09:48 December 17, 1994

            Sara had slept very little since parting with Grissom, simply too excited from their goodnight kiss and too eager to see him again. She had known Grissom for four months, spent nine days in his company and doubled her monthly phone bill and she was still in awe at the chemistry between them. Sara had never known such an immediate connection and strong attraction for a man, it was both exhilarating and frightening at the same time.

            Sitting at the tiny dining table in her apartment, Sara glanced at the clock on the microwave for the hundredth time since waking. She was thankful her roommates Josh and Carly were late sleepers because she could only imagine the good-natured teasing she would have to endure if they had been up to witness her nervous clock-watching. It had been bad enough when she had entered her apartment, after Grissom had left her, to catch her roommates running for the couch and striking up “innocent” poses.

            Looking between her apartment door and the two on her couch, Sara had quickly concluded the two nosey-Nellies had been spying through the peephole. Sara had given the two a look that told them she knew what they had been up to before quickly escaping to her room. Throwing herself on her bed and burying her face in her pillow, Sara had screamed her pent up excitement and kicked her legs excitedly. She had fallen asleep with a bright smile and a contented sigh.

            The buzz of the doorbell had Sara jumping from her chair and scrambling for the door. A cursory glance through the peephole had her grinning from ear to eat as she threw wide the door to see Grissom standing before her. If Sara had been called as a witness to describe the man before her, she would have only been able to recollect his brilliant blue eyes and charmingly crooked smile.

            “Hi,” Grissom softly spoke, handing her a single yellow daisy.

            It probably wasn’t possible for Sara’s smile to get any brighter but it did as she took the flower from him. Where he had gotten a single daisy from, Sara had know idea, but she was certain that she was in serious danger of falling in love with the guy standing in her doorway.

            “Hi, thanks…umm, do you want to come in?” Sara couldn’t look away, completely drawn in by Grissom’s gravitational pull.

            “Uh, well, if you’re ready to go, we can go now,” Grissom explained, feeling like his tongue was swollen and his mouth had gone dry. Don’t start stammering, Grissom commanded to himself silently.

            Sara smiled. Reaching behind the door to grab her coat and purse, she quickly exited the apartment and nearly ran into Grissom who hadn’t moved, seemingly rooted to the ground. “Oh, sorry,” Sara apologized, embarrassed that she had crashed into the man.

            Grissom reached out for her left hand, taking her fingers in a gentle grasp. His blue gaze searched her face while Sara waited patiently. He looked as if he was about to say something when he suddenly leaned in and gave Sara a soft kiss upon the cheek. “Let’s go,” he said a little too quickly to hide his nervousness.

            “Okay.” Sara smiled, loving the feel of her hand in his.

            Sara marveled at how Grissom could make her feel protected, appreciated without feeling smothered. His touch was gentle but firm, letting her know he was there but it was by her choice. He listened patiently as she rambled on nervously, trying to fill the occasional awkward silence, and then smiled at her for her attempts.

            For his part Grissom didn’t seem to mind the occasional pause in conversation. When it was silent he simply observed. Watching their surroundings but mostly taking in the woman by his side. Mapping her features and admiring the tiniest of details. Grissom felt the overwhelming urge to grab Sara up in a mighty bear hug, while at the same time running for his life. He couldn’t fathom what it was about Sara but he was completely captivated by her.

            “What?” Sara asked nervously. They had stopped at the curb but Grissom had forgotten to hail a cab, staring at Sara with a quirky little smile on his face.

            “What? Oh, umm,” Grissom gave her a perplexed, playful frown as he turned to look for a taxi.

            Sara pinched her lips together trying to control the giant smile fighting to break free. “Do you have something special you want to do?” Sara asked, divided her attention between Grissom and the approaching cab.

            “Yea,” he whispered. “Spend the day with you.”

            Sara lost the fight and smiled from ear to ear.

            * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

December 26, 2000

            “And you're standing there saying, all things in their own time,” Sara argued.

