Disclaimer: STILL own nothing- and you can bet that if I did- we'd have some damn resolution already. I digress, anyway- I didn't take quite as long with this chapter but it was still while. So for anyone still reading this thing, just know that I appreciate all the nice and encouraging reviews and this story will be over soon. Maybe within the next 2 chapters or so. Ummmmm, IS there anyone still reading this…? Helloooo?
Once inside his home, Grissom let himself collapse onto the bed. He could feel a migraine setting in but he couldn't bring himself to get up for his medication. Sara was improving everyday, but he couldn't help but feel less than optimistic about her regaining memories of him. He let his mind wander for a while over the possibilities of what he would do if she didn't.
Once he zoned back in, he realized he'd been laying there for an hour. His headache, infinitely worse, demanded attention. Grissom got up, took his medicine, had a quick shower and let himself go to sleep early. He'd worry about food later.
Sara wandered aimlessly around her apartment for a long time. Her mind was still foggy. It seemed that the more she tried to focus on remembering something, the more elusive it became. And for someone whose mind was their livelihood, this was worrisome.
Eventually she forced herself to sit down on the couch, her eyes still roaming the room. Her gaze fell on the door. It now had three locks on it; the door's own lock, a deadbolt and a chain. Over time, she was able to recall the events of the night in complete detail. Sometimes she would become uncomfortable being there alone but then she would remind herself of the constant surveillance and she'd feel better.
Earlier that day, her doctor had told her that she could return to work next week. She was indescribably excited about that. Even as a child, she was never able to sit still for any amount of time. So trying to find things to do around her apartment for nearly a month was difficult at best. Work would give her someplace to put her energy. Even if she was restricted to lab duty. It was better than nothing. Since it was Wednesday now, she just had to wait 4 days until she was back in action, so to speak.
"And who knows" she thought "maybe being back at work will jog my memories of Gil. I mean after all, he's the reason that I am in this field anyway- WAIT! Why do I know that? No one told me that."
Sara searched her mind frantically for any more information but she just couldn't get a grip on anything. She gave up but considered that a small victory.
The next 2 work days went by in a blur for Grissom. He never even went home. The night shift had started taking on new cases again last week. There wasn't any more forensic work that could be done on Sara's or Dante Liguori's cases, that was all up to the police now.
Grissom didn't have a hard case at the moment. He had three separate small ones. Only one of which was a homicide and that was a slam dunk. He just didn't want to be at his home. There was nothing for him to do there.
He'd never felt that way about his home before. It was his sanctuary. Now it just felt empty, unfulfilling. When he was there, all he did was sit around and think about Sara. Not even his bugs could hold his interest there for long. The silence of his townhouse sounded thunderous in his ears. So he avoided it like the plague.
Grissom had been sitting in his office for three hours, doing nothing, when he decided he was being ridiculous.
"What is wrong with me? I am a grown man. I should be able to be in my own home and find something to do. Sara will work things out in her own time and everything will be just fine. I hope."
With that, Grissom got up, gathered up his things and headed home. He was determined to do something productive today. Start training his roaches again, go grocery shopping, wash his sheets, anything to make himself feel useful.
Sara was positively giddy. Two more days and she could go back to work. She was sitting in her apartment, listening to her stereo and going over the contents of her kit for the 40th time in the last 2 days. She knew she had everything that she needed but she just liked going through it.
For the first time she noticed that she was low on duct tape. She decided to run to the supermarket and grab some. She even took pleasure in doing that because it was only recently that she had been allowed to start driving again.
She reached the supermarket and stated scouring the aisles for the tape.
"Sara?" A voice from behind her startled her, making her jump a bit.
"Gil, jeez, don't sneak up on a girl like that."
"Sorry" Grissom replied, his cheeks lightly tinted pink, "What are you doing here?"
"I needed more duct tape for my kit, you know, I start work again on Monday." She responded "Why are you here?"
Grissom smiled "I'm grocery shopping, Sara"
He nodded to his cart, which was filled with milk, lettuce, flour, eggs, bacon, bread, coffee beans, cold cuts, yogurt, veggies, muffins, and Count Chocula cereal, of all things. Sara picked up the box of cereal and quirked and eyebrow at him.
"Gil, really, if you're gonna eat this, why not just buy a bag of sugar and pour that into your mouth instead?"
Grissom's ears turned pink to match his cheeks. Sara found this utterly adorable. He took the box from her and plunked it back down into the cart.
