Chapter 33
They swayed together through three slow songs but when the tempo increased Grissom and Sara stood apart and for a moment just looked at one another, as if only now realizing how close they had been.
"Do you want another drink?" he asked nervously.
"Better not. Why don't we go for a walk, it must be nice out now that the sun's gone down." She started for the door not looking back, confident that he would follow.
The evening was cooler than either had anticipated with a light wind that lifted Sara's hair away from her face in gentle wisps. Wordlessly Grissom removed his suit jacket and placed it around her shoulders as they walked.
"I never got a chance to ask, how did things go with your friend?" she pulled the jacket closer around her.
"My friend?"
"From out of town, you said her sister was in the hospital."
"Oh, right. Everything turned out for the best."
"That's good. Are they thinking of staying in Vegas?" She hoped he couldn't tell she was fishing. Subtly had never been her long suit.
"No, no. They're already back where they belong."
"It must have been good though, to have an old friend around for awhile."
"It was. Can I ask you something?"
"Anything." She braced herself.
"Do you have a radio in your bathroom?"
She stopped walking and turned to face him, "You mean like, a scanner? I'm passionate about my work Gil, but I'm not demented."
He laughed and she ached for all the time that had passed since she last heard that sound from him.
"No, Rabbit, music, NPR, AM/FM…you know, radio."
"Oh, no. Why?"
"No reason."
They walked in silence for a few moments before she stopped again. It was a few paces before he realized he'd lost her and Gil turned back to find her puzzled face.
"Rabbit?"
"Goose."
"Oh. Silly."
He held his hand out to her to catch up. She slipped her arms through his jacket to stop it falling off and put her hand in his.
"I've missed you too."
His thumb caressed hers. "Good." He let that stand a moment then added, "How do you like day shift?"
"It's different. It's almost a different job. I like it though, I think it's been good for me. It's definitely improved my social life."
"You look like it agrees with you."
She glanced sideways at him, "Thank you."
"Are you happy, Sara?"
She squeezed his hand in hers and bumped him with her hip, "Right this moment? Very. Yes."
He swallowed hard, kept his eyes fixed on a sign for fried chicken in the distance and asked, "Do you think there might be room for me in that social life?"