Chapter Nineteen:

Shepherd Saves the Lamb

Grissom tried to remain calm. "Sara, I know it's difficult for you…to let me…while looking like him. Close your eyes…listen to your heart."

She looked fearful, not sure of what they were about to do.

He stood and extended his hand. "Come with me."

She took his hand following him to the bedroom.

"Lie with me, Sara."

She curled her body up next to his.

Her hand rested on his chest.

It was then she noticed the necklace.

He rolled over on top of her.

"I won't take you until you're ready. I know you've never said it but it frightens you…giving someone complete control over your body," he whispered. "I won't do anything that you don't want. I know…what your father tried to do…but your mother stabbed him before he…"

Her breathing came in gasps as if she were having a panic attack.

"Sssh, Sara. To think about previous…hurts causes the sensations you felt to resurface…put it out of your mind."

She nodded as she clung to him.

"Close your eyes, my Sara."

He stroked her hair as he kissed her lips, dropping down to her nape.

She became fully aroused.

"You have to want me…completely," he whispered. "Fully."

She nodded.

Her head turned to the side and she noticed he had purposely placed an ornate knife and a ribbon piece of rope beside the bed.

"I went to…get these earlier. I had no idea I would run into Darius and Vivian."

"Your injuries…"

"I'm…fine. The police swarmed the house and…your Brass can be a bit…overbearing at times. Grissom convinced him I didn't kill her…but we couldn't convince him to just release me so I changed my appearance to resemble Grissom and walked out the front door. I'm sure Grissom will get an ear full from your friend Brass but…Sara, we decided it would be easier…it was a matter of time before we would have to join or…"

She kissed him, rubbing herself seductively against him.

He growled as he struggled to maintain control of the situation.

She pulled at his clothing but he held her back.

"Griss..please," she begged.

He stilled. "Gracen…I'm Gracen…not…"

"I needed…to check…make sure…."

"I know this is hard for you. I wish I could transform but…I can't…I can't risk not being able…"

"Sssh…make love to me Gracen."

His phone rang.

He pushed himself away.

"You wanted me to call you when…he's dead. Gracen is dead," said Brass.

Grissom shut his eyes for a moment. There was no more time remaining. He had to be convincing.

"Thank you…Grissom. Sara won't be coming in for several more days. I'll answer any further questions…in a few days."

Grissom closed the phone.

He turned and was not prepared to see the tears on her cheeks.

"Sara?"

"Why do…I feel…such a loss?" she cried.

"Sara, there's no more time, honey."

She gulped. "It…doesn't feel the way…you said it would."

"It will! Everything is a little off…because you ingested it too quickly."

"Okay," she whimpered.

"Sara, I want you to close your eyes…feel me…just me, okay?"

She felt the bed shift as he left briefly but returned to her side of the bed.

She did not protest when he removed her clothing sliding his naked body between her legs.

"Just like we practiced," he whispered. "You've felt me before."

Her breathing picked up and there was a slight hitch in her voice when she whispered. "No clothing this time."

He smiled. "No more barriers…no more waiting. You're mine, Sara."

Her movements were frenzied as she touched him everywhere.

She wanted him inside her but he quickly stopped her.

"Not yet, Sara. Remember…one last blood joining," he whispered.

She opened her eyes when she felt him rise off her.

He took the knife slicing the palm of her hand.

It stung and she tried to pull back.

"Just a little more pain, Sara…then bliss, I promise."

He sliced his, then joined his hand with hers wrapping the ribbon around them.

Between the two of them they managed to tie it tight.

"Joined, my love…forever," he soothed.

It felt electric as their blood merged.

She relaxed in the bed, pulling him on top of her.

He grinned when he felt her arch toward him.

He continued his onslaught of kisses, dipping between her breasts.

She groaned when his lips suckled softly on her breast.

"I love you, Sara," he whispered.

"Gracen…something…doesn't…feel…"

He positioned himself, plunging deep inside her while their hands remained tied together.

He tried to remain still giving her body time to adjust. There was a stinging sensation followed by a feeling of fullness. He was quite large and she wasn't sure whether her small frame could handle him but with one final plunge, he was buried fully inside her.

His lips left featherlike kisses along her cheeks, her nose and then her lips.

He waited for her to respond. "Open yourself for me, Sara."

Her lips opened and he drank deeply, almost giddy with the feel of himself so deep within her.

He moved gently, slowly, swiveling his hips before burrowing himself deep inside her once more.

She gasped from the assault but she bucked her body toward his in a frenzied state.

His head reeled from the sensations, never feeling this intimate with anyone.

He kissed her just as he felt her body go through the first wave of orgasm. Her moans almost caused him to go over the edge but he slowed, forcing himself to bring her to another orgasm and then he climaxed.

He kissed her lovingly on the lips as she settled beside him.

"That…was…incredible," she gasped.

He smiled. "Only with you."

He closed his eyes for a second.

Please let this work…

Please don't take her from me…

He was still shaky from the effects of Gracen's blood.

Doc had cursed each time he drank it but there was no choice.

He was not about to lose Sara if there was a chance to save her.

He would gladly be bound to her for life.

He would gladly risk his life in order to have her.

Thank you, Gracen…

Thank you for revealing her previous hurts and fears so that I could be convincing…

He opened his eyes immediately when he felt her move away from him.

