Rating: PG
Pairing: Grissom/Sara
Category: General/Romance
Archive: FF.net and here. Anywhere else ask first, I might say yes.
Disclaimer: This is getting old. CSI does not belong to me. I do, however, own a really cool pair of suede mule shoes. If CSI belonged to me, I could buy many, many more pairs of cool shoes. Just
sayin...
Author's Note: First and last lines provided. Busted on the word limit. Sue me. Thanks to Marlou for the beta work. Thanks for reviewing. Reviewers are the nicest people I know.
Summary: A Grissom/Sophia fic. HA HA HA! (wipes tears of laughter) Kidding, kidding. Unbound Improv challenge response. Grissom finds clarity in the unlikeliest of people. G/S (Grissom/Sara)
"I believe that an apology is in order."
Grissom uttered the words-mortified after Sophia mentioned that his interest had been a pleasant surprise. It was then that he picked up on her slight blush and flirtatious smile. God, he
could be so stupid for someone with a genius I.Q.
"An apology?" she asked, cocking her head curiously over her chicken Florentine.
Shit. How was he going to fix this? He only wanted to discuss work dynamics and talk her into staying. There was no way he could operate the graveyard shift with only Greg, Sara, and himself. Looking
at her now, he knew she misinterpreted his invitation to dinner.
"Uh... I just don't want you to get the wrong impression, here..." He tried to explain it with his eyes. Sophia stiffened and looked down at her plate.
"I have no impression. I'm puzzled by you," she admitted in a low, sultry voice.
Grissom pushed his vegetables around, nodding, choosing his words carefully. "I've made a lot of mistakes recently... as a supervisor. I'm trying to learn from them and get better in touch with my
staff."
"That's admirable."
"That's why I invited you to dinner," he explained. "So we could talk about your issues. I completely understand your frustration with Ecklie. There's nothing I can do about him, but I can promise to
respect and value you, as an employee. The lab needs you, Sophia, and if you want specifics, I need you, on my team. You're an excellent CSI. Please consider staying."
She twisted her fork into her angel hair pasta, spinning, spinning, never raising it to her mouth. "I didn't think this was a date," she said, squinting pensively.
He only stared at her, finally nodding before he took another bite of his steak. "And about your resignation?" he prompted.
She sighed, staring at her food, thinking. "Though I do enjoy working with you and your team, a step backwards just... doesn't work for me, career-wise. I hope you understand. I promise that I'll give
plenty of notice. I won't leave you hanging," she offered, hoping that would satisfy him.
He sighed then, slightly frustrated. "Well, I appreciate that, and I suppose I can understand how you feel."
"May I speak frankly, here?" she said a few moments later. Seeing his nod, she continued, "You said you've made mistakes-well, I think you're a fine supervisor. People don't like to be micromanaged,
and with our skills and intelligence, I... I think your approach is refreshing."
"Subordinates can still use mentoring and direction," he argued softly. "It's part of my job to make sure they know they're important and... cared for." He looked away in a daze, realizing he was
talking specifically about Sara.
Sophia watched him, connecting dots she hadn't paid much attention to previously.
"There's certainly nothing wrong with reaching out to people," she said sweetly, recognizing what a step that must be for someone like Grissom. "I think it's good for you. And sometimes, people do need to be told specifically-that they're appreciated."
God, he did appreciate Sara. So much. He cared about her-and still worried about her.
"Are you finished?" he asked suddenly, like he remembered someplace else he had to be.
She put down the fork she was essentially playing with. "Yes." Yes, she was certainly finished thinking about Gil Grissom. He was clearly taken, she mused as he motioned for the check.
Full of so many confusing thoughts about Sara, Grissom drove around for a while and ended up at the mall, ambling around like a lost boyfriend on Christmas Eve-only without the crowds. He slipped
into one of those bath and body stores, wandering clueless, until a pleasant sales woman struck up a conversation. Who knew there were so many fascinating products for relaxation and
rejuvenation?
It was odd, that he didn't give a second thought to driving straight to Sara's apartment after the mall. It just seemed like the logical place to go next, to try and... fix things.
She was confused, nonetheless, when she opened her door. "Grissom, what are you doing here?"
"I brought you something," he said, slowly entering her home, taking in her puzzled look.
He handed her a small brown bag from a store that she recognized but rarely shopped in. "Uh, okay," she mumbled, opening the bag.
"They're bath petals."
Sara blinked, staring at the large pink jar. This was really weird.
Grissom continued, "I'm trying to be a better... well, for other people who work for me, I'm trying to be a better supervisor."
Her brows came together; she thought that was an odd way to put that. "And for me?" she asked anxiously.
Grissom licked his lips and took a step closer to her. "I think I'm trying to be a better friend. To you. I'd like to be a better friend." He looked so nervous, running a hand over his beard and
wrinkling his lips.
"Oh."
"Well, that's not really true. I guess..." He shook his head, and then looked in her eyes when he said seriously, "I guess I just want to start over."
Sara blinked a few times-shocked. "And things would be different, somehow?" she asked, pinning him with challenging eyes.
"Oh, you can bet they'll be different," he promised in a low, sincere voice that charmed her.
Sara gave a nervous smirk. It was like he said the magic words, and she had to stop herself from lunging at him for a long-awaited hug. Instead, she looked down at her jar, in a daze. "Bath petals,
huh?"
She opened it, taking a few dried rose petals into her palm, running a finger through them.
"They're supposed to be nice. You know, for relaxing. You... put them... in the water..."
Sara felt like she was having an out of body experience, staring at the petals, listening to him babble. "This was nice of you," she said, smiling shyly. "I can't remember the last time I took a nice
hot bath."
They're eyes met, and so much was said in that moment, without any words at all. Grissom moved closer and gently lifted her hand, purportedly to smell the petals, but, in actuality, simply to feel
her skin. She trembled at his touch.
They stared at each other, and then, practically in slow motion, he kissed her. Everything went hazy for them both, but they were definitely kissing.
"I guess we're starting over," she mumbled into his mouth, a smile tugging at her lips.
"I guess so," he agreed, lifting her still-open palm and spontaneously blowing the bath petals from her hand. Sara laughed, and they timidly kissed again.
The wind kicked up outside, and her kitchen curtains billowed beautifully. The breeze blew the petals across the floor.
- The End -