NOTE: this chapter has been edited to comply with this website's rules. If you would prefer to readthe original version please go to the author page and click on my homepage link. It is Chapter 68: Close Encounters - Part 1.
Feasibility Study
Written by: Ms Maggs / Edited by: KJT
Close Encounters – Part 1
August 21, 2005 (Day 121)
The Grissoms'
1:17 a.m.
Thrilled that her first party was a smashing success, Sara stood in front of her bathroom mirror glowing with satisfaction as she freshened up her appearance. Well, the party's success wasn't the only reason for her bliss. She knew Gil was off somewhere concocting a little surprise for her. Whatever he was planning, she knew two things it wouldn't be…ordinary or involving the defiled pool house.
Reaching for her bottle of Sugar Cookie lotion, she applied it generously and recalled her words from the first time Gil reacted strongly to the powerful scent… So when I want you to come running to me, I know what to do…douse myself with sugar cookie lotion. As she massaged the sweet cream into her skin she heard light jazz music begin drifting through the speakers and knew it meant he was on his way to retrieve her.
Twenty seconds later, Gil was in the doorway of the bathroom eyeing his wife with a mixture of intense appreciation and overwhelming desire. Even though she had been wearing it the whole night, he was captivated by her in the alluring dress as if he had just seen it on her for the first time. "You smell like sugar cookies." It aroused him as much as it did every time she wore it.
"And you came running." Clicking the bottle closed, she placed it on the counter and turned to face her husband. "Is this the CD Greg gave you?"
"Yes, it is." He extended his hand. "Come with me, Darling."
Ever so slowly, Sara slid her fingers over Gil's while she held his eyes with hers. "Where are we going?"
Before answering, he brought her hand to his warmed lips and pressed a single kiss to it. And while his mouth was still hovering over her soft skin, he returned his gaze to her eyes. "You'll see."
A ripple of excitement rolled through her as she let him lead her out of the room and down the hall and when they reached the glass paneled back door she glimpsed the flicker of candles lining one side of the brick path in the back yard. "I saw this in a movie once." She inhaled a choppy breath as her desire for her husband doubled.
After opening the door he leaned in, whispering, "Time to see where it leads," in her ear before lingering his lips on her lobe. With her hand gripped tightly, he led the way once again.
As they wound their way past the tea lights, Sara took in the elements around her…the warmth of the summer night, the starry sky and the sound of crickets chirping as boldly as her heartbeat. When they reached their destination, a spread of blankets surrounded by candles in a secluded grove of trees, her breath caught in her throat. Overwhelmed, she simply said, "I love this."
His satisfaction with her comment illuminated his eyes. "I wanted to show my appreciation for everything you've done to make my birthday special for me. I never thought I would feel this happy about my birthday…about my life."
She knew he had enjoyed it but hearing the declaration exhilarated her.
Emotion powering his voice, Gil spoke from the heart. "This party proved to me how much I've changed for the better because of you. In the past I wasn't comfortable having people in my house and tonight I was able to welcome them with you by my side and relax. I had a wonderful time."
"I'm so happy to hear you say that," Sara affirmed as she gave his hand a squeeze. If it was the whisky encouraging this behavior in her husband she was fully prepared to meet him at the door with a tumbler in hand nightly.
Reaching out with his free hand, he ran his fingertip over her radiant smile. "As I watched you throughout the evening, my admiration for you grew. You're a shadow of the girl I first met…you've blossomed into a confident, spirited woman. You're not afraid to trust others anymore…you're forging friendships and helping those around you grow and heal…when you used to be the one that needed to do the growing and the healing. I'm in awe of you, Sara. Constantly."
Inhaling deeply she fought to hold back the tears of happiness fighting to form in her eyes. It felt like they were reaffirming the vows from their marriage of true minds.
Pressing his whole palm to her cheek, Gil soulfully relayed the words his heart demanded spoken. "You've given me so much, Sara, and the fact that you want to be the mother of my child thrills me beyond words. To hear you tell everyone how much you're looking forward to it…to see the happiness and anticipation flicker in your eyes for the world to see…I can't begin to describe how that made me feel tonight. Any man would be blessed to be married to you and for me to have the honor is a gift." Pulling her hand to his heart, he whispered, "Candles in the moonlight hardly seem enough, but I thought it would be romantic and that's one of the many feelings you've stirred in me. I love you, Sara. Eternally."
Swirling from the depth of his words and the sincerity in his eyes, Sara embraced a cliché and swooned in the moonlight. "Everything I was tonight, everything that I've become…it was only possible because of the love and support you've given me. I flourish from your love." Her mouth curved into a fantastic smile as she adored the man in front of her.
As much as he didn't want to take credit for anything he couldn't deny what her words meant to him.
In a voice as clear as the night sky above, Sara continued sharing her thoughts. "You said you were in awe of me well…tonight I was in awe of you. I was in awe of the man who almost had a nervous breakdown when I showed up at his door ten months ago with a beetle in a jar because I saw how far he's come. You went from being the emotionally closed off guy to the go to guy. When I saw the happiness between Greg and Tawny tonight, I knew it was only possible because of what you've done to help them. I'm sure of it. See, it's not just me flourishing around you."
