A/N: Update! Enjoy!

Out There

Chapter 10

Waking to darkness, Sara at first thought she was in her house in Vegas. But consciousness stirred and she knew it was Christmas morning and she was not in the place she'd called home for years. It was raining a steady drumming; she could hear rain splashing on water in a way it never did in Las Vegas. And the warm body next to her—she had been sleeping so soundly, she'd not heard him come in. She smelled the faint aroma of citrus and knew he had used lemons to rinse away the odor of a decomposing body. Snuggling against his chest, still thinking of her husband and this unexpected new direction, she went back to sleep, lulled by the peaceful sound of rain and the warmth of the man she loved.

The rain had stopped by the time Sara woke again.

From the brightness in the oval cabin, she knew it was well passed sunrise. As it was Christmas morning, the usual routine sounds of morning were absent; everyone, even the kitchen crew, had the morning off. Breakfast had been delivered the night before—muffins, fruit, cheese, boiled eggs—and placed in each cabin's refrigerator with a traditional meal planned for later in the day.

Sara did not move, afraid morning sickness would suddenly return, and she did not want to wake her husband who had his head buried underneath a pillow. His hand lay across her abdomen, one bare foot hung off the bed.

Smiling, she thought about how quickly they had adapted to sleeping together—among other things—as if no time had passed. "As if no time has passed," she whispered the words quietly as she thought about how quickly the years had passed since she and Grissom had met.

At the time, she'd never considered meeting someone, falling in love, and wanting to spend the rest of her life with him. But suddenly, Dr. Gil Grissom was there with all his experience and ideas and different from anyone she'd ever met. He had floated into her life—in and out—for a couple of years before asking her to come to Las Vegas.

She never thought she would stay—but knew she would as soon as he asked. They did move forward, she thought. She made friends as she learned a new job and a new city; he saw her every day, worked with her, confused and frustrated her in a thousand ways, and, eventually, would save her from her own destruction. From that day, he was there and one day, on a quiet Sunday, he said he loved her.

Now, taking a deep breath, she needed to go to the bathroom.

Grissom's breathing was deep and regular. Carefully, she lifted his hand and tried to slide as quietly as possible out of bed. His steady breathing continued and as she stood, he made a deep sigh, rolled over and settled into sleep.

In a few minutes, she finished her bathroom business, swished her mouth with mouthwash, and ruffled up the red garment she wore. She'd packed the thing at the last minute during a quick trip to Vegas—she had worn it every Christmas they had been together. The mirror in the bathroom reflected only a slim part of the diaphanous fabric and lace ruffle. Made from some kind of fake silk, it would last forever if she continued to wear it one night a year—and most of the previous times, it had stayed on her body for fifteen minutes. She suppressed a laugh; this was definitely the most ridiculous thing she had ever worn. But she knew the reaction she got every time—Grissom practically ate it off her body.

When she opened the bathroom door, she felt a different sensation from what she had been feeling for days—she wanted to eat. Carefully, with as little noise as possible, she made her way to the kitchenette and opened the small refrigerator. Just as her hand found a mango, she felt her husband's presence and turned around.

He stood in the alcove, hands over his head in a morning stretch, his hair mussed from sleeping.

"Is there enough for two?" he asked.

There was a warm, lazy gleam in his blue eyes and, as he smiled, a sensual intimacy radiated from his body. As Sara fumbled for a knife, he moved closer and took the hem of her short gown between his fingers.

"You kept this."

"Yes, just for Christmas." She managed to slice the mango and cut two pieces. Juice dripped on her fingers as she picked up one chunk and held it toward Grissom. "You've always loved mango."

Softly, he chuckled as his lips touched her fingers, taking the bite of fruit, his tongue licking, sucking her fingers.

In a moment, the mango was forgotten as Sara stepped into his arms, as their lips met in a kiss that tasted sweet and juicy and tropical, quickly becoming a passionate desire. His hands were underneath the thin fabric she wore; hands that felt warm and possessive sliding along her back moving to her chest while they slow danced across the floor and fell into the bed. Her gown was easily removed, his shirt and boxes disappeared. Their kisses were leisurely slow; everywhere he touched her, she felt waves of relief and pleasure. Caresses, featherlike strokes, and whispered endearments continued until each became arousing, layering sensation upon sensation.

