Chapter 16

[Spoilers: None]

Sara stirred as the light through the curtains shone in her eyes and couldn't help but smile when she felt the weight of someone's arm wrapped around her. She shuffled her body so that she could turn to look up at him and saw blue eyes looking back at her.

-How long has he been awake? Oh god, he's awake and he's still holding me!-

"Hey," he whispered, "I was beginning to think you'd never wake up."

"Morning." she replied, trying to hide the shock in her voice.

She leaned in to him, resting her head on his shoulder, letting the warmth surround her and memorise everything about this moment.

"How are you feeling today?" he asked, absent-mindedly twirling her hair between his fingers.

"Much better, I needed that rest." she said, noticing the way that Grissom was so relaxed. "But I'll feel even better after a nice hot shower."

Grissom raised an eyebrow at this and remembered the last time Sara had taken a shower and fought hard to conceal a smile.

"You need any help?" he joked, trailing his hand along her arm. -Oh god, did I just say that? She knows I was just joking, right?-

-Did he just say that? Where is the real Grissom?-

"Nice try." Sara added, trying to keep the moment light, and reluctantly left his side and headed to the bathroom, unaware that Grissom was watching her and carefully filing away every move she made.

Grissom and Sara stepped off the elevator and instantly recognised Detective Jim Brass standing at the reception desk.

"Sara!" Allison squealed, obviously excited about something.

Grissom placed his hand on Sara's lower back and leaned into her, kissing her cheek once before breaking off and heading over to Brass.

Allison came to a stop in from of her friend with a giggle. "Sean's got a surprise for all of us!"

Sara smiled. "What is it?"

"Ah, it's a secret!" Allison gasped and turned to find Grissom. "Where's that husband of yours?"

Sara looked over to the reception desk and say both Brass and Grissom talking.

"Is that that policeman who pulled Gil away from us the other day?" Allison asked as she watched both men glance their way.

-Hmm- Sara shrugged. "Maybe."

-What are they talking about?- She wished Grissom could read her thoughts. Sara sighed and gave her full attention to her friend and made an excuse to go into the bar.

-I should really be keeping an eye on Sara- Grissom thought as he looked back at Brass.

"So, we can still take a break the rest of the day?" Grissom asked.

Brass nodded and gave his friend a warm chuckle. "Yes Gil. Give Sara my best and make sure she gets better." He patted Grissom's shoulder and left.

-Well, I'd better find Sara then- Grissom smirked to himself and set out to hunt down the two females that were currently driving himself and Sean into an early grave with their energy to do things outlandish like touring Vegas' casinos and monuments.

"Oh, Gil!" Brass shouted and jogged towards Grissom. "I almost forgot."

Grissom stared and waited. "What?"

Allison's husband appeared at that moment. "Hey, you're that police guy from the other day." Sean looked at Grissom. "Is he pestering your Gil?"

-Huh!?- Grissom's mind blanked.

Brass squared his shoulders. "Don't worry sir. I'm an old friend." He pulled out his wallet. "I work here at the LVPD." Brass flashed his badge and shook Sean's hand. "Detective Jim Brass. Gil's a colleague, of sorts."

Sean looked back and forth. "Really?"

-God!- Grissom sighed. "I should find Sara. She's still not feeling well." He turned to his new friend. "Sean, where would Ally take Sara?"

Brass jotted down something into his notepad and tore off a piece of paper to hand it, folded, to Grissom. "Call me when you get home Gil. It was good seeing you again."

"Like wise." Grissom chuckled, mostly at the weirdness of it all. -Call when I'm able to, was what Jim was saying-

"The bar." Grissom and Sean said a second later after the detective had left, but laughing.

"Hey Cath!" Brass called down the corridor, "I come bearing news."

"Really?" Catherine answered turning around, clearly intrigued. "Do tell."

"Well," he continued, catching up to her. "I don't think we're going to need to that plan of yours."

"What? Why?" she exclaimed, fearing the worst. "Is it really that hopeless?"

"No, no, no." he reassured her, "Quite the opposite in fact. I saw Griss earlier and he and Sara actually seemed quite chummy and relaxed, as though they might actually be enjoying themselves."

"Never! Those two!……. Chummy?!"

"Oh yeah!… It was weird," he confessed.

"But, what about my plan? I worked really hard on it." Catherine said, almost whining like Lindsey.

"Sorry Cath, looks like you'll have to put it on hold." he called back to her as he headed on down the corridor, leaving her standing there feeling dejected.

-What could possibly have happened to make those two chummy? Maybe they finally… no…they wouldn't…would they? They clearly like each other, but no they wouldn't, I mean, they're so private. I need to call Griss, I need details-

"Hey, don't worry about it." Warrick said tapping her on the shoulder, making her jump out of her reverie. She hadn't noticed him watching her from the break room doorway, "Knowing those two this peace won't last and you'll get to use your plan."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." she said watching him walk to Greg's lab. sShe had to admit she had a weakness for watching him do anything, but who wouldn't, he was hot.

Warrick took one last look from the doorway of Greg's lab, he couldn't resist, okay she was older but he couldn't help but find that attractive.

-Well, I guess I should go tell the others- she thought to herself.

"Hey Greggo." Warrick beamed as he entered the lab, "The plan's off, your life is now safe from Sara."

"No way!" Greg said, trying not to sound too relived, he wanted to help, but he didn't want to make Sara angry. "What happened?"

"Don't know the details but apparently our services are no longer required, anyway enough about that, you got my results yet?"

"No sorry, but you're next on my list."

"I gave you that hours ago. Nick jumped the queue again didn't he?" Warrick questioned.

"Sorry man, but he was desperate, he's got a really hot case. I promise, you are definitely next."

"I better be, page me. I'll be in ballistics." Warrick instructed as he left, spotting Nick.

"Sure thing." Greg added.

"Hey, Nick, you jumped the queue man," Warrick called to him.

"Yeah, I know, sorry about that. Brass was gonna let the guy go if I didn't get some hard evidence, I was desperate."

"No probs," Warrick replied, he knew what is was like to be pressed for time, "You talk to Catherine yet?"

"Yeah, I just saw her heading to Griss's office, she's on a mission to find out what exactly is going on with those two."

"How so?" Warrick enquired.

"She's gonna call him. I told her she was crazy and that he wouldn't appreciate it, but you know Catherine, she's gotta snoop." Nick said.

"Uh huh, damn straight." Warrick agreed.

"So, you gonna ask Cath out or what?" Nick pried.

"What? Where did that come from?" Warrick said stunned.

"Come on, you know you want to. I've seen the way you look at her." Nick said as though it was obvious, "Go on, you gotta give it a shot."

"Maybe I will," Warrick agreed slyly, "Lets just sort out Griss and Sara first."

"Yeah, anyway, gotta go, later man," Nick said.

"Later." Warrick echoed.

Sitting at Grissom's desk Catherine dialled the number of his cell. She knew that he wouldn't want to talk but they were old friends, he could confide in her and besides, the curiosity was killing her, she needed to know what was happening away from her supervision.

TBC