Title: In the Heat of the Moment
Rating: NC-17

Disclaimer & A/N: Good Gracious do I wish I owned Grissom, Nick, Warrick, Greg, Archie, and Detective Vartan. Alas I don't, so I just have to play "fantasy time" with them. ENJOY! Feedback appreciated, but NOT required.

An answer to OnyxNYC's HOT HOT CHALLENGE, as posted on the CSI:GrissomSara Group a LONG time ago. The following elements were required:

1. GSR of course

2. Sara mentions Grissom's unmatched kissing style

3. During "the act" Sara says something embarrassing

4. Grissom slams Sara up against a wall for their first kiss

5.A creation of a new Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor

6. hot tub

7. Grissom reveals his secret tattoo

8. Grissom buys Sara an item with a butterfly

9. Someone from the lab dedicates a song to G and S

10. Must contain the line "Now that's how you buff the hood of a car type

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She felt as if she was melting; the sweat pouring down her brow as she searched the interior of the SUV. The temperature in the climate-controlled garage was a constant seventy-five degrees, yet it still felt as if her flesh was soon to dissipate from her bones. If it felt this miserable indoors, she could only imagine the discomfort that was felt outside. Trying to see the silver lining in the cloud that was Las Vegas in the summer, she was thankful that she only worked nights.

Climbing out from inside the vehicle, Sara Sidle sighed, miserable beyond belief. Not only was it hotter than Hell itself, Sofia Curtis had called in sick – the second time this week – which meant that she was working the case alone. The tall, slender brunette had not made her disdain of the blonde CSI known to many people verbally, but it wasn’t a secret that there was no love lost between the two women.

She felt the lone bead of sweat slip down her back, causing an itch – one that she couldn’t reach no matter how hard she tried. Making the best of her surroundings, Sara leaned against the front of the grill, shifting her body back and forth to try and remedy the annoying tingle slowly creeping toward her waistband by using the hood ornament as a makeshift back-scratcher.

“Now THAT’S how you buff the hood of an Escalade…”

Sara turned to see Greg Sanders standing in the door to the garage, his mouth turned upward in a ‘caught-ya’ smirk. “Although,” he continued, “It might be better if you actually climbed up on top of the thing and wiggled your hips around just a little bit more…”

Feeling her cheeks starting to blush, all Sara could do was laugh. “Well, if you feel so compelled to watch, the least you can do is help me out.” Motioning for Greg to come over, she began to point at the spot in the middle of her back. “Scratch that for me, will you?”

More than happy to oblige, Greg did as she requested. Neither saw their boss standing just outside the window, a disappointed look on his face.

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The hustle and bustle of early morning began to stir outside the door of Gil Grissom’s office, as the night shift started to wander out the doors into the bright morning sun, giving way to the well-rested members of Days. Grissom sat behind his cluttered desk, trying to make heads or tails of the numerous folders scattered about. However, his mind kept drifting back to the scene he’d witnessed just hours earlier. She’d lost interest. To make matters worse, she was moving on with someone who was right under his nose. It wasn’t as if he had asked her out. It was quite the contrary - he was so worried that she’d turn him down, even if it was just to retaliate his refusal of her dinner invitation a couple of years earlier.

“Griss?”

The voice stirred him from his thoughts. “Greg. What can I do for you?”

The younger man stepped into his office. “I needed to ask a favor. I know you have me scheduled to work this Saturday night, but you see…my girl and I…we’re celebrating our six month anniversary, and well…” Greg smiled his goofy smile as he looked into the steely blue eyes of his boss. “…well, I really think she’s the one I want to spend my life with.”

“The one?” Grissom’s eyes started to glaze over. Greg and Sara had been together for six months? Worse still, they are serious enough for marriage?

“Yeah…I think she’s finally the one to tame this wild stallion”

Rolling his eyes, Grissom shook his head. If he couldn’t make Sara happy, he guessed watching Greg make her happy would have to do. At least Greg had the balls to take a step forward. “Sure, Greg. I’ll see if I can snag Deason from swing to cover for you.”

Greg fidgeted in his chair. “Griss…one more thing? You think I could keep the ring in your safe? I’m worried sick she’ll find it at my apartment.”

