Chapter 10 – In the Air

Having been cleared for take-off and at cruising altitude, Grissom took their empty cups and put them in his trash bag while Sara closed the tray table.

Grissom looked over at Sara. "Glad to finally be on the way home?"

"Yes," she said, meeting his gaze. "This has been the longest three-hour flight I've ever been on." She started to laugh. "I'm also glad we took off Saturday and Sunday from work. We'll need those two days to recuperate."

"Me too. I really hope I don't have to go through this again for a long time." Grissom started laughing too, but it immediately turned to a coughing fit. Once it subsided, he leaned his head back on the seat, wincing at the movement.

"Your neck still hurts doesn't it?" Sara asked, worry evident in her voice. "Will you be able to get some rest?"

He closed his eyes. "I think I'll be okay."

Sara got an idea but was a little uncomfortable with it, especially knowing that Grissom would probably not go for it. But seeing the pain that was evident on his face, she put the arm rests on both sides of her up.

Hearing the commotion next to him, Grissom opened his eyes to see what's going on. "What are you doing?"

"You're not feeling well and I want to make you more comfortable." She unbuckled her seatbelt, moved to the aisle seat, and buckled herself in that seat. She grabbed her pillow and held her left hand out towards Grissom. "Grissom, give me your pillow please."

He handed it to her with a curious look on his face.

She took the pillow and put it in her lap with the other pillow.

Grissom was still watching her with a raised eyebrow, trying to figure out what she was doing.

She looked back up at Grissom. "Like I said earlier this afternoon, I'm here for you if you need me, for anything. And right now I think you need me. Why don't you lie down?" she said, while patting the pillows.

"Sara, I…" He started to feel embarrassed and could feel a blush creeping over his face. As much as he would love to, there was no way he was going to use Sara as a pillow, again. He looked away from her and down at his hands. "I can't do that." Slowly he lifted his eyes, blinked a few times, and looked back at Sara.

"You really need the rest." Sara's brown eyes now pleading, "You're not feeling well and are hurting. I can see it in your face Grissom."

He held on to Sara's gaze, not saying anything and not moving, knowing she'd spoken the truth.

"It's going to be at least three hours until we land in Vegas. I want you to be comfortable for the rest of the flight."

"Sara, I can't. I don't feel right about it." Feeling a tickle in his nose and throat, Grissom broke eye contact with Sara and searched for a tissue. He sneezed twice and blew his nose. After discarding the tissues, he looked back up to her.

"Gil…" Sara reached out and touched his arm. "Please," her eyes not breaking contact with his. "I don't mind."

Grissom just held Sara's gaze. Besides the fact that she used his first name, he could see the concern and care she had for him in her eyes. He took a deep breath and stared at the seat back in front of him for a few seconds. Sara's eyes drawing him back, he looked at her, defeated. "Okay."

She gave him a reassuring smile, grabbed her jacket and handed it to him. "Here. Why don't you use this to cover your legs? You'll be warmer. I can see you're still cold."

He took the jacket and draped it over his legs. He re-covered himself with his two blankets and very hesitantly lay down on his side, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Since he was still not comfortable with the idea, he put most of his weight on his arms, and barely touched his head on the pillows in Sara's lap.

Sara looked down at Grissom and laughed to herself. He wouldn't give in to anything. "Grissom, please. How many times do I have to tell you, I don't mind. Please, just relax."

"Sara…I…" he started, but instead just exhaled deeply, deciding to give up. He slowly relaxed, arms still crossed in front of him. Not wanting to give in to the sleep that was slowly overtaking him, he fought to keep his eyes open. Once he fell asleep, he knew he'd be too comfortable sleeping with his head on Sara, and he didn't want to do that. He could not fall asleep on Sara. But, his body betrayed him. His eyelids getting to heavy to keep open, he fell asleep.

Sara felt Grissom's tense body become relaxed and could hear his breathing even out…he was asleep. She couldn't stop smiling. Never did she think Grissom would go for her idea. The fact that there he was, with his head on her lap meant things were definitely changing…and for the better.

Getting comfortable with Grissom on her lap, she put her right elbow on the arm rest and rested her head on her hand while deciding what to do with her left arm. She took the chance and rested it on Grissom's shoulder. Deciding sleep would be a good idea, she closed her eyes. While her thoughts drifted to their possible future, she absentmindedly started to run her fingers through Grissom's hair. Within minutes she was asleep.

Sometime during their three hour flight back to Las Vegas, Grissom finally got very comfortable while sleeping. His arms were no longer crossed in front of his chest. He had his right arm lying next to his face, and his left arm was draped over Sara's left leg…the move not going unnoticed by Sara, who was awoken when Grissom changed his position.

Grissom began to stir as the Captain got on the speaker system with instructions for their landing. Gradually opening his eyes, he remembered where he was and why, a smile forming on his face. Not wanting to move from the very comfortable position, he just lay there treasuring the moment and the turn of events those past few hours. He could feel Sara's arm on his shoulder, and not feeling any movement from her, could tell she was asleep. Yawning, he felt a very strong tickle in his nose. He rubbed at it vigorously, hoping to make the impending sneeze go away. He didn't want to wake Sara up by sneezing. But, his body betrayed him yet again and he sneezed, doing his best to stifle it. He sniffed but still felt like he needed to sneeze, the tickle not going away just getting stronger. Rubbing at his nose, the tickle got too strong and he unwillingly gave in and sneezed five more times.

At the sound and movement of Grissom's sneezing, Sara woke up. "Bless you," she exclaimed sleepily, a little concerned. Yawning, she continued, "Sounds like your decongestant is wearing off."

Knowing that Sara was now awake, he slowly sat up and took the pillows from her lap. "Sorry I woke you up," he said, very congested. "Yeah, I may be due for another dose pretty soon." He grabbed a few tissues, blew his nose, and discarded them in the trash bag. "I can hold off until I get home though. It's not that bad." And he sneezed again.

"If you're sure. I've got the medicine down in my purse. I can get it for you."

"No thanks. But I could use some more Tylenol. My body has now joined in with my headache," he said while yawning.

Sara handed him two Tylenol and he gulped them down with the rest of his bottle of water. "Thank you," he said. Looking out the window, he saw that the plane was making its decent into McCarran airport. "Guess we're almost home."

TBC