A/N - Thanks for the feedback! Hope you enjoy the conclusion. I heart reviews.
Nick got on stage after Sara and sang Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses, saying, "This is what the world is now! You can't escape it!" Brass and Catherine did a hysterical duet of Proud Mary by Ike and Tina Turner, and Greg did a ridiculous version of Open Arms by Journey.
Sara was enjoying herself, not just listening to her co-workers embarrass themselves, but also watching their behavior when they weren't singing. When neither of them was performing, Catherine and Warrick sat close together, talking passionately about something. Sometimes Catherine would get angry and raise her voice, and sometimes they said nothing, just looked into each other's eyes. Sara wondered if this was the last hurrah; one last night before Warrick declared this woman he was seeing as "the one." Usually she wasn't so nosy about everyone's lives, but since hers was moving at such a slow pace, she took pleasure in seeing love blossom between others.
After Warrick sat down after singing another Lenny Kravitz song, Sofia took a shot of tequila, looked at the table and slurred, "My turn." Sofia had been unusually quiet during the evening, but Sara noticed that whenever she did say something, she always tried to get Grissom to respond. Grissom was acting like he always did in a group setting - like the boss trying to take it all in. He was proud of his employees and liked to watch them have fun, but didn't actually want to participate. This was okay for everyone else, but Sofia kept trying her hardest. Sara wanted to tell her. Sara wanted to tell her a lot of things, actually, but it was a pleasant evening and she didn't want to ruin it.
Now, Sara didn't know Sofia that well. She knew a few things about her, though. Sofia and Grissom had dinner. Sofia liked to talk to herself. Sofia once changed her clothes in the middle of a crime scene. Sofia had a strange accent nobody could place exactly. Sofia had a bit of a chip on her shoulder. Sara knew Sofia was probably a nice woman who loved her job in law enforcement and didn't want to rock the boat too much. However, once Sofia got on the stage and sang Bad Girl by Madonna, Sara had no idea what to think.
"She is soooo drunk," Greg said, watching Sofia try to pose as Madonna. "I'm serious; her blood alcohol level must be through the roof right now. There's tequila in her veins. There's--"
"I get it, Greg. Sofia is drunk," Sara said. If she had been a better friend or colleague, she would have dragged Sofia off the stage instead of watching her do...whatever it was that she was doing. It included some kind of gyrating and motioning towards men in the audience, mostly focusing on both Greg and Grissom.
"Bad girl, drunk by six,
Kissing someone else's lips,
Smoked too many cigarettes today,
I'm not happy when I act this way,
Bad girl, drunk by six,
Kissing some kind stranger's lips,
Smoked too many cigarettes today,
I'm not happy, I'm not happy..."
The song went on and on, and Sara had to avert her eyes. Sara noticed Brass also had to look away. However, Warrick, Nick and Greg couldn't seem to take their eyes off her. So predictable. She couldn't tell what Grissom was thinking, since she couldn't bring herself to look at him, either.
While Sofia gyrated, Sara pondered what was really going on here. Sara knew she didn't own Grissom. She didn't get to decide who he dated and didn't date. Sofia was not her competition because Grissom made it clear there was no game to begin with, even if he was looking her way more than usual. So why did she have so much contempt for this woman she barely knew? If anything, she should have felt sorry for the display Sofia was putting out there. It wasn't pretty.
When the song was mercifully over, she turned to Greg. "Let's get out of here for a second. I need some air."
If Greg knew what was bothering Sara, he didn't say anything. She was grateful for that.
They both snuck out the back door of the bar, knowing nobody would see them leave. Catherine was on stage again, drunkenly singing some bluesy song from her youth.
When Sara and Greg got outside, she turned to him and said seriously, "Do you have any?"
"Sara, we both quit years ago. Why would I have any on me?"
"Greg." Sara was not playing around.
Sighing, he sifted through his jacket pockets and came up with a packet of cigarettes. He gave one to her, lit it with a lighter, and they shared a long, hard, amazing cigarette together. They both made a pact to quit several years ago, but sometimes, just sometimes; it was their favorite secret forbidden activity.
While it was Sara's turn to puff away, Greg said softly, "He was looking at you."
"What?"
"Grissom. He was looking at you the whole time Sofia was on stage. He's been looking at you all night long, in fact. Maybe not the entire night, but almost every time I glance at him, he's looking in your direction."
"Whatever," Sara said, frustrated. Even if he was looking at her; even if he was the slightest bit interested, sooner or later it was all going to be moot. Sara would give up and find someone she'd never love as much as him, and he'd go back to being the tired workaholic who occasionally had tea with dominatrixes or dinner with Sofia. What could be was almost what wouldn't be, and it was almost too much to bear. She wasn't going to be the one to initiate it, either. The rejection was getting old. It needed to be him, and she had the sneaking, defeating suspicion that he didn't have it in him.