"Oh shush, I like it. Lindsey does, too. So I keep it around for when she and Catherine come over." Grissom blurted.
"Oh." Sara said quietly.
She didn't know why but she felt a little disheartened after he said that. As far as she knew, there had never been anything between Catherine and Gil but the thought of the three of them sitting around his table eating breakfast like a little family made her chest tighten uncomfortably. She looked down and saw the stacks of duct tape on the bottom shelf. She grabbed two quickly and popped back up. Forced smile firmly in place.
"Ok, well, I found my tape so I guess I will get going. I t was good to see you, Gil." She started off down the aisle.
It was the 'Gil' that got him. She'd been calling him that for a month and it still didn't sound right. He had always dreamed of her calling him by his first name but somehow now he wanted her back to calling him 'Grissom'. 'Gil' didn't sound right on her tongue when she had no memories of him, if that made any sense at all. He had to do something to get his old Sara back.
"Sara! Wait." He called after her.
She stopped and turned around to look at him, a questioning look on her face.
"Would you, ah, would you like to have breakfast with me? I know a really good diner around the corner." He asked
"I'd love to Gil. But won't your food spoil?" She returned.
Grissom looked at the cart and frowned. He hadn't thought of that.
"It's ok, maybe some other time-" Sara started
"No! I mean um, no. Why don't we go to my place and I'll cook instead. I mean if you don't mind. I mean I understand if you don't want to. I mean-"
He was cut off by Sara's slender hand covering his mouth. He inhaled softly and could smell the mixture of hand soap and lotion. Smelled like Dial and maybe vanilla.
"Gil, stop. That's fine. Actually it's better. Let's go."
She let her hand linger a moment longer then dropped it slowly to her side.
Grissom smiled and pushed his cart towards the registers at the front of the store. He also swiped the rolls of duct tape from Sara's grip and dropped them into the basket.
"Gil!" Sara exclaimed.
Grissom just gave her an 'oh please' look and she gave in.
After depositing the assorted groceries on Grissom's breakfast bar, Sara took to looking around the townhouse. She somehow knew that it was a big deal that she was in his home. Even without having her memories of him, she'd gathered that he was a private man. She took her time, perusing the titles of the books on his shelves, ranging from classics, to science journals, to modern novels.
Grissom busied himself in the kitchen making eggs, pancakes from scratch and fruit bowls. He didn't know what Sara might be in the mood for.
They enjoyed their meal and talked of menial things; movies, books, and music. They even got into a mock- heated debate over which band was better, The Rolling Stones or Aerosmith. Grissom finally conceded that Aerosmith was better but only because when Sara was laughing and smiling like that he couldn't formulate coherent arguments.
After breakfast, they decided to watch a movie. Silence of the Lambs was in the DVD player to they went with that. Sara jumped at one particularly disturbing scene and Grissom took her hand to calm her. After a few moments, though, he couldn't bring himself to relinquish the hold. So they remained that way, fingers intertwined, Grissom's thumb lightly stroking the back of her hand every so often. They still hadn't let go of each other's hand even as he walked Sara to her car.
"Thanks for breakfast, Gil. It was really sweet of you. I'll have to return the favor sometime." Sara said
"You cook?" Grissom asked, surprised.
"Um, no. BUT, from now on I promise to have my apartment nicely stocked with Count Chocula, just for you" She returned with a wink.
Grissom laughed and on impulse pulled her closer and planted a small kiss right at the corner of her mouth. He would let her decide where he'd intended it to go, her lips or her cheek. One of the few tricks he'd learned from his experiences in dating.
When he pulled back, Sara looked confused, but not at all upset. She smiled at him and gave his hand one last squeeze before releasing it to get in her SUV. She waved as she drove away slowly and Grissom returned to his house. Upon entering his kitchen, Grissom saw that Sara had left her duct tape on the counter. He smiled and picked it up. He'd give it to her at work on Monday.
After driving for a few minutes Sara realized she left her tape at Grissom's. She was not too far away yet so she decided to go back and get it. Besides, she never got tired of seeing him.
There was a knock on Grissom's door. He swung it open without even checking, he figured it was Sara coming back for her tape.
"Did you forget-" Grissom's words died on his lips when he was met with the barrel of a gun in his face, and just beyond that, the hateful cold stare of Chase Gregory.
TBC
Sorry doods! I swear this is almost done! Please don't stop reading. I really promise to get these chapters out faster! I SWEAR! PLEASE REVIEW! I live off these tiny things!