            She had learned that Grissom was down in the morgue. After they had spent all night and much of the day processing and documenting Grissom’s experiment, Sheriff Mobley had had the short-sightedness to dismiss their findings outright. Sara grudgingly admitted that his argument concerning the defense attorney was probably true but it did not make her feel any better. She knew that Scott Shelton was guilty, which was frustration enough, but to have everyone of her and Grissom’s attempts to nail the bastard go up in flames…that was a frustration Sara was having a hard time dealing with.

            “You're confused, right?” Grissom asked, a smile playing at his lips

            She was confused but didn’t want to be. Shaking her head before giving in and nodding, Sara replied, “Yes.”

            “That’s the best place for a scientist to be,” Grissom told her, his smile widening as he sees David coming down the hall, pushing a gurney. “My body’s here.”

            For a brief moment Sara felt a bitter pang of regret, thinking Grissom had given up on Kaye Shelton and by way of some odd association her. That was until he pulled back the sheet to reveal the woman below. “Kaye Shelton,” Sara smiled.

            “Shall we?” Grissom asked, motioning towards the double doors to the morgue.

            * * * * * * * * * * * * *

December 17, 1994

            They had spent much of the morning walking along Fisherman’s Wharf, taking in the waterfront and all its many diversions. Sara had drug Grissom into a number of boutiques on the condition that she go to the Maritime Museum with him. Since Sara was reticent to admit she had never gone to the museum but had always wanted to, she agreed gladly.

            They only rode the Cable Cars once, choosing instead to walk hand in hand. Stopping at a local delicatessen, Grissom picked up some light fare for lunch before heading for their final destination. Slip 252 at the marina was the berth of a beautiful Catalina Sloop.

            “Isn’t this Katie’s boat?” Sara asked, speaking of Ike Munro’s fiancée.

            Grissom smiled as he gracefully stepped aboard the sleek sailboat. Turning he reached out to help Sara aboard. “Yes,” he answered, gently pulling on her hand. “I told her I had a special lunch date and…” Grissom dangled the keys to the boat in front of him.

            Sara grinned mischievously. “She must like you better than Ike,” Sara teased. “She’s never let him take the boat out on his own.”

            Grissom gave Sara a roguish wink. “Would you trust Ike with this?” He spread his arms wide, indicating the boat beneath their feet. “I suspect bribery everytime the guy gets his license renewed.”

            Sara chuckled. Ike and Grissom sometimes seemed more like brothers than friends. Their ribbing of one another was always in fun, never malicious, and they were good at it too. Just last night Sara had ignobly choked on her drink as the two friends went at each other, dishing out tantalizing little tidbits from their college days.

            “Are we going to take her out?” Sara asked looking out at the Bay.

            “If you want.”

            Again, Grissom let Sara have control. It was obvious to her that he wanted her to be comfortable, to not feel pressured. He’d be the perfect boyfriend, Sara thought, if he wasn’t hundreds of miles away. “Let’s wait until after lunch,” Sara decided, taking the bag from his hand and setting up their little picnic on the sea.

            * * * * * * * * * * * *

December 26, 2000

            With the barest of hints from Grissom, Sara went back to Trace and the bullets they had recovered from the Shelton apartment. The blue tipped, copper jacketed ammunition had been distinctive enough to catch Sara’s attention earlier in the investigation. With the discovery of blue colored particles embedded in Kaye Shelton’s temple, the bullets became a major focus in their investigation.

            Setting the ammunition aside Sara takes up the report from Trace and reads it. It all appeared normal until the very end.

            “…Teflon?”

            With a series of test fires, Sara quickly realizes that the noose around Scott Shelton’s neck may not be as loose as they had dreaded. With a smile she raises her head from the microscope. The blue powder around the bullet hole telling her all she needed to know. Noting Grissom’s entrance into the lab, Sara’s smile widens a bit further, as she steps back from the microscope and with a swoop of her hand offers the instrument to Grissom.

            With a curious glance at Sara, Grissom takes up her unspoken offer and looks through the lenses of the first microscope. He could see the hair specimen that Sara had collected earlier and knew that was not what had the woman smiling profusely.

            “The blue dust from around her entrance wound…that's from the bullet's
impact.  It's made of Teflon.  Now look at the next specimen,” Sara gestured towards the second microscope.