Hearing the approval in his wife's voice boosted his self-worth to a new extreme.
Unable to hold back, Sara halted her speech to caress her husband's lips with hers and when her eyes fluttered open she saw her husband's were misty. "I've always said you have a beautiful mind, but I really hope you understand its brilliance isn't limited to science. Your insight into people is a gift, and now that you're using it personally to help others I can only imagine how many lives you'll touch going forward. You're reaching into the future…look no further than Sean Blake to prove what I'm saying is true. And one day, soon, you'll reach into the future in a new way…by welcoming our child into the world."
Reaching out, he tenderly placed his hand over Sara's womb, never wanting her words to be truer.
The touch of his palm to her womb sent the first tear of happiness rolling down her cheek. "I'm so proud to be your wife. And while I've been your wife in name for almost a month… tonight, I lived the role in front of everyone for the first time and it felt so good. I can't imagine how good it will feel when this baby I know is growing inside of me is apparent to everyone. Then no one will mistake how serious we are about the love between us."
And as they stood under the stars drinking in the love pooling in each other's eyes, beautiful words began accompanying the hauntingly romantic melody wafting from a nearby speaker.
Gil didn't waste a minute embracing his wife and leading her in a gentle sway to what he quickly realized was truly an inspired musical selection…Alicia Keys, Butterflyz.
Swept away in his wife's arms, Gil murmured, "Sara…" and then immediately lost himself in the moment and the powerful scent of sugar cookies again.
The strength of her husband's arms wrapped tightly around her while they danced under the stars dizzied Sara. "Kiss me," She pleaded. And when Gil laced his fingers through her hair and covered her mouth in a kiss as tantalizing as the seductive melody filling the air around her, she felt her whole body shudder.
Breathless from the intensity of the kiss, their lips remained parted as their eyes locked. Overcome with desire, Gil instinctively gathered the silky fabric of Sara's dress and in one swoop had it over her head and on the ground. The sight of her standing in the starlight wearing a delicate ivory lace bra and matching panties elicited a loud gasp from him. "Amazing," Escaped from his lips as he placed his warm hands on the curves of her hips.
His tender touch on her eager body left her elated and when he began sprinkling kisses over her chest, a series of pleasure-drenched moans tumbled from Sara's lips.
On his knees Gil glanced up, taking a moment to appreciate the woman before him…his wife…the future mother of his child.
Bending forward, Sara met her husband's mouth with a fiery kiss and quickly joined him kneeling on the blanket. Moments later, the feel of Gil's fingers freeing her from her lacy bra amplified her hunger and motivated her to pop open the buttons of his shirt. After flinging the black garment she pressed her bare chest to his, sending them crashing against the blankets.
In the candlelight, they nuzzled and rolled until Gil covered Sara's body with his. "I love you," he heatedly exclaimed in his wife's ear before embarking on a journey to burn kisses over her body, her silken skin never feeling so smooth under his lips. Was it the whisky intensifying every sensation, he wondered? Or was it the fact that he never loved her more than he did tonight? And was that exponentially greater feeling caused by his suspicion that his baby was growing inside her?
Opening her eyes, Sara gazed at the stars while her husband continued sending her closer to them. He knew her body expertly and it was grateful for every targeted touch and kiss. "Gil…"
Upon hearing his name he knew she wanted him to join their bodies, but he made her wait…indulging her while making her pleasantly suffer and want him more.
"Please," She finally begged and when she felt him returning she wriggled with anticipation. "I love…" Her words were overpowered by the rush of oxygen forced into her lungs when he merged their bodies. One under the stars, she savored everything about her husband's proximity…his heart hammering on top of hers…his unrelenting kisses to her now scorching skin…and his thorough knowledge of her body's needs.
When Gil felt Sara quiver, it expeditedhis passion. Never had she looked more beautiful than she did right now in the moonlight, which deftly illuminated her passionate expression. "Sar…" But his thoughts were consumed by his wife's bliss. Then, in a perfect show of symmetry, he let himself spiral out of control with her, losing themselves together in the music and the moment.
When their breathing finally steadied, Gil and Sara exchanged Eskimo kisses and smiles of satisfaction until Sara euphorically remarked, "I was just thinking earlier tonight that we need to venture out of our bedroom more. Wow…is really all I can say about this experience, mostly because my mind is still mush."
Teasing her he said, "I'm sorry…did you just say something?" Then he pecked her lips. "Wow really is a perfect fit…or spectacular…although Earth-shattering has a nice ring to it."
"I bet it was the sound of the crickets that did it for you, Bug Boy."
Together they shared a blissful chuckle.
"They were a nice touch but…" Gently he brushed her hair off her face. "…I'm pretty sure you played a larger role in the outcome than the Orthoptera."
Continuing to enjoy intermittent sparks of residual passion, Sara moaned, "Mmm…is it wrong for me to say this was hands down the best part of the party?"
Quickly he allayed her fears. "Not at all…in fact, I'd be insulted if you didn't."
"Okay then, I'll really tell you the truth." Capturing his eyes, she confessed, "It was the best part of the party by a mile…no…by a thousand miles."
