Worth The Wait 3/5
Catherine and Grissom were in complete shock at the sight before them.
Warrick was sitting on one end of the couch and Nick was sitting at the other. Sara was laying down on her side in between the two of them. Her head was resting gently on Warrick's thigh, while her shoeless feet were laying in Nick's lap. Warrick had his hand resting comfortably on Sara's arm which was draped protectively over Lindsey.
Catherine had felt tears forming when saw that Lindsey was snuggled into Sara. Lindsey had her back against Sara's chest and Sara's chin was resting on top of Lindsey's head. Greg was seated on the floor with his back against the couch and legs stretched out in front of him.
Catherine let out a slight giggle when she noticed Lindsey's hand was being used as Greg's pillow. Greg had trapped the little one's hand between his shoulder and his cheek. All five of them were fast asleep.
"Greg is gonna have a bad crick in his neck when he wakes up," Catherine whispered.
"To tell you the truth, none of them look all that comfortable except Sara and Lindsey," Grissom replied.
"She looks so peaceful," Catherine sighed as she looked at her daughter .
"Like she is finally at peace with herself," he said focused on Sara.
"Grissom, I was talking about Lindsey."
"Yeah, me too."
"Uh hun," Catherine eyed him playfully.
"What happens if it doesn't work?" he asked.
"What happens if it does? Wouldn't you rather have 15 minutes of something out of this world amazing, than a lifetime of nothing special?" Catherine smiled at him.
"I'm nervous."
"You think she's not?"
Grissom sighed and looked back at Sara's sleeping form on the couch. Grissom smiled as he remembered when Sara said she wasn't any good with children. But for some reason, kids seem to love being around her. She was going to make the perfect mother one day. She was going to make the perfect wife one day. He dreamed she would one day be his wife.
Grissom was brought back from his thoughts as Lindsey began to stir. She yawned and attempted to sit up, but found that her waist was being held down and her hand was trapped. Not to mention she had nowhere to put her feet.
"Hey G-Man?" she whispered "G-Man?" she said a little louder.
At this time, Nick, Warrick and Sara were all beginning to wake up. But Greg continued to snore on.
"Greg?" Lindsey tried again.
"No honey, you gotta do it like this," Nick said
He leaned over, slightly on top of Sara and Lindsey, and smacked the side of Greg's head.
"DAMN!" Greg muttered quickly getting to his feet. "Not cool Nick"
"Ewwww, my hand is all wet," Lindsey said squishing her face.
"Come here baby," Catherine said from the door frame.
"MOMMY!" she said running to Catherine.
As Catherine wiped Lindsey's hand, Grissom walked into the break room.
"I thought I sent you guys home," he stated.
"Come on, face it Griss, this is home," Warrick replied.
"Hey Greg, you got any of that special brew stashed anywhere round here?" Nick asked.
"You read my mind man," he said turning to the coffee maker.
"You all never left?" Grissom asked again.
"No. They wanted to hang out with me! I didn't asked them to. Honest. They said they wanted to," Lindsey said hoping back down on the couch between Sara and Warrick.
Sara yawned as Warrick tried to keep his eyes open.
"You guys should really head home. You've been working non stop," Grissom said
"Lindsey is more important," Sara piped up.
"Besides, I would have never known the greatness that is Dawson and Joey," Greg added.
"You all sat through Dawson's Creek?" Catherine asked in shock.
"Yeah mom. And Sara promised we could watch the rest of them. Isn't that right Sara?"
"Yes ma'am. Anytime you ... " Sara was cut off when she saw Ecklie walk into the room.
"Grissom, Catherine just the two people I was looking for. What are the rest of you still doing here?" he asked.
"We were just leaving," Nick said
"Catherine, what is you daughter doing here?" Ecklie asked.
Catherine was about to respond when Warrick jumped to her defense.
"Oh, you see, Sara and I were watching Lindsey when she remembered her ... her inhaler was in Catherine's purse. And ... um ... Catherine wasn't answering her phone, so we had to come down here and get it. You know… just in case," Warrick finished.
