Chapter Thirty Five:

Her keys drop into the bowl on the console table by the front door, Hank's leash follows and then her cell phone. Trudging down the stairs to the kitchen, she picks up his water bowl and runs the tap, grabbing a glass from the draining board she fills both quickly. Plopping his bowl on the floor at her feet, he dashes into the bowl like he has never seen water before. Smiling to herself, she downs the water and rinses the glass out, leaving it on the draining board for the next time.

'You ok baby? Was that a good run yeah?' She scratches behind his ears whilst he laps up the water, splashing it over her trainers and the floor. He lifts his head for a moment, runs his tongue around his mouth, shakes his head then attacks the bowl once more. 'You're a good boy! Even more so when that grumpy old man isn't around aren't you!' She pats his flank and moves around the kitchen, towards the refrigerator, opening the doors she spies some left-over takeout from the day before. Reaching in, the cold making the hairs on her arms stand on end, she pulls the carton forward, opening the lid to peek inside, giving it a sniff, she walks over to the microwave under the counter and slams the container inside, closing the door and setting it to 8 minutes. Moving around, she checks the mail, nothing for her, all for him. Placing it in the mail holder on the shelf next to the window, she leans back on the counter. The buzz of the microwave filling the room.

Nothing from Grissom in nearly a week, no phone call or email. Just a text to say he had landed and that he loved her. She didn't reply, but now wishes she did. The microwave dings and brings her out of her own thoughts, shuffling around, she grabs the molten cardboard box from the microwave, reaches into a drawer for a fork, and heads back up the stairs to the living area. Placing her food on the coffee table, she kicks off her trainers and runs back down the stairs to grab a beer from the refrigerator, popping open the cap and throwing it into the sink she turns when she hears her cell phone ringing from up by the front door. Making her way up slowly, sighing and the thought of being called back into work so soon, she approaches the table, peering over the top of the bottle and sees his name on the screen. Almost dropping the bottle, she grabs the phone and flips it open.

'Hello?'

'Hi.'

'Griss.. Gil.' She shakes her head at her mistake.

'Good, you remember who I am, that's a good start.' She huffs and walks over towards the sofa, not bothering with a coaster for her beer, she throws herself down and leans forward, phone trapped between her ear and shoulder, reaching for her food and fork she sits back, bringing a leg up, balancing the box on her knee.

'I'm not in the mood for whatever that was.' She pushes some noodles into her mouth, chewing down the phone.

'Sorry. I err I thought I should check in; see how you are?' She swallows and spears another lot of noodles onto her fork.

'I'm good. We're good.' Looking over towards Hank, circling around in his bed, finding just the right spot to collapse. She brings the food to her mouth, before committing to the mouthful she asks. 'How are you?' Then blows on the offering before throwing it into her mouth, chewing quicker, ready to respond to him.

'I miss you… A lot. I don't sleep very well without you snoring next to me.'

'I'm not the one who snores.' Lowering the box into her lap, she grabs her beer bottle, noticing the condensation ring on the coffee table, she pulls her sleeve down and wipes it away, sliding a coaster into place. 'How's Williams?'

'Cold. How's Vegas?'

'Hot.' Keep it brief Sidle, simple basic conversation, that way she won't say something she doesn't mean. Hopefully.

'Look. I know I haven't been in touch, and I. I didn't really talk to you about deciding to leave Vegas…'

'You didn't talk to me at all Gil. I heard it from Greg.' She pauses, mulling her words around in her head. 'I thought we were ok. I thought we were better at this now?'

'We are. I just panicked. I'm sorry.' Abandoning her food, she places it on the coffee table, her beer wedged between her thighs. Pulling it up she takes a big swig.

'I didn't want the last time we saw each other before you leave for a month to be the lab.'

'I know, me neither.'

'How do you feel?'

'Right now? Like I have better places to be.'

'Yeah, like where?'

'With you.'

'Gil. Don't say that.'

'Sorry.' The line goes silent. She runs her finger around the mouth of the bottle in her hand. She can hear him thinking through the phone line. Through fear of something catastrophic going down she decides to hell with it, changing the subject.

'Wanna ask me what I'm wearing?' She hears shuffling in the background.

'Yes.' A long pause. 'What are you wearing Sara?'

'My running stuff.' She fiddles with the label on the bottle only slightly uncomfortable with the idea of this.

'Hmm. Was it a good run?'

'Yeah. Think I might jump in the shower.' She cringes at herself and how cheesy she sounds. 'Strip off, get all wet and soapy.'

'Sara… I really do miss you.'

'I miss you too.'

'I wish I was there with you now.'

'To watch me shower?' She quirks an eyebrow up.

'Yes… And to show you how I feel.' He sighs, rubbing a hand down his 7-day stubble on his face. 'Words seem to be failing me. That's why I didn't call or email sooner.'

'Oh. You seem to be doing ok now?'

'I haven't said half the things I need to.'

'Maybe you should write it down?'

'Yeah, maybe I will.' She smiles down the phone, he sounds so sad. He wasn't supposed to go away and still be sad.

'So, any attractive college girls hanging onto your every word Dr Grissom?' Relieved he doesn't entertain her poor attempt at starting dirty talk over the phone.

'I wouldn't know.'

'How come?'

'I can't stop thinking about my girlfriend, alone in our home.'

'I'm not alone. I have Hank.' The dog raises his head at the sound of his name, realising nothing will come of it, he settles back down.

'The boxer I hope, and not the slimy paramedic.' She laughs, louder than probably necessary.

'He misses you. He stands outside your office every night before we leave for the sitters. And I must tell him, you're not there, you're away. Only in another office, with less bugs, probably a comfier chair and a massive desk, but I tell him you're happy… You are happy right?'

'I'm getting there. This has helped. You've helped. You always do.'

'Good.'

'Three more weeks Sara.'

'Three. More. Weeks. Gilbert.'

'I love you.'

'I love you too.'