Delighting in her smile he couldn't resist teasing her. "Let's not get carried away, because the cake was really good too."
"Not surprising coming from a man denied sweets for a month but forced to have fertility sex daily." Pecking his lips, she confirmed her feelings once more. "I love you, Honey."
"And I wouldn't trade your love for all the chocolate cake in the world." After another kiss he slipped beside her.
Turning on her side to face her husband, Sara pondered aloud, "I wonder if I'll feel the same way when I'm very pregnant and craving things uncontrollably."
"Speaking of pregnancy…" Again he felt compelled to move a wisp of hair from her cheek. "We have a decision to make. Are we going to do this the old fashioned way, keeping it between the two of us until we can test at home in two weeks…or are we going to run the test at the lab and know tomorrow?"
"Well…honestly, at first I was hell bent on going to the lab tonight after the party, but…" A labored sigh preceded her decision. "Now I want to wait. I want us to do this one thing like normal people. You know we kind of non-dated for years and then we quickly moved in together to make up for lost time, then we exchanged vows at home and then we ran off and got married in secret…those are odd stories. Not that I have any regrets."
He nodded in agreement but Sara kept explaining.
"When our child asks us how we felt when we found out he or she would be arriving into this world, I don't want to say we snuck a blood test on the County dime so we had to pretend we weren't excited to find out about you. I thought of another scenario too, it went something like this…well first your dad drew my blood and gave it to Greg Sanders who ran the test and put the results in an envelope which he dropped off in your dad's office on the sly because your dad would have been able to read the answer in Greg's eyes like a neon sign. Then your dad drove home with the sealed envelope and that night, when he and I were alone we opened it up and found a silly note from Greg." She rolled her eyes, "I can see it now…a funny picture of me looking like a bloated penguin with an arrow pointing to my belly with the words BABY BUG BOY or GIRL INSIDE."
"I support your decision, Honey." Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed it firmly. "And I fully expect the test anticipation to be as sweet as the smile on your face when you see the results," He said with the confidence of a man who had just spent a lot of quality time with his wife's breasts and knew for a fact they were much different than they were a week ago.
"Yeah… " Rolling onto her back, she returned her eyes to the stars. "Now our story can be something like…I did the test and then your Dad and I paced around the bedroom for the three longest minutes of our lives until we saw the most perfect blue line and screamed! See, for once, a totally normal story." And she was certain it would be this month because every time her husband gave her breasts extra attention tonight she felt an unfamiliar twinge of delightful pain.
"Speaking of normal. I never really realized how odd our friends were until tonight." Feeling a little guilty, he clarified, "Not in a bad way. They're just so different from us…but they all seem to have found the perfect partner in spite of the fact."
Laughing, Sara admitted, "I'm sure they feel exactly the same way about us, Honey. But you know, in spite of their quirks, I'm really getting used to having them around. I finally feel like I have a little family…a dysfunctional one, but a family all the same."
"Definitely dysfunctional," Gil confirmed.
"But you know what's amazing?" Sara's eyes sparkled. "We were so far behind all our friends when it came to relationships. Now, we've jumped completely ahead. We're the happily married ones. And I have a sneaking suspicion we're at least tied for having the healthiest most open sex life. How the hell did that happen?"
"Repeated coconut sacrifices to the gods?"
Together they laughed until Sara sweetly said, "Speaking of sacrifices…thanks for agreeing to let Greg and Tawny use the townhouse. You know I have a soft spot for girls who found themselves homeless as a kid having a nice place to nest when they settle down."
"Yeah…I do and I love you for it." He snuggled closer. "Hell, I think I should let them stay there for a year rent free after the success of this CD. And on Monday I need to take back every unkind word I ever said regarding Greg's musical taste. That song…this CD…"
"Yeah…I'm not sure if I'm more grateful for him saving my life on Dales Trail or…this CD."
Gil winked at his wife. "If we had this CD last Sunday I think I may have been able to make love with you in spite of the plague-victim role play thing you had going on."
"Speaking of role play…" Her eyes lit up. "I have one I'd like to do right now."
"Uh…I hope I have a minor part because the lead role I just played has left me too wiped for a repeat performance." Considering the amount of whisky he downed earlier, he knew it was a miracle he had the tremendous success he did. Was it the music? The aphrodisiac effect of the chocolate cake? A unique planetary alignment? Whatever the cause, he was grateful for the intensity of the experience.
"Actually, this is a starring role I want you to play, but don't worry, you're up for the challenge." Patting her belly she said, "We're starving. Can you play waiter and bring us some food and drinks?" And when she saw him rise to his feet she added, "Make sure you get some chicken!" Reaching over she grabbed his shirt and slipped it on.
"I don't know if there's any chicken left because Greg was stuffing his face all night." Tugging on his boxers he laughed, "I don't know about Tawny, but Greg is definitely eating for two. Yeah, I bet Mr. Weak Guts, as Nick has coined him, pukes later." Suddenly he broke out laughing. "Do you think Tawny will hold his hair out of the way for him?"
