DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN CSI OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS; THEY BELONG TO CBS OR ANTHONY ZUIKER
A/N: Jim and Iris's most special day is filled with twists and turns. Will they make it through in spite of an unexpected revelation from Iris?
RATING: M (for sensuality)
GENRE: Romance/Comedy/Some Angst
TIMELINE: Takes place after "As You Wish"
EPISODE INFLUENCES/SPOILERS: Bang, Bang; Way To Go; Built to Kill (Part 1)
"TO HAVE AND TO HOLD"
CHAPTER ONE
Brass awoke with a start as the morning sun streamed in through the blinds of his bedroom window. He groaned from the aftereffects of a hangover from his bachelor party the night before, considering himself lucky that he was at least in his own bed. Knowing today was his wedding day Jim struggled to sit up as his head pounded and the sunlight being too bright for his weary eyes. 'Iris will hand me my butt if I don't get going', he thought and then chided himself. Iris was nothing like his ex-wife from years ago, as he recalled his first wedding day. Nancy had been irate from the get-go when she'd heard about the bachelor party alone.
Who had driven him home he had no clue but was sure he had been in no shape to drive as it was. A large banquet room, at the Bellagio, had been rented for the party. As Jim's best man, Grissom had been in charge of all the festivities but had been readily helped by Warrick, Nick and Greg. All of the male members of the CSI team were on hand as well as several of Jim's friends from the LVPD. Brass recalled a lot of toasting going on and then the arrival of a buxom and scantily clad young woman named "Forever Cherry". His memory got fuzzy after that, probably a good thing, except for the lipstick kisses all over his face and they went further down than that.
Making his way to the bathroom, Brass faced a bleary-eyed reflection in the mirror. "Jim, pal, you look like hell and feel like it too," he told himself as he reached for some Alka Seltzer. The wedding was scheduled for late in the afternoon, so he had time on his side to begin his recovery process.
He then heard loud snoring coming from his living room. Grabbing a robe, Jim went out to find Grissom sacked out on his couch. Grissom didn't look much better than Brass at that point, looking scruffy with five o'clock shadow and in rumpled clothes, not anything like his usual neat and well-dressed self. Brass grinned down at him, knowing he had a solid best friend, especially after he'd been shot well what seemed a lifetime ago now. That event alone had brought so much change into his life, some good and some not so good, yet he knew he was a stronger person for it, and grateful for each day.
"Gil, pal, wake up," Jim said as he shook Grissom's shoulder.
Grissom grumbled and muttered incoherently, rolling over on his side on the couch. Brass wouldn't take no for an answer and continued to shake Gil.
"Come on, sleeping beauty, rise and shine. I need you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, especially today." Jim said as he finally succeeded in getting Grissom to open his bloodshot blue eyes.
Uttering a groan, Grissom rasped, "What are you doing at my place, Jim?"
Jim let out a snort of laughter. "Your place? More like my place pal!"
Grissom held his head in his hands before trying to sit up very slowly. "That must have been some party last night. I don't even remember driving here."
"I'm sure we'll get all the gory details at the wedding chapel. Here's some Alka Seltzer to help jump-start you. I'll get some coffee goin' too. Man…it just hit me…I'm getting hitched today." Brass said in wonder.