Growing Together
Part 16
Summary: It is finally time to meet his mother, but is Sara ready?
A/N: I'm finally on time again. I just hope it stays that way and I'll be able to post once a week.
xxxxx
"Are you sure I look alright?" It was the sentence that every man dreaded, and Grissom was no exception.
Sara was standing in the doorway to her bedroom, looking completely insecure. Grissom was somewhat blindsided by this behavior because he had never figured Sara to be a woman that had a nervous breakdown because of clothes. Of course, today she would meet his mother, but still...
After their talk, before going to work he had called his mother back and she had confirmed the date of her visit. They had had only two days to get ready.
Right now, they were at Sara's place, getting ready to pick her up, but Sara was going crazy because she had already packed most of her stuff and was left with only a few casual outfits, none of which were the adequate attire to meet his mother, although Grissom had tried to reassure her that his mother couldn't care less. In short, she was driving him crazy too.
"Sara, I'm sure that my mother won't judge you on your outfit. She's very uncomplicated that way, but what she doesn't like at all is to be kept waiting so…" and with that he ushered her out the door.
For a while it seemed as if Sara had calmed down, but the next breakdown destroyed all of his hopes that it would go smoothly from now on.
Just as she was about to get in the car, Sara stopped short. Grissom bumped into her when he wanted to make sure she was getting in. He looked at her and found her completely frozen - eyes wide, mouth agape and one arm hovering in mid air.
"Your mother is deaf."
They had already established that a while ago, and it was coming back to her now?
A quick look at his watch told him that they didn't have the time for this. "Yes, but she's waiting right now, and we have to go now."
Sara, however, made no move to get in the car. "I can't even talk to her. She will think I'm superficial, just like Dr. Gilbert. She will hate me."
He could hear that her panic was rising. This was the time to stop worrying about this mother and start doing so about Sara. She was seconds away from completely losing it. He had to get the situation under control.
With a deep breath, he took her by the shoulders and turned her around. "Stop it."
Her eyes cleared, but only for a brief moment before panic overwhelmed her again. "Listen to me. It won't matter to her that you can't sign. She knows that and is used to finding other methods of communication. I know you will catch up quickly. I'm not worried, my mother's not worried, so you shouldn't be either."
Sara was proving to be a tough nut to crack. Her doubts were still raging and he had to offer her a better explanation. "Sara, she's not expecting you to be anyone else but you. Please, don't worry."
His hand traveled up to her face and cupped her cheek. He waited until he saw what he needed. Sara had finally calmed down. "I love you."
He gave her a kiss, wanting to prove his words.
"Now, get in the car and don't make us later than we already are.
xxxxx
"Mom?" Grissom spoke and signed at the same time while Sara held back. She was still a bit cautious, unsure of how to approach the other woman.
Grissom had no problems whatsoever and hugged his mother. "Sorry for being late, I hope you're okay."
His mother smiled, returning the hug and handing her son one of her bags. "It's hot, but otherwise I'm fine."
Her speech was only a little bit slurred, but she signed additionally, probably out of habit. Then she turned to face Sara. Her face was soft and friendly, lit up by a welcoming smile. Sara returned the smile automatically, but studied Mrs. Grissom carefully.
Grissom didn't look much like his mother except for the eyes. They had the same color and when they smiled their facial expressions were eerily similar.
"Hello. I'm Sara Sidle."
It took all of her courage but she actually managed to sign the greeting. It was all she knew to say besides 'Goodbye' and 'Thank you,' and she didn't even know if it was correct. She had looked up the phrases after the disaster in Dr. Gilbert's office, but the case had distracted her from further studies and learning had to be postponed. In the end, she had never made the time for learning to sign, but now it would be another point on her list.
"Oh, very nice to meet you. Lauren Grissom."
They shook hands, and Grissom seemed pleased. Mrs. Grissom signed something without speaking, but Sara had to wave her off, not being able to read her. "I'm sorry, but the greeting is all I know."
