"Repercussions – Part 4"

August 4, 2005 (Day 104)
The Grissoms'
9:09 p.m.

When Nick pulled into the driveway, he turned to Grissom. "I bet you've never been happier to be home."

"No kidding." Before he could reach for the door handle, Sara was out of the backseat and opening the passenger door. Still a little sore, he took Sara's hand and slowly stood.

"Good night, Nick." Sara, anxious to finally be alone with her husband, wasn't in the mood for small talk. "See you tomorrow."

"Since your cars are at the station, Sara, I'll pick you up for work at six, okay?"

"Thanks," they chimed as Sara shut the car door.

While Nick backed out of the driveway, Sara took Grissom's hand and started for the front door. "Still up for a bubble bath?"

"I think I should hit the Jacuzzi to help my sore…"

"The Jacuzzi!" Stopping, she gaped at her reckless husband. "Are you crazy! You'll boil the boys!"

"Totally forgot about the Jacuzzi ban." Squeezing her hand, he started walking for the front door. "But hey…at least I get poultry in the kitchen again."

When they reached the front porch, Sara saw a delivery box. "I wonder what's in…"

"The ovulation predictor kit, remember?"

"That's right! Once we try with the help of technology we'll know better if our project is feasible!" Brimming with excitement, she tore open the package and retrieved its contents. "I can't wait to…" Her sentence ended when she saw a bunch of people rushing towards the front door. "What the…"

"Mr. and Mrs. Grissom!" Blanche Carson, the neighbor in the house to the right, shouted. "It's our Senior Ladies Poker Night and when we saw you arrive, we had to come over and say we're so glad you're safe, Mr. Grissom."

Overwhelmed by the dozen wistful women standing before him, Grissom stammered, "Uh…well…thank you, Ladies."

"Here, Bubala." Doris Schwartz presented a tray full of chocolate chunk cookies to Sara. "A little something for you to nosh on in case you need some sweets. And you should eat up because look at you…you're a rail! It's a wonder you can walk on those toothpick legs. Obviously you don't have to worry about the calories going to your hips like my daughter Barbara does. Every day I to listen to her kvetch about her weight. She has a bad metabolism…the girl looks at a cookie and she gains ten pounds."

"Thanks." In order to accept the tray, she handed the ovulation kit to Grissom. "This is really nice of you."

The gaggle of grandmas giggled at the sight of the pregnancy related item and all at once started giving their two cents.

"Looks like someone is going to be a busy man!"

"Wear boxers so you don't suffocate your sperm!"

"Prop your hips with a pillow, Sara, and don't move for a half hour after sex so the little swimmers don't have to battle Gravity!"

"What hips, Blanche? The girl is a bean pole. Tomorrow I'll bring over some of my kugel to help fatten her up."

"Take cough syrup. I don't remember what it does, but it does something."

"Don't get fancy! Missionary is best!"

Sara finally held up her hand. "Thank you for the…um…unsolicited but heartfelt advice! Um…you know…my husband is really tired so…"

The ladies snickered and Doris was their spokesperson. "We understand…enough kibitzing…you have business to attend to. Good night, kids."

"Oh god." Sara headed for the door. "That was way more embarrassing than the questions the reporter asked. Those women were giving us sex instructions!"

"Well…now it can only get better, not worse, when we watch the news."

Catherine's House
9:14 p.m.

After marching Lindsay to her room, Catherine shut the door and began the interrogation. "What were you thinking!"

Plopping down on her hot pink satin comforter and clutching a purple throw pillow, Lindsay remained silent.

"Can I get an answer?"

"What was the question?" Lindsay asked as she stared dreamily at her collection of Usher posers pinned over her bed.

"Ugh!" Catherine marched across the room. "Why did you say Warrick was your step dad!"

"Because."

"Look at me!" Catherine insisted as she loomed over her daughter. "That's not something you decide one day, Lindsay! And you did it in front of everyone! On camera! What were you thinking!"

"I was thinking if I said it then it would happen!" Jumping up from the bed, she shouted, "Before Warrick came along you were never home with me. You were always running around with a different guy! Now you finally have one who cares about me too. I don't want you to dump him like the rest of the men you tossed away when you were done with them! Do you know how many guys I've seen you with here and then never saw again!"

"I will not have you speak that way with me!"

