Disclaimer: I own nothing except the idea.
AN: Thanks againto Kristy for beta reading hugz.
Summary: They still just enjoy...
They had a good time together at breakfast. Like the evening before. They were talking, laughing and just enjoying their time together. At some point Sara got the feeling that it was somehow good that their flight had been cancelled. She never before had been able to spend this much time alone with Grissom. Far away from work, away from their daily habits and the stress at the lab. Somehow they both seemed to feel comfortable with their situation.
After a short discussion about the bill Sara paid for the breakfast after she told Grissom that he had paid for the dinner yesterday and that she was an independent woman who didn't depend on the courtesy of any men. At this comment Grissom sighed and put his wallet back into his jacket.
They left the small cafe and made their way back to the hotel. They both entered Grissom's room to check his cell phone, which he had forgotten in his room, if the airline had called and the flight was rescheduled.
This was not like Grissom, Sara thought. She had never seen him going anywhere without his cell. Grissom took his phone and called the mailbox.
'Good morning Mr. Grissom', a female voice said, 'your flight is rescheduled for today at 4 p.m. Please call the American Airlines office at the airport to inform us if you take this flight or if you found an alternative solution.' Grissom stared out of the window and flipped his cell closed.
He could feel Sara's gaze even if he didn't see it. He knew she was impatiently waiting for his answer. The thoughts were racing in his mind.
'You can't do this, Gil. Tell her what you just heard. Don't even think of it! It's not a fair game you're about to play'. But before he could regain a clear mind his mouth opened and he heard himself say, "At least one more day. All flights back to Las Vegas are still cancelled."
He stood there, still staring out of the window, not able to turn around and look into her eyes. He felt guilty but on the other hand he couldn't help but smile inwardly. He would have one more day with her, one more day with Sara around him, outside the lab and their normal life. He wanted to have her, just one more day. Just one more day.
'GRISSOM'.
The sound of his name ripped him out of his thoughts. He turned around and looked at Sara who stared back at him with a slightly sceptical look. His senses went on alarm at the look in her eyes.
'Stay calm Grissom. She doesn't know anything. She trusts you and will not mistrust no matter what you're telling her.'
And then it hit him. She wouldn't distrust any of his words. She trusted him and he had just betrayed her. But he couldn't change it now. He had to find a way out of it, later. He could call the airline and arrange a flight for tomorrow and she would never find out.
"Grissom, why will it take one more day until the flights go back to Las Vegas? They must have given you a reason for that."
Her voice was different then before but there was no anger in her voice he thought surprised. It sounded more like... calmness and... a small hint of happiness. Could that be true? Could she be happy to stay here one day longer? With him? "Grissom?" She had asked a question, he had to answer it. But what would he tell her? He forced his mind to find a solution. And his mind came up with one.
"There are a few damaged control panels and stuff like this at the airport in Las Vegas. They said it's not a problem, they can fix that. It will take about one day. They will call again and let me know when our flight back will leave."
"Oh... ok then" Sara said. She could think about some things really worse than to stay here with Grissom one more day. She had enjoyed yesterday evening and this morning so why don't just stay here and enjoy one more day? She looked at him and the expression on his face made her wonder. He looked puzzled, concerned and even a little happy. Could he really be happy to stay here with her? They had a great time but Sara always thought it was just because he knew that they would be back in Las Vegas soon. She had the feeling that this man standing in front of her was in some way the old Grissom. That this was the man she had fallen in love with so many years ago. When he had been her lecturer and after that her mentor. This was in some way the same Grissom she could laugh with and had the best time of her life with. And if she was given the chance to have one more day just with him she was more than happy to take it. Even if it was just one more day.
'One more day to enjoy' she thought and felt a small smile crossing her lips.
"So..." she said to get her mind away from this thoughts and back to where she was. "Ok, one more day. That's not that bad. What are we going to do then?"
Grissom shrugged his shoulders and looked around the room. 'We could stay here, sleep, take a shower'. This were just a few ideas popping out of his mind but he shoved them away. This was definitely not what he wanted to tell her. Even if it was what he really wanted to do. " I don't know. What do you want to do? Maybe we can hire a car and make a trip outside this city. To be honest I don't feel like walking around a crowded city and do some shopping or sightseeing", he said with that boyish look in his eyes.
"So, no shopping for me I guess" Sara said and stuck out her bottom lip in a playful way. Her eyes twinkled with a playfulness Grissom hadn't seen there in a really long time.
"No Miss Sidle, no shopping for you today", he said, laughing. "Let's go and find a car, so we can get out of here", Grissom said, grabbed his cell and followed a giggling Sara out of the room.
They got the car and after a little argument whom of them would drive it, which was solved by flinging a quarter, Sara took place in the passenger's seat and Grissom drove out of the parking lot of the motel. While Grissom drove them out of the city Sara tried to win the fight with the map they took from the reception desk at the motel. After she found their position on the map she looked over it to find a place where they could spent the day. After a few minutes she found a small lake not too far from where they were. She told Grissom and after directing him on the right way she stored the map in the glove box and leaned back in her seat.
The sun warmed the air in the car and Sara relaxed and looked out of the window. The landscape flew by and Sara felt tiredness overwhelming her.
While he drove on the lonely street Grissom glanced over at Sara and when he noticed that she was sleeping he allowed himself to reflect the last hours. He had betrayed her, he had betrayed her trust and played a game which was more than unfair. But he hadn't been able to resist. He enjoyed the time alone with her so much and wanted it to last forever. He knew that this wasn't the right way but it gave him time. Time he didn't have back in Las Vegas. It gave him time to clear his mind and to get his thoughts sorted. He had pushed her away a lot of times in the past and was tired of it. Maybe more than she was. Grissom always told her he couldn't do it. He couldn't risk his job or his life because of her. He had let her come closer just to push her away again. He had told her it wouldn't work between them, he was fifteen years older than she was. One day he would wake up and she was gone. At least he thought that. Had thought. He had changed his mind about some things a few months ago. He had thought of it more often than ever before. She had become a part of his life. Not just a part, she was his life.
One sentence Sara had said a long time ago always haunted him. In his dreams, while eating, while showering, even at work.
'You know by the time you figured it out you really could be too late'.
He didn't want to be too late. But he wasn't able to throw all of his life away for her. He would if he could be sure that she would stay. Forever. But he couldn't be sure. He couldn't risk all he ever worked for, all he ever lived for. He couldn't risk loosing control of his life. And that was exactly what would happen if he gave in to her. But maybe he had to risk it all to become happy, with her.
They finally reached the lake Sara had spotted on the map. Grissom parked the car and turned the engine off. Then he bent over Sara and softly called her name. Sara murmured something in her sleep and turned her face around so she was facing Grissom but didn't wake up.
Grissom watched her and smiled.
Hope you enjoyed it ;-). TBC