A/N: This is my first attempt at anything romantic. I'm sorry for those who might think the beginning is too cheesy, but … too bad because I liked it.smiles This is dedicated to odeepblue who requested a little romance.
Chapter 11 – Different Views
8:42pm Wednesday
"Where are you?" Shelly asked into the phone.
"We brought lil' B toour place. We figured it'd be more better for you here then at that neighbor lady's cave. I swear, that lady is fuckin' nuts, plus she's got all those cats. How could you trust her with baby genius?"
Shelly chuckled. "Thanks for the laugh, Sage but you know she's the named guardian of Debbie's kids if anything should happen to her. I'll be over in about twenty minutes."
"Sure thing babe but the boy's sleepin'""That's fine. See you in a little while." Shelly pocketed her cell phone as she walked up to the counter. She handed the clerk a ten-dollar bill and her fake ID. "One pack of Camel lights."
As she walked out of the corner store, she pulled out her lighter and opened the pack of cigarettes. She took one long puff and sighed, "It's been too fuckin' long."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The first thing Sara knew when she walked into the room, her eyes still being shielded by Grissom's hand, was the smell of flowers assaulting her nose. After taking a long sniff she sighed, "This smells absolutely beautiful." It was half a minute later, while still standing in Grissom's arms when she asked, "Can I peek now?"
Her question pulled Grissom from his trance. Not knowing what to expect, the sight before him had rendered him speechless. He shook his head, not agreeing with Sara; it wasn't just beautiful, it was absolutely gorgeous.
When he pulled his hand from Sara's eyes, she hissed in a quick breath. "It's stunning," was all she could manage.
Two covered plates were set on the table along with a bucket of ice with champagne freezing inside. White rose pedals were tossed decoratively atop the red tablecloth, two tall candles were lit in the middle of the table, and the lights above were dimmed down to its lowest setting.
After staring in surprise for a minute, Grissom held Sara's slightly shaking hand and walked her into the 'living area' of the hotel room. There, he found another envelope with his name written on the front leaning against a small lamp. Sara, still shaking slightly from the lovely shock of everything, stood looking over Grissom's shoulder as he opened the envelope.
Dad,
I know what we talked about was a simple dinner with the right music but I went the next step for you. I didn't want this to just be a night for Sara, but for both of you.
Chuck volunteered to prepare his greatest vegetarian lasagna for you both so that Sara could keep her veggie ways and you could still enjoy a tasty meal. Although I'm unsure of how the room turned out, since I left that for Chuck, I'm damn sure that it's fantastically romantic. I just told him Sara's favorite flower, the white rose, and let him work with it so I hope you enjoy.
Everything, as I wrote before, is set up just the way we talked, dad, but I added more for you two.
After a great dinner, you can phone down to Chuck and he will bring you a very wonderfully delicious dessert. Trust me, I was his taste tester when he was going through his 'cooking phase' and his work is magnificent.
Okay … now that I've interrupted your great night with my spiel, I want you to take Sara's hand right now, march over to that stereo system, turn it on, and do every last thing we talked about. Then, switch the first CD to the second one. It has only instrumentals for background to your dinner. Finally, I want you to take her hand again and walk over to the dining table and have the romantic night that you wished you hadn't wasted time on before.
Have all the fun in the world and good luck.
Love you both,
ShellyGrissom did as Shelly demanded and grabbed hold of Sara's hand as he placed the note back onto the end table. He didn't have to navigate through any couches or chairs since they had already been pushed to the outer walls of the 'living area'.
At the stereo, Sara noticed a silver frame; she went to grab for it with her free hand but Grissom smacked it playfully away. When she looked up at him questioningly he just smiled back shyly. "Let me do this right." He whispered and she nodded.
After taking a deep breath to relax himself, he grabbed both of Sara's hands within his own and stared into her eyes. This isn't hard. Just do it. You already know she's here with you. "Sara," he breathed. Shaking his head lightly, he forced himself to sound confident.
