"But Grissom, what am I supposed to do here? Sit around and twiddle my thumbs?" she protested.
He stood up, holding a couple of her books in his arms, and kicked the empty box out of the way.
"I'm just saying that you're not going to be much use to the lab hobbling around on crutches, and having limited mobility with your wrists."
"My cast is coming off in two weeks, and my wrists are heeling. Besides, I only need my fingers to type."
"What about in a few months when you have to go on maternity leave?" he tried.
"What about the few months before I go on maternity leave? I can't believe you honestly don't want me to go back to work!"
He sighed, "Sara, I really hate to tell you this, but do you really think that Ecklie is going to consider hiring you back?"
"Do you not have a say in whether or not I get hired back? He only has so much power."
"Think about this rationally. What happens when he finds out that you and I are living together? And after that, I don't think it will take him long to figure out that you're carrying our baby."
She glared at him, biting her lower lip, "So what you're saying is you won't consider giving me back my old job?"
"I didn't say that," he answered sternly.
"You practically did!"
"Sara, I am just trying to explain the situation. Ecklie won't hire you back because of the past, and it goes against departmental policy for us to be together, especially because I would be your supervisor. Plus, there is already someone else who replaced you…"
"They replaced me?" she said in shock.
"We had to find someone to help out."
"Who?"
He grimaced and cast his gaze to the ground. She watched him, and realization dawned on her face in horror.
"No…you…Ecklie didn't. Look at me Grissom. Why didn't you tell me she replaced me?"
He slowly raised his eyes to hers, "I didn't think you needed to know. Especially not in your condition at the time."
"What! You didn't think that it was appropriate to tell me that Sophia of all people took my place in the lab? I can't believe you!"
"Sara, she's not as bad as you think she is. I really don't understand why you dislike her."
Her eyes flared with anger, and he got the look she reserved for him when he was in deep trouble.
"So you mean to tell me that things were going along so smoothly in the lab without me because of her, and that you don't understand why she makes me mad! I am so… I could just…Leave me alone!"
She stalked out of the room as best she could on her crutches, and he tried to follow her but she wouldn't let him. She got to the bedroom and promptly slammed the door in his face.
"Please open the door Sara. Just let me explain," he called.
"Go away!" she shouted from within.
"Sara please…"
"I said go away!"
He was about to continue negotiating when the phone rang. He made his way through the apartment, past boxes of her things, and located the handset.
"Hello?" he sighed, sounding frustrated.
"Grissom? What's going on?" Catherine asked.
"It's a long story…"
"Let me guess. You two had a fight."
"What do you want Cath?" he said, avoiding her accusation.
"Well, it's not going to be long before the boys find out Sara's back, and she'll probably want to visit them too, so maybe we could all get together soon?"
"She does want to come to the lab, but not to visit. I don't know about the get together right now, she's not really on speaking terms with me at the moment."
"What did you do?"
"Why is it that you always assume I did something?" he exclaimed.
She laughed into the phone, "Sorry Gil, but it's just that anything you say to a hormonal pregnant woman can be interpreted in the wrong way, and by telling me she's not talking to you suggests that you set her off. She wants her job back doesn't she?"
"And Ecklie isn't going to give it to her. I may have also told her about Sophia," he confessed.
"You didn't! That wasn't a good move Griss."
"So what do I do now? You seem to be good with these situations."
"Leave her for a bit, then do something sweet for her. She'll come around."
"What do I do about her job? I can't re-hire her now, not with us together, and Ecklie won't have her."
"Maybe she'll rationalize it out herself. Otherwise, I'd try to find away to get her back in the lab, or she'll never be happy. We both know she loves her work. Oh, I've got to go, Greg needs my help with something."
She disconnected and Grissom put the phone down. He walked slowly back to the bedroom door and knocked lightly.
"Sara?" he called.
There was no answer. He tried the door but it was still locked. He reached up to the top of the door frame and felt around for the spare key. Finding it, he quietly unlocked the door and slipped into the room. He saw her lying on the bed in the growing twilight, but she didn't seem to hear him. He walked over to her side to find her curled on the bed, tear stains on her cheeks, sleeping. He wondered how this living arrangement was going to work. They fought enough, but at the same time loved each other deeply. They had known each other for so long, yet still had so much to learn about each other.
He took the blanket from the end of the bed and placed it over her, then kissed her on the forehead, before silently leaving the room.
There would be fighting and times when they would both wonder why they were in a relationship, he knew that much. But at the same time, he knew that there would be many precious moments to come, and it would be those times that would justify the risks they were taking.
I know fluff isn't a bad thing, but I am trying to go easy on it for now, because when I get around to when the baby comes, there's going to be a lot.
The Nick-centric post Gum Drops fic is still in the head, yet to be committed to the screen. It will be written when I have more of my essays finished.
I will try to add more of this story soon, but the papers come first. Thanks to everyone who keeps coming back! Byes for now, L