~*^*Chapter 2*^*~
Just under an hour and a half later Sara returned to the lab and began an urgent search for Grissom, she doubted he'd want to wait much longer. The time it took to get home was a nightmare with the traffic and finding appropriate clothes for the assignment was hell. She only hoped that Grissom wasn't upset with her tardiness.
"Hey Nick, you seen Grissom?" She called down the hallway.
"Missing him already?" He joked, understanding that it was the wrong thing to do when he received a swift punch in the arm for it and a frown that could reach the floor.
"Hey, that hurt!" He cried before getting to the point of answering her question. "He's leaving instructions with Greg." He finally revealed as Warrick and Catherine approached.
"I don't want to hear it," Sara declared as Warrick went to open his mouth undeniably to make fun of her.
"Man, I wish I was going with them. The two of them attempting to live with anyone else, especially each other, is something I would pay to see." Warrick confessed as she paced away.
"You mean, kill each other." Catherine corrected, still not able to believe that they were actually going to do this. -Like that had any choice- She grinned at the thought.
~*^*^*~
"So Greg," Grissom asked. "What can't you do when I'm gone?"
"Play punk rock at excessive levels, flirt with Catherine more than usual just because she's the boss or wear the evidence." Greg recited seriously.
"Good Greg," Grissom responded. He knew that this probably wasn't necessary as underneath his crazy exterior, Greg was a smart guy, but with some of the stunts he's pulled, you could never be sure.
"So you and Sara alone for 2 weeks huh? I am so jealous. I'll take your place, you know so you can stay here and supervise." Greg pleaded.
"Dream on, Greggo," Came Sara's voice, just as Grissom thought it, she may have annoyed him by being late and things may be stressed between them, but he wasn't going to give up this opportunity for anything, especially to Greg.
"Ah, here's Mrs. Grissom herself." Greg taunted, then promptly stopped as Sara came closer glaring at him.
"I've already heard that from the rest of the lab, Greg, you're too late."
"Sorry to interrupt Sara, but you're late," Grissom sighed, not understanding why this had bothered him so much, he didn't usually care, maybe because he knew that the next two weeks were going to be so difficult for them and it had gotten him a tad stressed.
"Yeah sorry, I know, it took longer to pack than I thought," She apologised.
"If we are going to be working together."
"And living." Piped up Greg
"And living." Echoed Grissom, "I need to know that I can rely on you to show up on time."
"You can!" Sara exclaimed. "I was a little late for the first time ever, give me a break," Sara snapped, a little offended at what he had said. -When have I ever been late? Jesus!-
"Let's go." Grissom said, motioning towards the door, noticing that she was turning to talk to Greg again.
"Okay, I'll just say goodbye to the others then."
"We don't have time, you were late," He reminded her.
Sara didn't know what had gotten into Grissom, but he was being a lot more impatient and snappy than usual.
"Well, I guess, I'll see you in two weeks, Greggo." She said, giving him a smile. She wasn't sure how he had gotten his name, but she kinda liked it. -It suited him- she thought. She had once given Grissom a nickname, 'Gruesome Grissom' She had called him back when they were at ease in each other's company, -But if he keeps acting like this- she thought, -You can forget about building bridges-
Foolishly, she had been starting to imagine that the two weeks to come could actually be bearable, but after his recent behaviour, she had had the realisation that this was going to be the most challenging two weeks of her life.
~*^*^*~
Grissom stared at the queen size bed with its white and cream covers. It mocked him from a distance as sudden, certain, erotic, thought's crashed through his mind in a blink of an eye.
Feeling more nervous than he had ever been in his life, he slowly and deliberately, turned to his right to see the only thing he'd ever dreamt of, to share such a large bed with.
Although he thought he was the only one panicking and readying to bang the door down, he wasn't.
Sara was having much the same thoughts, but with a few details added for measure, like her mind couldn't stop thinking that she hadn't even kissed the man standing beside her and she was going to be sharing the same bed.