"I'm sure she would do just about anything for Chuckles." Laughing, Sara continued, "Let's hope he held it in until after they dropped off Carrie." Sara shivered at the thought. "Remember, she's got that horrible gag reflex, as we learned the hard way during the dinner from hell at the Blakes that almost made me throw in the towel on motherhood?"
"I'd have to have amnesia to forget that night." He shuddered as he turned for the house.
Sara fell back against the blanket laughing and thinking, amnesia is what Greg's going to have when he wakes up tomorrow after drinking tequila all night. Then again, he does seem to recall almost everything that happened the night we got trashed after the Lady Heather nightmare.
Forty minutes AGO…
While Carrie rode in the passenger seat of Tawny's yellow Ford Escape, Greg was in the back flanked by Nick and Brass.
Annoyed by the tight fit, Nick joked, "Chuckles, is this what it feels like when you hang out with your pals in their clown cars?"
"Hey, it could be worse." Greg reminded him, "At least we don't smell because we just took a dip in the Jacuzzi together." Then again, his senses were so deadened from the tequila he really couldn't be sure...so he smelled his armpit. "Yep…clean."
"Oh hell…don't bring up the two of you bathing together," Brass moaned. "I want to pass out as soon as I walk through my front door and I'd prefer not to have the image of the two of you barely dressed and hot-tubbing dancing in my head instead of visions of sugar-plums…wait…that almost sounds like the same thing."
In a moment of rare lucidity that night, Nick asked his boss, "Do you think it looks bad for Greg and me to party together since I'm his boss now?"
Brass casually replied, "Just don't marry him and you'll be fine."
The mention of the word marriage caught Tawny's ear. "Greggy!" She called to her man in a cheery tone. "I have my Disney Mania 3 CD in the car and I'm gonna play our song."
Dropping his head against the seat back, Brass cursed himself for not walking the ten miles home. Trapped in the car, he couldn't imagine anything worse than listening yet again to the recording of lovestruck Prince Greggy's saccharine song to his Booty Girl turned Damsel in Pregnancy Distress. But then, as if the gods could read his mind, they proved Jim Brass wrong…there was indeed something worse.
When the lyrics began, severely inebriated Greg started singing along…and not just singing…emoting the words to his significant other…with verve.
While Nick and Brass sat like bookends fashioned in the image of deer in headlights, the two women in the front seat squealed with delight. Greg wasn't just warbling, he was singing with the skill of…
"Clay Aiken!" Carrie shrieked, "Oh my god, he sounds just like him! Tawny you didn't tell me he could sing!"
"I didn't know he could!" Stopped at a red light, Tawny whipped around and stared in awe at her clown, turned crooner. "Greg! Your voice is awesome!" When she thought about it for a second she realized it made perfect sense since his mom was a music teacher. "I feel like we just uncovered your secret superhero power!"
Leaning forward, Brass, who couldn't deny Greg sounded fantastic, albeit pathetically sappy, commented to Nick, "Seriously, is there any way this could get more bizarre?"
"Sing the girl part of the duet, Tawny!" Greg exclaimed in a drunken lovesick plea before nailing his next line. "Don't you dare close your eyes!"
She gladly obliged. "A hundred thousand things to see!"
Taking hold of her hand, Greg sang, "Hold your breath it still gets better!"
And then, before Jim could ask how the moment could get even more sickeningly sweet…
The lovebirds harmonized.
The mercy of a car horn from behind signaled the light had turned green. "Hey, Tawny!" Nick shouted out, "Green means go. Go…please go! Fast!" Then he elbowed Greg, who was still belting out the tune solo. "Greggo, you sound very sensitive when you sing and we both know what that means…you won't get laid." Then he heard his fiancée declare…
"I'm crushin' on Chuckles the Crooning Clown!"
…which reminded Nick of Carrie's statement earlier tonight…the only thing that gets me hotter than a Bad Boy is a guy who can sing. With his hand firmly planted over Greg's mouth he bullied, "Stop singing or I'll make you work every horrible smelling case we get next week…real stomach turners…maybe we'll even get a nice rotten '3 months in a plastic tarp' decomp case…liquid stench is the BEST, you haven't had one of those yet. So what do you say, Mr. Weak Guts?" He removed his hand expecting immediate compliance.
"Uh…" Greg replaced Nick's hand with his own and moaned, "After listening to you…I have to hurl."
"What!" Nick freaked out, knowing if Carrie heard the slightest gag she'd be joining in. "NO!"
Brass shook his head. "Please tell me he didn't say what I think he just said."
"Jim?" Tawny asked, "Left on Firestone Drive?"
"Yes, Princess," Brass confirmed before making an offer he never thought he would in this lifetime. "Greggy-poo, do you want to come back to my place with me to vomit?"
"Okay," he groaned while trying to focus on something else.
Nick took the tough love approach again, which should have seemed like a bad idea since it was the same approach that got him in the situation in the first place. "You puke anywhere near my fiancée she's gonna lose it and that means the righteous buzz she has going will be wasted. You hold it together, Sanders, or you're a dead man. You wait until you are out of her sight and sound range, got it?"
Having only an hour earlier heard Nick explain he knew how to kill someone and make it look like an accident, Greg fought hard to keep his stomach contents in check.
