A/N: So sorry it is taking so long to post. Real life has reared its ugly head and put a freeze on my creativity these past few weeks. Fall semester starts next week but I will continue writing as much as I can. I'll try to keep the stories flowing.

Chapter 23

By sunrise they had completed investigating Grissom's motel room and the surrounding area but came up empty. They were soon joined by Deputy Higgins, who couldn't seem to keep his eyes off of a certain blonde CSI as she would send him glances that weren't exactly inviting.

"What's the story with Deputy Higgins?" Catherine asked as she and Sara clicked some photos of the some footprints outside Grissom's.

"None of your business," Sophia told her.

"He seems quite smitten with you, Soph!" Sara said in an overly friendly manner. "Not quite the man of your dreams last night after he walked you home?"

Sophia turned and gave Deputy Higgins a false smile before turning and looking back at the other two women. "Not if you think four strokes and a grunt is something to write home about."

Sophia's admission brought a surprised giggles from Sara and Catherine.

"Holy shit, Sophia! I was only kidding!" Catherine blurted out. "Did you really take him back to your room and try him out for size?"

"Well," Sara said as she continued taking pictures. "Anything is better than a battery operated joy stick."

"Ya know, I've had just about enough of your mouth. . ."

"Sophia," Ecklie approached the women with Grissom at his side. "Has anything turned up in the labs?"

"Nothing we didn't already know."

"Well, nothing else seems to be damaged," the sheriff told them as he walked up with Deputy Higgins. "I can understand if you all would like to get some rest before we move on with the case. I wouldn't mind getting an hour or two nap before diving into a mug of coffee and starting in again."

"I think that sounds like a fair idea," Ecklie told the man then turned to look at Grissom. "Let your men know what's going on. We all need some rest so we can get a fresh start. We can all start in again by noon."

They watched as the sheriff turned and started walking toward his patrol car but Deputy Higgins moved over toward Sophia who made a bee-line behind the closest person to her, who happened to be Ecklie.

"Excuse me, Sophia," Higgins said politely. "I was wondering. . ."

"I've got some records to go over with my supervisor, Jeremy. I'll see you at noon."

"Well, alright." He looked at Ecklie who ineffectively trying to get away from the blond CSI. "I'll see you in a few hours."

"The sheriff said we were all supposed to come back and get some sleep," said Nick as he, Warrick and Greg walked across the parking lot toward them.

"Looks like Grissom's bunking with you, Greg," Sara suggested as she started back toward her room.

"Why me?" Greg asked.

"You used his shower—and that's when his room became unusable. So, he can sleep with you," Nick told him then started toward his room.

"Well, I don't want to go to my room all by myself!" Sophia whined, bringing Ecklie to a stop as he hesitantly turned and looked at the woman before hanging his head in defeat. "Catherine?"

"Not me," Catherine was already on her way toward her room. "I'm quite comfortable in my room. I'm not bunking in her room with her."

"Can't she. . ."

"She's not coming into my room either. Send her in with Greg."

"Grissom's going in with Greg," Ecklie told her.

"Then you take her."

"I can't take her!" Ecklie told her. "She's going to have to bunk with you, Catherine. . .or Sara will have to move into your room and Sophia can take Sara's room."

"I'll take Sara," Catherine told him. "Sophia should be safe snuggled between Grissom and Greg's room, and Nick and Warrick's."

Sara looked over at Grissom as he glanced up at her and with a slight shrug of his shoulders, he moved back toward Greg's room. Sara went to her room and started moving her things into Catherine's room, then soon collapsed on the free bed and fell into a fitful sleep. By eleven o'clock Catherine was shaking her shoulder and alerting her that they were to meet down at the sheriff's office.

They worked on through the evening, having boxed dinner delivered as they continued working although they were coming up empty, then by ten that night, they were all meeting back at the parking lot so they could call it a day and try to get a good night's sleep.

Sara and Grissom looked at one another then with the slightest nod of his head, Grissom turned and started walking toward the truck parked at the other side of the lot. After a moment, Sara followed under the pretext of getting her novel out of the cab.

