A/N Thank you for the reviews. As always they are very much appreciated. Many many thanks to JellybeanChiChi, for the awesome beta.
Chapter 1
Sara leaned back against the chair, with her arms folded across her chest. She held a feeling of satisfaction knowing she did her job well as Officer Mitchell guided the suspect out of the interrogation room and back to the holding cells.
She had finished a week of investigating the murder of a victim of domestic violence. Sara tried to help the young woman escape from the clutches of her violent husband, and the brave woman left him.
But neither Sara nor the victim had accounted for the husband's dogged determination to find his wife. Despite all the precautions put in place, he'd tracked her down, and beaten her to death.
Beside Sara, sat her supervisor, Karson Hess, who had worked the case with her. He shared in Sara's satisfaction of a job well done, knowing that this case had been a difficult one for her.
It had been five months since Sara joined the day shift, and Hess had come to respect her work ethic and her dedication to seeing a case to completion. Initially, there had been some residual animosity from his other team members at Sara's arrival, partly due to the rivalry that had existed between days and graveyard shifts, and partly due to her marriage to Grissom. Yet, Sara had risen above it, and proven her doubters wrong.
But Sara couldn't deny the transition to dayshift had been hard. She missed the sense of family she had with the graveyard shift, and the lab seemed different without Grissom. She still half expected him to walk through the door, with assignments in hand, or test results that would break the case, or his face alight with childish delight over his beloved bugs. She missed him – and her son, Daniel, far more than she ever expected.
"Well, that's one nasty son-of-a-bitch, that I'm truly glad is off the streets," Hess commented when they were alone. "You did a great job, Sara."
Sara shook her head slightly, with a slight lift of her shoulders, shrugging off his compliment. "It was a joint effort, " she replied, her eyes drifting towards the door. "But it was too late for the victim."
"Don't beat yourself up, Sara," Hess said rising to his feet, and Sara followed suit. "You did everything you could, if not more. You got her to trust you, and that wasn't easy for her to do." He paused to check his watch, before glancing up at Sara.
"Well, I think that wraps everything up. Go on, get out of here, and go see that husband of yours."
Sara's eyebrow rose as she glanced at her own watch. "There's still paperwork, to follow up on."
"We had a good result, and I feel like being generous. Besides, I appreciate that you came in on your day off, to help wrap up the case. The rest can wait. Now get out of here, Sidle, before I change my mind."
Sara smiled as she quipped, "Careful, you'll be accused of favouritism next."
Hess chuckled.
"Were you always this stubborn with Grissom when he was supervisor?"
Sara chuckled. She had come to like working with Hess, more than she expected. But he was no Grissom.
Sara nodded, her grin broadening. "Yeah, I was. We all were at some point, but we still respected him. He brought out the best in us; he still does with the students he teaches."
"Does he miss it – the lab?" Hess asked curiously.
Sara was silent for a few minutes, before she finally answered with, "We still see Catherine and the others, occasionally, and he misses the lab sometimes," Sara acknowledged, "But the paperwork… not so much."
Hess nodded in silent agreement with Grissom's general assessment. He gathered up the files and evidence that still lay on the table, glancing at Sara, from the corner of his eye. He sighed.
"I'm serious, Sara," he said as he turned to face her fully. "Get out of here, before I have the need to come up with a trumped up reason to suspend you. Go see that husband and little boy of yours."
Grissom spared a quick glance at his cell phone, as the last of his students filed out of the lecture room, for lunch. He sighed, feeling a flash of disappointment that he'd not yet heard anything back from Sara. It hadn't been the first time. Over the past week they had managed to miss calls from each other. He knew that she'd been working a difficult case, and he hated the fact he couldn't be there to support her.
He'd been teaching at the Los Angeles City College at the behest of the dean, who needed someone to fill in for a fellow teacher who had taken ill. An arrangement had been agreed upon, with the College paying all his expenses for the past three weeks.
Although he'd enjoyed teaching at the college, he was glad that his temporary contract was up and was looking forward to spending a few days with Sara, Daniel and his mother in Santa Monica, before heading back home to Vegas.
The thought of his wife and son brought a brief smile to his face as his eyes glanced at the yellow-gold band on his finger. In a month's time, it would be their first wedding anniversary. He thought he'd reached a point in his life where he couldn't have been any happier. He had a job he enjoyed, a wife he loved beyond measure, and a son he adored with all his heart. The last eleven months had brought him more joy than he ever thought was possible for one man to receive.
The ache in his heart at missing them spurred him to call Sara's cell, once more. He held his breath, hoping that this time she'd pick up. He sighed as it again rang to voice mail. He was about to hang up when he decided to leave a message; he's voice loaded with longing.