He’d already bought the ring.

Feeling his heart breaking inside, Grissom forced a smile. “Sure, Greg. That’ll be fine. Just make sure you get it Saturday morning before you leave…I’m off this weekend.”

“Thanks, Griss…I owe you big. Kelly is going to be so surprised!”

“Kelly?” The surprised tone in his voice did not go unnoticed.

“Kelly Franks - you know her? We met when I went in for the prelim hearing for the Sherlock case. Cute blonde court reporter. Legs to die for. Lips like…”

Greg looked up just in time to see Grissom’s backside as he jetted out his office door, in hot pursuit of something. Just what that was, he wasn’t quite sure.

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Sara Sidle knew she had to be hearing things. There was no way Gil Grissom was yelling across the parking lot for her. It was just one of those fantasies taking over her thoughts again. Either that, or delirium from the already unbearable heat.

“Sara!”

This time, she knew it wasn’t her imagination as she felt his hand on her shoulder. “Geez, Grissom…what is it? Late call-in case? Let days take care of it. I’m tired, and I need food, sleep, and a shower.”

Momentarily dumbfounded at the thought of Sara Sidle naked in the shower, Grissom stood silently.

“Did you need me for something? I’m sweating off pounds I don’t have to lose here…”

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he spoke. “Sara…how’d you like to have lunch this afternoon? My treat. You pick the place.”

Now it was her turn to be dumbfounded. “Did you just…I…um…Griss, you asked me…”

“Yes,” he said smiling. “I just asked you out. Now, are you going to make me sweat it out more than I already am?”

Sara chuckled. “Sure, I’d love to. I hear from Catherine you make a pretty good veggie lasagna, so lunch will be at your place. I’ll be there around 2:00, and I‘ll even bring the dessert. See you then!”

The smirk on her face was a mile wide as she walked away, leaving a very confused Gil Grissom in her wake.

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He found it impossible to sleep, especially knowing that not only was Sara was going to be in his home in less than 2 hours, but that he was also ‘under the microscope’ so to speak. He was confident in his own cooking abilities - and he figured Catherine always complimented him because she had no skill in the culinary arts. But Sara - he’d always known her to be particular about everything. That is what baffled him more. What did she see in him?

Knowing that he was fighting a losing battle, Gil rolled out of bed and went to soak in the hot tub inside his spacious bathroom to try and ease the tension in his tired body. His mind was lost in thought about all the different scenarios that could take place this afternoon. What if this was all a big mistake? Certainly it couldn’t be - nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? He just knew that it felt right, knowing that he’d finally made a move. As fatigue caught up with him, he got out of the tub, dried himself, and slipped into his favorite pair of jeans, collapsing on his bed shortly after.

The knock startled him from sleep. Clumsily, he made his way to the front door, still clad only in his jeans.

“Um…hi,” she said, startling him from his still-groggy state. “I did say 2:00, right?”

Glancing at the clock on his mantle, he noticed the time. “Oh God, Sara…I had no idea…I must have slipped off to sleep. Please, come in.”

Sara couldn’t help but bite her lip as she glanced over his bare torso. He was more toned and well defined than she had imagined. As he turned to walk inside, she noticed the small black symbol on his shoulder. “I’m learning something new every day,” she commented, looking around his place. “Never pictured you to have a tattoo. What’s it mean?”

Grissom turned, just then realizing that he was still shirtless and barefooted to boot. “I almost forgot I had it. It’s the Chinese symbol for strength of heart. I got it on a dare from some of my older classmates at UCLA. We went out on a bender one night and all dared each other to get one. I at least had the sanity to get something small and meaningful, after careful consideration and a very difficult decision between two designs, of course.”

Sara smiled. “Mind if I take a closer look?” He turned around once again, and Sara walked toward him, barely running her finger over the smooth skin of his right shoulder blade. “That’s good work, like the one on my ankle.” She raised her leg to show the small starburst on the inside of her ankle. “See…the ink’s still really dark. The one on my hip however…” Realizing she’d said too much, Sara silenced herself. “Um, do you mind if I ask…what was your other choice?”

