"Repercussions – Part 3"

August 4, 2005 (Day 104)
Boulder City Hospital
Emergency Room
7:02 p.m.

Nurse Tonya Bennett poked her head through the curtains of Catherine's ER cubicle with good news. "Dr. Ortiz will be here momentarily to go over your CT results."

"Thank god!" She pawed at her neck brace. "I feel like I'm one step away from a straight jacket in this thing."

Warrick checked his watch and said, "How about I take Lindsay to the cafeteria for some dinner and give you some privacy with the doctor?"

Lindsay once again agreed with the rational man's thinking. "Good idea because I'm starving!"

After brushing back her hair and planting a kiss on Catherine's forehead, Warrick asked, "Can I bring you something, Baby?"

"Something light…like a muffin." Then she lowered her voice to a whisper. "Thanks for ending the squabble with Lindsay. And don't forget, we still have to talk about me selling the house."

"No rush. Swing is covering for Graveyard tonight so I have until tomorrow's shift before I have to go in." He kissed her uncharacteristically dry and un-lipsticked lips. "You want us to stop at the gift shop and get you lip gloss for your TV spot?"

"Yeah." She loved having someone in her life thinking about the little things. As she watched him pull away and stand up, she said, "Don't take too long."

"Definitely not." Warrick pulled back the curtain. "Okay, Linds, let's grab some grub. And I want to hear all about your day at Softball Camp."

As she followed him, Lindsay enthusiastically relayed the details. "Coach Dan told me I did great today! I can't wait to show you my fast pitch. Do you think we'll have time when we get home?"

Alone and bored and still buzzing from her painkiller, Catherine shouted next door. "What are you two doing, because it's been awfully quiet over there?"

Sara came back with an answer she knew would put a smile on the frustrated patient's face. "Then you know we're not having sex because we're into loud lovin'."

Catherine's laughter confirmed Sara's success.

Grissom was quick to add. "We're reading…our other favorite pastime."

Which reminded Catherine of something she meant to tell Warrick to bring her. "Damn…I wanted a trashy celebrity gossip magazine."

Since she was without reading material she occupied herself the only other way a woman confined to bed wearing a restrictive neck brace could…she annoyed her neighbors. "Remember when you were alone in the hospital in Tahoe, Sara? I bought you that gossipy magazine to take your mind off the fact that Gil abandoned you there even though you almost died earlier that day." She swore she heard Grissom's eyes rolling from six feet away. "Did it help keep your mind off your breaking heart?"

Sara's voice boomed back. "Sorry to disappoint you, Troublemaker, but the statute of limitations on Tahoe ended the day I married Gil."

Grissom looked up from his pamphlet on the dangers of high cholesterol and smiled at his wife who was sitting in a chair next to the bed with her head buried in a booklet on the damage emotional stress does to the body. Tossing his reading material aside, he reached out and took his wife's right hand, yanking her towards the bed.

Leaving her pamphlet behind on her chair and careful not to disturb the IV tubes in her husband's right arm, Sara, cozily settled down next to him on the left.

"Thank you for that," He whispered in her ear so Catherine wouldn't know that Sara's revelation was new to him too.

"You know what I just realized?" She softly said in his ear as she snuggled against him. "Our twenty-hour kiss ran out at six o'clock and this sexy hospital gown you're wearing is driving me wild. Is your whistle finally wet enough to give me a new one?"

"Only one way to find out," He replied while grazing her lips with his. Moments later he learned that a kiss shared after discovering your wife has forgiven your biggest blunder is very freeing…and one that must be followed up by several more equally liberating smooches.

"Hello, Ms. Willows, I'm Dr. Ortiz. It's a pleasure to meet one of Vegas' finest female crime fighters."

The words on the other side of the curtain didn't disturb the psychologically emancipated newlyweds who were finding their first foray at stealthy amour in a public place surprisingly exhilarating.

"What's up, Doc?" Catherine purred as she took in the beauty and the brawn of the perfect male specimen leaning over her. "If you need to do a full physical, don't worry, I'll cooperate."

Those last words, however, snapped Sara out of her passionate mood. "Is she flirting with the doctor?" Sara breathlessly whispered in her husband's ear. "Did you hear her? Her tone? She is!"

"What?" He hadn't heard a thing. It had nothing to do with faulty ears but rather a preoccupation with his forgiving wife and her warm body pressed against him.

"Shh…listen."