"You know me with words of my own is something that will most likely never happen around you; I lose myself when I'm around you. Knowing me, this is all going to seem very out-of-character but I want you to know that I want to change for the better, for Shelly, for Brennan and lastly for you. I want to be with you, Sara." He said with finality. He took another steadying breath and continued,
"The frame you were about to reach for hold the lyrics to a song that I first heard a couple days ago with Shelly. As soon as I heard them I knew they were written for you … me … us." He stumbled a little but breathed deep and stared straight into her eyes. "I want you to have the lyrics but not now. Now, I want you to dance with me and let the first time you hear these lyrics to be with you in my arms." Sara nodded and blinked back the tears building behind her eyes.
Grissom pushed play and held Sara tightly to his body. His right arm wrapped around her waist as his left hand held her right hand to his chest. They swayed in rhythm to "Here By Me" from 3 Doors Down.
I hope you're doing fine out there without me
'Cause I'm not doing so good without you
The things I thought you'd never know about me
Were the things I guess you always understood
So how could I have been so blind for all these years?
Guess I only see the truth through all this fear,
And living without you…
And everything I have in this world
And all that I'll ever be
It could all fall down around me.
Just as long as I have you,
Right here by me.
"This next verse takes me back to the first time I had to leave you in San Francisco. I was absolutely floored when you hugged me before I left on my flight back to Las Vegas. That showed courage Miss Sidle." They both smiled and listened intensely when Brad Arnold's voice came back through the speakers.
I can't take another day without you
'Cause baby, I could never make it on my own
I've been waiting so long, just to hold you
And to be back in your arms where I belong
Sorry I can't always find the words to say
But everything I've ever known gets swept away
Inside of your love…
And everything I have in this world
And all that I'll ever be
It could all fall down around me.
Just as long as I have you,
Right here by me.
Grissom started to hum in tune with the song and, as the lyrics started back up, he leaned in close to Sara's ear and started singing along with Brad Arnold.
As the days grow long I see
That time is standing still for me
When you're not here
Sorry I can't always find the words to say
Everything I've ever known gets swept away
Inside of your love
As the song finished in the background, Grissom reached his hand up to wipe away Sara's tears. "I'm dead serious Sara. I know I've been throwing out double entendres and mixed signals for a long time," He smiled at Sara's unintelligent snort. "But I want you to know that everything that song said was true.
You always understood me, and even though it still scares me, I don't think I could live another day without you. I have been blind for many years, but now … now, everything I have in this world and all that I'll ever be, it could all fall down around me just as long as I have you, right here by me." He softly sang the last part as he gently touched foreheads with Sara. "I …" He breathed out slowly. "I love you Sara and I hope it's not too late."
Sara was stunned speechless and stood staring into Grissom's hopeful eyes as the beginning strings of Edwin McCain's "I'll Be" starting playing in the background. After the most nerve wracking thirty seconds of Gil Grissom's life, he finally heard the second most amazing words he'd ever heard in his life, "I love you too Gil."
Grissom smiled bright and leaned down to place the most gentle of kisses to Sara's lips. When he pulled back, Sara looked deep into his soulfully blue eyes and couldn't help but smile back. "It would have never been too late." Grissom leaned down again and captured Sara's lips with more passion this time.
Breaking away, he breathed, "I think it's time to eat before taking this any further. We don't want to upset Chuck by wasting his magnificent lasagna." Sara smiled and, after he had switched CDs, aloud Grissom to guide her back to the table.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
9:12pm
Shelly snuffed out her third cigarette as she reached for the doorknob. When she stepped inside the entrance hallway to the townhouse, she nearly choked on the smoky fog. "You know, you guys really need to start smoking outside the apartment. I'm not letting Brenn stay here with this shit lofting through the air." As she stepped into the TV room, she came face-to-face with a very bubbly and hyper nineteen-year-old girl.
She was wrapped up in a bear hug that cut off her air supply and she had to recoil when "Oh My God!" was yelled right beside her ear.