Grissom could only hold his head down in shame, speaking where she could barely hear him.

Before she could stop herself, she heard her laughter. “Excuse me, but that sounded like you said Mickey Mouse in a space helmet.”

Noticing the small embarrassed smile creeping along his lips, she knew she had not misheard. “Now that would have been something to see…”

Wanting to find a quick way out of this already awkward situation, he looked down to the bag she held in her hands. “Is that dessert?”

“Oh, I forgot…” she blurted, holding up the bag. “I hope it hasn’t melted yet.”

Taking the bag from her hands, he walked into his kitchen, pulling the small pint sized container out. “Ben and Jerry’s CocoaNutty - Chocolate and Mocha flavored ice cream mixed with peanuts, pecans, and hazelnuts. Guaranteed to make you go nutty. Sounds good.”

“Oh, it is…I tried some before I bought it. They always let you do that with the new flavors.”

“So, that explains the brown spot on the side of your mouth then.”

Sara nervously licked her lips, tasting the sweet remnant of CocoaNutty left there. Grissom felt his blood begin to fill the erogenous area below his waist as he watched her tongue caressing her soft lips.

“I’m sorry for my appearance,” he said, breaking the silence. “Let me go get a shirt and some shoes, and I’ll be right back.”

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Catherine had not lied. He was an excellent cook. “That was delicious,” she said, wiping her mouth with her napkin before laying it across her plate.

“Glad you liked it. I usually don’t cook for others, just myself.”

“You should do it more often.” she commented, standing to take her plate to his sink. “I’d hire you.”

“You would?” he said, following behind her and taking the dirty dish from her hands.

“Yeah,” she said, opening the cabinet where she’d seen his bowls earlier. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because, you know what I have my hands in at work.”

Taking the ice cream from his freezer, Sara opened the lid and began to dip the frozen treat into the bowls. “I do the same thing. Besides, we wear gloves. Speaking of…” she said, looking up to meet his gaze, “…you got a paper towel? This is melting all down my arm.”

Quickly grabbing the drying towel that was on the counter, he wet the end and took her hand into his, gently wiping away the sticky brown streak. “There,” he said softly, dropping her hand from his almost as if it was hot.

“Thanks,” she whispered, the subtle intimacy of the moment unmistakable to them both.

“You’ve got some right there, too.” he said, moving closer. Sara could feel herself backing up - not instinctively, but out of confusion. What was she doing? Better yet, what was HE doing? In a quick motion, Grissom put his arm to her side, pushing her back until she was planted up against the cool brick wall in his kitchen. Looking into his eyes, she noticed a sparkle there she’d never seen before. It almost bordered on desire…

His hands cradling either side of her face, he placed his lips to hers, gently at first, but quickly gained momentum as he heard her moan into his mouth. Instinctively his tongue grazed along her bottom lip, and he felt her shiver. Her hands now tangling through his curly hair, he felt his resolve to control himself losing out to his carnal desires, and he pulled her closer to him, not caring what she thought of him at that moment. All he wanted to convey was that he cared about her. From the way Sara was gasping for air as her tongue tangled with his, he felt he was doing a pretty good job.

Finally pulling away in a desperate need for oxygen, Grissom took a deep breath before looking up at the person who had just made love to his mouth. “Sara…I don’t know what to say…”

“I do,” she purred. “That was the most amazing, heart-stopping, powerful kiss I’ve ever had in my thirty-five years. Bar none, that was the best kiss I’ve ever experienced. Made me want more…”

Taken aback by her revelation, Gil could only smile. “Really?” he said, taking her hand into his once more as he pulled her into a warm hug. “Then maybe we should do that again sometime. How about Saturday night? I have the night off….you have the night off…I know this great place at the Bellagio that has dinner and dancing…”

“Do we have to wait that long for another kiss?” she said, her brown eyes meeting his. “I don’t think I can. Your kiss is like a drug to me now, Griss…I can’t get enough.”

Kissing her once more, he spoke as their noses touched. “So, will you let me take you out on a real, actual date Saturday?”

“Yes,” she said, letting her guard down and speaking from her heart. “At this moment, you could do anything to me you wanted.”

