The Breaking Point

Summary: Sara puts her new knowledge in practice much to Gil’s delight. The temperature rises.

A/N: Thoughts will be done in Bold Italic or []. Signing will be shown as: /*Calm down*/; Gaelic: (“…“).

Chapter 15b: …End in Lover’s Meeting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grissom’s Townhouse ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Noreen was first to wake up Saturday morning. It was early not quite 4:30 am. She and Olivia Grissom had fallen asleep at their own private “tea party” last night. Noreen felt guilty for not checking on Grissom. She had learned he slept poorly due to the pain he was suffering and to nightmares. She was sure if there was a problem Sara would have come looking for her. What had gone on last night she wondered? It was very quiet. Not at all like every morning since Gil had come home from the hospital. The first few days had been rough but that was due to the pneumonia but even after his recovery Gil slept very little.

Quietly Noreen opened the door to the master suite. Sara was sleeping with her head on Grissom’s chest and Grissom had a very wide grin on his face with one arm wrapped around Sara’s body. Noreen smiled. [Something nice happened last night. Coffee we need coffee.]

Sara woke up first. She carefully looked at Gil. [Still has that shit-eating grin on his face. Don’t want to wake him up if I can help it. I think massage is a good technique. But I’m going to have to get in shape myself. That was exhausting last night. Sarah and I only had sessions for twenty minutes at a time with the manikin.] She carefully slipped from under his arm and left it draped across his own chest. She went into the bathroom to use the facilities. She washed her hands. She got her toiletries out of her bag and went back into the master bathroom to finish her morning routine. She pulled a robe from her duffle. She changed her mind and got one of his button-down shirts from the closet. She pulled out her jogging shorts.

She went back through the bedroom as quietly as possible. Sara knew Gil needed his rest. In the kitchen she could smell the coffee brewing. “Good morning, Noreen. I’m sorry we haven’t been able to really talk before. I want to thank you for taking such good care of Dr. Grissom.”

“Aye. He is a dear if difficult at times. But he’s not had it easy. Have some coffee and these nice bagels. I’m glad you are here this weekend Sara. Did you know this is the first peaceful night his mother and I have had since he got out of the hospital. Whatever you did last night has put a smile on his face and peace in his heart. I dinna want any details.” She laughed and Sara smiled.

Before the conversation could continue, the doorbell rang. Sara went to the door and opened it. “FedEx, package for Miss Sara Sidle.”

“Thanks I’ll sign for it.”

“A package Sara?”

“Yessssssss…” She knew what it was from the return label. [Hot….hot…hot. So glad they came. Gil you are going to look so hot. Just wait til I start getting your clothes in earnest.] Sara went into the living room to open the FedEx package to make sure it was the rest of her special order. She opened the large FedEx box and out slid another box. [Yes!] Sara pulled the gold cord and took the lid off. Sara saw six pairs of silk sweats, 3 royal blue and 3 black. Noreen had walked quietly up to the couch. “Silk?”

“Noreen! You startled me. Yes. Silk. The rest of my gift to Gil…and none of your business about the rest.”

“Sara…these are beautifully made…”

“I found the best shop in New York. Gil has needed some new things for the longest time. He is going to look good, feel good and be good for that barbeque. Now I’m going to check on Gil and see if he’s ready for breakfast.”

Sara walked quietly back into the master suite. She could see that Gil was starting to stir. Sara walked over to the bed and kissed Gil on the forehead and then on the lips. “Morning, sweetheart. Gil you ready for some breakfast?”

Gil’s eyes fluttered open. “Mmmh…Morning Sara. I slept great last night. Pancakes. Some fruit maybe.”

“Okay, but first you need to get cleaned up and put some clothes on. If Noreen wasn’t in the kitchen, you wouldn’t have to wear anything as far as I am concerned. How is you leg today?”

“Sara, right now it’s good and if I wasn’t starving I’d pull you into this bed and wouldn’t let you go back to New York. I miss you so much.”

