Chapter Twenty Eight:

'I can't believe his name is Hank.' Sara shifts in the driver's seat of Grissom's car. Adjusting her seatbelt to turn and sneak a peek at the large, heavy boxer on the backseat asleep on a blanket. Grissom, reading the information pack given to them at the shelter, chuckles quietly.

'At least this one will be house trained.' He folds it down and lowers it in his lap. Playing with the edges of the paper.

'Bet I won't be able to stop this Hank from humping every girl he meets either.' She lowers the visor whilst rummaging in the door for her sunglasses. Grissom reaches forward into the glove compartment, finding her sunglasses there he passes them over. 'Thanks.' Sliding the glasses onto her face she turns to check on him again.

'He's still there don't worry.' Grissom runs a hand down her thigh, keeping it there.

'I just want to make sure he is comfortable.'

'Sara, he is flat out. He's fine.'

'Ok Gilbert!' He frowns at her. 'What, you're not getting jealous?'

'I'm just saying you don't need to worry about him. He's going to have a good life with us. He will be happy.' They fall silent, he squeezes her thigh one more time whilst Sara weaves them effortlessly in and around the mid-morning traffic. A strategically booked 'training course' means they both have the night off. Planning a visit to the shelter solely to look, to just get an idea of what it would mean to own a dog and how it would balance out with their work schedule. Sara however, being Sara, falls in love with one of the first dogs they meet, the bounding boxer Hank. Watching her in the kennel with him, a smile quickly spreads, as the dog licks her face, gives her his paw, and sits on command. Yet another male entranced by Sara Sidle, he chuckles to himself, not entirely paying attention to the member of staff stood to his side, giving him a brief history on the canine. Sara turns her attention back to Grissom and simply smiles, one that reminds him of the one she wore the first day they met. He's the one, the smile, applied on that day back in 1998, and again… today he realises. And Grissom, always the genius, anticipated her every move, making sure to prebook them onto that online course, which obviously, they completed in less than two hours whilst still on shift the night before, preparing himself, for them to introduce another addition to their little life together. After filling out some paperwork and a short class on obedience and general canine care, the three of them are bundled up in Grissom's car. The excitement obviously getting the better of Hank.

Pulling into Grissom's designated parking spot outside their condo, she shifts the car into park. Another quick look in the back of the car and she sees Hank still sound asleep.

'Do we wake him?' She questions, pushing her sunglasses up on top of her head, looking between Grissom and Hank.

'He's a dog Sara, not a new-born baby.' He unbuckles his seatbelt and strops out of the car, slamming the door a bit too hard startling Hank awake.

'Oh my God, you are jealous!' She rushes out of the car and to the back door to grab Hank's leash whilst Grissom retrieves all the toys, treats and numerous accessories they bought on the way home.

'I'm not jealous!' He closes the trunk and walks around to her side. Sara is kneeling on the floor fussing Hank. Hank's tongue lolling out the side of his mouth, completely delighted by her head scratches and belly rubs. 'Ok. Maybe I'm a little bit jealous.' He knocks into her jokingly as he walks past, heading towards the steps leading up to their condo.

'I'm just going to take him to the grass over there. You know, make sure he does his business before heading up.'

'Ok. I'll get lunch started.' Hank's head snaps up to look at Grissom at the word lunch. 'For you too boy, don't worry. Then maybe I can get some belly rubs?' He winks.