Chapter Twenty Seven:

'Hey.' She finds him, dressed all in black, a stark contrast in the bright white hallway outside Brass' hospital room. 'How's he doing?' She cranes forward, looking for Brass between all the medical bodies flooding his room.

'I don't know Sara. What if I've made the wrong decision?' He whispers turning towards her, fear etched on his face. Looking around quickly for any familiar faces, she drops a hand into his, lacing their fingers and giving him a reassuring squeeze. His grip both scares and warms her.

'Any decision you make, whether it ends up being right or wrong, Jim would understand. He would have your back, like you have his. Do you trust him?' He nods in response. 'Then trust yourself.' Bringing her other hand to cover his, she smiles. 'Ok?' He nods again, words seeming to fail him in this moment. 'I've got to get back to the lab, but will you call me if anything changes?'

'Yeah. Drive safe.' He leans forward as if to kiss her, retreating quickly at her pulling back she steps away, hands still intertwined. Reluctantly releasing her slim long fingers from his grasp, she continues to back away, maintaining eye contact. Raising her right hand, her little finger joining her index in the air, her other fingers bent into her palm, thumb out, the ASL sign for I love you. She turns quickly, dodging out of the way of a group of nurses and leaves him stood in the hallway, watching his friend fight for his life.

Some hours or days or years later, who can tell at this point. Stood outside the hospital room, watching Grissom stood at Brass' bedside, Sara is clinging to Warrick's side. The whole team stood around, trying to catch a glimpse of the captain, alive and well. After a pained wave towards the crowd, content they have seen enough they filter out, leaving Brass to rest. Saying their goodbyes, hugs, happy tears, and some relieved hearty slaps to a few shoulders later, Sara is the only one stood behind the glass, waiting for Grissom. Hoping the drive home gives him some time to reflect.

'Need a lift?' She greets him as he leaves the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He walks into her, the pressure of his embrace taking her by surprise. Bringing a hand up to the back of his head, the other resting on his lower back, holding him to her she lowers her lips to his ear. 'Come on, let's go home.' He looks up and smiles, home. Sara only moved in officially less than a week ago, but the word home from her lips is the most intoxicating sound. He nods, pulling back, taking her hand he lets her manoeuvre him out of the hospital towards her waiting truck. The drive home quiet and slow, Sara taking her time knowing once the door to his, sorry their condo opens, he will either break or shatter. Now the eyes of the rest of the team are no longer looking to him for both support and guidance, Gil Grissom can finally relax. She's noticed the strain on his face some nights, the way he sighs a lot more in annoyance rather than contentment. How he is drinking more coffee recently, rather than their usually preferred herbal teas. Concern isn't there just yet, but for Sara, she feels something is underneath these ever so slight differences, and only now does she hope she can be a relief for him, a comfort, a guide, to ensure he doesn't go off the deep end or worse. They roll up to the garage doors, at the condo complex. Putting the truck in park, she loosens her hand from his hold and cups his shoulder.

'Ready to go in?' She unbuckles her seatbelt, pulls her cell from the cup holder and opens her door.

'Yeah, lets go.' He follows suit, slowly walking up the stairs to their front door. Taking in her from behind, her long legs, her hair, longer now, the longest he has seen it ever, his bag slung over her shoulder. He didn't even realise he didn't pick it up from the truck, she is always one step ahead. She opens the door, moving to the side to allow him in first.

'Drink?' She locks the door, checking it before walking down the steps into the large kitchen. Grissom sinking down into the sofa. He doesn't respond, so she takes his silence as a yes. Opening a lower cabinet, she pulls forward a bottle of scotch, takes two glasses down from a shelf above her and pours them three fingers worth of the amber liquid. She stands in front of him, glasses in hand, he takes them both from her, putting them down on the coffee table in front of him and pulls her down into his lap. Wrapping his arms around her, he buries his face into her chest. 'Are you hungry?' He nods into her cleavage. 'Indian?' He nods again, raises his face to kiss her collar bone. 'I'll go order it now.' She tries to stand, to reach for the telephone to place their order but he grumbles and pulls his cell from his jacket pocket, reaching up to wave it in her face. Insistent she doesn't move. 'Do you have cash?' He pulls his wallet from his other pocket, repeating the gesture.

