Post-Butterflied
Disclaimer: I still don't own CSI and get no profit from writing these stories…yadda yadda yadda.
Chapter 22
Grissom grabbed Sara's suitcase from the baggage claim and handed it to her.
"What do you have in here, honey?" Grissom teased.
"A few days worth of clothes, it's not that heavy you wimp," Sara laughed.
"Oh, so I'm a wimp?" Grissom asked.
"Yes, but I love you anyway," Sara grinned.
"I love you too, Sara," Grissom shook his head, "let's go pick up our rental car, shall we?"
"So what's on our schedule for today," Sara asked.
"We have to go check in at the hotel, then we go to the university for the guest speaker orientation," Grissom told her, "and they are supposed to be serving us lunch."
"All right, sounds like a plan," Sara said.
"Then tonight we are going to sit on the first lectures. Tomorrow is our turn," Grissom explained, "we can practice tomorrow morning if you want."
"Definitely, I don't want to be up in front of a bunch of people and forget what I'm supposed to be saying and doing," Sara laughed, "that would really convince me to teach again."
"You're going to do fine, just don't let it get to you," Grissom told her, "I've taught seminars for years and you know how quiet I am."
"True," Sara agreed, "and you'll be up there with me the whole time, you're running the show."
"You'll be my lovely assistant," Grissom flashed her a smile.
They reached the car rental desk and Grissom filled out the proper paperwork so they could be on their way to the hotel. It was a short drive to the hotel they were staying at, so they had more time than anticipated to get settled in.
"This room is pretty nice," Sara sat on the edge of the bed.
"Yes," Grissom agreed, "I think the best part is the fact that we don't have to pay for it."
"Which is why I expected maybe the hotel wouldn't be this nice," Sara smiled.
"It's nice to have a few days off work together," Grissom said, "if you hadn't come along with me, it might not have been so nice."
"Are you trying to say you would have missed me?" Sara asked.
Grissom smiled, "Yeah, I guess that's what I was trying to say. After we're done with the seminar stuff for today, would you like to go to dinner?"
"I'd love to," Sara replied.
"Good, I know this great little place to go," Grissom told her, "you'll love it."
"I can't wait," Sara told him.
"Me either," Grissom smiled mischievously.
Grissom told Sara to dress semi-nicely for their dinner date, so she put on the black dress she had brought along. Before they left, she had the feeling Grissom might try to take her somewhere where she'd have to dress nicely. They were riding in the car for a while and Sara was beginning to wonder just where they were going.
"This looks like a residential area, are you sure you know where you're going?" Sara asked.
"Trust me," Grissom said, "I know where I'm going."
"All right," Sara watched out the window as they passed house after house.
"We're almost there," Grissom told her, making a right turn.
"I don't see any restaurants," Sara turned to him suspiciously.
"Who said anything about a restaurant?" Grissom stopped the car and gave her a big grin.
"You said you knew this great little place," Sara told him.
"Yes, and you just assumed I meant a restaurant," Grissom got out of the car and opened her door for her.
"What are we doing here?" Sara asked.
"Just a minute and you'll see," Grissom lead her to the door and a woman opened the door before they had a chance to knock.
"Gil!" the older woman scooped Grissom into her arms, "how are you son?"
"Son?" Sara asked.
"Sara Sidle, this is my mother, Mom, this is the woman I've been telling you about," Grissom introduced them.
"Hello dear," Mrs. Grissom hugged Sara too.
"I thought you told me your mother was deaf," Sara asked.
"Oh I am, but I lost my hearing at a late enough age that I can still speak. I read lips very well. So you don't have to worry about sign language, just make sure I can see your mouth when you talk," Mrs. Grissom explained.
"Let's get inside instead of just standing here on the porch," Grissom suggested.
"Where are my manners? Come on in you two," she stepped aside to allow the younger pair inside.
Sara followed Grissom into the small house and could smell food cooking.
"I told you I knew a nice little place," Grissom winked.
"This was definitely not what I had in mind," Sara smiled, "but I'm glad you brought me here."
"Dinner's nearly ready," his mother announced, "Gil told me you were a vegetarian, so I made some vegetarian soup."
"Sounds great," Sara smiled.
"You'll like it, my mother is a good cook," Grissom said.
"I knew when you were in town that you couldn't resist," his mother smiled, "you always were a sucker for a good home cooked meal."
Grissom and Sara sat down at the table while his mother carried in their dinner. Everyone got their food and started to eat.
"Wow, this is really good," Sara complimented.
"Yes, it's good as always, Mom," Grissom put in.
"Thank you," Mrs. Grissom was pleased, "so Gil tells me you two have worked together for several years."
"Yes, we originally met when I was a graduate student," Sara explained, "then Gil asked me to come help him out in Las Vegas for a week. That week turned into nearly four years."
"We only recently started dating," Grissom added, "both of us were afraid to say anything to each other. It turns out we've been crazy for each other the whole time."
"I'm just glad that Gil found someone, and you seem like a really nice woman," Mrs. Grissom said.
"Thank you," Sara smiled, "I'm glad to finally his mother. Gil keeps to himself so much, I hardly hear anything about his family."
"Gil was always the quiet kid," Mrs. Grissom shook her head, "and apparently he never grew out of it."
"I think it's too late for that Mom," Grissom chuckled, "I don't think it's just a stage that I will grow out of."
"We'll see about that," Sara teased.
They sat around the table and talked for several more hours before Grissom and Sara had to head back to their hotel. They had to get up relatively early to prepare for their seminar the next day.
"Gil, I'm so glad you stopped by, it was good to see you again," Mrs. Grissom placed a kiss on his cheek, "and Sara, I'm so glad I could finally meet you. You know he mentions you every time he writes a letter to me."
"It was great meeting you too," Sara hugged Grissom's mother.
"I hope you two can stop by again some time," Mrs. Grissom said.
"Next time we're in California," Grissom assured her, "in the meantime, I'll be sure to keep writing you letters."
"Goodbye," she waved as they got into their rented car.
A/N: Glad you guys are still enjoying the story, I have had a lot of fun writing it. I'm not sure how many more chapters are left, but it's definitely winding down.
