Hide 'n Seek
Chapter 2 or The Greatness of Nana Olaf's Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I seriously didn't expect that kind of response. Feel free to help yourselves to some cookies for all the nice comments :)
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Late August 2005
"The Cookie Monster has arrived!"
"Hey, Greg. Come on in."
He entered Sara's apartment armed with grocery bags full of margarine, flour, chocolate chips, and other ingredients for baking cookies. The lab had taken part in a bake sale to raise money for a local domestic violence shelter. Ecklie informed the staff he would like to see as much participation as possible, which essentially meant volunteering was mandatory.
"So you got all the stuff for your grandmother's recipe?" She gestured to the items he already set on the counter.
"Yup. Everything for Nana Olaf's patented Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies," Greg proudly declared. "They are without a doubt the greatest cookies in the world."
She raised an eyebrow. "I hope this isn't some secret family recipe that you shouldn't be sharing."
"No. Nana Olaf is very generous with her recipes; she loves to teach to people how to cook, which is why I am able to woo women to my dinner table."
"Now you just have to figure out how to get them to your bedroom."
He put a hand over his heart in mock agony. "I am seriously hurt by that, just so you know."
She laughed and ignored his comment. As he tied an apron around his waist, Greg noticed a vase full of red roses on her dining room table. He knew she was seeing somebody; her strange behavior pointed in that direction -- especially after the day he and Sara had breakfast at the diner and she received a text message. When she read it, he could have sworn he saw her eyes turn shiny like a new penny. She put her cell phone away and continued talking to him. The goofy grin didn't leave her face though. It was time to find out who 'he' was.
"Nice flowers. Are they from your mystery man?"
Before she answered, she hesitated for the briefest moment. "They're from…a good friend."
He shook his head with a smile. "Friends don't give friends roses. Tulips, yes. Hydrangeas, yes. Even daisies are acceptable to give a friend." He took a step closer to her. "There is only one time a friend gives a friend roses, and that's when a boyfriend gives them to his girlfriend."
"Can we just get started on the cookies?" She requested exasperatedly.
"Changing the subject, great move," he stated. "I hope he knows you have avoidance issues.
Sara threw an oven mitt at him.
While they mixed the ingredients, Greg attempted to guess who she was dating. He started counting off the men at the lab.
"Bobby?"
"Nice guy, but no."
"Ronnie?"
"Nope."
"Archie?"
"Archie's practically engaged."
He thought for a second before he asked about the next name. He shuddered at the thought of this man being romantic, with Sara or any woman for that matter. However, curiosity got the best of him.
"Is it Hodges?"
She carefully set down the measuring spoon in her hand, and stared at him with grim eyes. "If you ever suggest that to anyone, ever,they will never find your body."
The tone of her voice was threatening enough. Greg didn't want to know what she might to do him. Continuing to stir the batter, he decided it was wise to stop the interrogation.
Forty-five minutes later, the first batch came out of the oven. They ate some because the cookies "needed to be taste-tested." She pulled out some glasses while Greg opened the refrigerator looking for milk. He shifted a few items to reach the carton and his eyes opened in horror when he saw the agar plates sitting next to a bottle of orange juice. No, just no.
He shut the door, and handed her the milk. "I pictured you more as a Staphylococcus aureus person than a Bacillus cereus gal," he said, referring to the labels on the plates.
She swallowed noticeably. "I guess you know who 'he' is then."
"Yeah I think so."
Greg's mind just couldn't wrap around the thought of Grissom actually being romantic, like sending an "I love you" text message or buying her roses. It was way too weird.
Sara took a deep breath before speaking again. "Greg, I know you have a lot questions…but I don't want to answer them right now. I just need you to promise not to spread this around the lab. We haven't told Ecklie yet, and…just please don't say anything."
Truthfully, he wanted to run to Catherine, Warrick, and Nick and tell them that he was the first to figure out who Sara was dating. But there was the slightest hint of fear in her eyes that told him this was very important to her.
"I promise I won't say a word."
"Thank you," she told him sincerely.
The kitchen remained silent for the next several minutes as they placed the dough on the baking sheets. Greg tried to ignore the one question rolling around in his brain, but was having little success. He tapped the spoon on the counter in an anxious rhythm. Finally, he gave up, dropping the utensil in the mixing bowl.
"I know you said no questions, but I have to ask; why Grissom? I mean, he's old and grouchy and he collects bugs and is easily the weirdest man on the planet."
"Exactly."
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Three nights later, Greg went to Grissom's office to drop off some files. He couldn't look at the supervisor the same way again with the newfound information. Just thinking of Grissom behaving like some loving boyfriend hurt his head.
Greg knocked on the door, and walked in when Grissom glanced up. Grissom promptly went back to filling out what ever form he was working on.
Placing the files on the desk, Greg stood in front of him for a moment, waiting to be acknowledged. There was something he wanted to say since he found out about Grissom and Sara and this appeared to be the opportunity.
Though, maybe not. It took Grissom another minute before he looked up again. Finally he said, "Thank you. Good job on the Ohtori case."
Greg was taken aback by his boss's praise. "Ummm…thanks."
Grissom continued with his work while Greg tried to gather his courage for the words. However, Grissom refused to speak, so he chose to leave.
As he turned around, he heard, "Sara told me about the plates."
"At least you two have no problems communicating with each other." Greg showed the slightest bit of a smile, but it quickly disappeared when he saw Grissom. The older man gazed at the young CSI like he was studying a piece of evidence.
The silence continued until Greg couldn't handle it any longer. He balled a hand into a fist, hoping to disguise his nervousness. He prayed he wouldn't get fired for what he was about to say. "Sara…she-she's really special, you know."
Greg's heart pounded as Grissom stared at him with a hardened expression. Not receiving any reprimand, he kept going.
"It's just…she's been happy for a while; happier than I've seen her since…ever." Greg maintained eye contact so it was clear his words were not to be taken lightly. "And I don't want to see her get hurt. She doesn't deserve that."
Greg expected one of two things to happen: the first possibility being Grissom wouldn't say a word, wouldn't react at all, forcing the former DNA tech to live in fear for the rest of his life. Or Grissom could very coolly inform him to mind his own business. Then Greg would get every decomp case for the rest of his career.
What he didn't expect was Grissom's next words. "I intend to make sure that doesn't happen."
It was a rarity to hear Grissom share a part of himself; something akin to seeing Hayley's comet. But for a split second Greg caught a glimpse of the man that was seen only by Sara. Greg appreciated Grissom's honesty and felt a sense of pride with the recognition of his solid friendship with brunette.
He gave Grissom a short nod of approval, and started toward the door. Before he reached the threshold, Greg snapped his fingers, and addressed his boss again.
"One more thing; if she ever bakes you cookies, make sure you ask if she got all the eggshells out of the dough."
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I can't help but mention Greg's grandparents whenever I write about our favorite goof. The names are just too fun to say. Papa Olaf and Nana Olaf. Yeah, I'm a big dork. Anywho, I'll be back later with the wonderful Warrick Brown.
