"Here we are." Grissom said nervously.
"We're at your house."
"Yes, you said you needed a place to change; my place was closer." He lied, but she didn't need to know that yet.
"Oh, ok." He opened the car for her and took her bag from the backseat. His hand on her back guided her up to the front door. He opened it and allowed her to precede him into his home. She walked a few feet in and waited.
"Right this way to the guest bathroom. Take your time; I'll be right down the hall."
"Thank you." He set her bag down on the counter in the room and closed the door. He practically ran to the kitchen to get everything going. He'd spent the afternoon preparing food for her so that all that would need to be done is heating it up. He started the oven, set the table and lit the candles when he heard the door open.
"Grissom?"
"Coming!" He didn't want her to see anything just yet. On his way, he picked up the red rose that had been sitting on the counter. Sara met him in the hallway. He handed her the flower.
"Here, I picked this up for you."
"Thank you, it's beautiful. Do you have scissors?"
"Yes, they're in my office." She followed him to his desk and wasn't at all surprised to see decorations similar to the ones he had at the lab. He handed her the scissors. She promptly took the rose and cut most of the stem off. Grissom initially worried when he saw the rose about to be sacrificed and smiled when she tucked it in her hair. She then cut some rogue tags and handed the tool back to him.
"There, how's that?"
"Beautiful." he spoke with complete, uncensored, honesty. Sara blushed and he noticed she still had on the skirt.
"I thought you were changing?"
"I did; I'll put my slacks on before we leave for the lab."
"Oh, well right this way." He led her to the dining room and she gasped.
"I hope you don't mind eating here. If you want to go out like I asked…"
"It's perfect, thank you." Sara interrupted him.
"Here, have a seat. It will be ready shortly."
"Can I help?" She asked when he held her chair out for her. She noticed he chose the chair facing the kitchen for her.
"It's all pre-made. I just need to warm it. All you have to do is sit there and be beautiful."
"Is everything ok with you?" Damn, too much! He mentally berated himself.
"Yeah, everything is great. Why do you ask?" He hoped that he sounded casual.
"I'm just getting interesting signals from you. I'm wondering if I'm interpreting them correctly." He entered the room with fresh rolls, butter, and salad. He returned with dressing, olive oil and cheese.
"Here, this is to start. Would you like something to drink?"
"Whatever you're having is fine with me."
"I'll be right back." He rushed to bring her drink and join her at the table. He handed her a drink and sat across from her.
"The main course will take about thirty minutes to heat up, please help yourself." he said, and helped himself to a hunk of bread. Sara sipped the sparkling grape juice. He would have served her wine, but they had to be at work before the alcohol worked its way out of their systems. She also had a piece of bread and some salad.
"Did you make all this from scratch?"
"Everything except our wine substitute. I sometimes cook when I'm stressed or nervous. Don't tell anyone."
"Your secret is safe with me. I'm wondering. Are you sending signals?" He knew she would come back to that.
"What kind of signals are you getting?"
"Flirting and seduction. Am I right?" She was blunt about it.
"Would that bother you?" he asked, not sure why he couldn't bring himself to answer her directly.
"No, but it makes me curious."
"I can understand that."
"Why are you doing it then?" she asked.
"I miss you. We used to flirt all the time. I liked that. We finally got our friendship back to what it was and then I pushed you away again. Now…now I want more; with you, only you."
"Wow." Grissom boldly picked up her hand.
"Is it too late, Sara?"
"This is pretty sudden. Yesterday, you were acting like nothing was ever going to happen. Why the change of heart?"
"There's no change of heart. I've felt this way for a long time. I guess I'm accepting my feelings and acting on them." He hoped that she knew he was speaking from his heart and meant every word.
"What happened with Ecklie?" she asked suddenly.
"Ecklie…well, to be honest, he was part of my change."
"How, exactly?" He felt her tense her body and her eyes narrow in suspicion.
"I'm upsetting you."
"Yes, you are; just tell me everything now." Grissom, even though he felt ready to run, nodded slowly. He told her everything that Ecklie had said to him and then he shared his conversation with Brass and Catherine. Sara stood, causing him to rise as well. She immediately picked up her bag and headed for the door.
"Sara, wait!"
"Why?" She turned and he saw the tears she was barely holding back. He froze in his tracks.
"You're only doing this because it suddenly ok. Now you have permission." She accused him and a part of him couldn't deny it. He took a step forward and she retreated.
