A Thousand Different Moments

Rating: R
Pairing: Grissom/Sara
Category: General/Romance
Archive: FF.net and here. Anywhere else ask first, I might say yes.
Disclaimer: I used to be a huge television producer/writer out in Hollywood. Made millions, but I quit so I could get in touch with the average American. Turned down the offer to work on CSI, so alas, I do not own these characters. Here's hoping you can recognize sarcasm. <G>

Summary: What if they just started over?

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Chapter 8

Sara pulled into the parking lot at CSI still grinning slightly, remembering how her evening began. She woke up face to face with Grissom, her body smushed against his, filling her with the most contented warmth. There was a sweet moment of awkwardness, followed by a sweeter moment of genuine 'this-really-is-okay' eye contact.

When she sat up and checked her watch, Sara couldn't believe they'd slept six hours cramped like that on his couch. The stiff neck was worth it.

"Well, I guess I'll see ya later," she said at the door. She couldn't stop staring at him, wrinkled clothes and tousled hair.

"Yeah."

"Bye. Thanks for having me over. I had a nice time." She timidly ran her fingers down his arm, gripping his hand for just a second.

He nodded as she quickly slipped out the door.

Now, going into work, Sara focused on separating herself from what happened earlier. Though she couldn't help wondering what would happen next.

OoOoO

There was nothing to do but wait.

Warrick and Grissom watched the chemicals start to bubble, pooling in some areas of the small patch of grass, reacting all the while. It would probably take five to ten minutes to see if the effect matched the other side of the house. At least then they'd know what kind of vandal they were dealing with. The homeowners were more than willing to sacrifice a little more grass if it would help catch the person responsible. Such a stupid crime-ruining people's yards all over the Las Vegas suburbs.

"So, you and Sara have any big plans for the weekend?" Warrick had noticed they both had the following Sunday and Monday off.

Taken aback, Grissom just stared at him for a second. "Uh... she's helping me do a final draft edit on an entomology text book. We... might work on that," he said, almost guiltily.

Warrick blinked. "Oh. I thought you two were... uh, never mind."

Grissom cocked his head in guarded interest. "You did?"

"Well, yeah," Warrick admitted, a little surprised that his boss was discussing this with him. He bent and looked at the grass more closely. "You're not?"

It would be a mistake to hide it. Grissom knew he and Sara were slowly becoming intimate. Yet-why confess it to a member of the lab when nothing had really happened yet? After all, he may be wrong about the direction of their relationship. Sara never really complained about his subtle advances, but she also wasn't being very aggressive-the way he knew her to be.

"I don't think so," he answered thoughtfully.

Warrick narrowed his eyes. "Geeze, Griss, if you don't know, man, you've got bigger problems than I thought."

"Hey, watch it!" Grissom warned, though light heartedly. Snapping a picture of the wilted grass, he said, "This looks exactly like the other side. It's got to be a similar product, if not the same."

"Yep," Warrick agreed, knowing the topic of conversation had officially been changed.

OoOoO

It was all about the textbook. Well, initially. Grissom's first deadline with the publisher was the following week. The final drafts of his five chapters needed to be double-checked and matched up with any coordinating pictures, graphs, and diagrams that went with them.

They'd ordered in Chinese and ended up talking through most of dinner instead of working on his drafts. Then they moved into Grissom's living room to work, laying out documents and supplemental items all over his coffee table and floor.

It was strange for Sara, being back on the couch they had slept on a couple days earlier. Tonight didn't have the same kind of tender moments they had shared then. Grissom was very focused on the task at hand. So, Sara tried to focus as well-but it was hard.

When he reached across her for a photograph, oblivious to her proximity, Sara turned her face, hoping to attract his attention. Pausing only a moment to glance in her eyes, he merely cleared his throat and apologized.

More than an hour went by, and they were practically finished. With a sigh of satisfaction, he relaxed back on the couch, linking his hands behind his head. When Sara leaned back and wiggled a bit closer to him, he brought his arm down around her like he'd been doing it for years.

"Gil?"

"Hm."

"Are you ever going to kiss me?"

When he didn't answer, she looked up at him.

"Probably!" he said, clearly embarrassed. He shook his head and rolled his eyes at her while her smile widened.

"So, why haven't you?"

"I didn't want to push it," he said, linking his fingers with hers. "I needed to earn your trust."

