Chapter 3

The image before Grissom that morning stole his breath. Sara was still curled in his arms. Her hair had fallen onto her face. The strap from her tank top had fallen to her arm, exposing her shoulder. He could see her chest rise and fall as she inhaled and exhaled slowly, delicately. She looked at peace, something he hadn't in her sleep for some time. He dipped his head down and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her shoulder blade. His hand whisked the hair from her face before finding its way under her top and to the flat of her stomach. He stroked her stomach with his thumb, enjoying the feeling of her bare skin. His hand stopped its caressing to pull her closer. When she stirred, he propped himself up on his elbow and watched her roll onto her back towards him. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled contentedly. "Mmm, morning."

Grissom leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Good morning Sara." Sara's eyes flickered open and shut. She looked up at him. His right hand moved and brushed the hair around her face. His voice was a soft whisper. "You're beautiful."

Sara continued to gaze up at him. She licked her lips. Quickly, his head swept down and his mouth was on hers, catching her in a searing kiss. Sara's arms came up around his neck. Her hands combed through the hair on the back of his head as she deepened the kiss. When they broke apart, Grissom pulled her to him and skimmed his fingers up and down her arm. He stared deeply into her eyes. His gaze intense, causing her to swallow air as she returned the stare. "Do you think we could stay here all day?"

Grissom smiled wistfully. "I wish we could stay here forever, but I think we might get hungry and we don't have any food. We should get some groceries."

Sighing, Sara turned towards Grissom. She cuddled into his chest. "I guess you're right. Um, how much groceries do we need…I mean…I didn't ask, but how long are you…we…staying here for?"

"I booked for four nights. It's all I could get away for right now."

"Oh, uh, great." Grissom looked over at Sara. She sounded unsure of her self.

"Something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing. I'm actually a little relived. I half expected you to say only one more night."

Grissom chuckled and gave Sara a quick peck on the lips. "This place requires you book three nights minimum.

Sara's smile spread wide across her face. She pushed herself up into sitting position. "So, food?"

Grissom pushed himself up so he was sitting next to her on the bed. He grasped her hand. "Yeah. I thought we'd drive to the village, have breakfast in one of the cafés there, get some groceries and come back here."

He moved off the bed and began dressing. Sara followed after him. "That sounds wonderful."

Sara handed Grissom her keys as they moved to the car. The drive to the village was quiet. They parked at the grocery store and walked, holding hands, to find a café. They had only walked a couple blocks when they saw a small café with fresh, enticing aromas coming from within. Sara led Grissom inside. They ordered coffee and croissants and sat down at a small bistro table to enjoy their food. While sipping her coffee, Sara gazed at the village through the window. "This place is beautiful Griss. The snow is so refreshing."

Grissom beamed across the table. "Maybe, after we drop off groceries, we can do a little exploring."

"I'd like that." Sara finished sipping her coffee and took one last bite of her croissant. She stood, extending her hand to Grissom. He grinned as he grasped her hand and allowed her to pull him up. When she turned to walk out the door, he stopped her. Tugging on her arm, he pulled her back to him. He cupped her chin, leaned forward and placed a long chaste kiss on her lips. Sara closed her eyes, reveling in the moment. When she opened them, Grissom was leading her to the door.

In the grocery store, they grabbed a basket and began loading the bare essentials for groceries. Grabbing coffee, tea, milk, various fruits, bagels, cream cheese, salmon, potatoes, some spices, cheese, crackers, mushrooms, and zucchini. They also picked up a couple bottles of wine before driving back to the cabin.

After unloading the groceries, Sara plopped down one of the sofas in the living room. Grissom followed and kneeled in front of her. "Tired."

She turned to face him. "A little. Grocery shopping sure takes it out of you."

"We can do the exploring later if you want to stay here and rest." He stroked her cheek. She leaned into his touch.

"Okay. Let's rest here for an hour, then go." She pulled his hand from his face and held it in both her hands. She sat up. "I want to try that Jacuzzi."

