Out Of Africa Ch25
Gertenbach stopped the car dead
"You've had what? And you only tell me now?"
Sara coloured in discomfort and a little bit indignation.
"I really am fine. Looking through files won't very strenuous and it would keep me out of the field. I can do this, OK?"
Gertenbach seemed reluctant to agree, but clearly, he needed all the help he could get, and grudgingly started driving them back to her apartment. After transferring the boxes from his car, he helped her to sort them into manageable piles.
"You know, I think these might be Agent Smith's missing files. I'm going to let Wolmerans and Scott know what we've found. I have a few more things I need to follow-up on. You'll be alright here, right?" Gertenbach asked, nervously transferring his weight from one foot to the other.
"Yes. Shoo"
"Okay, well phone me if you need me"
Sara ushered him out of the door and got down to work. Within the first couple of hours, she was convinced that what she had was the makings of an enormous Rico case against Conrad Nieves. It was some of the best paper-trail evidence she had seen in a long time. If these were indeed Agent Scott's work, then he had been one heck of an agent.
Feeling a bit tired, despite her assurance to Gertenbach, Sara took a good long nap. She felt remarkably refreshed afterwards.
Sara worked to categorize the files for easy presentation as they were a complete mixed jumble. She phoned Gertenbach with the news. He was overjoyed and promised to bring Wolmenrans and Scott up to speed. Sara didn't wish to undermine Interpol, but suggested to Gertenbach that they might want to hand all of this to the FBI to prosecute as a Rico case. If so, then Sara had a contact that they could trust to handle the case. Gertenbach promised to run it by Scott.
Sara again wondered if Agent Reed would consider hiring her. Her mind was half on sorting thought the files and half on what she wanted for her future. It was around 23:00 that she realised she should probably go to bed. But having become accustomed to working at night and sleeping in the day, she didn't feel particularly tired. Sara decided to go to bed when a normal night-shift at the lab would have ended.
Grissom was in a pensive mood as he drove to Sara's apartment after his shift. He needed to talk to her. This time he was determined to tell her how he felt. He didn't dare go home first. He knew the longer he let things lie, the harder it would become to talk about it. He knew that from bitter experience. He wasn't too sure what to do or feel about her friend Chris, but seeing as his number wasn't even listed in her phone, he hoped that they weren't too serious. No-one named Chris had enquired about her at the hospital (he had specifically asked) and he was encouraged by that fact. When he had stopped by Sara's apartment after leaving her at the hospital, he had run into one of Sara's neighbours. An older lady in a wheelchair called Mrs Milligan. Sara was an intensely private person, but the probing type of questions that the lady asked, convinced Grissom that she knew Sara on some personal level. She was immensely relieved to find out that Sara was OK, and that convinced Grissom even more that he was right in telling the old lady what had happened. The conversation they had had, kept running through his mind.
"She talks about everyone at the lab sometimes, but mostly of you. She loves you, you know"
Grissom bowed his head in acknowledgment
"Yes. I do know"
"Then you must either return her love, or set her free"
Grissom parked in the visitors parking lot and was at least relieved to see Sara's Pruis in its usual spot. He steeled his resolved in the elevator ride to her floor.
Sara was deep in thought when there was a knock on her door. She was sure it would be Gertenbach. Who else would it be after all? She was speechless when she looked through the spy-hole to see Grissom at her front door. She stood and pondered if she wanted to speak to him, but relented when he knocked for a second time. He looked rumpled, worn and nervous. Not something that she was used in seeing in him.
"Hi"
"Hi"
Sara wondered which of the two of them felt more awkward at that moment.
"Please come in" she said stepping to the side, trying to ease some of the nervousness.
Grissom walked past her and stopped when he saw the files strewn all over her living room. He didn't say anything, but lifted a brow. Knowing there wasn't much point in denying it, Sara winced internally and signed. No use in trying to hide it now.
"It's part of the poaching case. These are probably Agent Scott's missing files and has all the hallmarks of a huge Rico case" Sara ran a hand over her face, continuing her confession "I've actually been working on it for a while, but always on my own time I swear"
"Yes, I know" Grissom surprised her "I made sure to approve the very few tests you requested and didn't run yourself. Greg and Brass know as well"
Sara was speechless. The fact that Grissom had known, and not only that but had actively worked to support her without her knowing meant more to her than she could really put into words. She felt her eyes watering. Seeing it Grissom took her hand, which was in itself a surprise, and lead her to her couch. There was only a bit of couch not covered in files and it made them sit very close to each other.
"Listen Sara. When we couldn't find you that night, my heart nearly stopped. I finally realised what a fool I'd been. I can't go through that again"
Sara felt blood rushing in her ears. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect a speech such as that from Grissom
"I know that I have been hurting you by keeping you at arm's length. I am so sorry for that. The last thing I wanted to do, was hurt you. Thank goodness you aren't one to give up easily" Grissom indicated the mass of files strewn all over the room.
"It's one of the things I love about you Sara" he grimaced, sure that he was messing it up again "I mean, I love you Sara. I have from the very first time we met. I've just been too scared to do anything about it till now. I.."
Sara never knew what he would have said next, as she leaned in, grabbed the front of his shirt and kissed him. He tasted of coffee but mostly, he tasted like Grissom. His lips were soft but insistent as he kissed her back enthusiastically. He took the sides of her head in his hands. It was a gesture so caring; it nearly brought her to tears again.
"You had me at hello" she told him, seeing that he didn't get the reference, she laughed and kissed him again.
When they broke apart the joy she felt was echoed in him. Only then did she really see how tired he was. She knew that there was still a lot that needed to be said between them. She wasn't naïve and knew everything wasn't magically settled by one amazing kiss. She heard a soft scratch at the door followed by a knock. Grissom cocked his head in question.
"Would you like to meet Chris?" she asked him, and saw the small frown and stiffening facial muscles deepen the small the cleft in his chin. She smiled and stroked it with her thumb. Feeling some of the strain drain from his face. She led him to the door and stood back as a nearly ecstatic border collie bounded in.
"Grissom, I'd like you to meet Chris" Sara smiled her gap-toothed smile as she rubbed Chris's head, adoring pressed up against her thigh.
"I'm sorry my dear" Mrs Milligan apologised "I know you cannot take him for his usual run, but he just needed to see you".
Chris gave Grissom a brief sniff, before giving a very reserved tail wag and returning his attention to Sara. Sara grinned at the dog. By Chriss's standards, that was basically a stamp of approval. He normally hated strangers and took a long time to warm-up to someone.
Mrs Milligan nodded to Grissom, and correctly reading the relief and happiness on Sara's face addressed Grissom.
"I think you made the right decision. Come boy, Sara still needs to rest"
"What was that about?" Sara asked as she closed the door again.
Grissom grinned at her ruefully. "I ran into her when you were in the hospital. She basically told me to pull my head out of my ass"
Sara laughed "I should have introduced you earlier"
Grissom smiled and kissed her again, but didn't fail to note the small wince she gave when he put his hands on her hips. She wasn't that long post-op after all.
"I should go" his words belied his body language.
"Or you could stay" she said.
"I'm not going to rush things with you Sara. You are too important to me"
Her heart melted at his words.
"I actually meant just to sleep" she told him "You could stay."
And so, he did.