"You can't be serious-"
"This is a joke, right?"
"You can't leave Vegas – not now!"
Sara and Gil exchanged glances, before they turned again to meet the stunned faces of their teammates seated around the largest booth at Frank's Diner. They had gone out to celebrate Grissom's return to the lab, but the conversation had taken an awkward turn when they brought up their impending move.
"You can't take my godchildren away from me," Catherine pouted.
Sara sighed.
"Yeah, and we need the practice – you know for our own kids," Nick chimed in.
"Speak for yourself," Greg argued. "I plan to be a bachelor for a good many years yet-"
"What- you saying you don't want to find a nice girl, settle down, and have little lab rats?" Nick teased.
"You haven't said anything, Warrick," Gil nodded at the opposite end of the table where the man sat nursing a cup of coffee.
"I get it," Warrick spoke softly. "The Vegas life – it's not for everyone-"
"How can you say that?" Catherine gasped. "You're Vegas born and bred – the same as me-"
He nodded. "And they're not-" he motioned to Gil and Sara. "Vegas isn't in their blood, Cath – not like it's in ours. Have you ever thought of moving away?"
"Of course not-"
"Neither have I. Even with all the warts and the constant allure of gambling – this is home. I don't know that I'd feel that way anywhere else." He reached out and squeezed her hand. "Besides, you and Linds are here."
She grinned and squeezed back while Nick groaned.
"You're seriously going to leave Greg and I here alone with the two of them? I mean, you and Sara kept things professional but these two make goo-goo eyes at each other all the time, even at the lab-"
"We do not!"
"You know, Catherine," Sara teased. "I'm beginning to wonder if you came up with the relationship disclosure form to protect your relationship with Warrick, not for any other 'possible' future agent relationships-"
Catherine blushed. "I never said I didn't have an ulterior motive –"
Everyone around the table laughed and pretended not to notice as Warrick and Catherine's clasped hands disappeared beneath the table.
Warrick spoke up. "So, Gris, are we celebrating your first and last day at the lab?"
Gil shook his head. "No, I plan to stay until the day Sara delivers – when she brings our babies home from the hospital, I'll leave the lab."
"Whoa, wait a minute-" Nick held up a hand. "Did you say 'babies' – as in more than one? Are you guys having twins?"
Sara and Catherine shared a private smile before she turned to her husband and gave him a slight nod.
"Actually, Sara and I are having triplets."
For a moment, it was so quiet, the group could have heard a rolling pin being dropped in the kitchen. But then everyone erupted with exclamations of surprise and joy, leaning across the table to kiss Sara's cheek and slap Gil on the back. Sara's cheeks pinked up and she felt one of the babies inside her belly give a little kick.
"Well, that explains why she's getting so big!" Greg laughed. "I just thought she was eating too much food-"
"Greg!" Sara and Catherine exclaimed.
Warrick shook his head. "Never call a pregnant woman 'fat', G."
"I didn't say fat, I said 'big'."
Sara rolled her eyes. "It's the same thing." She stuffed a huge bite of pancake in her mouth and swallowed, grinning at their expressions. "But I am eating for four-"
"And she is eating a perfectly healthy amount," Gil defended his wife, leaning in to press a kiss against her temple.
"Does Ecklie know?" Catherine asked.
"About us leaving the lab or the triplets?" Gil queried.
The redhead shrugged. "Either – both?"
Gil took a sip of coffee before answering. "Not yet. I wanted to be back at work for a few weeks, get caught up on some of the backlogged paperwork before we scheduled a meeting with Conrad and McKeen."
"I think it's important to give them as much notice as possible that we're leaving, especially for Gil's position," Sara added, dragging her final bite of pancake through the puddle of syrup on her plate. "I think Ecklie expects me to pop this kid out and come back to work in six weeks-"
Warrick frowned. "But you're having triplets-"
"Exactly – and he doesn't know that." Sara popped the bite in her mouth and chewed slowly before swallowing. "I'd like to think it will make a difference when he knows – but I don't think it will. Knowing Conrad, he'll offer me a few more weeks maternity leave and that's it." Her hand drifted down and rubbed her belly. "I can't do it – I can't leave them with strangers – I have to be there – I want to be there every day." She searched each one of her team member's faces. "You do understand, don't you?"
Catherine, Warrick, Nick, and Greg nodded almost in unison.
"So, where are you moving?" Catherine asked after a beat, sniffling.
