He followed her outside. There was a couple outside looking out over the city and enjoying the beauty that people call Vegas. All the glitz and glamour calling for people to stare. Neon lights and signs beckoning from afar to be gazed upon as if it were a painting to be revered rather than a gaudy attraction for tourists.
Once the pair realized they were no longer alone outside, they quickly made their escape back into the crowded ballroom. Catherine took a minute to scrutinize Grissom's form, leaning against the railing, as he also gazed out upon the lights of Vegas.
"It's beautiful in its own right, isn't it? Something we take for granted every day. We walk those streets never seeing what it really has to offer other than the cold feeling of underlying and impending death that only people can bring." His voice was detached.
Catherine ignored his comments. "You two used to be friends. It was a long time ago, I know. It's been years, and now you can't even get near each other. What happened?"
"No offense, Catherine, but it's none of your business," he replied dryly without even turning to glance in her direction.
"You have to face it. You have to acknowledge that something is or at least was there. You can't will it away. This is something you have to deal with. Did something happen in the past between the two of you that you thought would just not affect you? You thought you could just pretend it wasn't there, but given enough time it slowly ate away at each of you?" Her steely gaze was having no effect on his back.
Grissom spun on his heels, his hands clenching and unclenching in a nervous gesture at his sides. "You have no idea what you're talking about. There was nothing between Sara and I before she came to Las Vegas." He willed himself to remain composed and forced his voice to make his statement a cold proclamation.
"But you wanted there to be?" Catherine was relentless.
He peered angrily into her eyes as he sighed deeply. Grissom controlled his voice into a calm monotone. "Just because you thought something was possible doesn't mean you were prepared to make the commitment. A lot of things change only with the passage of time."
"You and your riddles. Why can't you just answer the question?" Her hands flew up in an asking gesture.
"If you were listening, I did," Grissom replied softer.
"You used to smile, and over the past few years, you've become a very bitter old man. What happened to the guy that used to laugh and joke around the lab? You've almost succeeded in killing the hope in us all... No one can ever live up to your standards, can they?" Catherine pressed.
"I've been trying to fix what was lost... You... What are you getting at, Catherine?" He put his hands in his pockets after he was unable to stop the clenching.
"She's not good enough?" It was almost more of a statement than a question when it came out of her mouth. Catherine squinted at him as if that would make her see his answer more clearly.
"You have no idea what you're talking about!" he shouted at her. He lost his self-control as Catherine was getting too pushy. She was goading him into saying things he did not want to admit to her.
"Whoa!" Catherine took a step backwards from him. Her eyes widened in shock. "Look at yourself. Is this the person you want to be?"
He took a breath to calm himself. "It was never about Sara... It was about me." He looked down at his feet for a moment. "Listen, I know you're trying to be a friend, and I appreciate that, but I'm just not ready to walk down this road with you. I've done a lot in my past that I'm not proud of, and I'm still dealing with it myself."
"That was a revelation," she mocked him rather bluntly.
He looked up earnestly into her eyes. "Don't push it. I said I'm working on the issues, and in time I think you'll see a difference. I have never made a change overnight, and I will not start now."
His phone rang with a text message, interrupting their exchange. Grissom pulled the phone out of his pocket and examined it. A smile played on his lips.
"Work?" Catherine asked.
"No. Personal." He held up the display for her to read when she raised an eyebrow.
What is Cath yelling at you about? –S
"Yeah, that's personal," she replied with a gin of her own. "Are you going to reply?"
"She and I are fine, Catherine, no matter what people think." He punched buttons on the phone replying to Sara. "Work. A Case," he said, indicating that was his response, but actually he typed: Life advice about us.
The phone chirped again a few moments later. Inside, please. Save me. I'm alone and getting harassed. He showed it to Catherine.
Catherine allowed a small smile to grace her lips for a moment. She regarded the man in front of her suspiciously. Maybe he really was trying to make amends for what had been happening over the past few years. It was at least a step in the right direction if they were talking.
"After you," Grissom said, raising an arm to usher her towards the door back into the ballroom.
Together, they walked back into the room and directly over to Sara. Ecklie, Sofia, and Vartann were crowding her space. The conversation ground to a halt when they reached the table. Grissom greeted everyone with a tight nod as he slipped into the chair next to Sara. Catherine offered a clipped hello and stood off to Grissom's side.
