Disclaimer: See chapter 20.
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23
When she stepped up to the door of his townhouse, she just stared at it for a few moments. 'Was this really happening?' She'd dreamt about this day for years, and now it was finally here. She could walk into Grissom's townhouse and call it her home. With a shaky hand she unlocked the door with the key that she'd already added to her key chain. She walked in and felt butterflies swarm in her stomach. Darkness filled the room but she was saved from having to grope for light switches by the faint glow of a lamp that was lit on a table near the door. Underneath the light were a note and another small box that matched the one she'd found in her locker at the beginning of shift. After closing the door and flipping on some more lights, she set down her bags and picked up the note. 'Welcome home.' Inside the box were another small note and a charm in the shape of a key. The note read, 'This key not only represents the key to your new home, but also to my heart.'
Her nerves almost immediately calmed. This was their home. With a smile on her face, she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, which was almost as empty as the one at her apartment, and headed upstairs to unpack.
After his short trip to the grocery store he got home to find the empty box on the table and both notes missing. He had the urge to yell, 'Honey, I'm home,' but resisted in case she had already gone to sleep. He'd dreamt many times about coming home to her and his dream was finally coming true. Somewhere in their home the woman he was going to marry was waiting for him. With that in mind he quickly put the few groceries away and headed upstairs with a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Halfway up he heard the sound of the shower coming from the bathroom. Walking into the bedroom, he found her unpacked bags on the closet floor and the empty space he'd made scattered with various outfits. Part of him wanted to go through the drawers he'd known he left for her, but he wanted to give her a piece of privacy. Instead, he set the bowl of ice cream on one of the nightstands and pulled a pair of cotton shorts from his dresser.
He quickly finished changing when he heard the water shut off. A few minutes later the door cracked open and a flood of steam floated into the bedroom. Along with that came the intoxicating scent of her shampoo, which he would eternally associate with her. It was amazing how the simple act of not wearing perfume made the fragrance of one's shampoo so aromatic.
He was turning down the bed when he heard her voice behind him, "Hi."
Slowly, as if to savor the moment, he turned, "Hello. Feeling better?" He couldn't help but think how cute she was in her oversized t-shirt and a towel wrapped around her head like a turban.
She walked across the room straight into his waiting arms, "I do now."
"I brought up a bowl of ice cream for you."
"Mmm. Thanks."
"You eat. I'll be right back."
He walked toward the still steamy bathroom, only to be stopped by the sound of her voice, "Which side do you want?"
With a confused look, he turned, "Side?"
"Of the bed. Which side do you want?"
Shaking his head, "Uh, I've…never shared a bed with anyone. So, I guess the choice is yours. But I do like to sleep on my right side if that helps."
When he emerged from the bathroom, which now had a definite feminine touch, he found her curled up on the right side of the bed finishing her bowl of ice cream. "I'll take this side, so when you sleep in your right side you're facing me. That okay?"
"Sounds good to me." He crawled into bed beside her, "Do you want to watch television?"
"I'm kinda tired. I think I'll just go to sleep. But it won't bother me if you do."
"No, sleep sounds good." After the lights were out, with Sara snuggled up to his side, "Sweet dreams, Hun."
"Night, Gris."
His phone rang a few hours later, and when he saw Jim's name on the caller ID, he very reluctantly answered, "Grissom."
"Hey, Gil, Jim. Any way you could come in a couple hours early?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Well…"
"I'll be there in a half hour."
After giving him the information, "You want me to call in some help?"
He glanced at Sara, still curled up to his side, "No, I'll take care of it." With a click of the phone, he sighed.
"I need a shower first. And coffee…definitely coffee."
He chuckled, "I didn't think you were awake."
"I'm not."
Still laughing, "I'll go in now, then you can meet me when you're ready, okay? I'll leave the info on the counter by the coffee pot."
With her eyes still closed, "Kay. Love you. Drive safe."
"I love you too, Hun."
Within seconds of leaving her side, a chill ran down his spine. When he left her, he left part of himself now. She was a part of him and he a part of her. They were two halves that made a whole. After quickly getting ready and pouring a cup of coffee to go, he walked out the front door, with another wave of emptiness. It was funny how quickly his townhouse had gone from the place he lived, to his home. Home was definitely where the heart was, and his heart was with Sara. With a bounce in his step, he headed for the crime scene to busy himself while he waited for his love.