"Just so you know, and I know you don't like to talk about it or think anyone knows...but everyone sees it. We all think you two are going to end up together. It may take some time, but it's meant to be. And this is coming from the man who used to spend his breaks trying to talk you into having dinner with him."
Sara genuinely smiled for the first time that night. She kissed him on the cheek.
"It's more complicated than that. There's so much on the line. You know?"
"Sometimes it's worth it," Greg said.
She nodded, not sure that else to say. They shared the rest of the cigarette silently.
Before either of them acknowledged it was time to go back inside, Sofia came storming outside, scaring the crap out of both of them.
"Oh! Sorry, guys. I know how to make an entrance, huh?"
"What is it, Sofia? We were about to go back inside," Sara said, barely masking her contempt.
"Oh, good. I was looking for Greg, actually. I signed us up to do a duet. I know, that's lame. But...I thought maybe you'd be into it."
"That depends," Greg said, smiling. "What song is it?"
"I was thinking a little Vanilla Ice," Sofia said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know, let's get the nineties started up in here."
"You're on," Greg said. He looked at Sara and she smiled and half-heartedly punched him in the arm. It looked like Sofia knew who she wanted, and it wasn't Grissom after all. This was somewhat of a relief, but there was still the issue of who Grissom wanted. If he wanted anybody, that is.
Greg and Sofia went back inside, arm in arm, giggling like teenagers. Sara looked out at the glittery streets, wondering what was next for her life. It was July in Vegas, and hot as hell. Sara wanted to throw darts at people who would say the temperatures in Vegas were a dry heat. It was a hot heat, is what it was, and she never quite got used to it. But tonight, just for a few minutes, she wanted to enjoy the warmth that enveloped her, even if it turned her hair and make-up into a hot mess.
Before she could ponder life and what it meant too much, the door opened behind her. She knew it wasn't Greg coming back for another puff. When Grissom was around, every single part of her knew it. She was almost ashamed of how cliché it was, but it was like every nerve in her body knew the second Grissom walked into a room. Needless to say, no one had ever made her feel that way before. When her "crush" on Grissom felt too unbearable to deal with, she'd think about those sensations and nerves, and for a few seconds, she would think the whole ordeal was worth it.
"Hi," she said softly, hoping he wouldn't hear the emotion in her voice.
"Hi," Grissom said. "Are you okay? You've been out here for a while."
"I'm good. I just wanted a little break from all the smoke and bad singing."
The two regarded each other for a few seconds. There was so much to say; always so much for them to say to each other. Sara wasn't going to be the first to speak. She was always the first one, and now it was his turn to go first. He surprised her, and actually did.
"So...how have you been lately?" He asked cautiously, in a way that made her think he was going somewhere with this question.
"Pretty good. I've been doing more yoga than usual, and cooking a lot more, too. Those were suggestions my PEAP counselor last year, and they work pretty well for helping me take my mind off things."
A year ago, Sara wouldn't have been able to talk so freely with him. But ever since he sat with her for hours, holding her hand and listening to her cry after she told him about her parents, she felt like she could tell him anything.
"That is good to hear. I know we've all been through a lot lately, and there's something I'd like to say. Without meaning to sound trite, there's a quote that always reminds me of you. Shakespeare once said, 'It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.' And over the past few months I've learned how true it is. Nick, his destiny was to be taken by a madman to prove a point to the world. He lived through it. He's going to be stronger for it.
"When you confided in me about your parents, I know you took a huge risk. Sara, I know you've been taking huge risks for me for entirely too long. When I see you, and how you overcame your childhood and all the obstacles standing in your way, it makes me want to take risks for you. Your fate was never in the stars. It was always in yourself. And now I want to be the one to bring you the stars. I want to be the one you depend on; the one who lets you cry on their shoulder. You've been so strong your whole life. Now let me be strong for you."
Sara stared at him, wondering how he did this to her. Grissom was always rendering her speechless, always surprising her, and always thinking of new ways to shock her.
"Wow, I...I've been waiting a long time to hear that from you, Griss," she said.
"Let me make it up to you. Please?"
She nodded, her soul reeling from this surreal revelation. Reeling so much that she couldn't figure out what to say or do next. So she smiled up at him, hoping he could read her mind and take things from there.
And again, he surprised her. For the first time since he left her back in San Francisco at the Forensics Academy Conference, he hugged her. It was the warmest, most tender, gentlest hug she'd ever experienced, and she let herself enjoy the hell out of it.
There were many things she wanted to say, but instead, she smiled and said, "I do believe you haven't been on stage yet. Nick's going to be pissed if you don't take a turn up there."
"Oh, right. Karaoke. I forgot," he said, and he squeezed her hand. "Let's go in. I have a song all prepared."
