Chapter Twenty-One
Sara had always been fond of Captain Jim Brass. Warrick told her it was because he was never her boss. Sara just chuckled, but she knew that he was always there to look out for her. His daughter Ellie had been here, but after Jim had coded, she disappeared. Sara always valued his friendship and liked how he felt he had to look out for her. Working had helped her through the waiting. He would never admit it, but this was one of the hardest things Gil Grissom had to go through. He and Jim had an understanding, a certain type of bond and trust that she didn't fully understand. She felt so helpless just sitting there in the hospital corridor.
"Sara! Sara!" Grissom called from the end of the hallway and motioned for her to join him. She got up and hurried down the hallway to find a beaming Grissom. "He's awake. They are taking out the breathing tube."
"Thank God." She whispered and wrapped her arms around Grissom. She hugged him tight. This had been rough on them both. It was tough for everyone. Sara tried to stop the tears, but a few escaped, wetting Grissom's shirt.
"Hey!" He pulled her back to look into her face. "I hope those are happy tears." He wiped the tears from her cheeks with the gentlest of touches. She smiled weakly at him.
"I'm just so happy he's going to be ok. I mean-" Sara just stared at Gil, he nodded in understanding and gently whispered as he held her close again, "I know, Sweetheart."
Gil looked around cautiously, then gave in to his needs and captured Sara's lips in a sweet, gentle kiss that left them both breathless. As Sara pulled away, she turned her head and looked through the glass at Jim and caught his eye. She shoved Gil away from her and turned to look him fully in the eye. He blinked then closed his eyes and was out again.
"Gil, I think Jim just saw us." She turned to find Grissom walking away from her and towards Nick and Greg who were at the end of the hall. "And hopefully no one else did." She commented to herself.
Later, as Gil stood next to Jim, giving him some water, the Team gathered outside the room and waited for him to fully waken and see them. When he smiled and raised his fingers up to them, they all let out joyous sounds and hugged the nearest person. He was going to be fine.
That night, as Sara prepared for bed, Gil sat on her bed lamenting life and death. She didn't even want to think about it right now. Their jobs were dangerous enough and sitting and dwelling on it didn't make the situation any better. When Gil was done talking and said he wanted to have time to say goodbye to the ones he loved, all she could think to say was, "I am not ready to say goodbye."
Gil smiled at Sara. He was going on about death and what he'd like to do, and his Sara, sweet Sara, let him know he was loved and better not go anywhere anytime soon. He pulled her up onto the bed with him and held her close.
"I'm not planning on going anywhere anytime soon, Sara."
"Mmmm. That's right. I like having you here to hold on to." She wrapped her leg around his and pulled him closer. They just stayed like that for several minutes, each in their own thoughts and cherishing the feeling of being wrapped in the other's warmth. Sara pulled back a little to look Gil in the eye.
"You know. I think Jim saw you kiss me."
"What?" Gil's eyebrow shot up.
"Well, that's why I pushed you away."
"Oh. I thought it was because of Nick and Greg. I heard Greg down the hallway."
"I did not even notice them until you were gone. But you know, Jim closed his eyes again. Maybe he didn't see, but uh, Gil. If he did..."
"You know, Sara, I don't think he'd even tell us. He respects us both too much to create a scene, especially right now. Besides, he might not even remember."
"Yeah, I suppose your right." Sara smiled at him. "You staying?"
"If you want me to." He brushed a lock of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. He was rewarded with a smile and a very eager kiss. Grissom groaned when she abruptly pulled away.
"What the hell?" Sara jumped up and tightened the belt on her robe. "Someone is at the door. Just, stay here."
"Oh. Ok." Gil sat up and straightened his shirt and waited while she answered the door.
"Hey! What are you guys doing here?" Was she being loud on purpose so he could hear? He got up and pressed his ear to the door.
"Well, we brought drinks, snacks and a deck of cards." Grissom recognized Greg's voice immediately.
"Yeah, I got that beer you like. How do you drink this German stuff anyway." Nick headed over to her refrigerator and put the six pack on a shelf. "Rick'll be here in a few minutes. He's picking up a pizza."
"Guys. Did I forget?" Sara stared at them.
"What?" Greg turned to her. "Why are you in your robe? Were you going to bed?"