"Ms Willows, your chart says you are forty-two but, looking at you, that can't be right. It's obvious that the nurse meant thirty-two."

Catherine's delighted giggle permeated the air.

Sara rolled her eyes. "They are flirting."

Grissom, who was trying to care about what his wife was saying while wishing she would stop talking, replied, "I think you're misinterpreting…"

"So Doc, how often do you work out?"

"Six days a week…running, swimming, pumping iron. I compete in triathlons."

"Uh huh…believe me, it shows, Honey."

"I do take pride in my physical fitness because as a medical professional, I believe I should walk the walk. How can I counsel patients to get in shape if I'm not? Thank you for noticing."

"I'm a Criminalist, it's my job to be observant." Her voice shifted lower. "And a guy like you makes my job a pleasure."

In a hushed voice, Sara asked her husband. "Do you believe me now? Warrick is in the cafeteria parenting her child while she flirts with another man! It's killing me to hear this."

Quietly he explained, "Flirting to Catherine is like breathing…she does it without thinking. She's not trying to pick up the guy."

"It says on your chart you're single, Ms. Willows."

"Now how is that relevant to my medical condition?" She chuckled wildly. "Or are you asking for another reason?"

"Busted…I was curious how a woman as gorgeous as you could stay single."

Like a cat in heat she meowed her answer. "It takes a lot of man to satisfy me and there are so few men up to the challenge."

Flushed with irritation, Sara heatedly whispered, "Don't you think by now she should have clarified she's with someone?"

"Would you consider giving me a shot, Ms. Willows?" The doctor optimistically asked.

Grissom placed his hand over his wife's mouth to prevent her from screaming prematurely. "Give her a chance."

"Sorry, Doc, I'm in a relationship."

"My loss. I guess I'll have to settle for treating you professionally."

Grissom removed his hand. "See."

"Unbelievable," Sara sighed. "She was stringing him along just to get him to ask her out so she could turn him down. Why play games when she has someone who cares about her? She's asking for trouble."

In his wife's ear, Grissom explained, "The attention she gets from men has always boosted her self-esteem. You know her story. It's been her addiction since she was a teenager and certainly since I've known her. Old habits die hard. It's not correlated to her feelings for Warrick. Trust me…he's aware of the issue."

Still uncomfortable, Sara whispered, "She's lucky Warrick is a patient man. Some men if they heard their wife flirting with a stranger would..." Her words stopped as she fought not to slip back into a painful childhood memory.

He knew the haunted look in her eyes. "Sara, I know why this is affecting you so strongly. I know because I understand you and I'm aware of your family history. I think Warrick understands Catherine and because he does, he's able to filter her actions. Once someone understands their partner's motivations, it's a lot easier to comprehend their behavior no matter how irrational, right? Isn't that why you've forgiven me about Tahoe?"

His words brought to mind a quote and she recited it. "If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday."

"Pearl S. Buck."

"Ugh. Will I ever stump you?"

"Don't stop trying." He smoothed her hair as he stared into her glassy eyes. "You know what else Pearl S. Buck said…The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart."

"Thanks for answering mine." She grinned.

"Thanks for calling so many times."

They sweetly chuckled together and then Grissom, in the mood to feel superior at something today after feeling humiliated about his lackluster lab results, said, "I know one more of her quotes, do you?"

After ferreting through the wealth of knowledge in her brain she admitted, "I'm tapped."

"You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings."

Sara heaved a heavy sigh. "That quote reminds me of Greg. When the accident happened I totally forgot about him and Tawny. I hope he's okay. I wonder if he even talked to her today."

Greg's Apartment

7:20 p.m.

As Tawny, still dressed from her shift at the Cheesecake Factory, stepped inside Greg's one-bedroom apartment, the realization hit her. "In the weeks we've been together, you came to my place every day. You never invited me to yours."

"Uh…"

It wasn't the first time a guy excluded her from seeing his place. She knew since Greg wasn't married or in a relationship that wasn't his motivation for keeping her out. So it had to be the other common reason…he didn't really want her in his life. This invitation tonight was obligatory because of the baby.

Greg jittered about the living/dining area and kitchen turning on lights. "Well you can see why I didn't have you over, can't you? It's pretty sparse…just state-of-the-art electronics, thousands of CDs and DVDS, and a few pieces of furniture. A typical bachelor pad. Not much in my kitchen except gourmet coffee and booze. Your place is much more comfortable for hanging out." He hoped she bought the story.

