then they would go out to lunch. Sara told Catherine that Warrick could come along if he liked, but Catherine said that he was driving her crazy and that it was time to have some girl talk anyway. She also said that Warrick was trying to spend some time with Lindsay as well to help her get used to the idea of him being around more often.
Sara was going through her closet when her phone rang.
She picked it up, thinking that it might be Catherine calling.
"Hello?" Sara answered.
"Hey Sara, it's mom."
"Oh, hi mom," Sara said casually before realizing it was her mother. "Mom!"
"You sound so surprised," her mother's stoic voice quipped on the other end.
"Uh, no," Sara said. "It's just that you haven't called in a long time."
"Well, you haven't either so," her mother began.
"Don't go there mom," Sara warned.
"Anyway, I was just calling to tell you that your father and I will be coming to Las Vegas for Christmas," she paused to sigh. "That is, if people in that city actually celebrate Christmas."
"Mom, don't be a snob," Sara commanded. "Look, you can come to Vegas, but you can't stay with me."
"I know its kind of short notice, but we haven't seen you in ages," her mother's voice said. "Besides, your place can't be that little can it?"
Sara did not answer.
"By you stunned silence, obviously it can," her mother quipped.
"Believe me Mom, there's a bunch of hotels here that you can stay in," Sara said, knowing that she would never be ready for Christmas in time for her parents.
"I can't believe you're throwing your father and I out on our rears," her mother said a bit angrily. "We don't have any reservations."
"With the kind of cash dad is pulling in, I don't think you'll have any problems getting into a nice hotel here," Sara bit back.
"Why are you so crabby?" Her mother asked.
"I'm not crabby mother," Sara growled. "I'm just in the middle of something right now, and Christmas is on my to-do list Mom."
"Your sister is coming too," her mother said as an afterthought. "She's bringing Tyler with her."
"SHE can DEFINITELY stay in a hotel," Sara emphasized. "You know Tyler and I don't get along."
"You are crabby," her mother continued with the previous conversation about Sara's mood. "Is it work?"
"No," Sara sighed.
"That time of the month?"
Sara frowned.
"Goodbye Mom," she said before hanging up.
Sara sighed and continued to go through her closet. Her mother infuriated her sometimes. Patricia Wellby-DuPont was not only the queen bee of Boston, but she was the queen bee of Sara's life as well, her hold on her still having an effect on Sara to the very day. Patricia was one of those over bearing, over scheduling mothers that had Sara in every possible academic club there was. She even made Sara try out for the Boston Metropolitan Ballet.
Sara cringed at the thought of how controlling her mother still was during her tumultuous childhood. Now, her mother would be here for two solid weeks. What was Sara to do? She had to work fast on settling into her house and getting it the way she wanted it before her mother came. Two weeks of pure hell to endure. Sara was hoping that she and Alex could spend a nice Christmas together but she shot those plans to Hades. On top of everything else, her little sister was also coming with her boyfriend.
How much more stress could possibly be bestowed upon her?
Sara sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.
The doorbell rang and Sara growled in frustration. She couldn't get a moment's rest.
She opened the door to Catherine.
"Hey Catherine," Sara said cordially. "Come on in."
"Hey Sara," Catherine said as she took her coat off.
"Hmm, you've gotten a lot accomplished," Catherine said, looking around Sara's small apartment.
Sara glared at her.
"I've just been thinking about a lot of things today," Sara said as she went to her bedroom.
Catherine nodded in understanding and she looked around the kitchen.
"Do you want me to start taking out your dinner ware?" Catherine asked.
"Um, yeah," Sara said as she pulled clothes from her closet.
She came back into the living room and put her clothes in boxes with hanger rails and packed those up quickly. Then she assisted Catherine in the kitchen.
"So, how are things going with you and Vartan?" Catherine asked casually while inspecting Sara's glasses. She grimaced at some of them.
"Oh, fine," Sara said vaguely. "He really makes me happy."
