Must say, love the amount of people who seemed to think strip poker, although can't say I wasn't tempted to do that instead.
Hours later they were still playing cards and having fun like they hadn't had together in years, all conflicts forgotten for the time-being, laughing and joking like true friends. Sara slowly losing her hoard of matchsticks to Grissom, she might have beaten him every hand in blackjack, but he was beating her at poker without a doubt.
She still couldn't spot a single tell from him whereas he could read all of hers. She could only watch as her pile of matchsticks diminished and went over to Grissom's side of the table, she stopped him as he tried to deal the next round.
"OK, Griss, you're killing me here, I think we need a change of game, and some food."
"But I was only just starting to beat you again. Ah well, can't win them all. What are you in the mood for? Takeout?"
She nodded eagerly and stood up, walking to the bedside table she rummaged in the drawer until she found a bunch of takeout menus. Sitting down opposite him again she individually threw them onto the table, "Right, we have, chinese, indian, pizza, burgers and thai."
Grissom flicked through them, "I'm thinking chinese. Is that alright with you?"
Sara picked up the menu, "I'll have a 92 with 13 as a side, and a coke." She watched as Grissom dialled the phone and ordered their meal, grabbing her purse she pulled out her half of the money as she thought. Not having a major discussion today had been the best idea, she had regained a bit more perspective now, she was ready to hear him out instead of just taking charge to prove she could and walking out just because she could. He was right, they did need to resolve issues, even by now they still hadn't been able to make eye contact since she had arrived. She glanced out of the window, it was nearly evening, no wonder she was starting to feel tired. She decided to have the takeout, maybe play another round of cards then call it a night, get onto normal time by actually sleeping at night instead of working and then start dealing with Grissom tomorrow, she was just going to enjoy the rest of tonight.
He hung up and pulled some cash out of his wallet and came back to the table.
"Alright, what game are we playing now?"
Sara thought for a moment, any complicated games he could beat her in easily, she smiled slightly, "Snap" she decided, and started dealing out cards before he could disagree.
He didn't look happy but didn't say anything.
Sara was just starting to take the lead again when there came a knock on the door.
Grissom got up, answered the door, took the food and paid the delivery guy.
He came back over and Sara handed him the cash she'd pulled out of her purse earlier.
He handed her her food but refused to take the cash.
"Grissom, take the money, I'm paying my half."
"It's fine, I've got it."
"Take the money, I can pay my own bloody half, you don't have to be a gentlemen here, we're not here on a date. God knows if we were we wouldn't only be talking about intellectual things and there would still be chemistry between us."
She muttered the last sentence and Grissom finally accepted the cash, continuing to eat in silence.
Grissom mused on what she had said. He had been feeling a mounting attraction for her all day, while it seemed the opposite had happened to her. He felt his spirits sink as he thought about it, the only positive thing he could find was that she had thought there was some chemistry there to begin with, but if it was gone then she was only interested in his mind. She could just be his friend if she only wanted to talk to him and he was now craving a relationship with her more than he ever had before.
The meal continued on in silence until both were just sat, neither eating or wanting to resume the card games.
Eventually Grissom stood up, collecting their rubbish and putting it the bin, Sara stood up a moment later. "Well, it's been a long day, I'm reckon we call it a night and I'll see you in the morning."
Grissom nodded. "I'll walk you to your room."
"Grissom, it's next door I can manage to walk there on my own."
"Well, I want to walk you back, and besides, I left my jacket there when I brought the bags up."
Sara nodded silently and headed towards the door, she sent Grissom a look as he made to open the door for her.
He swiftly pulled his hand away and followed her out of the room.
Grissom was feeling extremely down when they reached her door, he waited outside while she grabbed his jacket, he wasn't trying to be patronising but he'd been brought up to act like a gentleman and the fact that he couldn't just made him feel worse considering Sara no longer seemed to feel any attraction towards him.
Sara handed him the coat, said goodnight and began to shut the door.
Grissom suddenly flung out his hand and stopped the door where it was, pushing it open again.
"Sara, did you mean what you said earlier?"
"What did I say earlier?"
"That there was no chemistry between us anymore."
She coloured slightly but remained firm, "Well, there isn't. Before I used to tingle everytime you touch me and now nothing, it's been too many years with nothing happening and too many fights and the spark has just gone. You can't still think it's there?"
Grissom looked at her, still not daring to make eye contact, slowly he leaned towards her and laid her hand on her cheek, he carried on leaning forwards and gently pressed his lips against hers for a second before pulling back.
Sara looked down for a second before lightly touching her lips and looking up at questioning expression.
"I'm sorry, Grissom, I just ... didn't feel anything."