Sara looked at Gil, who took up the answers. "We're not sure yet – I've heard back from some contacts in California and Arizona-"
"Arizona?" Nick echoed. "You'd stay in the desert after everything that happened with-"
Gil gave the younger agent a small smile of understanding. "Arizona isn't Vegas, Nicky, and besides – the best bugs live in the desert."
Wednesday, November 26
It still felt strange to be back in the lab, in his office, after everything that had happened.
When he returned to work a little over two months ago, he was surprised to see that his plants, bugs, and insect larvae were still alive and healthy, thriving under someone's loving care. He could only assume it was his wife as no one else on his team had ever volunteered to take care of his experiments and specimens before she had arrived on the scene all those years ago. And in the beginning, Sara had been squeamish about it – claiming that there were certain tasks she would never do. But looking around at his specimens and pets, he was pleased. Sara had done an excellent job in his absence.
"Gil."
He turned at the sound of his name and tried to swallow the smile that threatened to engulf his entire face. Sara was coming through his door, her very pregnant belly preceding the rest of her, a slight frown on her face as she scanned the printout in front of her.
"This doesn't make any sense-" she stopped as she looked up and caught him ogling her. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
"No – just – you look beautiful, Sara."
She rolled her eyes. "You need to put your glasses on – there's something wrong with your vision. My ankles are swollen to twice their size and I'm waddling like a duck. I'm wearing your coveralls because they are the only ones that will fit over my belly, and I hope you're not hungry because I've already eaten your lunch as well as mine."
He chuckled as he came to her side and peered over her shoulder. "I'll run out and pick us up something later. Now, what has you so confused?"
Once they had deciphered the lab report, he sent her on her way with a quick kiss and settled in to work on the never-ending pile of paperwork. He attempted to focus but his mind kept wandering to what was going on in his personal life.
The meeting with Conrad two months ago hadn't gone as smoothly as they had hoped, but it had been an excellent idea to invite McKeen to act as a buffer. The man had been ecstatic when they shared the news about the triplets and had been firmly in Sara's corner, declaring that of course she should retire from the lab and stay home to take care of them. Conrad had been livid at the news but there wasn't much he could say in front of HIS boss. When Gil shared his own news to take early retirement and leave the lab as well, both men were shocked. McKeen recovered faster, giving both of them his blessing, but Conrad was irate. For two weeks he refused to believe Gil, then he refused to accept his early retirement plan, and now for over a month, he hadn't said a word to either of them, which was nothing Sara was overly upset about.
Sara had contacted McKeen a month ago, telling him that she planned to stay working in the lab for as long as she felt up to it. Her physical condition prevented her from going out in the field anymore, but she stayed by Gil's side in the lab, processing evidence and helping him fill out paperwork.
Dr. Nivers had warned them that their trips could arrive four to six weeks early – which meant any day now they could be parents.
His desk phone rang, startling him out of his thoughts. "Grissom."
"Uncle G! This is Paulie – you know, your old friend Paul's son – from the body farm?"
"Paulie!" Gil grinned. "It's great to hear from you! Your dad said you might be calling me – he said that you're working on a project and could maybe use my help."
"Boy, could I ever! Look, I don't want to overstep, so I want to make sure I've got this right and you're finally ready to leave the lab? Head off on a new adventure with that stunning wife of yours?"
"Not just my wife – she's pregnant with triplets."
"Wow, Uncle G! Dad didn't tell me – how cool! Well, maybe you aren't interested in relocating just now-"
"We are looking to move, it would just be a few months down the road – maybe in the summer? Sara's due any day now, and we'd want the trips to have a few months to grow, get healthy and strong, before I move the family, and I wouldn't leave them here, without me."
"Of course. Well, actually, summer arrival works out great. Did my dad tell you what I'm doing now?"
"Only that you're working with the criminal science department at New Mexico University."
"I'm actually the head of the department – and it's brand new. We're still outfitting the faculty and filling in the program. It's going to educate future criminologists, forensic scientists, pathologists, and hopefully partner with the local police academies."
Gil whistled. "That's a very ambitious program you're spearheading, Paulie. Where exactly do you see me fitting in?"
"I've acquired some acreage about forty miles outside of Albuquerque, in a small town called Sedillo, in a canyon, to create a body farm. I'd like you, and Sara when your kids are older, to run it."
"A body farm?" he echoed, as his mind raced with the possibilities.
"Yes, one privately owned and funded by the University. Students enrolled in the criminal science department would make field trips out there two or three times a term, graduate students possibly more, and local LEO's would have use of it as well. I know you helped fund and raise the body farm that my dad runs a few hours from Vegas, so when I told him about this project and my need for a manager, we both thought of you. What do you think – are you interested?"
