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>

Author's Note: Thank you for reviewing. It's just generally nice! This chapter is for those of you who thought Ch. 8 was the end of the RST. (evil laugh)

Summary: What if they just started over?

---

Chapter 9

There was really no reason to turn the case back over to Ecklie. Hours into the investigation, Sara and Grissom pieced together exactly what happened. They worked with the state inspector and determined that it was an elevator malfunction that caused the child's death. The elevator operated even though the safety gate was not closed. Unfortunately, the little girl tried to climb out just as it reached the third floor of her home.

Back at the lab, Grissom saw Sara stifle a yawn. "I'll do the case report on this," he offered. "Why don't you go home and get some rest?"

Unsure how to respond, she just stammered, "Uh, okay."

"If we're... still going to Laughlin tomorrow," he said hopefully.

"Oh, right." She flashed a large smile. "Thanks. What time do you want to leave?"

He shrugged, glancing down at the work in front of him. "Oh, I don't know, I'll call you later," he said, noticing how 'boyfriendlike' he sounded.

"Okay. See ya later."

She slipped out of the room, but not before seeing his charming wink.

OoOoO

Sara squinted through her sunglasses, trying to read the LCD display on her cell phone. Checking the time, she thought 1:18pm was way too soon for him to be calling.

"I knew you'd want to leave early," she answered playfully.

"Hello to you too," Grissom replied. "Why can't we leave early? I'll be over in twenty minutes."

"No! I can't be ready that quickly. Do you have any idea where I am right now?"

Listening a moment, Gil swore he heard water splashing and kids laughing in the background. "No, where?"

"In the pool at my apartment complex."

"In the pool?"

"Yeah." She could picture the exact confused look on his face.

"On the phone?"

"On a raft."

"On the phone?"

"On a raft."

"Stop it!"

She laughed, and then stopped to glare and point a finger at a young boy who dared to swim too close to her.

"C'mon, get out," he coaxed. "How about an hour?"

She sighed and shifted her legs a little, the mere sound of his voice stirring things inside her. "I guess so."

"Thank you."

"Hey, can I ask you a question?" she asked, feigning an innocent tone.

"Yes."

"Are we going to talk about what happened yesterday, or are we just pretending it didn't happen?"

"That's two questions," he reminded.

"Gil..."

"Eventually, and no, we are not pretending it didn't happen. May I ask you a question?"

She smiled, pleased with his response. "Of course."

"Are you wearing a bikini?"

"I'm not answering that!" she laughed.

"I'll see you later."

"Bye."

OoOoO

The sun shone brilliantly, and afternoon temperatures soared into the low 100's. Even with her eyes closed behind sunglasses, Sara could sense a shadow blocking her sun.

She smirked upon recognizing the figure. "There's no way it's been an hour," she announced.

"Close enough," he said, eyes roaming over her hungrily.

"Run any red lights on the way over here?" She eyed him just as hungrily.

"Nope. No speeding tickets either. Nice bathing suit."

"Thank you."

For a brief moment she felt self-conscious, having him ogle her in her bikini. Not that it was the skimpiest thing on the market, but still, it certainly showed more of her than he was accustomed to seeing.

Not that he seemed to mind one bit.

Gil realized that he really couldn't put off talking to her. If she wanted to discuss how quickly they had moved yesterday, he was willing. He couldn't deny his attraction to her any longer, and the strength of their friendship only seemed to increase his desire.

Well, that and the fact that she looked damn amazing in a bathing suit.

"C'mon, get out," he said, bobbing his head back, noticing that she looked completely dry on her lounge float.

"Killjoy." She used her hands to paddle closer to the side of the pool where he stood.

"Hey, this was your idea. You're the one who said I needed to confront this house and move on. Is this your raft?" he asked as she handed him her cell phone.

"No, the complex keeps them."

"Hmm." He was looking at it curiously while she sat up more and handed him her sunglasses. "What's that?" He was pointing to the side of her raft closest to him.

"What?"

He squatted down and held the raft, stopping her from floating away. "This."

She didn't see anything on the raft. "What?"