Now it was Brass's turn to sing with delight. "My apartment is right up there, Tawny!" And with Greg as green as grass it was perfect timing. "It was a slice, kids!" Brass quipped as he opened the car door before the brakes were fully engaged. "Let's go, Prince Charmless." Grabbing Greg's arm he dragged him out of the car toward his front door.
Now that they were rid of the potentially buzz-killing vomit guy, Nick breathed a sigh of relief. "Carrie, why don't you come back here with me so Greg can sit up front when he gets back?"
In an instant she was out of the car and diving into the backseat. "Snuggle time."
"There you go." Nick pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. "Greg won't be long, he's an expert at this."
Concerned, Tawny turned around and asked, "Does he get sick at work a lot?"
"Not a lot but, he doesn't have a natural iron-gut and hasn't acquired his sea legs yet, so we give him crap about it…just your standard hazing." He smiled, "I'm sure you had a similar protocol for the new girls at clubs." Actually, he knew for a fact because he talked to a lot of strippers in his day. Those chicks could be vicious.
"Oh yeah. Gotta scare the crap out of the FNGs…that's f'ing new girls for you, Carrie. You know, stuff like…use this cream it will make your nipples stay hard all night, but instead it stains them mustard yellow." Tawny smiled at the memory of her night spent with mustard-yellow nipples as she turned back around. When she did, she noticed Brass and Greg were no longer in sight.
Once inside the front door, Brass instructed, "Okay, UpChuck…straight back to the bedroom, john's on the left. And don't steal any of my fine hair care products while you're in there!" As Greg hustled down the hall, Jim tossed his keys on the coffee table and headed for the fridge to grab Greg a Sprite. But when he reached the kitchen counter, he saw something highly disturbing…a purse. "Oh shit!"
"WHAT THE?" Greg shrieked as he was unexpectedly shoved against the wall of Jim's dark bedroom seconds before having a hot tongue rammed into his mouth.
"WHO…OH!" Heather screamed as she realized not only did she have the wrong guy but that he was now puking on her best pair of leather boots.
Upon reaching the bedroom, Jim flicked on the lights. "At least I have wooden floors," He deadpanned thinking it was the only stroke of luck he had tonight. "Yeah…this is going to take some explaining."
Staring at Lady Heather, who was fully outfitted in dominatrix garb, Greg begged, "Please tell me you're not going to make me lick your boots." Clutching his throbbing head, he whimpered, "Did I accidentally swallow the tequila worm earlier, because this is a really screwed up hallucination."
"What the hell are you doing here?" Jim grilled Heather while Greg rushed to the bathroom for a second round. "You said the Auto Dealer Convention was going to keep you busy all weekend."
Her feet now centered in a puddle of what she was certain was tequila-induced spew, Heather couldn't believe Jim was asking mundane questions when bigger ones were at hand. "Did you pick him up at a bar or are you paying him? How many drinks did you ply him with in order to get him to go home with you? And why didn't you tell me about your penchant for boys?"
"Why, is it a deal breaker?" He inquired, curious to see how she'd respond. "Wait…I can't joke about Greg this way or I'll end up tossin' chunks too. That was Greg Sanders from work spillin' his cookies…you met him during the Dunce case, remember? He was chasing your skirt tail like a puppy and you were anxious to serve him tea. Greg felt sick in the car on the way home from the party so he came in to use my bathroom. His girlfriend is…
"Greg!" Tawny called out from the hall.
Brass cringed. "His girlfriend is HERE apparently. He's in here, Tawny."
"Tawny?" Heather remarked.
As Greg emerged from the bathroom with a wet hand towel pressed to his forehead, Tawny entered the bedroom. "OH!" She jumped back. "Lady Heather, what are you doing here?"
Greg groaned, "Do you two know each other?"
Heather smiled warmly. "Yes, we take the same Cardio Strip aerobics class and she was almost my employee. About six months ago, I tried to recruit her to be a submissive. She had a regular customer at Club Paradise who was also a frequent visitor to the dominion. He was desperate to tie her up and pour honey all over her while buzzing like a bee and stinging her with a..."
"I'll be right back," Greg announced before dashing into the bathroom once more.
"I told her no thanks, Greg!" Tawny shouted before glaring at Lady Heather. "Uh…hello…couldn't you tell from the pool of his vomit you're standing in that he's a bit squeamish?"
Heather glared at Jim. "Why are you still standing there? Get something and clean this up! These are brand new boots."
Tawny saw Brass in a whole new light. "Frankly, I'm shocked."
"You don't know the half of it, Honey," He grumbled as he retreated towards the laundry room to grab cleaning supplies. Then he turned on a dime. "Hey, Tawny, is Stokes coming in here too?" While he knew Greg had an open mind about kink, Nick didn't. Not to mention, Nick wasn't easily controllable like Greg and would never keep this from Sara.
"Not a chance," Tawny assured him. "I'm sure he's slobbering all over Carrie in the back seat as we speak."
As the windows of the parked car started to steam, Nick growled in Carrie's ear, "Damn, I wish she left the car running. It's getting hot in here."