"I'm taking a shower. Are you up for a walk when I'm done?" Grissom asked as he retrieved some extra gloves from the supply inside.

"As soon as I finish with my own shower. Where do you want to go?"

"We'll decide when we're out of everyone's line of vision. Meet me on the other side of the office in about an hour."

Sara nodded her agreement then followed him back to where the other members of their crew were still milling about. As she approached Catherine, the other woman looked down at the book Sara was holding in her hand.

"Looks like you've read through that book a dozen times," Catherine said, referring to the worn state of the cover.

"Not quite a dozen, but it's getting close to half a dozen," Sara told her.

"What's it called?"

"My Heart Can't Tell You No," Sara started walking inside Catherine's room with her. "It's an amazing story."

"It doesn't look like your normal run-of-the-mill romance novel."

"It isn't. It's funny—it's sad—it's moving—thought provoking—definitely a good read."

"Mind if I borrow it when you're done?"

"Here, you can start it now while I'm in the shower."

"But you're reading it."

"You'll be finished with it within a few days—I guarantee it. Once you start, you can't put it down. Give it a shot and see for yourself."

Catherine took the book and sat on the edge of the bed as Sara moved toward the bathroom. By the time she came from the shower with a towel wrapped around her body, she saw that Catherine was well into the third chapter of the book. Catherine seemed completely engrossed in the story as Sara casually dressed then mumbled that she was going out to grab a Diet-Pepsi. She hadn't planned on giving her book to Catherine, but now that she thought of it, it was a magnificent idea. She knew from her own experience that Catherine would become so involved in the storyline that she wouldn't even notice how long Sara was gone.

Sara moved quickly along the edges of the parking lot until she saw the lone figure standing on the other side of the office doorway. She gave him a shy smile and was slightly surprised when he reached out and took her hand, pulling her along with him as he started across the cooling desert sand. His arm soon found its way around her waist and before they had even traveled twenty yards, he paused to press a warm kiss on her forehead before starting on their walk again.

"Do we have a destination?" Sara asked as she smiled up at him.

"Hmm?" He glanced at her. "Of course we have a destination; a spot far enough away to give us privacy and a beautiful view of the heavens above us, although the heavens will have a run for their money competing with you tonight."

Sara gave a soft laugh as she continued walking with him and after about five minutes he drew her in his arms and looked down at her. His eyes practically twinkled as she smiled back up at him.

"You got something on your mind, cowboy?" She asked.

"Mmm," he agreed as he nodded slightly then lowered his head until his lips brushed over hers. When she leaned into him to deepen the kiss, he pulled back and released his hold on her. She looked at him through curiosity as she watched him remove his jacket, then understanding as he spread it on the sand. "Feel like going for a ride, my dear?"

She chuckled as he moved onto the jacket, taking her hand as he lowered himself, then gently tugging her until she was on the ground next to him. She glanced around at their surroundings, taking in the blue/black sky with diamond stars throughout, then back toward the lights of the motel that could be seen in the distance.

"Are you sure we'll be okay out here?"

"Why?" He asked as he skooched down until he was lying on his back. "Are you afraid we'll be seen all the way from the motel? I don't think anyone will be looking for us out here, and if they are, they can't see us in the dark."

"They could hear us."

"I'll try not to scream too loudly," he teased as his thumb stroked the top of her hand.

She gave him a shy smile again then moved until she was straddling his hips and leaning back against his thighs. He reached for her feet that were on either side of his chest and removed her flip-flops, massaging her feet a moment before letting his hands slide up her calves and onto her knees.

"I'm glad I took the time to shave my legs," she said when his fingers drifted higher on her legs.

"Are you?" He kept his hands on her thighs but stroked both thumbs at the most sensitive area of her legs before they disappeared into her shorts. "I didn't shave mine."

She giggled again as she maneuvered her legs until she could lean forward and lay on top of him. "I should hope not. I like your legs just the way they are."