            The scope revealed the mangled bullet Sara had test fired earlier. The blue Teflon residue was easily seen within the copper and lead ammunition fragment. Grissom looked up from the scope. He could feel the excited energy rolling off Sara in waves and it caused his heart to speed up imperceptively.

            “The bullet is from Scott's personal ammo supply which I test-fired,” Sara explained, her words coming out quickly. “See, the Teflon disintegrated into blue powder at the moment of impact.” Her voice held a hopeful lilt, the number of disappointing turns the case had taken was making her wary.

            Grissom smiles, his eyes gleaming. “You did very good.”

            Sara just beams. His simple praise lifting her spirits and hopes as nothing could. If Grissom was pleased it meant they had something solid.

            “But this is just more circumstantial evidence.  We're a long way from a conviction,” Grissom said, attempting to temper their hopes. The case had been disappointing thus far. Evidence that should have put Kaye Shelton’s killer behind bars days ago had failed them, through no real fault of their own.

            “But we can bury him under evidence,” Sara said, almost pleading. “You're the one who's always saying it's better to have one piece of forensic evidence than ten eyewitnesses.”

            “What, do you tape everything I say?” It wouldn’t be the first time that Sara had been able to quote him.

            Sara just shrugged. “You have been known to say something worth while now and then,” she teased.

Grissom gave her a playful frown. “You still have to educate the jury.”

            Sara quickly countered his argument. “On bullets,” she told him. “It's got to be easier than bugs.” At Grissom’s lighthearted look of indignation, Sara added, “Less Latin.”

            “As I recall you liked Latin,” Grissom said with a mischievous sideways glance before leaving the lab to inform Brass to pick up their suspect once again.

            Sara’s eyes grew wide as she recalled the first Latin “lesson” Grissom had given her years ago. They had been on her friend Katie’s sailboat, anchored in the bay. It had been their second date or was it a continuation of the first date?

            * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

December 17, 1994

            After lunch Grissom had taken Sara on a relaxing cruise around the bay before finding a nice place to anchor. It was mid-afternoon and both were reluctant to call it a day. Grissom would be flying back to Vegas in the morning and Sara could already feel the drag that knowledge had on her heart. She didn’t know when he would be back in San Francisco. She had dropped a hint during their dinner the night before, something subtle but Grissom had never said anything and now Sara wondered if she shouldn’t just come out and ask him.

            They were sitting in the “U” shaped bench that bordered the transom of the boat, just before the outboards. Grissom had pulled the sails in before they had dropped anchor and Sara had loved watching every minute of the task. Her only regret was that it was too cool for the man to go shirtless, although she was certain the temperature had gone up noticeably as she had attempted not to salivate over the gorgeous spectacle of Grissom’s muscular arms.

            Sara relaxed into Grissom’s side, laying her head on his shoulder and placing her feet next to his on the chair across from them. Grissom took Sara’s right hand and studying each digit with care causing Sara to smile.

            “It’s a hand,” she teased him, watching as he flipped her hand palm side up.

            “A hand?” Grissom brought the appendage in question to his lips and placed a feather light kiss in her palm. “No, it is more than just a hand. Do you realize what a complex and talented machine the hand is?”

            Sara’s smile widened but she said nothing.

            “First, there are the phalanges,” Grissom ran his thumb along Sara’s index finger. The light, sensitive touch was a whisper of something hidden. “Capable of doing the most amazing tasks. How many extraordinary works of prose would be lost without the astonishing phalanges?”

            Sara’s smile had slipped as she became enthralled by his anatomy lesson. His words were straight forward, instructional but his voice was as sensual as the fingers lightly playing with responsive palm of her hand.

            “The metacarpals…well, how would we ever catch a pop fly or open a jar of peanut butter or…hold a lover’s hand?” Grissom trailed his fingertips across the inside of Sara’s wrist. “And not to be forgotten and due to proximity we have the carpals.”

            Sara chewed on the corner of her lower lip as she watched in rapt attention as Grissom went through the bones of her wrist and arm. Twisting slightly to face Sara he continued to trace her body’s bone structure, his fingertips lightly dancing across her exposed collar bone. Sara’s breath hitched as his fingers hit the dip at the top of her sternum, her dark eyes seeking his gaze.

