Chapter 23

Author's note: I don't own CSI but I do love to play with them! It's the sincerest form of flattery!

OK I lied, I can't finish this in one chapter. One more will follow this… by Sunday…I hope you enjoy! Please be sure to leave me a review! I love to hear from you. I'm all about happy endings… I hope you are too!

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Their suite in Paris was stunning. The view of the Eiffel Tower was stunning. They spent two weeks enjoying the sights and immersing themselves in the culture. They ate at the best restaurants, enjoyed all of the museums that could be fit in to a short stay, and made love whenever the spirit moved them. It was, after all, France.

On a trip up the Eiffel Tower, Sara felt anxious, and she grabbed Gil's hand. He immediately responded by putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

"I'm fine." That was her answer. It was the answer that she gave when she didn't want to reveal what was bothering her. He was worried. She still was not sleeping through the night. He tried to get her to speak about what she had gone through, but to no avail. She was strong, mentally and physically. She would not reveal more than she was comfortable with.

After a hearty meal, they retreated to the balcony to watch the evening set in. The moon came up over the building across the river and set itself in the cool, grey sky. It was stunning. They sat quietly, enjoying the sounds of the city and each other's company.

They had discovered that they didn't have to talk to be comfortable. Gil, for the most part, just wanted to stare at Sara. Every time he saw her beautiful face, he felt that he would fall just a little more in love with her. Her strength, her courage, her independence, all made realize that she was the only woman who would ever capture his heart.

"Would you like a brandy?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, that would be nice," she answered. She didn't drink much any more, but every now and then, a nightcap was enjoyable. Especially when served by a handsome man with stunning blue eyes, beautifully muscled legs and arms, and sexy graying curly hair.

She stepped off the balcony and back into the bedroom, receiving the glass of brandy from the gorgeous man of her dreams. She snuggled up to him, finding security in his broad chest and warm arms. She knew that she was safe with him. For once in her life.

She was safe.

"I'm ready to talk," she ventured.

"Then I'm ready to listen dear," he answered. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the

small sofa, sitting directly beside her, making sure she knew she had his full attention.

"I have been scared many times in my life, Gil," she said, fighting back the tears.

"You have faced some tough times love, but you are incredibly strong."

"I try to be strong, but sometimes, like that day, I feel like that same little girl, watching bad things happen and not being able to do anything to stop it." The tears began to roll. "I thought I could do the task force and make a difference. I knew I could do it."

"You could, dear," he said honestly, "You can do anything you put your mind to."

"I love how you have such faith in me, Gil, I really do, but I wish I could have the same faith that you have." She was slow to speak, fearing revealing too much, but knowing that this was the one person who would listen and not judge.

"When I was in the …. bed….. tied up…." She paused a long moment, "I thought I was done. I thought she was actually going to kill me."

He nodded his head, indicating he understood the gravity of the situation.

"And all I could think was that I was never going to get to see you again." This time the tears began to roll.

"I'm so sorry." He comforted her, "I've been an ass to you, I should have admitted my feelings for you much sooner, but I just didn't know how to understand what I was feeling. I have never felt like this with anyone."

"It's not your fault…" she began.

" But it is, Sara," he interrupted her, "If I had given you the love you wanted, needed, deserved, when I first felt it, you wouldn't have felt the need to go out and prove yourself by taking a risk like that."

"I love you Gil Grissom."

"I love you Sara Grissom."

"Sara Sidle-Grissom," she corrected.

"Well at least I got a little concession," he chuckled. "I'll live with a hyphenate!"

She kissed him. He didn't resist.

"When I woke up from whatever drugs were in my system, I felt lost, hopeless. I tried to talk my way out of it, but she would not let me speak."

He smiled.

"Don't laugh, I know I overtalk all the time when I'm nervous, but she figured what I was doing and gagged me. When I couldn't talk or try and discourage her from what she was doing, I felt like a total failure."

She put her finger to his lips when he began to talk.

