Catherine soon saw that Adam and Grissom had arrived and were with Sara in one of the darker corners, away from everything. Muttering to herself about being predictable idiots, she walked over to see them and meet Adam's 'guest'.
"Hello all." She smiled as she approached, looking at all of them. "Gil, I'm glad you made it."
"Yes, as am I." Gil replied in his most sarcastic voice. Sara chuckled as Catherine rolled her eyes, bringing a small, discreet smile from Gil.
"Adam, lovely to see you again." Catherine said brightly, moving on.
"You to Catherine, may I introduce my partner, Rex. Catherine, Rex. Rex, Catherine." Adam said, trying hard not to laugh at the look on Sara's face as Catherine pretended to engage Rex in conversation.
They shook hands. "Nice to meet you." Rex said politely.
"You to. Adam has told me so much about you. Listen, sorry I have to dash, but I need to talk to a friend." And with that she left, leaving a puzzled Rex looking at Adam.
"You told her so much about me?" he asked with a small smile, knowing that would never happen. Adam was not ashamed of Rex, just thought that if it wasn't mentioned directly, why bring him up?
"You get used to it." Adam laughed, come on, I'll introduce you to people. Sara, care to join us?"
Glancing quickly at Grissom who had been listening intently but barely showing it she quickly said yes.
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Sara sat outside on the decking an hour later; a cigarette paused on the way to her mouth. She rarely smoked, less than a pack a month, but sometimes she just needed them. On all accounts the party was good, that is if you where into parties, which she wasn't.
Gil had spent the entire time either talking to Rex before he was introduced to people by Adam, avoiding Sara or talking to a few people, a pained expression on his face.
Looking at her cigarette Sara thought back to the time Adam had told her he was gay. She had been smoking then to, they both had. Adam because it was something new, Sara because it was something old. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sitting on the beach at night was something that Sara did often, but never with anyone. Tonight though Adam was with her. He had called her, told her he needed to talk to her; he had no one else. She had agreed strait away, curious as to why he had not spoken to his father, telling him to meet her down the beach near her apartment. That must have been hours ago, Sara thought, but she didn't have a watch or a phone to know the time and Adam still had not told her.
Looking out to the see she saw the waves crashing and smiled.
"I think I'm gay." Adam's voice cut her thoughts, he had finally spoken. Looking at him she saw that he was looking away, tears in his eyes. Taking another drag on her cigarette she could only think of one thing to ask.
"Is that what you had to tell me?"
Adam nodded, refusing to look at her. They sat in silence a while longer until Adam finally decided to speak again.
"Do you think it is wrong?"
"No."
"No?"
"No."
"Okay," Adam sighed with relief. "Thanks for listening, can you take me home so I can tell dad?"
"Sure thing." Grinding her butt into the sound Sara stood up and waited for Adam. Together they walked back to her car, hand in hand.
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Hearing the door slide open brought Sara out of her memory. Turning she saw Grissom looking at her a mixture of shock and apprehension on his face.
"Sorry, I didn't realise you were here, I'll just, ah, go."
"Don't leave on my account Griss. Pull up a chair. Have a beer." She said whilst pushing a beer from the cluster she had snagged to take outside.
"Ahh, sure. Okay." Gil sat down on the edge of his seat, looking at the back yard.
They sat there for a while, Gil slowly leaning back into his seat. Glancing over at Sara he saw her with her cigarette.
"Why do you smoke?"
"Comfort."
"How often?"
"Do I need comfort or do I smoke?" she asked with a grin, at his sidelong look of annoyance she sobered. "How often do you ride roller coasters to calm down?"
"Once every couple of months or so."
"Then you've got your answer." She replied, opening a beer. Leaning back she took a swig, Gil did the same, but didn't take his eyes off her. He sun has started to set and in the fading light he could see how skinny she was, skinny but amazingly sexy. 'Don't think like that!' she chided himself.
"Do I pass your inspection?"
"Huh?"
"You've been starring at me the past ten minutes Griss, do I pass?"
"You always have." He said under his breath. Realising he had said it out loud he quickly tries to save himself.
"I mean, ahh, you, look-"
"Griss, I know you've always been attracted to me, why don't you ever do anything about it?" Sara asked, cutting him off. Knowing he could avoid the inevitable Gil sighed.
"Have you ever heard the story of the turtle and the scorpion?"
"Nope."
"Well, a scorpion needs to get across a lake but can not swim so he asks the turtle if he can go on his back, to which the turtle replies, 'but you will sting me.' And the scorpion tells him 'I swear I won't I would never do that to someone who has helped me'. So the turtle agrees. They are nearly on the other side of the lake when suddenly the scorpion stings the turtle and poisons him. While the turtle is drowning he asks 'why did you do that scorpion, now we will both die' to which the scorpion said 'it is in my nature to sting you, I could not help what I have done all my life, I did not wish to cause you pain but you are right, we will both now die'."
Sighing Sara knew what he was saying. "It is human nature to love Griss, it is you who is defying it."
Starring at her Gil realised she was right.
Sara crushed out her cigarette.
"Do you want to go out?"
Smiling, Sara lit another one, the light from her lighter burning in the night.
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