Scene Sixteen

On the way back to the Chateau Gil asked, "So…What's on the agenda for the rest of today?"

"Well there are several things we can do, but since it's not even 7:30 yet; I recommend we start with food. I need more than just champagne and a nibble of sweet roll for breakfast. Let's go back to the dining room and eat."

"Okay and then what are our options?"

"Your options; you mean. You get to choose from this point on."

He took hold of her hand, "Then what are my options?"

"We can go back to our room; crawl into bed, and watch movies on TV all day. Or… not watch them." She offered with a sly smile.

"I like the last part better, but tell me all the options first, before I decide."

"We can take that tour that the winery offers."

"Hmm… champagne for breakfast; wine for lunch. What's for dinner, that bottle of Brandy your friend Cal gave me? You'll wind up in the hospital, and I'll be drunk! No, I don't like that idea; next option please."

Heather chuckled warmly and patted his thigh. "There a street fair going on in town today. We could pick up Hank, and go see the sights. Also, we could visit the local library here. They are hosting an exhibit of the Shakespearian tragedies. Or we could visit the Museum of Natural Science. They have an exhibit on Entomology happening now. You could browse and tell me if they've got all their facts straight."

Grissom smiled, but shook his head, "No thanks; I don't feel like playing with bugs today."

Shocked laughter tumbled from Heather's mouth, "You don't?"

"Nope, I don't. Let's do something else. The library is out too. We'd have to leave Hank behind all day."

"We can do anything you want Gil. Those were just suggestions I thought you'd appreciate."

He thought a moment. "Let's have breakfast, get Hank, and go to the street fair. Hank can go with us there."

"Okay and maybe you can find a nice gift for Catherine there too."

"Why does Catherine need a gift?"

She looked at him and raised that eyebrow; the one he always wanted to hide from. "She's doing both her job and yours for three days so that you can be here worry-free."

"And…I am worry-free. The office will be fine with Cath in charge. She can handle anything."

"That's my point exactly! She deserves a 'thank you' Gil, and it shouldn't be only words. It should be something nice… in a box… that also comes wrapped in pretty paper." She smiled.

"Okay, okay I'm convinced. You're right. I should say 'thank you' but I don't have a clue what she'd like."

"Well then, it's a good thing I'm here with you." She teased.

"Heather, that's always a good thing."

Two hours later, they'd eaten a leisurely breakfast, picked up Hank and driven out to the location of the street fair.

While there, they walked block after block, browsing booths and taking turns going into shops; one of them always stayed outside to be with Hank. They watched street performers, stopped to laugh at a mime, listened to the music of a few bands, and ran laughing after Hank when he broke free of Gil's hold on his leash to chase after a frightened squirrel. As Hank ran, and they trailed after him, shouting for him to stop; people scattered. Heather recognized fear on a few faces, but most people laughed and simply moved out of the big barking dog's path. Heather had begun to wonder if they'd catch him at all when they finally got close enough for Gil to step on the end of the leash that trailed behind Hank. Heather threw her arms around Gil just in time to help him keep his balance as Hank tried to pull free.

"Damn dog!" Gil huffed with his hands on his knees; gasping for air.

Heather patted his back and he glared at her as she laughed, "Aww c'mon Gil! He's just having a little fun."

He rolled his eyes and tried not to laugh at the pitiful look she gave him. Instead he roared. Hank, get over here…now!"

Hank crept slowly back after sniffing the air to be certain that the furry rodent was too far away to catch now. He wore the most pathetic expression Heather had even seen as he came to stand in front of Gil.

"You sit… and… stay." Gil ordered.

Hank obeyed; whining.

As Gil bent to pick up the end of the leash; glaring at his dog, Heather tried again. "Gil he's just a dog. Let him have a little fun." She said trying to smother another burble of laughter..

Hank sat; not moving and wagged his tail.

Gil glanced sideways at Heather as he wrapped the end of the leash securely around his hand. "You aren't helping." He accused, but Heather could see the tell-tale corners of a smile on his face.

"Come on let's get something to eat from one of those food booths." She said. "It's past lunchtime and I'm hungry. I bet Hank could use some refreshment too. That was quite a run. He has to be thirsty…and hungry. What do you say Hank? You want a treat; I'm buying."

Gil shook his head as his dog wagged his tail so hard that his entire back end shook.

"Oh come on Grumpy Bear." Heather linked her arm in his. "I'll buy you some grilled chicken on a stick with fried rice with veggies from that booth over there." She said pointing.