Stealing a quickly glance at her partner in all this match making, she noticed the nervous twitch in his jaw and the small wrinkle around his right eye that wouldn't stop showing it's presence as he frowned.
Obviously they hadn't known this was going to happen when they were thrust into their current situation. If they had, then they wouldn't be here.
"This is Brian's fault." He muttered, blaming the Sheriff's idea to push the case along to find answers.
Sara nodded her agreement, but couldn't stop the feeling that he'd just broken the moment by mentioning an outsider's name. Even though she didn't know the Sheriff well, she knew she'd be beating his politically minded head into a rock the next time she saw him.
Sighing in resignation, she shuffled toward the bed and sat on the end. Her long legs stretched out as she flung herself backwards with a sigh. "I gotta say," She smiled wistfully, taking advantage of the thought and warmth. "This bed is s-u-r-e comfortable."
Grissom's lips rose at the edges as he watched her. Of course she'd find this amusing. They were set up, big and proper and there was no way out.
"Did Brass say anything about who our suspect was?" She asked, staring at the ceiling.
Rolling his shoulders lightly, he tried to relax. At least she wasn't angry or overly pissed at the fix they'd gotten themselves into.
"Yeah," He finally replied as he moved further into the room to take a closer look out the window and then over to a long couch. Easing himself onto it, he sighed with a smile. "Doctor Ian Jenkins." -No point in ruining the gently tension between them-
"Oh yeah, I remember the description Brass gave me." She said lightly, kicking off her shoes to crawl further onto the bed. She turned to face him as she settled on her front with her hands fixed under her chin. "He's around 5ft 6", muscular built, 39, dark brown hair," She paused and looked across at him. "What does he do?"
"You read the same file I did." He said, leaning his head back against a cushion.
She grinned. "Come on, you know you'll be telling me later." -God, I feel like my life was left at the life and I'm living a completely different one. I can't stop smiling-
He sighed and started talking to the room as his eyes roamed over several items of furniture. "Ok," He took a deep breath before continuing. "Doctor Ian Jenkins, couple psychiatrist. He's on vacation, but can't stop meddling in other's affairs. He's being watched by our FBI friend Sheridan and has been present in the same hotels each couple has be reported missing." He stopped and turned his head to see what she was doing. "Sara!" He called, seeing her lying on her back, hugging a pillow to her chest.
"I'm listening."
Pushing himself up, he walked towards her. She sounded tired and was probably falling asleep. "Is my voice that boring that I put you to sleep?"
She opened one eye to see him looking down at her with a curious smirk and his signature-raised eyebrow. She shook her head and closed her eyes again. "No." She said slowly.
"I see."
She smiled and shrugged. "I'm tired."
He nodded and turned to perch on the bed. "Why don't you get some sleep before we go find something to eat?" He suggested.
Taking a deep breath, she groaned as she rolled to her feet and trudged over to her suitcase. "Just be sure to wake me. I want to check out the place."
"Ok." He watched her place her case on a nearby chair and open it. She took out a few things before heading towards the overly large bathroom.
Once he was alone, he threw himself back and rubbed his face vigorously. -That must have been the most we've talked since she stood outside my office and asked me to dinner-
Thinking past that moment, he realised that they hadn't really been talking or working, for that matter, together for a long time.
The only problem with being undercover at the sugary-coated request from the FBI was that they had to pose as a married couple, on their honeymoon, together.
The shock didn't set in until they entered their hotel room and the bomb suddenly dropped when they realised what had happened. They had agreed forcefully to become married and take their honeymoon at a hotel with a serial possible killer.
Now that the reality of the whole ordeal was starting to set in and although it started out fine, so far, it could just as easily end in disaster.
~*^*^*~
Calling out his name from the bathroom, she stuck her head around the door when she got no reply. Tilting her head to one side to listen carefully, she couldn't hear a sound.
"Griss." She said more softly, but still there was no response.