"I'd need to talk all this over with Sara, and get more details – but yes, I'm very interested."
"Great! I'll call you back tomorrow- oh wait, that's Thanksgiving, isn't it? How about I call you back on Sunday? Does that give you enough time to talk things over with Sara?"
"Sunday's good. I'm blown away that you thought of me, Paulie. Surely there are younger, more qualified-"
"Uncle G, you've got to be kidding! I remember digging with you in the dirt at the farm when I was ten years old – you sparked the fire in me for this kind of work. There is no one else I'd rather have on my team. We'll talk more Sunday- oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!"
"Happy Thanksgiving, Paulie!"
Gil hung up the phone and stared into space, wondering at how the universe had a way of working things out sometimes. He got to his feet and moved towards the door to find Sara, only to have the object of his search appear in front of him, out of breath, panting slightly.
"Sara! You'll never guess who – honey? What is it – what's wrong?" He grabbed her elbows to steady her as he scanned her up and down, noticing the wet spot on the lower portion of his coveralls. "Sara-"
She nodded, her pants increasing. "My water just broke."
I'm never doing this again. Even if there was only one baby in there – twenty hours of labor, pain, pushing, sweat, and exhaustion – I'm never doing this again.
But when it was all over and Sara held three tiny, wrapped bundles in her arms, and she looked down into each one of their red wrinkled faces, her heart melted, and she forgot all that came before.
"I can't believe you're all finally here," she whispered, her finger tracing each of their faces one by one. "And yes, I'd do it again."
"Do what again?" Gil whispered as he approached the bed from the window where he had been texting the group waiting anxiously outside.
She leaned her head wearily against him. "All of it – the whole pregnancy and labor pain to have another-"
He jumped away. "You want a fourth, Sara? Twin girls and a boy aren't enough?"
She giggled. "No – they are – it was just- listen, when I was going through it – I was thinking 'this is hell and I'm never doing it again' – but look-" she nodded down at the wrapped trio. "Look what we made, Gil."
He nodded, his eyes growing moist. "Can I hold one of our children now?"
She sighed. "I've been hogging them, I suppose." She shifted her boy away from his sisters. "Here, take Ethan."
Gil picked up the tiny bundle in trembling hands. "Hello, Son. I'm your dad."
A knock on the door preceded the arrival of Jim and Catherine who were the first to see the triplets.
"What are their names?" Catherine whisper demanded as she rocked one of the girls in her arms.
Sara beamed. "Well, you are holding your namesake, Emma Catherine, and I have her twin sister, Eden Cynthia."
Catherine made faces at the baby in her arms before frowning. "Wait – Cynthia? Isn't that the name of your therapist?"
Gil nodded. "She helped both of us in ways we can never repay. Sara started seeing her a couple of years before we got together – did you know she advised Sara to let me go –to quit the lab and find another job?"
Catherine gasped and looked at Sara, who nodded.
"She thought it was emotionally unhealthy for me to stay in a work environment where I was pining after Grissom," Sara explained. "Good thing I didn't listen, or I'd never have these wonderful babies."
"And you decided to name your daughter after her because?" Catherine asked, her brow drawn down in confusion.
"Because she helped Sara with her demons – which helped her be ready to make a move on me. And years later, she helped me with my own demons."
"Natalie."
Gil nodded.
Jim cleared his throat. "And what about your son? What's his name?"
"Well-" Gil crossed to his old friend's side and gently placed the wrapped bundle in his arms. "Meet Ethan James Grissom."
Jim swallowed. "Gil – you didn't have to – why me?"
Gil clapped a hand on Jim's shoulder. "Because you are my friend – and the closest thing Sara has to a father."
Jim's eyes grew moist as he slowly walked over to Sara's bedside. "After Ellie – I never thought I'd have the chance to be a father again-"
Sara leaned up and kissed his weathered cheek. "Now you have three more reasons to come visit after we move."
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Like I needed more reasons, Pumpkin."
8 MONTHS LATER (Mid-July)
"Come on, cricket – one bite for Daddy? It's your favorite-" Gil held out the spoonful of pureed plums to his baby girl, Eden. She pursed her tiny lips and turned her head away, her eyes filling with tears. "Sweetie, what's wrong?"
Sara walked into the kitchen, balancing Ethan and Emma on opposite hips. "What's going on? Why isn't Edie eating?"
