A/N: Thanks to anyone who is following and sorry for the delay, I was a little stuck I admit. Mistakes belong to me, Grissom and Sara belong to each other.


The beeping sound signaling the incoming video call reverberated in the shower walls. Sara smiled and with swift, excited movements stepped out onto the bath mat, put on her bathrobe and grabbed a towel to wrap around her hair as she rushed to her laptop waiting on her bed. Making herself comfortable, she sat back and tucked her legs together securing the device in her lap.

A tiny bee icon flashed on her screen and Sara clicked on it to accept the call. Grissom's face popped up, a furrow of concern clouding his eyes. "Finally! Where have you been?"

He was dressed up in a deep blue suit Sara hadn't seen before and he looked gorgeous. She bit her lip and then let out a sigh.

"I'm sorry but the bombing has us all running around like crazy, I've just managed to drive myself home to get some rest. New suit?"

"Just out of the box. How is Nick? Ray?"

"They are both lucky to be alive. You'd be very proud of Nicky, Griss. His late fascination with cockroaches saved half of the Vegas police force. Plus Ecklie."

"Is that so?"

"It seems that the Periplaneta Americana's attraction to the clicking sound of the detonator gave away the bomb just in time."

"Fascinating."

"Wouldn't you like to be here with your beloved cockroaches?"

"I would like to be here with my beloved wife. I need an escort for the graduation ceremony tonight."

"I'm a little underdressed for the occasion," Sara smirked as she playfully tugged her body towel.

"I can't say I mind at all," Grissom licked his lip while his eyes almost begged for her to remove the offensive garment. Then he noticed her bruised hand and frowned. "What happened to your hand?"

"Oh that... " Sara smiled checking her bandage, "it's nothing, just me not turning the other cheek when some madwoman tried to punch me. Looks like I have a mean right hook, according to Ray."

"I wouldn't dare to piss you off," Grissom chuckled, "Does it hurt?"

"What hurts is me not being there to help you with your tie."

"Looks horrible doesn't it? I feel like I have two left hands when it comes to ties."

"Nonsense, you look very handsome Gil, I'm sure the ladies will swarm around you tonight."

"There's only one lady I'm interested in and I'd like to take her to dance next time I see her."

"Are you sure she can dance?"

"Hmm... barely. But she's great cheek to cheek."

Sara broke into laughter and Grissom smiled adoring the way her light complexion would instantly take a rosy color when he teased her. She looked happy and he should stop complaining. "Got to go now honey and you better have some sleep."

"Let's hope I'll dream of my prince charming."

"In a suit?"

"In pink swimming trunks."

Grissom bit his lip and signed 'I love you' before logging off. Any more of this and he would be throwing aside his tie and suit. God he missed her.

Sara pushed her laptop aside with a yawn. She loved to make fun of him for his swimming attire but the truth was he looked delicious in pink. She blushed with pleasure every time her mind went back to that day on the beach and their suntanned bodies as they stretched lazily on the sand. Their last day in Costa Rica was delightfully spent in long strolls with the two of them enjoying the azure waters.

The sea breeze felt delightfully cool to her skin as she kissed his shoulder and laid her head on his chest thinking how lucky she was to be in that heavenly place with the man she loved. Taking a deep breath of fresh air as she let her eyes drift close, she felt his warm hand slide over her belly and softly massage her skin before moving lower to play with the hem of her bikini bottoms. She was about to turn around and kiss him when he slipped his fingers under the elastic fabric brushing lightly over her clit and the feeling was just too good for her to move. Someone could easily walk by even in that remote part of the beach they have found their refuge but in some wicked way the shameful thought turned her on and probably Gil too as he started to explore her folds with his skillful fingers, circling around her opening, daring to slip closer each time as she moaned and rocked her hips, silently begging for a little push. It was sweet torture and by the puffs of hot breath on her neck he was enjoying it as much as she did. Soon she became soaked wet but he kept teasing her, on and on, coating her throbbing sex with her juices as the tingling of her excitement ran through her body and she started to breath heavily.

"Gil..."

"You know what I'd love to do right now honey? I'd love to lick your pretty rose bud..." he whispered in her ear as he inserted a finger deep inside her vagina, his tongue lapping her ear as an intense orgasm caught her by surprise, causing her to clamp down around his rocking digit. The waves of pleasure washing through her matched the waves of the ocean breaking on the shore and she almost trembled, overwhelmed with sweet pleasure. Before it was over he drew his hand, licked the dripping finger and stood up to walk towards the sea.

"Are you coming?" he called.

