The Real Estate Giveaway
Disclaimer: I do not own in any capacity any part of CSI or the characters much to my dismay. If I did, Grissom would be shacking up with Sara every night. I do admit to having an active imagination…
Chapter 8
They stood together in the kitchen chopping vegetables. A comfortable silence surrounded them. Occasionally Sara would hum a few bars, chopping or grating cheese to the rhythm. Grissom just smiled, enjoying the sight of her lost in her thoughts.
They had grown accustomed to preparing a morning meal together. After their long nights, coming home to a quiet kitchen and doing small tasks seemed to soothe both of them as well as feed them. Grissom had learned that Sara liked her sauces rich in garlic and she had learned his weakness for anything involving grapes.
The last year had been a surprise to Grissom. After Nick's experience, he came to realize that life was not guaranteed and that every day was a gift and should be experienced. After a few days of rest, he had called Sara one evening on the way home from work and asked if he could stop by.
She was surprised to see him, meeting him at the door fresh from a shower, pajama pants and tank top on, and a glass of milk in hand. And he smiled at the memory. It had been a little awkward at first, trying to get his mouth to say what his heart felt, but she grasped the gist of it and calmed him with a soft kiss. They had been together ever since, making a quiet and calm life together.
And then, he knew he wanted it to be that way forever, for he had grown accustomed to her cold feet sliding up next to his as he slept and her yogurt sitting next to his latest experiment in the refrigerator. Though he had never though that he'd want to get married, he began to realize that he couldn't imagine not married to Sara – and so he'd asked. She'd said yes. A couple of days later they'd gone ring shopping and instead of an engagement ring, she'd opted for an anniversary band to save for their wedding day and they'd found a plain wide gold band for him.
The doorbell rang. Sara turned her head. "Want me to get that?"
"Sure."
Sara wiped her hands with a nearby towel and walked across the great room to the door, opening it to Warrick and Nick.
"Hi guys. Come on in."
They were not prepared - even though they had the knowledge - to experience Grissom and Sara in the same space, their things in the same place.
Warrick gained his voice first. "Somebody redecorated, thank goodness!"
A large multi-color block rug adorned the floor with an inviting camel sofa and loveseat weighing it down. Books, photos and CDs were stashed on a simple set of black bookshelves and an entertainment center was against one wall. Beautiful black and white photos were clustered in groups on the walls – the place didn't look the least bit clinical as it had the last time they'd been there. And to one side was an elaborate grandfather clock, which chimed with a deep voice marking the quarter-hour.
"Thanks… I think."
Grissom joined the group in the great room. This didn't look like the Grissom they knew – this one was barefoot in jean shorts and a dark t-shirt scattered with lightning bugs. He was holding a champagne glass that held an orange liquid.
"Mimosa anyone?"