"Alright." Grissom stood up and pulled Sara with him. She dropped his hand and moved to the hall. She looked back over her shoulder and spoke seductively. "You know Gilbert, that Jacuzzi is built for two." She turned back and headed down the hall before she could see Grissom raise his eyebrows and follow her.

Sara had shed her coat and was about to open the bathroom door when Grissom reached her in the master bedroom. She stopped when she felt two hands on her waist pull her back. Holding her with one arm around the stomach, Grissom brushed aside her hair and began feathering the back of her neck with kisses. Sara lifted her arms over her head as Grissom pulled her shirt off. Still holding her around the stomach, he reached around her with his free hand and opened the bathroom door. When she turned to face him, he pulled her in for a deep kiss. Releasing her, he walked into the bathroom, moved to the tub and filled the bath. They shed the remainder of their cloths and stepped into the hot bath.

Sara leaned her back against Grissom's chest as they let the jets of the Jacuzzi wash over them. He held her in his arms enjoying the feel of her soft, wet skin against him. He shut his eyes. In that moment, he wondered if he could ever be away from her again. "Sara, there is an eclipse tonight. How about we watch it from the hot tub?"

Sara turned her head and kissed his cheek. "Sounds perfect." She turned her head back around and snuggled deeper into Grissom. She closed her eyes and took pleasure in the sensation of Grissom's arms holding her naked form and the massaging jets around her.

Wrinkled, Grissom stepped out of the bath and wrapped a towel around his waist. He held open another towel for Sara. When she stepped into it, he enveloped her in a hug. They dressed and set about exploring.

Grissom and Sara strolled about the village, taking pleasure in window shopping. They came across a video store and decided to rent a couple of movies for later. Continuing down the picturesque streets, they came upon a charming little bookstore. After browsing for almost an hour, they picked out some literature and headed back to the cabin.

When they arrived back, Grissom lit the BBQ and began to make garlic roasted potatoes. He threw the salmon onto the BBQ and cooked to the zucchini. When dinner was almost finished cooking, he set the table in the dinning room, uncorked one of the bottles of wine, and served Sara dinner. They ate peacefully, enjoying the chance to share a meal privately again.

When the meal was finished, they shed their cloths, donned their bathing suits and made their way to the hot tub. Grissom pulled Sara to his lap as they looked out over the water and took in the spectacular snow capped mountains. The moon was full and shining brightly over the water. They mountains formed a light fortress around the lake.

As the eclipse began, Sara slipped off Grissom and squeezed in behind him. She wrapped her long legs around his waist. Slowly, he rubbed his hands along her legs. Her arms made their way around his neck. She leaned over his shoulder to watch the eclipse begin. His hands continued to stroke the length of her legs. He leaned back against her and watched the breath-taking scene in the sky above them.

When the moon was completely covered by the earth's shadow and giving off the brilliant red hue, Sara's excitement overwhelmed her. Her arms moved from his neck, to under his arm pits and onto his chest. She stroked his pectoral muscles and pulled him harder against her body, wrapping her legs tighter. Grissom fought the urge to turn and take Sara right there, knowing it wasn't the time. As the eclipse passed and slivers of the moon could be seen again, growing fuller before their eyes, Sara relaxed and her arms moved back to Grissom's shoulders, gently massaging them as he relaxed into her.

After sitting in the hot tub for two and a half hours to watch the eclipse, they dried off and put on their pajamas. Sara moved to one of the sofas as Grissom placed Sara's choice of movie into the DVD player. He held her as they watched Roxanne. When that movie finished, Sara slipped off the sofa and put in Grissom's choice of movie. She slithered back up his body and into his arms. They only made it half way through The Thin Man, when Sara fell asleep. Not wanting to wake her, Grissom pulled her tighter into his arms, closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep on the sofa.

They both woke only a couple hours later, sore and slightly uncomfortable. Grissom scooped Sara up into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. Gently, he placed her on the bed and helped her under the covers. They talked quietly about the lab, how Sara was doing, and what she was doing. Grissom pulled her tight towards him as she described her struggles. He kissed the tears from her cheeks and held her as they succumb to sleep.