2. Afternoon
'Are you serious?' Although she loves him to the moon and back, she never fell for his spontaneous character. He's not one for surprises or impromptu activities. Yet, the cheeky look he sends, signals to her that she might get to see a whole new side of Grissom. And although it's new, she already likes it.
Grissom takes a slow sip from his coffee. 'You wait and see…' he then replies. 'Just make sure to wear some layers.'
Sara casts a glance through the window. 'Well, I mean, I'm sure it was much colder earlier this morning, but it should get up to 62 degrees this afternoon.' She shuts down when he picks up a breadcrumb from the corner of her mouth.
'Dress up warm,' he repeats and cups her face. 'I don't want you to catch a cold.'
The silence that stretches between them is charged and full of longing and expectations.
Suddenly, he leans back and continues finishing his breakfast.
Sara still has her fork lifted midair and can't stop looking at him. When he raises a teasing brow at her she starts laughing.
'What, do I've something on my face?' he asks and he starts wiping his hand over his mouth, chin and cheeks in an attempt to clear it of any lost breadcrumbs or other food particles.
She quickly shakes her head and laughs. With that the tension between them is broken and they finish their breakfast while chatting about their friends from work, books they've recently read and films they still want to see. Even though they've known each other for several years, it still feels like they've just met.
'I'm going to take a shower,' Sara announces after she finishes her meal. 'Care to join me?' She tilts her head slightly to the right, just the way she knows he likes it.
He isn't taking the bait though. 'How much I'd love to, I need to clean up the mess here, and you'll need to hurry up. We'll leave in thirty minutes.' To make his point clear, he gets up and takes the plates and cutlery up to the dishwasher.
'But... but…' she stumbles, trying her hardest to go in against him. Abruptly her efforts are cut short when Grissom stands behind her and puts his hand on her mouth. Quickly she turns her head and kisses him on the lips.
It's always in the shower where Sara allows her mind to wander off, bringing her new ideas, giving her new insights and allowing her to reflect. It's the combination of the warm water against her skin, the sweet smell of her shampoo and the lack of distractions that clears the path for such realizations to be made. Today it's the sense of gratitude that seems to have become the theme of her shower session. The sense of gratitude is so huge and overpowering that it makes her feel emotional all of a sudden. Her path in life hasn't been the easiest one, but she feels that she has finally taken the turn that brings her into the right direction. The path that now lays ahead of her is one full of happiness and love. So much that it almost hurt. She's so incredibly thankful for having met Grissom and for having him in her life now fully. The hurdles they had to take along the way she'd gladly taken as they had led them closer to each other and eventually sent them to where they are today. Although they still don't know everything about each other, she feels that on a spiritual level they already are one. 'Who would've thought this would ever be in the cards for me?' she thinks to herself. She never expected to find love. She never felt worthy of it either. Over the years, she had built a wall to protect herself from any more pain and heartache she'd suffered in the past. But it had been Grissom who had managed to take down that wall, brick by brick and who was able to show her that true love does exist. She shakes her head. There's no reason to be getting so emotional over this, she warns herself. Quickly, conscious of the time, she rinses herself off and turns off the water.
Right at that moment, Grissom walks in, sees her about to get out of the shower and grabs a towel from the radiator. 'Here you go.' Gently he wraps the towel around her damp body. 'You're shaking. Are you cold?'
She shakes her head. 'Not anymore, I'm actually quite comfortable now,' she smiles as she frees her arms from underneath the towel and puts them around his neck. She smells the pleasant scent of his aftershave and feels the warmth of his body against hers. 'I like days off like this.'
'And the day hasn't even properly started yet,' he whispers in her ear.
Slightly later than planned, they're on their way.
Hank can hardly contain his excitement, as his tail wacks enthusiastically against the sides of his crate in the trunk of the car.
'Hank's just like me. If I'd a tail to wag with, I totally would,' Sara notes jokingly and Grissom bursts out in laughter.
'Be careful what you say there, you might not even like the surprise.'
'I'm sure I will,' she replies. 'Are you still not telling me where we're going?'
Grissom only smiles and keeps his eyes firmly on the road.
Sara's not willing to give in so easily. 'Come on, not even a hint? Anything you can give me?'
Grissom's not giving in and sends her a wink instead.
Giggling and shaking her head at his stubbornness, she looks outside the car window. Familiar roads and streets come and go as they pass by North Vegas Airport, Lone Mountain Village, Chatham Hills and beyond. Sara was right when it came to the weather. The sun is up high, shining bright and taking the December chill out of the air.
Las Vegas' built in a giant sand pit. That becomes clear as day as soon as they exit the city's borders.
Hank lets out an exciting whine as soon as sand appears on both sides of the road.
'It's okay buddy, not too long now,' Grissom tells his dog, still not letting anything on about where they're heading.
They continue driving in relative silence, sometimes making a comment on what they see along the way, but mostly they're both enjoying each other's presence.
Sara closes her eyes and sighs. Driving around in the car with her favorite person and favorite dog is all she needs. She could do this all day without getting bored.
As the road winds up a little more, there's a flimsy layer of snow appearing on the desert sand surrounding them. Sara opens her eyes again and notices something else looming up in front of them: Nevada's natural pride, snow capped and all. Finally, she begins to understand why Grissom asked her to wear layers. 'Mount Charleston!' she exclaims and things finally fall into place. 'You're taking us to Mount Charleston!'
An animated bark sounds from the trunk in response to Sara's loud realization.