45 minutes later comes a heavy knock on the door. Grissom is sat back on the sofa shirt unbuttoned a little, Sara on the floor in front of him, his legs either side of her body.

'I'll get it.' Jumping up she grabs his wallet from the table and moves quickly to the door, Grissom stretches to stand and heads down to the kitchen, pulling plates from the shelves, utensils from a nearby drawer, napkins, and finally two cold beers from the fridge. Grabbing placemats, coasters and kitchen towel he sets up the eating area ready for their feast. Sara tips the young delivery driver and takes their food, carefully balancing the bags in her arms whilst tackling the stairs. Meeting her halfway he takes the majority of the food from her, deciding on a help yourself system, they open all the containers, laying them out in reach in front of them. Beers opened, stools pulled out, they eat, and eat and eat.

Pushing her plate away, Sara leans forward, elbows on the table, head in her hands. 'I've eaten way too much food.' He stands, moving behind her, rubbing her neck under her hair, chuckling to himself whilst clearing their plates. Once all cleared, they head towards the bedroom. Sitting down on her side of the bed, then flopping herself down somewhat dramatically she blows out a breath and places her hands on her full stomach. 'You shower first, I need my stomach to stop screaming at me.' He stops in front of her and pats her stomach before heading off to the bathroom, turning the shower on high he strips off, standing naked in front of the mirror, taking himself in. Turning slightly on the spot to look at himself properly. Sara joins him stopping in the doorway peering in, wolf whistling at him stood in all his glory. He shoots her a sideways smile then steps into the hot steam. He hasn't really spoke since they left the hospital, not even confirming what he wanted to eat, resulting in Sara ordering way too much food just in case. His selective mutism normally wouldn't bother her but today he seems different, stoic. Placing his towel on the towel rack, she removes her clothes, clips her hair up and opens the shower door. Stepping inside, she finds him, behind the heavy steam, forehead pressed against the tile wall.

'Gil?' He raises his head, then slowly turns to find her face. 'You ok?' Shaking his head slightly, a sad smile breaking through. 'Come here?' She opens her arms, he finds himself quickly, tucked in her embrace, head resting on her shoulder, arms circling her back to rest on her sides. Rubbing his back. 'He's alive. Because of you. Don't forget that.' He nods onto her shoulder. 'You did good, you pulled us all through and kept us all safe. Its ok that you feel like this, you've done so much for Jim, for us, for everyone.' He kisses her neck, retreating to hold her at arm's length.

'I'm glad you're here.'

'Me too.' Now, let's finish up in here and watch some shitty tv and drink more beer.' He nods, passing her her loofah, soaping it up first and dragging it across her chest before dropping it in her hands. Grissom stepping out leaves Sara to finish up in the shower. Walking into their room, he notices she has laid out his blue palm design shirt that she says she hates but secretly he knows she loves it, it gives off just enough chest to tease but not to cause a riot. He slips it over his head, deciding on some casual slacks. Picking up his book from his bedside table and flicking open the pages, the picture of them in front of the Golden Gate bridge on his last day in San Francisco floats to the floor. Bending down to pick it up, he slides onto the edge of the bed, taking in every millimetre of the image. Sara's smile, her bright youthful appearance. Himself, a lot younger, a lot thinner. Hearing the shower shut off he slips it back into the book and places it in the drawer, rolling back to rest across the bottom of the bed, he thinks back to the past couple of days. On how Jim put his trust in him, how everything seemed to stop in the moment he had to make the decision to operate or not. What would he have done if it was someone else? What if it was him in that bed. Who would he trust enough to make that decision. Breaking his train of thought, Sara pokes her head out from the bathroom.

'I'm just…' Seeing his worried face she pauses. 'You ok? Whatcha thinking about?'

'Life… Death.'