Guessing he must have gone somewhere, she pulled her towel close to her chest and ventured out into the room. She walked towards her case and dug around to find shorts and a t-shirt.
Slipping on her nightclothes, she crawled into the soft bed and instantly fell into a warm and peaceful sleep.
~*^*^*~
It took Grissom a while to get down to reception and find a pay phone, but he found one nonetheless. Thinking it was stupid not bringing his cell with him, he'd also lectured himself about the consequences if he had brought it. Flying off to answer a work related call would be too suspicious if he was suppose to be on his honeymoon.
Punching in the numbers with too much force, he leaned against the side and waited. As soon as the voice echoed through the line, he interrupted. "How can I do this?"
"You'll be fine Gil. How's Sara?"
"I don't know, Catherine and Sara's fine. She should be sleeping. What the hell am I going to do?" He demanded in a hushed tone, tuning away from looking out at the lobby.
"Everything you need is in the black files. Brass checked out the reservations and everything is in your name, Mr and Mrs. Grissom. You are a smart man Gil, so don't blow your cover by upsetting Sara."
He sighed and dropped his shoulders. "Do you realise that we weren't on speaking terms?"
"Yes, I did and that's why this is a good idea. You could use the time to sort your private lives out. You've known each other too long to break the bond you both once had. Fix it Gil or you'll be sorry when she leaves for good."
Listening to her once again telling him that he had to fix the problem himself was painful to hear and that's why he knew she was right.
"I hate you." He grumbled and hung up.
He took his time getting back to the honeymoon suite. He used the space and time to gather his wits and figure out what the hell he was going to do. He can't act like he does at work and he can't keep his 'wife' at arms length if they were to be married. -This is so not going to work- He sighed.
Closing the door quietly, he looked around from his place by the door. He took a few minutes to collect himself and couldn't help but watch her sleep. He'd caught her sleeping in the break room plenty of times, but never in a bed.
Feeling exhausted all of a sudden, he decided that he'd better get some sleep as well.
Just under an hour and a half later Sara returned to the lab and began an urgent search for Grissom, she doubted he'd want to wait much longer. The time it took to get home was a nightmare with the traffic and finding appropriate clothes for the assignment was hell. She only hoped that Grissom wasn't upset with her tardiness.
"Hey Nick, you seen Grissom?" She called down the hallway.
"Missing him already?" He joked, understanding that it was the wrong thing to do when he received a swift punch in the arm for it and a frown that could reach the floor.
"Hey, that hurt!" He cried before getting to the point of answering her question. "He's leaving instructions with Greg." He finally revealed as Warrick and Catherine approached.
"I don't want to hear it," Sara declared as Warrick went to open his mouth undeniably to make fun of her.
"Man, I wish I was going with them. The two of them attempting to live with anyone else, especially each other, is something I would pay to see." Warrick confessed as she paced away.
"You mean, kill each other." Catherine corrected, still not able to believe that they were actually going to do this. -Like that had any choice- She grinned at the thought.
~*^*^*~
"So Greg," Grissom asked. "What can't you do when I'm gone?"
"Play punk rock at excessive levels, flirt with Catherine more than usual just because she's the boss or wear the evidence." Greg recited seriously.
"Good Greg," Grissom responded. He knew that this probably wasn't necessary as underneath his crazy exterior, Greg was a smart guy, but with some of the stunts he's pulled, you could never be sure.
"So you and Sara alone for 2 weeks huh? I am so jealous. I'll take your place, you know so you can stay here and supervise." Greg pleaded.
"Dream on, Greggo," Came Sara's voice, just as Grissom thought it, she may have annoyed him by being late and things may be stressed between them, but he wasn't going to give up this opportunity for anything, especially to Greg.
"Ah, here's Mrs. Grissom herself." Greg taunted, then promptly stopped as Sara came closer glaring at him.
"I've already heard that from the rest of the lab, Greg, you're too late."
