Disclaimer: I don't own CSI. That's why I work for a living.

Chapter 5

Several months had passed since Ecklie was convicted. Grissom and Sara had been present for the jury's decision and for sentencing. The conviction brought a mix of sadness and joy. They were sad because a cop had gone bad but glad that their work had helped weed out the bad apple. Both of them were secretly pleased that their personal lives hadn't been paraded through open court for nothing.

They had been dating for about a year and they were happy. Happy was not a word that could have been associated with Grissom or Sara in the not so distant past. Their relationship had settled into a rhythm. Sara slept at Grissom's everyday. They cooked together, cleaned together, worked together and relaxed together. The sex was better than either of them had thought it would be. They were physically and mentally compatible and they reveled in it.

Sara kept her apartment and went there a couple of days a week. She only spent any significant amount of time there when Grissom was at work and she was off. She didn't feel comfortable being in his house without him. Sara's apartment had a musty smell and a foot of dust on every flat surface. The only thing it had going for it was being the last link to Sara's independence. Grissom had mentioned moving in together several months before but then he was suspended. The subject had never come up again. Sara was happy with things just as they were. Grissom, on the other hand, was thinking of what it would be like to have Sara under his roof full time. He had neverenjoyed being with someone the way he did Sara. He couldn't remember what his life had been like before. He intended to marry her, if she would have him.

It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning. Shift had just ended and they were both off for the weekend. Grissom was packing up when he looked up to see Sara standing in the doorway with a smile on her face. "Hey," he said, "ready to go?"

"Yeah, I was wondering if you were finished." Sara took a couple of steps into the office. "What are we doing about breakfast?"

"I thought we might eat at the diner. Then I have something to show you." His grin was mysterious.

Sara smiled and sauntered over to his desk. Leaning against the edge and crossing her arms she grinned and, with a lascivious gleam in her eyes, asked, "What do you want to show me?"

Grissom chuckled and replied, "Ms. Sidle you are insatiable and a pervert. I want to show you something and wear pants at the same time." He moved to stand in front of Sara.

"Oh, well," Sara pouted just a little, "will I like it?"

"I hope so." Grissom bent his head and placed a quick kiss on Sara's smiling mouth. "Let's go."

Sara left her car in the lot and rode to the diner with Grissom. He had promised to bring her back for it before they headed home. During breakfast Sara tried to get Grissom to tell her what his surprise was. He laughed and dodged her questions. He wouldn't even give her a hint. He kept telling her to be patient, causing her to roll her eyes. Finally, he stood up and held out his hand to help her up. They left the diner and Grissom turned north. He drove past the strip and picked up the 95. Whenever Sara would ask a question he would just smile and shake his head. About half an hour after leaving Las Vegas they turned off the highway. After making several turns they pulled up in front of a house and Grissom cut the engine.

"Where are we?" Sara asked. The house was tan stucco with a clay tile roof anda small front yard in a quiet cul-de-sac.

"Come on, they're expecting us." Grissom got out of the car and waited on Sara to join him before walking to the front door. He rang the bell and waited.

The door was opened by a petite blond. She smiled and held out her hand. "You must be Mr. Grissom," she said. Turning to Sara she extended her hand and said, "And you're Ms. Sidle. I'm Sylvia Long. Welcome. Please come in."

"Thank you," Grissom responded. He stepped back and motioned for Sara to precede him. He was studiously avoiding Sara's puzzled looks.

Sylvia stopped in the middle of a tastefully furnished living room and turned to face Grissom and Sara. She clasped her hands in front of her and gave them a huge smile which showed lots of very white teeth. "So," she said, "how long have the two of you been married?"

Grissom and Sara both sputtered a little and Sara said, "We're not."

Sylvia blushed beneath her tan and said, "I'm sorry. I just assumed…" She let her voice trail off and then, seeming to recover, she said, "Oh well, I must have misunderstood Mr. Grissom." Turning her face toward Grissom she said, "Alright then, if you'll follow me we can take a look around. See what you think."

"Good idea," Grissom replied. He caught the look on Sara's face out of the corner of his eye. Stunned would have been the most accurate description he could have given.

"Ms. Long," Sara said, "would you excuse us for a moment? I need to speak to Grissom privately."

"Why don't I wait outside?" Sylvia Long said, looking a little perplexed.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Sara turned to Grissom and, putting her hands on her hips, said, "What are we doing here? Why are we going to look at this house? Are you thinking of moving?"

"Sara, I…uh…have been thinking about our living arrangements lately. I think we…um…should consider…uh…something a little more…" Grissom stood there for a moment looking helpless. Finally, he continued, "I want to spend every day with you. I want a place where we can live. I'm tired of my place and your place. I want an 'our' place."

Sara stood, mouth agape, for a moment. "Couldn't you have just asked me first? We could have talked about it and figured this out."

Grissom had never meant for it to happen this way but he knew it was now or never. He reached out and took Sara's hands in his. His eyes searched her face and he saw her eyes go wide with recognition. "Sara Sidle, I love you more than words can say. You are everything I ever thought you would be and then some. You have changed my life and I can't imagine ever spending another day without you. Marry me Sara. Please."

The tears that had begun gathering in her eyes spilled over and ran down her cheeks. She stared at Grissom in shock, unable to speak or form a coherent thought. Grissom's eyes clouded over and he tried to pull away from her. "Wait, Gris, I…uh…sorry," Sara cleared her throat. "I have never wanted anything other than to be with you. I just wasn't expecting this, that's all."

"Look, maybe this was a mistake." Grissom pulled his hands from Sara's and walked over to stare out a window into the back yard. "I just thought that since today was our anniversary that I would make my intentions known. You know I am no good at this kind of thing."

"Oh, I think you do okay." Sara had walked over to stand behind Grissom and now she laid a hand on his shoulder. "Look at me." Her voice was soft and pleading. Grissom turned and Sara said, "What do you mean 'it's our anniversary'?"

"If you will think back Sara, it was one year ago today that you were waiting outside my house when I got home. It was one year ago today that I first told you that I love you. It was one year ago today that I first kissed you. That is what I mean by anniversary." Grissom words carried a hint of amusement that did nothing to offset the anger. "And I thought women were supposed to know these things."

Sara looked at the floor and color rose in her cheeks. "I don't know where to start counting. I wasn't sure if I should count from when we first met, when I first came to Vegas or before or after your suspension. You have to admit we have had a lot of firsts."

"Sara, you didn't give me an answer." Grissom's voice was raw with emotion. He used his hand to bring her chin up so that he could study her eyes. He saw his own confusion and fear mirrored there.

Sara raised her eyes to his and said, "Yes."

Grissom crushed Sara to him in a bear hug. Lifting her up, he spun her around before crushing his lips to hers.