Chapter Forty Eight:

Human or Angelic

Within a week Darius was moving about the house with ease.

Sara smiled when he took Matthew out into the back yard, stopping by a tree or a bush and talking softly to him.

Grissom wrapped his arms around her.

She smiled as she turned into his arms kissing him tenderly.

"How was shift?" she asked.

"Not bad," he admitted.

She smiled as Darius saw them and waved.

"He so loves Matthew," she choked.

"Is something wrong?" asked Grissom suddenly, pulling her around to face him.

"He wants Matthew to call him 'uncle'. He says it would be less confusing."

"He told me," stated Grissom. "Sara, I have to say I agree. Matthew is ours."

"I know…but that was a big step for him," she said.

Grissom pulled her back into the house.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Upstairs," he whispered.

She hesitated but then ran up the stairs with him following.

He shut the bedroom door as he watched her undress.

He swallowed, watching the way she moved onto the bed.

He stretched out on top of her, withholding his weight as he kissed her.

"You still don't feel the urge?" he teased.

"Every time I look at you," she replied as she brought his head down, gasping when his lips caressed the tip of her nipples.

She wrapped her leg around his waist, urging him to enter her.

She caressed his cheek, smiling as his blue eyes seemed to twinkle as he eased himself inside her, his thrusts gentle but persistent until he was deep within her core.

She looked up and grinned, "Mirrors? You put mirrors in here."

Grissom halted. "I did not!"

He rolled her over without even withdrawing himself as he stared up at the mirrors.

"Darius!" they both said out loud.

Grissom grinned as she rose up, forcing him to sink more fully within her. Slowly she rocked back and forth, grinning as he struggled to maintain control.

He quickly flipped her, smiling when he'd gotten the upper hand as he dove harder and harder, watching her go over the edge.

He moved to his side, still fully embedded within her, as he looked up.

"Sara, look up," he whispered.

She opened her eyes, and smiled.

"Kind of nice…to see each other come…together," he said as he rocked inside her, watching how she rode out another orgasm.

She opened her eyes and smirked.

"What's so funny?" Grissom asked.

"There are…handcuffs and chains on the bed."

Grissom scrambled onto his knees. "I agreed about the mirrors…but not this."

"So…you were in on it?"

Before he could respond, she had clamped the handcuff on his wrist.

He jerked but couldn't get it off.

"Not funny Sara. Release me?"

She tried to remove it but couldn't. "I don't have the key."

"Then get it!" he barked.

"Don't use that tone with me!" she snapped.

"Sara, release me," he said calmly.

He thought she was going to go after the key but instead straddled his midsection.

"What are you doing?"

"Being a she-devil," she said as she leaned down until her lips were close to his.

"I think you're taking advantage of me," Grissom declared.

"Yes, I am," she grinned. "Just lie back and enjoy….the show."

He grinned as he did just that.

Francis and the others frowned when they were late for dinner that evening.

They took their places as if nothing was wrong.

"Nice of you to join us," stated Brass. "I come for dinner and you don't bother showing up on time."

"Sorry, Jim, I was detained," smiled Grissom as he reached for his glass but Darius caught the red marks on his wrist.

Darius smirked as he turned away.

"Something funny?" asked Francis.

"Nothing," smirked Darius who later yelped when Sara kicked him under the table.

Brass watched the three as he glanced at Francis. "They're not talking," stated Brass.

"Dinner is good," stated Sara to Francis.

"Thank you," stated Francis.

Darius took a sip from his glass. "So…you two find anything fun to do?"

He yelped again when he felt the kick again.

"Ouch Sara! That hurts!" he bellowed.

Grissom smirked.

"He smirked. Are you going to kick him?" asked Darius.

Grissom smirked again but then yelled when he got a swift kick in the shin.

"That hurt Sara!" yelled Grissom.

"I didn't kick you," declared Sara.

She looked in Darius' direction and then kicked him once more.