Making out in a backseat for the first time in her 30-year life, Carrie approached the opportunity with zeal…zeal easy to summon since she was still flying high from the excess of wine she consumed throughout the night. A big fan of movies, Carrie suddenly had an idea. "Pretend we're teenagers and try to get me to go all the way, Nicky," She blurted before breaking into a giggle.
He tried not to show his amusement at what he thought was her rather adorable attempt at innocent role play. Instead he pressed on, fulfilling her request. "I'm so in love with you, Baby." Mercilessly he kissed her in between his silly lines…which actually were all true. "Yeah…I've never been in love before and it feels so good." Once he had her cornered he let his hands work their magic. "You're the only girl for me. You're so beautiful. I can't wait to marry you one day. And since we'll be getting married, we can do anything we want tonight."
His verbal and physical full-court press left her reeling and she understood for the first time how a tipsy girl might succumb in the heat of the moment. "I can't," She announced, playing her part. "Not until we're married."
While he turned up the heat he uttered, "But I'm shipping out in the morning with the Navy and I may not come back from…"
"How can you ship out with Navy when we're in the middle of the desert?" Shaking with laughter she chided him, "That makes NO sense!"
Laughing hard he pointed out, "Well neither does the fact that we're engaged and in our 30's while playing teenagers and pretending you're a virgin, but you seemed to get past that just fine! In my mind this car was parked in San Diego and after you gave in…which we both know was gonna happen…I was planning on taking you for a nice stroll on the beach."
"Okay, let's try it again, Sailor."
As they clung to each other laughing, there was a knock on the window.
"Who's that?" Carrie asked in a panic.
"Just a courtesy knock from Tawny, I'm sure." He laughed. "She's already seen me at attention once tonight. It's okay, open the door." When the door opened, Nick saw a uniformed police officer. "Oh…hey, everything's fine in here," He assured the young man. "He'll need to hear it from you too, Carrie."
"I'm fine too."
"I'll need you both to step out of the vehicle." Clicking on his flashlight, Officer O'Hara shined it on the man and woman. "Solicitation is against the law in Clark County."
The statement sent Nick into a fit of laughter. "He thinks you're a hooker, Honey."
"What!" Carrie leapt out of the car.
"Ma'am, I need you to stay against the vehicle and not approach me," The cop curtly informed her.
"I'm not a hooker! I'm with the DA's office! I'm an Attorney!" Incensed by the accusations, she postured with her hands on her hips while waiting for Nick to back her up…which he didn't because he was too busy trying to breathe while rolling with laughter in the back seat.
Another cop crossed the street carrying two coffees. "Whatcha got, Billy?" Officer Borrega asked the rookie.
"Found her steaming up the windows. I thought she was with a Johnny in the back seat but she denies it."
"Not a chance," The tenured officer remarked through a smile. "She's wearing pants."
Upon hearing the pants line, Nick finally understood the phrase, died laughing.
Carrie whipped around shouting, "Stokes! You get your ass out here now!"
"Stokes?" Borrega smiled as he peeked inside the vehicle. "Is that you, Slick Nick?"
"Hey, Carlos, haven't seen you since I switched to Days," Nick greeted as he crawled out of the backseat holding his gut which was sore from laughing so hard. "Sorry for the confusion. We're just waitin' on friends while they're taking care of some business inside this building."
Inside Brass's apartment, Greg sat quietly on the living room couch sipping from a Sprite can.
Jim, authoritatively looming over his guest inquired, "You feelin' better? I bet you're at least a little more sober than when you walked in here, huh?"
"A bit." Greg brought a hand to his clammy face. "Finding out about this after being out with you and Sara and hearing what you said about Lady Heather…I'm a little confused."
"It's complicated. We're seeing each other on the sly." Jim glanced over his shoulder to make sure Tawny and Heather were still out of the room. "But you gotta do me a favor, Greg. You can't mention my association with Heather to anyone. Can you do that for me? Especially not Sara." From behind he heard Heather's voice.
"Yes, we wouldn't want to upset Mrs. Grissom." Grinning, she strolled over, cinching her red silk robe. Her irritation over Jim's refusal to share his secret with Sara and his decision to attend the party with Roxie as his faux-date was rising yet again. It wasn't that she expected to attend the party with him considering its locale, she just didn't like the implication…he was ashamed to let his friends know of her existence. He should have told the truth and attended alone or made it clear that Roxie was just a friend subbing for his date of choice. "We all know how moody Sara gets at the mention of my name."
Greg's mouth opened and before he could stop the words, they jumped out. "Well maybe if you hadn't been such a colossal bitch flaunting the fact you once did the wild thing with Grissom, and feeding on Sara's insecurities making her think he was away at a convention cheating on her, she wouldn't have snapped." Then realizing he was talking to the Assistant Director of the Crime Lab's lady, Greg added, "No offense."
Heather's feathers ruffled sharply. There it was again. A man defending Sara and flaunting it in her face. Everyone has a trigger…something that irrationally sets them off. Protecting Sara was hers and its roots were simple to trace. Sara now regularly got from Gil what he denied Heather after she let him into her heart…the benefit of the doubt, respect and a chance to explain her innocence.
Tawny stood gaping at her guy. "Gil is a customer at the dominion?" The man was obviously a better poker player than she thought because she never got the bondage vibe from him.
