A/N: The shoes Sara is wearing are Anne Klein Felix. If you have a shoe obsession check them out at shoeblogger. I didn't do them justice. The Marshall House is a B& B in Savannah, GA.
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI (or Bones). That's why I work for a living.
Chapter 26
"I don't know if I'll make it five days," Sara said as they sat waiting for their flight to be called.
"Sara," Grissom chided, "Jonathan will be fine with Catherine. Relax. This will be fun."
"I know you're right but I've never been away from him for this long. What if he gets sick? What if he just wants me to hold him?" Sara pressed her fingers to her eyes to prevent any tears from escaping. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."
"Sara, we'll call every day, two or three times a day, to check on him. I know you'll miss him but doesn't the thought of four nights alone with me do anything for you?" Grissom's worried eyes searched her face as he tried to tease her out of her bad mood.
"What if he doesn't miss me?" Sara said quietly as a single tear leaked over her eyelashes and trailed down her cheek.
"Oh honey." Grissom slid an arm around her shoulders and hugged her to his side. "How could he not miss you?"
Sara sniffled a little and gave him a watery smile. "I know it sounds silly but…" her voice trailed off and she shrugged. Shaking her head and pasting on a smile, Sara said, "They're calling our flight. Let's go."
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Even at eight o'clock in the morning, Savannah in late August is a sauna. Hot, damp and beautiful, like the woman it is often compared to. The air is a tangible thing. The centuries old live oaks, dripping with Spanish moss, pepper the streets and sidewalks with patches of shade. The cobblestones of the river front promenade are original and bring to mind a time long passed. The squares, surrounded by historic buildings, tell of a kinder, gentler age that places like Las Vegas have never known. Time moves slower in the port city. Words flow like honey and manners are more than mere suggestions. Sara was instantly captivated. Maybe the sense of permanence spoke to the little girl with no roots. Maybe she could identify with a place that had survived so much tragedy only to come out stronger on the other side. She wasn't sure how to describe her feelings. She only knew that she was drawn to this little piece of the south like a moth to a flame.
Grissom steered the rental car down Bay Street. As they passed the Hyatt Regency he pointed it out and explained that the conference would be held there. Taking a right on Broughton he began navigating the twisting streets surrounding the squares. Taking in Sara's enthralled expression, Grissom pulled up in front of a brick building that sported a wrought iron railed veranda.
"This is our stop." When Sara's eyes lit up, Grissom continued, "I thought you'd like it."
"The Marshall House? You didn't want to stay at the Hyatt with everyone else?"
"Why would I want to stay in a generic box with a crowd of people when I could stay here with you?" Grissom asked before bringing her hand to his lips for a kiss. "Let's get settled."
The suite they were given was breathtaking. The space was light and airy with French doors opening onto the veranda with rocking chairs that overlooked the shaded street below. All the modern conveniences were nestled in with the antique iron bed and the claw foot tub. It was a perfect blend of old and new and it dripped with quiet elegance.
Sara stood in the middle of the sitting area and turned in a slow circle. She was smiling from ear to ear. "Oh, Grissom, it's beautiful. How did you find this place?"
"Google." Grissom smiled at his wife. It was times like these that made him realize how much joy she had brought into his life.
Walking over and wrapping her arms around his waist, she said, "Thank you. I love it." Sara placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "What's on the agenda for today?"
Letting his arms come up and wrap around her waist, Grissom said, "There are cocktails at six for the speakers and other VIP's. Then I thought we'd get dinner somewhere close by. Nothing too strenuous since my first presentation is at nine in the morning. Is there anything you want to do?"
"No. Not today." Sara stepped a little closer. "Maybe we could try out that big bed in there." When Grissom's hands slid down to cup her ass, Sara said, "I meant to nap. We've been traveling all night."
"We slept on the plane." Grissom gave Sara his most pleading look. "Besides, I'm tense. It would help me relax."
Sara laughed and Grissom was struck by her beauty. "How can I say no to that kind of logic?"
Grissom nuzzled the spot behind her ear and said, "You can't. It is infallible."
Laughing again at the smug look on his face, Sara asked, "Do you think I could have a shower first?"
"How about we shower together?" When she shook her head at his obvious ploy, he said, "What? I just thought I could impress you with my multi-tasking abilities."
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Sara awoke just after three o'clock. The room was dim but the curtains couldn't keep out all of the afternoon sun. Stretching, she eyed the man sprawled on his stomach beside her and smiled lazily. The sight of him sleeping never failed to melt her heart. His hair was mussed and the side of his face pressed into the mattress. His lips were parted and his breath puffed regularly from between them. Reaching out a finger, she gently traced his full lower lip, withdrawing quickly when his breathing hitched at her touch.
When his eyes slowly opened, she said in a husky voice, "Hey."