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Dressed in a tailored navy suit with a faint yellow accented tie, Gil stood outside the door to Sara’s apartment, the small bouquet of flowers in one hand, the small box from Gunderson’s Jewelers in the other. He raised his hand to knock, but just as he did, the door flew open to reveal Sara standing before him, the long red slip dress contouring to her every curve. “You look…amazing.” His gasp told her that he wasn’t lying.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said, motioning him inside. “I just have to get my earrings and purse, and we can go.”

“Oh here, these are for you,” he said, handing the bouquet to her. “They don’t look as impressive now as they did when I bought them. They can’t hold a candle to you.”

Kissing her softly, as not to smudge the uncommon lipstick on her lips, he smiled. “Oh, and these, too.” He retrieved the small white box from his pocket and opened the hinge.

“Oh, Gil…they’re absolutely beautiful,” she cooed, looking down at the ruby studded dangle earrings. “Are those…”

“Butterflies,” he chimed in. “You’ve unleashed the nervousness - the butterflies - in my stomach. The ones that you and only you could have put there, and now they soar high. Sara, I hope you don’t think me too forward, or even weird, but I love you. I always have.”

The tears threatening to spill down her cheeks, Sara wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, too.”

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After their profession of love earlier in the evening, they couldn’t keep their eyes and hands off each other. Dinner had been an event, each of them trying to get the ‘one-up’ on the other, the innuendo becoming so obvious that they even had the waiters rolling their eyes at each other. Sara had found out that Gil was as skilled a dancer as he was a cook; it could only make her wonder just what other skills he possessed. If she had her way, she’d find out later in the evening.

Clapping softly as the band finished their latest song, the happy couple started to make their way back to their table, when the bandleader began to speak. “We’ve had a special request to play a song for Gil and Sara tonight. The message - Glad you finally found the happiness that was waiting right before your eyes. With all my thanks and love for you both, Greg

Quickly scanning the room, Gil noticed Greg Sanders smiling at a table just off the dance floor, his smile beaming. He raised his glass to the both of them, before taking his new fiancée’s hand into his and mouthing the word ‘finally’. Gil and Sara smiled and waved to him before wrapping their arms around each other, listening to the words of the song Greg had selected for them:

How can I convince you what you see is real
Who am I to blame you for doubting what you feel?
I was always reaching', you were just a girl I knew
I took for granted the friend I have in you

I was living for a dream,
Loving for a moment
Taking on the world,
That was just my style
Now I look into your eyes
I can see forever,
The search is over
You were with me all the while

Can we last forever, will we fall apart
At times it's so confusing, these questions of the heart
You followed me through changes, and patiently you'd wait
Till I came to my senses, through some miracle of fate

I was living for a dream,
Loving for a moment
Taking on the world,
That was just my style
Now I look into your eyes
I can see forever,
The search is over
You were with me all the while

Now the miles stretch out behind me loves that I have lost
Broken hearts lie victims of the game
Then good luck it finally stuck like lightning from the blue
Every highway leading me back to you

Now at last I hold you, now all is said and done
The search has come full circle, our destinies are one
So if you ever loved me show me that you give a damn
You'll know for certain the man I really am

I was living for a dream,
Loving for a moment
Taking on the world,
That was just my style
Now I look into your eyes
I can see forever,
The search is over
Love was right before my eyes.

With tears in her eyes, Sara looked deep into the eyes of the man who held her - the one and only man she’d truly loved. “Gil, please take me home. I need you.”

“No,” he whispered. “I can do one better.”

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Only ten minutes later, Sara found herself in a magnificent suite at the Bellagio, all of Las Vegas spread out below her like a neon blanket covering the desert haven. She felt his arms wrap around her from behind and away from the window, his breath hot on her neck as he planted small kisses along her neckline, leaving chills on her newly exposed skin as he unzipped the back of her dress.

“Just as I imagined. Your skin is every bit as sweet as your lips.” His hands worked their way to her hips, taking the slinky red fabric with them as he skillfully disrobed her. “You are beautiful, Sara Sidle, and you are mine. All mine.”