"I don't understand it – I opened her favorite, pureed plums-"
"Plums?" Sara sighed. "Did I forget to tell you? She has a new favorite now – apricots."
Gil groaned as he got to his feet and went over to the cupboard. "I told you to always keep their food chart up-to-date, Sara. I can't keep up with their food preferences since they all started eating solid foods."
"I'd hardly call pureed food 'solid'-"
He shot her a dark look as he found the preferred food. "You know what I mean. When they were all on breast milk and formula, things were much simpler. Now their individual taste buds are developing, and I need a cheat sheet to keep track of Edie's apricots and Ethan's turkey and Emma's-"
Sara stepped close, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. "This really isn't about our children's food preferences, is it?"
"What do you mean?" He stepped around her and resumed his seat in front of Edie's highchair.
"I know you're anxious about going to see Natalie later today," Sara said as she placed Ethan and Emma in their own chairs, making sure they were strapped in before turning back to her husband.
He didn't answer his wife, instead choosing to be completely absorbed in feeding his daughter. Edie's whimpers turned to excited squeals as soon as she spied her favorite food. Gil was making faces at her as the spoonful of apricots approached her mouth and Edie opened like a baby bird, eagerly chomping down with delight.
Not wanting to spoil the precious father-daughter moment, Sara decided to let the subject of Natalie Davis rest until after lunch, when their babies would be down for their afternoon nap.
After the trips were cleaned up and dressed in fresh clothes, Gil gathered them in his lap for story time, reading until they fell asleep. Sara listened to the rise and fall of his voice over the baby monitor as she washed dishes and sprayed down the highchairs in the kitchen. As soon as she heard him call her name, she went to the converted office space which they had turned into a nursery. Sara and Gil put them into the two cribs that had been gifts from the team, and Sara slowly backed out of the room, leaving Gil to watch them sleep for a while.
He found her later curled up with a book and a cup of tea on their bed.
"Tired?" he asked from the doorway.
She shrugged one shoulder. "I guess I still follow Dr. Nivers' advice that when they're resting, I should be too."
He came and sat on the edge of the bed, sliding his hand towards her, palm up. Sara took it, lacing their fingers together. "It's good advice. Sara, about earlier-"
"Yes?"
"You're right – I am nervous about going to see her – especially after all this time."
"Then don't go. We're leaving in two days – moving away and starting over – Natalie Davis is behind us-"
He gripped her hand tighter. "That's exactly why I need to do this. I need the closure – for me, for us. Do you understand?"
She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "I wish I could come with you-"
He shook his head. "No, I don't want you going back to that place – not after the last time." He lifted a hand, his finger tracing the faint scar on the side of her neck. "That place has ghosts for you – I couldn't protect you back then – but I can protect you now."
"Gil-" she choked out his name. "Promise me you won't let her get in your head? You've come so far-"
He cupped her face. "Sara- she's in a catatonic state – I'll be doing all the talking."
"Just-" she swallowed. "Just remember that we're waiting for you. Come home to us, Gil."
"I promise."
Her eyes darted to the side, to the small clock on the nightstand, before coming back to his face. "We still have time for you to love me before you need to go-"
"Sara-"
She pressed her lips to his and felt his hands leave her face to cup her shoulders, pulling herself into his body. She silently prayed that the trips would continue to sleep as her husband's touch lit her skin on fire.
"I am still not convinced that this is a wise decision."
Gil and Dr. Cynthia Dobrinski sat in the small office of Dr. Liesel Rothum, located just off the main hallway inside the Desert State Mental Hospital.
Gil hadn't been inside this facility in three years, not since the case where Sara had been trapped inside the nurses' station with a patient armed with a sharpened pottery shard. She'd been lucky to come away from that night with only a scar and more nightmares.
He was glad to see that there had been some improvements since his last visit. Dr. Rothum was now in charge, and her strict by the book German ways seemed to have had a positive influence on staff and patients. The nurses' station was locked at all times, staff were put through a vigorous background check, and the patients' morale seemed to be faring better overall.
As a result, Dr. Rothum had not wanted Gil to come and see Natalie at all. She had fought the visit for months, claiming that it would further damage her mental health. She and Dr. Dobrinski had gone several rounds by email and phone, Cynthia being a strong advocate for Gil's mental and emotional health. In the end, Dr. Rothum had agreed to a short ten-minute visit, but now it seemed she was having second thoughts.
"Dr. Rothum, we had an agreement-" Cynthia began but the German doctor interrupted her.