"Give me a minute," she answered in a breathless quiver. When she managed to open her eyes she caught the conspicuous bulging of his pink shorts as he turned to wave at her and she smirked appreciating his rush to get in the water.

"I need you..." He shouted back and Sara laughed out loud as she urged herself to stand up and follow him.


"Twelve letter word for across the woods."

"Transylvania. Sara, listen..."

"Eleven letter word for sucking blood?"

"... We have to talk."

"Come on Gil... you're out of practice."

"I'm out of a lot of things."

"So, vampires or werewolves?"

"Do I have to choose?" Grissom drawled frustrated as he heard Sara puff out against the phone in disappointment. He usually enjoyed playing these games with her but not today. Today he wanted to share the news before he'd get cold feet again. "Can you please...hear me out...for a minute?" he tried.

"All right Gilbert," she sighed in resignation, " what's up?"

"There is a government fund to take part in some large scale research. Fossil insects in mass graves. They've asked me to supervise."

"That's great Griss...

And why aren't you happy?"

"The graves are in Peru."

"Oh."

"It's supposed to be for a year. Or two."

Sara cleared her throat but a lump of shock was stuck in her throat. Her husband in Peru? When did that happen?

"When do you have to leave?"

"Next month. I've started packing already. I'm coming to Vegas to see you first... if that's alright with you."

"..."

"Sara?"

"Yeah?"

"Is that alright? Can you take a couple of days off next week or so?"

"I guess..."

"Okay, I'm going to look up for tickets then, bye honey."

"Bye..."

Sara dropped her phone on the lab counter and took a deep breath as she crossed her arms on the surface and leaned forward rocking herself back and forth.

"Sara, are you okay?" Greg moved to grab her arm as soon as he noticed her dumbfounded expression. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Married to one would be a more accurate description," she mumbled, pushing back her tears.

"Why? Something happened to Grissom?"

"He is trading Paris for Peru."

"I see," Greg drawled. He never quite understood their decision to live separately, or why wouldn't Grissom just stay and work with his wonderful wife in Vegas but what did he know?

"Look at the bright side Sara, flights to Peru are cheaper," he tried, "...usually."

Shooting her friend an exasperated look Sara stormed away speechless. She was so angry with herself for not seeing this coming although she knew her husband was growing restless and frustrated with her absence for a long time now. With their research fund being denied and her choice to stay in Vegas longer than either of them anticipated she should have expected him to search for some new thrill to pursue. Teaching was too mellow for a man like him. It just couldn't be enough to keep him happy long term, especially if there was no will to start a family on her side and she had to admit that not even once did she try to convince him otherwise.

Cursing herself aloud she entered the locker, relieved that no one was there to see her crying. How on earth could she let this happen? Why didn't she look for a job that could keep them both busy and content together? Self-destruction was the only thing coming to mind as Sara banged the door of her locker shut.


"Are you hungry?" she asked him as soon as he dropped his luggage on the floor. The ride from the airport back home was a long strenuous drive through heavy traffic and they hadn't spoken much, each one lost in their own thoughts.

"Um... not really no."

"I'll make you a sandwich," she insisted as she turned to walk into the kitchen.

"Sara..." Grissom followed.

She ignored him and bent down to look into an almost empty fridge.

"I think there's a beer left..."

He realized she had ditched her healthy diet again and frowned.

"Ah, here it is!" She grabbed the bottle and flashed it proudly as she yanked a drawer open in search of the opener.

"I don't want beer honey."

"Fine, because I can surely use one." Forcing a smile she raised the bottle in mock celebration as Grissom stepped closer and grabbed it away from her. Gently, he placed the bottle down on the counter and turned to meet her fierce gaze with equal intensity.

"Can you please stop this?" He asked softly, taking her hands in his.

"Stop what?" Sara asked, pretending to be clueless. She knew that as soon as she stopped moving she would start crying and that was the last thing she wanted to do.

Actually, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do ever since she heard about Peru. One minute she was thinking of telling him she would leave Vegas so that they could stay in Paris forever and the next she found herself wondering if their love was strong enough to carry their restless nature.

Sara tried to pull her arms away but his firm grasp wouldn't let her. His blue orbs were still fixed on her and once more she felt unable to resist. Giving up, she leaned onto his shoulders with a sob.

Grissom let her arms go free and slipped his hands to the sides of her face leaning closer so that his nose touched hers. Her cheeks were moist with tears and he gently kissed them dry. As she relaxed against his chest, he continued kissing her, each time deeper as his body grew affected by the feel and smell of her skin. It has been so long since they were close to each other like that and the need to feel her again was almost painful.

