CHAPTER 6: BOYS WILL BE BOYS

A/N: To Mossley and Lasrevinu for their stories. I am re-reading them for inspiration.

Reviews are positively addicting. To Edge 15684---thanks for keeping Sara real.

Sara sped across town to her apartment. She was making a mental list of the clothes that she needed to pack, and the stops she had to make, prior to returning to Grissom. Sara noticed six messages on her answering machine as she dropped her backpack in the kitchen. Three were from Greg who wanted to check in with her and maybe catch a movie. The other calls were solicitors. She grabbed a soda and called Greg.

"Hey Greggo, what is going on?" she asked.

"I was wondering what you were up to? I wanted to see if you were going to visit Nick today," he replied.

"I turned off my phone while I caught up on my sleep, but I was going to head to the hospital in about an hour. I can meet you there at 6:30 if you want," said Sara.

They agreed to meet at the gift shop and Sara hung up. She pulled three outfits from her closet and dresser and threw in some feminine clothes to sleep in. She changed into some black jeans and a green top. She took a deep breath and sat down at her breakfast bar. She would have to keep her clothes hidden instead of using her suitcase. She wanted to pick up a few groceries and a pizza on her way back to Grissom's townhouse. She also wanted to take Nick a couple of magazines and some chilled Barq's root beer. She realized that she better check her mail and started downstairs. Her phone started beeping and the caller ID flashed "Grissom".

"Hey Grissom, are you okay?".

"Yes, I probably shouldn't have bothered you, but I was wondering if you could pick up a refill of my migraine medicine."

"Sure, is it at the Rite Aid near your house?"

"Yes," replied Grissom. "I called it in last week, so it will be ready. I couldn't sleep, so I am just reading in bed. I may ice my ankle some more as long as I am awake. I miss having you here."

"Grissom, I have only been gone an hour," joked Sara. I am meeting Greg at the hospital, and then I will run your errand."

Sara retrieved her mail, including her latest forensics journals and ran back up to her apartment. She was going to have to hurry to meet Greg on time. She watered her plant, grabbed her stuffed backpack and jacket, took one last look around, and hit the lights on her way out the door. Sara had a few spare minutes to stop at Walgreen's and get Nick his supplies. She made it to the hospital with five minutes to spare. Sara was usually early everywhere she went, so she cut it close this time. Greg waved from the other side of the parking lot. He was carrying a big vase of flowers.

Nick was sitting up in his bed in a private room on the fourth floor. His parents had arranged for the private room and had left an hour earlier. He had lots of bites from the fire ants that still caused swollen red marks everywhere his skin was visible. Warrick was slouched in the chair in the corner looking worse than Nick. He had never left his buddy's side.

"Greggo! Nice flowers," Nick teased.

"Nothing but the best for you," Greg responded. "Sara brought the contraband supplies."

Sara had stopped short of Nick to prod Warrick. She woke him from his daze and looked at him questioningly. Nick spoke up and told them that he never left. Sara grabbed Warrick by the collar and pulled him to his feet. She handed the gift bag filled with cold Barq's, Snickers, and magazines to Nick and told Nick and Greg that they would be back shortly. She led Warrick down the hall to one of the visitor lounges.

"Three questions, Warrick. 1. What do the doctor's say about Nicky's condition? 2. When did you eat last? 3. Why didn't you go home and at least take a shower?"

Warrick was muttering how "life was too short". He looked Sara in the eye and said, "It could have been me."

Warrick explained that Nick was recovering well and that he had a urinary infection along with inflammation from all the fire ant bites. They were treating him with IV medication, since he had also been dehydrated. He would be out of the hospital by Saturday and would be back at work in a week or two after that. The nurses had brought Warrick a tray of food each time they fed Nick. Warrick had given the keys to the Denali to Catherine. Later, he realized that his car and his wallet were at the lab, so he just stayed at the hospital. For the first time that she could remember, Warrick truly looked lost. She bought him a soda and told him that she would take him to get his car when their visit was over. He nodded and followed her back to Nicky's room.

The four CSI's joked and talked for over two hours. Greg was telling the story about how he and Sara got naked in order to be decontaminated at a crime scene. Sara was defending herself by telling the guys that she couldn't take her eyes off of Greg. Greg was just starting to describe the tattoo on Sara's left ankle when Nick's phone rang.

"Hey Grissom, thanks for calling," said Nick. "They are all here telling stories, the latest one about Sara's tattoo. Yes, my parents are still in town. Brass dropped by and told me how messed up you were. I am not sure I was paying that much attention that night, but I sure appreciate everything you did for me. Okay, we can talk later. Bye."

