"Catherine, please come in." Sara opened the door wider.
"Why are you answering the door? You should be resting with that foot propped up."
"How else are you all going to get in? Gil is busy in the kitchen and I can't help in there either." Sara followed Catherine to the kitchen and Sara perched herself up on the barstool again to resume her job. Sara picked up the knife and the doorbell rang again.
"I will get it. You stay there." Catherine said and once she was out of sight, Grissom came over to kiss her again. Catherine came back in with Nick and Greg in tow.
"How can we help?" Catherine asked.
"You can set the table if you want. I have already set out the necessary dishes." Grissom said and began whisking eggs furiously. He was making a quiche. Sara was busy making the fruit salad.
"Gil, hand me the large spoon so I can mix this all together." He did as requested and the three guests reentered the kitchen.
"The table is set. What else can we do?" Nick said as Catherine went to answer the door again.
"Set this on the table and then help yourself to something to drink. I am going to start a pot of coffee." Sara said and Greg took the large bowl of fruit to the table.
"Sit down and rest your foot. I will make the coffee." Nick said as Grissom put the egg mixture into the oven and set to work on the bread.
"Sara, go on ahead into the living room and entertain our guests. If I need anything, then I will let you know." Sara nodded and led the way into the living room. Catherine was taking drink orders from Brass, Sophia, and Greg. She roped Nick into helping her retrieve them.
"How's the foot doing doll? I miss seeing you at the scenes." Brass asked.
"Feeling fine. I go back in for another x-ray tomorrow. Hopefully this thing can come off. I hate feeling like an invalid especially here, in my own home." Sophia and Jim both had the same reaction, which meant that they didn't know. It was almost comical and Greg actually laughed. When Catherine and Nick returned, Greg explained what had transpired and they too started to chuckle. Warrick and Tina showed up and Greg rose to let them in. Before he could close the door, the final guest made his appearance. Greg closed the door behind Doc Robbins and Grissom was joining the large group in the living room. Sara stood up and reached for her crutches.
"Excuse me. I will be right back." She hobbled away toward the bedroom for a warmer shirt. On the way, she paused to whisper something to her husband, "You missed it. Brass and Sophia have absolutely no idea why they're here. You should have seen their faces when they found out that I live here now." He laughed as she walked away and caught the eyes of the both detectives. They were still both wearing shocked expressions and they still didn't even know the big secret yet. Chances were excellent that the good doctor didn't know either.
"Gil? Could you come back here for a minute?" Sara called him from the bedroom and automatically he rose to join her.
"Excuse me." He said to the group and the only two who seemed to not realize what was going on were Brass and Sophia. He thought he would have a little more fun and he shut the door behind him.
"What's up, honey?"
"I can't find the shirt I want and I'm getting cold. I want my favorite one; have you seen it?"
"It's still in the laundry. I was planning to do some laundry today after everyone goes home. You can wear one of mine if you want." He offered.
"Thanks. I might. Is Brass going to have a heart attack? You really should have seen their faces Gil." She began giggling at the memory.
"Well I think he will be okay. I have a feeling that Al doesn't now anything about it either. Are you okay now?" She had decided on a shirt and was putting it on.
"Yes. Thank you for this. I'm glad that we're finally telling them." He opened the door for her and met Sophia at the entrance.
"Oh hi. I was looking for the restroom." She said and was trying to glance around the room but only saw Sara standing behind Gil.
"Next door down." Sara offered and turned toward the group with Grissom in tow. They were laughing on the inside at her uneasiness. Grissom diverted to the kitchen to check on the meal he was preparing and then rejoined the group. Brass waited until everybody was back in the same room before he started his questions.
"Gil, why are we all here?"
"I will answer any and all questions concerning my marriage to Sara when breakfast has been served." Grissom rose and left the room to get the rest of the food together. Sara watched Brass, Sophia and Al try to internalize this new information. She could almost see the wheels in their heads turning as questions formulated in their minds.
"Sara, please ask our friends to have a seat at the table. Breakfast is ready. Catherine, would you help me serve it?" Both ladies rose. Catherine left to help Gil and Sara spoke.