"Hey! How's it going, guys?" Gil Grissom called from across the room. Sara's eyes grew wide and she stared at him in disbelief.
"Griss? What are you doing here?" Nick looked at Sara and then caught Greg's eye.
"Oh, probably same as you." He smiled.
"Why were you in Sara's bedroom?" Greg gave him a look that bordered on anger.
"I wasn't. I was just in the bathroom. Which is through her bedroom."
"Oh!" Nick and Greg nodded as they looked at each other. "Right."
"Nice shirt, Boss!" Nick chuckled.
"Thanks, Nick." Grissom smiled at the group.
"So, why the robe?" Greg smiled mischievously at Sara.
"Oh, I was going to change after my shower, but Griss got here before I got the chance. Um, I will be right back." Sara glared at Grissom as she entered her bedroom and shut the door.
"Does that mean she's naked under her robe?" Greg's eyes grew wide with excitement.
"Greg!" Grissom and Nick warned him in unison.
Sara tried to hurry and put on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. When she got back into the living room, Warrick was there with pizza that was being devoured by the guys sitting around her living room.
"Hey, Sar!" Warrick greeted her and smiled.
"Hey, Warrick! Thanks for bringing pizza. Did you get a veggie?" She grinned at him.
"Oh. Uh. No. Sorry."
"Don't worry. I'm not that hungry anyway."
Grissom chuckled from his seat in one of the chairs in the living area. Sara caught his eye and held it for a moment. He just smiled and took a huge bite of the pepperoni pizza.
"So, someone say they brought cards?" Sara stood beside Grissom, the guys having taken every seat in her tiny living area. Nick, Greg and Warrick were crammed on her couch.
"Yeah, right here." Nick said through a mouthful of pizza. He plopped the deck of cards onto the coffee table.
Grissom looked around and realized the men had all left Sara without a seat. He downed the rest of his beer and grinned. He looked up at Sara and gently touched the back of her leg. She jumped a little and looked at him. He smiled and scooted over almost off the chair and patted the space beside him. "Sit with me."
"What?" She looked at the guys, but they were too busy fighting over the last piece of pizza, they didn't notice Grissom's request.
"Just sit." He smiled at her. She couldn't resist his smile. She cautiously sat down next to him, letting her thigh rest against his and smiled slightly, wondering if any of the guys would say anything as to how close they were sitting.
"YES!" Nick grabbed the last piece of pizza triumphantly and took an exaggerated bite.
"Ok, boys. Now that you are done squabbling, lets play some cards! Greggo! Throw that stuff out and make room."
Greg gathered up the napkins and pizza box and placed them on the counter. Nick chomped on his pizza and Warrick began to shuffle the deck of cards. They decided on Poker. Sara decided to have some fun and pretended she didn't know anything about the game. Grissom graciously offered to teach her by letting her watch him play.
Sara leaned in close to Gil to see what cards he was dealt. He put his arm around the back of the chair and leaned in towards her holding out his cards in front of them both. Sara reached up and put her hand over his, holding the cards with him. He looked at her quickly and smiled.
Warrick noticed how close the two workaholic CSI's were sitting. He knew something was up with them. What exactly he was not totally clear. He knew that were getting along well and Sara was certainly being flirtatious with their boss. Last week he suspected that she ran in to give Grissom a goodnight kiss, but he had no proof. All of this wasn't really like Sara, but he was happy if she was happy. They dealt with so much shit day after day, that when someone found happiness, it should be cherished. He knew that all too well, that's one of the reasons he got married. He just hoped that whatever it was between them, that it lasted. He hated when the two barely spoke. The tension made working around them impossible.
Greg sipped his drink and smiled. Sara was in a good mood. He always had a thing for Sara, but he knew she had a thing for Grissom. And why was she in her robe earlier? Had they? Eww. He couldn't even THINK it!! But they both seemed happy. He was glad they were getting along well. Ever since Sara had gotten back from that suspension last year, the tension between tem had seemed to ease. He suspected she was seeing a counselor, but he wasn't sure. He was just glad to see Sara smile again. He looked at Grissom's shirt and chuckled. If they were a couple, she needed to seriously change his wardrobe. Between this Hawaiian print and the straw hat, he didn't know which was worse!