Heather quickly corrected. "No, not a customer. An acquaintance from my past. And my dear girl, just so we're clear, sex for money never takes place in my establishment."
"Yeah…right." Tawny rolled her eyes. "And guys stuffed twenties in my g-string because they liked my smile."
"Anyway!" Brass redirected the focus while trying to push the idea from his mind that he was seeing a woman whose business operated on the border of gray and grayer. "Greg…Gil knows. And this week, I plan on telling Sara about my relationship with Heather. But I want to do it right. The timing has been wrong, that's why I haven't done it yet."
"Relationship?" Heather smirked. "Never heard you utter that word before, Jim." Although she wouldn't admit it in front of the guests, she liked the implication.
"So Grissom knows about the two of you?" Greg asked, feeling a little squicked by the idea of Grissom and Brass sharing the same dominatrix. "But Sara asked him who your mystery lady was and he didn't say…whoa…how many people know and are lying to Sara's face?"
"Just Gil and I, and it's not lying…"
"OH yeah it is," Tawny corrected the misperception. "Only a MAN would think that's not lying." And she couldn't have been more pleased that Greg, being a sensitive mama's boy, had the ability to think like a woman.
"You tell him," Heather sighed, "because I've said the same thing and he didn't listen to me. Not to mention how much time he's let pass while skirting the issue."
"How much time?" Tawny inquired.
"About a month."
Tawny cringed. "You're looking at some serious rage with that kind of hang time. Women hate feeling blindsided, humiliated and betrayed."
Heather grumped, "Tell me about it."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it," Brass replied confidently while still not sure exactly how he was going to do that.
Suddenly feeling a tad defensive from the Sara Defender's judgmental stare, Heather snapped at Greg, "Stop looking at me like you can't stomach the thought of me and what I do for a living. As I recall, you didn't have a problem with me the night you were working your case at my dominion. As a matter of fact, you were very eager to have tea with me and if your boss hadn't forbidden it, I would have had you whimpering on a leash in minutes."
"Is that true, Greg?" Tawny asked in surprise. "You like that sort of thing?" She knew he enjoyed her little game with the necktie and the Magic 8 Ball, but it was playful not dark. Dark she couldn't stomach because it was too close to abuse and she knew that feeling all too well. "When were you going to mention this, huh? Because if you think I'm going to let you pour honey on me and sting me, you can forget it! I'm not that desperate! And our child isn't going to grow up around that kind of twisted…."
"Hold up!" Greg held his spinning head and very calmly said, "There you go not letting me explain myself again. You're reflexively jumping to conclusions and getting all worked up without ever letting me say anything, right? So please…keep your shoes on and give me a chance. And whatever you do, don't run because I'm too weak to chase you."
"Ugh." Lowering her head Tawny sighed, "You're right…sorry."
Heather rested her hand on Jim's shoulder. "See what a great submissive she would have made? Such a pity she doesn't have the guts to try it, she'd rake in a bundle for herself. Tawny, wake up, Honey! You're playing the part for free. Tell me, how did you get that bruise around your wrist? Didn't do what he asked the first time? I'll never understand it. Why are girls like you SO willing to be dominated for free, but act insulted when I offer to pay you a handsome salary and benefits for the same treatment? The day my ex laid a hand on me was the day I was out the door. Look at me now, I'm wealthy and making my money off jerks like my ex. Cut this deadbeat loose and come work for me."
"What! No! You've got it all wrong." Greg barked, "I'm not dominating her! It's called respectful communication…she's not used to a guy treating her straight up, and I'm just reminding her we agreed to listen to each other before going postal."
Grinning wider, Heather retorted, "We call that correction in the biz. Maybe if you tried a different approach other than manhandling her you might see an improvement in her memory."
Infuriated, Greg forgot everything he had recently learned in Anger Management class. "Damn it! I can totally see why Sara loses it around you! You don't know anything about me or my relationship with Tawny yet you're standing there making me out to be some kind of monster. Well, here's a news flash…Sara's an extremely decent person and so am I! I've never laid a hand on a woman out of anger in my entire life. I love Tawny and we have an equal partnership. Not that it really matters what you think anyway. So would you back off already!" When he was done screaming he realized he sounded exactly like Sara did that night…defensive, and he cursed himself for playing into her hands.
Heather immediately retorted, "Defensiveness usually indicates a nerve's been hit. What are you really covering?"
Jim stood up and gently took Heather's hand. "Could I uh…speak to you for a moment, Darling?" When they were in the kitchen he barked in a whisper, "What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you inciting him when I need him to cooperate? And for your information, he's not lying. He really is a decent kid. Hell, he's ready to step in and be the father of Tawny's baby even if it's not his. It takes a stand up guy to do that, let me assure you."
"And the bruise?" She prodded in an impatient tone.
"Look, I appreciate you standing up for Tawny and what you said about her taking crap for free was probably dead on prior to Greg. The bruise on her wrist was from him grabbing tonight, but to save her from falling on her ass. Satisfied? Now can you do me a favor, please? Drop the act, because we both know it's an act. And we both know why you morphed into this cartoon character and put on a show."
