A/N: Phew, I may be all fluffed out after this one but it is nice to be away from the angst. Gives my little brain sometime to get sentimental :) And I do enjoy a little Grissom and Sara bonding. I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Thanks to Calim for yet another great beta. I always feel better when there isn't so much red pen! :P

Chapter 122

Sweat pooled down Grissom's cheeks as he grabbed a hold of the banister just off the top of the stairs. The walking cane he'd been using to help take some of his weight, falling to the floor with a clank. It had been ten days since his first attempt to walk and this was the furthest he'd managed without having to sit down or be assisted back to bed.

Persistence was the key for him. There were three or four spells per day where he'd get up and walk, the time in between spent resting and regaining the energy he'd used up during his roams. Sara got angry with him once because he was stumbling around without any help. That didn't impress her at all and, after the threat of her tying him down if he ever did it again, he decided to abide by her wishes. Although that didn't sound entirely unpleasant.

His current helpers, Gregory and Nicolas stood behind, waiting to aid the rancher should they need too. Although Grissom had made it all that way on his own, he was looking pretty exhausted now.

"Gil…" Sara said softly, sliding her arm around his waist, watching his expression as he glanced up to the ceiling, heaving in breath after breath.

He looked at her, the biggest smile forming on his lips, and she frowned, confused.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

He nodded, inhaling several more needy gusts of air. "Never…felt…better," he pronounced on several gasps.

"I doubt that," Sara snickered. "But, maybe enough for today?"

"Yeah, Grissom," Greg blurted out. "You don't want to overdo it. If you do, you might end up delaying your wedding even further especially with the reverend coming tod…" He silenced the second Sara's head shot around to glare at him, leaving him unable to finish his sentence.

Grissom blinked at him as Nicolas gave his brother a slap on the arm. "Shut up…"

"What…" Gregory moaned rubbing his arm.

Nicolas rolled his eyes, taking his brother's arm and pulling him a few steps to the side. "I don't think Sara's talked to him about it yet, you idiot…"

"Oh…I didn't know that…Aunt Laura just said…"

"What's going on?" Grissom questioned, wiping his brow on the sleeve of his robe.

"You've really done it now," Nicolas whispered on a sigh as they gave Grissom an innocent smile.

Slowly, Sara's head turned back to her fiancé and she suddenly appeared very nervous.

Grissom looked totally confused and winced when straightening himself to a vertical position. His wound certainly wasn't as sore but it still hurt.

"What's he talking about?" he asked of her.

Sara sighed, reaching for his hand. She moved him slightly so he was resting against the banister to help take some of the weight off his still recovering body.

"I'm sorry…" she stuttered, "…I just haven't had the right moment to…"

Sara was cut short when Gregory spoke again. "Aunt Laura…" he announced, noticing as she appeared on the stairs, coming towards them.

Closing her eyes, Sara bit on her lip.

"Well, look at you," Laura snorted proudly with a smile when she reached the couple. "You made it all this way on your own?"

Grissom replicated her smile, forgetting his conversation with Sara for a second. "Yes, Ma'am."

"And you're feeling all right?" she asked looking him up and down noticing he looked rather flushed.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Fantastic," she mewed happily. "So, what are we talking about?" She looked around to all on the landing and everyone seemed uncomfortable well, all apart from Grissom who just looked confused.

The rancher shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure," he replied, giving Gregory a quick look before focusing his full attention on Sara.

Nicolas thumped his brother again, earning a glare and a groan of pain for his trouble.

"Gregory let a secret out, I think, and it appears…" Grissom continued, again wiping his perspiring brow, "…that everyone seems to know something apart from me. Is today an occasion of some form?"

Laura's eyes widened and her eyes slowly moved to her daughter. "You still haven't talked about this?" she asked shocked.

Twisting her foot into the floor, Sara huffed. "Mother, I just haven't found the right time or…"

"We spoke about this over a week ago, Sara," Laura complained, thumping her hands to her hips. "This is the third time Reverend Matthews has organised to come and see you both…"

Grissom's head shook swiftly. "Reverend?"

Holding her hand to her forehead, Sara took a breath, her teeth gritting. "Can we talk about this somewhere other than on the landing, please?"

"I'd rather know now, Sara," Grissom said honestly but calmly. "I thought we weren't keeping secrets from each other?"

