Sara and Jim sat in bed, his arms around her. She was gazing down at the ringon her finger. As Sara moved her hand to the side, the sun shone through thewindow and cast its rays on the gemstones, making them glimmer and shine.Jim was beaming with joy, his face alight with the best sort of happiness;the sort that comes from knowing that you are loved.
Sara looked up at Jim and grinned from ear to ear.
"This is so beautiful" she said
"Beautiful things for a beautiful woman" he replied, grinning
Sara lay back in bed, and turned to Jim. She rested her head on his broadchest and slowly drifted back to sleep. As she dozed her mind was aflutterwith visions of her and Jim; happy and in love. She glowed.
Sara woke that evening to find that Jim was gone. She looked around and hergaze settled on a piece of paper on her bedside table. She reached over andpicked it up, unfolding it.
"Sara, I had to go in early. I didn't want to wake you. See you later. Jim."
Sara climbed out of bed and jumped in the shower. When she emerged from thebathroom she heard the phone ring. She ran into the living room and pickedit up.
"Sara Brass." she said, realizing only after she spoke, the words she uttered
"Sara?"
"Grissom?" she asked, mentally kicking herself
"What did you say?" he asked, confused
"Never mind. What do you need?" she asked, changing the subject
"Oh, um...I need you to come in a little early." he replied
"What's the problem?" she inquired
"We have a break in a case. I need you at the precinct." he explained
"Ok. I'll be in in a bit." she said, hanging up the phone before Grissomcould utter another word
Sara drove quickly to the precinct and parked next to Jim's car. As sheentered through the sliding doors Jim greeted her. He had a rather broadgrin on his face and a certain spring in his step.
"What brings you here?" he asked sweetly
"Grissom called me in early. He said there was a break in a case."
she explained
"That's news to me." Jim said, curiously
"Well, if there's no casework, then why does he want me here?" Sara askedherself, aloud
Jim and Sara walked to his office and closed the door behind them. Jimpicked up his desk phone and handed it to Sara. She was a bit confused asto why Grissom would summon her to the precinct if there was no reallyvalid reason for her presence. Jim dialed Grissom's cell phone and satbehind his desk.
"When he answers, tell him you're here and ask where he is." Jim directed
The phone rang.
"Grissom."
"Grissom, this is Sara. Where are you?" she asked, trying not to sound tooobvious
"I'm on my way."
"Well, there's no one in the interrogation room. Are you sure about the case?"
"I'll be there in a minute." he said, curtly
"Ok. I'll be here."
Sara hung up the phone and sat across from Jim. She slouched back in herchair and sighed.
"Grissom wouldn't go into any details. He just said he was on his way."Saraexplained.
"Well, when he gets here, he'll find you in here." Jim said in a very
suspicious tone
Jim and Sara sat in silence for the better part of half an hour. Finally,Grissom showed up. He was unable to find Sara in the waiting room, so hecalled her on her cell.
"Sidle."
"This is Grissom. Where are you?" he asked
"I'm with Jim, in his office." she replied
Grissom closed his cell phone and headed towards Jim's office. He knocked onthe door and heard Jim say "enter". He slowly opened the door and saw Sarasitting across from Jim. He took the seat next to her and turned to look ather. As he turned, Sara brushed a stray hair from her face with her lefthand. Grissom's eyes were drawn to the ring that was on her finger. Hetried his best not to let on that he had seen it, but his facial expressiondid him in. He took a deep breath and blinked his eyes several times.
"So, what's this about a break in a case?" Sara asked, half knowing
Grissom was momentarily speechless. He tried to speak, but words eluded him.Finally, he was able to summon up the stomach to ask the obvious.
"So, you and Jim decided to make it official, I see." Grissom commented
"That's right." Sara said, flatly
"When is the happy occasion?"
"We haven't set a date yet." Jim replied
Grissom rose and walked towards the door. As he opened it, he turned hishead.
"Sara, could I speak with you in private?"
Sara looked at Jim and he nodded. She stood up and followed Grissom out ofJim's office, down the hall and out of the building. As she stepped outside,Grissom whipped around and stood on the verge of invading her personalspace. He was red in the face and his arms were flailing about.