Not ready to back down she huffed, "Well maybe I wouldn't be in such a mood if you weren't so ashamed of me."
"It's not about shame."
Angered, she pushed, "Then what is it about? Putting Sara's needs over mine? Once again I'll ask the question…what is so special about her that makes men go to such extremes to protect her? Why is it so important that she never feel the pain of betrayal? And moreover…why don't I ever get afforded the same courtesy? Every day you protect her, you're betraying me. Maybe you and Gil are more alike than I thought. You didn't even utter a word when Greg was screaming at me."
"Honey, that has nothing to do with my feelings for you. I didn't defend you because you really were being a colossal bitch to Sara that night and tonight too. How the hell can I defend you when you're guilty as charged!" Frustrated, he exhaled sharply. "If he had screamed at you like without provocation his ass would have hit the floor and he'd be waking up ten hours later. But you make it a point of telling me what a tough broad you are all the time, so damned if I'm going to get in the middle of a fight you started because of some warped grudge you have that causes you to lash out at anyone who defends Sara."
"Fine." She crossed her arms over her chest. "If you can't understand why this keeps happening around your friends and co-workers then…"
"And if you can't understand why it's important to me preserve my relationship with Sara then you really don't get me at all."
"Maybe not."
"Okay, you know what…I submit." He held up his hands. "This is just too complicated. Let's both say thanks for the good times and walk our separate ways."
"You know you don't want that," She asserted.
"Are you sure I don't?" And then one of their infamous stare downs commenced.
In the living room, Tawny took a seat next to Greg. "Okay, I'm listening."
As embarrassing as it was he told the truth. "I won't lie to you. A month ago…yes, I was curious and given the chance with her when I walked in there that night…I would have taken the opportunity just to sample the experience." Upon taking her hand, he softened his voice. "But a month ago I would have done a lot of things I wouldn't now. Same for you, right?" Squeezing her hand, he assured her, "And that night, after I saw her lash out at Sara it cured me of all curiosity, trust me. Walking out of that place, everything had a different feel to me than when I had walked in…especially her." Smiling, he reminded his significant other, "You saw my list of future fantasies, Tawny. Romps at The Dominion didn't make the cut."
Running her fingers through Greg's damp hair, she sighed, "How lucky am I? You're honest and you can sing."
"What makes you think I can sing?" He asked while staring at her. Having made it a point not to sing in the shower since she moved in, he couldn't imagine how she would know his secret talent…a talent that caused him much harassment in middle school when some jocks found out he was in an invitation-only boys choir.
"Right before you came up here to hurl you were singing to me in the car." Staring at his puzzled expression she realized he couldn't recall the moment because he had been at the height of his intoxication…minutes before the climax and purge. "Apparently you were so wasted you don't remember."
"I sang in front of Brass and Nick?" He placed the wet towel he was holding over his face and crashed against the sofa knowing he would be hearing shit about it until he was six feet under and even then he had a feeling they'd haunt him about it in the afterlife. It would be middle school all over again. "Did I do anything else crazy?"
Feeling mischievous she teased, "You asked me to marry you."
"I did!" Ripping the towel from his face he looked at her in horror. It was exactly what he didn't want to happen and he felt awful. "Oh, Tawny…"
Having let him suffer enough, Tawny wistfully said, "Unfortunately for you, I said no, so I guess you'll have to woo me a little more and try again in the future."
"You were shittin' me?" He beamed with delight, relieved he hadn't blown it.
Just then they heard the door from the kitchen open and when they craned their necks they saw Lady Heather breezing out into the living room with her red robe billowing.
With sweet sincerity Heather declared, "Mr. Sanders, I'm afraid I owe you an apology. I was wrong to make assumptions and accusations. Going forward I promise it won't happen again. Congratulations on the baby to both you and Tawny. I wish you all the best."
"Uh…" Still dazed from the tequila and the vomiting, Greg was eager to call it a night. "Yeah….okay, apology accepted." He eyed Brass who was standing a little taller. "And Jim…you have my word."
"Thanks, Greg."
Jumping up from the couch, Tawny announced, "Speaking of babies. We need to go before Nick and Carrie have time to make a few in the backseat of my car." Grabbing Greg's wrist she yanked him to his feet. "Night!'
Together they bolted for the door glad to be leaving The Twilight Zone.
Once outside, Greg had an idea. "Hey, after we drop off Nick and Carrie, let's hit one of the casino all-night buffets, because now that my stomach is empty, I'm hungry." He took her hand, and started swinging it. "Yeah…I want an omelet with lots of stuff in it. Plus some toast and juice. And pancakes!"
"Hash browns?"
"Hell no!" He grinned wildly. "Country potatoes!"
As she slipped behind the wheel of her car, Tawny was thrilled to know he remembered that part of the night.
"What the hell took you so long, Songbird?" Nick huffed.
Carrie couldn't wait to tell her story. "You won't believe what just happened!"
After buckling his seat belt, Greg replied, "Oh, I don't know…I think I'll believe anything that happens tonight. I think there's some strange planetary alignment thing going on or something."
Nick winked at his frisky fiancée, "And the night's not over yet."