Sara moaned into his mouth as his tongue moved along hers passionately and it was all Grissom waited for before he grabbed her from behind and lifted her to sit on the counter. Never breaking away from her lips he removed her jacket and pants and slipped his hands under her shirt as he muttered into her mouth.

"I missed this so much."

"I missed us too," she sobbed, wrapping her arms around his neck and sucking his pulse point as her panties were pulled down in a hurry. Only when he buried himself inside her warmth did Grissom feel like he was finally home again. Sara was his home now and forever. With bodies and hearts rejoined they both slowed down their love making and took their time to enjoy their intimacy.

"I think we should take this to bed," he said when he managed to pull away determined to make it last longer and Sara nodded, getting her trembling feet down on the floor. "Come," she took his hand and led the way to their bedroom, just like the way he used to do when they first became lovers.

Everything was so different now and somehow everything still felt the same. They've been through hell and back but it still was the same desperate passion, the same pain every time he ran away from her and the same wonder when she woke up into his arms and looked into his eyes to find the man he always was and the one she was helplessly in love with.


Letting her fingers run across the smooth blue surface of the marble, Sara closed her eyes to recall the moment Grissom gave her the tiny globe. It was in Paris, just after her decision to go back to Vegas when they lay in bed naked, recovering from their intimate workout.

"I gave one to Nick too."

"Dressed, I hope," Sara smirked amused as she let her eyes appreciate his male form and Grissom shot her an exasperated look.

"When you are ready to take your eyes off of my balls maybe you can take a better look at this one. It's different."

"Ha, ha, ha, Sara pretended to laugh but then leaned closer, following his cue. "Oh my gosh, there's actually an earth map inside," she squealed.

"Finally..." Grissom smiled, pulling her closer into his arms. "Isn't it marvelous? Wherever you are I'll always be just an inch away Sara."

"You really mean that?"

"Of course I do. I just wanted you to have something that could remind you of it. Whenever life gets crazy, just roll with it."

"Thank you," Sara whispered. It always amazed her how he could be so loving when she least expected him to. Letting the blue marble sit on his chest, she rolled it with her finger between his nipples and her lips followed, placing soft kisses along the way. "You know..." She added playfully, "I'd rather roll with you, Gil."

Grissom growled with pleasure as he lifted her lithe body to sprawl over his own while his hands stroked her smooth skin from her shoulders down to her bottom.

"What if you could leave your lips and ass here with me?"

"Gilbert! And I thought you loved my brains." She mocked and continued to chase kisses along his neck.

"Only because I can't have the one without the other...Ouch, you bit me!"

"Damn right I did, you men are all the same aren't you?

"You'll need your brains in Vegas my dear."

"Do you really think I can do this Gil... that we can?" Sara asked, a sudden hint of panic threatening to overtake her.

"You can do anything you put your mind to do. Now, please put your mind back to kissing me okay?"

"No one would ever believe in the lab how lustful you really are." Sara mumbled as she went back to licking his neck.

"I don't care for anyone but my wife to know," Grissom breathed out with delight as said wife went down on him giggling. There were but three days left before Sara had to fly back to the lab and he intended to make the most out of them. He smiled at the thought of the table he had booked earlier at her favorite restaurant for the evening; but that would be later, much later, he figured as waves of pleasure rushed into his groins and he started to moan.


"Are you ok?"

There, in the middle of the living room, Sara stood as if she was frozen, phone in hand staring at her husband's written message. Was she really okay?

She did feel better after their video call and she did make peace with his mother and his ex-girlfriend or at least tried to but still an uneasiness remained in the air and maybe that's why Grissom was sending her messages when he should be long asleep. Their time difference was only a couple of hours now and when she worked the night shift he was usually tucked up in bed.

Except now he wasn't. Working the mass graves all day must have tired him out but he could always sense when something was not quite right with her, at least when he could see her face to face, even if it was through a laptop screen.

As she was pondering how to best answer his question without being dismissive, the phone went off and startled her enough to rush her to use both hands to catch it from falling. Sara took a deep breath and cleared her throat.

"Gil?"

"Hey, honey."

"Why aren't you sleeping? Still excited about your Moche?

"Sara... just tell me what's wrong."

"With your mother? I told you, we reconciled over the African violets, don't worry."

"Is it because I didn't come to the party? He insisted.

"Well, I know you hate parties... But you did have me all dressed up for nothing... Not to mention that Nick and Ray kept teasing me all night for my dress and heels."

"Can't blame them. The first time I saw you dressed like that my heart stopped."

