Chapter Twenty:
Sara is stood in the kitchen of Grissom's condo, her now semi-permanent residence, her own apartment neglected aside from the occasion mail pick up, her plants mainly now living in Grissom's living room and kitchen, he said to save her from constantly having to go water them. Wearing a white t shirt, and a pair of Grissom's boxers she is stood tapping the counter, leaning forward, eye level with his temperamental coffee machine, waiting for it to kick in. Grissom walks into the kitchen from his bedroom, hair still wet in his slacks and shirt ready to head into the office early, paperwork, it's always paperwork.
'A watched pot never boils.' He leans against the fridge. She straightens to his words but doesn't quite turn fully, twisting her top half round, resting her hands on her hips she purses her lips and turns her attention back to the spluttering machine.
'I swear this was manufactured before I was born. Can we just get a new one?' She leans forward again, her lower back peeking out from beneath her t-shirt. Grissom takes the few steps closer to be in her personal space, ghosting his hand across her lower back he toys with the waist band of the boxers currently hanging loosely around her hips.
'Are these mine?' He pings the elastic from her skin and crosses his arms across his chest. Without looking up she replies dead pan.
'No, these belong to my other boyfriend, you know the one with the good coffee machine.' He chuckles at her response, taking a step closer again, he runs his hand down her spine, slipping under the material of the boxers he lowers his palm and cups her left bum cheek giving it a good squeeze before pulling his hand out completely. Still in awe that he gets to touch her like this.
'If it bothers you so much, I will get a new one tomorrow, after shift. I'll even let you choose it.' She turns quickly, resting both palms flat against his chest.
'Thanks, you're the best.' She tip toes up an inch and kisses him on the lips quickly. Giving up on the coffee machine she decides to head back to his bedroom to get showered and dressed.
'I'll get you some new boxers too, then you can give those ones back to your other boyfriend.' She stops a few feet away from him, turning her head back towards him.
'Ahh I'm sure he doesn't mind. But if bothers you, I could always take them off.' She slips her fingers into the waistband, bending slightly she begins to lower the boxers down her hips, the top of her buttocks protruding from the black cotton. Grissom covers the distance in a flash, dropping his hands onto hers heavily, he leans forward and whispers into her ear.
'I love you.' Her breathing stops, her head pounds, ringing in her ears, she feels like she is going to pass out, that the earth has stopped spinning and kicked her off. Tears well in her eyes, pulling her hands from underneath his grip, she wipes at her nose with the back of her hand.
'I best get ready.' She practically runs to the bedroom. Frozen on the spot, before registering what just happened, why she could be so upset at his words he follows. Sara is stood at her side of the bed, sniffing up, wiping at her eyes. Playing with the edge of her book balancing ontop of her jewellery box.
'Sara. Are you crying?' She shakes her head, keeping herself busy tidying her bedside table. 'Darling, you can keep them if it means that much to you, I don't care and you look a lot better in them than I do.'
'Did you mean it?' She turns, her eyes are red, her nose running. He closes the distance between them, pulling her into a bone crushing hug. Pulling back, he locks his eyes with hers, his arms still around her.
'Yes.' He smiles and leans forward to kiss her lightly on the lips. She smiles, tearing flowing freely now. Pulling her back to him, she buries her head in his neck. 'I wanted to say it weeks ago, when we found Nick but worried, I was being too hasty. Jesus Sara, I wanted to say it that last night in Frisco.' Smoothing her hair down, she moulds her body closer to his. After a while, her breathing has evened, the tears have stopped, wet patches formed on his shirt. He will have to change before work. Playing with the collar of his shirt, she whispers just loud enough.
'I love you too.'