"And when I found out about your little SPS trick, yes I know about it, I felt like you didn't think I could do it, and worse than that, that you were right." She was giving him her heart and soul, and he sat and listened carefully, attentively. Proving his love for her with every nod, and every stroke of her hair.

"But now I understand that you were trying to prevent me from getting hurt, not to prevent me from succeeding." She smiled, calm, and rational, "I feel your love for me, every minute of every day, Gil, I feel you behind me."

"I am here for you, always."

"I'm home with you. I'm safe, I'm cared for, I don't have to worry about what the future holds, as long as the future is with you." She began to stream tears again. "I've never felt like this before, Gil. I'm glad you were there watching over me."

"I will be here for you, always."

He reached over to kiss her. She grabbed his head and pulled him close to her. She quickly moved to sit on his lap, facing him, knees on the sofa on each side of him. He looked surprised by her aggressiveness.

But it was a good surprised.

He knew he was not going to be able to slow her down, she seemed like she had cleared her mind of what was bothering her and she was ready to express herself in the most intimate way possible.

She pulled at his shirt, exposing his sexy chest, and running her fingers through his hair. She was biting at his neck and earlobes, making him crazy with desire. Her breasts rubbing up against him, making him get even hotter.

She stood up, offering him her hand, and lead him from the sofa to the bed.

"Wait."

She left him and walked to the bathroom, where the giant Jacuzzi was located.

She began to fill the tub with warm water and scented oil. She hummed as she was moving around the bathroom, preparing the perfect romantic interlude.

When the tub was full, she put on the jets, took off her clothing, and then went to the bed to retrieve her partner.

She pulled his belt off, allowing his pants to come off easily. Then the shirt. She stepped back and admired him. He was a gorgeous man, stocky in build, but so well proportioned that he made her heart jump just standing next to him. His was erect, having been groped and soundly aroused only a scant few moments ago. Whatever she had in mind, he was ready.

She lead him to the bathroom, stepped into the tub, and then encouraged him to follow her. The room had begun to take on the smell of the lavender bath oil. The bubbles were popping around him.

She resumed her position on top of him.

The smell, the jets of the tub, her lips in the right places, he was ready to take her right then and there.

But she had other plans.

She stepped out of the tub, grabbing a plush terry towel and offering him a hand to help him out.

Without a word, she moved them to the bed, laid him down on the towel, and immediately focused her attention on his erection.

He laid back, closed his eyes, and let her work her magic.

She moved her lips up and down his shaft, using her hands to massage other areas to increase the pleasure. She loved pleasing him this way. And he loved letting her. He had never been with a woman who so fully enjoyed pleasing him this way. He figured that it was part of the connection that they had developed. They both knew how to please the other one.

After a few moments of bliss, he had to make her stop. He needed to feel himself dive deep inside her. He reached for a condom, but she pushed his hand away.

"I'm ready to stop using those now, if you are."

His heart sang. She was thinking about the idea of conceiving with him.

She slipped on top of him, allowing him to plunge deeply inside of her. She moved herself up and down, slowly making him want to scream for release. He opened his eyes to watch her. Her breast moved in rhythm with their lovemaking. He was mesmerized by the motion of her body, and look of her face as she approached the edge of orgasm.

She opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Is this ok for you?" she asked.

"God, yes," he answered, gasping for breath, "I want you."

She increased her speed and finally, they both exploded, totally satisfied and content. She collapsed on top of him, burying her nose in his neck. He felt her moistness against his skin, her breasts against his chest, and her breath on his neck. He was totally enveloped by her. And he felt he could die this way and be totally happy.

"Sara," he whispered, "I love you. You've made me complete."

"Gil," she replied, "I love you. You are the part of me that I have been missing. With you, I can do anything."

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The rest of the stay in Paris was simple and enjoyable. They saw all the sights and went to the Louvre twice.

Two days before leaving Paris, they talked about how they would, one day, like to live in Paris. Perhaps even buy a condo in Paris so that they could come back as often as possible. This would be "their" place.

They left with a promise to come back soon.

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will give you the final chapter by Sunday and wrap up all of the story, hopefully to your satisfaction. Do send me a review, I'd love to hear from you!