It was surprisingly graceful, the way he yanked up the side of the raft, sending her sideways into the water with a significant splash. Her mouth hung open in shock, once she bobbed to the surface. He backed away from the pool a few steps, biting his lip and finally letting out a laugh.

"You are so going to pay for that." Never in a million years did she expect him to be that playful with her.

"It was still worth it. I'll never forget that girlish squeal."

She glared at him and swam toward the ladder. Then she exited the pool, trying not to smirk, and went directly to her towel, essentially ignoring him while he chuckled and admired.

OoOoO

Grissom followed Sara into her apartment, but remained suspiciously quiet.

"Brr... it's freezing in here."

He watched her dash around, dumping her sunglasses and phone on her dining room table, hanging her wet towel over a chair, slipping off her sandals and stopping at the thermostat to bump up the temperature.

When she turned around, she pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at him exaggeratedly.

"I said I was sorry." He took a step toward her, clearly still amused with himself.

"Liar." Sara moved to kiss him, but he caught her arms and kept her from reaching him.

"You... uh, wanted to talk about last night?" He tipped up his chin, staring at her while caressing her arms.

"Oh, yeah." She averted her eyes a moment and considered her words. "We were moving rather... fast, and I..."

He shook his head and immediately apologized. "I never meant to rush you, Sara. I--"

"I didn't feel rushed," she countered. "I... um... actually thought I was rushing you."

Grissom blinked, and then his face relaxed into a small smile. "Hmm."

She licked her lips and took a deep breath, exhaling her relief. "Yeah..."

As if given a symbolic go-ahead, he ran his hands up her arms, feeling goose bumps develop beneath his touch. He studied the curls of her still-wet hair, the striking length of her eyelashes, her pale cheeks that were beginning to flush. His eyes fell to the curve of her breasts, the dip of her hips and the smoothness of her stomach. Though he'd never admit it, in the past, the smell of sunscreen on a beautiful woman's body often excited him more than the woman herself. Yet, in this case, the woman was Sara. He was colossally aroused. When her hands landed on his shoulders, he moved his arms around her, pulling her against him.

"I'm still wet," she reminded.

"I don't care." He sighed, tightening his grip on her, not caring if she felt the evidence of his arousal. "I like holding you, Sara."

Her arms squeezed him slightly around his neck. "I like it when you hold me."

He dropped a soft kiss on her neck, the effect of which shot right to her insides, and then another on her jaw, his facial hair pleasantly scratching her skin. "Do you have any idea how hard it was for me, when I was so close to you... and all I wanted to do was kiss you?"

She had trouble thinking for a moment, but then replied, "Would it make you feel any better if I told you how many times I almost attacked you?"

His hum of amusement tickled her ear. Sara let out a squeak of surprise when he lifted her up off her feet, and her legs wrapped around him instinctively. Mouths crashed together, setting fire to their passions instantly.

"I know it was my idea to go to Laughlin," Sara began, trying to talk between kisses, "But... can we please do this instead?"

"I'm never gonna see that house, am I?"

Smiling against his lips she replied, "Someday, just not today..."

With slow, rocking steps, he made his way down the short hallway with her, his strong arms cradling her perfect rear end. "Honey, your body does terrible things to me," he admitted, so seriously that Sara almost laughed.

"Terrible?"

"Sometimes I can't stop... looking at you and... thinking about you." He kissed across her chest. Sara arched further in his arms, so he dipped his mouth along the top of her bikini near her breast. "It's so... primitive."

"You're entirely too civilized anyway," she smiled. "I want you looking at me and thinking about me." She bobbed her head in the direction of the open bedroom door behind her, telling him where to go. "And I want you touching me." She pressed her palms against his cheeks, staring him in the eye. "Do you get that?"

He let her slowly slide down his body once they were inside her room, gently returning her to the floor. "I get it," he said, resting his forehead against hers. "I don't understand it, but I get it."

She breathed a tiny laugh against his face, her hot mouth making him crazy. "I love you. And I want you."

He grunted as he kissed her, her words pleasing him more than he ever imagined. They stumbled closer to the bed.

"You're shivering," he said few seconds later.

"I'm wearing a wet bathing suit and the air conditioning's still on." She thought she would melt from his warm hands stroking her arms. "And I'm... nervous," she added with an embarrassed smile, leaning forward to kiss him.