"Sorry to interrupt Sara, but you're late," Grissom sighed, not understanding why this had bothered him so much, he didn't usually care, maybe because he knew that the next two weeks were going to be so difficult for them and it had gotten him a tad stressed.
"Yeah sorry, I know, it took longer to pack than I thought," She apologised.
"If we are going to be working together."
"And living." Piped up Greg
"And living." Echoed Grissom, "I need to know that I can rely on you to show up on time."
"You can!" Sara exclaimed. "I was a little late for the first time ever, give me a break," Sara snapped, a little offended at what he had said. -When have I ever been late? Jesus!-
"Let's go." Grissom said, motioning towards the door, noticing that she was turning to talk to Greg again.
"Okay, I'll just say goodbye to the others then."
"We don't have time, you were late," He reminded her.
Sara didn't know what had gotten into Grissom, but he was being a lot more impatient and snappy than usual.
"Well, I guess, I'll see you in two weeks, Greggo." She said, giving him a smile. She wasn't sure how he had gotten his name, but she kinda liked it. -It suited him- she thought. She had once given Grissom a nickname, 'Gruesome Grissom' She had called him back when they were at ease in each other's company, -But if he keeps acting like this- she thought, -You can forget about building bridges-
Foolishly, she had been starting to imagine that the two weeks to come could actually be bearable, but after his recent behaviour, she had had the realisation that this was going to be the most challenging two weeks of her life.
~*^*^*~
Grissom stared at the queen size bed with its white and cream covers. It mocked him from a distance as sudden, certain, erotic, thought's crashed through his mind in a blink of an eye.
Feeling more nervous than he had ever been in his life, he slowly and deliberately, turned to his right to see the only thing he'd ever dreamt of, to share such a large bed with.
Although he thought he was the only one panicking and readying to bang the door down, he wasn't.
Sara was having much the same thoughts, but with a few details added for measure, like her mind couldn't stop thinking that she hadn't even kissed the man standing beside her and she was going to be sharing the same bed.
Stealing a quickly glance at her partner in all this match making, she noticed the nervous twitch in his jaw and the small wrinkle around his right eye that wouldn't stop showing it's presence as he frowned.
Obviously they hadn't known this was going to happen when they were thrust into their current situation. If they had, then they wouldn't be here.
"This is Brian's fault." He muttered, blaming the Sheriff's idea to push the case along to find answers.
Sara nodded her agreement, but couldn't stop the feeling that he'd just broken the moment by mentioning an outsider's name. Even though she didn't know the Sheriff well, she knew she'd be beating his politically minded head into a rock the next time she saw him.
Sighing in resignation, she shuffled toward the bed and sat on the end. Her long legs stretched out as she flung herself backwards with a sigh. "I gotta say," She smiled wistfully, taking advantage of the thought and warmth. "This bed is s-u-r-e comfortable."
Grissom's lips rose at the edges as he watched her. Of course she'd find this amusing. They were set up, big and proper and there was no way out.
"Did Brass say anything about who our suspect was?" She asked, staring at the ceiling.
Rolling his shoulders lightly, he tried to relax. At least she wasn't angry or overly pissed at the fix they'd gotten themselves into.
"Yeah," He finally replied as he moved further into the room to take a closer look out the window and then over to a long couch. Easing himself onto it, he sighed with a smile. "Doctor Ian Jenkins." -No point in ruining the gently tension between them-
"Oh yeah, I remember the description Brass gave me." She said lightly, kicking off her shoes to crawl further onto the bed. She turned to face him as she settled on her front with her hands fixed under her chin. "He's around 5ft 6", muscular built, 39, dark brown hair," She paused and looked across at him. "What does he do?"
"You read the same file I did." He said, leaning his head back against a cushion.