"I do not think I would go so far as to call it an agreement – but even so, I am having second thoughts. Natalie is in a very fragile mental state of mind-"
Gil leaned forward, keeping his voice low and non-threatening. "Has she come out of her catatonic state?"
Dr. Rothum frowned. "No, her condition is unchanged."
"Then I don't see how my seeing her for a few minutes would harm her."
"Dr. Grissom, I must think of my patient first. Surely you can understand that."
"And I must think of my patient's emotional well-being," Cynthia put in.
"What Natalie Davis put Gil through-"
He held up a hand, signaling for silence. "What if I give you my word not to talk about her crimes – or what she did to me?"
Dr. Rothum sat back in her chair. "You would do this?"
"Gil-" Cynthia shook her head. "I don't see how that could accomplish anything-"
"Doctors," he nodded at each one in turn. "I'm here today as a private citizen – for my own healing. I'm not here on behalf of the LVPD to arrest Natalie or to try and coerce a confession from her. I simply want to talk to her."
Dr. Rothum stood up and motioned towards the hall. "You can have your ten minutes, Dr. Grissom – but I warn you – I will be watching."
She looked younger and yet, somehow older beyond her years.
Someone had washed and braided her hair; it hung down her back like a golden tail. She was dressed in dark blue scrubs, and her fingernails had a coat of clear fingernail polish. She was sitting in a chair off in a corner of the common area, facing a barred window, her eyes wide and unfocused.
"Hello, Natalie."
The sound of his voice elicited no reaction and Gil studied her still form for a full minute before he drew up a chair and sank into it, sitting next to her and watching the slow, even rhythm of her breathing.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it? Over a year, in fact. I can see that you are being well-cared for here. I'm glad – the last time I visited this place, I wasn't that impressed. I'm happy to see that Dr. Rothum has made some much-needed improvements."
He glanced over his shoulder to see Dr. Rothum and Cynthia watching him from the doorway. He also knew there were cameras in here – did they have audio or just picture? Could they hear what he was saying?
He leaned closer and dropped his voice. "Even though this is a nice place - much nicer than prison – it's still a cage. And it must be so hard to keep up the pretense all the time. To let other people dress you, feed you, bathe you – and just lie there impassively – not reacting – I don't know how you've done it for so long."
He paused and watched her breathing – was there a slight increase or was it his imagination?
"And you must be bored out of your mind! Not able to talk to anyone ever – about anything – help them understand – that it was all because you loved your father so much-"
There it was.
Natalie took a quick intake of breath, and her right hand shook slightly.
Gil had his proof that she was faking her catatonia – but it was anyone's guess for how long she had been playing everyone for fools.
"I'm leaving Vegas – soon I'll be out of your reach – I'm free but you're still here, trapped in your gilded cage-" his breath caught in his throat as for just a second, her eyes focused on his, the hate in them rendering him speechless.
"Dr. Grissom, your time is up."
Dr. Rothum stood behind Natalie's chair, breaking the moment. When he looked at her again, Natalie's gaze was wide and unfocused, no visible change from the past year.
"Good-bye, Natalie."
There was no response and he walked away, pondering what to do. He had gotten the closure he needed, as well as proved to himself that Natalie was an excellent actress. Did it matter where she was locked up? She was criminally insane – perhaps the mental hospital was the best place for her, even if she one day she decided to 'recover'.
He couldn't do it. He was still a forensic scientist, and this was his last case.
"Dr. Rothum?" he asked, turning to the physician as they reached her office doorway.
"Yes?"
"I think you should know; Natalie Davis is faking her catatonia."
Dr. Rothum visibly bristled. "With all due respect, Dr. Grissom, you are not a physician-"
"No, but I am a scientist. When I was talking to Natalie, her breathing increased, her right hand shook, and she locked eyes with me – for just a few moments."
Dr. Rothum crossed her arms. "I do not know what you think you saw-"
"Are there cameras in the common area – ones that can get a front angle of Natalie when I'm talking to her? Then you don't simply have to take my word for it."
"Well, yes-"
"Then I suggest you check the tapes after I leave. You might be surprised by what you find."
Nick looked around the empty townhouse. "I can't believe it's really happening – you're really leaving Vegas."
Catherine buried her face in Emma's neck and the baby batted her head. "I can't bear it – can't you leave her here with me?"