"But it's just me. I don't want you to be nervous."

She was already working on his pants, delighted to feel him straining against the zipper. "It's a good nervous. A very good nervous."

"Oh, good."

Just when Sara was about to sit on the bed, Gil said, "Wait, you're going to get your bed wet." Slipping his finger into the bottom of her bathing suit, he said, "Take this off..."

Cocking her head, Sara grinned wildly. "That's so sweet. You're concerned about my bedding."

"Yes, I'm very concerned. In fact, let me help you with this," he deadpanned, kissing her while his hands slid her suit down over her rear end. Her pleasured moan only encouraged him.

He intended to just sit on the bed, but while slipping off his shoes, Sara leaned on him enough to make him tip onto his back, taking her with him. When she squirmed, he tightened his hold on her, rubbing his bearded cheek against her soft one. She let out a muffled hum of contentment.

"This is so nice," she mumbled, kissing along the column of his throat. "But, I'm almost naked here, and you're still dressed."

"Your body's a lot nicer to look at," he assured, sliding a hand over her bare bottom.

"I'm going to have to argue with you on that," she said, propping herself on her forearms and teasing him with her mouth just barely brushing over his.

He was tugging on a string at the back of her bathing suit top while nipping at her bottom lip. "What am I doing wrong here?" he mumbled, giving one last unsuccessful yank.

"It's double knotted," she said slyly, narrowing her eyes. "Now, get this off." She wiggled and pulled at his shirt while he reached for her arms to still her.

Turning them so he lay over her, Grissom relented, pushing himself up on one arm to assist in the removal of his shirt. He straddled her body and lifted her shoulders so he could reach the back of her bikini top. Sara clasped her hands behind his head, pulling herself up while he worked.

"God, Sara, do I need a key for this?"

She hugged him tighter and laughed, thrilled when she felt the material finally slacken in his grasp. They lost themselves in a long, passionate kiss while his warm hands slid gently along her bare back. Then one hand made its way to her breast, and the other lifted her top over her head, tossing it on the floor. With his mouth rejoining hers and never leaving, he lowered her back to the bed, moaning at the intensity of having her naked beneath him.

Sara wiggled her hands into the back of his pants, pushing them down further in the process, taking great pleasure in gripping his surprisingly solid ass. "All right," he mumbled, helping her get his pants off the rest of the way. Clad only in his boxers, he wrapped his arms around her, rolling them again so he lay beneath her, his strong hands exploring her body more aggressively. Then he grumbled in frustration, confusing her.

"What's wrong?"

He hugged her tightly in his panic. "Condom."

"Oh. Uh..." She raised her head to look at him, putting strands of her still-damp, wavy hair behind her ear. "I'm on the pill. If you, uh, want to..."

His head cocked in interest. "You are?"

"Yeah." She looked embarrassed, but explained shyly, "I got on it after we went to the planetarium."

Grissom didn't get the connection. "Why?"

She licked her suddenly dry lips and shrugged just a little. "Just in case you... ever decided you wanted more, I'd... be ready."

"You're so practical." He smiled and kissed her. "And insightful."

She kissed him back, opening her mouth to his exploring tongue. "So I'm ready," she mumbled.

"And I want more..." he answered, running his hands up the back of her thighs, over her rear end, along her back, and up to her face, groaning into her sweet kiss.

Her quiet and frequently whispered declarations of love made him reevaluate the timing of this undertaking. All those months he worried he had ruined any chance of a relationship with her-all the time he spent trying to be open with her again-the moments he spent being there for her and she for him... it was all in preparation for this.

This was the right time for them, both emotionally and physically.

He felt her gentle caress through his boxers, and could hardly catch his breath when her fingers slipped inside the waistband and slowly moved around him. "Ohh, Sara..."

He rolled again, this time moving so they both lay on their sides. With vigor that he'd long forgotten he had, Gil kissed over her body, worshipping it for what it was-glorious, beautiful, and his. When her breasts had been bestowed sufficient attention, his mouth traveled over her stomach while he lowered a hand between her legs, tentatively exploring the most intimate part of her.

