Sessions

He's not marrying me.... he’s going to leave me when his therapy is over...this isn't going to last...don't get your hopes up. Sara repeated to herself over and over again as she walked down the sidewalk to join Grissom. She stuck the blanket in the back seat over his field kit. He opened the door for her and she climbed in, He hurried to the other side and started the engine. Sara stared out the window as her neighbourhood went by. Then she felt Grissom's hand in hers.

"What are you thinking about, Sara?" He asked lacing his fingers through hers.

"Sorry...I...was just wool-gathering again." She gave his hand a squeeze. "The store's on your right-hand side."

He pulled into the supermarket and shut off the engine. He opened his door to get out and went around to let her out. Sara made herself smile at Grissom as he took her hand to help her out of the car. The walked hand in hand into the store. "Cart or basket?"

“Well, judging by the amount of food I've seen you pack away, probably a cart," she lightly teased him.

"Ok. A cart it is then." He grabbed it and began to push it up and down the isles.

Sara took the opportunity to concentrate on their shopping rather than how long or how short of a time she was going to have with Grissom...she had to.

"What type of bread do you want?" He asked picking up a few different loaves.

"Hm?" Sara shook herself. "It's up to you, but I've always liked rye."

"Rye works for me. What about condiments, which is your preference, mustard or mayo?"

"Both." Sara picked up both a jar of mustard and mayo. She continued walking down the aisle ahead of Grissom.

"Pickles?" He asked.

"Whatever you like."

"I'm partial to the sliced ones. They taste better on sandwiches." "What are we going to get to drink?"

Sara fought back tears that were brimming on her eyelids. "I'll go take a look at the refrigerator. You like soda right?"

"Yes." He was trying to keep up with her. : Root beer is my favourite."

She could feel his breath on her neck as she studied the fridge doors. She finally picked out two cans of root beer and stuck them in the cart.

"What's left?" He asked, feeling rather stupid. "I've never been on a picnic, so I'm not sure."

"Dessert."

"You do dessert on a picnic?" Why did I ask that? "What should we get? Cheesecake?"

"We'll compromise. I'll get individual cakes from the bakery. Why don't you go stand in line and I'll meet you there."

"Okay." He headed toward the checkout.

I'm never going to get through this day in one piece am I?

Grissom started unloading the stuff onto the conveyor belt when he realized they had everything but stuff to put on their sandwiches. He met Sara coming toward him with a chocolate and a cheesecake. She had also gotten two bags of potato chips and a jumbo Hershey bar.

"Sara, what do we want inside our sandwiches? We seem to have forgotten that." He was beginning to blush from embarrassment. How could you have forgotten the sandwich meat? You were too busy looking at Sara's ass. She is only doing this to help you, remember that. This is science, just another experiment to help you get better.

Something in Grissom's eyes made Sara's heart twinge with pain. "I'll uh...I'll be right back."

"Ok," he said holding out his hands to take what she had in her arms. Instead she put them on the conveyor belt and turned away again, not trusting herself to touch him and go off again. It was hard enough as it, knew that he would be on his last session tomorrow and that would be that.

The order was nearly rung through when Sara returned with Roast beef, obviously for him, alfalfa sprouts, some tomatoes and some lettuce as well as some cheese. "Wow. That’s what you eat on a sandwich, Sara." He asked noting the items she placed on the belt. Sara kept her gaze off of Grissom and on the food purchases as they were rung through. Grissom reached for his Visa as the clerk finalized the purchases. Sara wordlessly helped him carry the bags back to his car.

Once inside the car he got a bit curious. "So, where are we going for this picnic? Is there anything else we need?"

"I forgot my picnic basket so we're stopping off at my place first," Sara said softly.

He nodded. "Ok. Anything else?"

Besides wanting you to stay? "I don't think so, no."

"Ok good, so where are we having our picnic?"

“There's a park about three blocks away from my apartment building that I sometimes like to go to."

"Sounds good." He pulled up at Sara's once again. "We’re here. Do you want me to come in with you?"

"Yeah."

"So where is this park." His voice was somewhat chipper.

"Just follow the street for another two blocks and make a right turn at the stop sign."