Uncomfortable small talk ensued between them until Ecklie and Sofia made their way one way and Vartann escaped the other direction. Grissom put his hand on Sara's arm and smiled.
"Thank you," Sara sighed. "I think I was going to become a crime scene in here tonight." She looked at both of them sincerely, offering a slightly embarrassed smile, but her eyes lingered on Grissom for a few extra seconds.
He removed his hand, looking around the room. "Where's your, um... date?"
"I sent him away with Jorja. The constant flirting was getting on my serves," Sara told them matter-of-factly.
"And Nick is...?" he asked next, looking back at her.
"I sent him away with that LVPD chick," she replied, devoid of emotion
"And Warrick?" Catherine asked. She was almost nervous to find out since Sara seemed to be pairing people up and shooing them away.
"That I can't tell you," she replied with a shrug.
"Would you mind if I went to—" Catherine started.
"We'll be fine, Cath. Go," Grissom interrupted, never taking his eyes off of Sara.
Without any hesitation, Catherine turned from the table, walking away. "Okay. I'll get another ride. Don't wait around for me," she said over her shoulder.
Sara watched the blond leave. When she was far enough away, Sara ventured, "You don't think—"
"No. I try not to," he interrupted. Grissom had never been one to get in the middle of anyone else's personal lives. What they did on their own time was none of his business. If he got involved in theirs, he knew that they would also get involved in his, and that was not something he was willing to let happen.
"Well, people in our line of work are naturally attracted to each other." Sara smiled and turned to Grissom.
Grissom tipped his head and winked. "You ready to go to work?"
"Yeah. Definitely. I need to get out of here," she replied emphatically.
Grissom led her out of the room and to his car, the entire time resting his hand on the small of her back. His hand rubbed along her delicate skin, relishing in the feel of it. His fingers gently played with the edge of the fabric. It was a gesture so small and yet so large. They felt like a couple of teenagers out on their first date.
They walked to the car, and Grissom held her door open for her. She smiled shyly as he held her hand as she slid into her seat. He leaned in to kiss her gently on the lips. The moment was charged with electricity, and neither wanted it to end. However, to all good things there is an end. Grissom reluctantly pulled away.
He snapped her door gently shut and walked around to his side. There was a slight spring in his step as he rounded the car. He felt as if ten years had been stripped from his age. He was happy and with the woman he loved. If the night had not involved going to work, Grissom could only have been happier.
"Oh... Wow, Sara. You... You look hot," Greg sputtered as Sara entered the lab. His jaw was hanging open. Seeing Grissom walking in behind her was the only thing that made him close his mouth.
"Um, thanks, Greggo," Sara replied flatly. She grimaced to herself that Greg could not come up with something better than a comment like that. She passed by him, leaving Grissom and Greg standing together just inside the main door.
"Greg, do we have work to do tonight?" Grissom asked in feigned pleasantness when Greg was still staring at Sara walking down the hall. After no response, Grissom tried again, "Greg?" Mild irritation had crept into his voice. "This is a crime lab, not a dating service. So, do we have a case tonight or not?"
"Huh?" he squeaked, finally spinning around to face Grissom after Sara disappeared around the corner. Seeing the displeased look on Grissom's face accented with a raised eyebrow, Greg replied, "Oh, uh, there was a B&E earlier, but someone's already working on it."
"And, why is it that we're having a conversation out here by the door? Shouldn't you be working on something?"
"I... I was heading out to my car to pick something up..." Greg glanced back down the hall where Sara had disappeared, mildly contemplating what it was he had been going to get from his car. "Sara really looks nice tonight, doesn't she?"
"Yes, she does." Grissom took a moment to scrutinize the young CSI as if he was a crime scene needing to be interpreted. He decided that Greg was in for a rude awakening if he thought he was going to get in Sara's good graces if he talked like that. Greg was almost worse at talking to Sara than he was. "Now, don't let me hold you up from getting whatever from your car." Grissom brushed past Greg finding the way to his office.
Greg was left standing in the hallway still wondering just what it was he had been doing. He shook his head to clear the haze that took over his vision and walked numbly outside to get a much-needed breath of cool night air.