The party began to die down when the nurse came in with Nick's latest dose of medications. When Nick started to get sleepy and Warrick had retreated to the corner chair, Sara took the lead and ushered Warrick and Greg out the door. She had had to see for herself that Nick was recovering and she knew they could visit again tomorrow.

In the parking lot, Sara and Greg made plans to go to a movie before shift tomorrow. Sara took Warrick by the arm and led him to her car. They didn't talk on the short ride back to the lab, but he reached out and squeezed her hand once they arrived at the lab parking lot.

"Thanks Sara, I am just going to grab my wallet and then head home. Swing shift still starts earlier than I am used to," he joked. He was tired but assured Sara that he could make it home alright.

Sara headed back onto Sahara towards Grissom's townhouse. She hit the speed dial because she was running late and he would need to take his medicine before she got there. She still needed to stop at Rite Aid, the grocery store, and her favorite pizza stand.

"Grissom, did I wake you?" she asked. He sounded sleepy, but she heard some classical music playing quietly in the background.

"No, I was awake," he replied.

Sara explained that she was running late and still had several stops. Grissom told her to take her time because he was just doing some laundry and a crossword puzzle. He seemed a bit disoriented, but she chalked it up to the medication.

The prescription was easy enough to sign for and the grocery store was deserted at this time of night. Sara picked up some cottage cheese, fresh milk, eggs, coffee, micro brew beer, bagels, and a couple of pastries that looked good. The pizza stand that she favored was closer to her home, but they had a second stand nearby. She got a large pizza with half veggies and the other half with barbecued chicken and a dozen breadsticks with basil dipping sauce. No garlic. She waited the twenty minutes for the pizza thinking about Nick and the guys. Sara was having a good day. She made a mental note to call Warrick near the start of his shift tomorrow to see if he got enough rest.

When Sara arrived back at the townhouse, she brought in the pizza and beer and set it on the table. Grissom had apparently taken a shower and put on some slacks and her favorite blue polo shirt. He moved his crossword and a few other papers out of the way and got up to help her. Sara motioned for him to sit and that she had two more trips to make. She headed back to the car for the groceries and prescription and then back once more for her clothes. Sara put the groceries away, leaving two beers on the counter. She realized that beer probably did not go with Grissom's medication, but she decided to let him be the judge. Grissom had gotten up and grabbed a few forks, plates, and napkins, and both beers. Sara washed her hands at the kitchen sink and then she joined Grissom at the table.

"How is Nick?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Everyone but Warrick is doing well," replied Sara. She told the story of her confrontation with Warrick and how lost he was acting. She mentioned that she drove him back to the lab and that she and Greg were going to a movie before shift tomorrow. Sara quickly added that Brass was taking Grissom to dinner, as a gentle reminder. Sara realized that she was over talking and that Grissom had been almost mute since she got there. He had been devouring his half of the pizza, but something was not quite right with her bug man. Sara began to eat. She finished a slice of her side of the pizza and took several large swallows of beer. Sara waited for some reaction.

"I didn't know you had a tattoo."

Sara took another swallow of beer. It took her a few minutes to realize that Grissom had probably spent some of the time she was gone becoming jealous. The conversation he had overheard from Nick's hospital room, combined with his somber mood upon her arrival told the story.

"Would you like to see it?" Sara replied.

Grissom stammered, but Sara simply spun around on her chair and placed her left leg on his lap. Sara pointed at the hem of her black jeans. Grissom carefully rolled up the hem, like he was unwrapping a gift. He rubbed his thumb lightly over the image. Sara felt goose bumps travel up her leg and Grissom caressed her tattoo once more before unrolling her jeans and setting her foot and leg back on the floor. Sara tried to calmly return to eating her pizza, but she wasn't that hungry anymore. Sara looked at Grissom, studying his eyes for some sense of direction. It had been a good day overall....waking up next to Grissom, eating with him, visiting her friends, and even running some domestic errands. It all seemed very normal to Sara. Normal was not something that Sara knew much about. She reached across the table and took Grissom's hand.

"About two years ago, I told you that I knew what to do about 'this' or more specifically about 'us'," she started. "I still feel the same way and I still know what to do, but you need to meet me half way. I am scared of rejection and scared of being fired, but I have seen a taste of your world, and I want more. I am not sure if you have it to give. I am not sure what you want to share with me, but the ball is in your court now."