"Why? It's all true!" Her eyes welled with tears. "The only reason you've been involved in my life lately is because Warrick makes you! Because he doesn't mind you having a kid like the rest of them did. The only reason I did better at school and made the softball team is because Warrick helped me! If he goes away then everything will go back to the way it was before. I don't care that he's not related to me! If I had to choose a parent I'd pick him over you any day!"

Her daughter's words were a slap across the face and her voice reflected the pain. "You don't mean that."

"Yes I do!" Lindsay shouted before running into her bathroom and slamming the door.

Devastated from the veracity and intensity of her daughter's accusations, Catherine took a seat on the edge of the bed.

Carrie's Apartment
9:22 p.m.

"Baby, I'm home!" Nick called out as soon as he had one foot in the door.

"I'm busy in the kitchen," She shouted. "Why don't you hit the shower and we'll talk later?"

Disappointment seized him when she showed no enthusiasm for his arrival. "Yeah…I…I'm going to hit the shower."

"Great."

On his way to the bedroom, he unbuttoned his shirt while thinking, here I have my best day at work ever and she doesn't even care! I was the man out there today. I took over as Assistant Director, I kept Sara calm, I had my team working the case and they finally came together. Damn, I was good. All I wanted to do was come home and celebrate with my fiancée, but she's ignoring me!

When he reached the bedroom, he threw his shirt on a chair and shed the rest of his clothes while continuing his mental grumbling. I can understand if she's got work stuff but come on…five minutes wouldn't kill her. It's not like today was a typical day for me! Is this what it's going to be like when we're married? What if I have rough day at work? Is she going to care? I always care about her stuff.

Upon entering the master bathroom, he huffed over to the shower. After reaching in and turning the handle to hot, he leaned against the wall to wait for the temperature to rise. Lowering his head he groaned, "This night is not turning out the way…"

"Are you talking to me?" Carrie asked from her position in the doorway. Wearing only a towel and holding two glasses of champagne, she devilishly grinned. "You didn't think I'd ignore you on your best day of work ever, did you?"

"Not for a minute," He lied through his best cowboy smile. "Does this mean you're going to join me?"

"Oh yeah." Crossing the room, she extended a glass. "But first…a toast."

"Hit it, because I can't wait much longer to kiss you."

Lifting her flute of bubbly, she said, "To Nick Stokes, the best CSI, Supervisor and Acting Director this town has ever seen." She tapped her glass to his. "Way to go."

While the steam from the hot shower began filling the room, they seductively eyed each other and gulped down their celebratory drinks. And when they were done, Nick took Carrie's champagne glass and set it on the bathroom counter with his. "Shower time," He announced as he yanked off her towel.

"Ah!" The deft removal caught her off guard. "Smooth Stokes strikes again."

With a cocky smile plastered on his face he opened the shower door. "We live in a desert, Baby…let's not waste water…or time."

As requested, she entered the stall and let the heated water drench her body, but he didn't follow. Smoothing back her long wet hair, she grinned and coyly said, "The water is nice. Won't you come for a dip?" She grabbed the soap and tormented him.

"Hot damn!" He excitedly exclaimed before rushing in and consuming her with an ardent kiss that led to a string of equally energetic ones in between declarations and lathering.

"Mmm…this is just what I needed to come home to after a rough day at the office."

"I was so proud of you today, Baby."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"I still love hearing you shout that word."

"And here I was ready to shout something else."

"Another affirmation?"

"More like a command."

"Hell, I'm tired of being the boss today so, go for it."

Catherine's House
9:33 p.m.

Lounging on the couch watching ESPN, Warrick tilted back his second beer of the evening and focused on the baseball scores ticking across the bottom of the big screen.

"Hey," Catherine softly said as she plopped on the couch next to him. "Guess you heard all that, huh?"

"I was trying not to." Grabbing the remote, he muted the loud TV.

"I don't blame her for liking you more than me," she laboriously sighed. "Most days I like you more than me."

"Self-pity isn't a good color on you, Baby." He pulled her close. "Want my beer?"

"Thanks." She took a hefty swig. "So much of what she said was true. For years I breezed in and out of here in between dates while she stayed home with the sitter. It wasn't until you insisted we spend more time including her that…I really am a horrible mother." Once again the bottle found her lips.

"No…you just focus your energy in the wrong place sometimes."

"You mean I focus it on myself too much of the time."

He acknowledged her statement by lifting his hands.

