Chapter 2 - Sleet

They pushed open the hotel doors and began the trek to their own hotel. The air outside was crisp and the sky looked threatening, with the sun hiding behind dark grey ominous clouds. The darkness made the sky seem like early evening instead of early afternoon.

A few minutes in to their walk, Grissom started to realize how cold it had gotten and zipped up his jacket. He looked over to Sara to comment on the temperature, but saw that she added gloves and a scarf to her ensemble. Returning his gaze forward, he smiled, wondering where she was hiding those items.

Being comfortable with the silence between them and ignoring the changing weather, they decided to just enjoy the scenery. At one point they passed over the Chicago River and stopped to watch a boat sail by.

While looking in the windows of the shops next to her a half a mile into their walk, Sara noticed some white flurries falling from the sky. "Hey Grissom, it's starting to snow," she said excitedly.

Grissom looked up at the sky. "Well, sleet is more like it. If the temperature keeps dropping though, it will be snow. We better get a move on. I don't want to be out here when it does start to snow." He brushed some of the sleet from his face. "The storm wasn't even supposed to arrive until late tonight…after we leave on our flight back to Vegas." Grissom started to shiver, his Forensics windbreaker providing not much warmth against the falling temperature and sleet. With folders in one hand, Grissom tried his best to cross his arms in front of his chest to keep warm.

Sara saw Grissom shivering and felt bad for him. She knew he wasn't dressed for the cold and had to be freezing. "Luckily the hotel isn't that much farther. We'll be there before the storm really picks up."

"Good." Grissom picked up his pace to get warmer and to get to the hotel faster and Sara had to hurry to keep up with him. He turned to Sara, "So much for the nice afternoon walk."

Sara felt she owed Grissom an apology. "If I would have known the weather wouldn't be cooperating, I wouldn't have suggested it."

"How were you to know? I think we're more than halfway to our hotel now so we may as well continue on. A little rain never hurt anyone."

"I'm up for it," Sara said, a little too enthusiastically.

Seeing that he was still shivering a few blocks later, she reached for the folders in his hand, knowing he'd be a little warmer if he could put both his hands in his pockets. "I'll hold on to these for you."

He wouldn't let go of the folders. "No thanks Sara. I've got them. Thanks for the offer though."

"Okay. I was just thinking since I've got gloves on, I won't be as cold holding on to them. Just let me know if you change your mind."

"I will. Thanks."

As they continued down Columbus Drive, Grissom came to the conclusion that his idea of walking faster to get warmer wasn't working. It was actually having the opposite effect and he was getting colder. He wanted to get to the hotel as fast as possible, but decided to slow down their pace.

With the sleet coming down harder, Grissom realized his windbreaker was not waterproof. The icy rain was soaking through the liner on the inside of his jacket and on to him. He could even feel his pants sticking to his legs. He now remembered why he lived in the desert. No snow or sleet in the winter, just rain. He could deal with rain…especially when he could be prepared for it.

Sara glanced over at Grissom. He looked so miserable. His hair was wet and plastered against the top of his head, his face was pale with his cheeks and nose red from the cold, his pants were soaking wet and she knew his Forensics windbreaker was not waterproof. She learned the hard way too about the windbreaker a year ago. The folders in his hand were soaked and she knew there was no use in keeping them now. The papers inside were more than likely not readable. She began feeling guilty about the way she was dressed - boots, a long warm waterproof jacket, gloves, and a scarf. She came prepared for the cold, knowing what it is like.

As she looked at Grissom, her mind wandered back to the night he told her about the conference. She should have kept reminding him about how cold it got in Chicago and to be prepared for cold weather and snow, even if it wasn;t in the forecast. "Grissom, would you like to borrow my scarf? I can go with out it for a while. I'd offer you my gloves, but my hands are smaller than yours and they won't fit you." She started to pull off the scarf. "You must be freezing. Why don't you toss the folders into the next trashcan we pass? They can't be any use to us now. I know you'd be warmer if you could put your hands in your pockets"

"Some of the papers may still be readable. I want to wait until we get back to the hotel so I can see what's salvageable." He sniffed and wished he had some tissues with him. The cold temperature was making his nose run. "Thanks for the use of your scarf. Are you sure you don't need it? I don't know how good it will do me now being this cold and wet already." He took the scarf from Sara's outstretched hand and tried to put it around his neck. Seeing the problem he was having with only one hand, she helped him put the scarf around his neck. "Thanks Sara."

"No problem. I hope it makes you a little warmer." Her arm lingered a bit too long around his neck. Realizing what she was doing, she removed her arm and nervously grabbed at her hair that got messed up when she removed the scarf.

"So do I." He sniffed again.

"May I ask you a dumb question?"

"Sure," he said, his shivering making him sound like he had a stutter.

"Why are you wearing only your Forensics windbreaker, in Chicago, in the middle of November? You do know it gets cold here right?" she said playfully.

"Yes I know it gets cold. I just didn't think I'd be taking a two mile afternoon walk in the freezing rain to our hotel." He started to laugh. "I was expecting a nice warm shuttle ride from one warm hotel to another warm hotel, so I didn't think of bringing a heavier jacket."

"Well, just think of this as a fun experience. I have a feeling it'll be something you won't forget for a while," she said, laughing.

"Why do I have a feeling you're right?" He sniffed and wiped at his nose with the back of his free hand, the cold weather was really starting to bother him.

They rounded the corner on to Wacker Drive and Sara could see the hotel sign up ahead. "Grissom, I wanted to ask you something before we get to the hotel and go our separate ways." She wasn't sure if she should even ask her question, considering the last response she got from him, but decided to go for it. She bit her lower lip and asked, "Do you think we have time for a nice dinner before we need to be at the airport tonight?"

"I think so. Our flight doesn't leave until 10:45 tonight. I'd say we should be at the airport around 9:00 or so. That will leave us plenty of time for dinner." He turned to look at Sara. "It would be nice to have a quiet, relaxing dinner with just the two of us and no interruptions from other criminalists. Do you have any place in mind?"

She smiled at Grissom, stunned by his response and glad she asked. "Great. Glad you agree. I have just the place. For once I'm glad we have to fly out of the cheaper airport. Since we're flying out of Midway, we can go to Connie's Pizza. It's an Italian restaurant I had dinner at a few years ago when I came to visit some friends. It was terrific…the best pizza I've ever had. I've been craving it for so long."

"Sounds great. I'm already hungry," he said, while wiping some sleet from his eyes. "How about we leave here around six tonight. That will give us time to drive there and have dinner. And we'll still have plenty of time to return the rental car before we check in for our flight."

"Six it is," she said, yawning.

TBC