Baby Come Back
By Player
Spending all my nights,
All my money going out on the town
Doing anything just to get you off of my mind
But when the morning comes,
I'm right back where I started again
Trying to forget you is just a waste of time
Baby come back, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Baby come back, you can blame it all on me
I was wrong, and I just can't live without you
All day long, wearing a mask of false bravado
Trying to keep up the smile that hides a tear
But as the sun goes down, I get that empty feeling again
How I wish to God that you were here
Now that I put it all together
Give me the chance to make you see
Have you used up all the love in your heart
Nothing left for me, ain't there nothing left for me
~~~~~
Gil Grissom was on a plane headed for San Francisco. He was a bundle of nerves as the plane made a landing. Cold sweat was on his palms as he kept wondering: would she forgive me for the jackass I was? Would she still have any love for me? Would she even talk to me? These questions were all burning in his brain – it scared him but it was too late to turn back. He needed to find her and take the chance.
His mind flashed back to the day she left the crime lab in Vegas. He hadn’t believed that she was actually going to go through with the job offer even though she had handed him the resignation two weeks prior. He just couldn’t believe that she would up and leave when she was one of the best CSI’s he had. He knew that their friendship had drifted apart but for her to resign? That was hardly a reason in his mind.
Alas, if that’s what she wanted, then so be it. The staff had a party for her, but he didn’t bother to attend. He deep down couldn’t bear to say goodbye to her, but he came up with a million excuses to stay away.
He remembered Sara finding him in his office right before the end of the shift – her svelte, tall body dressed in black jeans, a white hugging t-shirt and white lab coat – she was a site of beauty to behold.
He shook the thought, then said, “What is it, Sara?”
Sara replied quietly, “I just wanted to say goodbye, Griss.”
“Goodbye.” He didn’t dare go near her for fear he would grab her in his arms and kiss her. There was no way he was going to let that happen.
Then in a flash she was gone. He didn’t chase after her either – instead he shrugged his shoulders and insisted this was the best for both of them. As he came back to the present, he thought to himself, ‘what an idiot.’
His mind drifted back to the past two years and all the time and money he spent trying to forget her. She had been so etched in his brain for all those years, nothing he did could get her out of there. He rode roller coasters with Micky and Peter, and he even tried to start a relationship, which was so unlike him. The girl’s name was Sandra and she just didn’t fill the void that Sara did. Now he was praying that she didn’t find someone else and that it was too late for him or her.
It was a good thing that Cliff Burns needed his expertise on a case, or else he would’ve had to try to come up with another plan to come and see her. He would’ve done it but for him it would’ve been more difficult.
He arrived at the SFPD Crime Lab a couple hours later and walked into Burns’ office. Burns briefed him on what was going on and waited for Sara to come in so that she could brief him further. She had no idea that he was coming – Gil asked Burns not to say anything but he didn’t say why. He wanted Sara to be surprised, even if it would be a negative experience.
“Hey Burns – Griss?” Sara’s mouth was agape as she stared at the figure before her. What was he doing here? She still didn’t get over him and she sure didn’t want to have to fall head over heels again. She thought two years was a good amount of time but after seeing him here, dormant feelings surfaced and she thought, “oh gosh not now.”
“Sara, hi! Burns called me in on the Bloomsbury case. So how have you been?”
“Oh I’ve been fine! How’s everyone in Vegas doing? It’s been what, two, three years?” She wasn’t about to let him in on the fact that she knew exactly how long – 2 years, 20 days, 10 hours...
“Everyone has been fine, yeah, it’s been a couple years. It’s good to be working again with you, Sara.”
“Same here, Griss. Here’s what I have so far on the case...”
As they exchanged information, Gil couldn’t help but gaze into Sara’s beautiful almond colored eyes. She still had that million dollar gap-toothed smile that made him turn to silly putty. She had on her trademark black jeans, and a lab coat. Her hair was long and wavy and he realized that he wasn’t listening to a word she was saying!
They were in the Denali when Sara asked, “Griss, how come you never came to the party?” She wanted answers so that she could at least have some clarity before moving on.
Gil knew that she would ask that question so he answered. “I kept thinking that you were going to come back.” There, he said it. But he knew to win her back he must be honest with his feelings, as difficult as that was.
Sara was shocked. “You did?”
Gil answered, “Yes, I knew I had lost you forever, and I didn’t like that.” Gil was getting very uncomfortable with this newfound honesty. He liked things the way they were, but he knew that he couldn’t do that any longer.