“Yes, I am,” she cooed, her heart pounding with anticipation as he once again wrapped his arms around her body, his fingers searching diligently for the hook of her bra. “Psst,” she whispered, moving his hands from her back. “It’s up here.”

His hands felt soft, yet strong as he unlatched the small clasp, being careful as he removed each delicate satin and lace cup away from her breasts as he slid the undergarment from her arms. His hands felt like a dream on her newly exposed bosom; however, his mouth felt like heaven. He gently lifted her into his strong arms and carried her to the large stately bed in the middle of the suite as she fumbled with the buttons on his dress shirt. She undressed him with as much concentration as he had her, and soon, they were nothing but a tangled mass of arms and legs, each one wanting to show the other just how much they were desired, needed, but most of all, loved.

“Tell me your fantasy,” he whispered into her ear before taking the lobe into his mouth, sending a new wave of energy throughout her body. “I want to make it our reality.”

Pulling away from him only momentarily, Sara smiled. “But, you can’t laugh.”

“Why would I do that?” he whispered, his strong arms supporting his weight above her. “Nothing that would bring you pleasure could ever be humorous…”

“OK, you asked for it,” she said, pulling him down where she could whisper in his ear. “When I was in college, right after your seminar, my friend Amy and I discussed you all night…what you’d be like, how big you were, how your kisses would taste, feel…” She could feel herself flushing with embarrassment for disclosing all of this to him, especially given the situation they were currently in. “I would imagine that you were my professor, and that I was failing your class…”

“Oh, my dear Sara, that’s where this is all wrong. You - you’d never fail a class…you have too much drive…”

“Would you just shut up and let me finish? It’s hard enough to tell you this anyway.”

Smiling, he relented. “…Anyway, I’d come into your office wearing my sorority jersey and a pair of khaki shorts, and beg you for a passing grade. You’d tell me that in order to get that grade, I’d have to let you take me right there in your office. I’d play hard to get at first, but you’d finally coax me with your strong hands and bedroom eyes…”

“Bedroom eyes?” he said, a slight chuckle in his voice.

“Hey, you promised you wouldn’t laugh,” she said, rolling him over to where they were laying face to face.

“And?” he said quizzically, “How do I measure up to my fantasy counterpart?”

Taking a quick peek beneath the covers, Sara looked back up at him. “Better. Much better.” Climbing atop him, she felt his member bumping against her inner thigh. “Of course, that’s only in size. I haven’t had a chance to judge technique…”

Surprising her, Sara felt him quickly thrust himself inside her, his hardness gently throbbing against her tight inner muscles. Immediately she felt the wave of ecstasy start to overtake her as his hands guided her hips up and down, slowly at first before using more force. As orgasm racked her body, Sara began to moan his name. “Oh…Gil…I…Love…you…ohgodmygod…yesyesyes!”

Knowing that he had fulfilled her wants, he quickly rolled her over and began to take care of his own, impaling her with such force that he felt he might be hurting her. However, her moans and pleas to go harder and faster answered that question as he emptied his seed inside her, collapsing atop her sweat covered body.

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Back at work on Monday night, Sara walked with an air of confidence, knowing that she was more satisfied now than at any time of her life. She finally had Grissom, and all was well in the world.

Stepping inside the locker room, she noticed Greg closing his locker. “So, Sara…I just want you to know…the secret is safe with me.”

“Thanks, Greg,” she said, giving him a quick hug. “And congrats to you. Kelly is a lucky girl.”

“Not as lucky as I am,” he said, walking out of the door. “Nowhere near as lucky as me.”

Smiling, Sara opened her locker, and was surprised at what she found. The pink shirt hung on the white hangar, the green with white trimmed letters Phi and Mu catching her attention immediately, followed by the envelope with her name written across it.

Closing her locker quickly, so that no one else could see, she sat down and carefully opened the note.

Miss Sidle:

I’m truly concerned about your prior test scores in my class. I would like to schedule a conference with you at your earliest convenience to discuss a manner in which we might remedy this most unfortunate situation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gil Grissom

Slipping the note into her pocket, Sara looked up to find him waiting for her at the door. “Is 8 AM tomorrow OK with you?”

A sideways grin on his face, he spoke. “It can’t get here soon enough.”

FIN