"It's okay, Greg." Dropping her faux Kate Spade floral purse on the floor, she took a seat on his black leather couch. "Let's not pretend that we had some great romance. We've never even had a real date." Nervously tapping her candy apple red nails on the leather, she said with resignation, "You met me in a strip club and you came to my apartment every day for a booty call. You were nice to me and brought me breakfast…a pretty good deal for a girl like me. You're cute and funny and you hung around after instead of bolting after using the bathroom. Above all, you were always sweet to me. After getting knocked around enough in my life I…"

His arms crossed, Greg leaned against a white living room wall staring at the floor.

"…what I'm saying is…I was happy to have you keep coming back so, don't feel guilty. You treated me way better than guys who actually took me out on dates. Probably because they felt like I owed them something."

"Tawny, I…" Then he saw the emotion on her face and lost his words.

"It's okay. I know what I am, Greg. I didn't start out this way but I know what I've become. I'm a stripper with a grade-A boob job who has spent years shaking her ass in perverts' faces for money. Hell, I even tried to get your boss in the VIP room. I have no right to expect a nice, educated guy like you to bring me home and treat me with respect." Her words started catching on the lump in her throat. "It must make you sick to think of your child having me for a mother. No wonder you asked about terminating the pregnancy."

It was an impossible situation and he didn't know how to respond. Everything she was saying he had indeed thought. Yet…he wanted her to know it wasn't true, but if he said it wasn't true she would know he was lying. The last thing she needed in her life was another lie from another guy. And just when he thought the situation couldn't get more tortuous, Tawny presented an unexpected option.

Tears began streaming down her cheeks. "I'll do it for you, Greg, because you've been so nice to me. You really are a great guy…you offered to take care of me and let me move in. But, even though it would be the sweetest deal I've had since I was little girl, I won't ruin your life." Wiping her tears with the sleeve of her white Cheesecake Factory uniform shirt, she gasped for air. "What difference does it make if I do one more terrible thing in my life, right? How much worse could it make me feel about myself? It's not like it will hurt my reputation. Maybe it will even help because for once, I'll be able to prove I'm not just out to trap a guy for his money. If you promise you'll go with me to…to do it…I'll call the clinic tomorrow and make an appointment."

All he had to say was okay and the nightmare would end. Or would it? Maybe instead of ending, a couple of new ones would begin. It wasn't something they could try and then decide wasn't a good option. But neither was parenthood.

For the first time, he really looked at Tawny…looked into her eyes…peered into her soul. And while he was there gaping at her, he heard Grissom's words again… I doubt many girls dream of her life. She's at a place a girl ends up when dreams don't pan out. If given the right circumstances and a few breaks from someone who cares, Tawny may be capable of much more than you know.

Suddenly the decision was crystal clear. "Tawny, I…I don't know if we can make this work between us as a couple but, there is one thing I do know...if I asked you to do something that would destroy another piece of you…what little there is left of your spirit…I couldn't live with myself. Don't call for an appointment." Quickly, he crossed the room and sat beside her, taking her hands. "And just so we're clear, it's not guilt that's driving me, it's responsibility. I want you to move in so I can take responsibility for what I created just as much as you did…this situation…this baby."

She would have bet a million dollars he would jump at the opportunity she presented, so his unanticipated opposite reaction left her stunned. "Really?"

"Really." Standing up, he pulled her to her feet. "Come on, I'll show you where the bathroom is so you can splash some cold water on your face."

"Greg…"

He froze in the hallway, fearing she would blurt those same three words she said earlier on the phone but instead, she said five different ones in the most grateful tone he ever heard.

"Thanks for caring about me." Once again her eyes were overflowing. "I'm not used to anyone caring."

Pulling her in his arms, he soothed, "You'll get used to it."

Vancouver
Le Gavroche
7:40 p.m.

As he filled his date's wine glass with more Pinot Noir, Brass casually asked, "So, Ms. Duvall, what do you do for a living?"

"Please…call me Heather." Demurely she lowered her wine glass. "After the intense kiss we shared, I think we should be on a first name basis, don't you?"

"Yes, Heather…the kiss was intense." He returned the wine bottle to the bucket.

"So, you want to know what I do for a living?"

"I'm curious, yes." He raised his glass anticipating she would say librarian.

"I started out as a personal trainer and now I'm a life coach who manages a very successful…training center."

He struggled not to spit out the sip of Pinot Noir he had just taken and when he finally swallowed it, he said, "So people come to you and you whip them into shape?"