Sara was watching their hands. "You have it."

"Good."

And so they sat there, with her-staring at him again, and him-suddenly feeling like an inexperienced teenager. "What? You want me to do it now?"

She laughed and rested the back of her head on his shoulder. "Sometimes, you're very dorky, and somehow, it makes you even more attractive."

"Was that a compliment?"

"Yes."

"Then, thank you."

She didn't see the point in pushing him, but at the same time, she was exhausted from wanting him. Suddenly, the need to get out of there overwhelmed her.

"I should get going if we're going to Laughlin tomorrow."

He blinked in surprise when she slipped out of his arms. "All right." He knew he was screwing this moment up royally. "I'll walk you out."

Neither moved very quickly on the way across the room. "Are you sure you want to come with me?" he began, "It's such a boring drive--"

"Yes," she insisted. "Consider me moral support. Besides, what else am I going to do on a Monday afternoon?"

He watched her a moment, thinking about how a few months ago, she would have just worked.

"You know, I'm proud of you."

Sara tipped her head curiously as they stood near his front door. "For what?"

"I was really worried that you were headed for a burn out. But you've pulled yourself together. In fact, I don't even think you want to work overtime anymore, do you?"

Her pouty smirk just about did him in. It relaxed into a smile, and Sara turned to open the door. When she stopped and turned back, he had a feeling it might be the right time.

She leaned forward and loosely hugged him, pressing her face against his. "Thank you."

Then she pecked his cheek, lingering closer to him than ever before.

"You're welcome," he whispered. Neither moved away, gradually inching closer. He looked in her eyes, tipped his head and gave her a small, quick kiss on the lips.

Sara froze-somehow shocked. Even though they had grown so close in the past few months, and talked about so many things, it still didn't seem real-that this moment was actually here. They were really becoming physical, and it stunned her.

He mistook her hesitation for disapproval, and instinctively muttered an apology. So, she leaned forward and kissed the corner of his mouth, laughing nervously. "Don't apologize."

He hummed his appreciation and tightened his hands on her waist before softly pressing his lips to hers again. It was brief. Then he did it once more-again, briefly. And then Sara kissed him. They kept smiling and pecking and looking at each other.

After several minutes of small, sweet kisses, Grissom gently held her face in his hands, dragging his lips along her cheek toward her ear. "Sara, I don't want to just be your friend," he whispered, sucking lightly on the lobe. "I, uh... Is that going to be a problem?"

She laughed and answered him with a deep, open-mouthed kiss that made him groan. "This is the best kind of friend you can be," she mumbled, and her arms moved to his neck.

He didn't know how long they stood there kissing. Finally he mumbled, "Why were you leaving again?"

"I can't remember." She slid her fingers into his hair and tugged him back to her, kissing him breathless.

Sighing contentedly into her ear, he asked, "Would you like to come back inside?"

"Yes."

OoOoO

He couldn't really remember the last time he made out with a woman on his couch. Then again, this wasn't just an ordinary make out session. Sara was driving him crazy. He'd always feared it would be explosive between them physically, and he was right.

She smiled at him with swollen lips and flushed cheeks, eyes full of desire. He'd never seen her look more beautiful. They nuzzled each other while their breathing returned to normal, holding each other close. His face was in the crook of her neck, his mouth still brushing her skin when he whispered breathily, "I love you, Sara."

Her cheeks flinched as she fought her emotions. Did he really say that? Before she could ask if she heard him right, he kissed her so tenderly, making gentle passes into her mouth with his tongue. Her insides were on fire, and she was desperate for him to touch her where she ached the most. Other than an occasional caress down her side, he kept his hands in her hair or on her back.

"Gil?"

"Hm." He did not stop kissing her face.

"I... um..." She struggled to speak coherently.

"Honey, what's wrong?" He looked so concerned.

Swallowing hard past a dry mouth, she looked in his eyes. "Do you want me?"

His eyes narrowed and his mouth twitched in confusion. "Are you kidding me?"

She shook her head. "Because, I... uh... I want to be with you-I... I..." She lost track of her thoughts, watching his gaze flow over her face.

"You have no idea," he admitted heavily.

"I want to be yours..." She kissed him hard. "I want you to make me yours," she pleaded.

