Chapter 14
"Since when were you interested in beauty?" "Since I met you…"
"Chalk…From plaster…"
"…Honey this doesn't look good…"
Sara tossed and turned as all the memories over the past five years between her and Grissom flooded her memory.
"Honey, are we going too fast… I don't want to do anything you're not ready for."
"Sara…You know that the answer is no…We can't be together."
"You want to know what it would be like to be the wife of Gil Grissom?"
As Sara continued to move around restlessly on the couch a shadow approached closer and closer, moving without a sound. Glide after glide, the dark figure moved towards the couch with ease. Eventually, a small creek finally escaped from beneath his gentle footsteps making him swear under his breath. Sara popped up in response. Scared that Grissom may be back with more anger to vent, she placed the blanket up to her nose knowing very well it had no real security.
"Who's there?" Sara called out, wishing she could turn on a light.
"Hello, I hope I haven't frightened you. Earlier I saw a police car outside and I was worried that you were in some sort of trouble." The elderly gentleman raised an eyebrow before sitting gracefully down on the couch next to Sara. "You look quite shaken up my dear." His blue eyes appeared black as the darkness of the room still cast a shadow over his face.
"Oh, you're the man I saw at the party. I never quite caught your name." Sara asked.
"Names are just formalities my dear, I prefer to remain a mystery until the mood arises where I can avail myself. Don't you think romance in this day and age is lacking a bit of mystery?" The man stroked his beard out of habit.
"With my husband some things I just don't want to know." Sara took her hands out of the blanket and placed them at her sides. He noticed the bruises right away.
"You know in some counties spousal abuse is legal. The men of the countries believe that male domination is necessary in the home life in order to maintain order and prevent chaos." He raised his eyebrow once more before taking Sara's hand and stroking it gently.
"And you believe this?" Sara was shocked that someone could approve at such an outlandish belief.
"I don't disregard such behavior. The man needs to be in control, it's been that way for centuries. If a man's most prized possession disobeys his wishes or makes him angry, there should be consequences." Sara continued to stare at the elderly gentleman in disbelief as he started to draw closer to her lips. "I've seen many women in my day, but you are the finest of all." He lurched forward pressing his lips hard on Sara's. Sara immediately pushed him off of her.
"Get out!" Sara demanded.
"I take it you disapprove of my actions?"
"You want me to call the police?" Sara yelled once more, climbing off of the couch and opening the front door.
"Fine I know when to take a hint." The man left and slammed the door angrily behind him.
Sara felt dirty, there was no other word to describe it. She ran to the bathroom and swished her mouth out with some Listerine, hoping it would wipe the pain away as well. She started to believe she was much like a stripper, attracting men with her looks and giving them a sample of what they could never have. Knowing that mouth wash could never suffice, she turned on the shower and took off all her clothes. As she stepped under the showerhead the cold water slowly began to cool her nerves. The steady stream of water beating down on her chest felt incredibly intoxicating as she began to close her eyes.
Grissom walked through the front door and turned on several lights. He noticed the blanket on the floor and he had figured Sara had already gone to bed. Rubbing his head in response to the headache overpowering his consciousness, Grissom approached the bathroom hoping a shower would take away his pain. He had run out of pills and the drug store was closed. Opening the door without thinking Grissom was struck with the sight of a naked Sara standing under a jet of water. He remained in a trance as he slowly walked closer to the shower not taking his eyes off of her. It took several seconds for Sara to react, she was still in shock. Slowly trying to cover herself, she tried to speak, but her heart felt like it jammed in her throat. Grissom's eyes focused on her breasts which seemed even more enticing when drenched in water. His gazed continued down to her ass where it remained as he made one last step to the entrance of the shower.
His memories drifted back to the night they first made love, her scent everywhere overpowering his senses. Her moans of delight as he took hold of her, never did he forget to pleasure every square inch of her being. As his eyes met the black and blue marks of her bruises he felt his arousal quickly turn to fear.
"God Sara I'm sorry." Grissom let the words slip from his mouth accidentally as he continued to look at Sara. The fear in her eyes remained.
"Get out Grissom." Sara quietly asked.
"Please just give me another chance." His voice was slightly drained out from the water that continued to beat down over her body.
"You're all out of chances." She solemnly exclaimed.
"I can't make it up to you?" Grissom surprised Sara by climbing into the shower fully clothed. His clothes quickly became soaked as he remain focused on her, hoping that she would find it in her heart to forgive him.
"Wrongs are often forgiven, but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it forever." Sara somehow managed to surmise a quote even under the circumstances. Before their mission, she had been reading up on different quotes to snap at Grissom in hope of impressing him. Ironically she was using her knowledge now to make Grissom back off rather then get closer.
"'Tis the most tender part of love, each other to forgive." Grissom forced a smile, combating Sara's quote just like old times. He touched her face and for the first time she didn't pull away. "I'm sorry Sara…For everything. Believe me when I say that I don't know what's happening to me." A tear escaped his eye but was unnoticed as several other drops of water landed beside it. His show of emotion didn't even make Sara feel a sliver of sympathy.
"I can't do this anymore Grissom." Sara abruptly climbed out of the shower, grabbed a towel and left Grissom drenched in the pain that he created.