'And everything in between?' She moves to stand into the room, picking up her robe from the wardrobe, walking back into the bathroom.

'I don't know. Most people want to die in their sleep, I suppose. Never know that its happening. Like a crime scene. Surprise, you're dead. I'd prefer to know in advance that I was going to die. I'd like to be diagnosed with cancer actually. Have some time to prepare… Go back to the rainforest one more time. Reread Moby Dick. Possibly enter an international chess tournament.' Sara walks back into the room, robe tied tight around her waist. 'At least have enough time to say goodbye to the people I love.' Kneeling in front of him, she leans forward.

'I'm not ready to say goodbye.' Taking her in, smiling, his eyes bright and alert. Moving a hand forward he brushes his fingers across her skin.

'I want you to have power of attorney. If anything was to go wrong. I want you to make my decisions.' Leaning back, pulling at her robe, raising a shaky hand to curl her hair behind her ears.

'Gil. That's… Why don't you think about…'

'I trust you. Sara, I don't plan on spending the rest of my life with anyone else. It's you or… no one.' Raising slowly, she walks around the bed. Grissom follows suit, standing slowly. Bringing her hands up to his chest, she toys with the collar on his hideous shirt.

'Would you be…' She shakes her head, searching for the right words. 'Would you be freaked out if I told you that you have been mine for a while now?' He brings a hand to her face, smoothing down her cheek with his thumb.

'Since when?' He questions eyebrows knitting in confusion.

'My DUI.' She looks up at him. 'I have no family. My mother… Well you know. I have you and…' Sadness creeps onto her face. Looking into each other's eyes, they crash forwards, lips claiming, hands roaming, breath mingling. Snapping back quickly, Grissom kisses her forehead, resting his chin against her hair. Taking a deep breath, these words he could never say to her face, but picking a spot on the wall behind her he takes the plunge.

'I think I have loved you since the day I met you. I don't ever see myself with anyone other than you. It was always you, I was just too stubborn, or stupid or in denial to admit it to myself let alone anyone else. Sara… I know we didn't have the best start when you came to Vegas but God am I going to show you, tell you how much I love you every day til I die.' Her tears were already threatening to fall, falling freely now, soaking his shirt, his skin. Sniffling up, trying to not break down during the moment. Taking a step backwards, she untangles herself from his grip. Untying the robe, maintaining eye contact. Enjoying his wandering gaze down her body, she drops the robe off her shoulders but lets it collect in the crooks of her arms.

'Starting now?'

'Yes.' He unbuttons his shirt, leaving it open on his shoulders. Running a finger down from her mouth to her belly button, further down to in between her thighs. Arching forward she closes her eyes at his fire like touch.

'Show me.' She pushes him backwards, his knees hitting the bed. He sits down, watching her sway in front of him. Sliding forward she straddles one of his thighs. Bringing his hands up to touch her, she guides his hands up to her breasts. He grasps them gently squeezing with just enough pressure that she likes, she collects her hair in her hands, raising it from her neck before letting it fall around her face. Bringing his face towards her chest, he draws a nipple into his mouth. Swirling his hot wet tongue around the hardening nub. Dragging his teeth across the sensitive skin, he repeats his torment on its partner, Sara hissing, pulling in a breath through her teeth. Shoving his shirt off his shoulders, she leans down to unzip his pants, leaving them open for now. Kissing him soundly on the lips, running her hands across his shoulders, she pushes him backwards to lie down. Moving around to the side of the bed, she turns off the lamp, drenching the room in darkness. Coming to lie down next to him he quickly turns on his side, his hands touching her everywhere. Rolling her on top of him his fingers dig into the back of her thighs, as he urges her up the bed. Taking his hint, she begins to climb up his body, coming to rest her knees either side of his head, he must have took his glasses off when she turned off the lamp. Running his fingers up and over her buttocks he pulls her down lower onto his face. His tongue rough and fast on her, Sara raises her hands above her head and starts to rock on his face. Lapping up and down, he thrusts his tongue inside her, pushing as far as he can whilst she fucks his face. His nose rubbing her clit to perfection. Between her thrusting, his sucking and breathing Grissom is lost in Sara, her scent, her taste, her perfect hot pussy drenching his face, looking up he sees her, arms locked above her head, bottom lip caught between her gap tooth grin. Sweat beading on her hair line as she moves her hips edging herself closing and closing towards her orgasm. Moving a hand back around her ass he uses it to push her forward slightly by the small of her back, the other braced on her pubic bone, thumb strumming her clit every time his nose drops lower from her gyrations. Bringing her hands down, she pinches her nipple with her left, her right going behind his head holding him to her as she slams her eyes shut and grinds down on his face, her climax imminent.