"I missed you too Celeste." Shelly smiled and returned the hug. When Celeste finally let Shelly step away, she walked over to Sage, who was able to control his jubilance, and wrapped him into a fierce hug. "I've missed you."
The twenty-two year old with died blonde hair, green eyes, chocolate colored skin, and brown goatee kissed the top of her head and stepped back from the hug, holding Shelly at arms length. "Look at you Chica; you look like you haven't eaten in days. What happened to the strong, muscular young thug that I saw leave for god knows where only a couple weeks ago?"
Shelly laughed. "I've eaten just fine the past few days." She said, slapping his chest lightly, "It was the couple weeks before I found Sara that I hadn't eaten. But you watch it bitch 'cause I know I can still kick your toothpick ass." Shelly winked and walked toward the fridge. She pulled out a beer and started toward the couch.
Cels and Sage looked at her like she'd gone mad. "Since when do you drink Shim?"
"Since my life has been thrown for a major loop that I'm sure I won't figure out in the few days I'm here." She took a long swig, swallowed, and pulled the bottle away quickly. She held it up and looked at it like it had bitten her. "What the fuck is this stuff? How can you drink this? It's like piss water with foam."
"It's not that bad once you get used to it and what do you have to figure out before you leave here? When are you leaving us again?" Cels asked as she sat beside Shelly on the couch. Sage sat cross-legged on the floor in front of them and placed his hands on Shelly's knees.
"I leave in two days. Now, I'm D's keeper so I have to stay here and protect Debbie, Q, and Lukas but I really, really want to spend more time with my dad. Like 'move to Vegas and stay with him' kind of time. How am I going to do this?"
"If Deb tells you you're released then you can go."
"But she's not going to. She needs me."
"That old broad don't need nobody." Sage said. "She's strong as hell and got money to spare. You know her old man was gang before he got got. Even after seven years, she's got money left in her cookie jar."
"I know but…"
"But nothing Shells. She's not goin' to make you stay here when you just found your daddy. She knows how important that was to you. You and B will do good out there with him." Cels said gently.
Shelly smiled at her friends and tipped the beer back to take a swig. She grimaced as she swallowed and stood up, handing the rest of the bottle to Sage. "I seriously don't get how you guys can drink that shit." She went out on the porch, had one last cigarette for the night, then walked back in. After saying goodnight to Sage and Cels, she closed the bedroom door behind her and walked up to the bed Brennan was sleeping in.
As she climbed under the blankets, she noticed Brennan's eyes open wide and stare at her in the darkness. "Hey Baby B." Shelly's voice nearly cracked with emotion. "I've missed you so much." She gathered Brennan into her arms and watched as he smiled, laid his head down onto her chest, and fell back asleep, the smile still fixed on his face.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10:42pm
After they had finished their very delicious dessert of chocolate brownie cake with a mountain of whipped cream, Grissom had led Sara back into the 'living area'.
He switched back to the first CD and pressed song three. As the beginning of "Collide" by Howie Day started playing, Grissom grabbed hold of Sara once again and held her tight, as if she was his lifeline.
When the course came around for the first time, Grissom smiled as he realized that his daughter did an excellent job in choosing songs.
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide
He held her even closer to his body as he heard,
I'm quiet you know
You make a first impressionI've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind
Knowing the lyrics to this song, Sara leaned close to Grissom's ear and sang the last course,
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide
Grissom smiled at Sara for ever-so-subtly putting emphasis on the three words. As "Back At One" by Mark Wills started playing, Sara sighed and released Grissom's left hand to be able to wrap both her arms around his neck and bringing their bodies as close together as possible.
It's undeniable, that we should be together
It's unbelievable, how I used to say that I'd fall never
It's basis you need to know you know just how I feel
And let me show you now that I'm for real
If all things in time, time will reveal
One: you're like a dream come true
Two: just wanna be with you
Three: girl, it's plain to see that you're the only one for me and
Four: repeat steps 1 thru 3
Five: make you fall in love with me
If ever I believe my work is done
Then I start back at one
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
12:00am Thursday
Shelly lay awake, staring into the peaceful face of her young son. "I love you." She whispered as she kissed the top of his curls. She let her tears fall freely in the privacy of the bedroom.