"Ok, just yell if I pass it." He reached over and turned the radio on. "Do you mind?"

“It's your car."

"Is something bothering you Sara," She could hear the worry in his voice. "You don't seem to be yourself."

"The turns right up here."

"Ok." I guess nothing is bothering her, or nothing she wants to talk about. He turned onto the street and stopped in front of a small park with trees and a pond.

"Wanna grab the blanket?"

"Sure."

Sara set about temporarily packing all of the food into her basket and then she followed Grissom to one of the greener areas of the park that was by a small pond.

"This okay?"

"So, I'll make the sandwiches and you get the drinks and dessert ready." He chuckled. "Watch out for the ants." Sara didn't comment. She took out the root beer and the two cakes. She looked out over the pond.

"Beautiful view, egh." He said laying out the bread onto the plates.

"Yeah."

He slathered the bread with the mustard and the mayo and added cheese, pickles and meat to his. He slapped it together and placed it on his plate. He went to work on Sara's. "You want pickles on this?"

"Sara took her plate from him. "I can do it. Thanks." She served herself two pickles and then set it on the blanket in front of her. She opened the other root beer and took a sip.

He opened his own root beer and took a swig. He took a bite out of his sandwich. "You look beautiful laying on this blanket." Where did that come from? He couldn't believe what just came out of his mouth. Sara blinked from shock, but then pushed the comment away with a faint smile.

"Liking your sandwich?"

"Yup." He said between bites. "You?"

"It's good."

"Good, I have never figured out how you can eat that." He took another bite. "It looks like something a rabbit would eat."

"There's an ant, Griss," Sara said instead, pointing at the black insect that was ambling towards Grissom's root beer. He reached in his pocket and took out a specimen jar. He grabbed the tweezers out of his other pocket and placed the ant in the jar. "It is just your common builder ant. They can sniff out a picnic from fifty miles." He opened the bottle and placed a piece of bred in the jar with it. As long as the topic stays off me, he can talk about whatever he wants. Sara plastered a smile on her face and took another bite.

"That one isn't the one that bites, right?"

"What is your favourite bug, Sara?" He finished the last bite of his sandwich and washed it down with the root beer.

"No, it doesn’t bite. It is harmless."

"'So which one is it that does bite? I can never remember."

"Fire ants. Stay away from them, they hurt when they bit you."

"Fire ants. Right."

Sara stretched out on the blanket on her stomach, suddenly feeling sleepy.

"Are they you favourite bug, Sara?" He was half laughing.

"Just wondered." Sara closed her eyes against the warm sun...and so she wouldn't have to see Grissom's blue eyes dancing with merriment and laughter. Those eyes that always melted her into a puddle of goo.

He lay down beside her. "Do you mind if I lay beside you?"

Sara moved over a little to give him more room. She rested her head on her arms. "Sun feels good."

"Sure does." He leaned back and rested on his arms too. "Did you answer my bug question, Sara?" He briefly paused. "You remind me of a butterfly, have I ever told you that?"

"Why is that?" She asked softly.

"They are so beautiful and so different, each one is unique. Just like you."

Griss...don't say things like that.... please... Sara stayed silent for a moment. "I'd have to say butterflies are my favourite." No more about me...I can't take it...

I knew it. She has always been my butterfly. "I pictured you for a ladybug or butterfly person."

"Griss, I think we've got fire ants."

"Why?" He started to get up. Sara was trying not to panic but she saw the familiar red ,buzzing insects beginning to fly around them. "I think we had better go." He said getting up. "You don't want them to bite you. There must be something decomposing here somewhere, probably leftover meat from someone's sandwich." He offered her is hand to help her up. Without thinking about what she was doing, Sara took Griss’s hand. With the other she took the picnic basket and Grissom took the blanket. He shook it out before he put it in the back of the truck. The picnic basket was placed beside it.

Sara got into the passenger seat of the Tahoe again, still nursing her mostly full can of root beer. Grissom got in beside her and started the engine. The loud radio blared; he reached over to turn it down. Sara reached over. "You like this one?" She nodded before turning back to the window. Well, that idea was a bust... must be something that'll lessen the reminder

"So, tell me.... what is next on your agenda for today?"