Catherine smiled when Lindsey coughed, adding at little more believability to Warrick's story.
"Well, Catherine you can take her home. I called days back in and you all are officially off the clock for the next 48 hours. I got complaints that your team was hogging all the overtime. So, everyone clock out if you're not already, and I'll see you guys in 48," he said leaving the room.
"As much as I hate to say it, right now, I love that man," Catherine sighed.
"Are we going home now mommy?" Lindsey asked rubbing her eyes.
"Yeah honey. Let me go grab my stuff," she said starting to leave the break room.
"I'll go with you Catherine. I left something in my locker," Sara said getting up.
As Sara walked to the door, Grissom grabbed her wrist stopping her. She looked at her wrist, and then raised her eyes and glared at Grissom.
"Sara, we need to talk."
"There is really nothing left to say Grissom. We've said it all."
He loosened his grip on her wrist and placed his hand in hers.
"You've said it all Sara. I need to talk this time."
"What could you possibly have to say?" she questioned.
He leaned into her so only she could hear him
"You're not the only one who is consumed by feelings that you have for another. The feelings I have for you. Have always had for you."
He stepped away from her still holding her hand. Grissom looked into her shocked and stunned eyes and wondered why saying that had been so hard for him. Behind her utter astonishment, Grissom saw a smile begin to cross her face.
"Sara," Catherine said stepping back into the break room, "You coming?"
"Yeah," Sara barely whispered.
"Sara?" Catherine asked again when she didn't hear a response.
"Yeah, right now," she said slipping her hand out of Grissom's following Catherine.
As the girls walked to the locker room, Greg went over to Grissom and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't mess with her heart Grissom. She's been through to much," he said leaving the room.
Grissom looked back to find both Warrick and Nick giving him warning glances.
"Never again guys. I know it's not going to be an easy road, but I'm gonna to make damn sure I never hurt her again."
Nick patted Grissom's back as he left the room with a smile.
"What's going on? Is Sara okay?" Lindsey asked innocently.
"She will be now squirt." Warrick said smiling at Grissom.
"I'm hungry!" Lindsey stated.
"After all that pizza you ate, how in the world can you be hungry?" Warrick asked
"I dunno " she shrugged.
"How bout some pancakes? IHOP or Denny's is always open. Course this is Vegas everything is probably still open," Grissom offered.
"Awesome! I guess Mom has to come, but Warrick and Sara can come too right?"
"Yeah, I'll be there and I'm pretty sure Sara's got a reason to be there too," Warrick said helping Lindsey pack her bag.
Catherine and Sara came back into the break room giggling.
"You bout ready hon?" Catherine asked.
"Yep! All set! Can I get the strawberry ones Uncle Grissom?"
"Anything you want," he replied watching her run from the break room.
"What is she talking about?" Sara asked.
"Lindsey said she was hungry so I told her I would take her for some pancakes."
"Now?" Catherine exclaimed.
"Yeah, plus, aren't you a little bit hungry?" Grissom asked Catherine.
"I guess, but its like 4:15 in the morning," she replied.
Catherine was surprised and delighted when Warrick slipped his arm around her waist and walked her out of the break room.
"It's the perfect time for pancakes!" Warrick smiled.
"You coming Sara?" Grissom asked.
"Sure," she smiled.
He ushered her out of the break room with his hand on the small of her back. She looked up at his face when he touched her, still unsure of what was happening between them. Some fears were put to rest when she felt his fingers intertwine with hers.
They walked together hand and hand down the halls of the Las Vegas Crime Lab. Sara stiffened and tried to release her hand when she saw Ecklie heading towards them, but Grissom wouldn't let her go. Ecklie nodded and smiled as he passed the couple.
"Enjoy the time off, guys. Oh and hey, Grissom?" he said as Grissom and Sara turned around, hands still joined together "Bout time you guys made it official," he smiled, resuming his walk down the hall.
Grissom just smiled as he and Sara walked out of the crime lab and on with a new part to their lives.