Now Sara's face saddened and she swallowed hard.

Laura relaxed, stepping around the couple. "Come on boys. Let's give your cousin a little privacy for a moment shall we?"

Nicolas and Gregory instantly gave a nod of agreement and headed off down the corridor with their aunt, Laura slapping the back of Gregory's head for payment of his loose lip.

"Gil, I'm sorry," Sara cried. "It's just with your recovery I didn't want to trouble you and…I…we just haven't…and I was going to cancel today but I forgot and…" She sighed deeply, turning away.

She heard a quiet groan and then felt him move up close behind her.

"Sara, look at me," he whispered.

With her head bowed, Sara slowly turned back around and Grissom instantly slipped a finger under her chin to bring her eyes back to his.

"The reverend is coming here to talk about the wedding?" Sara gave a single nod. "Do you want him to come here and talk about the wedding?" he probed.

"Do you?" she whispered back.

He gave her a smile now. "Sara…I count the days until I can call you my wife. I would do it today, if I could. But, if you have been delaying this day and not talked to me about it then…" he swallowed,"…something is bothering you. You do still want to get married…don't you?" His last words came out on a squeak.

Her hands raised to clasp around his forearms. "Of course I do," she said softly. "I'm just…terrified, Gil. I am really, really scared."

Grissom's tongue poked over his bottom lip and he grimaced. The pressure on his stomach growing by the second now. This is the longest he'd stood since getting shot.

Immediately Sara knew he was in pain and whisked her arm around his waist again.

"Why didn't you say you were hurting?" she grumbled. "Come on…back to the bedroom."

He didn't argue. Sara swiped up his cane and they slowly hobbled back to the bedroom together. As soon as they entered the room, Grissom slipped into the chair close to the door and took a moment, needing to catch his breath.

Sara crouched by him, taking both his hands which were warm but not as sweaty as she'd expected. He rarely had sweaty hands. "Do you need some medication?" she asked concerned.

"No," he replied. "I'm all right." He squeezed her hands and gave her a look telling her he wanted to continue the conversation and she knew it. "You're scared because of…"

"Yes," Sara knew what he was thinking, what Hank had done to her, her fears of being intimate again and she cut him short. "But not just that. A big part of me is scared to death of the whole Sidle extravaganza that I know mother wants to plan. The people, the attention, the eyes, the whispers." She shuddered. "I don't think I can handle all that."

"We could just elope," he said grinning.

Giving him her trademark smile, she pulled a hand free to run it through his damp curls. "Mother would kill us both and you know it."

His grin remained.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the reverend. I was going to put it off again because you had enough on your mind with your recovery and I just didn't know how to say all of this to you. I don't know how we plan our day when we don't even know what our day is going to be."

Placing his hand against her cheek, he gently rubbed her skin with his thumb. "That's why we talk to each other, Sara. Our day is whatever you want it to be. Not what your mother wants, not what your father wants. It's what we want and I love Laura and what she does for us but, if you don't want a big ceremony then we won't do that, but you need to tell her. And you need to tell your father as well."

"We…" Sara said, her lips pouting. "We need to tell them."

He sniggered. "Fine. We…"

"What do you want?" she asked.

Giving a sigh, he looked away for a second. "I know it's tradition for your father to pay but, honestly, I don't want any fuss either, Sara. I hate fuss. I was nervous enough at our engagement let alone an event bigger than that. And…" His head moved from side to side, "…you know how I feel about the money side of things. Your father's proud, I get that but…"

She silenced him now with a tender finger over his lips. "You don't need to go on. I know you're proud too and we both want the same thing."

"All I want, is for you to say I do," he finished as she removed her finger. "That's all. The rest you can choose."

With a bashful smile, Sara pushed herself up. "I think I can manage that," she answered.

Laura poked her head in the open doorway. "Is it safe to enter?" she asked.

"Yes, Mother," Sara replied, rolling her eyes. "We're only talking."

The woman of the house gave a hearty smile as she stepped into the room. "So, are we…okay?"

Grissom smacked his lips together. "We're fine," he said, his eyes flicking to Sara. "But I think we should have a talk. All of us…"

Sara swallowed, her eyes slowly meeting her mother's. "Gil's right," she said nervously. "We need to discuss the wedding with you and father."