"What have our lives become, eh?" She started whispering again to the sleeping form that lay sprawled out on her chest. "What is it going to become? Are we going to stay here so that your mommy can protect Debbie? Or are we going to move to Las Vegas so that we can be with our family? Well, biological family." She closed her eyes but sighed, knowing that no sleep would be coming forth tonight.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After they had danced themselves out, Grissom and Sara had sat down and cuddled on one of the couches. Now they lie, Grissom on his back with his head propped up on the armrest, his hands running lazy circles over her back; Sara on his chest with her face buried in his neck.
"Did you know that it is now, officially, twenty-four hours until my grandson's first birthday and I haven't even met him yet?" Grissom asked as he glanced at the clock on the DVD player.
Sara lifted her head and gently placed her chin on his chest so that she could look into his eyes. The problem being, he was looking away, almost as if he was ashamed. "Griss. Griss, look at me … Please, Gil, look at me." She asked. He turned his head back her way and didn't even try to hide the wateriness in his eyes. "What's wrong babe?"
"It's just … God, it just makes me so mad that Bekka never told me about Shelly. Just look at all the stuff I missed out on."
"Don't dwell on it Gil. She forgave you and has asked that you do so for yourself as well. Bekka was wrong, you know that. She … they are here now and the only thing you can do is make sure that it stays that way." What I wouldn't do to hurt Rebekah right now for what she's done. Sara leaned in and kissed his lips gently.
"Thank you." He breathed before gathering her tighter into his arms and kissing her more passionately. Soon after, their hands joined in, lovingly exploring nooks and crannies they both only fantasized about touching before now.
After several minutes, their need for air forced them to break apart.
"I think this needs to be taken to some place more suitable and with more room." Grissom's voice was strained.
Sara read the desire in his eyes and felt it building against her thigh. "Agreed. Bedroom." She said quickly. She stood up and pulled Grissom to his feet. Her lips never left his as they made their way to the bedroom.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
7:41am
Shelly's eyes flew open when she felt Brennan shifting on her chest. Her arms wrapped more tightly around him when she thought he was falling but when she saw him lying there staring at her, she loosened her arms and smiled. "Hi Baby B."
Brennan smiled, "Mama!" and wrapped his arms around his mother's neck. Shelly savored the feeling for a minute then started tickling his ribs. As Brennan giggled and fell to the bed beside her, she leaned up on her left elbow to look down at his lit up face.
"I can't believe I actually thought leaving you for a month wasn't going to be hard. I've missed you so much." She then signed, "I love you," which Brennan slowly copied. "Has Debbie been practicing with you?" She asked lovingly as she stepped out of the bed and lifted him up. Brennan wrapped his arms tight around her neck again, tight enough to cause breathing troubles. She didn't care however and led him outside the room and into the TV room.
She looked down to the floor and kicked Sage in the ribs. "Wake up Sage. I need you to run to the corner store."
"Fuck off." He mumbled sleepily.
Shelly kicked him again, harder. "No swearing in front of the boy dumba… never mind, just get up and run to the store. You need to buy a whole lot of 'Febreeze' before my dad gets here."
Sage mumbled incoherently as he stood up and went to the washroom to clean up. Half way to the washroom he turned around and half-whispered questioningly, "You're actually here? It wasn't a dream?"
Shelly laughed as she headed to the kitchen for food. "Yes, Cheech, I'm here and if you and Chong didn't get drunk and stoned last night then I'm sure you would've remembered."
"We don't do that shit no more." He said defensively. "Sorry." He said as Shelly glared at him.
"No swearing in front of the boy. Man, I'm starting to think I should have left Brennan with the neighbor lady. At least cats can't teach kids to swear." She popped open a can of apple sauce and sat with Brennan on the couch. "So, you and Chong have quit eh?"
"Yep. We quit after you left. Haven't smoked the sh… stuff in over a month and a half." He said proudly before closing the washroom door.
