A/N: A new chapter...enjoy!

After Effects

Chapter 2

Gil Grissom moved the letter across the desk; for three days, he'd been transferring it from one place to another but it had not left the top of the desk. His finger tapped the wooden surface while his eyes moved to the scene outside where his wife watered her tomato plants.

His hand moved to his chin where his fingers raked through his short beard. His thoughts turned to the past as he smiled, watching the present-day circumstances of his life a few feet from him. Sara had moved from tomato plants to toys.

Most people his age had grandchildren older than his own; he chuckled, remembering more than once when he had been mistaken as the grandfather of his children. The years before their births, he had never given much thought to being a father yet when a baby had suddenly been cast into their lives, he and Sara had realized, without saying words, they were meant to be parents to the little orphan infant.

Almost nine months later, their sons had been born. Twins; never in their dreams had they thought they'd have twins. His grin grew across his face as he watched Sara moving across the shaded deck. A table filled with water and sand was the current favorite play thing and Sara added more water to the tray.

For the first time in their young lives, the children were spending mornings away from home. To Grissom—and Sara—this was bittersweet; the kids were thriving, making friends, learning and absorbing knowledge at an amazing pace while he and Sara had a few hours of quiet to work on several projects.

Leaning back in his chair, his thoughts went to the children.

Cate, the sweetest child he could imagine, was clearly the leader for her brothers. The two boys, named after their close friends and affectingly called Jay and Gray from the moment their sister had shortened James and Gregory, looked to her for approval, openly admiring anything she did.

For the first time in their lives, they were with other children and, so far, having a positive experience, happy to walk to the child care center every morning.

He chuckled as he picked up the letter again. In his old age, he had been given an incredible gift—three beautiful, mostly well-behaved children and an amazing breathtakingly-lovely wife. The letter's words blurred until he wiped thumb and finger across his eyes. He glanced at the deck again; at Sara's movements.

Watching her was enough to cause a familiar warmth to spread in his groin; he shifted in his chair. He had grown to appreciate preschool and the absence of three young children for several hours a day had brought an invigorating renewal of passion.

His eyes went back to the letter.

The invitation was one he—and Sara—had dreamed of for years. A generous offer to be aboard one of the top research vessels in the world for a two weeks; and he was going to turn it down.

Sighing, he placed the letter on the desk; he stood, smoothed the fabric of his jeans over an increasing erection, and walked outside.

A short time later, he folded the clean bed sheet back as his wife walked into the bedroom; her hair was down and damp from a quick joint-sex stirring shower. She wore his shirt and as she moved, it swayed open, showing her almost naked body beneath it. Propping himself on an elbow, he smiled as she walked to the bed.

She looked down at him as he reached for her hand and as she moved closer, the shirt seemed to move on its own, falling from her shoulders and sliding to the floor. Smiling, she pushed his shoulder so he rolled back onto the bed. Climbing over him until her thighs gripped his ribs, she smiled down at him.

"Now, let's see what you have in mind," she said as his hand slipped under her bottom.

Afterwards, laying just on the edge of sleep, a cool breeze blowing into the bedroom, reluctant to let go of the satisfied happiness he had experienced, Grissom drifted, full of contentment, greedy for recent events to pass through his mind again, when Sara said, "What's your decision?"

He stirred, moving so his lips touched her left breast before he spoke. "We can't do this—I'm going to call him."

Sara kissed the top of his head and ruffled his hair with her fingers. "I think we can do it."

Lifting his face so his eyes met hers put his mouth against her chin. As much as he would have liked to remain where he was, he scooted upward and pulled her into a hug. "How can we do it? Take three kids—under the age of four—on a research ship for two weeks? I can't…"

She stopped him with a kiss. "We'll do it." Softly, she laughed and raised her hand, using her fingers to count. "They've been on a boat as long as they can remember. They have good sea legs. You've worked for how many years—writing reports, dissecting dead animals, speaking at seminars. You are well-known." She lifted her thumb, adding, "And we'll all be happy! If you turn this down, we may never get another opportunity like this. And they asked you—us—the letter says 'Sara and your family'—he knows you have three little kids."

She felt his sigh before he said, "I don't know how we'll do it. The kids are great on our boat, but—but—this is a big ship."

"I'll tie a rope around their waists and hang a bell around their necks."

Her joke was an old one.

Kissing her again, he did it so she knew she was being kissed, making her breathless when he finally released her.

"Whoa!" Sara whispered, giggling as she said, "We've got kids to pick up in about forty minutes, big guy!"

Eight weeks later, Grissom, Sara, and their three small children looked up at the massive ship with a slim gangway stretching from the dock to a deck high above their heads. Someone had taken their luggage on a small hand truck which had disappeared into the ship.

Unsure of their next move, they stood quietly, holding hands; Sara was the first to notice the golf cart coming in their direction.

"Welcome, welcome! Let's get aboard!" The voice boomed as the silent cart came to a stop. The ship's captain, Jake Hudson, jumped out of the driver's seat, taking hurried steps to reach the family. He rose on his toes to kiss Sara on both cheeks before taking Grissom's hand and pumping it several times.

Then he turned his full attention to the three children.

With his mop of white hair that had not seen a comb or cutting in some time, his black frame glasses that magnified his eyes, and a nose that resembled a lump of clay, his appearance was faintly ridiculous, almost monstrous, and could easily have frightened most people. But he radiated sweetness with every word and glance. He seemed to find affection and approval from everyone.

During a previous meeting, he'd met Cate, Jay, and Gray and, today, their hands loosened tight grips as he formally shook hands with each, touching each shoulder, laughing as he invited the children to sit with him on the bench seat of the golf cart. Sara and Grissom scooted onto the rear seat piling the small backpacks between them.

In minutes they were on the ship and riding in an elevator while sitting in a golf cart. The kids were laughing and talking with the ship's captain as if he were an old friend by the time the elevator stopped and opened on the main deck. A flurry of activities followed; meeting other crew members and establishing a route to common areas as they toured the ship, they finally opened the door to a series of connected cabins.

After inviting the children to join him for dinner later, Captain Jake left them with their bags stacked in the middle of the first room. Silence followed for eight seconds; then kids were running around parents, scrambling over bags, climbing on chairs to look out of the funny round windows.

Grissom looked at his wife, shrugged his shoulders, and laughed before saying, "I was beginning to worry—they'd been so quiet."

A/N: We appreciate hearing from you! Keeping GSR alive!