A/N: Hey everyone. New chapter for you and time for a little GSR closeness ;-) Thanks to everyone for reading and I hope you enjoy. I would love to hear your thoughts if you have the time.
Note: Maybe a slight raise in rating to a higher T for naughtiness :P
A huge thank you to my current supporters – Nat, Mrs Crabby, Dbackfan, AliceC, ChristineS, DawnS, Jillian, IngridT, Tracer85, NiniZ, JamieM, Gaelle, and NancyB.
Always, thank you to calim for the beta, suggestions and friendship :)
On we go….
Chapter 24
Grissom opened the door to their suite and stepped inside, Sara following behind to lock and close the door.
Dropping her bag on the chair, she rubbed her neck as stiffness gripped her whole body. She hated the fact that a day that started on such a positive note turned out to be so shitty. Probably her fault for thinking it might be a good day.
Moving further into the suite, she watched Grissom throw off his jacket and walk toward the bar, picking up a bottle of scotch and a glass.
"Do you want anything?" he asked flatly, popping the top off the unopened bottle.
Not liking where this might be leading, she approached him and watched as he poured a little of the liquor into the glass.
She was torn about what to say. Drinking wasn't a great idea given his condition and medication but a little wouldn't hurt too much. However, given what his current mindset might be a little may turn into more than that.
"I'm okay," she said softly.
Even though she figured she could probably down several bottles of wine, she was just too damn tired to do so. Besides, she suspected tomorrow would be another long day and having a bit of a hangover wouldn't do.
As he reached for the glass, Sara took hold of his hand causing him to give her a confused look.
Smiling at him, her thumb gently whisked over his. "I need a shower. My body's all stiff. Feel free to come and join me, okay?"
Grissom's lips twitched then his eyes flicked to the glass for the briefest of seconds, but Sara didn't push even though she wanted to. Although challenging, she kept her smile as she released his hand and headed to the bedroom.
Letting out a long sigh as she entered, Sara closed the drapes, pulling her top over her head before heading into the bathroom. Opening the shower room door, she turned it on then stripped off the rest of her clothing before glancing at her reflection in the mirror.
Ugh, the bags were already coming back under her eyes. Joy.
Shaking her head, she stepped into the shower and closed the door, turning up the heat until it was almost a little too hot. When soothing was needed hotter water was certainly required.
Leaning forwards and lowering her head, she flattened her palms against the tiles, letting the hot spray cascade over her neck and back. It felt good and she moved her head in a circle to help ease the stiffness running through her aching bones. She stayed like this for a few minutes and then, as she heard the shower door open, she smiled feeling a huge surge of relief.
Straightening, she could feel Grissom behind her then hear the shower door close. Glancing over her shoulder, she looked him up and down, unable to stop the burning feeling the sight of his naked body always caused as it gushed through her body in waves.
"Decided to join me, huh?" she said, pursing her lips at him.
Slipping arms around her, he tipped his head close to hers and kissed her lips.
"You are much more comforting than a glass of scotch," he whispered against her.
Sara truly melted at his words, and she was sure she blushed. A smile growing, she faced forward and leaned back into him as his hands rose to cup her breasts.
"Hmmmm," came the throaty sigh as his hot, wet, mouth found her throat.
Tipping her head back to allow him better access, her body tingled, hand lifting to cup the back of his head and slide fingers through his hair.
With his hands squeezing and tongue sliding over her flesh, it was this kind of euphoric feeling that she never wanted to end. However, as amazing as it was, she knew she wasn't the only one in need of a little stress relief. So, after a lovely few minutes she turned and lifted a hand to his cheek. Whisking her thumb back and forth over his beard, they got lost in each other's eyes for a moment as the water cascaded over them.
"Turn around," she requested softly.
His head tilted back a little, lips slightly puckering as his eye twitched. Sara gave him a smirk, wriggling her eyebrows at him.
Watching him turn around, Sara reached for a bottle of shower gel, lips puckering as her eyes travelled down to his butt. She loved that butt.
Squirting some gel into her hands, they rose to his shoulders and she began to massage. Pressing a little harder as he began to sway with her movements, she heard him grunt.
"Jeez, babe, you feel tense," she commented, feeling the stiffness in his shoulders as her hands worked over him.
"Hmmmm," he agreed.
"Tell me if I press too hard, okay?"
"Not sure I'd ever complain about you touching me too hard," he countered.
Pausing, she narrowed her eyes at him as he shot her a glance over his shoulder then smirked.
Squirting a little more gel into her hands, Sara breached the small gap between them. Her naked body now pressing into his as she worked hands around his ribs to his chest.
"Are you challenging me, Mr Grissom?" she asked slyly, her attention travelling down to his stomach.
"Would I do such a thing?" he squeaked as her fingers whisked over the top of the erection he was sporting.
Feeling it, Sara smiled before giving his shoulder a gentle bite.
"I know something I can do that should help relieve some of that tension for you," she told him, once again teasing him with her fingers.
Inhaling deeply, Grissom reached out a hand to steady himself against the tiles.
"What might that be?" he whispered.
Placing a kiss just behind his ear, Sara adored the fact it caused him to shudder. His ears had always been sensitive, especially when they were intimate, but that little bit of skin she knew always drove him crazy if she touched it.
Gliding her fingertips back over his arousal, she smiled into him. "I'll show you."
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
Atop the covers the couple lay together, legs entwined, each with an arm around the other.
Lifting her free hand, Sara whisked fingers through his fringe.
"Feeling a little better now?" she asked sweetly.
Passing a gaze over her face, Grissom gave a shy smile before leaning close and running his lips over hers.