'Gil… Gillll… Baby, gonna cum so hard. Oh… My… God. Baby… Yes! Yes!' Clenching on his tongue he feels her let go, she draws him in again, her orgasm pulsing through her. Gilbert Grissom could die right now, and he would be a happy happy man. Making love to the only person he has every truly loved, he would move mountains for her. He would take a bullet for her; he should marry her someday he thinks whilst she comes back down from her high. Thighs squeezing his face slightly. Moving off him she walks shaky legged to the foot of the bed and yanks his pants down, his boxers joined the discarded clothing. Turning round to face away from him she presents herself to him, craning his head he lines himself up and pulls her down onto his rigid cock. She leans forward, shaking her head so her hair falls down her back, shifting up and down, pulling herself off his cock till just his head is inside her she slams back down, her hands resting on his knees, her feet planted on the floor between his. He raises a hand under his head, his other closing around her hip, helping her rise and fall. The muscles in her back like liquid under her skin, he sits up and wraps his hands around her, kissing the back of her neck, one hand moving towards her breast, the other wrapping slightly around her throat. They stay like this for a while, the sounds of their skin slapping together, his erection maintaining long enough to bring her to orgasm once more. Laying back down as her muscles loosen around him, he closes his eyes as she tilts her hips and takes him deeper a few more times before his balls tighten and tingle, his throat restricts as he cries out.

'Love youuu so much. Arhh!' He pulls her down one last time and holds her down as he empties his worth into her. Panting, eyes squeezed shut. His grip on her hips turning his knuckles white. Sara catches her breath, moving her hair from her eyes. Looking down to the floor, seeing his toes curled up, she smiles and tries to lift off of him. 'Stay.' His voice strangled in his throat. Not wanting to break the connection, wanting only for her to move when his soft cock slips from her hold. She rocks back, his pubic hair tickling her ass. After a few minutes, he feels his limp, soaked cock slip from her and she stands slowly, stretching then sauntering off to the bathroom to clean up. He stays, legs like lead, heartbeat pounding in his ears. He feels a warm wet cloth cover his face, Sara swipes it around his features, cleaning herself off of him, before drawing the cloth down to rest over his spent dick. Picking up her robe, she ties it loosely around herself. Standing to the side of the bed, admiring him without him noticing, his glasses twirling in her fingers. He sits up slowly, allowing the blood flow to return to normal, he glances around looking for where he abandoned his glasses. Seeing her in the corner of his eye he turns to face her. She holds his glasses out for him, he reaches to take them, but she pulls her hand back quickly. Pouting he lunges forward and whips them from her grasp making her laugh. She turns to walk out of the room.

'If I asked you to marry me one day, would you say yes?' He pushes his glasses onto his nose, eyeing her from behind the frames. She stops at the door, throwing a look over her shoulder.

'Yes.' She smiles and continues out of the room.

Authors Note:

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit, read and review this story so far. This chapter has been half written for a very, very long time and it makes me feel somewhat emotional to finally finish it and hit publish.

I was 16 when this episode aired and what I had hoped for and believed in was delivered in the most glorious way that I genuinely hold it so close to my heart. Not only was the scene written so well but the actors portrayed the characters and moment so beautifully it is down as one of my top favourite GSR moments.

I may take a short break from writing and publishing whilst I wind down from sharing this moment with you. But trust I will be back.