"Oh, Sara..." It still managed to shock and overwhelm him, her interest in him physically, especially after all this time. It seemed too good to be true.

Under her shirt, his trembling fingers caressed her abdomen, sending tiny shivers through her. He kept looking at her, as if asking permission to go further. When his hand made contact with her breast through her bra, she arched her back and gasped quietly. He groaned into her mouth, increasing the pressure of his touch.

Then he heard her whimper, "Please," while she ground her hips against him, pulling at his waist as she did. He knew there was no reason to hold back.

He slid her shirt up and over her head, and she smiled, pulling him closer, loving the feel of her bare arms and stomach against him. Sara blindly began unbuttoning his shirt while they kissed, feeling a flutter in her stomach when she slid the shirt from his shoulders. She'd always wanted to kiss his solid neck, to feel the muscles of his chest beneath her fingers, and to have his bare arms around her.

In seconds she got everything she wanted, trailing wet kisses down his neckline, running her palms over his upper body, and then shivering when his bare arms encased her. He groaned her name, licking along her ear, his voice quivering slightly as his restraint began to diminish.

She wanted to cry. It was real. This was really happening. He said he loved her, and now, he was showing her. All those years of wanting him and waiting for him-they were finally here. He was such a good friend to her now. She was more in love with him than ever. It was too much. Tears formed in her eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, panicked. "W-we don't have to--"

She laughed and squeezed him tighter. "Nothing's wrong. I'm happy." Sniffling, she buried her face in his neck and said, "Just... don't stop, please."

He leaned against her, kissing slowly down her chest, making her fall gently into to the cushions. His hot breath made her tingle and shiver, as he continued over her bra, down her stomach, until he reached the top of her pants. Deftly releasing the button, he slowly lowered the zipper while Sara writhed beneath him. Then she pulled his face back up to hers for a passionate kiss.

"You're driving me crazy," she admitted with a sexy smile.

"I haven't even started yet," he teased, humming throatily when he slid his hand under her satiny underwear. He watched her eyes close and her body arch in pleasure.

"Sara, look at me."

She opened her eyes and gave an embarrassed smile, her face flushing even more under his intense stare.

He licked his lips, admiring her. "I've always wanted--" He turned his head toward the quiet ringing and then closed his eyes in frustration. Dropping his head to her shoulder, he grumbled loudly and then muttered, "No."

Sara actually laughed, which surprised him. She shrugged and lightly pushed him to get up. "It might not be work," she suggested, sitting up. "Just get it."

"It's always work," he mumbled under his breath as he picked up his cell phone on the other side of the room, glancing at the incoming caller's number. "What the...? It's Ecklie." Sara furrowed her brow while Grissom answered.

"I'm busy Conrad, what do you want?"

"A favor," came his curt reply.

"We don't do favors for each other, and we like it that way." He heard Sara snort quietly from the couch.

"I'm tapped out of CSI's, and so are you-I called everybody on your shift, and they're all in the middle of cases. You and Sidle are the only two off tonight."

"Did you call her?" he asked abruptly.

"No, she... kinda scares me. I thought maybe you could. I'll even make a deal with you."

"What kind of deal?"

"I can't get over there to do the initial walk through. I just need a couple more hours here. If you do the preliminary collection for me, I'll take over the case."

"Facts."

"Condominium downtown-private residence. Six-year-old girl pronounced dead at the scene-crushed by an elevator. Here's the address..."

Grissom grabbed a pen and paper and jotted it down, catching sight of Sara slipping on her shirt in the corner of his eye. "You're going to owe me like you wouldn't believe, Conrad."

He hung up the phone and Sara added, "I'll say," smiling when Grissom turned with a sad, apologetic expression. "Do I get to come play, too?" she asked, running her fingers over her tangled hair.

"Yes, we'll get it done twice as fast. A little girl was crushed by an elevator."

"Ugh." She watched him button up his shirt and fell into a bit of a trance, remembering what had just gone on between them. He slipped on his shoes, and before she realized it, he was standing before her.

"You ready?"

She twitched in surprised. "Oh, yeah. My shoes are by the door."

She took a step away from him, but he grabbed her by the arm and said, "Wait." His mouth landed on hers so quickly, it shocked her for a second. Then she fell into him, responding fully to his kiss, whimpering quietly when he broke away.

He gave a reluctant smile. "Let's go."

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