"That's a yes."

Plunking her empty bottle on the coffee table, she snipped, "Then why the hell do you put up with me? Why aren't you cheating on me? It's been well over the usual number of months for me to stay in a relationship so, why aren't you running out the door like the rest of them?"

"Because I love you."

"What does that mean exactly?" She asked in a frazzled tone. "Because I'm feeling a little insecure right now and could really use some clarification from someone."

Taking her hand, he confidently replied, "It means that I get you and what I know doesn't scare me. It means it's okay that you're not perfect as long as you realize that too. It means that just because we argue, I'm not packing my bags. Good enough?"

"The best I've ever personally heard." Slipping into his arms, she released some of her tension. "Thank you for not bolting."

Tawny's Apartment
9:45 p.m.

Greg carried in the last of the cardboard boxes and placed them in the middle of the room. "If this isn't enough I can pick some more up in the morning."

"I think it's enough," She sweetly replied while emptying a dresser drawer into an open carton. "Do you want something to drink?"

"I better not." He checked his watch. "I've been up for almost twenty-four hours and I don't want to drive home even after one beer when I'm this exhausted."

"Aren't you staying here tonight?"

Glancing at the bed where they frolicked for weeks, he stammered, "I…you know…now that I…what am I trying to say? I know what I want to say but it sounds so…it's just that there's no way to say it without sounding…"

Ceasing her task, she instructed him, "Then just say it without trying to make it sound better. We've already had plenty of honesty tonight, right?"

"Okay." He ran his fingers through his hair and then blurted, "I don't want to sleep with you now that I'm not just in this to sleep with you but…I haven't had enough time to develop feelings for you to sleep with you because I have feelings for you. So, even though we've had fantastic sex for weeks and you are the mother of my child, I feel like we are kind of starting from scratch and I don't even think I can kiss you so…yeah…it doesn't really make sense just saying it off the top of my head either, does it? Especially since you are moving in with me and I have a one bedroom apartment."

More than a little stunned, Tawny jittered, "You…uh…you could sleep with me but you won't. You're having me move in with you but you don't expect that I have sex with you as part of the deal?"

"Yeah, I guess that's what I'm saying." Nervously he bit the corner of his lip. "You think I'm a freak?"

"Yes!" Bursting into a stellar smile she explained, "But in the best way possible! You're opposite from every guy I've ever known! My whole life, guys have only wanted me for sex! Well…except my dad of course."

Her last statement gave him huge relief since he had feared that might be the reason she didn't feel it was safe at home when she ran away six years ago. "You and your dad…you had a good relationship?"

"The best." Suddenly her smiled faded. "He um…died when I was fourteen. It's not something I really want to talk about right now."

"Sorry." He backpedaled. "You mentioned him so…"

"It's okay." She busied herself unloading the contents of another drawer. "So I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"I don't have to leave yet. I want to stay and help you pack." He grabbed a flat box and popped it into a cube. "Just tell me what you want me to do."

The truth was she wanted him to fall in love with her as much and as quickly as she was falling for him but she opted for a different suggestion. "How about the kitchen?"

He took his box and headed across the room. "Can you put the TV on because I want to catch the ten o'clock news? KTBC has an exclusive on the accident today."

"Sure." She found the remote and accessed the correct channel. "I'll call you when it's on."

Catherine's House
9:50 p.m.

Lightly rapping on the door, Catherine said, "Lindsay, can I come in?"

"No. But that won't stop you since there's not a lock on my door and don't bother giving me the speech about why there isn't a lock on my door because I've heard it a million times."

Catherine flashed Warrick a see what I'm up against expression.

"Hey, Linds, I'm with your mom too," He announced. "Can I come in and bring her?"

"Sure."

"What can I say?" He teased, "Always worked that way when I was clubbing too. Really ticked off some of the ladies I partied with because they wanted the velvet rope dropped for them, not me. My take always was…who cares how you get in if once you're there you take the floor and show everyone you have the moves?" With that, he reached for the doorknob. "You're in, now work it."

Warrick let Catherine take center stage while he took a seat at Lindsay's desk, waiting to referee if necessary.

"I know I've disappointed you many times…way too many. I put my own needs ahead of yours too often and the anger you have towards me is justified."

"But…" Lindsay pre-empted.