'I knew you would find out before we'd get there,' Grissom admits and his lips curl up into a smile.
'Hold on though.' There's one thing that worries Sara a bit. 'Please don't tell me that I'll need to ski, because you know I can't…' He has surprised her so many times already today, that she has no idea what else to expect from him.
'You'll have to wait and see I'm afraid.'
'And you're enjoying this way too much!' she retorts and nudges his shoulder softly, careful not to distract him too much from driving.
When they enter the car park near Lee Canyon, Sara notices a lot of skiers and snowboarders with their gear heading the same way as them and she starts to worry again. 'Grissom, really, there's no way you can get me to try skiing. I would make a right fool out of myself or break a leg or something!'
'You'll see very soon,' he replies mysteriously as they walk further down the path that leads to the slopes.
While she wants to take his hand, it's pretty cold in the mountainous area and quickly she puts her hands in the pockets of her coat.
'Wait,' Grissom suddenly comes to a halt and opens his backpack. 'I've got your hat and a pair of winter gloves,' he explains when he hands her both items.
She gratefully takes the accessories from him and puts them on before slipping her hand into his.
'This is your stop buddy,' Grissom tells Hank when they get to the doggy day care service. 'Don't worry though, we come to collect you very soon! You don't need to stay here for the rest of the day.' He scratches the boxer behind the ears and Sara distractedly follows his lead, only thinking that the possibility of skiing now becomes a bit too real for.
The dog doesn't seem to care that they're leaving him at daycare, as he has found a few new dog friends in no-time and starts happily chasing them.
The pair say goodbye to him and continue walking until they get to the different cable cars. Grissom buys them both a ticket for the chairlift that should take them to the top. Sara still has no idea what they're going to do here. Maybe a ride on the cable car followed by the opportunity of taking in the views from the top? she contemplates. 'I've actually never been here,' she admits as they've entered the chairlift. 'I've never been on a chairlift either,' she adds looking down. A nervous giggle escapes her and she holds onto Grissom's hand a little firmer during the ascent.
Grissom squeezes her hand comfortingly. 'Do you like it though?'
Sara looks at him and sees the worrying look he gives her. 'Yes, I do! It's beautiful here,' she assures him. 'I can't believe I didn't visit any sooner, it's so very near to Vegas.'
The views from the chairlift indeed are breathtaking and the two happily take it all in.
Sara feels happier than she has ever felt before. Everything just feels right. All of her problems seem so meaningless and unimportant. She's actually managing to forget about them and that's a first. Her being with him here is all that matters, all else fades into the background.
'Did you know that Lee Canyon has a chipmunk species that's native to this area and only lives here?' Grissom asks.
Sara shakes her head.
'It's called the Palmer's chipmunk and Hank and I actually saw one last summer when we were taking a hike a bit further down in the mountains. Hank chased him away of course,' he adds.
'Of course he did,' Sara laughs. 'No small animal is safe for our overenthusiastic friend.' She turns her head to look at Grissom and notices that his mind has taken him somewhere else. 'Hey, what are you thinking about?'
He sighs. 'I love coming here,' he explains. 'I usually do when it's a bit quieter at work. Taking Hank out for a walk here in the valley or going fishing in the lake nearby. 'It's one of the places I most likely go to when I need time to think. Mount Charleston or Lake Mead.'
'You never told me,' she whispers. 'But I'm glad you're taking me here if this place means so much to you.' Every day she spends with Grissom it's like peeling off the layers that helps her come closer to the core.
He moves away some strands of hair from the side of her face and gives her a warm smile. 'I'm glad I can take you here.'
The trip takes much less time than Sara anticipated and they're up the top in record time. 'So, what's next?' she asks in full anticipation.
'Next on the program will be snow tubing…' Grissom announces, pointing at the snow tubes nearby. He looks at her expectantly, not sure how she'll react.
Sara sees the inflatable inner tubes that kids and adults alike use to slide down the snowy slopes, similar to how you'd use a sledge. 'Haha are you serious?' She laughs, but jumps with joy on the inside. Again Grissom had managed to surprise her. Big time. Gleefully she follows him to the entrance of the snow tube slope.
'Hi guys, it's just the two of you, yeah?'
Grissom and Sara nod at the same time in reply to the female operator of the snow tube track.
'I booked for two, under Grissom' Grissom adds.
The staff member looks for Grissoms' name on the list she's holding and when she's found it: 'Amazing, well you can take these two connected tubes. They are yours for the next hour. You can go up and down as often as you'd like within that time frame. There's a lift down the slope that takes you back up.' She points to her right where the snow tube lift is. 'Please do make sure to hold onto the handles at all times, keep your feet inside the tube, but most of all… Have fun!'
'Thanks, we will!' Sara replies and she feels a small squeeze Grissom's giving her.
Grissom lets Sara take the front tube and sits down in the one in the back himself. 'Ready?' he asks and she nods.
'Haha I can't believe we're actually doing this, but yes. YES! Let's go!'
For the next hour the two enjoy their time on the slope. Going slowly at first, but increasing speed the more often they use the tubes to go down.
Sara loves it. The cold wind in her hair, the adrenaline rush of going down the slope so quickly and just the fun of it. At times the snow splashes up and hits her in her neck or face, and she lets out a playful scream every time that happens. She's allowing herself to let go, to fully let go and enjoy herself. 'Come on, faster!' she encourages Grissom and he lets out a boisterous laugh.
'Sara, I love you!'