"What are you playing at?" he asked in a harsh tone
"I'm sorry. I don't follow you." she replied
"You and Jim are getting married?"
"Yes. He asked me, I love him, so I said yes." Sara said in even tones
Grissom began to pace, oblivious to the fact that Jim was watching him fromthe other side of the doors. Jim stood in shadows while he listened toGrissom rant and rave.
"You don't really love him, do you?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. What is it to you?" she snapped
"Its just a bit sudden, don't you think?"
"No, not at all. Look, Grissom, life is short and I'm not getting any
younger. I was very lucky to find a man that I love and that loves me inreturn. When you find love at my age, you best jump on it." she explained
Jim was growing increasingly uncomfortable with Grissom's current line ofquestioning. However, for the sake of Grissom, he remained hidden. He wouldconfront him later.
"Can you honestly tell me that you are in love with him?" Grissom prodded
"Yes, Gil. I am honestly and truly in love with Jim. Why all the questions?"she asked in raised tones
Grissom said nothing. He continued to pace back and forth in a nervous rage.Finally when Sara excused herself from his company, he turned to her andplaced his hands on her shoulders, holding her in front of him. Saraattempted to free herself, but was unsuccessful.
"Grissom, let me go." she demanded
Grissom said nothing. As Sara struggled, he drew her to him and planted akiss on her lips. She resisted and managed to push him away from her. Jimwas stunned at what he saw, but kept his cool. He kept his place behind arather large fern and watched the events unfold.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Sara shouted
"Tell me that this meant nothing to you. Say those words and I'll leave yoube." Grissom demanded
"Its too little too late, Grissom. You think you can just kiss me and I'lltake back the promise that I made to Jim. I learned to live without yourlove in the last few years. I learned to love another. I suggest you do thesame." Sara fired back at him
Grissom stood stock still, riveted in place. All he could do was watch asSara turned from him and walked back inside and down the hall to Jim'soffice.
Sara walked right past Jim, not seeing him behind his fern. She flung hisoffice door open and plopped down behind his desk. She had her head in herhands when the office door opened. She snapped her head up and lookeddirectly into Jim's eyes. He approached her and sat in the chair oppositehis desk. Jim rubbed his face with an open hand and sighed.
"What's the matter, honey?" he asked in low tones
Sara sat up and took a deep breath.
"Well, when Grissom and I were outside, he kissed me. Out of nowhere, hekissed me." Sara said, ashamed
Jim knew what had happened; he had seen it all, but he wanted to hear itfrom her. He sat silent for a moment, then replied.
"Well, how does that make you feel?"
"Honestly, I feel violated. Dirty." Sara replied
"Do you want me to set him straight? Because I will, if you want me to."Jim offered
"I don't know what to do. I mean, he's my boss and I don't want to doanything that will make him retaliate in any sort of way. I don't want tobe transferred to days." Sara explained
Jim sat and stared at her for a moment. He had never seen her like thisbefore. She seriously looked scared; Sara never got scared. As Jim sat andcontemplated his next course of action Sara stood up and walked out of hisoffice and out the front doors to her truck. Jim gave chase and caught upto her just as she was climbing into her truck. He took her by the elbowand stopped her. He could see the conflict within her and felt for her.
"You going home?" he asked
"Yeah. I think I'll call in sick tonight. I don't feel like dealing with himor his bullshit tonight. I've got to figure out what I'm going to do abouthim." she explained
"Ok. Give me a call if you need anything."
"I will." Sara said as she climbed into her truck.
As she pulled out of her spot, she rolled the window down and leaned out togive Jim a kiss. The kiss was brief, but reassured Jim as to where heraffections lie. She shifted into drive and turned to Jim.
"I love you." she said, sweetly
"I love you more." he replied as she drove off and out of his sight.
Jim walked inside and found Grissom. He was in the men's lavatory. Jimstood, leaning on one of the sinks and waited for Grissom to emerge. Hewould give the wretch a piece of his mind.
TBC?