Chapter Twenty Three: Christmas Eve Day

Sara was dancing in her room, a bandaged wrist waving in the air, free.

"Have yourself a merry little Chirstmas... Let your heart be light, from now on, our trouble will be out of sight...Have yourself a merry little Christmas...from now on our trouble will be miles away..."

She sang and Grissom sat against the wall opposite of her bedroom, listening.

He'd finally come to terms inside that yes, he was attracted to her. For all the while listening to her sing, he wanted to run into her room, wrap her in his arms and kiss her without ever thinking of his career again. But the thought of falling in love with his coworker and that being a big no no, still reeled around in his mind.

The leaves from the trees had vanished and the house was falling into a heavy scent of apples and spices. Brass had downed at least four gallons of Coca-Cola, coffee, and a shot of whiskey. His eyes were wide open and he knew that he wasn't going to fall asleep.

"Christmas is here! It's here! It's here!" Nick rang out from the family room.

"Nick, it's Christmas Eve, chill out!" Warrick scolded.

Catherine took Warrick into her arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ya know, I don't know if you are going to get any presents, you've been a bad boy this year."

Warrick smiled and rubbed her nose with his. "Just around you my dear." He teased. They kissed there, in the family room as Nick pretended to gag and Greg walked briskly into the room.

"God, you guys are gross! Can't you keep it PG in here?" There was a hint of frustration in his tone.

"What's the matter with you?"

"Ya, you could use some holiday lovin!" Catherine said.

At that moment, Sara came down the stairs dressed in a dress the color of a soft yellow. Small flowers littered the dress in darker yellows and soft pinks, her wrist wrapped up. She was humming and singing without a care in the world and everyone watched as she danced around Greg and gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek. He wiped it off and watched her as she charaded out the front door.

Grissom came down the stairs. He was lethargic, he hadn't recieved much sleep last night from traipizing around the mountain with Sara.

"What's up doc?" Nick teased.

"Ya, Sara seemed in a cheerful mood this morning...what on earth did you do?" Catherine asked.

"Nothing." He replied. And he sauntered out the door following her. Greg seemed frustrated and bounded out the back door into the woods.

He watched her playfully. Not revealing his postion from behind a garden gate. His presense was not felt by her and for this he was elated. She walked in long, flowing steps that seemed to have a rythm down deep in her soul. When she disappeared behind a large flowering bush, he followed. His soul leading him to her.

She began twirling. Twirling faster and faster, humming a perfect tune in harmony of her steps, with one hand waving free in the gentle breeze. A breeze that held a soft, gentle promise in the air for tomorrow...

Her hair was in wispy, light ringlets. And he admired the way they flowed in the chilling breeze. Her dress twirled in the wind and with her eyes closed she twirled around and around until she fell with a light boom. Grissom remained hidden, but transfixed on her beauty. For it was a dazzling sight that caught his eyes and made him forget about his career.

She laid herself onto the soft grass and placed a slender hand by her temple. Gazing at the sky, trying to get her equalibrium back.

The sky swirled above her, grays and whites. Grissom wanted a closer view. For this shyness of standing behind a garden gate was to much for him and his patience was running low. He wanted not to scare her, but to sneak upon her in a fashion that he was not well equipped for.

Crack.

Her gaze drifted upon his postion and then back to the sky, not caring. His position revealed and no other reason for hiding, he walked out toward her. They were in the heart of the garden know. As he inspected his surroundings all the while of walking to her, he noticed that they had a considerable amount of privacy.

Playfully, and so un-Grissom like, he jumped down next to her, tucked his hands behind his head and stared softly at her.

"You are so beautiful." He whispered upon her ear. She smiled and continued her gaze heavenward. Then when she finally turned upon him, she met his eyes and was instantly hypnotized in their beauty.

The dark blue swirling waters of his eyes made her weak, as if she was standing on water herself. She spotted his lips and wanted so desperately to feel his under her own. What would it hurt?

But she couldn't do it. It had to be his move first.

His finger caressed her cheekbone and fell to her collarbone. He could feel her pulse racing. His finger turned into in hand and it cupped her face gently. He shifted onto his side and kissed her ever so sweetly. Not open mouthed but just a soft kiss on the lips that could have been misjudged for an angel's whisper upon her lips. Grissom wondered how she couldn't be cold in that dress, but when he shifted on top of her, there was no doubt in his mind that she would be warm now.

They continued to kiss. Not revelling past the expense of being seen.

With one hand holding most of his weight up from crushing her, and the other to caress her face, he continued to kiss her. There. In the garden. Just her and him.

Alone.

The light was sifting through the trees. Illuminating the ground and the couple in little glowing orbs. When they finally pulled away, Grissom caressed her chin softly and whispered by her ear. "I'm sorry."