Disclaimer: No, I do not own the characters or anything else CSI related. If I did I'd be writing FREAKIN' good story lines for the actual show that were CHOCK FULL 'O GSR. But, like I said I don't. Dang.
A/N: Closer still to the story's namesake. Hang in there,I'm trying to.
He clutched her hand as they left the theatre—refusing to let go. Concern was evidenced by the lines etched on his face. She hadn't said a word, but cried on his shoulder through most of the second half of the show. He'd guided her through the crowds with his hand on the small of her back, the other grasping her hand delicately.
When they were safely inside the limo—safety glass up—he decided to gently probe.
"Honey?"
Simple, non-threatening, yet the word held a thousand meanings.
Head in her hands she finally looked up. She'd stopped crying but the tears had stained her beautiful face.
"I'm sorry Griss. I didn't mean to ruin your night."
"Baby, you've ruined nothing. I just wish I understood what happened in there."
She met his gaze, pondering her words before speaking.
"I just—I really related to Suzanna. I think it surprised me how much so. The Count—that's been a real character in my life—though instead of another man trying to seduce me it was a psycho chick trying to punish you... I guess the reality of what I—we--almost lost really became clear. And it scared me. Griss, I know we haven't really talked it out yet, but I want you to know that I'm in this for the long haul. For better or worse. Though—I must admit I've had enough of the 'worse' for awhile."
She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
There.
She'd said it and there was no backing out now.
He sighed and took her hand in his. "Foiled again."
She opened her eyes. "What?"
He was looking down and speaking to her fingers which he was now playing with intermittently.
"This isn't how I'd planned it. Actually, I wasn't even going to do it tonight. This trip, yes, but not yet. I didn't think you were ready so soon after… I wanted to take you out and see if you seemed at all interested in living a conventional life—but you have—for the better—tossed those plans by the wayside. Sara I love you more than life itself. I know I'm not perfect-a day doesn't go by when someone at the lab is sure to let me know, but still… You know me better than anyone my whole life has, and you're still here. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I don't have the ring with me so you don't have to decide right now if you don't—"
His words were cut short as she covered his lips with her own. When she figured he understood her answer she pulled back.
"For better or worse?"
"For better or worse."
"No way."
"It's true."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"And we got tickets?"
"If you want to go, consider them got."
"If I want to go? Want to watch a bunch of guys put on a comedy where they play ALL of the parts and whose secret society was named after food? Are you kidding? Let's do it!"
She was smiling more today than he'd seen in nearly a year. He hoped it was a least in part due to the fact that she knew he was committed to her in every way.
They'd meant to sleep in that morning but were both far too excited to spend the day with each other after being newly affianced that they woke up early—but technically did stay in bed until mid morning when they decided to take a shower together.
Now dressed, they were talking through the day as far as what they wanted to do and in what order. There was a restaurant that she wanted to try—Veggie Planet—and he wanted to see the Longfellow exhibit. Then he'd started talking about the Hasty Pudding theatrical that was showing that evening. Sara was almost more interested in the club's history than in the show itself which was entitled "The Tent Commandments". It sounded good and they decided to check it out.
They agreed instantaneously that Starbucks for breakfast would the first stop and the rest of the day was pretty much mapped out.
After a quick stop at Starbucks for coffee (him) and chai (her) they were off to the Longfellow National Historic site. Grissom was totally in his element and Sara found herself both amused and pleased that she could quote off the cuff as oft as he.
He began bantering with her playfully:
"O GIFT of God! O perfect day :
Whereon shall no man work, but play ;
Whereon it is enough for me,
Not to be doing, but to be!"
She thought for a moment and replied:
"O Life and Love ! O happy throng
Of thoughts, whose only speech is song !
O heart of man ! canst thou not be
Blithe as the air is, and as free ?"
He took her hand and said:
"MAIDEN! with the meek, brown eyes,
In whose orbs a shadow lies Like the dusk in evening skies!
(taking liberty to skip most of the poem)
Bear through sorrow, wrong, and ruth
In thy heart the dew of youth,
On thy lips the smile of truth.
O, that dew, like balm, shall steal
Into wounds, that cannot heal
Even as sleep our eyes doth seal;
And that smile, like sunshine, dart
Into many a sunless heart,
For a smile of God thou art."
She was quick to reply:
"A gentle boy, with soft and silken locks,
A dreamy boy, with [blue and tender eyes,
A castle-builder, with his wooden blocks,
And towers that touch imaginary skies.
(also taking liberty to skip part of the poem)
There will be other towers for thee to build;
There will be other steeds for thee to ride;
There will be other legends, and all filled
With greater marvels and more glorified.
Build on, and make thy castles high and fair,
Rising and reaching upward to the skies;
Listen to voices in the upper air,
Nor lose thy simple faith in mysteries."
For lunch they went to Veggie Planet. Sara decided to try the 'Vegan Oddlot' pizza (fresh tomatoes, spinach, basil tofu ricotta, Calamata olives, and fried garlic) while Grissom settled on the 'Unsafe 'n Sound' (fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, asadio, basil, and fried garlic laced with hot chile sauce).
They came across Toscanini's Ice Cream and Coffee on their way home and decided to stop in for some dessert.
"You have ice cream on your nose."
He went cross eyed for a second before asking, "Would you take care of it for me?"
She leaned forward and gently licked the sweet glob into her mouth.
Before she knew what was happening he'd captured her lips and his tongue was deueling hers for what was left of the sweet stuff.
"Don't think I'm complaining—'cause I'm not—but what was that?" she gasped, having lost the duel and the last bit of ice cream.
He grinned and licked his lips.
"It was my ice cream. But I wanted to know if it would be any sweeter in your mouth. Had to conduct an experiment before all of the evidence was gone."
"And?" She licked her own lips remembering the taste of his that had so graced them just moments before.
He lifted his palms. "The evidence never lies. But, I think I might need to double check—just to make sure."
"Well, I can't disagree with that. It's always a good idea to double check. However, I don't think this is the place to make-out. It's an adult ice cream store. Sophisticated. Mature. We don't want to get kicked out for acting like teenagers.
He frowned.
"But" she continued, "that just means we'll have to get some ice cream to go so that we'll have some 'evidence' to work with back at the B&B."
She was too good to him.
A/N: Quotes taken from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "A Day of Sunshine," "Maidenhood," and "The Castle Builder."