Sara sat on the side of the bed and pulled Gil into her arms. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on lips. “Gil, you have to get ready. We can continue this discussion after breakfast.” She handed Gil his crutches, watched him stand and pointed towards the bathroom. He turned and muttered “Slave driver” under his breath.

Hearing his comment and eyeing the naked tush Sara swatted his ass with her hand but not hard enough to knock him off balance. “Slave driver…then you must be my slave…later…I’ll show you how we punish slaves” She whispered in his ear.

“Am I your love slave, Sara? Punish me Sara.”

“Gil go get cleaned up….remember breakfast pancakes…punishment later.”

“Oh yeahhhhhhhhhh…later”

Sara shook her head as Gil disappeared into the bathroom. Sara was amazed at the hidden facets of Grissom’s personality that had been hidden or lurking just below the surface. He was vocal during sex; he was a fantastic kisser; his hands would provoke anyone to forget a vow of celibacy; he was playful and passionate; he was a sensualist; maybe a little vain about fine clothes; and she began to suspect as open and experimental in his sex life as he was in the laboratory.

The more she thought about the enigma that was Dr. Gilbert Aaron Grissom the more she knew she would spend the rest of her life enjoying the process of digesting and savoring each layer good or bad. She felt that there would always be something new to discover and she smiled as she mulled over the possibilities. [I am the first one to make this journey…I have embarked on a great adventure.]

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

Gil came out of the bathroom and Sara pointed to the clothes she had laid out on the bed for him a pair of his new burgundy silk boxers, a nice pair of black sweats and a burgundy pullover polo shirt and his Birkenstocks. When he saw the boxers he looked at her and smiled cocking an eyebrow. “Hurry up Gil, I’m hungry tool”

“Hungry for what Sara?” He whispered.

“Hungry for pancakes…[time for that] later.”

Gil pouted a little then sighed. “Ok, but you’ll have to help me.” He said suggestively. Sara rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. “Of course.”

The shirt was not a problem. When he stood up and held her shoulders for support and she pulled his boxers up he captured her mouth with his lips. “mmgill…” Sara found it very hard to talk as his lips were crushing hers and his arms wrapped around her. He rested his chin on her head. “Sara…I missed you.”

“Gil I can’t breathe.” Gil chose that moment to fall backwards and pull Sara on top of him. He didn’t realize it until he had pulled Sara on top of his legs that it wasn’t such a good idea. “Crap…*!#@...$#@!...” were only of few of the choice words that escaped his lips.

“Oh Gil…I’m sorry…your poor leg.”

“Not your fault Sara…my stupid idea…” Grissom said through clenched teeth. “Not your fault…” He reiterated. Sara carefully rolled off his body onto the right side of the bed. “Gil, breathe with the pain. Take a deep breath and hold it. For a count of 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2..1…another breath…hold it…10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2..1…” As she spoke her fingers ran up his torso until she found the pressure point she was looking for. She began applying and releasing the pressure points while keeping up a running dialogue of soothing words and breathing instructions. “Better Gil…? Is it getting better?”

His voice was shaky but he replied affirmatively. “Yes…pain not so bad.” He exhaled. “I’ll be glad when you’re home again. Could I have some breakfast in bed? Please. I’ll get up after breakfast. Just need to relax for a few minutes.”

“Be back in a few minutes Gil. You are allowed a pain pill. Do you want one?”

“No…Sara. Maybe after breakfast.”

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

Sara walked in to the kitchen. Noreen was giving Sara a funny look. “Ah Gil had a little accident…bumped his leg…he apologizes for the language. I’m going to give him breakfast in bed. I hope he will feel better later. I’d like to get him outside for a while. He’s too cooped up. He could use some sun.”

“That is probably a good idea. Olivia and I can get the house straightened up for the barbeque. Have you talked to him yet?”

“No I thought we could talk while we are outside. I need to make some breakfast for Gil and I. Do you want some pancakes?”

Sara busied herself making the pancakes while Noreen sliced some fresh fruit and started the coffee. Within twenty minutes Sara had breakfast prepared for both Gil and her on a tray. “I’ll be back in a while to help clean up. Then I am dragging his butt outside for some fresh air.”