"Breakfast is served. Please join us at the table." Sara led the group to the dining room where an elegant table had been set for the large group. Each person found seat and waited for Gil to take his place at the head of the table. Sara sat on his right and Brass was on his left. Catherine was next to Brass and on the other side of her was Nick. Warrick and Tina sat on Sara's right side. Sophia sat next to Nick and Al was next to Tina. That put Greg at the foot of the table opposite Grissom. Grissom gestured for everyone to begin passing the dishes around the table.
Casual conversation was taking place and once everyone was served, Brass restated his question.
"You are here because after long discussions, Sara convinced me to let you all in on our secret. Put your glasses down… We have been married for a year and a half. There was no dating. The night that we rescued Nick, I went over to Sara's place and confessed my feelings. We eloped that night and have been together ever since. I finally let the sheriff and the director know about a week ago. I told them that the reason we didn't say anything was to prove that we can make it work without bringing our personal lives into our work and we wanted to keep working together. Neither one of them could figure out whom I had married. After a week of observation and some inside help from Catherine, they agreed that nothing would change at work. It was then that I revealed Sara as my wife. Ecklie was pissed but there is nothing he can do because we have it in writing. We told most of you this last night and we understand if you are angry with us, but with such a large secret, we didn't want it to get out of control. So, the less number of people that knew, the better. We're sorry for not telling you all sooner." Grissom explained.
"Why tell us now? You have been successful so far." Greg asked and Grissom looked at Sara to answer.
"We want to have a baby. I didn't want anybody to think that I went to the sperm bank if and when it happens." By the smile on everybody's face, Grissom and Sara assumed they were forgiven. Greg got Nick to join him and they ever so gently tapped on their glasses. Soon everybody was joining in the chorus.
"This is the one time I am going to do this for you today, so pay attention." Grissom announced and stood. He held his hand out to Sara. Mindful of her foot, he captured her face in his hands and kissed her. They were careful not to let it get too heated since they had guests. The applause broke their reverie and they both blushed and sat down. Sophia seemed a little depressed since seeing the two of them in the bedroom, but she was trying to put on a good mask. Gil and Sara both noticed what was going on. They both knew that she had a crush on him.
After breakfast, the ladies were cleaning up, except Sara. Tina and Catherine wouldn't let her leave her bar stool. Sophia stood to help as well, but Grissom stopped her.
"Sophia, can I speak to you for a moment?" She nodded and followed him to a more private area near the front door.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"I will be."
"You seem a little depressed; what's wrong?"
"Just a little sad today; that's all. Trust me Gil, I will be fine. There are other fish in the sea. You and Sara seem really happy together. I am happy for you both." Grissom caught the depressed tone she was trying to cover up.
"We're still friends right? You know you can talk to me about anything."
"I know. I'll go help in the kitchen now." Sophia turned and left quickly. Grissom was lost in thought and that is where Nick found him.
"Hey Grissom, you alright?"
"Yes. Are you?"
"I'm great. The food was delicious. Come back and join us." Grissom followed the younger man to where the rest of the men were.
"We've decided that you are going to have a good bye bachelorhood party. Don't argue with us. We took Warrick out to celebrate his marriage and now we are going to take you out." Brass said and Grissom had no defense until he heard the ladies returning.
"You will have to ask my keeper." He grinned at Sara and wrapped his arms around her. Sara was confused.
"Sara, can Grissom come out to play? We promise we'll bring him back in one piece." Nick said and everybody laughed, including Sophia. Her spirits seemed to have lightened a little.
"Where are you going to play?" Sara questioned.
"A bar. We are taking him out to celebrate his marriage. Can he come, Sara? Please?" Greg begged and she grinned at him. Tina leaned forward and whispered something in her ear. Grissom, who was standing right behind Sara, was struggling to hear some of the words.
"I'll think about it and let you know." She dampened the spirits of the men in the room. She saw them getting ready to argue with her and she put up her hand.
"If you argue with me, then I will say 'no'. Be happy with the 'maybe' I just gave you." The women mentally applauded her because they all remembered the last time they all went out drinking together. Each and every one of them had a terrible hangover and made them grumpy at work the next evening. That's what Tina reminded her and consequently influenced her decision. They all sat and talked for about another hour or so then one by one, went home.
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A/N: In the next chapter, trouble is afoot in the Grissom house. Any predictions?
Thank you all for the reviews. Have a great day! Kelly