"Yes. Thank you."
The softness in his voice made Sara melt. "I'm so glad," she replied, pursing her lips.
"How about you?"
Sara frowned now. "Me?"
"Hmmm," he said.
"I'm worried about you," she admitted, running fingers across his back. "The case. This maniac. I mean… what else is this psycho going to pull out of their bag?"
He shrugged. "I don't know," he said quietly.
Considering her next admittance, Sara was torn whether to tell him or not. But then she remembered their rule. No more secrets.
"What are you thinking?" Sara blinked at his question, and he leaned close again. "I know you and I know that look on your face."
Letting out a quiet sigh, she pressed her hand into his back.
"I'm nervous, Gil, and even though I hate to admit it, a little scared. Especially for you. I'm mean… how do they know about your condition? How long until this so called game starts getting physical? Towards you or even towards us."
"Do you want to leave?"
His question startled her and, giving him a look of surprise, pondered what he'd asked.
"Are you honestly telling me you would walk out on this?"
Sighing, he gave a shrug before pulling her a little closer.
"I don't know," he said quietly. "I just…. This is getting a lot deeper than I expected and I don't like being wrong."
"Wrong about what?"
"About not feeling threatened. I'm a little nervous, too."
That admittance made Sara's heart skip a beat. Gil Grissom admitting fear wasn't something that she'd heard very often.
She dropped a kiss to his lips, following it up with a smile when she pulled back.
"Honestly, I think it's too late to walk away."
He frowned at her. "You do?"
"Sadly. What's to say they won't follow us?" His eyes widened a little, but she continued. "I mean, all of this is clearly for you and now we know they have personal information. How long have they really been planning this? Do they know where we live in San Diego?" She shuddered. "Really gives me the creeps not knowing."
"Do you know what I think," he said, hands running up her back and she shook her head. "I think we need to stop letting them dictate what decisions we make."
"Ah, if it was that simple, huh?"
"No, it's not but what we do is our decision. Not theirs."
Lifting a hand, Sara ran her thumb down the dimple in his chin.
"Let's… give it a few more days? Now we have more leads, we might start getting somewhere. After that, we can discuss again and see where we're at."
"Okay," Grissom agreed. "Sounds like a plan."
She kissed him. "Good."
"And I'll try not to lose my temper again."
"Awww." Sara pouted and he lofted an eyebrow. "Kinda turns me on when you do that."
A smirk found his lips. "You are a bad women."
Sara laughed. "Aint I just?"
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
Arriving at the lab the following morning, Grissom and Sara followed their current routine and went in search of Max to ask what was on the agenda for the day. Given the help they were getting from other shifts, it wasn't a guarantee they would work on the same thing as the day before. But, ultimately, as long as they found this sadistic bastard, they didn't mind what they had to do to achieve that.
Reaching Max's office, they peered inside to see it empty but as they turned to go in search of the director, they spotted her in the adjoining corridor heading their way.
"Good morning," she said when reaching them. "Are you two ever late?"
Sara's lips pursed. "Wouldn't be a very good example to set now would it?"
Smiling, Max held up the folder in her hand. "Your hand writing results."
Grissom's eyebrows lifted as he took the folder, the couple then following Max into her office as he opened it.
"The samples match," Grissom said almost not believing it, looking up from the folder as Max moved around her desk.
"Oh, yes," Max agreed.
Sara looked at Grissom and then back to Max. "Then this means Meryl was dating the killer. Or at least had."
"Looks that way," Max agreed. "First actual physical link to someone we have."
Handing the folder to Sara so she could see, Grissom thought for a moment.
"From what Meryl's mother told us, it's then very possible that whoever it is works or worked at Desert Palms."
Max nodded in agreement. "Definitely."
Grissom rubbed his chin. "Speaking to people there I'd say is probably now our number one priority, no?"
"Way ahead of you," Max said, sitting down. "Catherine and Josh are heading down their shortly. Do you guys want to assist? We'll get through people a lot faster with more of us down there."
"Are you going to be okay with that?" Sara asked Grissom as she placed the folder on Max's desk. "You know… it's where… um…"
"Lurie won't be there," Max cut in. "He's still on vacation time."
Head tipping Sara's way, Grissom folded his arms.
"It wouldn't matter if he was. I need to move on from the past. What's done is done and no matter how much we don't like what happened, it can't be changed. Priority is now and finding this copycat, not Vincent Lurie."
Sara felt her chest swell at his words, a rush of pride running through her as she gave him a smile.
"Then let's go help," Sara agreed.
Grissom nodded.
"I think Catherine is in processing room C," Max told them. "She was checking to see if we had match with the print yet before they left."
Now Sara nodded and off they went.
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
Stepping into the processing room, the couple noticed Catherine sitting at the computer, Josh by her side.
"Any luck?" Sara asked.
Catherine looked over her shoulder, shaking her head. "No. Nothing yet."
"Maybe our guy isn't in the system," Grissom remarked.
"Possible," Catherine agreed, getting up. "What are you guys up to?"
"Max told us you're off to the hospital," Sara replied. "Thought we'd tag along."
Folsom slipped on his jacket. "I love a good road trip."
Sara laughed. "Don't we all?"
"I hope you brought snacks," Catherine snickered picking up a file from the table. "Samples of our hand writing," she told them. "Might be useful."
Grissom nodded his agreement. "Good thinking."
"I try," Catherine said with a smirk. "So, ready to roll?"
As Grissom looked at her Sara smiled.
"Let's go."
A/N: Is their killer at the hospital? Hmmm….