He stood quietly and waited while Heather ordered three plates of the food she had mentioned, a gyro, two lemonades, and four bottles of water. She also asked the woman behind the booth if they could have an empty Styrofoam bowl. They got the order a few minutes later and she handed half of it to Gil as he wondered why she ordered quite so much. Even with her hearty appetite she couldn't eat all this. They found a small picnic table and she gave him one plate, one bottled water and one lemonade. She took the same for herself along with the gyro and emptied the two remaining bottles of water into the bowl. She tied the end of Hank's leash around one of the slats in the bench seat, gave him the bowl and took the chicken off of the wooden skewer on the remaining plate and cut it into bite-size pieces with a plastic knife. She gave that to Hank as well while Gil watched.

"He had breakfast you know. He can wait until we get back to the chateau. He won't starve before then. You're going to spoil him."

"With what…it's grilled chicken, rice and vegetables; it's good for him." She declared as she sat down to eat her own.

Grissom shrugged. It was pointless to argue. The chicken was a bit tough, but certainly edible. He was surprised how good it all tasted given that it was cuisine from a booth at a street fair. Heather ate happily and when she was through with the chicken and rice, she unwrapped the gyro partially; holding the foil wrapped end to avoid making a mess, and took a big bite out of it as well. He knew what was coming by looking at her face before he heard the moan that escaped her.

"Is it that good?" He asked doubtfully.

"Mmm hmm!" She mumbled around a mouthful. She waited until she swallowed to continue. "Here; have a bite, before I unwrap it and pick it apart. I can't eat too much of the pita."

He bit the end of the pita and was surprised to taste more chicken, olives, tomato, onion garlic, and basil. "That is good." He said when he finished the bite.

She looked at him for a moment and then, without asking him if he wanted more. She put it down on her plate, unwrapped the foil, cut the pita in half, and gave him part of it. She then proceeded to eat the food from the middle of the other half.

While he ate, something she'd said before crossed his mind. "Grumpy Bear?" He asked her with an odd look on his face.

"You were fussing at Hank for doing what dogs do. You were grumpy."

"Yes, but you said Grumpy Bear."

"Yes like the blue Care Bear; the one with the rain cloud on his tummy."

"What's a Care Bear?"

She gave him a stunned look. "Gil you are my favorite entomologist in the world, but every once in a while crawl out from under your rock; will you?"

He rolled his eyes but then sighed "Okay; what's a Care Bear?" He repeated.

"It's a stuffed kid's toy; also a cartoon. They first became popular twenty-five years ago. Their popularity died out, but about…oh five years ago I guess, they made a comeback. Grumpy is the blue one with the permanent scowl on his face, and the rain cloud on his belly. He's Allison's favorite one. Zoë loved them too when she was Allison's age. Her favorite was Good Luck Bear. He has a four leaf clover on his belly."

"Why is Grumpy Allison's favorite bear?"

"She routes for the underdog I guess. She says all he needs is a hug, and then he won't be grumpy anymore."

"Did Zoë believe in good luck charms?"

"No, she liked him because he's green. That was her favorite color."

"They're green and blue?"

"There's one for every color of the rainbow and then some."

He grinned and Heather knew he was about to say something off beat. "Is there a… Dominatrix Bear?"

She rolled her eyes, "What; a black one with a whip on her belly? I'm afraid not; they're made to appeal to toddlers Gil; not big boys your age."

"Me… I thought you might like one." He teased; his blue eyes twinkling.

"No… I don't need one of those. I'd like to see a silver, quirky, socially uncomfortable, Scientist Bear." She played along while getting up from the table and collecting their trash. She tossed it in a nearby trash can, and they were on their way again

A few minutes later she wanted to go into a shop named 'A Touch of Glass' "I will be a few minutes. Before I browse the shelves I want to find a ladies room."

Gil pointed to a nearby bench. "Hank and I will be right here."

Twenty minutes later she came out carrying a bag with the shop's logo on it.

"What'd you buy?"

She sat down beside him and gently shoved Hank's curious nose out of the bag before removing two boxes. "Hank, you leave these alone Buddy. They're not for you, and they're not food either." She removed the content of each box carefully. Each one contained a unique set of fine crystal goblets. One set was a plain smoke tinted crystal without a lot of detail; just a simple, classic design. The second set was clear in color but more ornate with a thin gold band around the rim of each glass. "If you approve, then this second set is for Catherine."

"I'm sure she'll be pleased. And…thank you for picking it out."

In place of a verbal response she kissed him, and then said, "I need to find a small gift to take home to Allison, and then we should go. My feet hurt; I'm tired of walking and I need a nap."

