Chapter 4
Sara was watching Archie go through the video tapes she had brought in but her mind was wandering. Something is wrong. Doesn't it just figure? Three days and he's already pulling away. He can't even look me in the eye. What the hell?
"Sara," Archie said putting his hand on her shoulder to get her attention. "Hey, Sara, is everything okay?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry. I was thinking about something. What have we got?" Sara jerked her attention back to the monitor.
"Looks like that's your guy. That's only a partial on the plate though. I'll try to enhance it for you." Archie's fingers flew over the keyboard as he worked to bring the suspect's license plate into view. "There. That's as good as it gets."
Sara's eyes took in the image on the screen. "Thanks Archie. If you'll print that for me I'll run this through DMV." She waited for the printer to finish and, with a wave, walked out of the room. Going to her workstation, she logged into the DMV computer and began running combinations of Suburbans with the available tag numbers. When she got several possible matches she called Brass and passed along the information before heading to Grissom's office.
Sticking her head in his office she said, "I gave Brass some possibilities on the smash and grab. Is there anything else going on?"
Grissom looked up and felt as if his heart was going to explode. She was beautiful. Not classically beautiful. It was the light in her eyes. It was her smile. It was her mind. Her mile long legs didn't hurt things either. "Yeah, I need to check on something at a scene. You have time to ride along?"
"Okay. Let me get my stuff. Will you be in the car?" Sara's confusion was obvious to them both. When Grissom nodded and said five minutes, she headed to the locker room.
Grissom was already in the car when Sara got outside. She stowed her kit in the back seat and climbed in on the passenger's side. Glancing at Grissom as she put on her seatbelt she saw him staring at her with a bemused expression on his face. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what? Sorry. Are you ready?" Grissom started the engine and pulled out of the lot.
Sara was looking out her window, lost in thought, until she realized they were in the parking lot of the diner. "Grissom? What are we doing here?" Sara was watching Grissom warily.
"I wanted to return to the scene of the crime. Maybe we can figure out what happened if we can recreate the events." Grissom met Sara's questioning gaze with his calm, unreadable one. "Come around to the driver's side of the vehicle please."
Sara knew that Grissom had gone over the edge. What could he be thinking now? What was he even talking about? Slowly, she opened her door and made her way to the driver's side. Grissom had climbed out and was waiting for her. "Okay, Gris, why are we here?"
"Well, this morning I was having breakfast with a beautiful woman. I had a marvelous time. And, if I am not mistaken, in this exact spot, I kissed her. I brought you with me to help re-enact the scene. After all I've tied you up and pinned you down. I figure you owe me." Grissom was watching Sara intently as he made this little speech. He saw the smile spread across her face and returned it with one of his own.
"Okay. What exactly do I need to do? And why is this a crime? I didn't think it was illegal in Vegas to kiss beautiful women." Sara had moved a couple of steps closer to Grissom and was waiting expectantly for his next instructions. "If that were a crime we would never get a day off again."
"That's true. However, the crime occurred after the kiss." Seeing Sara's puzzled expression Grissom continued, "Let's just start at the beginning and follow the evidence." With that he cradled her face in his hands and kissed her. Slow and sweet, yet hot enough to melt steel. He plundered. He ravished. Every silly romance novel cliché applied to this kiss. He put his heart and soul into it. When he pulled back they were both breathing heavily.
Sara stood in the cool night air with a stunned expression on her face. Her hands had come up to hold Grissom's wrists and she used them now to pull his hands from her face. Still holding onto his arms she looked into his eyes and said, "Wow, she's a very lucky woman. If you ever decide to dump her give me a call." Seeing how serious his expression was Sara asked, "Okay, if kissing wasn't the crime what was?"
"After I kissed this woman she drove away. I was then approached by a second woman. This other woman is apparently a very observant person." Grissom was watching the emotions playing across Sara's face. "Her observations caused me some agitation."
"So you are telling me that some unknown person approached you in this parking lot and discouraged you from kissing? Surely that isn't the crime either." Sara's tone was light but her eyes were serious.
"No. The crime was actually committed much later. I saw the beautiful woman again and was not very nice to her. I also saw the other woman again and was extremely rude to her. I want to apologize to the beautiful woman but I'm not sure how." Grissom was still searching Sara's eyes as if they held the secrets of the universe. "Do you think she will forgive me?"
"I think that if you were to kiss her like you just kissed me she might just be able to forgive you. I know if it were me, I would forgive you anything for one of those kisses." Sara moved her hands up Grissom's arms and locked her fingers behind his neck. "Do you need help working out the apology too?"
"I think I might," Grissom said just before his lips captured hers again. He brought his arms around her waist and pulled her tight against his body. They were both only dimly aware of their surroundings until some of the diner's other patrons suggested, rather loudly, they 'get a room'. The two pulled apart with an embarrassed laugh. Stepping back, Grissom reached out and brushed the hair off Sara's cheek. "Let's go."
When they were both settled, Grissom started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. "When you left this morning Catherine came up. She had apparently been there for a few minutes. I guess I got upset that she saw us. I don't know if I'm ready for everyone to know." Grissom had reached over to take Sara's hand. "Later, after I ignored you, she came into my office and tried to read me the riot act. I practically threw her out. Se left in tears. I can't remember seeing Catherine cry over anything except Eddie. She's not really talking to me right now."
"My God, Grissom, what did you say to her? And why do you care if she knows? Are you ashamed of kissing me?" Sara jerked her hand away from him and crossed her arms over her chest.
"No, I'm not ashamed. It only took me ten years to admit how I feel to you. I'm just not ready for everyone to be involved in my personal life and we both know Cath doesn't know how to keep a secret. As a matter of fact, I told her that I am in love with you." Grissom laid his hand, palm up, on the console hoping that Sara would place hers in it.
After a moment she reached out and grasped his hand. "Okay. But what are you going to do about hurting her? She might be nosy but she cares about you. You need to fix it."
"I know. I called her and tried to apologize. She shut me down. I'll think of something. She has to come back to the lab sometime tonight." Grissom glanced at Sara to see her looking at him. "I just need to know that we are okay. I'll deal with Catherine later." Raising their joined hands to his lips he placed a kiss on the back of hers.
"We're okay, Gris. If being ignored was going to run me off I'd have been gone a long time ago. You couldn't get that lucky." Sara leaned over and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You're stuck with me, bug man."
Grissom's cell phone started to ring. Answering it he listened for a moment and then said, "Sara and I will be there in about fifteen minutes. Okay, got it." Turning to Sara he said, "Brass has a DB. Looks like we're up. Call Catherine and have them meet us at Bally's in Room 1257." Turning on the blue lights he made a u-turn and headed toward the strip.