Sara hung her head in shame. This was not how it was supposed to be. The thought that she could have prepared for this meeting more thoroughly almost brought tears to her eyes.
"Oh, shush, don't worry. We will understand each other without the help of sign language or sounds."
Sara nodded and looked up, giving both Grissoms a shy smile. "Just keep looking at me."
After she finished patching things up with Sara, Lauren Grissom turned back to her son, quickly signing for him to quit staring and go and grab her luggage. Dutifully, he left the two women alone, waiting for him.
Sara was feeling even smaller now that Grissom had left them alone, but his mother kept smiling at her reassuringly. "I bet you're usually not that shy."
Silently, Sara shook her head, feeling the same vibe that she sometimes got from Grissom. The other woman was able to read her just like he could.
"That's okay. I don't bite."
Before Sara could respond, Grissom came back with the suitcase. "Let's go."
Sara sighed, hoping that the ice around her heart would begin to thaw soon.
xxxxx
"Mom, I hope it's okay for you to sleep in here. Right now, things are a bit chaotic because of the move," Grissom apologized for the second time as he helped his mother get settled.
There was none of the usual structure left. Boxes with his stuff stood everywhere, only the bare necessities remaining in place. The move was getting closer, and with Sara's help they had managed to pack up in the few hours between sleep and shift.
Grissom's mother had to sleep in his study on a makeshift bed, but lucky for her, most of the bugs had already moved out. Grissom had packed up all of the displays and jars while the living ones had taken up residence in the kitchen, much to Sara's dismay. She would definitely not cook or eat something that had been prepared in it. Since they had moved the bugs two days ago, take out was in again.
His mother didn't seem to be bothered by the chaos and the bugs at all. She was probably used to much worse. On the contrary, Lauren Grissom seemed to be totally relaxed, and when she took a seat on the couch, she waved Sara over.
Hesitantly, Sara took a seat next to her.
Mrs. Grissom was still a big question mark, and despite her experience with strangers, it was difficult to read the other woman. That she didn't know what to expect made her more than nervous. So much depended on this meeting.
"I already told you; I don't bite. You really don't have to be nervous."
Well, that was definitely something mother and son had in common.
"It's just that this is new for me."
The older woman patted her hand, trying again to reassure her. "For me too."
The ease that the woman carried ability to deal with the whole situation made Sara relax slowly. The honest admission even made her smile.
"How did you convince my son to finally jump over his shadow?"
Sara was a bit surprised by the straightforwardness, and not for the first time, she wondered what exactly Grissom had told his mother. The direct course seemed to be the best, so she simply asked what she was burning to know. "What has he told you?"
Looking around, she noticed that Grissom had still not returned to the living room. What was taking him so long? Or was he doing this on purpose?
If this was his way of getting them to know each other, he would have to pay for it later. She didn't like to be thrown into a situation that was beyond her control.
"He didn't tell me much. I'm sure you know that he doesn't talk much about things like that. But if he did talk about what was going on in his life, he always mentioned you. Mostly side notes, but it made me listen more closely."
That sounded definitely like Grissom, but she wondered if he hadn't said something more concrete. When she wanted to ask for more information, Lauren Grissom began to talk again.
"Gil mostly just mentioned your name, but sometimes he was admiring your talents and work in a way that made me think that there was more. He has been talking about you for years."
Sara smiled. She was amazed that Grissom had really been talking about her, even admiring her, and she was happy that his mother seemed to have such a positive picture of her.
"Thank you for telling me that."
When she saw the twinkle in Lauren Grissom's eyes, she knew that although she had spoken nothing but the truth, her praise had been a tool to make her more comfortable. Grissom's mother wanted to take away her fear, and suddenly, Sara realized that there was nothing to fear.
Grissom would not stop loving her just because her mother didn't know her well enough to judge her correctly in all situations. She didn't need to. It was enough if Grissom was learning to do that.
She wasn't alone anymore.
Lauren Grissom smiled back at her, encouraging her to relax further. "Now, tell me how you did it."
"With a lot of patience. More than I ever thought I possessed."
TBC