Chapter 32
Conversation over dinner began with chatter about the bride's dress, Nick's nerves, ribbing Warrick about their lost invitations to his wedding, but before too long, as it always did, the subject changed to work. Cold cases, new cases, discussions of which lab tech got results in the quickest times, those were the topics that served as the meat and potatoes for this makeshift family meal.
The plates cleared away, the bouquet thrown; the garter tossed (Greg nearly crushing Luna's little brother but coming away with the prize) dancing and drinking were all that remained of the festivities.
"So do you think your wife would mind you kicking up your heels with me?" Catherine propositioned Warrick.
"I don't know about kicking up my heels, but I'm sure we won't divorce over a dance, c'mon."
Greg was already off chasing the maid of honor (and catcher of the bouquet), this left Grissom and Sara at the table.
"Did you want to…I mean, it is a wedding." Grissom motioned to the dance floor.
"Are you going to step on my feet?" Sara stood.
"Probably, but only in retaliation for leaving me." He took her hand as they weaved through pulled out chairs and knots of young girls in grown up dresses.
Finding a place on the floor he pulled her into him and wound his arm around her waist. They danced in companionable silence for a few moments and then, "I've missed you."
He'd said it quietly, and the music was loud. If she was meant to hear it she would, and if not then he could always tell himself later that he had tried. A sideways smirk flashed across Sara's face before she leaned in closer and whispered, "Good."
His thumb stroked the small of her back, "I thought your move to dayshift wasn't punitive."
She leaned back into his arm and let her hair swing down her back, "It wasn't motivated by a desire to punish, no, but if it makes you realize you need me…" he spun her in a slow circle and returned her against him, more tightly than before "then so much the better."
The end of the sentence was in a low toned whisper, feathery light against his ear but sending electric shocks through his arms and torso. Possibly lower.
She lay her head on his shoulder now, which was too bad really. It meant she missed the sly smile on his face (flush with desire and scotch) and the twinkle in his blue eyes.
"Ah," he countered, his voice quiet but not whispering, "but I've always known I've needed you, why do you think I held you so far away?"
Her lips made their answer against his neck, softly and without reproach, "Because you're stupid."