"But nothing." She took a deep breath instead of snapping back. "I am sorry for making you feel like a low priority in my life. I love you with all my heart. I'm just not always good at showing it. I think I've gotten much better and yes…Warrick has been a positive influence on me, but it hasn't all been him. I've wanted the changes too. So I'm hoping with hearing my apology, we can go forward. I can try even harder and you can cut me a little slack. How does that sound?"

Warrick set the tone. "Sounds good to me."

And Lindsay followed his example. "Me too."

Catherine opened her arms. "Can I get a hug?"

In the background, Warrick nodded and then watched like a puppet master as Lindsay embraced her mother.

Once the reconciliatory moment ended, Catherine said, "Now…about the step dad thing."

Lindsay's ears perked up.

"You need to accept the fact that Warrick and I aren't ever going to get married, because that's just not something I'm interested in ever doing again." Her daughter's disappointment was obvious so she cut to the chase. "However, that doesn't mean he's going anywhere, because he's not. As a matter of fact, we have something we want to discuss with you."

"Oh my god! You're pregnant!" Lindsay jumped for joy. "Finally I'll have a little brother or sister!"

"What!" Catherine stared at her delusional daughter. "Sorry, that's never gonna happen either, Sweetie because I'm fixed and besides…how could I do better than you?"

"Oh. Well…that last part is true." She plopped on the bed. "So, what's the news?"

Warrick fielded this one. "Your mom and I would like to buy a new house together for all of us to live in as a family…kind of a fresh start for all of us. Would that be cool with you?"

"Yes!" Then she paused. "Wait! Would my room still be as big and have its own bathroom like this one?"

Catherine couldn't help but notice how close the apple had fallen from her tree. "Definitely."

"Then totally! I'll start packing right now!"

"You can't." Warrick stood up. "It's time to watch yourself on TV."

"Oh! That's right!" She darted toward the living room.

"She's a mini-me, isn't she?" Catherine groaned.

Taking her hand, he led her out of the room. "I see a vague resemblance sometimes."

The Grissoms'
9:57 p.m.

Sara, dressed in her most comfortable pajamas, breezed into the bedroom carrying the neighbor's tray of cookies in one hand and an apple in the other. "A little something for you." She tossed the shiny red fruit at her husband who was already secured under the blankets. "And a lot for me." She slid into bed with her plate of sweets. "Because I need to up my body fat percentage."

Holding his healthy snack, Grissom moaned, "You're going to eat those decadent cookies in front of me?"

"Just because one person has a lifestyle change doesn't mean the other should have to suffer." She bit into the first thick, gooey cookie. "Mmm."

"Hypocrite!" He called her out. "Then why couldn't I have meat in the kitchen all this time?"

"That's totally different. The no meat in the kitchen rule is based on ethics, not temporary restrictions such as weight loss or pregnancy."

After chomping the first bite of apple, he sneered. "You're going to have to do better than that, My Dear."

Reaching for a second cookie, she explained, "You're not morally opposed to me eating this fabulously fattening cookie, you're just jealous because you can't eat it. That's why you don't want me to enjoy it in front of you. Now…I don't want mammal meat in the kitchen because I'm ethically opposed to the killing of mammals for food. It's a whole different ball of wax. But if it makes you feel any better, when I'm pregnant, you'll be able to handle toxic substances and I won't and I'll be jealous."

"Oh yeah…that makes me much cheerier," He quipped as he took another bite of his fat-free snack.

"Hey, there are just some things in life that aren't fair." Grinning, she looked at her irritated husband. "Like today…when you were peeing standing up. I was totally jealous. I'd love to have that option! But what can I do?"

"I believe there is an operation available."

"Always thinking like a scientist." Frantically she pointed to the armoire. "The news is starting. Un-mute the TV."

"Do we really have to watch?" He clicked the appropriate button and the news channel's opening music filled the room.

"Yes." She took another cookie. "Just in case they twisted our words or made us look weird."

"What could they possibly twist? We barely said anything and we didn't touch each other."

Las Vegas Metro Area
Everywhere a TV is tuned into KTBC
10:07 p.m.