He smiled when she straddled his midsection, rubbing against his shaft.

He immediately hardened and she took him inside her.

For the next few hours, they made love, trying various positions as they continued their lovemaking.

He finally pulled her to lie beside him.

"Rest…just for a little while," he whispered, kissing her on the temple.

She smiled, scooting as close as she could to his body.

"I love you, Gracen," she whispered keeping her hand entwined with his.

He gulped through the pain.

He lay there listening to her soft even breathing.

It's been more than four hours…

She's not…dead…

With each passing hour, he felt hopeful.

He could not bring himself to sleep, watching over her.

His hands stroked her hair as he dipped down and kissed her forehead.

"Just sleep, Sara….I'll watch over you," he whispered.

He didn't remember when he finally drifted off to sleep.

When he woke, she was still snuggled in his arms, their hands still bound.

Gently he undid the binding and bandaged their hands, marveling at the identical cuts.

She woke and stared intently at him.

His eyes sparkled as his lips came down on hers tantalizing and teasing before settling fully and dipping deeply.

Her hands caressed his arms and then slid to his chest.

Her body stiffened and he suddenly felt afraid for her.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

Her eyes widened as she gulped, "Where is Gracen?"

"Sara…"

"I don't know why I didn't see it before...there's no scar...Gracen had a scar...even when he looked like you! You're not him! Where is Gracen?" she cried.

"Sara…"

Sara scrambled out of the bed, grabbing her robe.

"What have you done?" she cried, her hand covering her mouth as she tried to cover the sob that threatened.

"Sara, Gracen…is dead."

"No! If he dies, then I die!"

"He was dying honey. He had me…ingest his blood….Sara he wanted to give you to me…to give us another chance."

"You're lying! Gracen is not dead. He said…He didn't lie to me."

"No, he didn't honey. He found a way to save you. He gave you to me…to ensure you…"

"I'm not someone's property! I didn't want you!" she yelled. "I wanted Gracen. I chose him!"

It hurt like hell to hear her words. "I love you, Sara. I made love to you…I joined with you."

"I don't want…to be joined with you."

He stepped toward her but she backed away.

"Don't! Don't come near me!" she cried.

"I didn't want to tell you like this," he mourned.

"You said he was alright," she cried.

Grissom raked his fingers through his hair. "Brass and Warrick found him. He was dying. He did this to save you."

"Gracen…is dead?" she asked as if she were having a difficult time comprehending his words.

"Sara, come and sit down. You've been through a lot and…"

"Get out!" she yelled.

He stepped out of the bedroom still pleading as she tossed out his clothes and then slammed the door.

There was a loud crash inside the bedroom as she tossed things about, through a fit of rage, finally slumping into the floor as she sobbed uncontrollably.

His hand grabbed the doorknob but he forced himself to give her some time to come to terms with Gracen's death.

He dressed but there was no way he was going to leave her.

His phone rang.

"Grissom."

"You forgot to check in," said Brass.

"I…she found out…that I'm not Gracen."

"Did you…did you do the ritual?"

"Yes…it's been several hours and there's no indication that it didn't work…but I'm not leaving her."

"Need anything?" he asked.

"Food…and a drink," he added.

"You are going to tell me the full story, right?"

"Yes."

"Gil, the press is going to be all over this especially the way they were killed."

"Tell Warrick to…"

"He's not talking to anyone until he's talked with you."

"Warrick is the lead investigator on the case…only."

Brass was quiet a moment. "Murder or…murder suicide."

"Murder, Jim. Both of them were murdered."

"If the media turns this into a blitz then Ecklie will wonder why you are not on the case or better yet why you have Warrick and not Catherine."

"I can't leave Sara."

"I'll cover."

There was a slight pause and then Brass spoke, "I take it she's upset?"

"Yes," he breathed.

"I'll be up soon. I won't stay…just drop and run."

"Thanks, Jim."

An hour later there was a tap on the front door.

Brass handed him the bags.

"Enough supplies for a few days. Just give me a call if you need anything else."

"Thanks, Jim."

"You look…exhausted."

"I didn't sleep much."

Brass smiled but then covered it glancing toward the bedroom. "Get some sleep."

He put away the food and then tapped on the bedroom door.

He didn't wait for an answer, but walked in.

The bed had been stripped, the linens thrown in the floor.

"Sara, you need to eat," he said softly.

"You don't dictate…what I do," she said huddled in the floor, holding a pillow to her chest.

"Sara, please. You can't go without food. You have a long recovery."

When she did not budge, he left but returned with a plate of food.

"I'll come back later…I'll be just outside the door if you need me," he said softly.

"I want…to see Gracen," she got out through bouts of tears.

"Sara, you can't leave here….not for several days…until…the urge subsides. Warrick is doing the investigation. Doc was there...he tried to help Gracen." Her cries tore at his heart. He raked his hands through his hair. "Sara, he hung on long enough…"

She buried her head into her knees.

He tried to comfort her but she scooted away when he came near her.

He retreated to the living room and cringed when he heard the plate hit the bedroom door.

He opened the bottle of champagne and took a gulp.

Welcome to forever…

Note from author:

Well, they are together and will have to be together...leave a review so we can proceed.

Take care!