"Not at all." Coiling her fingers around the stem of her wine glass, she explained, "It's not that simple I'm afraid. First we must identify a client's fitness goals, because most of the time clients arrive without knowing what it is they are trying to achieve. Once the identification process is complete, we gently guide them toward the identified goals using various motivational techniques and state of the art equipment. Once a client's goals are actualized, we may never see them again, but many return regularly for refresher courses or because they have transgressed and feel they need…a pep talk."

"Fascinating explanation." He paused to enjoy his wine and her smile. "What spurred your interest in the field?"

"A confluence of events actually." She shook her head as she lifted her wine glass. "It's not a story a woman tells on a first date if she wants her date to stay." When she finished her sip, she firmly planted the glass on the white linen tablecloth.

"Now I'm very intrigued." Reaching across the table, he placed his hand on hers. "I promise I won't end the date early, because I'm really looking forward to my Halibut."

A smile spread over her face and she boldly told the tale. "Very well then…because I know you're a sure thing. When I was nineteen and in college I found out I was pregnant. My boyfriend and I immediately married even though we were a horrible match. He felt I was too independent and kept trying to control me. One day, shortly after my daughter Zoe's second birthday, he tried a little too hard and I exercised a little self-empowerment. While my soon to be ex-husband was at the hospital being stitched, I packed and moved to Vegas with my daughter in tow. A woman in our apartment complex worked as a personal trainer and told me how good the money was so I applied and was hired on the spot because the owner of the training facility felt I had the right background and personal experience for the job. Within a year I was the most sought after trainer in the business and five years later, when the owner retired, I bought her out and expanded the facility and the services offered. A few years ago I forged into a new domain…coaching via the Internet. Today my business is the most lucrative of its kind."

Brass raised his glass to her. "To you, my lady…another soul who has managed to live out the American Capitalist's dream…financial success from nothing, achieved through the unquenchable desire to persevere in the face of adversity and…you did it while helping those in dire need. You're so close to sainthood I almost feel guilty about the heated kiss we shared."

Clinking her glass to his, she grinned uncontrollably. "So now it's your turn. What do you do for a living, Jim?"

"I'm a shoe salesman."

Her laughter overpowered the romantic tranquility of the room.

Brass sighed as he lowered his shoulders. "No one respects a good shoe salesman these days."

"Did you choose your profession because you have a foot fetish? I've heard of people with kinky habits like that."

"I'm just yanking your chain." Grabbing the bottle of wine, he refilled their glasses. "I'm an actor. I play a Crime Lab Director on a TV drama. Perhaps you've heard of it? Cool Cops and the Nerdy Lab Rats Who Help Them?"

"I'm afraid I haven't caught it. Is it by chance on at the same time as The Apprentice, because that's my favorite show? You'll have to tell me about it."

He gladly indulged her. "Well, I'm the star of course. Although the lab rats would like to think forensic science is why people tune in. As if! Everyone knows they watch for my character's witty one liners. Anyway, the cast of characters is truly colorful…"

Boulder City Hospital

Conference Room

7:54 p.m.

Redressed in the blue pants and white v-neck white t-shirt he had on under his coveralls earlier today, Grissom emerged from the hospital bathroom.

Leaning against the wall in the hallway, Sara asked, "Did you miss me when you were in there all alone?"

"No comment."

"Prepping for your TV interview already, huh?" She unfurled his beige button-down shirt that had been tied around her waist. "Sorry…but I don't think you'll want to put this on. It's covered in tear stains and miscellaneous slobber. Completely overrun with my DNA I'm afraid."

He remembered the doctor's prescription…watch the footage of my wife crying on TV because she thought I was dead. "Sara, I want you to know that…"

"There they are!" Ana Silva strutted over with her trusty cameraman, Ed, on her heels. "Mr. and Mrs. Happily Ever After!" Forcefully shaking the man's hand, she introduced herself. "Gil Grissom, Ana Silva, KTBC. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Your wife told me so many wonderful things about you."

Unimpressed by the flamboyant woman, he droned, "As I understand it, the only reason we're doing this interview is because my wife told you so many things about me."

Sara eyed the invasive reporter with contempt. "You exploited me when I was under duress!"

Ana found the accusation amusing. "No…I captured the news on film when it was presented to me. It's my job. I don't tell you how to catch killers…you don't tell me how to get a story. Okay then, let's hustle to the conference room. I've been told everyone else will be there within ten minutes."

