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 9
Grissom had been correct – he did make a mean omelet. Nick had felt a bit awkward at first, as if he had invaded a secret place. But both Grissom and Sara had softly encouraged him to relax with their light banter with each other and with him, until he finally started to smile and lose his reserve.
They sat at a small table in the eat-in area of the kitchen. Nick had been trying to piece together anything he could remember over the course of the past year to find anything he had missed. And he continued to take in his surroundings.
The kitchen was bright and organized – fit well with both of Grissom and Sara. There was a coffee pot, bread box and juicer on the counter, along with a few bins of dry goods. A bowl filled with fruit sat on the bar beside a couple of bright yellow kitchen towels. And there were plants in the window – lots of healthy plants.
There were no blinds to cover the windows as there had been the last time Nick was in Grissom's place – but a patio of colorful flowers splashed outside. A bird feeder was hanging on a nearby shepherd's hook, and a couple of small birds were splashing in the birdbath farther from the window. Containers were lining the patio and Nick realized that there were herbs growing in them. He couldn't quite identify all of them, but one definitely was dill. Grissom and herbs?
Nick took another bite of omelet and realized that he'd just tasted oregano. Fresh oregano and something else. Chives perhaps?
Warrick also wore a puzzled expression as he thought about all he had seen before breakfast. Sara had pointed to the sofa for them.
"Give us a few minutes to finish getting organized and then Grissom will start to cook, okay?"
"Sure…" said Warrick, a little hesitant. They both sat down and took in their surrounds, with little things slowly coming into focus.
Sara had reappeared briefly with two additional mimosas and handed them over, then scurried back to the kitchen.
On the first shelf sat a 8x10 of the team at the holiday party last year. Now that Warrick observed it closer, he noticed that Grissom was standing next to Sara – were their hands entangled as they stood on the second row, a step higher than those on front?
The next shelf held a photo of Grissom and Sara with the ocean in the background. They'd been on vacation together? When did they fit that in and no one noticed?
Across the coffee table were strewn pamphlets for real estate and a few scientific magazines. The modern sculpture atop the television of a couple entwined in an embrace was new, as was the gnarled wood bowl sitting on an end table. Overall it was a clean look, but a lived in and warm one.
"Come on in the kitchen – I'm ready to start." Grissom said through the door. Warrick and Nick obliged and entered the kitchen.
"How did we miss this?" Nick asked as a rhetorical question.
Warrick let out a sigh. "Depressing isn't it? We're paid to notice things and we miss this right under our noses. Greg is going to have a fit!"
"Greg? I'm thinking about Boss Lady Catherine."
Grissom walked towards them, two plates in hand. "What have you got to be worried about? I'M the one she's going to shoot!"
"Yeah, Gris, you got a point. What kind of funeral you planning?"
"Very funny." Grissom sat a plate in front of both of them. "Breakfast is served."