"Hi honey. Sorry I missed your call; it's been a hectic week. I'm almost wrapped up here, and I can't wait to see you in Santa Monica. I've missed you, so much. I love you. Give my love to Dan."
With another heavy sigh he hung up and then deciding not to head to the staff room, or head out to near by coffee shop, he opted instead to mark off papers and essays, before preparing for his next lecture just after 2 p.m.
When the last of his lectures had ended for the day, Grissom headed to his office, to finish off the remainder of his packing. He'd made good progress during the week, not wanting too much of a delay in meeting up with Sara. The drive to Santa Monica was just under an hour, but even that was an hour too long.
Just after 4:30 p.m he'd sealed the last box and placed it on the floor with the rest of the boxes so he could put them in his car the following morning. He left the college but didn't venture far on his walk. He stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth slack with surprise as Sara stood grinning at him.
It took a moment for his brain to acknowledge that she was really there, before he hurried the few steps to her side, and dropping the briefcase on the pavement, pulled her close as he kissed her.
When they finally pulled apart he was full of questions. "Honey, what are you doing here? Where's Dan?"
Not waiting or allowing her to answer, he pulled her into a tight embrace again. "God, Sara, I've missed you so much!" he murmured his mouth again seeking hers, as his arms tightened around her.
After some minutes Sara gently pulled back from him, and for the first time, Grissom realised that his mother was standing off to the side with a sleeping Daniel in a stroller.
With a delighted grin, he picked up his briefcase with one hand, and grasped Sara's with the other, before heading towards them.
"What are you doing here?" he signed to his mother. "I thought we were meeting at the house in Monica?"
Instead of answering her son, Betty smiled and embraced him, which Grissom was only too happy to return.
"We wanted to surprise you." Sara explained as Betty and Grissom broke apart. "I've only just got your messages," Sara added, recalling the longing she'd heard in her husband's voice. "We've missed you, too."
Together they walked back to the hotel and by the time they reached Grissom's room, Daniel had awoken. On seeing his Daddy, the most delightful gap-toothed grin brightened his whole face.
He still greatly resembled Grissom, but the vivid blue of his eyes had changed to the same warm brown of his mother, also inheriting the Sidle smile, that Grissom adored so much. His hair was a lighter brown, but with the same soft curls of his mother. So far, he remained unaffected by otosclerosis.
Betty and Sara sat on the double bed, watching fondly as Grissom played with his son, whose delighted laughter soon filled the room. They talked of going for dinner, but opted instead for room service.
Finally Daniel grew sleepy. After giving him a bath and changing him, Grissom settled the baby down for the night. Shortly afterwards, Betty left them to themselves to head to her own room.
Betty refused her son's offer to walk her to her door. "Stay with Sara. A husband needs time alone with his wife. We have plenty of opportunity to spend time together as a family."
She kissed his cheek, before slipping from the room.
Grissom stood with his back against the closed door with a sigh of relief that they were finally alone. As much as he loved his mother, he'd wanted nothing more to be alone with his wife and son.
Sara approached him, the same relief at finally being alone together on her face. He moved from the door, meeting her halfway, with his arms outstretched, drawing her into a tight embrace as their lips met in a passionate kiss.
Slowly, he guided her to the bed, and gently lowered her down, their lips never breaking contact, as he lay beside her, his leg draped over hers.
He groaned softly as Sara kissed his neck, her hands already unfastening the buttons of his shirt. His hands travelled the length of her thigh and lifted the hem of the summer dress she was wearing.
She gasped, as his caress ignited the slowly burning heat that had burned since their reunion.
She rolled them over so she was lying on top of him. The kiss deepened, as anticipation built. Grissom wrapped his arms around her, and slowly unzipped her dress. Sara shivered as his fingertips brushed against the bare skin of her back.
Sara drew back breaking the kiss, and grinned seductively as she moved against his erection, eliciting an appreciative growl from her husband.
"Someone has definitely missed me," she said, moving against him again. His breathing hitched up a notch, as his hips bucked upwards.
"You have no idea just how much," he moaned as he sought her mouth as his hands caressed down her arms, removing the straps of her dress as he did so.
Sara pulled back again, lifting the dress over her head, and jumped as Grissom moved under her to leave a trail of kisses from her stomach to her breasts, his large hands exploring her body, quickly removing her bra.
His name was a whispered breath of desire as her hands raked through his hair, as she arched into him craving his touch as much as he wanted to give it, as his tongue teased first one nipple and then the other.
She pushed gently against his shoulders, following him down as he lay on the bed.