“Dinna worry about it. I will clean up. You spend time with your sweetie. If he was mine I would” Noreen had a somewhat salacious twinkle in her eyes as she spoke.

Sara rolled her eyes upward and shook her head as she carried the breakfast tray into the bedroom. Her heart nearly broke as she saw Gil with his eyes shut tight with pain; tears streaming down the sides of his face and his fists clenched.

She put the tray down on the dresser. “Oh Gil, you should have called me. Is it really bad? Let me help you…I can help you learn to deal with this…please let me help.” She had pulled one of his hands from the death grip it had on the sheets.
“Gil, talk to me.”

“Sara…it hurts a lot right now. What am I going to do…I can’t live like this…”

“Gil, look at me. Now listen. It will get better.” Before he could say anything else, she put her finger to seal his lips. Then she kissed him. Momentarily, he brought both hands up to her face and returned the kiss. It was quite a few minutes before he released her face. His breathing was quite rapid and his face was flushed. He laughed softly. “Well that worked for a few minutes. But Sara much as I would love to kiss you constantly for the rest of my life…we wouldn’t get much done.”

“Gil, let’s figure out what works best for you. Kissing is good, the massage last night…”

“Oh yeah Sara that was good…that was freaking fantastic…like wow…”

Sara smiled. “I’m going to teach you acupressure self-massage. The same techniques I’ve used before. We know that works. Do you want refills on the painkillers?”

“No they actually make me nauseous then I have to take compazine for that and I have to take something else because it makes me constipated and…I am now taking a cocktail of eight different medications and my leg still hurts...I can’t do that for a year or two or forever…”

“Your PT will help. I’m working on some other things Gil. We will get through this. It will take some time. You’ve got to be patient and work with me. We have to do this together. We have made so much progress already. We got through the shooting. We make it through two infections and pneumonia. Hell we even made it through the awards ceremony. You have both your legs. One doesn’t function so well but it will. There are a lot of people ready to help you.”

“Okay…I will try…now we should eat some breakfast. Great thing about pancakes they taste good cold.” Sara laughed. The next hour passed pleasantly as Sara and Gil fed each other cold pancakes and fruit and kissed in between bites. They were both in a good mood and becoming aroused. “Sara, honey. What are we going to do now?” His voice was low and seductive.

“Well, Dr. Gilbert Aaron Grissom. You are going to finish getting dressed; I am going to take these dirty dishes to the kitchen. Then we are going out for a walk or a roll to the park. You need some fresh air and some sun and some more practice on your crutches. And when we come back a nice shower, maybe a lesson in acupressure, a nice massage and maybe something else if you behave yourself.” She kissed him hard on the lips and then she got quickly. “Get a move on lazy bones. I’ll help you when I get back from the kitchen.”

Noreen had almost finished in the kitchen and tidied the living and dining room as well. She took the tray from Sara. “I’ve already put the wheelchair at the bottom of the steps. Now you get Dr. Grissom on those crutches and have a nice outing. I’ve put a nice bit of fruit and some water and tea together for you in this basket. So hurry up and get a move on. Go…go…go”

“Noreen you are too much.” Sara laughed and headed back into the bedroom. Grissom had figured out how to get his sweats on. “I figured it out Sara but it’s more fun if you dress or undress me. I’m having trouble with the sandals though.”

Sara bent down and fastened the straps on his sandals. As she stood up Grissom kissed her on the top of her head and before she could do anything he spun her around and pulled her backwards so she sat between his legs. “I do learn pretty quickly.” Gil just held her close. He kissed her head, her neck and gently nibbled her earlobes. “Gil we are going outside. We will do that later.”

“Let’s do it now and later take a walk.”

“Gil, walk now and later…” She reached around and lightly ran her fingertips along the fabric of his sweats tracing the outline of his cock. He gasped momentarily distracted and Sara was able to get up. “I’ve learned a thing or two. Now we are going for a walk!”

Gil grumbled. “Sara you don’t fight fair.’ He took first the jacket which he then put on. Then he took the crutches. He got up, put the crutches under his arms and they left the bedroom together.