"He's right. We haven't since you left. The drinking still happened however, but not around Brennan. We only drank last night because you were here to stay with Brenn." Celeste said as she too woke up from her sleeping place on the floor and started tickling Brennan's foot.
Shelly smiled. "Thank you."
"Not a problem." Cels smiled back. "Now, I'm going down the hall to borrow their vacuum. I don't think your dad would appreciate this dump." Shelly nodded and kept feeding her son as the other two left on their errands.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8:28am
Grissom was pulled from his sleep slowly. He didn't want to wake and be pulled from the warmth that he found curled beside him. But the phone won't answer itself, he thought reluctantly. Without pulling himself any farther from the warmth then needed, he pulled his cell phone from his pants on the floor and opened it.
"What."
"Well good morning cranky. I was thinking of waiting until 10 to phone but I figured 8:30 was late enough."
Grissom glanced at the clock and groaned.
"That's right lover-boy, time to rise and shine. Tell that to lover-girl too because it's time you two come meet your grandson."
After getting the directions to Sage and Celeste's townhouse, Grissom closed his cell and tossed it onto his shirt that was on the floor in a soft crumple. "Good morning, handsome."
He looked to the warmth at his side and smiled, "Good morning to you too beautiful."
Sara smiled and was very pleasantly pleased to find no hints of 'morning after awkwardness'. She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. She smiled again when she pulled away and heard his moan of protest. "Morning breath." She answered and stepped out of the bed without thinking about what she was wearing … nothing.
She turned back to see Grissom salivating while staring her up and down. "Settle grandpa. We've got people to see and things to do." Grissom smiled and watched her walk into the bathroom.
He heard her yell, "I'm having a quick shower," and didn't hesitate to ask, "Want company?" He got the only answer he needed when she stook her head out the doorway and gave him a 'come hither' stare that melted his insides. I have been a fool for far too long.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Griss?"
Grissom grabbed hold of Sara's hand over the middle console. "Yeah."
"Shelly really did do a great job of picking songs last night huh?" Grissom smiled at the memory of Sara in his arms.
"Yeah." He then remembered the second envelope Shelly had given him. He released Sara's hand and pulled the envelope from his jacket pocket. "This is the second letter she gave me. She said that she wrote down reasons why she chose some of the less obvious songs."
Sara opened it up and asked, "Which song do you want first?"
"Let's go with that country one about leaving. The one where she came back though."
Sara read, "She Couldn't Change Me" by Montgomery Gentry. Dad, this song was playing that night you came to me about helping you out with this. The way you spoke of your relationships with people, I knew this was a fear. You have to know that if Sara loves you now, there's nothing she wants to change about you. Other then maybe you opening up a bit, but we're working on that.
Sara smiled. "She's right you know."
"About what part?"
"That I love you and that I wouldn't want to change anything about you." Grissom nodded and smiled shyly at her quickly before turning his eyes back to the road.
"Thank you and I love you too. Now, let's go with that one about heaven."
"Heaven" by Warrant. I was snooping one day, it's habit sorry, and I saw a photo of you and Sara by the Golden Gate Bridge. It was the one beside your bed, in the drawer. (I bet Sara is reading this right now so I'm sorry for giving up your secret … not) And I'm sure it's one that brings back memories of San Fran. "I don't need to be the king of the world, As long as I'm the hero of this little girl." You are my new hero dad. I love you. And finally, you have a family, welcome to heaven.
Grissom was too overwhelmed that he forgot about the snooping. I'm her hero?
As if reading his thoughts, Sara smiled and said, "Feels great doesn't it?" At his raised brow she clarified, "Being a hero or looked up to by someone. You know, you may not realize it but there are a few people at the lab that look up to you also."
Grissom snorted. "Like who?"
"Greg, Nicky, Warrick, Me, Catherine, David, … Peter and Erik from days… Michelle, Nicole, and Steve from Swing."
