CHAPTER 13: Goodbye Vegas

True to his word, Grissom kept Sara tethered to the lab and PD buildings during her Wednesday night shift. In all fairness, Brass and Sara brought in a number of suspects to re-interview in the mini market burglary case. As they waited for the next suspect, Brass grinned at Sara.

"You're taking a three day weekend?" he asked.

"Not really," she replied.

"Care to elaborate Ms. Sidle?"

"I got called in to work last Sunday and I am maxed out on overtime with Nicky's case," she said. "I think Ecklie or Grissom must have just changed the schedule."

"Are you doing anything special?"

Sara shook her head to indicate "no" and just said "sleep".

The next suspect was brought in to the PD interrogation room. Edna was a petite, grey-haired lady of eighty eight years of age. She denied knowing any of the other ladies pictured. She gave a voluntary DNA sample. The more they chatted with Edna, the more nervous she got. Finally, she confessed and turned her purse over to Sara. Inside, Sara found a handmade tool which looked similar to the marks found on the slot machines. Edna and her gang of older ladies decided to supplement their social security incomes by popping the cash bins on the older slots. They only picked on the mini markets that they shopped in and so their comings and goings looked normal. No one searched their large purses when they left and no cameras were focused right on the slots. Archie broke the case by watching the patterns of the customers and finally realized that six little old ladies were familiar in each store. Brass had a team watch the stores until they identified all the regular patrons. Edna confessed and named names. Case closed.

Sara headed back over to the lab for lunch. Grissom tracked her down in the break room and she told him about Brass' line of questioning. She asked Grissom what she needed to pack and what time they needed to leave. He told her to wear a nice outfit for dinner Saturday night and that he was going to pick her up at her house around four p.m. They could come back on Sunday or Monday, whichever she preferred. Warrick came in from his case and the talk turned to poker. The game was at Nick's house as soon as the shift was over. Warrick was confident that he could take Grissom this time. Warrick and Sara headed to the layout room to work on the double homicide they had caught the day before. Grissom headed back to his office to finish his paperwork for the night.

Thursday and Friday flew by. Grissom beat Warrick in poker again and Nick was just about a week away from returning to the job. Sara finished her shift and spent her day off shopping and packing. She bought a cocktail dress and new sling-backs, plus some new lingerie. It was probably the most clothes shopping she had done in a year. She still didn't know much about magic date number three, but she knew they would probably have to leave town for some privacy. She packed some nice jeans and set out her favorite jacket as well. She was ready to leave Friday night, a full day early.

Grissom stopped by her apartment on his way to work Friday. He took her hand and walked her to the balcony to do some star gazing. Sara did not have quite the view of Red Rock Canyon that they had seen on Wednesday, but his arms felt the same when he wrapped them around her. Grissom was getting nervous about their date. Sara sensed that something was wrong and turned around to face him.

"Gil," she asked. "What's wrong?"

"I can't believe that all I have ever wanted is right here in my arms. I just don't want to mess this up Sara."

"We can't mess this up as long as we take the time to work through our concerns," she replied. "Neither one of us is great about saying how we really feel."

Gil squeezed her tight and then caressed her face. He gave her a soft kiss goodnight and headed off to his shift. His last shift on light duty. He called her every two hours, until she finally told him that she was going to try to get some extra sleep.

At four p.m. Saturday, one Gilbert Grissom arrived at the doorstep of one Sara Sidle. He was dressed in a charcoal grey suit with a white dress shirt. He held a single orange rose as he knocked on her door.

Sara opened the door and pulled in the defenseless criminologist. She kissed his beard and worked her way to his mouth.

"You look very nice," she said.

Gil broke away and stepped back, taking in Sara's short black cocktail dress, tasteful jewelry, long legs, and sexy shoes. He extended the rose towards Sara. "You are so beautiful!" he responded before returning a kiss.

He picked up her bag while Sara grabbed her purse and locked up the apartment. Gil opened the car door for Sara and then stowed her bag in the trunk. Minutes later, they were on the 15 freeway headed South out of Las Vegas.

"Are you going to tell me where we are going?"

"You trust me, don't you?" he asked.

"Well, yes, but I did check the forensic journals and web sites to see if there were any cockroach races within 200 miles of Las Vegas."

"And?" he said.

"No...I think this really is a date." Sara gave Gil a huge, sincere, tooth gapped smile and reached over to take his hand. She followed the life lines on his palm before turning his hand over and wrapping her fingers around it. She settled back in her seat without bothering to tug her dress down, exposing lots of skin to go with the incredible dress.

Gil kept his eyes on the road as he headed Southwest. Within an hour, the outline of Primm appeared in the distance. When Sara caught sight of the roller coaster, she started a mild protest. Grissom was quick to allay her fears.

"Sara, I wanted us to be able to hold hands, and enjoy dining out, without the immediate worry that one of our coworkers may see us. I am not ashamed of our relationship, but we both know that we are walking a thin line at work. I wanted to take us away from it all. Yes, they have a roller coaster, but it is not why we are here."

Grissom pulled his car into the valet lanes of the hotel; their car and their luggage headed in separate directions. They registered in the lobby and Grissom stopped by the concierge desk. Stan greeted him as Dr. G and confirmed their dinner reservations before handing him an envelope with some tickets. It turns out that Grissom was well known here in Primm. Sara was amazed at the suite that he had reserved for their date. There was a bottle of champagne chilling on the table, a huge jacuzzi spa, and an enormous bed. The view took in the surrounding mountains as opposed to a neon glare. Minutes later, the bellman brought their luggage to the room. Then they were alone.

Gil poured two glasses of champagne and held one out to Sara.

"To us," he said.

They clinked glasses and drank and then Gil filled Sara in on the details of their date.