Smiling, Sara moved to the couch and lay down stretching her legs out. Even a couple of hours of walking in high heels was enough to make her feel strained and awkward. She always wondered how some women walked around in them effortlessly all day. Julia Holden certainly seemed like she was born wearing a suit and high heels, she was so... elegant, dammit.

"Is it because I didn't tell you about Julia?" Grissom interrupted her musings.

"How do you know it's her I was talking about?"

"It's the only girlfriend you could have bumped into in Gilbert College."

"I see. Well, that's a relief at least but I would have certainly appreciated the information from you or from your mother so that I wouldn't have to feel like a fool in front of Brass."

"You know I would have told you if I thought it was important. It just wasn't."

"Little things matter too Gil... married people tell each other everything."

"Where did you get that idea from? Nobody tells each other everything, even less when they say they do."

"From Julia..." Sara sighed as she remembered her words on intimacy and trust. They had cut her like a knife even if she tried to hide it at the time by flashing a brave face.

"She is just jealous because I didn't want to marry her."

"You didn't?"

"Of course not. I remember having a fight with my mother about it at the time. I didn't want to get married to anyone before I met you."

"Is that so?"

"I hope you haven't put her in jail though, she's a good friend to my mom."

"Yeah, that much I noticed. And no... it turned out her student boyfriend was a fraud and a killer.

"Student?"

"Yeah and did I tell you I caught them at the party having sex in the bathroom?"

"Not the Julia I knew, I can tell you that. Sounds desperate."

"Is it though? Is love desperate? She told me she just wanted to find someone to connect with."

"You cannot connect with someone by sex alone Sara."

"Why is everyone wondering about our sex life then?"

"What do you mean everyone?"

"Your mother, the guys at the lab... Do you know that even Hodges hinted at the absence of physical intimacy in our marriage..."

"Hodges? You are not serious..." Grissom sneered.

"But I am Gil."

"Would you rather have sex with me in a public bathroom?"

"That's not the point!"

"Then what is the point? We both decided this would work for us."

"Maybe it was the wrong decision."

She could hear him breathing heavily against the other end of the line and she wondered if she had taken this too far; still she was too worked up to hold herself back now.

"Maybe your mother is right. This is not how a marriage is supposed to be."

"I vowed to live my life with you, not my mother, not Julia and certainly not Hodges so please can we drop this now? We just miss each other badly, that's all. We could have lived under the same roof and not have half the intimacy you and I share. Darling... please."

His pleading tone only exasperated her. Why did he always have to be so... so gentle?

"Sometimes I wish you could lose that condescending tone of yours and yell back at me so that we can have a proper fight like married people do. It would feel much more normal than this."

"I would love to but not when we are miles away honey. Fights like this should always end in bed so that I can kiss your anger away."

Sara exhaled with frustration. "I'm sorry... I just wish you could just kiss me right now."

"I wish I could do a lot more than kissing you."

Sara laughed relieved that their talking diffused some of the tension between them. "So, anything in those sex pots about sexual pleasure I need to know about Gilbert? I didn't want to ask in front of your mother but I wonder..." she teased.

"There are a couple of things I can think of," he smacked his lips.

"Don't hold yourself back," Sara giggled as she rolled out of the couch and ran to the bedroom. She loved it when he talked naughty with her on the phone while she touched herself under the sheet. With all that sex talk she couldn't help feeling horny.. Next time he'd be here, she'd tie him in their bed and have her way with him. If there was one thing she was sure about was that she and Gil had great sex and if she had to wait a little longer between treats so be it.


"Sara?"

"Yeah..." dropping the files on her desk Sara breathed out frustrated. "Sorry baby but I'm currently looking at a pile of paperwork I volunteered to dig into for Catherine in a moment of weakness..."

"We need some volunteers for a dig here too, you know."

"I wish..."

"Hey, cheer up, I heard from Nick that you have a secret admirer. I'm jealous."

"What are you talking about?" Sara muttered absentmindedly as she was going over the files with a frown.

"Flowers? Guy at the lab?"

"Oh you mean for the 'hitting the cycle' contest", Sara broke into a smile.

"'Hitting the cycle? You mean suicide, homicide, accidental and natural death all in one shift? Haven't heard that for a while."

"Didn't Nick tell you? He probably didn't want to jinx it. He was so worked up for nothing, David bit us. He found his new assistant dead on his autopsy table, can you imagine? Aneurysm."

"You're kidding."

"Nope. I guess the job was too much for him...

So jealous? Maybe I should be jealous over my husband talking about his Moche with other women..."

"What other women?"

"A certain beautiful ex dominatrix turned sex therapist in black leather?"