“So tell me truthfully, is that the real reason you came here, to win me back?” Sara was ecstatic that he finally came to his senses, but two years? She knew he was clueless but this took the cake.
Gil turned red. “Well, um, yes it is. I can leave at any time you know.”
“Not until you are done with this case, I really need your help.” She wasn’t quite sure what to say to him. It had been two years after all.
Gil looked dejected. “Oh okay Sara. I really am truly sorry I didn’t tell you my feelings sooner, but you know that’s not me. I stink at that stuff.”
“I know you do, Griss. Don’t be so hard on yourself. I bet it took a lot to say what you did just now.” She sympathetically laid her hand on top of his. The electrical current surged through her body like a lightning bolt – yes it was still there.
It completely amazed Gil how a simple gesture like this could send him into orbit 300 times around the moon. He had to fight with all his might just to resist the urge to have her stop the car and make love with her now.
Sara pulled her hand away; she didn’t want to get pulled in. “Here we are.”
“Sara, let’s have dinner tonight, what do you say? There’s so much to catch up on.”
“Great, sounds like a plan, Griss. I want to find out what the gang is up to anyhow.”
Figures. He had every intention of playing for keeps, so he wasn’t going to stop just because she seems not to be interested.
“Okay, how about 8:00?”
“Sure, I know a great restaurant overlooking the bay on the wharf. Do you like seafood?”
“I love seafood, sounds great.”
“Okay, 8:00 then.” Sara tried to conceal her joy, but she was having a difficult time. She was never good at hiding her feelings. As far as she was concerned, she was going to make him work hard for her affections.
Gil and Sara left the crime lab at 5:00, and went separate ways. Gil went back to the hotel to change and Sara went back to her apartment to do the same thing. She was just so glad that he came to try to win her back, even after two years. She just wondered why it took so long for him to see and who or what prompted him to do so.
She looked through her closet and was dismayed at the fact that she only found one lovely outfit. She sighed to herself that she should get a life and not live so much at work. She pulled out the candy apple red silk kimono with Japanese writing on it, and wondered if this would be good enough. She figured it would be and tried it on with a pair of black flats with red floral embroidery on them. She loved Japanese inspired things, and much of her apartment was decorated as such.
She liked what she saw in the mirror and approved of it much more when she swept her hair up in a loose ponytail. She put on dangling earrings and applied some mascara, eye shadow and red lip-gloss.
Gil was in his hotel room changing into his black suit jacket, blue dress shirt and black Dockers when he looked at himself in the mirror. He only hoped that Sara would accept his offer of a life with him, considering how long it took for him to realize that he loved her more than life itself.
It was Micky who finally broke through his barrier one day when he had mentioned her in passing. A conversation evolved on how she was doing and when he noticed that Grissom was in a daydream, he broke the concentration.
“Grissom, when in the world are you going to admit that you love her?”
He tried to look shocked that he would say such a thing, but he really wasn’t in the mood. “I don’t love her, Micky.”
“Don’t give me that, Grissom. You haven’t stopped loving her in the two years since she’s been gone and you know it. You ought to go after her now, I can’t say that it isn’t too late, but you should anyhow.”
“Mick, it’s been two years like you said. She probably has moved on to another man.”
“How do you know? She really had it bad for you. As you have quoted before, ‘it is better to have loved than to have lost.’ I say go for it, what do you have to lose?”
“I don’t know Mick. I couldn’t stand the rejection.”
“Oh like you rejected her? You think she enjoyed it? Grissom, I don’t know about you sometimes.”
“I’m sure she didn’t enjoy it but...”
“But nothing. You are a fool if you don’t go for it.”
“Yes, sir! What do I do? Just go there and tell her I’m there to ask her into my life? It doesn’t seem that simple.”
“You could do that, or...I understand Burns was having problems with a particular case that she was involved in. Since it had to do with insects, perhaps you could lend your expertise?”
“How do you know these things?”
“I have a friend in the San Francisco lab Griss. He tells me a lot of things. I am sure Burns probably will call you anyhow, he has before.”
“True. Okay, I’ll do it. But it’s your head if this doesn’t work.”
“Fine. I’ll take that responsibility. But I think you are worrying for nothing. She was sweet on you like honey to a bee.”
He winced at his bug comparison, but had to chuckle. He told him he would call and a few minutes later, he did.
“Burns.”
“Hi Cliff, Gil Grissom here.”
“Hey Gil, long time no hear. How are you doing?”
“I’m doing great. Listen, I understand that you have a problem with a case concerning an insect?”