"I'm Nora Everhart. During the investigation of a triple homicide, the historic Harper House, a once infamous Nevada brothel, collapsed after a truck crashed into the building and set off a chain reaction in the aged support structure. One police officer, Gary Dunnaway, sadly lost his life, and Vegas' top Crime Scene Investigator, Gil Grissom, was buried alive in the basement of the building for nine hours before being miraculously rescued. Ana Silva, our reporter who provided news coverage from the scene throughout the day is with us in studio tonight with an exclusive report. Ana…"

"Thank you, Nora. KTBC was flooded with phone calls after we aired this heart wrenching tape of new bride, Sara Grissom, breaking down over the news that her husband of only eight days was buried under tons of deadly rubble. Just look at the grief on the poor woman's face. We later learned that Sara, like her husband, is a Las Vegas Crime Scene Investigator and that the two of them pined for each other for five torturous years before tying the knot. For a while it seemed that eight glorious days of marriage was all these two lab rats in love would ever get, but at four o'clock this afternoon we received the wonderful news that Gil Grissom was successfully rescued and was not seriously injured. Just hours ago I was given an exclusive tip that Mr. Grissom was not alone when trapped. His colleague, Ms. Catherine Willows, was with him the entire time and she also made it out unscathed. Ms. Willows' involvement was not disclosed in order to protect her beautiful teenage daughter Lindsay, from trauma. At eight o'clock this evening, I was lucky enough to be granted some time with all of the major players. Here is the story…"

"From the conference room of Boulder City Hospital, I'm Ana Silva. On my left I have Sara and Gil Grissom and on my right, are Catherine Willows, her daughter Lindsay and friend of the family, Warrick Brown. Also joining us are Nick Stokes, Acting Assistant Director of the Las Vegas Crime Lab; Hank Peddigrew, the rescue worker who extricated Mr. Grissom and Ms. Willows from the collapsed building and Dr. Manuel Ortiz, the physician who treated the victims of this terrible accident."

"Mr. Stokes, this turned out to be a great day for your lab. All your personnel were fine and your team caught a man you believe might be a suspect in the triple homicide."

"I'm very proud of my team," Nick confidently replied.

Ana walked directly to Lindsay and sweetened her voice. "Was it scary when you heard your mom was in such a terrible accident even though you knew she was okay by the time you found out?"

Lindsay brightly smiled directly into the camera and energetically waved. "Yes…I was really scared but it's cool now because she's not hurt. She and my step dad, Warrick, have dangerous jobs keeping scum off the streets of Las Vegas, so I'm used to the stress."

Catherine glared at her daughter for referring to Warrick as her step dad.

"Mr. Brown, as Lindsay's step dad, it would have been up to you to deliver the news that her mother was dead What was going through your mind as you ran that scenario?"

"Uh…" He was still trying to process the fact that Lindsay referred to him as her step dad. "I uh…remained positive and wouldn't let myself consider the possibility that Catherine was dead."

"Ms. Willows, how did you and Mr. Grissom pass the time while you were waiting to be rescued? Was it uncomfortable being in such cramped quarters?"

Catherine swept her hair off her shoulder and answered, "Gil and I are long-time friends. We had no problem keeping each other entertained and optimistic."

Lindsay burst out laughing. "My mom told me she had to pee in front of him!"

Once again Catherine felt like strangling her daughter and this time she was quite certain Grissom would assist. She opted instead to joke it off. "You never see nature's call addressed in disaster movies, but this is reality and desperate times call for desperate measures!"

Ana walked over and sat on the edge of the conference table. "Next, I'll speak with devoted wife, Sara Grissom. Sara…we've all seen the footage of you crying your eyes out over the potential loss of your wonderful husband, Gil. Can you tell us what it was like when you first heard he was alive under the rubble?

"I was thrilled."

"Of course you were!" Ana grinned, before an amorous scene which was introduced via her voiceover, filled the screen. "Here's some footage of our lovebirds thanking their lucky stars for more time on this planet together after sharing a very romantic kiss."

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.

"Aren't they so sweet?" Ana sighed pleasurably. "Mr. Grissom, what were your first thoughts when you saw your wife, right before you took her in your arms?"

The whole city will see me publicly displaying affection! And I don't care!

"You're quite a romantic, Mr. Grissom!" Ana said in a close up of her face. "You know what they say about the quiet ones. When asked if he and his wife had time for affection since they haven't had a chance to take a proper honeymoon, here is what the sexy scientist had to say…"

In response to your question, we've only been married eight days but, we're in double digits.

Ana chuckled. "I guess when you work hard, you play hard, right?"