He stood; made sure he had a good grip on Hank's leash, and offered her his hand. As they walked back in the direction that would take them to their rental car, he draped an arm around her and she fell into step with him effortlessly.

A few minutes later they passed a toy store that neither had noticed when they come the opposite way earlier. Gil found another bench as she promised not to be gone as long this time around. True to her word, she came out nine minutes later carrying another bag and smiling at him. Again she sat down beside him, what she pulled from the bag this time was a stuffed blue bear with a scowl on his brow, a cloud on his belly, and a price tag firmly affixed to one of his paws. "Gil Grissom; meet Grumpy Bear."

Hank barked and wagged his tail.

Heather eyed the dog sternly "Oh no you don't! This is not a squeaky toy for you young man! This is for Allison."

Gil took hold of the bear and looked it over. "What does it do?"

"Do? It doesn't do anything. You hold it; cuddle it."

Gil scowled at the bear. "Where's the fun in that?"

"First of all…" she chuckled quietly. "Stop frowning that way; you look just like him. And second," She grabbed the bear from his hands and bopped him on the head with barked, and Gil grabbed the bear and hit her back with it repeatedly until she threatened to do him severe bodily harm if he didn't stop.

Once he had, she collapsed ,laughing, against his chest. "C'mon, let's go back to the B&B and take a nap." He said.

They made it back to where they parked, and while Heather put her purchases in the trunk, Hank sniffed at nearby bushes and whined to be let loose from his leash. "Oh no. You've done your thing, Hank. You aren't going in those bushes. You'll get burrs in your coat."

Hank whined and barked, pawing the ground trying to get free, but Gil held firm. He managed to wrestle the dog into the backseat of the car, but it was not easy. He tried to sooth the dog, crouching down on his heels in the open doorway, "Hank, Buddy calm down. It's okay." He looked at Heather, who by this time, was standing beside him with her back to the car. "I don't know what's wrong with him Heather. He's never like this unless something's wrong."

"Then something is wrong Gil. Let him out; maybe lunch didn't agree with him."

Gil stood, and said, "Okay Big Guy." He reached for the leash, but Hank had all the permission he was going to wait for. He bounded out of the car, nearly knocking Gil over and ran straight for the bushes. As Heather ran after the excited dog, she called over her shoulder, "You okay Gil?"

"Yeah, I'm alright." He said following her. "Just catch him please."

Heather followed Hank's path, stepping carefully into the bushes. "Gil, stay there in case he runs back."

Gil stopped at the edge of the pavement and waited. He could see Heather's back, but not Hank at all. He could hear him whining though. "Heather is Hank alright?"

She didn't answer right away, and he watched her kneel, and nearly disappear from view in the trampled bushes. "Heather…?"

She called out. "Gil get Hank's blanket from the backseat for me. We're going to have to postpone that nap."

He ran to grab the blanket, thinking that Hank must have hurt himself somehow, but when he reached Heather's side Hank was there and appeared to be fine physically.

Grissom looked down at the ground and saw an obviously injured, not to mention filthy, little black dog that was far too thin to be healthy She was so dirty her coat was matted and grimy. She sat favoring one paw that was clearly in pain. She watched the three of them with a very guarded attitude.

Hank whined.

"Well, I guess now we know what had his attention." Gill rubbed his head. "Good Boy."

Heather reached out slowly toward the frightened dog making soft noises to comfort her, and she growled and snapped at Heather causing her to jerk her hand away.

Hank barked his objection to this behavior and licked Heather's hand.

"Hank, it's okay Big Guy; I'm not hurt." Heather patted the big dog's shoulder, and he went back to whimpering and trying to make friends with the tiny girl.

"Still, be careful Heather. She might bite you."

"She's not mean Gil. She's only scared. Some fool has mistreated her." Heather pulled a dog treat from her pocket and broke it into pieces. She gave Hank the larger pieces and asked him, "Will you share with her Pal?"

Hank whimpered.

"Okay you're a sweet guy Hank."

She reached out to the little dog again, this time offering a piece of treat.

The little dog put her dainty nose in the air and sniffed at the offering. After a moment's hesitation she gobbled it up and stared at the empty hand the treat came from.

"Well now that's better Sweetheart." Heather cooed. She gave her the rest of the treat, and while she was munching, Heather took the blanket from Gil, then wrapped her in it and picked her up. She turned and headed straight for the car. "Gil, you drive. Hank, let's go! Since Lily has six dogs, I'm going to call her. She'll know where to find a reputable vet."