"Ouch! Well, I didn't do it!"

Brass chuckled and they turned toward him. "Couldn't resist…he was looking too smug. Of course if my wife handcuffed me to the bed then…"

"She did what?" asked Francis.

"It was a joke," she tried to explain. "Darius put mirrors and handcuffs to the bed so I sort of…" she didn't finish when she saw Francis blush three shades of red.

Darius burst out laughing as did Brass.

Grissom took a gulp of his drink. "Nice dinner conversation we have going here."

Brass continued to laugh. "The guys are going to pay big money to know how dinner was tonight."

Sara gawked. "Jim…if you ever want another free meal you better reconsider that thought."

"Wow, she gets rough," Brass replied.

"It would seem so," stated Darius as he moved away so Sara could not hit him again.

"Say, Catherine was a bit disappointed that she didn't get an invite. She wanted to see Darius again," stated Brass.

Sara patted Darius on the back as he seemed to go into a fit of coughing.

"Sara…stop!" warned Darius.

"See if I help you again if you choke," she snorted.

"You know what I mean," he said in a low voice.

"I didn't do anything," she said.

"This Catherine, why does she want to see Darius?" asked Francis.

"She likes him," replied Sara.

"She's human and he's…not," replied Francis.

Silence filled the air.

Darius shifted in his seat.

Sara's eyes shot to Francis and then Darius.

"I was…human and Gracen was half angelic," pointed out Sara.

"Gracen was a watcher and he should have remained one," stated Francis.

Grissom's hand settled on Sara's knee.

"Gracen was acting on his feelings," stated Sara. "His human feelings," she added. "He was part human. He couldn't ignore that part of himself."

She knew her words did not set well with Francis.

"Angels and humans should remain separate," he said firmly.

"But they didn't," threw out Brass between bites. "You got hybrids…half and half or whatever way you want to measure their DNA."

"What am I?" asked Darius. "Am I human or…angelic?"

"You are not human," he said.

"So I'm angelic?" Darius questioned.

"You were born angelic," he said gruffly.

"Born angelic but with demonic tendencies…new classification," bit out Darius, tensing when Sara touched him.

"You don't act on those tendencies anymore," added Francis.

"What are we?" asked Sara.

"Human," stated Grissom.

"You are human with angelic…blood," stated Francis.

"So we can mate with humans or angels," stated Sara.

"You're already mated so that is not an issue," replied Francis.

"What about Darius?" she asked and Darius frowned at her.

"He'll be a watcher," replied Francis, not liking the conversation.

"The sect will never accept me and you know it," he muttered.

"You can still be a watcher…look after your family."

"But ignore any feelings he may have for someone else? He can't ignore the human side that is within," stated Grissom.

"His human side….caused him to act demonic."

"You think his angelic side had no part of that?" spat Sara.

"No!" barked Francis.

"Angels caused their own downfall…by not doing what God intended for them to do," stated Grissom.

"Angels and humans should not mate!" boomed Francis.

"I'm human," stated Darius.

"You're my son….you're angelic," growled Francis.

"Only part of me is…"

"I won't listen to this!" shouted Francis.

Matthew began to whimper and Sara took him from the bassinet.

"Matthew is human…also," gritted Sara.

"He is not!"

"Yes, he is," stated Grissom.

"He carries our blood. He is angelic," declared Francis.

"Two humans conceived him and he is therefore human…the blood is a minor issue," reasoned Grissom.

Darius snorted. "Not the way angels look at…or fallen ones for that matter. Blood is more sacred than…genetics. It is the essence of life."

"Darius is right," agreed Francis. "Matthew carries our blood. He carries Gracen's blood through both of you and then Darius's blood. Darius is his rightful father…by our standards."

"Not by ours!" gritted Grissom.

Francis tried to diffuse the situation. "Grissom, I can understand…how you feel but…"

"Grissom is the father of Matthew…not me," declared Darius.

Francis threw down his napkin. "He's yours!"