“Ah, yeah. I was going to call you in a couple days, as a matter of fact. It concerns a cricket, of all things. We need your help on figuring this out.”
“Sure. When do you need me?”
“Tomorrow would be great if you can spare the time.”
Grissom grinned on the other end of the phone. “Sure, I will get on a flight in the morning.”
Burns smiled. “Thanks so much Gil. You remember Sara Sidle? She is the lead on this case. I’m sure she’ll be pleased to know you are coming in to help out.”
Gil tightened his grip on the phone. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell Sara. I’d like to surprise her since it’s been a couple years since I’ve seen her.”
“Ah okay, sure no problem. I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
“Yes, you bet Cliff. Goodbye.”
“Bye.”
Gil hung up the phone and left early to pack up his things and purchase a plane ticket.
His mind came back to the present time and he decided that he looked good enough for the evening. He splashed on some musk and headed out the door of his hotel room. He told Sara he would pick her up and she accepted. He thought that rather strange because before she would have told him that she would meet him somewhere instead. She was a very independent woman – perhaps she liked a little more chivalry now? It made him wonder if she had dated anyone in the past couple years, or even now? He hoped that she hadn’t seen anyone recently, his chances would be dashed in a heartbeat and he couldn’t accept that fact.
As his black Lexus rental pulled in the parking lot of the apartment complex that Sara lived in, he found her waiting just outside her door. He figured he would knock on the door and escort her to the car, but he realized that she wasn’t going to allow for that much chivalry - this was Sara. She needed to do things on her own, and he wouldn’t let his male pride get in the way of that.
She walked to the right side and opened the car door. She said hi as she climbed in, tucking her red silk kimono under her lap as she sat on the leather upholstery.
“Hi Sara, don’t you look lovely.” He adored the red silk with the gold Japanese letters intricately designed on the fabric. He looked at her bare legs, soft, silky and oh so sensuous. He wanted to touch them but he thought against it.
“Thanks, Griss. You look handsome yourself.” Sara blushed, taking in the musky male scent, not just produced by his cologne. He looked great in the black suit and midnight blue button down shirt. Blue certainly highlighted the blues in his eyes, she marveled.
“So, where on the wharf is this restaurant?”
“It’s right at the end, overlooking the bay. Oh Griss, you’re gonna love this place. Both the food and the view are breathtaking.” Sara flashed her gap-toothed grin at him, which made him melt.
“I bet I will.”
They arrived at the restaurant, got out of the car, went in and were seated at a romantic booth for two by the window. Sara was right, the view was spectacular – she could see the Golden Gate in perfect view. The moon was shining on the bridge, giving the water a spectacular glow.
They ordered a White Zinfandel wine, along with shrimp, and halibut. Sara wanted to try oysters on the half shell but then she realized that could be a no-no since it was rumored those are aphrodisiacs.
“You know, Sara, oysters aren’t really aphrodisiacs, that’s just a myth. The wine we ordered is actually more of one than those are.”
Sara grinned. “Oh really? Well then when the waiter comes back we should order some. I am quite disappointed though.” She figured she would flirt like she used to.
Gil raised his eyebrow; she had piqued his interest. “Are you?”
Sara couldn’t resist when he raised his eyebrow. He was driving her crazy. “Yes, I am. That would have been quite interesting.”
“We still have the wine you know.” He was going to flirt back. This could be quite amusing and playful.
“Mmmm, yes we do. May I?”
Gil poured her a glass of wine and he did the same for himself. By the time their meals came, they each had finished their first glass and poured another one.
Sara was right, the food and atmosphere here were excellent. They both started to speak at the same time.
“You go first.” Gil stated.
“No it’s okay, you go ahead.”
“Ladies first.”
“Okay. So, how is everyone? I do miss them.”
He wondered if she missed him. “They are all doing well. Catherine is dating Warrick, since he got a divorce last year. Nick is still Nick, Brass and Sofia are dating, Greg is a CSI, Micky is dating Elaine, our new receptionist, Peter is still in the lab and last year he got married to a Real Estate agent named Kate, Davy is still dating girls daily, Mike is considering going from weapons analysis to CSI, and Hodges is a pain in the rear end as usual. He is still trying to get on my good side.”
“When wasn’t he? I’ve never known a lab guy to be more hated than him. They talk about him here as well. So, Cath and Warrick, Brass and Sofia? I kind of figured those guys would hook up. That’s really great. I also see that Micky is dating the new receptionist. Did Ecklie back down or what?”