"Heather..." Grissom breathed out. Of course his friend would tease Sara about the Moche with the first chance she got, he knew it the moment he explained to her about his work at their last conversation over the phone. Women, even smart ones, are so predictable sometimes.

"Yes, Heather. She seems to know all about you and Peru."

"We talk sometimes."

"May I ask about what?"

"Ah... Ancient civilization rituals."

"Hmm... just that huh? Nothing personal?"

"I'm not discussing our personal stuff with her if that's what you mean."

"I certainly hope so. Or pursuing any sex therapy over the phone..."

"Sara!"

"Okay, okay, got to go now Moche, we'll talk later."

"I'll be waiting." Grissom sighed, unsure how this woman got him from trying to tease her over a flower bouquet to justifying his own conversation with a friend. She was the only one that could still make him feel helpless... Sometimes it was hard to believe they were actually married... oh his lovely Sara, he had to fly back to her arms soon, very soon.


"Where are we going?"

A gentle push at the small of her back urged Sara to get in the passenger's seat, leaving her question unanswered. Grissom took his place behind the wheel and pulled the seat belt over his shoulder while she sat watching his every move, waiting. He could feel her gaze on him as he rearranged his neck tie in place and fiddled with the keys to start the engine.

When he finally looked at her, all he could think was how gorgeous she was in her purple dress and he knew that she was well aware of her effect on him as she had been crossing her legs all night at his mother's house, enjoying the looks he kept shooting at her everytime the dress opening revealed her long sleek legs. She could be such a tease when she wanted.

And oh boy, she certainly wanted to torture him tonight while mother went on and on giving them a lesson over marriage. He tried to change the conversation a couple of times as he could feel Sara's discomfort but Betty was in her preaching mood.

He knew his mother was afraid distance would ruin their relationship and to be honest he often shared the same thoughts. Sometimes, the only thing that made him bear the miles separating them from each other was that he could see how happy Sara was in Vegas. After everything she's been through he couldn't be the one ruining that for her. He could never do that.

The desire to slip his hand under that flimsy dress was overwhelming but catching her mischievous smile he restrained himself. He could play games too, he could make her want him as badly as he did. A lustful Sara was something he often dreamed of while lying alone on his cot, thinking of her, sprawled naked on their king sized bed.

Struggling but determined, he drew his eyes away from the beautiful sight next to him and turned his attention back to driving through Vegas traffic for the rest of their short trip. Sara stayed silent too, always watching as if she couldn't believe her husband was actually taking her out on a date.

When they reached their destination, a luxury hotel in the Vegas Strip, he handed the car keys to the valet and escorted an astounded Sara through the revolving door.

"Gil, why are we here?"

Instead of answering her question he gently touched her waist and guided her to the hotel restaurant. When he gave his name to the waiting staff, they showed them a nice little quiet table in the corner of the dimly lit room, where the music wasn't too loud.

"So, do you like it?" He finally asked when they took their seats facing each other over lit candles.

"Are we celebrating something?"

"Being together," he said softly. "I'm just sorry we can't do it more often darling."

"It's beautiful Gil."

She smiled with that smile that made her whole face glow and his heart to flutter as the waiter came to serve them wine in their glasses.

"Is this what I think it is?" She let out a smirk smelling the red liquid.

"Your favorite. I thought I could make you drunk before I took you to the bed upstairs."

"You booked a room too?"

"To us," he raised his glass and shot her a horny look that made her face blush with excitement. She could feel that he wanted to have his way with her tonight and to be honest there was nothing she wanted more after Betty's dinner.

"Be careful, I could get used to being spoiled by my husband, you know."

"Then maybe we should make a habit of it. How about we book again for your birthday?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"On how well you perform tonight," she pouted her lips and burst into giggles as Grissom stood up and grabbed her hand to make her follow him out to the lobby. Keeping their hands off each other while going up the floors was all they could handle before crashing against each other after their door room was shut.

When he finally got his hands under her dress he was already moaning with pleasure as he slowly got rid of her wet panties and carried her to the bed. Licking his way up her thigh he savored her sweet juices and she started to tremble with excitement.

"Oh my god, Gil..."

He knew her body as well as his own by now as he allowed his tongue to lap her folds while his fingers worked to push her to the edge. When her breath quickened and she was almost there he got rid of his suit and flipped her over pulling her ass up. Pushing his throbbing member into her always felt so good, she was his and he was hers, they were just meant to be. Her moans met his and they rode their climax together until they dropped sweaty on the bed.

"Oh yes baby, we should definitely make a habit of this date," Sara struggled as she crawled into his arms, sated. "We are so good together..."

"Yes we are," Grissom whispered, leaning to kiss her lips, "we always will be..."