Sara and Grissom trailed behind the hyper reporter, choking on the scent of her cheap perfume.

"She even smells phony," Grissom remarked as they turned the corner to get to the conference room. "That's faux Chanel No. 5."

"Noooo, it's faux Chanel No. 19. I distinctively remember that scent from the case at Caesar's with the woman in tub…."

"Sorry, the case at Caesar's was Chanel No. 5. The whole bathroom suite reeked of it."

"Wrong!" Sara huffed with delight at her husband's mistake. "You're confusing the case at Caesar's with the case at Bally's…the woman had…"

"Noooo…you are confusing them."

When they stepped inside the conference room, Sara shouted across the room. "Hey, News Diva, that perfume you're wearing, what's it a knockoff of?"

"Chanel No. 19."

"HA!" Sara jumped for joy. "I'm right and you're wrong!"

Grissom lowered his head in shame. "I don't believe it."

Sara was more than happy to fill in the blanks. "Chanel No. 5 is floral, Chanel 19 is floral green, while it has jasmine, rose, iris and ylang ylang like No. 5, it also has bergamot, vetiver and sandalwood. The case at Caesar's had the dead woman in the tub, the perfume in the bath water and the bottle intact. The case at Bally's had the dead woman in the tub, the perfume bottle broken and the glass was used to slit her wrists."

Now he remembered. "Both had drowning as primary COD both unnatural MNDs, Caesar's ruled accidental, Bally's first thought to be suicide but then we changed it to homicide. The killer thought if he slit the girl's wrists after he drowned her it would look like she killed herself. As if we wouldn't catch that…the absence of test lacerations and the angle of the wounds alone gave it away."

Ed glanced at Ana. "Those two are your romantic couple? They're geeks! This is going to be the most boring interview of the century. What the hell is vetiver? Who knows that?"

"Have you been rolling tape on them?"

"Since they walked in the door."

"Keep shooting." Ana lurked in the far corner of the room. "Sara, what's vetiver?"

"Vetiver is a grass of tropical India cultivated for its aromatic roots that yield oil popular in perfume."

"It's not limited to India," Grissom corrected, "It can also be found in Japan, Indonesia and Sri Lanka where they refer to it as the oil of tranquility."

"Thanks." Ana motioned for her cameraman to follow her. "Ed and I will be back in a few."

Sara and Grissom fell silent until the newshounds left the room and closed the door.

"I can't believe you got the perfume wrong!" Sara revisited her victory. "I should have bet you."

"Too late." He slipped his arms around her waist. "I can't believe I confused those cases." Depressed, he sighed, "Maybe I should be tested for Alzheimer's too."

His comment put her in stitches. "You confuse cases for the first time in decades and you're worried you're losing your memory!" Caressing his cheek, she said, "Honey, you really are feeling blue about your blood work and your hearing test, aren't you?"

"It feels like I'm suddenly falling apart at the seams."

Maybe this will cheer you up." She gently pressed her lips to his then covered his mouth in a velvety kiss. When she finally broke the kiss, she murmured, "No matter what obstacles life throws our way, you'll always be the only man for me, Gil."

In a deep, sensual tone, he replied, "Then I'm the luckiest man alive, Sara. I love you."

"I love you too."

When the conference room door opened, the newlyweds quickly separated.

Ana and Ed entered accompanied by Hank Peddigrew.

"What's Hank doing here?" Sara asked in a surprised tone.

"He's the Rescue Hero," Ana informed her. "Hey, don't you think your tone is a little snarky considering the man saved your husband's life?"

Hank laughed. "Sara's my ex-girlfriend."

"What!" Ana, beaming with excitement, turned to Ed. "The ex-boyfriend saved her husband! Is my Karma great today or what!"

"Don't give her more information, Peddigrew!" Sara blasted.

Ana whisked him off to the corner of the room.

In Sara's ear, Grissom whispered, "Too bad Brass is indisposed. He'd love this."

"Yeah, Brass would be giving Ana plenty of fodder," She quipped. "And then Lady Heather could walk through the door and the News Diva would have enough for a documentary."

"Shouldn't the statute of limitations be up on Lady Heather since that was years before Tahoe?" He asked in a hopeful tone.

Being a reasonable woman, Sara replied, "Yeah…the day she apologizes to me for being such a ruthless bitch, I'll drop it."

Grissom knew the odds of that happening were the same as Ana Silva saying, that's just too personal to exploit on camera.

