A/N: The second chapter! Enjoy!
Love Looks Not
Chapter 2
The sun was high and shade almost non-existent except that provided by a few scattered boulders. The landscape was sculpted of layers of sandstone rising high above the flower-covered basin. Sara found a sliver of shade while Grissom explored the field. She'd laughed as he mentioned bees and headed into the flowers, lunch forgotten for the moment.
He returned with a flushed face, removing his jacket as he sat on the blanket and accepted the bottle of water she offered. He said, "Bees are everywhere—amazing how they can find flowers from miles away." He took the sandwich and kept talking. "One day, someone is going to come up with a specific method to study where bees travel—they pick up everything in the air." He took a bite of his sandwich and with a surprised look, held it up.
Smiling, he said, "Well, look at this—it's heart shaped—and it's roast beef!" He held it in his hand, slowly turning it; his smile broadened to a wide good-humored grin. "A heart-shaped sandwich—who would have thought of this? Not the woman who insists she is 'not into' flowers and candy and celebrating some guy getting his head chopped off!"
Sara smirked, saying, "Gilbert…Eat." She spooned potato salad onto a small plate and handed him a fork.
After he took another bite of the sandwich, taking his time as he chewed slowly with a smile of amusement on his face, he said, "I think it's cute. And—I consider the roast beef a gift."
"I thought we could celebrate," said Sara. She pulled out the bottle of wine and filled two glasses, saying, "Happy Valentine's Day—with cheap wine."
"I should have brought chocolate." Grissom brushed his hands of crumbs and took the tumbler and sipped the wine. "Perfect with roast beef." He grinned and winked. "Happy Valentine's day, dear!"
When they finished their sandwiches and potato salad, Sara reached for fruit; Grissom picked up his jacket and ran his hands over it, as if he'd lost something. Finally, he unzipped a pocket and pulled out a small box.
"Happy day to us, dear."
Startled by his outstretched hand holding what was obviously a jewelry box, Sara, who had been busy peeling an orange, shook her head, saying, "We said no gifts."
"We said no candy, no flowers, no chocolate." Grissom's head nodded toward the field of flowers; his eyebrow lifted slightly. "You brought me to flowers—and bees." He kept his hand open. "Open it. I think you'll like it."
"I didn't buy you a gift."
Lifting his hand, indicating for her to take the small box, he said, "You made me a roast beef sandwich—in the shape of a heart. Two sandwiches." His mouth quirked in a lopsided grin. "That's a first—no one ever made me a heart-shaped sandwich."
When Sara hesitated, he added, "I'm going to open if it you don't—and I know what to do with it."
She knew it was a jewelry box; one of those slim rectangle expensive boxes that came with a bracelet or necklace inside. Tentatively, slow and careful, she took the box between her fingers, sliding her thumb along the edge. She wanted to shake it but decided that would be ill-mannered. Carefully, she flipped open the top, exposing white velvet quilted with silver threads. The sun glinted off the delicate links in the chain; small ovals hung like golden raindrops and gleamed in the bright afternoon sunlight.
For a long moment, she stared at the necklace.
Grissom ended up removing the necklace from its cradle and fastened it around Sara's neck. As her fingers kept touching it, softly, she said, "This—this is too much, Gil."
His hands were underneath her hair, wrapped gently around her neck. He said, "You should have one to wear every day" and kissed her lightly on her lips. With a chuckle, he added, "I know you like necklaces—and I plan to buy you enough to wear a different one for a week—or a month." Smiling, he kissed her again before adding, "You've turned my life inside out—right-side up—given me a reason to leave work, to sleep in on Saturdays—and do this."
Bringing his warm hands to her face, his thumb raked across her lips before he kissed her a third time and with this one, he possessed her with hungry, soul-stealing kisses. She responded until the world beyond vanished from awareness. There was only this place, this patch of Eden, sunny and quiet, blazing with unearthly color. The mixed scents of spring flowers, warm skin, caressing hands surrounded them.
Twined together, hands moving in deft tugs at clothing, rapidly developing into more…and then they heard an unexpected sound, a low rumble.
The sound echoed in the distance, reverberating on the surrounding mountains but they quickly broke apart.
"Thunder?" Sara asked, looking at the sky.
Grissom looked up, a few lazy clouds drifting overhead. "The clouds are moving—fast." He stood up and walked a few paces into a patch of wildflowers, swishing his hand over the blooming flowers. A moment later, he returned.
"We need to go—rain is coming," he said as he picked up the blanket. "The bees have vanished."
Sara grinned as she packed the picnic hamper, asking, "Can bees predict weather?"
With a chuckle, Grissom picked up the basket and wrapped the blanket under the handles. "Yes, they do. Especially heavy downpours—and while we were eating, they left!"
He and Sara looked around the area where they'd had the picnic, seeing nothing but flattened growth where they had sat on the blanket. Saying, "This field will flood—so let's make a fast get-away," Grissom held out his hand and took Sara's, pulling her into an embrace with a quick kiss.
Another rumble of thunder echoed, miles away, but there was a white glow on the edge of the mountains; lightning out of sight but moving in their direction.
Well rested, the two made good time, hearing the storm moving closer and smelling the dampness of incoming rain. As they reached the parking lot, the first fat rain drops pocked the pavement with loud splashes; the thunder rumbled closer.
Before Sara could unlock doors of the car, the lightning and thunder were on top of them; rain became harder. They were wet across their shoulders as they jumped into the front seats and slammed doors closed. Lightning split the sky around them.
Grissom said, "These storms can create a flood in minutes!"
For several minutes, they sat in silence, watching the storm as rain came in sheets of water. Lightning forked across the sky, occasionally sending a flash to the ground.
"Do bees really know when it's going to rain?"
Grissom chuckled, saying, "It is true—more accurate than the weather channel according to some. They can fly in rain, but will try to return to the hive before heavy rain—or huddle against trees or under vegetation."
"Amazing." Sara reached for Grissom's hand, asking, "When did you get interested in bugs?"
Lacing his fingers with hers, he said, "I've always liked bugs—I must have been four or five years old when my dad would remove insects from his plants. I'd save them in a jar or box and watch them for days. He—he always had a vegetable garden and he'd grow extra tomatoes for the insects. That's how I learned about the manduca quinquemaculata—the tomato hornworm turns into a beautiful moth."
Sara giggled. She said, "You haven't changed much from that excited four year old."
He grinned, saying, "Yeah, my mom was never a big fan of my bugs—sort of like you—she tolerated my enthusiasm."
For a few minutes, they watched as rain pounded the windows and the lightning and thunder moved east.
"You know, if we got a new condo, we could get one with garage parking—then we'd stay dry when it rained. We'll get soaked running to your apartment."
Sara laughed. "Does that mean you want an invitation to visit me?" Her fingers touched the necklace at her throat. "I think that's a good idea." She pressed the start button on her car. "I can think of several ways to make our day better."
"Yeah?" Grissom grinned as she put the car in gear and stepped on the gas pedal; causing a wake of waves as she left the parking lot.
A/N: Thank you for reading! We appreciate hearing from you...one more chapter to this story!