Sara's back arched from his touch, and a few minutes later, she put her hands on his face. "God, I want you, Gil." She lightly bit his bottom lip while she kissed him, searching his eyes and finding only an affection and passion that matched her own. "I love you. I think I've always loved you."

He continued his ministrations, making her whimper and moan with pleasure. Nuzzling her ear, he breathed out heavily and said, "I have never loved anyone the way I love you. It scares me, Sara." His voice was both weaker and yet, stronger than she had ever heard. "Nothing else matters to me anymore."

She attacked his mouth and thrust wildly against his hand, desperate for him to fill her. Hurriedly working his boxers off, Sara growled, "I want you, now."

She spread her legs further and reached for him, getting a brief glimpse of the size of him. Feeling him slip inside her, she could not keep her eyes open from the overwhelming sensation. "Oh, God..."

Feeling her tense and gasp beneath him, Gil stopped moving and held both sides of her head in his hands. "Just relax, Sara." Barely moving with her, he kissed over her face tenderly. "I'm not in any rush here."

Their movements built steadily, starting out loving and gentle, but before long, they became wild and intense. They were grunting with pleasure, hot breaths mingling through sloppy kisses, sweat forming on their skin.

It was amazing-only, somehow better than Sara had always known it would be. Every stupid struggle in their past was worth it for this moment. All of it. She would go through it all again to feel him like this. This was her shy professor, her handsome CSI mentor, her brilliant best friend-shattering her control and pleasing her beyond limitation. She couldn't think anymore and knew she was mumbling incoherently as a powerful wave of pleasure overtook her.

He had always wanted to see her like this, wildly out of control, so strongly affected by her passion. Hearing her guttural cry nearly did him in, and seconds later his own deep groan followed his release.

For a long time, they kissed and clung to each other, allowing their hearts to calm. Staring at each other, it was suddenly unusually quiet. Neither of them knew what to say. They just kept kissing and watching each other.

Sliding her hands over his back, Sara finally asked, "Are you okay?"

He laughed and hugged her. "I could think of a lot of words to describe the way I feel, but okay doesn't make the list." He let out a heavy breath and lifted himself up on his arms a little more, studying her beautifully flushed face. "We should do this again sometime."

Sara raised an eyebrow. "I have the night off."

"Me too. That's convenient, huh?" he said, leaning forward for another kiss.

OoOoO

Sara got ready for bed, ridiculously excited at the thought of Grissom spending the night with her. They had made love three times in the course of their evening off and decided to get some sleep in the late morning hours to stay on schedule for work. The time in between was spent making cinnamon waffles-the only recipe Sara claimed to have mastered, and lounging together on the couch while watching pay-per-view movies. They kissed and talked during a late evening thunderstorm, like happy little recluses, content to leave the world behind and just be together.

He was already under the covers, snuggled against one of her pillows and looking wonderfully worn out from their lovemaking. She retrieved her cell phone from the dining room and put it on her nightstand next to his, shaking her head at the irony as she slipped under the sheets beside him.

"What do you need that for?" he asked curiously.

"In case I get called in, I like it near the bed," she said, sighing as he pulled her closer.

"If you get called in, you'll get an elbow in your side," he quipped.

"Oh, yeah." She grew quiet, thinking about how complicated the situation could become. Naturally, Grissom would be called if there were an urgent scene, but he was with her. He was in her bed-where they had just made love. They had to go to work tomorrow, and things had obviously changed a lot between them.

"What's wrong?" He ran his fingers up and down her arm.

"Nothing." A moment later she looked up and asked, "Are you sure you want to stay here with me?"

His eyes widened. "Do you want me to?" Was she kicking him out? For the first time in his life, he actually felt comfortable spending so much time with a woman. It would be his luck that she wouldn't want him to hang around.

"I want you to, but I don't want you to feel like you have to... if you don't want to." She hated how nervous she could still get around him.

He stared at her, finding her apprehension a little adorable. He kissed her temple and then her cheek while he said, "I want to."

"Okay." She smiled, but he could tell she was still worried about the ramifications of things.

"Sara, it'll work out." He kissed her for a while, until he felt her body relax in his arms. Then he mumbled softly into her ear, "Sleep with me."

---