            Grissom slid his questing fingers up along Sara’s responsive throat, rounding her neck just below her jawline, his hands cupped the base of her skull before Grissom leaned in to taste her parted lips. Sara’s eyes fluttered shut as she melted into Grissom, her left hand circling his ribcage to pull him closer. The play of his warm lips across hers had a soft moan escaping from her throat, eliciting a groan from Grissom in response as he rolled into her.

            Sara was effectively pinned between Grissom and the well padded, couch like bench at the stern of the sailboat. The gentle sway and bob of the boat had their bodies rocking sensually against one another as their hands lazily explored one another. Grissom placed soft, tiny kisses along Sara’s bottom lip, his tongue tentatively tasting her sweetness before parting her lips to discover the hidden treats within.

            His burning lips trailed white-hot fire along her cheek and across her jaw to the tantalizing flesh of her earlobe, gently nipping and sucking on the delicate flesh. Sara’s hands slid desperately into the soft, curly locks at his nape, her fingers clenching and opening in an aggressive massage as his lips scorched her flesh as they traveled down along the length of her neck to the sensitive crook where her shoulder and neck met.

            Grissom was in sweet agony not to mention some serious pain. The throbbing erection pushing against the confines of his jeans and Sara’s soft pliant body half beneath him were driving Grissom to distraction. His body screamed for Grissom to take Sara below deck and make love to her with complete abandon. It was what they both wanted, Grissom was in no doubt but there were things to consider, he was certain of it but for the life of him he could not recall what they were.

            When Sara slid her left leg across his hip to sit straddled across his lap, Grissom’s mind short-circuited. Groaning loudly, Grissom slid his hands up underneath Sara’s shirt and jacket to feel the warm flesh of her back. Their soft sensual kisses were slowly becoming hungry, demanding as tongues dueled and lips devoured.

            Sara ground down against Grissom, pressing her body desperately to his even as he pulled at her frantically. He couldn’t get enough of her, his desperate hands traversing her ribcage just under her bra, his fingers itching to slip under the soft lace that cupped her breast.

            “Touch me,” Sara begged, her hungry mouth attacking his neck causing Grissom to groan loudly.

            At her husky command, his hands sought out the soft mounds of flesh. The simple contact had Sara moaning loudly at his neck, the vibration magically ricocheting down his body like an electrical current causing his cock to twitch repeatedly. Grissom quickly slid his warm hands from her breasts, down along her back to her delicious ass. Grabbing it possessively, he ground up into her with a wicked twist of his hips.

            A voice at the back of his mind screamed at Grissom to get control but it was being drowned out by thunderous beat of his heart and the roar of the fire in his blood. He wanted Sara. He wanted her naked, laid out before him, her body flush from desire and her eyes dark with desperate lust.

            Just as he was about to give in to the primal fire that had him aching in a way he had never experienced, the blast of a horn from a nearby yacht had Sara jumping from his lap with a squeak.  The cool air that swept over his overheated body at the loss of her contact was just enough to clear his lust ladened mind.

            “Damn,” Sara cursed, “that scared the crap out of me.”

            Grissom chuckled, running his hands through his hair as he worked to control the raging erection between his legs. There was the definite possibility he would have to jump into the cold waters of San Francisco Bay. And although he was certain that it would help him out temporarily, Grissom didn’t really relish the idea.

            “Come on,” he said coming to his feet before reaching for Sara’s hand and pulling her to her feet. “We need to get back.”

            A momentary look of confusion passed across Sara’s beautiful face, causing Grissom to pull her into his side and kiss her thoroughly. He wanted to leave her with no doubt to what he would rather be doing. “I promised Ike and Katie I’d have dinner with them tonight,” he explained to her, his voice a mixture of residual desire and regret.

            Grissom started the outboards before pulling Sara into the space between his body and the large steering wheel. He felt like there were a hundred things he should say to her but was at a loss for even a single word. Instead he lowered his head to plant a soft, lingering kiss on her cheek.

