PERFECT

GSR. Romance

Spoiler: Way to Go. What did Sara do when she saw Gil's blue shirt?

Grissom sat on Sara's small living room, staring at the darkened hallway that led to her bedroom. Sara had practically fled in there a couple of minutes before, and it didn't look like she was coming back any time soon.

Gil sighed. His intention had been to surprise her, but he hadn't expected her to react quite like this. When she opened the door, she had smiled at him as always, and then –

And then her jaw had practically dropped as she took a look at his outfit. She'd blinked, she'd done a quick double-check… And then, instead of kissing him hello -the way she had always done before- she had stammered a greeting, asked him to please give her a minute, and then she'd hurried back inside.

Grissom shook his head as he remembered all this.

Well, he thought, looking down at himself, It seems that buying this outfit was a big mistake.

He had been hesitant at the store, but the guy who sold it to him had been enthusiastic about it.

"It's a relaxed look for you!" the guy had said, "Your lady will love it!" and Gil had bought the entire outfit -flowered shirt and kaki pants- thinking he'd impress Sara with it.

Well, Sara had been impressed, all right, but not in the way he'd meant to.

At least I didn't let that guy talk me into buying Bermuda shorts, Gil thought dryly. It was a small consolation.

He was only trying to do something special for the occasion. He and Sara had slept together several times before, but this was the first time he'd spent the night. Buying new clothes had seemed like a good idea, but now Gil realized that buying something for her would have been more appropriate.

'I should have bought her a plant,' he mused. 'I could never be wrong with that..'

Grissom glanced into the hallway again, and this time he noticed the sounds that were coming from Sara's bedroom. It seemed she was opening and closing every drawer in there.

A new thought occurred to Gil. Maybe Sara had suddenly remembered that she was out of, er, supplies? Maybe she was only looking for them?

Gil smiled hopefully. If this was the case, then he would be able to help; he had made some purchases a few days before and had kept them in the car, just in case.

Confidently, Gil rose and went looking for Sara.

He found her in her bedroom, just as she was opening yet another drawer. Gil had a clear view of her face, thanks to the mirror that rested on top of the chest of drawers. There was a look of exasperation on her face.

"Sara?"

She looked up and saw his reflection on the mirror. To Gil's surprise, she hastily closed the drawer.

"Sara?" he asked cautiously, "What are you doing?"

"Oh. Nothing." she said without turning to face him. "Nothing, I was just looking for something."

Sara glanced down and realized that the drawer wasn't properly closed. There were clothes overflowing from it. Reluctantly, she opened the drawer again and tried to put some order in it.

Grissom came behind her and gently leant his chin on her shoulder.

"Everything all right?" he asked.

"Uh, huh." She said perkily, "Everything's fine."

But he wasn't convinced. He kept looking at her face reflected on the mirror until she looked up. She held his gaze in silent defiance but after a moment she gave up.

"I was just looking for something," she said reluctantly, "Something, hum, lacy and feminine. Something you might like to see me in."

He was sincerely surprised.

"Well… That's very thoughtful of you." he said cautiously.

"The problem is, I've got nothing like that in here," she said, and she rummaged inside the drawer again. "I never even thought of buying anything -"

"That's all right." he said. "I mean… We've been together before." he said reasonably, "You know you don't need to wear anything frilly for me -"

"That's what I used to think until I saw you tonight." she said, "I mean, you got that outfit -" she looked up, "It's new, isn't it?"

"Yeah." he said.

"It's nice," she said.

"You like it?" he asked casually.

"It's cheery." she smiled, "Blue suits you, you know."

Grissom smiled.

"The guy who sold it to me said it would help me project a youthful image." he glanced at his own reflection, "I don't see it." he added dryly.

"You look good." She said.

He looked sideways at her and smiled.

"Thanks." He said.

"But that's my point," Sara said, turning back to look at the contents of the open drawer, "You went out and did something special and I didn't, so… I was looking. Unfortunately, all my clothes are practical-"

"And comfortable," he added helpfully.

"They're great for an active life," she continued, "But let's face it, they're passion killers."

That struck him as funny.

"Passion Killers." he repeated, "Now there's a great name for a contraceptive."

Sara narrowed her eyes at him.

"I'm serious." she muttered.

Grissom gently pressed his cheek against hers.

"Sara, nothing you wear could ever be a passion killer."

"Oh, no?" she challenged, "Not even my combat boots or my t-shirts…?"

"No." He said, "See there?" he asked, motioning her to look at her own reflection on the mirror. "See those sweet brown eyes, and the luscious lips, and the freckles…? See how beautiful you are?"

She smiled that half-amused, half-disbelieving smile of hers that was her usual response to Gil's compliments.

"Luscious lips?" she asked skeptically.

"Yes." Gil said firmly. This time Sara's lips tilted into a genuine smile that made him sigh, "Oh, and don't get me started on the smiles," he added pointedly, "Or the big heart, or the sexy voice, or…"

She chuckled.

"All right," she interrupted, "All right, I get it. So, what you're trying to say is that I don't need to wear sexy clothes to entice you."

"Exactly."

"But I could, I don't know, surprise you one of these days?"

"Absolutely." he said.

She tilted her face to him and kissed him on the jaw.

"Thanks, Griss."

Grissom turned, and met her lips with his own. They kissed softly for a while, but just when he was drawing her closer to him, she pulled back.

"Hum, Gil… I need a minute."

"What's wrong?"

"I have to dry my hair." She said sheepishly.

He pulled back to appraise her. Her hair was still damp, indeed.

"It looks fine to me." He said gallantly.

"Thanks, but I've got to dry it. If I don't, hum, my sinuses will start acting up." She seemed chagrined by this admission.

Grissom smiled faintly.

"All right," he said, reluctantly letting go of her.

She kissed him lightly before slipping away.

Gil sat on her bed.

Sinuses.

He smiled. Sara hated to admit what she called her flaws, but Gil didn't mind. To him, it was those little flaws that kept their relationship earthy and real. Those flaws had turned the fantasy girl into a real woman.

Absolute perfection would have scared him.

THE END