Cast Out

Author: Lynn Fox
Title: Cast Out
Rating: Uhh... Suitable for all ages, I think
Pairing: Grissom and Sara, who else?
Spoilers: Up to and including 8x02
A/N: Post 8x02 ep. Had to write this to stop tears from flowing. Yes, it's fluff to the max! Non-betad, all mistakes are mine.




The moment was bitter sweet. She was watching the love of her life letting loose in front of the whole team for the very first time since they met. He would’ve stood with her, she knew. He would have stayed by her side, and watched the others. But watching him be thrilled, seeing the Gil she knew, high on adrenaline, hyper as she had only seen him after getting off the roller coaster, that was worth something. It was worth a lot.

She didn’t feel abandoned, not in the technical sense. But watching all of them have fun, and not being able to participate, standing on the side lines. Yes, that did hurt.

It would happen again. They would go out again sometimes, and she wouldn’t be left out. She would always be part of this team. They’d double up sometimes, like they had when the team had been split up. She’d join them for breakfast, she’d see them every day at shift transfers. But regardless of all that, she’d miss them like hell.

Gil looked at her as he zoomed by, nearly running off the track, and she laughed, shouting after him, “it’s bad enough one of us is wearing a sling!”

He raced Warrick, and won, and for the first time in the two years that they had been together she felt that she could openly be proud of her man. They weren’t ones for open affection. She wouldn’t kiss him to congratulate him on his victory, but she could grab his hand, smile at him, and sit next to him in the booth when they all settled for drinks afterwards. And that was exactly what she did.

“Had a good time?” she asked him after he had taken of his helmet, and put his hat back on.

“I did, as soon as that arm of yours is healed I’m taking you back here.”

“Good,” she smiled, “can’t wait to kick your ass.”

He ordered her a beer, which she could really use right now, though she wouldn’t admit it, and took a soda himself. His body was warm to her side, and halfway through her drink she finally allowed herself to relax, and just lean into him a bit.

“It’s good to see you this happy,” Catherine said from across the table, “I always knew something was going on with you guys, and I did notice Gil here being less grumpy lately, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen either of you as happy as you look now.”

“Well, I have to admit,” Sara said, “that we wanted to keep it a secret a whole lot longer. But see what happens? I turn my back for just a second, and he starts blabbing his mouth, can you believe it?”

Gil pursed his lips. “I’m not the one who got myself abducted by a serial killer, just to make her boyfriend worried.”

Yep, then and there, he had said it in front of everyone. The B-word. It was probably his way of getting back at her for teasing him about his guilt. Because he felt guilty, very much so.

‘I should have caught her sooner.’
‘I should have protected you.’
‘She should’ve taken me in stead of you.’

‘Nah, you’re too big, you would never have gotten out from under that car by yourself.’

She was glad that their relationship wasn’t put under stress by his guilt or her psychological ramifications. They laughed about it, and sometimes cried about it, and they went on with their lives, albeit both a bit more conscious about the value of life.

“So why hasn’t anyone signed your cast yet?” Greg asked, looking at Grissom in stead of Sara.

“I don’t know,” Sara said, “seemed kind of childish, I guess?”

“I want to sign it.” Greg motioned for a waitress. “Do you happen to have black markers so that I can sign my friend’s cast?”

The blonde nodded, “sure sir, I’ll check in the office.”

She came back two minutes later with one black, and one red marker. “Found a red one too, enjoy!”

Before Sara could object, Greg had slid in the booth next to her, pressing her into Grissom, and started signing her cast.

‘I know you like cars, but next time, just try taking them apart in stead of crawling under one in the desert. Hug, Greg’

“Right!” He smiled at her, then looked around the table. “Who’s next?”

Nick grabbed the red marker, and took Greg’s place.

‘Glad I could return the favor, get well soon! Nick’

Catherine and Warrick followed, both scribbling a message in the spirit of Nick’s.

When everyone had sat back down, they looked expectantly at Grissom.

He slowly leaned forward, took the black pen from Warrick, and wrote,

‘The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are stronger at the broken places – Ernest Hemingway’

“A quote,” Sara said, “how very ‘you’…”

“I’m not done yet.”

He took the red pen from Catherine, and lifted Sara’s arm slightly so that he could write on the inside of her cast.

‘You are the strongest, most intriguing, most beautiful woman I have ever met. I’m so lucky to still have you with me. Love, Gil’

He sent her a small wink, and she had to swallow back a few tears.

“What did he write?” Greg asked.

Sara just smirked at him, and leaned back into Gil once more.