Title: A Change in the Weather
Summary: Pure fluff. An unexpected situation brings Grissom and Sara closer. Will it be the push needed to change things between the two of them?
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI…just my books, games, DVDs, and dreams for Grissom and Sara.
Spoilers: Anything up to the end of Season 5.
A/N: This is what happens when I make reservations for co-workers to attend a conference, talk to family in Chicago, remember the experience of my last trip on a plane, and watch an episode of CSI where Billy has a cold (just not all at the exact same time…LOL). I was also in the mood for a comfort Grissom story. Thank you Onyx for being my beta.
Chapter 1 - Tired
Being the final presenters for the week-long forensics conference, Grissom and Sara were the only ones remaining in the large conference hall. All the other attendees left the building a half hour before. The two were left to gather up their displays and presentation materials.
Since most of the materials brought for the presentation could be thrown away, Sara was going around the room collecting them. With a stack in her hand, she made her way to the table next to the podium at the front of the room. Adding the stack to the growing pile already on the table she looked over to Grissom who was sitting at the table. "I think the conference went well don't you? I was surprised at the amount of questions we were asked though. I didn't think there would be many people who'd have questions about collecting evidence in the desert. Especially since most of the criminalists attending were from the Midwest."
"It shouldn't be surprising. Yes, most of the attendees were from the Midwest, but I would hope that evidence collection in a different environment would be an interesting topic. It is for me." Grissom got up from the table. Since a few items needed to be brought back to their hotel, he walked around the room searching for the box he used to carry the documents to the conference. Seeing the box was no where to be found, he walked back to the table and started to make a very organized pile of his own.
After Sara discarded the unnecessary papers in the overflowing trash can next to the table, Grissom picked up his stack and started for the entrance. "I'm glad the conference is finally over," he said, exhausted. He walked to the door of the conference hall and held it open for Sara. "It was fun, but I never knew a week could last so long."
"I thought you liked these things?" Sara responded, as she walked out the door with Grissom behind her.
"I usually do…," he began. When the door closed behind him, it caught on a few of the folders in his hand and pulled them out of his grasp. The papers and folders were now spread haphazardly on the floor. As he bent down to pick them up, not caring on their organization, he continued, "but when the keynote speaker is not up-to-date with his topic, I lose interest really fast." Standing back up, he found Sara a few feet ahead of him and rushed to catch up. Meeting up with her, he took his free hand and rubbed at his tired eyes.
"I can't wait to get back to hotel," Sara said as she turned her head away from Grissom and tried to hide a yawn. "I want to rest a bit before we head to airport."
"I saw that," he said playfully.
Sara looked at Grissom and gave an embarrassed, but tired grin. "Sorry."
"I thought you never sleep or get tired?" he asked. Arriving at the elevator, he reached out to punch the down button, but Sara beat him to it.
"You're not tired," she said, more as a statement than as a question. "We've been running around like crazy preparing for our presentation, listening to other presentations, attending various workshops and doing the work needed for those workshops." She yawned again. "Sorry…there were nights where we were lucky if we got three hours of sleep. And you're not tired?"
Luckily the elevator had arrived so Grissom didn't have to meet her questioning gaze. "I feel fine." He wouldn't admit it, but he felt drained. The lack of sleep was finally catching up with him.
The door opened and Grissom let Sara in first. She walked in, headed to the right side of the elevator, and pushed the button for the lobby. As the door closed, Grissom entered and went to the left side. Looking at their reflection in the elevator door, Sara decided to sneak a peek at Grissom. She'd never seen him look so exhausted. His body was slumped and he was leaning his head back against the wall with his eyes closed. His hair was a bit disheveled, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight of him.
The trip down to the lobby was short, but long enough for Grissom to start to doze. Noticing that he wasn't moving towards the opening door, Sara reached a hand to his arm. "Hey Grissom, we're at the lobby."
Grissom awoke with a start, slightly embarrassed that he started to fall asleep, especially after he told Sara he was fine. "Sorry. I guess I am tired," he said, rubbing a hand over his face.
"Don't worry about it." She walked out and headed toward the concierge with Grissom in tow. "Good afternoon sir. We'd like to find out when the shuttle to the Hyatt Regency will be arriving."
The concierge put his newspaper down and addressed Sara. "Good afternoon. Unfortunately the shuttle made its last pick up of the day a half an hour ago. We thought everyone from the conference already left. I'm sorry. I can get you a cab if you'd like."
She looked over to Grissom. "Want to go for a nice afternoon walk? It shouldn't be that bad. The hotel is only about a mile and a half away."
"Sure. I don't feel like dealing with a cab right now." He unsuccessfully tried to hide a yawn. "Plus a walk might just wake me up a little."
Sara turned back to the concierge. "We won't be needing a cab. We'll just walk to our hotel. Thank you anyway."
Sara looked at Grissom. "Ready?"
"Let's go. The sooner we leave, the more time we have to rest before leaving for the airport." Grissom couldn't believe how exhausted he was. He never felt that drained at the end of other conferences he'd attended.
TBC