“Yeah, at first we thought Warrick would get switched to days or fired, but Ecklie didn’t even flinch. That’s when I found out that they reviewed the office policy and realized it was outdated. So now inter office dating is a good thing.”
“Too bad it wasn’t around when you and I...” Sara stopped short. She hadn’t wanted that to come out, not now.
“When you and I what?” Gil knew what she was going to say, but she wanted her to say it. He knew that she still thought about what could have been, and hoped that it could still lead to it.
“Well, I don’t think I want to finish that sentence. I think I’ve had too much to drink.”
“Sara, you’ve only had two glasses of wine. Come on, say it.”
“Oh okay, too bad it wasn’t around when you and I worked together.” Sara sighed. She figured she would hear his reasons why they shouldn’t be together, and that is something she didn’t want to hear.
“I know. I wished it was.”
Sara couldn’t believe her ears. No negative comments – no ‘you’re too young for me’? “You do?”
“Yes I do. Then that would have scratched the one reason off my list of it being wrong.”
“What about the other reason?” She wondered if he still considered him too old for her.
“Truthfully it’s not an issue any more. Sara, I realized not too long ago that age doesn’t really matter and that you were right.”
Sara smiled wide, and wanted to pinch herself. Did he just say that she was right? There was a first for everything. “Can you say that a little louder? I didn’t quite hear that last part.”
“You heard me, Sara.”
“No I didn’t, speak up please.” Sara started laughing.
“You are real funny, now I know you’ve had too much to drink.”
“Come on, chicken!” She egged him on and she loved it.
“Okay, you were right.” He spoke just above a normal level and the people at the next table stared at them.
“For once in my life, I was right. I bet this is the first time you admitted that someone else was right too.”
“Sara, can we go on with the conversation?”
Sara laughed. It was the first time she has laughed in a couple months. She had tried hard to forget about the one man she loved with all her heart, but she couldn’t get him out of her mind. Now he’s back in her life and she hopes that he doesn’t start sending her mixed signals again. If he wants her, he needs to declare his love and not be wishy-washy.
“Okay, ruin my fun.”
“I’m sorry Sara, there’s plenty of time for us to have fun. I want to be able to talk about this, about...us.” He almost didn’t say it, but he knows he has to go out of his comfort zone so that she knows how he feels. He wasted too much time to dodge the issue; he has to get to the point.
“Griss, is there an “us”? I don’t want to waste my time if there isn’t. I don’t want to hear your quotes or your riddles. It’s just been too long for me to try to figure it out.”
“I am hoping that there will be an us. What do you say?”
“Grissom, it’s been a couple years since I left. I don’t know if we can start anything now. I’m settled here and I truly love this city. I can’t go back to Vegas just on a whim you know.”
“I know, but would you consider? We could try a long distance relationship. It’s only about four hours, I think it could work.”
“I don’t know, Griss. I have heard that long distance relationships don’t really work out. With our schedules, when would we see each other?”
Gil hadn’t thought of that. They also work opposite shifts and both are workaholics so who would take their day off with the other one? “I guess you’re right again. I could take a job here...”
Sara nearly jumped out of her seat. He would do that for her? “I couldn’t see you giving up your job in Vegas for me. I could try to move back there, even though I didn’t like living there.”
“I want you to be happy Sara. I can always teach or I could work at the crime lab if Burns has any openings.”
“You could. I’ll have to think about this us proposition.”
“That’s all I ask right now. Remember I’m here until the case is solved, so you have a little bit of time to think about it.”
They ended up drinking three glasses of wine each before they paid for their meals and walked out onto the wharf and into the breezy bay air.
“Would you like to take a walk? It’s a glorious evening for it.”
Sara and Gil strolled arm in arm along the wharf, taking in the wonderful bay breeze and the aroma of the salty air filling their nostrils. Gil then stopped and turned Sara towards him as he leaned in for a kiss that knocked the wind out of them. Sara put her arms around his neck and he had his arms wrapped around her waist, as their kiss grew more intense.
“Oh Griss, what was that for?” She was nearly out of breath and her eyes were glazed over as she stared into his blues.
“That was for a wonderful evening my dear.”
“It’s not over yet, is it?” Sara looked sad.
“No, not at all. What would you like to do now?” He knew what he wanted to do but he wanted her to guide them through the evening.
She wanted to go back to her apartment and make love to him, but she knew that wasn’t such a good idea. “Um, would you like to sit on the beach and talk?”
“Sure, that sounds like a plan to me.”
They walked towards the other end of the wharf and down the street to where the sand started. There was a bench near the water, and they took their places there.
Chapter 2
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