AN: Something I wrote tonight while drinking heavily during an argument with husband. Husband has now made up with me and this is most definitely not beta’d… although I left Keegan Elizabeth lots of drunken messages on IM! We’re lucky if this here is all in English, comprehendible sentences, and that I am cognitively able to post this on ff’s site.

And NO- I didn’t finish my LJ Elements Ficathon Entry- it’s on the backburner til that certain muse there strikes.

Enjoy peeps! - JenStog

The First Kiss

It definitely was a Sunday- no maybe about it. Couldn’t forget it if I tried. A scorching hot day. After Nick was found and the scene was processed, Grissom asked me as we drove back to the lab if I liked baseball games. For a reason I still am unsure of, I answered ‘yes’.

Sometimes white lies are good things.

The usher took us straight to the seats, as Grissom explained he held tickets for his seat and the one next to it as long as he’d been in Vegas.

I wanted to ask who came with him, but thought better than to ruin a first ‘date’ with ideas of others before me. Eventually he’d tell me he always sat alone at games, and had bought the neighboring seat as a buffer from other patrons. Thank God.

It was an afternoon exposition game (so he said), and I hadn’t a clue about the teams or the rules- just the basics anyone picks up during the playoffs when you visit the bar.

At the time, I was banking on steering the conversation away from the what was happening in front of us, and toward what was going on between us.

A vendor walked up the stadium stairs towards us not minutes after we got settled in the chairs, knowing Grissom by name. His hair was a short wiry gray. Years of this job in the sun showed- his eyes were slightly sunken back, sat amongst a dark complexion of wrinkles. Beads of glistening sweat were streaked down his face and neck, the top ring of his t-t-shirt was already showing wet. Strapped around his neck was a box with any kind of goodie you’d want at a game.

“Dockta Griszum! Whatda day eh? Alzmost as gorgeous as dat dame next ta ya!”

“Almost indeed Frank.” Grissom turned to speak to me then.

“Sara this is Frank- he’s been selling concessions for over 40 years at this park.”

He turned back to Frank, and introduced me, hitching is thumb over his shoulder as he spoke my name.

“Frank, this is Sara- a very good friend of mine.”

“Pleasure to meet you Frank” was my smiling response. Hmmm. ‘Very good friend’. I’ll take that over ‘my coworker’ any day.

“Tha pleazure’s mine doll. So Doc, same ole Red Hawt? And what would tha lady like?”

“Actually Frank I’ll stick to a bag of peanuts today- and a water. Sara- what would you have?” He was pulling out his wallet as Frank gave him a funny glance.

“I’ll have a box of cracker jacks and a water too, thanks.” I reached for my cash that was stashed in my jean pocket, but Grissom waved me off as he exchanged with Frank for the grub- passing my snack to me.

“Juz whiszle if ya decide you wan dat dog Doc; nice ta meetcha Miz Sara.” Frank moved along then, shouting his offerings to the other fans among us.

We sat in the heat, opening our food and munching for a few moments in silence.

My natural curiosity was nagging at me- wondering why he didn’t get what appeared to be his staple order.

Upset stomach? Was the ‘date’ giving him jitters? No, he seemed cool and collected- standard Grissom.

My mind wheeled over and over- until I decided to find out from the horse’s mouth.

“Grissom, thanks for the snack. I’m curious though- it sounded as if you always get the same thing- why’d you switch up?”

I couldn’t see his eyes- we both were wearing dark glasses, but his cocked head and small grin had me melting faster than a snow cone in this heat.

“Hot dogs- it’s meat Sara. Didn’t want to make you sit there and watch me eat that.”

“Oh.” Oh. OH! Well shit. That has to be the most considerate thing he, or hell- that anyone, has done for me in as long as I can remember.

We turned back to the field, and he began rattling off some names of the players and what positions he preferred, but I only half-listened. I was still reeling over his thoughtfulness.

Around the stadium, fans began to stand as the announcer introduced the singer for the national anthem.

Grissom stood with them, but I remained sat, frozen like. It was that moment it sank it- the realization that he cared- that he asked me there as a companion, a friend to share an afternoon with. That he respected me and my choices- my lifestyle.

He noticed my negligence in standing and bent to talk in my ear as the crowd listened to the song.

“Sara- you alright?”

“Not really” was my short answer as I shucked off my glasses, reached boldly and pulled his shades off too.

Before he could even realize what I was about to do- I snaked my hands to the back of his neck and pulled him harshly to my lips.

I could taste the nutty salt flavor as my tongue grazed his dry lips. It was the best thing I’d tasted in a long time. It was a hungry kiss- one of gratitude and wonder and a promise of more to come.

For his part, Grissom had been taken off guard to say the least, and plopped back down into his chair as he finally caught on and wrapped his arms around me.

Looking back, I can admit I was a bit rude to start such a kiss during the national anthem, and I am sure Gil would never have done such a thing on his own accord. But I just had to show him that I got it- that I knew he was ready, and listening, and willing.

We broke for some more of that sweltering air when the fans began clapping for the game to begin. I’d felt smug about it- being the first one to make a move. A smirk upon my face, I dared to look him in the eye. All that I found was everything I was looking for.

I did feel the need to explain my boldness.

“Griss. I just wanted to thank you for your consideration in snack choices.”

If I wasn’t already melted to the core by the heat around us, the next line he gave me did me in.

“Sara- if we can do that more, I’ll never eat meat again. Ever.”

Well, we did that a plenty more times, and he still does eat meat too. In fact, on a bathroom run during that very game, I hunted Frank down, got him to make up the ‘Grissom special’, and brought it back to Gil myself.

Gil may say it was the kiss that did him in- but I say it was the hot dog.

The End!

AN: so could you give me feeback- esp. concrit... I feel the need to improve my writing and honest reviews are always helpful. Don't say oh good job- say what you liked, and what you didn't. Say what was missing, what could go, and what was fine. I need help!