"Please stop." Grissom said. "I really don't think all those people look up to me. Peter, Nicole and Erik are all former Ecklie clones. I'm sure they hate me if Ecklie had anything to do with them. Michelle and Steve from Swing are new so they don't even know me and everyone from our shift just thinks of me as their boss."
"Do you really want to get into this?" Without waiting for an answer, Sara continued. "I've run into Michelle a few times after coming in early and every time I see her she never fails to mention how lucky we are to work with you. She's read all your papers and has seena coupleof your seminars. When I tell her to go meet you, she shies away. I think it's 'cause she likes you." Sara said playfully.
Ignoring his glare, she continued, "Peter, Nicole, and Erik are former Ecklie clones, emphasis on former. They removed their blindfolds and have seen the light. They know Ecklie's an ass and you're the best. You're like a brother to Cath, and a father figure to Nicky, who's was always hard on him and Warrick who didn't have one."
"Okay, stop please. That's a little too much." Sara just smiled. "They all don't look up to me."
"Why do you think David calls you sir even though you tell him not to?"
"Because his father is in the military."
"And he deems you respectable enough to place you on that level."
Grissom sighed but turned to her and smiled. "And Greg?"
"Greg adores you. Why do you think he's always out to impress you? His dad always tried to push him away from science and into sports. You allow and support him in what he likes. So, he tries to impress you like he couldn't impress his own dad."
Grissom shook his head. "I'm not losing this argument am I?"
"You'll learn soon enough that in a relationship, the woman is always right." Sara looked over at him with a smug smirk.
"Okay, Okay. Next song." Grissom grumbled good-naturedly.
Sara, this song was for you. "Count On Me" by Default. I know it isn't a slow song but I wanted it on there. You told me what happened to you, and from what I've heard,you've toldmy dadtoo. Maybe not in so much detail but you have. "I know that life ain't always good to you. I've seen exactly what it's put you through." "You can count on me 'Cause I will carry you till you carry on, Anytime you need someone, Somebody strong to lean on." You can Sara. Me, my dad, doesn't matter which one. From now on, you'll always have someone to count on. My dad looks like he has pretty strong shoulders.
Sara sniffed back her tears. Grissom grabbed her hand and squeezed; for the rest of the ride, they traveled in comfortable silence.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
9:43am
Grissom drove up to the parking space in front of their townhouse. He looked over to Sara and he knew that she was able to read it in his eyes.
"There's nothing to be apprehensive about Gil. You shouldn't be so tense. What? You worried Brennan isn't going to like you?" She tried to joke… it didn't go over too well. "Sorry Griss. Look, he's going to love you okay? Believe me?"
He huffed but nodded his head. He met Sara at the front of the car and practically lunged for her hand, making her smile sympathetically at him. "Everything will be fine." Grissom kissed her and let her lead the way confidently to the front door.
When she knocked, Grissom, for reasons unknown even to him, took a deep breath and held it. When the door opened, he let it out in a barely audible growl for standing in the doorway was a man illegal to be with an eighteen-year-old girl.
Sara elbowed him and gave him a warning glare, which he quickly understood.
"You have to be Ms Sidle." Sage said and reached out a hand to shake hers. He then turned to Grissom and held out his hand, shaking his firmly. "You must be Doctor Grissom, Shelly's father."
Grissom nodded and looked over Sage's shoulder to see Celeste walking up to them.
"Doctor Grissom, Ms Sidle, this is my girlfriend Celeste."
Celeste stepped forward and shook Grissom's outstretched hand. She then turned to Sara and saw tears pooling in her eyes.
"You're Cels?" Sara asked shakily. When Celeste, who also had tears pooling in her eyes, nodded, Sara pulled her into a fierce hug that was immediately reciprocated.
"Thank you." They both said in unison. They laughed lightly and pulled away.
"Thank you for taking care of Shelly in Las Vegas."
"And thank you for taking care of Shelly when she needed it most. You're a great friend to her." Cels nodded and led them into the TV room, which had been cleaned up to the best of their abilities, which was actually pretty damn clean.