Moving over to the center of the table, Ana held the microphone up to Hank. "In an odd turn of events, Sara's ex-boyfriend, Hank Peddigrew, ended up rescuing her husband. Hank, what was the first thing you said to Sara when you brought her husband to safety?"

The two of you really are a perfect match!

"And Dr. Ortiz, you treated both Mr. Grissom and Ms.Willows. Did you feel a lot of pressure treating these everyday heroes?"

"It was my pleasure!" Dr. Ortiz posed athletically while he spoke. "They are fantastic people who spend a good portion of their lives making Clark County a better place. I've never seen a happier couple than Sara and Gil. I hope I, like Gil Grissom, can find a special woman one day and live happily ever after."

"There you have it folks. A happy ending!" Once again a close up of Ana filled the screen before cutting to taped footage. "Especially for our nerdy lab rats by day…"

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

It can also be found in Japan, Indonesia and Sri Lanka where they refer to it as the oil of tranquility.

"…and lovers by night."

I love you.

I love you too.

"A love story five years in the making! This is Ana Silva, KTBC, Las Vegas' news leader."

Catherine's House
10:11 p.m.

While Catherine and Warrick remained in a deep state of shock, Lindsay jumped off the couch and yelled, "Did you see the tongue action between Grissom and Sara! Whoa! That was soap opera worthy! Who knew an old guy like him could kiss like that? But I guess that's all he has left now that he's too old to have sex. Yuck! But hey did you see how great I looked on TV! And the reporter said I was your beautiful daughter! I hope Jimmy Talbot heard her say that!"

Suddenly the phone rang. "I'm sure it's for me!" Lindsay darted over to answer it. "Hello? Becca! YES! I thought my hair looked great too!"

Catherine finally was able to whine. "The whole lab will know I peed in front of Grissom."

"The whole lab is going to think I'm Lindsay's step dad." Warrick shook his head. "Which means they'll think we're married."

Tawny's Apartment
10:11 p.m.

Sitting on the floor next to Greg, Tawny remarked, "All this time I thought Mr. Grissom was playing the field, he was really married and totally in love with your friend Sara. Did you see how sweetly he told his wife he loved her?"

"Did you see the tonsil hockey those two were playing!" He grabbed his head in disbelief. "I've never even seen them hold hands and now I see this! I mean I saw them sleeping, but they weren't getting it on! This…it's like watching my parents in a soft core porn flick, only thankfully they didn't keep the tape rolling!"

Carrie's Apartment
10:11 p.m.

"Holy shit!" Nick screamed in bed while tossing Carrie to the side. "When did they film that! That's a hell of a lot worse than what she had on Sara! Did you see that kiss? And they have them being all mushy gushy and saying I love you! Oh my god…they must be devastated. They are such private people. I never even saw them hold hands until after the accident today! How are they going to walk into work tomorrow! Oh my god, they're going to blame me for this because I made the deal! They have to sue the station for invasion of privacy."

Chilled from the cool air conditioned air on her damp skin, Carrie scrambled for some covers. "Did the reporter make you sign a release?"

"Uh huh."

"Tough luck winning that case."

"Man!"

"You looked really hot and authoritative though." Carrie slithered back to her original position.

"I did?"

"Yes!"

Covering her with his body and a kiss, Nick growled, "I'll worry about the news report later."

Boulder City Hospital
10:11 p.m.

The nurses at the station giggled like school girls.

"Dr. Ortiz looked so handsome," Commented college intern Sabrina Healy. "Do you think he'll ever give me the time of day?"

"I'll take Gil Grissom over him any day," Purred recently divorced forty year old Susan Bryant. "Did you hear how he told his wife he was the luckiest man alive? He didn't care if the whole city heard him either! And the way he kissed her...all that romanticism and he's a genius crime fighter too. Wow."

Suddenly all the lights on the desk phone lit. "All three lines at once?" Peggy Hartley queried. "That's odd for a slow night." Curious, she picked up the first one. "ER nurses' station, this is Peggy." Her eyes widened. "You want me to give Dr. Ortiz your number because you heard on TV he's looking for a special woman to marry?"

"ER nurses' station, this is Susan." After listening to the girl on the other end of the line for a moment, Susan barked, "I will not leave that filthy message for Dr. Ortiz!"

LVPD Lunch Room
10:11 p.m.

When the sexy whistles and the vigorous clapping died down, random conversations could be heard throughout the cafeteria.