Francis took a deep breath, "Look there is no reason why we can't share Matthew. He will have a loving support system and…"

"I agreed for us to live together…so that we could do just that but Grissom is the father to Matthew….only."

Sara's eyes pleaded silently with Darius who spoke up. "I agree. I will not steal what rightfully belongs to Grissom….I would be no better than Silas if I did."

"You did the ritual! The ritual shared your blood with Sara and her unborn child."

"The unborn child was conceived by Grissom…not me. Your angelic rules do not apply here….human rules apply."

"Darius…" Francis was interrupted when Matthew let out a huge wail.

"No more yelling," warned Sara.

"Why don't we agree to disagree," offered Brass trying to diffuse the situation.

"This child is part angelic…just like Sara and Grissom," stated Francis.

"Through blood only," stated Darius. "The ones that gave them life were not part angelic. They were human."

"Blood is the essence of life," bellowed Francis. "There is power in His blood. It was His blood that destroyed…evil. The dagger was only powerful because of the blood. It destroyed everyone in its path."

Darius left the table immediately.

Sara glared at Francis.

"I shouldn't have reminded him," grieved Francis.

"You can't ignore his human side. I appealed to his human side…his feelings and it was those feelings that saved us!" spat Sara. "He should feel free to decide what he wants to do…and if that is mating…marrying a human then you should be supportive of his decision."

"Never!"

Sara handed Matthew to Grissom as she took off for Darius.

"This…attitude separated you from Gracen. Do you want to alienate yourself from Darius?" questioned Grissom.

"Angels and humans should not mate," he said quietly.

"It's too late for that discussion. Darius is part human whether you wish to acknowledge this or not," remarked Brass.

"Who asked you?" griped Francis.

"Well, now we know where Darius get his attitude," replied Brass. "By the way, I'm family too."

"Yes, he is," declared Grissom.

Matthew whimpered but then let out a full blown wail as if he were in pain, causing Grissom to calm down immediately, fearful that his anger was causing the baby's distress.

Sara reappeared immediately along with Darius.

"What's wrong with him?" asked Darius.

"He seems to be in pain," grieved Grissom.

Sara took the baby over to the bassinet and checked his diaper.

The baby drew up his legs as if his stomach was bothering him.

Sara rubbed his tummy, talking soothingly to him.

He cried as if still in pain but Sara seemed to soothe him.

"I'll take him upstairs and see if he will nurse," she said before heading toward the stairs.

"Sara, I'm sorry. We shouldn't have yelled," stated Francis.

"I won't allow that around Matthew...from any of you," she glared as she disappeared with the baby.

"I think we got off lightly. I think she was ready to throw all of us out," snorted Brass.

The room stilled as Matthew's cries continued.

"I'm sure it's just a stomach ache...nothing more," consoled Brass to Grissom.

As evening neared, the baby appeared to give all of the signs of being colicky.

Grissom did not want to leave for work that evening but Sara promised to contact him if Matthew's condition worsened.

"I've already phoned Doc. Right now, he seems to have a tummy ache only. There's no fever," she said as she glanced down at Matthew as he lay in her arms.

"Has he nursed?"

"Not much."

"Maybe, I should stay," grieved Grissom.

"Go…I promise I will call if there is a change," she urged.

Grissom bent over and kissed Matthew.

Darius was standing in the doorway and followed Grissom to the top of the stairs.

"She's worried," whispered Darius.

"So am I," admitted Grissom.

"Could you get Doc to come?" he asked.

"I've already called him," assured Grissom. "Darius, I appreciate you stepping back…allowing us to parent Matthew."

"You are his father," he admitted quietly but then spoke up. "I don't love him any less."

"I know which is why I know that you will keep them safe. I trust leaving them in your care."

Darius stood taller, nodding his head. "I'll watch over them."

Note from author:

Illness and being out of pocket has deterred this story. The last chapter should be posted tomorrow.