DISCLAIMER:Don't own it... No money made... Just for fun and enjoyment.

SUMMARY: Sequel to Displacement. The CSI team and their recently hired coroner Stephanie are back to work solving cases, sharing companionship and generally making their way through the dire world of criminal investigation with humor and friendship... This one will show the development of the relationship between Grissom and Sara and there should be some other surprises down the road as well. Romance/Drama/Angst/Mature Situations

RATING: M for Mature - I'm starting this one out at "M", since we won't be waiting quite so long for the smut this time out ;) Also, there is a sprinkling of language throughout the story.

A/N: This will be the last light-hearted chapter for a while... So, enjoy it while you can. ;)

REVIEWS: I am always looking for ways to improve my writing, and your reviews let me know if I am hitting my mark. Thank you in advance for the time you take to read &review this story.


Chapter 27

The soft light of dusk drifted into the living room through the open blinds, and the slight breeze gently rocked them back and forth in the window sills. There were reading lamps on beside the couch and Grissom sat sideways in the corner of it, with his feet propped up on the coffee table. He held his book in his right hand, just under the light of the lamp. The book was one of his guilty indulgences; a completely unnecessary novel with no redeeming literary qualities beyond entertainment. Everyone was well aware of his mastery of Shakespeare, the romantic poets, classical literature and countless texts of forensic science and history, but very few were aware of his delight in reading modern pulp fiction. His treat for the day was a novel detailing the lives of werewolves and vampires in Colorado via the perspective of a late night D.J. and her syndicated radio program.* As he read about the mysterious Reverend offering a salvation cure for all the poor bloodsuckers and wolfmen of the world, he had to smirk just a little. If anyone else saw me reading this, they'd have me committed.

His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the phone beside him, causing him to place his paperback, open faced, over the arm of the sofa as he reached for the phone. "Grissom… Oh, hi… Yeah, sorry… No, I didn't realize it was off the hook… No, I turned that one off on purpose… You're kidding… No, I guess I shouldn't be surprised… Oh, okay… Well, that's good, at least… No, just on-call… Warrick usually handles it… Yeah, I'll call him later to see what the situation is… No, if I show up, I'll be there until Monday… Okay, I'll give it a try later on… Thanks, Cath… Yeah, I'll let you know tomorrow… Goodnight." Grissom hung up the phone and then leaned it against his chin for a moment, considering the conversation he just had. Satisfied that it had gone well, he smirked and laid the phone back down on the end table again.

He removed his glasses and set them beside the phone. Leaning back against the sofa, he closed his eyes and exhaled, as he settled into a more relaxed posture. He cautiously opened one eye when he heard another book being closed somewhere below his ear. "I'm curious…" Sara's voice was very matter of fact and her posture was also relaxed as she laid back into his side, picking up her head to rest it again in the softness of his midsection.

"About what?"

"How do you think Catherine would react if she knew that, during your entire conversation with her, you were fondling my breast?" The corner of Sara's mouth turned up in a smirk as she spoke.

"The world may never know." Grissom regarded her with his own smirk as he replaced his glasses and picked his book back up.

"Are you likening me to a Tootsie Pop?" Her head shook in that oddly endearing way it would when she was teasing him.

Grissom lowered his book again and then leaned his head down to kiss the top of Sara's head before he answered, "Not hardly… I think I know how many it takes with you."

Sara tossed her book onto the coffee table, tilted her head back to look up into his gaze and said, "That sounds like a fun experiment. Care to prove your theory, Dr. Grissom?"

A broad and knowing smile spread across his face and he replied, "I thought you'd never ask, Miss Sidle."


Addtl A/N: The book described in this chapter is real... "Kitty and the Midnight Hour" by Carrie Vaughn is a wonderful little piece of entertainment if anyone is looking for a good summer reading distraction. The sequel, "Kitty Goes to Washington" is due out in bookstores the first week in July. And just in case you were wondering, I do happen to know the author, and her connection to CSI is the fact that we made her read one of the most horribly written pieces of trash that came with one of the CSI Puzzle Games at a birthday party last month while we worked the puzzle. I figured she needed to get something out of being so traumatized by that thing, and besides, I actually happen to really enjoy her writing :D