"Oh…" Laura took a step back. "Well, the reverend is due in half an hour…"

"It won't take that long," Grissom cut in.

"All right then," she agreed. "Are you feeling up to coming downstairs, Gil, if I have the boys help you down?"

Placing her hand on his shoulder, Sara looked into his eyes. "Are you sure you can manage that? I know you've tired yourself out already…"

"I'll be fine," he whispered. "It will be nice to sit in another room for a change."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Gregory and Nicolas helped, well, more like carried Grissom down the stairs and into the lounge before being shooed from the room by their aunt.

Rana brought in a tea tray and Sara followed carrying a blanket. As Laura poured the tea, Sara slipped the blanket onto Grissom's lap as he attempted to make himself comfortable on the sofa.

"Sara, it's warm enough in here," he complained, holding up his arms as she tucked the sides of the cloth under his thighs.

She pursed her lips, looking around the room noting the fire glowing orange and was fiercely happy with itself. "Humor me, okay?" she asked. "I worry about you catching a chill."

He laughed, pulling the collar of his robe open. "The only thing I might catch in here is sunburn. It's roasting…"

Pouting, she reached for the blanket, tugging it back from his body. "Fine…" she grumbled. "I'll just leave it on the arm in case you change your mind then."

Laura laughed, holding out a cup for Grissom. "You need to stop worrying, child," she advised her daughter."

"I'll never stop worrying," Sara retorted, sitting next to her fiancé.

Grissom pinched Sara's thigh as Laura turned to retrieve a second cup and Sara jumped, looking at him in astonishment. He looked at her innocently, trying to hide his grin.

"I'll be fine," he insisted. "If I get cold, I'll tell you. Okay?"

Sara's eyes narrowed at him as she blindly reached for the cup her mother was offering.

The captain arrived, a huge puff of smoke confirming his entrance as he chugged heartily on his pipe. He did enjoy his pipe in the wintertime, it gave the house such a homey and warming aroma.

"Is the reverend here already?" he asked, joining his wife.

"No, Thomas," Laura replied, handing him a cup of tea as he took a seat. "Sara and Gil would like to talk to us about the wedding before he arrives."

"Oh…" he mumbled taking a sip from his tea as the couple sitting opposite gave each other a slightly nervous glance.

Taking her own cup, Laura took the seat next to her husband. "And just quickly before we begin…Gil made it all the way to the stairs by himself today."

"Did you, my boy?" the captain asked, placing his tea down on the coffee table.

Grissom gave a bashful smile. "Yes, sir."

"That's fantastic," he announced. "We can have you mucking out the stalls by next week…"

Sara literally spat her mouthful of tea out, stunned at her father's comment and she gawped at him, placing her cup down.

"Sara!" Laura half shouted, half laughed handing her daughter a handkerchief.

Coughing, Sara wiped her mouth as Grissom snickered at her. "I think he's kidding, my dear."

"Still…" Sara growled, "…not funny!"

The captain laughed to himself as Laura mopped up the spillage on the table with a few napkins.

"Any more jokes?" Laura jibbed, looking to everyone. "Should I get more napkins? An umbrella maybe?"

No one said anything and all the two men did was grin.

"Fine…" Laura took a breath, "…so what's on your minds then?"

Sara's mouth opened but all of a sudden words failed her. She felt Grissom reach for her hand and he gave her a loving smile.

"We would like to discuss the wedding," he said, taking the lead.

Laura gave a nod. "Okay…do we have a date?" she asked with a smile.

Grissom cleared his throat. "Um…not yet." He turned his head. "Sara?"

Shuffling forwards a touch and tightening her grip on her fiancés hand, Sara looked right at her parents. "I'd say at least six more weeks before Gil will be fit enough for the occasion."

Laura thought for a moment, counting her fingers as if she were working something out. "That would work quite well to fall on Christmas," she deduced. "And it gives us plenty of time to get organised."

Sara took a breath and then sighed. "Mother…" she hesitated, biting her lip. "I know how excited you are. I feel so blessed that you and father are proud and want to give everything you possibly can to make it such a grand spectacle but…we don't want a lot of fuss. We just want something small and not a big exhibition. Just close friends and family…"

"Oh…" Laura frowned, looking away. "And, have you discussed this with each other?" she asked quietly.