As they made their way to the door, Gil grumbled and Sara waved goodbye to Noreen who was laughing at what she overheard in the bedroom. [I love working with these people. Life is never dull.] Noreen was still laughing when Olivia came into the kitchen for a little breakfast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sara kept Gil walking by nudging him verbally and promising rewards that only she could give. After twenty-five minutes he was sweating profusely and his arms were becoming sore. This was more exercise than he had in weeks. Just as he thought he couldn’t manage one more step, Sara brought up the wheelchair.

“Reprieve. Gil, sit down…” Gil collapsed into the wheelchair. Sara pushed the wheelchair to a shady spot. Gil was so tired he couldn’t even set the brakes on the chair, so Sara set them. She put the basket on the table and took some wipes out. She gently wiped the sweat from Gil’s forehead and the rest of his face.

She took another wipe to clean his hands. She removed his jacket and his shirt. With the third wipe she cleaned his neck and with a fourth and fifth wiped his chest and back. She then handed him a clean polo shirt.

“Sara, you are so together. I appreciate how you are taking care of me. Oww…Sara I think I have something in my eye.”

As Sara bent down to check his eye, he grabbed her head and pulled her in for a long and passionate kiss which was made all the more sensual by his bare chest pressing against her breasts.

When she was finally able to pull back, she punched him lightly in the arm. “Gil, you are so bad…I think your hormones are working overtime…but I like it. Now put on your shirt. You are on display for my eyes and desires alone.”

Grissom was smirking as he put on a dry shirt and as Sara pulled out the food for their light snack. She was pleased to see this playful and sexy side of Gil re-emerging. She hadn’t known it existed before they had finally quit their foolish dancing around the fact that they loved each other.
Thinking back to their first meeting up until their first true kiss, she thought she saw glimpses of this side of his personality but it was like those things you see out of the corner of your eye. When you look and stare they are gone and you wonder: Were they ever really there? Was it a figment of my imagination? An optical illusion?

It was like the baggy clothes he wore at work, how startling in what they hid. What had happened in his life that he felt such a need to hide everything about himself from the world? Had it be a traumatic event or a long series of small emotional shocks to his psyche that had prompted all these defenses.

She had known before how intelligent and insightful he was in all matters forensic. There was plenty evidence of that. But it wasn’t until the last few weeks she began to learn the full breath and depth of his knowledge and intelligence. She suspected he was a man of many talents which he kept hidden from the world. Sara knew he was on the way to becoming a world class athlete in high school. She laughed when she thought of the shocked looks on her colleagues’ faces if they ever discovered his prowess.
She wondered why. But he was her puzzle now. She felt a fierce need to protect and shelter him; she suspected that in spite of his armor and outward strength that he was in many ways fragile. She was still ‘honored’ that he had let her in behind his walls. She was so proud of him in so many ways. She sighed. She looked over at him relaxing in the wheel chair with this eyes half closed with only small winces around the eyes marring his otherwise peaceful face.

She leaned over and whispered “Hey Bugman. The snack is ready; you want to wake up?”
He didn’t open his eyes and murmured “What you got for me?”

“Grapes, granny smith apple slices, some fresh pineapple and some sliced peaches. Homemade scones, a little soft Brie cheese, some marmalade and some special tea from Noreen. Come on Gil sit up.”

Gil straightened up and turned the chair to face Sara. “Have I told you how much I love you lately?”

“Yes you have; but keep saying it...” She poured them each a mug of tea and split a scone and spread some marmalade on each half. They ate in silence for a while and sipped some tea and ate the scones. As they ate the peaches, they began to converse about the little everyday things that lovers share. Sara and Gil worked their way through the apples, the other scones and the pineapple. In a little while only the grapes were left. Sara and Gil were both seated on the bench with Gil’s legs propped up on the wheelchair seat and his head in Sara’ lap. She was feeding him grapes one at time.
[Now’s as good a time as any.] She thought. “Gil, I need to tell you something…about Sunday.”

TBC