Sara knew her heartbeat shifted into a new urgent pattern; he was above her, intimately nudging into her with absolute tenderness. She sensed the approach of her climax as her body clenched around him in throbbing contractions—she heard his laugh softly as she experienced a shattering orgasm. A few moments later, there was a deep satisfying growl as he followed her into the intense pleasure of his own climax.

As soon as she felt him easing away, she protested, "Don't move—not yet." There was something deeply satisfying in having the man she loved so intimately intertwined with her body.

With a husky voice, he said, "I missed this—this—being with you, making love with you."

She shushed his talk with a kiss then said, "We've said all of that, dear Gil." She snuggled as he shifted his body. "Merry Christmas, Gilbert."

With one finger, he touched one lock of her hair, curled it around his finger as he said, "Are you happy you are here?"

"Yes—this is definitely the best Christmas in my life." She held up her finger as she bit her lips into a fine line before saying, "My emotions are kind of wild right now. I feel like I'm in a brain fog—a good dream, I think. We are together—with this dream job happening and then I remember I'm preggers with twins—almost overwhelmed about all of it."

Sara's hand rested on Grissom's shoulder; he covered hers with his own hand and kissed her. He said, "It has been a remarkable few months for us—and everything will work out. I'm not going to lie—I'd given up being a parent but I know we will be good at it." He chuckled, "You were everyone's surrogate mom in the lab—I knew it—always looking out for the others—and telling me in no uncertain terms when I was being too harsh."

And because there was no urgency, no one would be looking for them or expecting anything of them, they remained in bed for another hour talking about Sara's day of shopping and Grissom's discovery of a body in one of the barrels.

When Sara's phone rang with a familiar number, she answered Greg's call with a holiday greeting to find the entire team had gathered to wish them a happy Christmas. She'd already decided she would not tell her friends and former co-workers about her pregnancy—not yet, not until more weeks had passed. There was laughter and stories to tell, news, updates, and good-natured teasing as the group talked, promising to keep in touch more often than on holidays.

Later in the day, everyone on the ship gathered on the upper deck for a holiday meal, delivered by local caterers. Food had been prepared and spread across long tables—the same cook who had brought Sara snacks, smoothies, and sandwiches motioned for her to sit as far away from the table filled with roasted chicken, baked ham, and kalua pig as possible.

In a surprise Christmas day 'gift', Sara ate, enjoying a real meal for the first time in days as she tried a variety of vegetarian dishes—purple mashed potatoes, steamed dumplings, poke, several rice dishes, an assortment of salads, fresh fruits, and savory and sweet mochi cakes.

As the meal progressed, Sara passed chocolates and Dottie had small boxes of macadamia nuts for everyone. Decorated cookies and small cakes were handed out by the ship's captain.

It was well into late afternoon when someone noticed the Coast Guard cutter entering the harbor.

"Did they tell anyone they were returning to Hilo?" asked Paulson.

With shrugs all around, the party continued without much notice of the cutter docking nearby until, one of the ship's crew members notified the captain that the Coast Guard captain had requested to board.

"He knows we have better food!" One of the young research assistant's shouted.

Grissom leaned near Sara and said, "Why do I have a feeling this is about those barrels?"

"You said they were taken to Pearl Harbor." Glancing at the tables where most of the food had been consumed, she said, "They are late for the buffet! Maybe a chicken leg is left."

The Coast Guard captain arrived with another man, easily recognized as law enforcement by Sara and Grissom.

Grissom said, "Hawaii doesn't have a state-wide bureau of investigation—so who is the other guy?"

"Please tell me he isn't looking for you." When Grissom gave her a bewildered look, Sara said, "You were the one who opened the barrel!"

A moment later, the two men walked in their direction. The Coast Guard officer saying, "Mrs. Grissom, Dr. Grissom—this is Detective Adrian Lee—unsolved murders department for the state." Pausing for a minute while they shook hands, he continued, "We've brought the barrels back to Hilo—it's complicated." The Captain glanced at Grissom before turning his gaze to Sara. "Your reputation seems to be well-known in law enforcement circles."

All three men looked at Sara.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! We appreciate all of you, especially those who take a minute to send a message!

More to come!