"You owe me twenty bucks, Peterson! The kiss is plenty of evidence plus, he said double digits in eight days."

"Damn…I really didn't think they got it on."

"He's such a romantic!"

"He's a sap!"

"Willows and Brown are married?"

"Hey, if they're married, they're breaking department rules! Married people can't work for the same supervisor!"

"Well, Grissom is probably too preoccupied getting' it on with his honey to care."

"They're so in love!"

"It's so great! Who says geeks can't be romantic! They're our role models!"

"She dated Peddigrew? I thought he was gay?"

"Wishful thinking on your part, Kevin."

"Damn. Warrick's married and Hank is straight. Too bad Sander's doesn't pump up a little more 'cause he's definitely gay, he's just too scrawny for me."

"Did you see the way she looked at him? He's definitely not her sugar daddy. She's nuts about him!"

"So he gave her that gorgeous ring because he loved her!"

"Honey, after five years of waiting, she deserved that damn ring!"

"I had no idea Vetiver grew in Japan too."

"Lenny, you're such a nerd. Is that the only part you noticed? No wonder you're still a virgin."

"I saw tongue action."

"No way! Him or her?"

"He started it, but she joined right in."

"I need to go to Boulder City and twist my ankle so I can meet Dr. Hottie Ortiz!"

"No kidding! Let's go mountain biking there on our day off."

"He loves her and he doesn't care if the whole city knows!"

"Good…because now the whole city does know."

The Grissom's
10:11 p.m.

Clutching his half eaten apple like a security blanket, Grissom lay in bed staring at the bedroom ceiling.

Holding her fourth cookie, Sara turned to her husband. "Here...you can have one. After watching that on TV, I'm going to eat a dozen more."

"No thanks." He glanced over at her. "The doctor told me to watch you crying on TV as motivation to stick to my lifestyle changes. Seeing that footage just now…I know why he said it. I'm very committed to getting healthier."

"THAT'S what you're thinking about after seeing that story! Are you kidding me!"

"Why? Was there something else on the coverage? I didn't pay attention after that. I was just lying here thinking about leaving you behind and…"

"YES, there's more!" Grabbing the remote she accessed the DVR. "Luckily I digitally recorded it. The doctor swore your EKG looked good, right?"

"Now I'm worried." Sitting up, he watched the screen.

"Here's some footage of our lovebirds thanking their lucky stars for more time on this planet together after sharing a very romantic kiss."

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.

"NOW do you see why I'm near hyperventilation! The whole damn city just watched us making out and getting sappy!"

"I don't believe…"

"There's more!" She tossed him the remote. "You watch it while I go to my office and call Carrie for legal advice. That Ana Silva bitch is not going to get away with this! She was taping us when we were alone in the room! We'll sue her ass!"

Taking the remote, he pressed play.

"Aren't they so sweet? Mr. Grissom, what were your first thoughts when you saw your wife, right before you took her in your arms?"

The whole city will see me publicly displaying affection! And I don't care!

"You're quite a romantic, Mr. Grissom! You know what they say about quiet scientists. When asked if he and his wife had time for affection since they haven't had a chance to take a proper honeymoon, here is what the sexy scientist had to say…"

In response to your question, we've only been married eight days but, we're in double digits

Pressing stop, he pondered the footage. As horribly humiliating as this is, I have to say…we looked pretty damn good together and that kiss…definitely as hot as stuff I've seen on Cinemax after dark. Double digits in eight days…I can't believe I said that! I blame Peddigrew for egging me on. And Ana Silva referred to me as the sexy scientist…yeah…that's a new one. Although…I could get used to it. Imagine if I lose these twenty-five pounds? I'll be a sexier scientist. What! I can't believe I'm thinking these things! The whole city just saw me kissing and declaring my feelings on TV! I'm a very private person! This is the last thing I would ever want! Now the whole city knows my young gorgeous wife adores me and kisses me with enough passion to fog their TV screens and they know I've had sex with my beautiful passionate wife ten times in eight days! Then again…a few hours ago I was a boring, overweight, old guy with bad cholesterol and everyone believed the only reason Sara was with me was for my money. After this TV thing…I'm a sexy scientist with a sexually satisfied wife who loves me more than anyone else in the world!

"Honey!" Sara snapped upon reentering the room. "Why are you grinning like your racing cockroach just won the state championship when we've been exploited on TV!"

"Uh…it's a nervous reaction."