Catherine nodded. She wrapped the glasses neatly in bubble paper before putting them in the large box. Catherine was glad that Sara was finally moving on with her life. It was no secret that she had feelings for Grissom in the past, but, (she had to think it, even though Gil was her best friend) he treated her badly. Sara had been through more than anyone could ever imagine over the last five years of her life. It was definitely time for some change.
"Catherine, the Tupperware is supposed to lay this way," Sara instructed.
Catherine regarded her strangely before fixing all the glasses and the Tupperware.
"How are things with you and Warrick?" Sara ventured to ask, knowing that the older woman was territorial when it came to her love life.
"They're good I guess," Catherine shrugged. "He's trying to mellow me out. Warrick is always trying to find things for us to do at home instead of going out. Lindsay loves it. I didn't know that he was so…family oriented."
"Really?" Sara asked incredulously. "Warrick Brown?"
"Yeah," Catherine said in an air of surprise. "Oh God, I hope he doesn't start talking about marriage or kids."
Sara shook her head. "Nah, I think it'll be a while."
Catherine nodded as she took down some plates. She grimaced.
"Jesus Sara," Catherine said. "These are the ugliest plates I've ever seen in my life."
O-O-O
For lunch, the two women went to Bravado's.
Catherine ordered chicken mozzarella and Sara ordered the house Caesar salad.
"Sara, do you want a Bloody Mary?" Catherine asked.
Sara shook her head and ordered some water instead.
When their drinks arrived, they lapsed into silence for a few moments. Sara took the time to think about seeing Alex and kissing him.
Catherine noticed Sara's dreamy look as she bit into her celery from her drink.
She smiled. Sara had a certain glow in her eye that she caught and she knew exactly what it was.
"Sara, are you in love?" Catherine dared to ask.
"Love?" Sara chuckled. "Oh come on Catherine, I've only been dating Alex for three weeks. I don't know if I love him yet, but I know that he makes me happy."
Catherine just smiled mischievously and sipped at her strong Bloody Mary.
"Do you love Warrick?" Sara asked teasingly, already knowing the answer to that question.
"Mmhm," Catherine answered sultrily. "You know I do."
"How did you know that you loved him?" Sara asked.
Catherine licked her fingers as she played around with the lemon in her drink.
"I don't know," she answered honestly. "It just kind of snuck up on me one day. Warrick has always been my best friend and he cares about me. I suppose the time I knew for sure that I loved him was when he took care of Lindsay for me when I was kidnapped by that psycho a few years back. I know that's a long time to go without telling someone that you love them, but that was when I knew."
Sara nodded.
"I don't know what I'm feeling right now," Sara said. "It's all so new."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Catherine said with a smile. "One day it'll just bite you in the ass and you'll know. It's the little stuff that he does that counts."
Their plates came and Catherine finished off her drink before ordering some sweet red wine. She pushed her hair out of her face before she began to daintily eat her lunch. Catherine had always had an air of beauty and confidence that Sara envied. She was surprised that she was getting along with Catherine so well after all the years of bitterness between them.
Sara wanted confidence in herself. That's what she missed the most.
Catherine stopped eating and looked at Sara.
"Aren't you going to eat?" She asked.
"Yeah," Sara said.
Catherine's phone vibrated on her hip and she looked at the window. She rolled her eyes in agitation.
"I can't have a moment of peace," she grumbled as she answered the phone. "Hey babe, what is it? Nothing, I'm at lunch with Sara…she was doing what? Warrick, just use some ammonia and hot water then use the stain remover in the pantry. Okay…I love you too…yeah, bye."
Catherine shook her head with a slight chuckled.
"Warrick and Lindsay made a mess," she explained. "You'd think that a forensic scientist with a master's could make some chocolate pudding."
Sara laughed.
O-O-O
By the weekend, Sara had everything packed and ready to go. She rented a U-Haul truck and Warrick, Nick, Greg, and Alex were there to help transport Sara's belongings to the truck. Catherine and Sara were gathering up valuables to save for last to put in Sara's car.
"I can't believe this is happening," Sara said to Catherine as they dictated which boxes go when. "I'm so happy to get out of this apartment."