He looked up into her eyes and she thought she might melt against him. Those eyes of his; they had the most amazing way of sending her senses reeling. He seemed to know what she was thinking as his lips curved in an impish smile.

"Like that, don't ya?" He asked.

"You do that on purpose, don't you?"

"What?" He laughed.

"Look at me like that. You know when you look at me that way, I'll do anything you want."

"Really? I don't think so. I've been looking at you like this for years and you haven't gone out of your way to do the things I've had in mind."

"And just what have you had in mind?" She leaned on her elbows, on either side of his head as she traced her fingers of her right hand through the thick curl that was resting on his forehead. "Some little fantasy that I haven't thought of?"

"Well, actually. . ." His twinkling eyes made her smile brightly at him. His new, teasing, moods were enchanting her. "There was this Little Bo Peep outfit I've been thinking about. . ."

"Oh, you have," she said indulgently.

"Mm-hmm," then he added with more faux enthusiasm, "and then "you" could dress up as a sheep. . ."

His insinuation that "he" would be dressed as Little Bo Peep took half a second to sink in, then made her laugh in a sudden burst, making him chuckle in response to her. He turned with her until they were both on their sides and she was resting her head on his upper arm as he moved his left hand to push her hair behind her ear, then he kissed her forehead.

"Ya know, that thought really didn't do anything to help you in your "virility" department."

"No, I guess I've damaged that image," he smiled as he reached down and lifted her leg until it was hooked over his hip and his hand moved up her thigh until he was massaging her bottom. "Any chance that I can erase that image?"

"You can try," she told him in a low voice as she moved onto her back and pulled him with her. His lips met hers in a slow, smoldering kiss that he let linger before moving on to her throat and down between the opened buttons of her blouse. "I just better never find any frilly dresses, bonnet or a herding staff hidden in your closet."

She could feel him smile against the sensitive area between her breasts as he continued kissing her. "I guess I better clean out the supply closet in my office, then."

His remark earned him a jab in the shoulder and he chuckled before moving back up to her lips and beginning a kiss that had the rest of her body moving in immediate response. She moaned into his mouth as her hands slid up under his shirt, taking in the slight moisture that the heat of the night was causing, then sliding back down until she slid her fingers inside his jeans. She took her pleasure in massaging his strong buttocks and soon she could feel him growing against her but when she reached for the front of him, he grabbed her wrists and held them against his jacket below them. He transferred both into one hand then reached between them, opening her blouse completely as his mouth moved down her body, then unbuttoning her shorts and pressing down the zipper. He took his time as he devoured her breasts, earning him small groans of satisfaction, then when he moved lower, the groans turned to whimpers until he pulled her pants from her and gave her the satisfaction she was seeking. Her hands went into his hair, immediately taking in the thick softness and encouraging him as she alternately pulled and positioned him. He lifted her to give himself better access to her core and denied her nothing. He seemed to read the sounds that were coming from her throat as well as the movements of her body and hands because the moment she thought she was going to die from pure anticipation, he quickly flipped her over onto her stomach and moved up behind her. She barely had time to realize what he was doing before she heard him pulling down his own zipper and she felt him positioning himself at her opening. The guttural moan that escaped her throat as he slid his girth inside of her was intense, so intense that he chuckled lightly as he kissed the back of her shoulders. He murmured something about scaring the coyotes away but then was quickly as consumed by their mating as she.

Their release was more explosive than they had anticipated and when they lie on the ground trying to regain a regular breathing pattern Grissom held onto her tightly as he buried his face against her hair.

"Your hair," he breathed against her neck. "It smells wonderful."

"As opposed to lemons and decomp?"

He moved off of her a moment and turned her to more fully face him as he smiled down at her then kissed her lips. He looked like he was about to say something more, but the shrill sound of a scream split the night air. They both looked in the direction of the motel where they could hear more screams, some male voices yelling and doors banging. Sara and Grissom looked at one another then hurried as they redressed and started back to their co-workers who were now scurrying around the well-lit parking lot.