"Honey, please don't leave. I told you, that was only part of it, but I have wanted this for years."
"You should have done something years ago." Sara's voice was full of sadness.
"I wasn't ready." Grissom defended himself.
"No, it's because being with me would have meant breaking the rules."
"Sara…"
"If you truly want this, then earn it. I need to go."
"I drove you."
"Please take me home." she said. He knew if he didn't act soon, she was just going to call a cab.
"I'd like you to stay and have dinner with me."
"I'm not really hungry right now." Sara took another step towards the door.
"Can I pack some up for you to eat later? I made it just for you."
"Fine." she said dismissively.
"I'll be right back." He blew out the candles on the table and rushed to pack her some dinner. He was thankful that she didn't shut him out completely like he deserved for his hot and cold treatment of her. He would now have to double his efforts to get what he wanted. Sara stood by the door with her bag on her shoulder and her arms were hugging herself. Her posture screamed, 'DON'T TOUCH ME!'
"Here, I even packed a little dessert for you."
"Thank you." She accepted the bag of food and was careful not to let their fingers touch.
"Sara, would you like to go bowling with me tomorrow?"
"I'll let you know, ok?"
"That's fair; come on, I'll take you home." He sighed and didn't even try to touch her; he knew she didn't want that. Her mood didn't stop either of them from being polite and civil nor did it stop him from being chivalrous. When they got to her place, he walked her to the door and carried her things for her.
"Thank you for the ride, I'll see you later."
"I meant it Sara. I do want this. I know what to do now."
"Prove it. Thank you for going with me tonight. I'll see you at the lab." Sara took her things from him and entered her apartment quickly and then shut the door. Grissom stood outside and listened to her set her things down and flop down on some piece of soft furniture. He heard her voice drowned in sadness.
"…need to talk…thanks." Those were a few of the words he'd heard her say. He decided to leave her alone and go home for a lonely dinner.
Sara was teary eyed when Nick showed up with Warrick and Greg in tow. They brought pizza and ice cream with them.
"Hey, thanks for coming." Sara opened the door wider for them to enter.
"I hope you don't mind, but I brought reinforcements." Nick said.
"No, it's fine."
"What did he do?" It was clear to Warrick and Greg that this wasn't the first time Nick has been over here to console her.
"Who?" Warrick asked.
"Grissom. He went with me tonight to meet the demands of the two men about the magazine and Brass met us there. Afterwards, he brought me to his place so I could ditch the swim suit. He said it was the closest place to where we were going to eat. It went downhill from there." Sara started telling them. The boys made her pause her story to set up the food. She told them the rest over pizza. Greg used a clean napkin to wipe the mascara from her face. She smiled in gratitude.
"I'd be angry too." Nick placated her.
"I'm sorry for dumping this on you." Sara said.
"It's cool. We know you've got a thing for each other. The fact that Ecklie noticed it says a lot, don't you think?" Warrick pointed out.
"Yes, when I asked him to bring me home, he said he wants this. He knows what to do now."
"What does that mean?" Greg was confused so Sara told them all how she met Grissom and about the significant events that have taken place between them since she moved to Vegas.
"Do you want us to beat him up?" Warrick asked and everybody laughed.
"Not today. I may cash in that offer another time though." Sara smiled.
"Just say the word." Warrick was serious.
"So, what are you going to do?" Greg asked.
"I guess just wait and see if he's truly serious or not. Giving him another chance is my M.O."
"He's a lucky guy and he doesn't even know it."
"Thanks Greg."
"So, can we see the magazine?" He asked hopefully.
"Greg, you'd have a heart attack."
"I've seen naked women before." He defended.
"These pictures are really explicit. There are even props in some of them."
"Dude, quit drooling on me." Warrick shoved a napkin in Greg's mouth.
"Oh, hey, look at the time. Thanks for the pity party, but it's time to get ready for work."
"Can I deliver a verbal smack down?" Warrick asked.
"What you do on your own time is your business; just don't hit him, kick him, or in any other way physically contact him. Promise?"
"We promise." They said together. Sara ushered the three men out the door and proceeded to get ready for work. This included another shower.
GSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSGRSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSGRSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSRGSGRSR
A/N: Will Greg, Nick and Warrick honor their promise? Will Sara agree to go bowling with him? Stay tuned and I will post again soon.
Reviews are wanted and appreciated. Have a great day everyone! Kelly