3

Sara spent the next week cleaning her already clean apartment. She'd gone online a couple times toying with the idea of going away somewhere. But every time a place looked inviting, she found a paragraph about spending time with the person you love, or a lover's paradise, or a great place for a second honeymoon. Everything reminded her of Grissom. So instead, she was all about cleaning and renting movies. She'd gone to the grocery store to stock her fridge since she'd be home to eat more often. Her bill came to over $200. By the time she got everything home, she realized she'd bought enough food for almost the whole nine weeks she'd be off. It was a good reason to stay home; no vacation.

But she was running out of things to clean in her apartment. She was just about to order another pay-per-view movie when there was a knock at her door.

For the second time in a week, she was shocked to see Grissom's face through her peephole.

When she opened the door he held up his hands, "Please don't slam the door. May I come in?"

"Why?"

"Because I'm sorry." Sara moved aside, almost in shock. "Would it be rude if I asked for something to drink?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm just thirsty."

With a confused look on her face, she walked toward the kitchen and asked over her shoulder, "What would you like?"

"Coffee?"

She turned then, "I'd have to make a pot. That would require you staying in my apartment for at least twenty minutes."

"Is that all right with you?"

Without answering, she walked into the kitchen. When she came out, she saw that he'd hung his coat over the chair at her desk and was seated on the loveseat in the living room. She moved to sit in the chair.

"Would you mind sitting her, next to me?" Still stunned, Sara walked over to the loveseat and sat next to him. "Thank you."

"Who are you?"

"Uh…Gil Grissom…your supervisor…graveyard shift…"

"No, I know that. It's just that you're a totally different person than you were last week."

"Yes, well…I have spent the last week in my apartment, staring at this picture on my wall. I've had a lot of time to think."

"And?"

"And…I thought about what Catherine told me the day I left."

"And what was that?"

"She told me I should have fun. She even asked me if I knew what fun was. I tried to answer with the definition of fun, and she told me that she didn't want that, she wanted to know if I knew how to have fun."

"So?"

"So…I was staring at this picture I have on my wall."

"Of?"

"Of the sunrise over the ocean."

"The one I took."

"Yes. It was then that I realized that I do know how to have fun, or at least I used to. I had fun when we spent time together."

"Okay."

"Then I thought about our conversation last week. And, I realized I owed you an apology."

"For what?"

"Because we…and then I…but I didn't…" after his struggle with words, he finally found what he was searching for, "for hurting you."

"You haven't hurt me."

"Sara…"

"Okay, maybe a little."

"I've hurt you a lot. I don't know if you could ever forgive me, but I'm hoping you will."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you hoping I'll forgive you?"

"Because, I want to have fun."

She raised an eyebrow, "Fun?"

"Fun."

"And what would having fun have to do with me?"

"Because, I thought back in my life and I realized I haven't had all that much fun. There are actually only a few moments I can recall. Most of them involve riding roller coasters. Now, I did ride a coaster once with Warrick, but most of the time, I was by myself. I don't want to spend ten weeks riding roller coasters, so I'd like to try having fun the only other way I know how. And that would be when I'm with you."

She almost burst into tears right then. Instead she stood and walked to the kitchen. She came back a few moments later with two cups of coffee. "Black."

"Yes."

"That wasn't a question."

"Oh. Sooo?"

"So, I'm…stunned."

"Okay."

"Grissom, what do you want from me?"

"I'd like you…to have fun with me."

"Hah! Really?"

"Look, I'm not really good at this."

"I can see that. But I guess I just need more from you. This whole conversation has been about you. I need part of this to be about me."

"I thought this was what you wanted."

"No, Grissom. It's not what I want. I don't want to be your play toy. I don't want to be what you want to do, just because riding roller coasters might get monotonous after a couple weeks. I want to be a person you'd like to spend time with because…well, because it's me."

"Okay, I guess I'm not making my point quite the way I wanted to."

"Evidently not."

"Sara, what I'm trying to say, is that you bring joy to my life, like nothing else. I know that I don't show that very often…maybe at all, but you do. I thought back on my life, and when I thought of fun or joy, I thought of you. That's the reason I'd like to spend time with you."

Sara smiled, "Better."

"Thanks. So, does that mean you forgive me?"

"Yes."

With a big smile, "Good."

"So, what do you have in mind?"

He looked confused, "For what?"

"Fun."

"Oh! I was hoping you'd have ideas. This is kind of a new awakening for me."

"Well…how about we start simple?"

"Okay."

"It's almost dinner time. How about dinner?"

"Dinner?"

"Is that too much?"

"No…no…"

"Then what's wrong? Too date-like?"

"Uh…"

"Look Grissom. We have to start over somewhere. I'm not expecting you to take me to a five-star restaurant. I'm not asking you to dress up. I'm not even asking you to pay for anything. I just thought that we could talk over dinner. If you aren't comfortable going out, I could make something."

"Oh…I guess…"

"Grissom, if this is going to be fun, you have to stop making it so hard."

"Sorry."

"And you have to stop apologizing."

"Okay."

"So…let's start with an easier question. Are you hungry?"

"Yes."

"All right. Would you like to eat alone or would you like to eat with me at the same table?" Grissom laughed. "That's better. So?"

With a smirk, "I would love to have dinner with you."

"Great! Now, here's the hard one. Would you like to stay here and eat, or go out?" After a few moments of no response, "Grissom? What's wrong?"

"Well…"

"Grissom, you don't have to be afraid to talk to me. I won't get mad. Just tell me what's wrong."

"Um…I'm trying to decide whether it's a good idea if we're seen in public together."

Sara burst into laughter. "So, let me get this straight. We're supposed to have fun, but never go outside?"

With a grin, "It works for some people."

"Yeah, people who have…a different relationship than we do."

"Okay…so…out it is."

"Good. One more question. Where to?"