He smiled sleepily and turned on his side to face her. "Hey." He took in her sleep tousled hair and clear brown eyes. "What time is it?"
Sara rose up enough to check the clock over his shoulder before snuggling back down on her pillow. "Three-thirty."
"We need to get ready."
"Mmmhmm." Sara smiled when he ran a hand down her bare arm. "We could stay here."
"Here? In the room?" Grissom grinned.
"In this bed." Sara tried to waggle her eyebrows eliciting a snort from her husband.
Regaining his composure, Grissom felt his breath catch. With something akin to awe he said, "You are so beautiful." He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
"Wow," Sara breathed. "You really know how to make a girl feel special." A slight blush rose in her cheeks at the unexpected declaration.
"You are special." Grissom's eyes skated over her face, lingering on each beloved feature. After a moment he mentally shook himself and said, "I would love to stay here with you. But we really need to go." Seeing her disappointment, he said, "After tomorrow morning I'm free for two days."
"Okay. Besides I bought a new dress for the occasion. Might as well wear it." With that, Sara rolled out of bed and headed to the bathroom, giving Grissom a delightful view of what he would be missing.
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After a short debate, they decided to walk the few blocks to the Hyatt. They strolled, hand in hand, in no particular hurry to reach their destination. The temperature was less than they were used to. The humidity, however, was something to be reckoned with. Sara was grateful she had pulled her hair up. She had a mental image of how unruly it would be if left to its own devices. Glancing at Grissom, she noticed that his normally well groomed locks were starting to curl haphazardly, making him appear younger and sexier. With his jacket slung over his shoulder and his cheeks flushed from the heat he was absolutely adorable.
Entering the lobby, both Sara and Grissom were thankful for the miracle of air conditioning. The blessedly cool air washed over them, raising gooseflesh on Sara's bare arms. Grissom asked at the desk and was informed that the conference was taking place on the second floor. Thanking the clerk he escorted Sara to the elevator.
When the door closed, he turned to her and said, "Did I tell you how good you look?"
"No. I don't believe you did." Sara said with a grin. She was wearing a raw silk sheath in a deep pink. The simple lines of the dress enhanced her slender body, nipping in at the waist and hugging the swell of her hips. The boat neck was just low enough to leave her delicate collar bones and the hollow of her throat exposed. But the best part of the dress was not the front. The dress draped from her shoulders leaving her bare from the nape of her neck to the small of her back. Her shoes were cream satin two strap sandals with deep pink ribbon detail that gave the impression the shoes were made of flowers.
Smiling, he let his eyes travel from her head to her toes. "You look fantastic."
"Thank you, sir. You look really good yourself."
"Thank you," Grissom said. A light blush rode his cheekbones at the compliment. For the occasion Grissom had donned a beige, summer weight Hugo Boss suit with a pale blue shirt. His tie was a darker blue with a tiny dark pink print. His skin was tanned and his eyes were an impossible blue. His hair, shot through with silver, was curling wildly.
The elevator opened onto a hallway lined with doors on one side. The other side looked down into the lobby. As they strode down the hall they could hear the low buzz of conversation coming from one of the rooms. Grissom opened the door and the noise level went up ten fold. Sara walked through the door and several conversations trailed off only to be replaced by whispers and shocked looks when Grissom stepped through the door behind her.
Taking in the stunned faces of the people closest to the door, Grissom smiled and laid his hand on the small of her back, just above the material of her dress and began guiding her toward the bar. "Let's get a drink. What would you like?"
Sara, looking a little uncomfortable, shrugged and said, "Vodka tonic. Extra lime." As they made their way across the room, she asked quietly, "Why are they all staring at us?"
He leaned in and whispered, his breath tickling her cheek, "Because they can't believe I'm lucky enough to be here with you." When they reached the bar he gave their order to the bartender. Handing Sara a drink, he said, "Come on, there are some people I want you to meet."
Sara hadn't seen this side of Grissom before. Normally, in a crowd, he was quiet and withdrawn. Here, surrounded by his peers, he was almost gregarious. He introduced her to an Entomology professor from Duke University who consulted to the state of North Carolina's crime lab. She met several people who shared his passion for forensics and crime scene investigation, each an expert in their field. Then she was introduced to a Forensic Anthropologist from D.C. and her co-worker.
After they excused themselves to greet another acquaintance of Grissom's, Sara said, "They're crazy about each other."
"Who? Temperance and Agent Booth?" he asked. "Why do you say that?"
Sara teased, "You are probably the most unobservant man I've ever met. He looks at her like he could gobble her up. She looks at him like he hung the moon." Smiling up at him, she said, "Sound familiar?"
Any answer he would have given was cut off by someone calling his name. Turning he saw a familiar face. With a mental groan, he said, "Terri."