Sara laughed as she snapped Edie's onesie closed. "You'd have a hard time convincing Gil to leave one of his girls behind-"
The sound of Gil's laughter preceded him down the steps from the bedroom. "And you wouldn't mind?" He appeared, bouncing Ethan on his hip. "Just leaving one of our kids here?"
She smiled, shaking her head. "They're all coming with us."
There was a knock on the front door and then Greg burst in, carrying boxes and Jim followed behind holding a huge plant.
"Yes! Time to christen my new bachelor pad!"
Nick groaned. "Gris, I can't believe you guys agreed to rent the townhouse to G!"
"Aw, you're just jealous you didn't think of asking them first!" Greg teased, going over and tousling Nick's head. "You know, they turned the office space into a second bedroom – you wanna be my roommate?"
"It's a nursery, Greggo-" Warrick laughed.
"Right now, sure, but with a fresh coat of paint and a twin bed-"
"Hold on!" Nick held out his hand. "You serious?"
"Why not? We'll have to share the bathroom but-" Greg shrugged. "You in?"
"Hell yeah!"
Greg and Nick did a frat boy handshake and chest thump.
"BACHELOR PAD!" They cried, the rest of the group breaking up in laughter.
Sara leaned her head on Gil's shoulder. "Aw, I always knew those two would get together."
Nick shot her a dark look. "Knock it off, Sara."
She giggled. "You know you'll miss me when I'm gone."
He draped an arm around her shoulder and squeezed. "More than you'll ever know." He then took Edie out of her arms and cuddled her close.
Gil drew Sara to his side, Ethan reaching up to touch his mother's face. "Our decision to leave Vegas wasn't an easy one, I hope you all know that. Each and every one of you mean a great deal to us – you've helped us so much with the trips – and before that, we were, well-" he cleared his throat and looked down at Sara, lost for words.
She squeezed his waist, nodding. "We're family – no matter where we go, we'll always be family."
"Damn it, Sara," Greg swore. "I promised myself I wasn't going to cry-"
She giggled as Greg tackled her in a bear hug, lifting her off the ground. Then everyone was talking at once, hugging, laughing, and promising to stay in touch.
Eventually Gil stepped back and glanced at his watch. "It's time to get on the road."
Sara nodded and held out her arms for her babies and more tears were shed.
"Warrick, you ready?" Gil asked.
"Right behind you, Gil."
The boys had drawn straws to see who got the privilege and pleasure of driving the moving van to Sedillo, New Mexico. Catherine had stayed out of the draw since she was now the night shift supervisor and had two green CSI's training under her. Warrick drew the short straw and was taking a week's vacation time to help get the Grissom family set up in temporary housing before returning to Vegas.
"Hey," Catherine grabbed his arm. "Don't you get any ideas about staying longer – I expect to see your ass back in the lab in a week-"
He looped his long arms around her waist. "Don't you worry, Red. I'm Vegas born and bred. Besides – I know my girls are here waiting for me."
She pulled his head down to her lips, murmuring the words just before his mouth covered hers. "And don't you forget it."
There was a flurry of final good-byes along with promises to text/call once they got safely to Sedillo and then Catherine, Jim, Greg, and Nick were standing on the sidewalk waving as the Grissom family pulled out in their loaded down Sedan with Warrick following behind, driving the large moving truck.
Gil looked at Sara over his sunglasses just before they merged onto the highway. "Regrets, Mrs. Grissom?"
She sighed. "It's always hard leaving a familiar place – friends, family, places you know and love. But I did it once before, you know. For you, in fact – remember?"
"Ah yes, you said something like 'why do you think I moved to Vegas in the first place'?"
"Exactly."
He frowned. "Sara – did you really move to Vegas for me?"
She giggled. "Well, of course, you asked me to join your team, Gil."
"And if I hadn't?"
"I – well – I guess I hadn't thought of that. I suppose I would have gone home and found another way. I always knew I wanted to be where you were, Gil."
"So, it wasn't the allure of the Vegas lights?"
She laughed outright. "Nope – it was definitely you."
"I got us some traveling music." He grinned and slipped a CD into the player.
The dulcet tones of Elvis came over the speakers and for a few moments Sara listened in silence until the famous singer crooned out the lines:
"There's a thousand pretty women waitin' out there.
And they're all livin' the devil may care.
And I'm just the devil with love to spare, so
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas"
She turned to look at her husband, her mouth open in a silent gasp, trying to pretend that she was shocked.
"Gilbert!"
He locked eyes with her, his expression deadpan.
"What? Too soon?"
A/N: Just the epilogue to go! Drop me a line in review!