Sara knew her mother was already upset and this was what she feared.

"We both want the same thing," she answered.

Nodding, Laura pushed herself from the chair, not even giving Sara another glance. "I see…" she mumbled. "Excuse me for a moment…"

Neither of them had the opportunity to say anything before Laura rushed from the room. The captain worked his jaw as Sara turned to Grissom. She tapped him on the knee and quickly went in pursuit of her mother.

Grissom sighed, sitting back.

"You know…" the captain began, leaning forwards, tapping his pipe into the ashtray to discard the used tobacco, "…I had a feeling the two of you would not want a huge wedding."

"You did?" Grissom questioned with a frown.

"Ugh huh." Taking a tin from his pocket, the captain began refilling his pipe.

"How did you know?"

Scoffing as he lit his pipe again, the captain leaned back, crossing this left leg over his right.

"Sara has been through a lot and so have you and everyone knows about it. Although most have good intentions there are always a few bad apples out there to spoil it. And, neither of you have ever been the attention craving type. Sara would bicker about a simple birthday celebration let alone something on the scale of a wedding. And, I could see it in her eyes. Every time Laura would talk to her about it, I saw the nerves, the fear…"

"And you didn't say anything?" Grissom grumbled.

After taking a puff from his pipe, the older man smiled. "Oh, no. Sara needs to make her own decisions, Gil, and she needs to be strong enough to stand up for them. Recent months have taught me enough to let her make her own choices and, I think this is a conversation Sara really needs to have with her mother herself."

Giving a nod, Grissom kind of understood where the captain was coming from. "So, how do you feel about us only having a small ceremony?"

"Gil…" the captain gave a sigh now, "…if it's what Sara wants then I will abide by her wishes. I am past the point of forcing anything upon her. I have already made enough mistakes in that department. All I want is for her to be happy. After everything that has happened, she deserves nothing less. Although…"

Now Grissom swallowed at the captain's sudden change in tone.

"I will admit, if someone had told me a year ago that I would be releasing my daughter to you then, I would have laughed in their face."

Squirming a touch, Grissom felt the air grow a little warmer. He cleared his throat. "So, how do you feel about that thought now?" he dared to ask.

The captain took a long drag on the pipe, puffing rings of smoke on the exhalation of smoke. Then his eyes locked with Grissom's, piercing…serious. "You love Sara?" His question was firm.

"Yes, sir. More than I could ever express. I think we've already had this conversation…"

"You will protect her with your life?" the captain continued, ignoring Grissom's point.

"Yes."

"And your heart will never hold another's?"

Now Grissom hesitated, trying to ignore the aching in his stomach when he tried to shimmy forward. "I cannot promise you that…"

Looking surprised, the older man placed his pipe into the ashtray. "And why not?"

Grissom took a breath. "Although having children is not currently on our top priority list, things in life happen. A son or daughter would require my heart, just like Sara does."

A smile, so clean and crisp graced the captain's lips. "And that is why I feel so differently to a year ago and why I am ready, and proud, to call you my son, Gil." He pushed himself from the seat and slowly approached the window to gaze out at a new bout of snow as it fell.

"Indiscretions…" he continued, "…may be hard to forget but they can be forgiven…" He faced Grissom again, raising his fist. "Even the most dire of ones…But, you have proven to me through your complete devotion to Sara…the fact that you would give your last breath to protect her…that you are truly worthy of taking her hand."

The rancher shivered. It was as if a weight which had been upon his shoulders for as far back as he could ever remember, had just flown away.

"Thank you, sir," he whispered, unable to grasp the fact it seemed like he was being truly accepted into the higher circle. Fine, the captain had previously agreed to the marriage but it didn't entirely feel right. Now it did.

With a ruffle of his nose, the captain approached the sofa and perched himself on the arm. "Have you even considered how things will change for you once you're married?"

"Umm…" Grissom's brow pinched a frown. "How do you mean, exactly?"

*** - Only his daughter had the power of charming this black brooding from his mind. She was the golden thread that united him to a Past beyond his misery, and to a Present beyond his misery: and the sound of her voice, the light of her face, the touch of her hand, had a strong beneficial influence with him almost always. Not absolutely always, for she could recall some occasions on which her power had failed; but they were few and slight, and she believed them over.

*** - Extract taken from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens