Chapter 9
Grissom opened his eyes and was nearly blinded by the light coming through the windows. He covered them with his hand as he reached for the blanket and came in contact with bare skin—"his" bare skin. He never slept in the nude. What the hell? He sat straight up, visions of six months earlier popping into his head when he woke up under similar circumstances. Sight of the woman sitting Indian-style on the other side of the bed, watching him, told the story of what had happened over the past. . .he looked at the clock. . .fourteen hours? Well, granted, they slept through a good many of the past eight hours, but the first six hours were beyond words.
He rubbed his hand over his face in an attempt to wake up more fully then looked at Sara again. She looked amazing as she sat there wearing a button-down shirt and nothing else. It was opened at the throat and revealed a bit of her cleavage, then was opened again as it flowed around her stomach and she looked like a dream as she smiled at him.
"You're up," he said stupidly. "How long" have you been up?"
"About half an hour," she told him as she pushed her hair behind her ear. "Are you hungry?"
He simply looked at her a moment as he realized he hadn't eaten anything since their ice cream escapade the day before.
"Uh—yeah. Very."
"Oh, good!" She scampered across the mattress and reached behind him to the nightstand. "Sit back."
He moved until he was leaning against the headboard with the sheet pulled across his lap and she knelt next to him holding a plate of scrambled eggs.
"Have you eaten yet?" He asked.
"No. I thought I'd share." She got some of the egg on her fork and moved it toward him but dropped it onto the sheet. She looked irritated at it before looking back at him.
"Here," he suggested as he spread his legs. "Sit here."
She got an amused smirk on her face. "Already? While we're eating?"
He chuckled at her. "I didn't mean to sit "on" it. I meant to sit in front of it."
She gave him a smile that told him she had known what he meant as she moved until she was kneeling between his legs, facing him. This time, she moved the dish closer to his mouth as she gave him a bite. She took a bite for herself and spilled it anyway, having it land down the front of her shirt.
"Ah, man! I don't know why, but I can't seem to eat when I'm around you! I'm always spilling something."
"I don't mind," he reached inside her shirt and pulled the egg out then put it in his mouth. "It gives me an excuse to touch you."
She raised a brow as if she approved of that thought then got another bite for herself. "Do you have plans for today?"
"I should go to the university and see about setting up my things. I'll be starting Monday morning and I'd like to get a little preparation done. What about you?" He took the bite she offered him.
"I have to be to work in an hour and a half." She took another fork full of egg. "Would you like to use my car? You could drop me off then pick me up when I'm done."
"You're going to need your car. I'll call a cab and get a rental." He took the dish from her. "Let me do that. You look extremely uncomfortable."
"I'm fine." She hesitated between bites as she looked at him. "When. . .is your friend supposed to arrive?"
"Tonight. I told her I'd see she gets settled in."
Sara dropped her gaze and nodded as she stabbed another clump of egg but instead of feeding to either herself or him, she simply put the fork down and handed him the plate then got up from the bed. "Here. You can finish it. I'm not hungry and I have to shower and get ready for work."
"Sara," he tried as he watched her go to her dresser and start getting clothes.
"No. It's fine. You have things to do. I have things to do. I—uh—can't "tell you what to do." I mean, for all we know, by the end of the weekend, you and I may decide we never want to see one another again. It isn't as if we decided to get married and raise a kid together." She turned and started out the door.
Grissom put the dish of food down on the bed and jumped up to go after her but paused and thought at this point it probably would be better to put some pants on. He quickly grabbed his jeans and pulled them over his legs then started after her again but by the time he got to the bathroom door, it was locked and he could hear the shower running.
"Sara!" He called through the door and when there was no answer, he tried again. "Sara!"
"I'm taking a shower, Grissom. It'll have to wait." Sara's voice sounded friendly enough but there was something off about it.
Grissom looked around at the small table in the hallway searching for something he could use then started searching through his pockets and after a moment he pulled out a paperclip which he went about straightening.
"Sara, I'm not going anywhere. I plan to be involved with this baby's life. I helped create it, whether we planned it or not—I'm going to be there for it."
Grissom inserted the end of the paperclip into the center of the door handle and started probing it.
"That's nice to hear, Gris," She said enthusiastically but still he could hear something. "But I'm taking a shower right now and I need to get ready for work. Like I said, I have to be there in about a half an hour. . ."
"I thought you said an hour and a half," he said as he kept probing the little hole in the center of the knob.
"Right. An hour and a half. Anyway, it will take me about an hour to get ready, and I've got about a thirty minute drive. I always like to stop and pick up coffee for the guys on the way and that can take up to ten minutes or more. . ."
Grissom pushed in the appropriate spot and the lock popped open, allowing him to open the door and walk inside where he found her sitting on the hamper, holding onto her clothes and looking extremely miserable. Upon sight of Grissom she jumped and nearly knocked over the hamper.
"Sara, honey. . ."
"Dammit, Grissom! I might've been using the toilet! Can't I have "any" privacy?"
"You said you were using the shower, not the toilet."
"Well, do you think I'm going to yell out, "hey, Gris, I think I'll use the commode right now?" No! I might not be as refined as your "Dr. Miller" but I'm not that vulgar yet—at least not after only having sex with you for one night! You don't tell someone you use the toilet until you've been with them for . . . I don't know. . .at least six months or a year even!"
"Sara, I think I'm aware of your need to use the toilet. You "are" human."
"That's not the point! If I wanted you to know I was using the toilet—I'd tell you—but I don't want you to know!"
"But you're "not" using the toilet."
"Oh." She looked at the porcelain throne they were discussing then back to him. "But I "could have been!"
He sighed heavily and rolled his eyes, getting completely lost in their conversation. "Fine! May we talk when you come out of the bathroom?"
"Fine. Whatever. I don't know. If I have time. Now go." She went to the door and held onto the handle gesturing for him to leave then mumbled as she closed the door. "I bet you wouldn't walk in on "horse-face" if "she" were in the bathroom!"
Grissom went back to Sara's bedroom and gathered his things then took them to the room he had been staying in. His phone went off and he cursed as he looked at the caller ID, took a deep breath then flipped it open.
"Hello, Terri."
"Gil. I caught an earlier flight and am waiting at the airport right now. Would it be inconvenient for you to pick me up?"
Grissom felt as if he had been kicked in the chest. Damn! His first thought was that if he left now, Sara would really be upset. His second thought was more primal as he remembered what he had been doing before he went to sleep the previous night, and although they had both just showered, he was positive his stubbled face carried the scent of the beautiful woman he had been with. The last thing he wanted was to go pick up Terri like this.
"Um, Terri. I don't have a car yet. Could you call a cab? I'm sure it'll be faster at this point, even if I did have a car and could get you."
"You don't have a car yet? How are you getting around? You've been there for two days, haven't you?"
"Yes, but I didn't get around to renting one yet. I was going to do that this morning after I showered."
"Alright," Terri said a bit coolly. "I'll call a cab. When do you think you might be able to meet me and show me around campus?"
"I—don't know, Terri. Like I said, I've still got to shower and rent a car. I probably won't be able to get to your hotel until nearly lunch time."
"Well, maybe that would be better. It will give me time to freshen up then we can grab something to eat. Do you have a pen, you can write down the hotel and room number."
Grissom took the information then left the paper on the dresser. He went back to Sara's room and grabbed the plate of food then returned to the kitchen where he finished what was left over. By the time he went to the rear of the apartment again, she was already in her room with the door closed and after the encounter in the bathroom, he had no desire to walk in on her until they reached some kind of understanding. He looked at his watch and noticed she was most likely still going to be there for another forty-five minutes which would give him time to clean up then talk to her after she was finished getting ready for work. He grabbed some clean clothes and disappeared behind the bathroom door. A quick shower and shampoo and he was back out within twenty minutes but he found the apartment empty.
He finished getting ready for the day but paused upon sight of one of his dirty socks on the dresser next to the note with Terri's hotel and room number. Clearly Sara brought over the piece of clothing he had left behind when she found the note. It was just as clear that she left early so she didn't have to face him. It was the beginning of an eventful day, he thought with a deep sigh then finished getting ready and called a cab which took him to the car rental.
Over two hours later he was driving from Sara's apartment with the supplies he wanted to take to the university where he unloaded and started to unpack his things in the office they had assigned to him. By twelve-fifteen he was walking into the hotel lobby where he waited for Terri. It took another half hour until she joined him and they went to a restaurant down the street that seated them and took their orders. The atmosphere was semi-formal which suited Terri and made him glad he was wearing a jacket.
"Well, finally," Terri sighed as she spread her napkin across her lap and looked at him. "I was beginning to think I was "never" going to get a meal out of you, Dr. Grissom."
"I'd say it looks like we're going to make our way through lunch without interruption."
"So, Gil, you never explained how you were getting around the past two days without a car. I would imagine that would've been one of the first things on your agenda. I know it's on my "to-do" list. I plan to pick one up after lunch."
"Actually, I didn't go many places where I had to drive. And when I did, Sara drove her car."
"My, isn't she the good Samaritan." Terri said tightly. "You must have made quite the impression on her last spring."
"I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet Sara. She's an extraordinary person. I suspect, since we'll be working at the same university for the next several weeks, you'll have the opportunity to meet her."
"Really?" She picked up the glass of wine she had ordered and took a sip. "She isn't still affiliated with the university is she? I thought she was a CSI with a career of her own—not a student, any longer."
"She "is" an investigator; a very good one, as a matter of fact. And no, she isn't considered a student any longer."
The waiter placed a salad in front of Terri and a stuffed chicken breast in front of Grissom which he dug into with vigor. He had to smile to himself when he decided he was refilling the calories he had worked off the day and night before.
"It's good to see you smiling, Gil. You clearly needed to get away from Las Vegas for a respite. I can only hope my association with you today helped produce your present state of mind," Terri commented and he looked up at her. "So, tell me. How is your apartment? Are you finding it adequate?"
"That's something I wanted to talk to you about, Terri." He leaned back in his chair and looked at her. "It's much closer to the university than the hotel, and since you're going to be here for several weeks, I thought perhaps you'd consider staying there. I can't imagine it'll be as elegant as the hotel, but the location might make up for any downside you'd find with it."
A touch of a smile curved Terri's lips before she slowly nodded her head. "Yes. I can see the advantage of being closer to the school. I think it's a wonderful idea, Gil. When will we be going there?"
"We could gather your things after lunch and take you to rent your car. From there, we'll take your things to the apartment and get you settled in."
"That sounds wonderful," she said as she continued to watch him and he took another ravenous bite of his lunch.
"We should discuss the arrangements. . ." Grissom began but was interrupted by a large man he had met earlier while at the university.
"Dr. Grissom!" The man approached their table. "I had no idea you were coming here. Is this your lovely wife?"
Grissom was about to deny this when Terri spoke up, instead.
"Hello," Terri extended her hand with a bright smile. "My name is Terri."
"It's wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Grissom. I'm Professor Sanders from the Department of Natural Sciences. I'll be working with your husband over the next two semesters."
Grissom wiped his mouth with his napkin and tried again but was cut off.
"Have you been seated, Professor Sanders?" Terri asked. "If not, I'd love to have you join us."
"Why, thank you."
"Excuse me, waiter? Could you bring another seat for Professor Sanders, please?"
They all watched as the waiter went to bring back a chair and took the man's order, then, finally, Grissom spoke up.
"I'm sorry you misunderstood, Professor Sanders," Grissom told him. "But this isn't my wife. She's a colleague who will be working with us, as well. This is Dr. Terri Miller."
"Of course!" The professor suddenly seemed to be a bit intimidated by her. "I should have known. I've read enough of your articles—and I've seen your photo equally as often. I just assumed the beautiful woman on Dr. Grissom's arm would be his wife."
"Unfortunately, we haven't had the opportunity to even get past having lunch together. I'm afraid the opportunity for matrimony hasn't presented itself yet."
"Dr. Miller is a busy scientist," Grissom said. "I imagine her lifestyle doesn't slow down enough for some fortunate man to capture her."
"Well, then I think you should run faster, Dr. Grissom—then you'll be able to keep up with her."
Terri sent a knowing smile to Grissom as he looked back at her, not knowing what to say to this man who clearly had no right to know his business and he doubted he would ever be under the circumstances that he would "need" to know Grissom's business. So, as Terri and Professor Sanders lead the conversation throughout the remainder of the meal, Grissom continued to look at his watch as he finished and suffered through the professor's lame attempts to woo the blonde anthropologist.
It was nearly three o'clock by the time Grissom and Terri were driving away from the car rental, and another hour before they were unlocking the door to the apartment that had been rented for Grissom. He hadn't had the opportunity to actually sit down and talk to Terri again until the moment they carried her luggage into the apartment and looked around at which point Terri came from the only bedroom and looked at him questioningly.
"I can understand if you're an exceptionally immaculate person, Grissom. That might explain why the place appears as if you haven't stayed here the past two days, but the absence of any of your things is another matter."
"That's what I was trying to explain to you at the restaurant. I "haven't" been staying here. That's why I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for you to have an apartment of your own during your stay."
"I see," she said as if realizing she had been misled. "May I ask where you "have" been staying? Considering your options, I can only imagine that your disciple has provided you with more than some extra help to get settled in."
"I'm staying with Sara and plan to stay there throughout my time here. At this point it's undecided what I plan to do when my semesters here are through."
"You're giving up your career in Las Vegas simply because you're infatuated with a young girl? Come now, Gil—I thought you were so much more stable than that."
"My reasons for staying in San Francisco involves more than a mere infatuation, Terri. That much I'll tell you at this point." He looked around at his surroundings. "I'll still be available if you need any extra help, but at this point, I'd like to call it a day and go home."
"Home? My goodness, you certainly have grounded yourself already, haven't you?"
"I feel more grounded that I have in a long time," he said with a gentle smile. "But, like I was saying, if you need anything—you have my number. My first official class is Monday morning. I can't imagine we won't be seeing one another on campus, and as I mentioned, I'm sure you'll have the opportunity to meet Sara soon."
"Yes. . .well. . .that will be lovely." She walked him to the door. "I'm sure we'll be talking again soon, Grissom."
Grissom looked at his watch as he walked up to Sara's door. It was completely reminiscent of two days before, even to the point of finding Ben, the pizza delivery boy leaving the building just as he was entering it. He knocked on the door but didn't receive any response so he pressed the doorbell. After another minute of no response he knocked again. Finally the door opened and Sara stood looking at him.
"You're going to need to get a key if you plan on staying out all night. There's pizza on the counter. I'm going to bed. I'm sure you can find your way to your bedroom after you've eaten."
She closed the door and walked past him to her room where she closed the door behind her.