"Shelly is in the shower with Brennan right now. They should be out in a few minutes." The four of them sat down, Sara and Grissom on the couch, Cels and Sage on the floor leaning against the wall. "So… Shells says that you're both into crime scene clean-up." Sage received an elbow for his question. "What?"
Celeste leaned into Sage and whispered, "They don't clean-up scenes like Shells did dumbass. Shut up."
"Actually, we don't clean-up crime scenes, we investigate them; take the evidence and find the killer. The perps are the ones that try to clean them up." Grissom, not understanding why Sage got the elbow, answered. Sara knew and smiled her thanks to Celeste who nodded back.
Just then, Shelly walked out of the bedroom with Brennan on her shoulders. They were both sporting Chicago Cubs jerseys, black pants, and smiles. Shelly, of course, had her ever-present Blue Jays cap.
Shelly stopped at the edge of the TV room and stared at her father in surprise. "You're early." Grissom could only nod as he looked up at his grandson. Brennan, confused at why his mom had stopped walking and who the new people in the room were, slapped his mother's head. "Mama?"
Shelly pulled him down from her shoulders and held him to her side as Grissom stood up and walked over to them. "Dad, this is Brennan." She then turned to Brennan. "Brenn, this is your grandpa."
"Ganp." Brennan smiled through his confusion. Grissom just stood there in amazement, watching his grandson bounce in his daughter's arms. After a minute, he smiled down at the boy and stretched his arms out. Brennan didn't hesitate and in the next second, Grissom was holding his one year old, brown haired, blue eyed little Grandson.
"Oh my god." Grissom smiled. "You're so cool." He said in awe.
Sara laughed at the absurdity of the scene in front of her and only thanked god for the privilege to be witness to it.
Grissom brought Brennan back to the couch and retook his seat next to Sara. He placed the boy so that he was standing and bouncing on his thighs. Grissom smiled. "Hi."
"Hi." The boy signed and spoke. Grissom's jaw dropped and yet again he was staring at his grandson in awe.
"Like I told you, Debbie and I have been teaching him to sign. He picks it up quicker then actually speak." Shelly told him. Grissom nodded and composed himself. He set the boy so he was sitting in his lap so that he had his hands free. "Hi." He signed back making the boy grin from ear to ear.
Sara reached out for Brennan's hand and squeezed it. That got his attention and he signed hi to her as well, which Sara answered back the same. "I'm Sara." She told him. He just nodded and reached out to play with Grissom's beard.
"I'll get you something to drink." Shelly walked into the kitchen and when she returned, she saw Grissom sitting cross-legged on the floor across from Brennan who was showing him his block castle. They sat and played that way for an hour as the others talked. Suddenly, Brennan stood up and walked on slightly unsteady legs to Grissom. "Fud."
"Fud?"
"Fud." The boy nodded happily. Grissom looked to Shelly for help. "He means food."
"Ahhh," Grissom turned back to Brennan, smiled, then nodded, "Food." Brennan nodded and squealed as Grissom picked him up in a fast swoosh and plopped him down at his side. "What do you want?"
"App sooz."
Again Grissom looked back to Shelly for help but before she said anything, he turned back to Brennan. "Apple sauce?" The boy nodded and as Grissom turned toward the kitchen, he looked to Shelly and Sara still on the couch. "I'll understand him soon enough." He smiled and disappeared around the corner.
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A/N2: Yay, I did fluffiness well! Thank you all for your wonderful reviews. Much appreciated. odeepblue, I hope you enjoyed the romance that you asked for. smiles
I said a couple chapters ago that that one would be my second to last but I guess I was wrong. That's what happens when you're writing as you go. This one will probably be my second last or third to last. I was going to type more but noticed it was already at 6,000+ words so I thought I'd leave you with a nice scene of Griss with his grandson.
A/N3: One last thing before we go … I've already got a sequel to this story in my head so let me know if you guys would like me to write it as a sequel or a stand-alone. There will actually be a case plot as well as fluff plot in that one so those of you who like case stories would enjoy it more, or so I hope.