"I'm glad too," Nick called, picking up another box. "I don't see how you fit all this stuff in here in the first place Sara."
"Shut up Nick," Sara chuckled.
Warrick stopped for a second and leaned in to try and kiss Catherine but she playfully pulled away and told him to help Nick out with a box.
Alex however had more luck with Sara and he held out a piece of chocolate to her lips and she took a bite before he leaned in to kiss her sweetly.
"Mm," she mumbled. "Thank you."
Nick made a gagging gesture with his hands to Warrick as the picked up some more boxes.
"We're almost through," Alex said, putting his hands on her hips.
Sara nodded, giving him a once over. He didn't realize just how sexy he looked in a tank top shirt. She could see his muscles and his moderately muscled chest and abdomen. She felt desire course through her body and she kissed him again before he left to go assist Warrick and Nick.
Catherine had a naughty raised eyebrow.
"Wow," she said.
Sara blushed like a fool.
O-O-O
Catherine was rubbing the small of her back when it started to ache as she was doing dishes.
She had remembered what caused her back pain. She used bad body mechanics while lifting a heavy box of evidence and pulled a muscle in her lower back. She didn't feel it at the time, but sure enough, a couple of days after that, and over the following weeks, she had a sore back.
She heard Warrick come in to the kitchen and she smiled when he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. His hands traveled from her hips to her butt and she giggled.
"Warrick," she giggled.
"What?" He asked huskily.
"Not tonight," she whispered playfully as she turned in his arms to face him. "Remember we have a suite at the Bellagio, fifth floor, poolside, all to ourselves next weekend," she said with a smile. "No work, Lindsay will be at Nana's, and the best part is that you have me all to yourself. Does that sound good?"
Warrick smiled.
"That sounds real good," he said.
They kissed sweetly, but their romantic mood was broken by the doorbell ringing.
Catherine opened the door.
"Grissom?"
O-O-O
Sara woke up to the bright sun coming through her window. She smiled.
She was finally in her new house.
It was a one story with three bedrooms, two and a half baths, a large kitchen, a formal and family living room, and a den.
She was afraid to stay by herself in the empty house overnight, so Alex stayed with her, but he slept on the oddly placed couch and she slept on the mattress on the floor.
Alex was already up making breakfast for them.
"Good morning," he called from the kitchen. "After we eat, I'll show you my housewarming gift."
Sara smiled and rested back on the mattress for a bit. She still had her clothes on from the day before.
"I need to start getting this place organized," Sara said. "I need to buy some more furniture. My parents, my sister and her boyfriend have decided to come and visit me for Christmas."
"Wow, that only leaves you about, two and a half weeks," Alex said.
"I know," Sara said. "I want my parents to be comfortable and proud of me. They think I live in a tiny one room apartment at the moment."
"So, instead of telling them you got a house, you're just going to give 'em a heart attack instead?" Alex asked with a chuckle.
"Well, they haven't seen me in years," Sara rationalized. "I think they'll be pleasantly surprised."
Alex cast her a doubtful look before bringing her plate over to her.
They ate on the floor.
"So, what's my gift?" Sara asked, growing impatient with his teasing.
"You have to wait and see," he said. "Just be patient and eat your breakfast."
"God, you sound like my mother," Sara groaned.
Once they finished breakfast, Alex took Sara's hand and asked her to cover her eyes.
"Alex, where are we going?" She asked. "What kind of gift did you get me?"
He led her out to the backyard and he stopped her in the middle of it.
"You know how you said you didn't know what to do about the big tree?"
"Yeah," Sara said suspiciously.
"Well, open your eyes," he said.
Sara opened her eyes, and she gasped.
She saw a swing hanging off the sturdiest branch of the large tree and then she looked up and saw a little tree house.
"Oh my God, Alex," she gasped. "It's beautiful. Thank you."
She pounced him and kissed him passionately.
After rolling around in the grass, caught up in kisses, Sara got up and headed over to the swing.
Alex joined her and they swung pleasantly.