Nick took the last bite of his pizza and got up to get another bottle of beer, asking if anyone else needed one. As he was about to open the fridge, something caught his peripheral vision. He turned to look at Sara and Grissom. Did she just have her hand on his leg? He shook his head and opened the door and pulled out 3 beers and one of Sara's favorite. He put the bottles on the counter and watched his friends. He slowly opened each one so he could continue his investigation. He watched as Sara laughed at something Greg said. That was nothing new. But the look that Grissom had on his face was, well...he knew that look. The man was smitten with Sara Sidle. They all knew that. The two had never let on that anything other than friendship was going on. It was so NOT Grissom to be this way. He was in a Hawaiian print shirt for cryin' out loud! And sharing a chair with Sara is something that he or Greg would normally do, but not Grissom. They were sitting close. Very close. Nick picked up the now open bottles and walked over to his friends.
"Here you go, Miss Sidle." Nick handed her a beer and winked at her.
"Uh. Thanks, Nicky." She turned and looked at Grissom. He had a scowl on his face. She gently placed her hand on his thigh, squeezed, then pulled it away. It was enough to pull him out of his stare. He looked at her in question.
Nick had taken his seat between Greg and Warrick. Sara leaned in to whisper into Grissom's ear. She smiled as she spoke. Grissom smiled and turned a nice shade of red that even his beard couldn't hide.The three men on the sofa watched in awe.
"What's going on?" Greg asked in a sing-song voice.
"What?" Sara feigned innocence. "Nothing is going on."
"Then why did Grissom just turn bright red?" The three men stared at her, waiting for an answer.
"Uh, well, I said, uh- Griss?" She looked to Gil for help. His eyes grew wide when he realized she was waiting for him to tell them what she said that had him blushing! SHIT!
"Oh, uh. She said that, uh I looked good in this shirt, despite what you guys think."
Warrick and Nick chuckled. Greg just eyed him suspiciously. Sara smiled, thankful for the quick thinking on Grissom's part. They continued on with their game, Grissom and Warrick winning most of the hands. The more drinks she had in her, the less aware of her actions Sara became. Soon she had her left arm draped over Gil's shoulder and her right hand on his thigh as she leaned in to see what cards were in his hand. If the guys noticed, they didn't comment.
"MAN!" Nick threw his cards down in defeat. "I'm done. I'll see ya'll tomorrow night." Nick got up and headed to the door.
"Well, if he's leaving, guess I am too." Greg stood up. "He's my ride. Hey, Nick wait for me!"
The two exited Sara's apartment leaving Warrick alone on the sofa and Sara still wrapped around Grissom. Warrick idly shuffled the deck, peering over at the couple in the chair. Did they even realize how they were sitting? Sara now had her arms around Grissom's neck and her head on his shoulder, her right leg flung over his lap so she was laying almost on top of him. She was asleep.
"Uh, Sara!" Grissom pushed her leg off of him. He looked at Warrick. "I think she's asleep. And drunk."
"Yeah, I'd say so." Warrick just watched the couple.
"Sara! Wake up." Grissom was beginning to panic. "Sara!"
"Gil, not now. I am so tired." She mumbled groggily.
"Uh, Hehe." Grissom chuckled. "Must be dreaming."
"Hmmm." Warrick smiled at him. "Need some help?"
"Uh, yeah." Warrick walked over to Sara and leaned in close to her ear. "Sara. Ecklie's looking for you. You better get up."
Sara jumped up and looked around in confusion. "What?"
Warrick and Grissom were laughing. Why were they laughing at her. Oh. Yeah. This was her apartment. Must have fallen asleep.
"Well, I'm tired. So, I will leave so you can get some sleep." Warrick pulled on his jacket. "You comin, Griss?"
"Uh, yeah. I'll be leaving in a minute. Im just going to help Sara clean up."
"Ok. Well, see ya tomorrow." Warrick made his exit and headed out to his vehicle. He sat in his car watching the shadows of Grissom and Sara moving around the apartment. Guess he is just helping her out. As he pulled away, he missed the unmistakable shadow of two lovers in an embrace.
A/N: Well, here's another chapter. I got carried away with the guys coming over, so next chapter will be about Brass. So stay tuned! I will be updating soon! Please R&R!!