"You're overdressed," she complained, kissing his neck, and nibbling his earlobe, as she pushed his shirt from his shoulders.
She kissed his chest, her tongue flicking over his nipples, before moving down his stomach, her hands making quick work of his belt and zipper, feeling the throb of his erection through his slacks.
She pulled them down, along with his boxers, freeing his glorious erection. She disappeared briefly, as she made quick work of his shoes and socks, before completely tugging them off.
"Sara!" Grissom gasped, sinking deeper into the mattress, turning his head towards Daniel's cot. Barely registering Daniel's still slumbering form as all coherent thought left his mind as the exquisite pleasure of Sara's mouth on him engulfed him from head to toe.
He's hips bucked upwards as he gasped. "God, Sara!"
If she continued like this, he wouldn't last much longer.
As Sara lazily stroked him, he bucked upwards and let out an audible gasp.
"Sara. I'm not going to last if you keep that up," his voice strained. Breathing in quick pants, he dug deeper into the mattress as Sara continued her ministrations, before she allowed him to tug her upwards.
He rolled them over, glancing quickly at Daniel. Assured the boy was still asleep, Grissom returned his attention back to Sara, leaving a trail of kisses, from her jaw line to the base of her throat. Then down to the swell of her breasts, fuller now since her pregnancy and nursing Daniel.
He kissed his way down her stomach to the apex between her legs, bestowing a kiss on the bundle of nerves there, and her hand fisted into his curls as she bucked upwards, meeting his mouth.
She mewled with need. "I need you now, Gil," she moaned, trying to tug him upwards.
His tongue flicked over her, teasing instead, her back arching as she clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle the moan of pleasure.
"Gil," her tone pleading with need, as she tugged him towards her once more. This time he complied, smothering her mouth, his tongue sliding over her bottom lip before entwining with hers.
"I love you, Sara," he whispered when he drew back, breaking the kiss. "So much."
"I love you too," she returned, her fingers combing through his curls before pulling him forward and kissing him again.
She hummed as he slid inside her, kissing his neck and shoulders. Her fingers traced down his spine as her hands travelled down his back, as they rocked gently together.
Grissom had wanted to make slow sweet love to his wife, but their desire for each other after three weeks apart and the anticipation that slowly built, proved overwhelming.
Her back arched as he gained speed, thrusting harder as her walls surrounded him, she arched her back, as her knees hooked around his thighs, drawing him deeper inside her.
So as not to disturb Daniel, Grissom claimed her mouth capturing her moan, as she did his, as they exploded together. He fell to the side, his body covering her, breathing heavily.
Sara's hands travelled down his back, slick with sweat and kissed his damp curls and face, and shoulders, before wrapping her arms around him. Grissom hummed appreciatively, in no hurry to move, even as he softened inside her. He just barely managed to lift his head, to press a kiss to her flushed cheek, and shoulder.
As their breathing slowed, their heart rates returning to normal, exhaustion swept over their bodies, and Grissom barely had the energy to roll off her. She snuggled into his left side, kissing him sleepily, as his arms wrapped around her, his fingers trailing lazily along her arm, before sleep too claimed him.
The next morning, Sara awoke to the delighted giggles of her son, as Grissom played with him. She lay quietly watching them, with a gentle smile on her face. Daniel adored his father. Sara didn't get much of look-in when Daddy was a round. He had the power to wrap them both around his little finger, but Grissom was especially vulnerable.
Noticing that she was awake, Grissom pulled a face at son, before moving to her side, and kissing her in greeting. Daniel batted his face playfully, before giving Sara's hair a playful tug.
Carefully disentangling the boy's fingers from her hair, Grissom kissed her again.
"I was about to head for the shower, but this little pupae decided it was the perfect time to play."
As Grissom disappeared into the bathroom for his shower, Sara decided that she and Daniel could join him, and save a little time. Just as she had unsnapped his onesie, there was a knock at the door.
Thinking it was her mother-in-law; she put her son in his travel cot, before grabbing Grissom's shirt, quickly fastening the buttons as she made her way to the door.
It wasn't Betty, but a short, woman in her early forties; her blonde hair cut short and styled in a pixie cut. She stared at Sara in some surprise, before trying to regain her poise.
"I was looking for Gilbert," she stated.
"He's unavailable right now." Sara explained, as they both heard the shower running. Thinking that it was college business that had made this woman come knocking at her husband's door, she added, "Has it something to do with the college? I can pass on a message…"
The woman gave Sara a hard look, as her gaze racked over her from head to foot.
There was a bitter edge to her voice as she replied with, "It's a bit more personal than that, since he's been sharing my bed for the last two weeks."