She grinned. "Come on, you know you'll be telling me later." -God, I feel like my life was left at the life and I'm living a completely different one. I can't stop smiling-
He sighed and started talking to the room as his eyes roamed over several items of furniture. "Ok," He took a deep breath before continuing. "Doctor Ian Jenkins, couple psychiatrist. He's on vacation, but can't stop meddling in other's affairs. He's being watched by our FBI friend Sheridan and has been present in the same hotels each couple has be reported missing." He stopped and turned his head to see what she was doing. "Sara!" He called, seeing her lying on her back, hugging a pillow to her chest.
"I'm listening."
Pushing himself up, he walked towards her. She sounded tired and was probably falling asleep. "Is my voice that boring that I put you to sleep?"
She opened one eye to see him looking down at her with a curious smirk and his signature-raised eyebrow. She shook her head and closed her eyes again. "No." She said slowly.
"I see."
She smiled and shrugged. "I'm tired."
He nodded and turned to perch on the bed. "Why don't you get some sleep before we go find something to eat?" He suggested.
Taking a deep breath, she groaned as she rolled to her feet and trudged over to her suitcase. "Just be sure to wake me. I want to check out the place."
"Ok." He watched her place her case on a nearby chair and open it. She took out a few things before heading towards the overly large bathroom.
Once he was alone, he threw himself back and rubbed his face vigorously. -That must have been the most we've talked since she stood outside my office and asked me to dinner-
Thinking past that moment, he realised that they hadn't really been talking or working, for that matter, together for a long time.
The only problem with being undercover at the sugary-coated request from the FBI was that they had to pose as a married couple, on their honeymoon, together.
The shock didn't set in until they entered their hotel room and the bomb suddenly dropped when they realised what had happened. They had agreed forcefully to become married and take their honeymoon at a hotel with a serial possible killer.
Now that the reality of the whole ordeal was starting to set in and although it started out fine, so far, it could just as easily end in disaster.
~*^*^*~
Calling out his name from the bathroom, she stuck her head around the door when she got no reply. Tilting her head to one side to listen carefully, she couldn't hear a sound.
"Griss." She said more softly, but still there was no response.
Guessing he must have gone somewhere, she pulled her towel close to her chest and ventured out into the room. She walked towards her case and dug around to find shorts and a t-shirt.
Slipping on her nightclothes, she crawled into the soft bed and instantly fell into a warm and peaceful sleep.
~*^*^*~
It took Grissom a while to get down to reception and find a pay phone, but he found one nonetheless. Thinking it was stupid not bringing his cell with him, he'd also lectured himself about the consequences if he had brought it. Flying off to answer a work related call would be too suspicious if he was suppose to be on his honeymoon.
Punching in the numbers with too much force, he leaned against the side and waited. As soon as the voice echoed through the line, he interrupted. "How can I do this?"
"You'll be fine Gil. How's Sara?"
"I don't know, Catherine and Sara's fine. She should be sleeping. What the hell am I going to do?" He demanded in a hushed tone, tuning away from looking out at the lobby.
"Everything you need is in the black files. Brass checked out the reservations and everything is in your name, Mr and Mrs. Grissom. You are a smart man Gil, so don't blow your cover by upsetting Sara."
He sighed and dropped his shoulders. "Do you realise that we weren't on speaking terms?"
"Yes, I did and that's why this is a good idea. You could use the time to sort your private lives out. You've known each other too long to break the bond you both once had. Fix it Gil or you'll be sorry when she leaves for good."
Listening to her once again telling him that he had to fix the problem himself was painful to hear and that's why he knew she was right.
"I hate you." He grumbled and hung up.
He took his time getting back to the honeymoon suite. He used the space and time to gather his wits and figure out what the hell he was going to do. He can't act like he does at work and he can't keep his 'wife' at arms length if they were to be married. -This is so not going to work- He sighed.
Closing the door quietly, he looked around from his place by the door. He took a few minutes to collect himself and couldn't help but watch her sleep. He'd caught her sleeping in the break room plenty of times, but never in a bed.
Feeling exhausted all of a sudden, he decided that he'd better get some sleep as well.