            “I would like it very much if you came with,” Grissom whispered softly in Sara’s ear.

            Sara hesitated. She wanted to spend time with Grissom but she wasn’t certain she wanted to share him at that moment.

            “Please, have dinner with me.” Grissom looped his left arm wound Sara’s waist and pulled her firmly back against his chest. An act that was both protective and possessive.

            Sara smiled before nodding her head. She wanted to be with him. Maybe it wasn’t exactly how she wanted to spend time with him at the moment but she was greedy for any time that she could get. Sara hugged the arm around her waist tighter as she tilted her head back to rest upon his shoulder with a contented sigh.

            * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

December 27, 2000

            Grissom watched as Scott Shelton was cuffed and led away for the murder of his wife. The look of disbelief almost comical had it not been for the fact that Kaye Shelton was still dead. Sara had chosen not to come down to the police station, which didn’t complete surprise Grissom and had actually relieved him to a certain degree. Scott Shelton had a very incendiary influence on Sara. The fact that Sara had voluntarily avoided the man told Grissom she was well aware of this fact as well.

            “Hi”

            Grissom looked up from the papers he was shoving absentmindedly into his briefcase to see Sara standing in the door of his office. There was the slightest hint of sadness in her voice and bearing which surprised Grissom, he had thought she would be pleased at closing the Shelton case.

            “Hi,” he replied softly before turning back to his paperwork. Sometimes it was simpler for Grissom to turn away than to hide the tender feelings he felt for Sara.

            Sara hesitated, looking at the black videotape in her hands. “I checked out Warrick,” she informed him, watching as he tried to maintain his busy façade. “His story about missing court was, uh ... lame.”

            Grissom looked up at her words, a heavy feeling descending upon his chest as he waited for the rest.

            “I got this surveillance tape from the Monaco.  He was in the casino.” Sara came forward and handed Grissom the damning tape, hating the look of betrayal in his eyes. Whatever Warrick Brown was, he was obviously someone that Grissom cared about. “I’m sorry.”

            Grissom looked up from the tape. He knew that he had asked a lot from Sara in recent months. She had dropped everything to come to Vegas for him. She was the “new guy” on the team, a tough position in itself, add the fact that he asked her to investigate Warrick not once but twice and he knew…well, he knew it could not be easy on her.

            “Thanks,” he whispered, feeling emotionally drained as he sunk to his chair to ponder the tape.

            Sara turned to leave but hesitated in the doorway, unwilling to leave him like that. “Hey, we sort of missed Christmas,” Sara said with as much lightheartedness as she could muster. “I was wondering if you’d have a post Christmas dinner with me? Celebrate the season and all.”

            Grissom didn’t feel much like celebrating the holidays but he couldn’t deny the need to be with Sara, even if it was disguised in belated Christmas cheer. “Sure,” he said with a small smile. Sara was his constant, the world could fall of its axis but Sara would always be there for him.

            Shoving the tape in his briefcase, Grissom followed Sara out of the office. Flicking off the light in passing, his hand instinctively found its spot at the small of her back leading her out of the building and into the light of the new morning sun. One day, Grissom thought, watching Sara pull on her sunglasses, this will all make sense again. “Come on,” he said, leading her to his Tahoe. “I’ll drive.”

            Sara didn’t bother to mention her car, she just nodded and tried not to react as he took her hand and led her to the passenger side dark of the dark blue SUV. Grissom was obviously emotionally worn out and either didn’t care or didn’t notice the touches. Throwing his briefcase in the backseat, Grissom climbed in behind the wheel before starting the ignition.

            “Merry belated Christmas, Gil,” Sara said, a soft smile playing at her lips.

            Grissom turned to her, his hand on the gearshift. Reaching out, Grissom took up Sara’s left hand, his thumb rubbing the spot where her wedding band used to be so long ago. “Merry Christmas, Sara,” he returned with a smile before bringing her hand to his lips.

            Sara shook her head, her smile widening. They sure were a mess but… what can we do? Sara thought whimsically as Grissom put the truck in reverse and headed out of the lab parking lot. It was a new day. Soon it would be a new year. Maybe somewhere in the near future the answer would come to one of them.