"Okay, Ms. Silva," Nick called out as he walked through the door. "Here's your other exclusive." Catherine breezed into the room looking fresh as a daisy, with perfect make up and hair, followed by Lindsay and Warrick. "This is Catherine Willows, a valued member of Grissom's team. She was trapped in the building with him the whole time but we kept it hush to protect her daughter, Lindsay."

Ana Silva looked to the heavens, where she was sure her guardian angel was taking care of business. "Thank you!" She rushed over. "Ms. Willows, you clean up well."

"Thank you." Immediately Catherine began to compare herself to the twenty-something News goddess. Are her boobs perkier? Are her lips fuller?

"I'm Lindsay," The excited teenager waved. "Can you make sure my mom doesn't hog the screen when we're filming because I called all my friends and told them I'd be on TV later."

"Sure Sweetie," Ana condescended. Then she looked to the fine specimen standing in silence. "Who are you?"

"Warrick Brown." He extended his hand. "I'm…"

"You're perfect to hook the minority demographic!" Ana squealed with delight. "Now if only there was a Hispanic character in this story."

"This isn't a story and we're not characters," Sara barked. "We're real people and our private lives shouldn't be sacrificed to give you air time."

Ana raised her brow at the headstrong woman. "Would be nice if the world worked that way but it doesn't, Mrs. G."

"Mrs. G?" Sara shook her head.

"Sorry I'm late." The doctor strolled into the room grinning like a movie star. "I'm Dr. Manuel Ortiz, the physician who treated the victims."

"Oy Dios Mio!" Ana pinched herself to make sure it wasn't a dream….a hunky Hispanic doctor. It was all coming together. "Okay, I need Gil and Sara over here." She pointed to two chairs and one microphone. "Then Ms. Willows and her family over here." She gestured to the second microphone. "And then the doctor and the rescuer in the middle along with Mr. Stokes, the Director of the Crime Lab."

"What?" Grissom gaped at Nick. "You promoted yourself for TV?"

"That's Acting Assistant Director of the Crime Lab," He corrected while enjoying the misunderstanding. "But now that I heard her say it the other way, I know what I want to be when I grow up and, let's face it Gris, you don't want the job."

"Okay people!" She clapped to get their attention. "First some business." She handed out the release waivers. "Consent to be filmed without being compensated and acknowledgement that during the editing process some of what you say may be cut or re-arranged. Sign away."

Reluctantly, and only because they were being blackmailed to keep the other tape off the air, Sara and Grissom signed the papers along with the others.

"Great!" Ana collected the papers and tossed them aside. "Now, I need Gil and Sara to cozy up."

"What? No!" Grissom protested. "The whole city will see me publicly displaying affection!"

"Fat chance!" Catherine chortled, "I've never even seen them kiss and they're some of my closest friends!"

Ana laid down the law. "Work with me Gil or I'll have to use the other tape."

"And I don't care!" Then he realized that wasn't an option. "Okay, fine. During the interview, I'll reach out and hold her hand."

"A lousy hand hold!" She blasted. "I think the audience deserves more than just you holding Sara's hand after such an emotional experience! Would it kill you to toss your arm around her and pull her in for a hug!"

"Brrrr." Hank shook with laughter. "The two of you really are a perfect match! Have you even consummated the marriage yet, Sara?"

Sara shot her ex a dagger. "Keep it up, Peddigrew and someone is going to have to rescue you from me."

Grissom wasn't satisfied with the vagueness of her reply. "In response to your question, we've only been married eight days but, we're in double digits."

"Nice, Gris." Warrick was impressed and completely understood why his boss wouldn't keep quiet about those details to Sara's smartass ex.

Ed motioned for Ana to join him. "Don't worry about pushing the Grissoms for action. They provided plenty when we were out of the room." He put the headphones on her ears and pointed to the playback monitor.

With wide eyes, Ana watched the loving kiss and when the words followed, she gasped. No matter what obstacles life throws our way, you'll always be the only man for me, Gil. Then I'm the luckiest man alive, Sara. When she removed the headphones and handed them to Ed, she shook with excitement. "That's gold! It fits perfectly! Editing is going to be so much fun!" Ana returned to the gang with an extra bounce in her already perky step. "We're ready to roll, people. Oh and Gil…I'm sorry for being pushy. Don't do anything you're not comfortable doing."

Pleased that he made the insensitive woman see the light, he smugly said, "Thank you for respecting our privacy."

"In five…four…three…two…one…"