He opened the door for her, and while she walked through, his hand grazed her back. The simple, light touch made her shiver in anticipation. She couldn't wait to explore that sensation more, and she had a feeling she wouldn't have to wait too long.
Sofia and Greg finished their somewhat terrible rendition of Ice, Ice, Baby and Grissom approached the stage. Sara watched him as he took a deep breath, looked at her and winked. She smiled happily, knowing they had things to work out, knowing it would be a bumpy road, knowing it was going to be a huge challenge, and yet ready to take it on. He did it. He finally took a chance. And that was enough for now.
"Um, hi. I'm up here against my will. This is She's Got a Way by Billy Joel. I think it speaks for itself." Grissom gave Sara a long, steady look, and then launched into his song.
Grissom didn't have the greatest voice. His movements on the stage were awkward and he made the crowd erupt in laughter several times, all unprovoked. But his voice had soul. It had a reason, and Sara felt herself turn into mush.
"She's got a way about her,
I don't know what it is,
But I know that I can't live without her,
She's got a way of pleasin',
I don't know why it is,
But there doesn't have to be a reason anywhere,
She's got a smile that heals me,
I don't know what it is,
But I have to laugh when she reveals me,
She's got a way of talkin',
I don't know why it is,
But it lifts me up when we are walkin' anywhere,
She comes to me when I'm feelin' down,
Inspires me without a sound,
She touches me and I get turned around,
She's got a way of showin',
How I make her feel,
And I find the strength to keep on goin',
She's got a light around her,
And everywhere she goes a million,
Dreams of love surround her everywhere..."
Grissom received a thunderous round of applause and drunken compliments, and then, all of a sudden, it was time to go home. His performance was almost instantly forgotten by his tired and inebriated employees. Except for Sara, of course, who could barely overcome her joyful sense of awe. And Greg, who gave Sara a thumb's up.
Jim, Catherine and Warrick took off with Grissom in his car and Sofia, Greg and Nick came back with Sara. Sofia and Greg clung to each other in the backseat, doing some ill-advised making out they were both likely to regret once they woke up with hangovers. Nick sat in the front seat, a cute grin on his charming face.
"So what do you think?" Sara asked Nick as they traveled through the back streets of Vegas. "Is this what you had in mind?"
Nick frowned towards the back seat. "Well, THAT'S definitely not, but yes, I had a great time. It's so nice to get out and take my mind off of everything. And what makes me happy is seeing that my friends are happy. You're happy, right?"
"I'm happy," Sara said. "Why? What did you hear?"
"It's nothing I heard. It's what I saw."
"Oh. Well. That's good."
Neither of them acknowledged Grissom. They drove with the radio turned to the loudest station they could find. Sara dropped Greg off first, who was trying to convince Sofia to come in with him.
"Sara, should I go in with Greg?" Sofia slurred.
"No, I don't think that's a very good idea," Sara said honestly.
"I don't either. Sorry, Greggo."
Sara knew Greg would make her pay for that, but it was true. Sofia was in no condition to be going home with anyone. Greg went inside, murmuring to himself. Sara dropped Sofia off, watching as Nick accompanied her to the door, and then dropped him off a few minutes later. He smiled at her before getting out. "Thanks, Sara. For everything. For everything you've done over the years to prove yourself as my friend. And by the way? You have a beautiful voice. I think Grissom thinks so, too."
"Get the hell out of my car, Nick Stokes," she said, grinning. He smiled one last time before he closed the car door. She watched him walk up the path to his house and disappear inside. She was just so grateful that he got through his ordeal, and even if he would be dealing with the aftermath for a long time, the universe had not taken away Nick Stokes too soon.
15 minutes later, she was in front of the lab. They hadn't discussed it, but Sara had a hunch. And she was right, because three minutes later, Grissom pulled up in front of the lab, too.
"Fancy meeting you here," he said, getting out of his Mercedes. She got out of her Prius. They met on the steps to the entrance of the lab.
"Sure is," she said. "What are you, psychic?"
"I was hoping you'd be here. Do you want to get a cup of coffee or something? Maybe a BLT with extra bacon?" Sara chuckled. He'd been extra careful about the vegetarian thing ever since she freaked out about the meat bullet experiment.
"That sounds perfect," she said. And it was true. She couldn't imagine anywhere else she'd rather be.
They walked to the diner down the street since it was merely very warm and not stiflingly hot. They didn't hold hands, not yet. They talked about karaoke, Hank Aaron, the Cubs, Greg's coffee, Catherine's scary driving habits. They avoided anything intimate. Because they both knew there was plenty of time for that. There was an unspoken agreement in the air now; an understanding, a peace offering. Someday they'd be able to hold hands and talk about what they meant for each other. Because karaoke night? Was just the beginning.