“Wanna just walk around for a while?"

"Sure. Where do you want to walk?"

She pointed. "Pull in here. There's a bunch of independent shops here."

"Ok." He pulled in and parked the car. "Where do you want to go first?"

"Wanna flip a coin?" Sara was only half-joking.

"What is here, I don't shop much. Are there bugs?"

"I see a jewellery store, do you wanna look in there?" He pointed to the small shop.

"If you're sure you wanna go in there. There are actually people there." Sara lightly ribbed him.

"Contrary to what you believe, I'm not scared of people." He reached in and found a small necklace with a butterfly charm on it. "I think this would look amazing on your neck. Will you allow me to buy it for you?" This will look amazing on her. Makes me want to kiss her neck.

"Grissom.I....” Sara blinked back more tears. Oh, Grissom.

"Please.... as a thank you. A token of my appreciation."

Her smile was sad. "Guess it would be rude of me to say no."

"So it’s settled." He got the attention of the vendor. "Madam, can I please purchase this?" He handed her the necklace.

"Do you want it gift wrapped?" She asked.

"No, she is going to wear it as soon as I pay for it, thank you." He passed her the money and pocketed the change. He looked over at Sara. "May I?" Sara lifted up her hair, exposing her neck. He placed the delicate necklace on her beautiful neck and fastened the clasp. He looked back at her. "A beautiful necklace for a beautiful woman,” He kissed her neck, he couldn't resist the urge.

“Thank you" was the only thing that Sara could think of to say.

"There is a bookstore over there, mind if we check it out?"

"Not at all."

"I'm looking for the newest Forensics Manual"

"I think I remember seeing it in there."

"Good. Lead the way."

They entered the bookstore and Sara led him to the place where the Manual was. "Good there is still some left." He grabbed one. "Do you need one?"

"I picked mine up the other day." I have you. Sara drew back a little ways to wait by the front door.

"Oh. Alright then. I just want to pay for this and we can move on...unless you wanted to look for something else in here."

"I'm good." Sara gave him a small smile.

He paid for his book and walked towards her. He reached for her hand. Sara inwardly sighed when his fingers twined around hers. She didn't pull away however; telling herself human touch was part of his therapy. He loved the feel of her hands, they were so soft. He hoped he could convince her to stay with him again tonight. He had an appointment with his therapist tomorrow to see how the therapy had been progressing. He prayed he wasn't cured because he didn't want to lose Sara.

'Is hat enough of an outing for you or shall we check out the mall yet?"

"Your choice, I'm in good company."

“I'm kinda getting tired actually...do you want to stop somewhere and rent a movie or something?"

"Sure sounds great. Shall we go back to my place after to watch the movie?"

"Okay."

"What movie do you want to rent? We still have dessert to eat as well."

"Yeah, we do, you're right," Sara, muttered. "Let's see what we're in the mood for."

"I'm not sure if my tastes are the same as yours, Sara." He chuckled. "I'm afraid we would be safer if you picked."

"Let's see what we can find and then decide," Sara insisted. He pulled into the video store and they both headed inside.

"I like documentaries, Sara, what about you?" He looked at her. "There are a couple of new ones if you are interested."

Sara was already eyeing "Steel Magnolias" and "Romancing the stone”, the two movies she always used when she was feeling down in the dumps. Kinda like now....she realized. All she needed was her bathrobe and tub of ice cream.

"Or you could pick one." He looked over at her. "Whatever you choose I will watch with you. No questions asked."

"Uh, let's go to the documentaries section," Sara said quickly.

"Alright. There is a new one on the gestation period of blowflies."

That's my Grissom Sara thought with sad affection.

"Do we want that one, or should we keep looking?"

"You go ahead and get that one. I know you've been wanting to see it."

He snatched it up grinning like a kid in a candy store and walked to the counter. "You gonna get one too?"

Oh, you have no idea how much I want to..... "No, it's okay."

He paid for his purchase and they walked back to the truck. "So my house then? It was a question that he wasn't sure he wanted the answer to.

“Want to get a few more sodas before we go? Those chips and dessert might make us a bit thirsty."

“Sure. The corner store good?"

"Fine."