Gil Grissom Meets The Mouse.

He came straight to the Las Vegas Crime Lab after getting off the plane from New York. Gil Grissom was NOT happy. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong on this trip. Late planes, lost luggage, over booked hotel, ghees, even food poisoning. To top the whole thing off, he had won the grand prize of the lecture week. A trip for two....to ‘Disney World’. Now what in the hell was Gil Grissom going to do with that?

He put his luggage, which stayed the entire week in Las Vegas’ McCarren Airport’s lost luggage area, along with the new clothes and suitcase he was forced to buy in New York City, on the vinyl sofa that sat against the window in his office. At least he had all of his items back and in one piece, the airline was SURE going to pay for the new clothes, he was going to make sure of that one. He sat down at his desk and FINALLY let out an audible sigh as he rubbed his face with his hands. “Home, thank you God, I am FINALLY home.”

A perky strawberry blonde bounced thru the door with a cheerier than she knew what was good for her attitude. “Hey Gil! Welcome home! Have a good time? What did ya bring me?” Catherine Willows got behind Gil and hugged him from the back. “Missed ya buddy. Wow, you think I take a lot of luggage? Man, for you that’s a month’s worth!” She then leaned around and saw the expression on Gil’s face. “Oops, I think ‘we’ had a bad time. Wanta talk? You didn’t call the whole week. Here I thought you was living it up in New York. What happened?” She went around to the front of the desk and sat in the chair parked in front of Gil’s desk.

“Name it. That’s what went wrong. I was in New York my clothes and lecture material stayed in Las Vegas. Hotel was over booked, I got food poisoning, did lose a couple of pounds, sure didn’t enjoy HOW. Oh lest not forget the P.A. system shorting out in the lecture room. Projector blew a bulb, no one had a replacement.....ah what else?” He put his hands behind his head and leaned back. “The was so bad it’s funny. Oh and my highlight! I won a trip for two to ‘Disney World’ in Florida. Now what the hell am I going to do with that? I was hoping for the second place prize, a set of prints with Lysandra Bellargus on them. Damn.”

“You wanted prints of what?”

“Oh Cath! Ghees, the Adonis Blue butterflies.” Cath’s face still looked puzzled. “The sapphire blue ones Lindsey likes. You wanted to redo her room and I thought they would be perfect. Noooo, I had to win a trip to ‘Disney World’. Ghees there isn’t even a decent coaster there. Before you say it two ADULTS, not one kid one adult. Otherwise you would have the damned tickets, and they are NOT transferable. I couldn’t even trade the tickets for the prints. Dr Devone wanted those prints as much as I did. Damn.”

Catherine just sat there, she started smiling. “Well, I see you are already playing out one of the characters in Disney World......’Grumpy’. Oh come on Gil, you got plenty of vacation time on the books and you can’t think of one person to take. Man, I must be losing my touch.” Catherine coughed.

“Ha ha, you know damned well, we both can’t be off at the same time. Ecklie would have a cow, and wouldn’t he milk it for all it was worth.” He put his head in his arms on the top of his desk and started laughing. “Gods I’m so tired I’m punchie and that was a BAD joke.” He started laughing. “Ahhhhh, I’m going home, I’m going to sleep until I feel human again. Thanks for covering this week. I owe you.” He got up and started to gather his stuff. “Shit, forgot I left the car home. Oh man, this has NOT been a good week.”

“Hello! It’s me Catherine, you chauffeur. Where can I take you tonight big boy?” She was laughing at how befuddled Gil was. “Look here’s the car keys put your stuff in the back and get in the damn car. I’ll drive you home, shift’s over, all I got to do is sign out. Don’t say it...just do it.” She turned and left the office. “Move it ‘Grumpy’ or are you ‘Sleepy’ now?”

*****************

The forty five minute drive to Hendersen was a smooth ride. Gil and Cath never ran out of things to talk about, their relationship was one of true friends. So Cath plowed ahead full steam with her suggestion, as she drove.

“Why don’t you ask Heather to go with you to ‘Disney World’. She might enjoy it and well, you never know. It’s the most ‘magical place on earth’!” She glanced over to see his reaction. He was giving her the ‘Grissom look’. “Okay, can’t take me, Heather out, your Mother? Come on Gil don’t waste the tickets. Ghees a whole week, meals included, air, hotel. Hell even the park passes! Hell all you need is spending money and we know how much of that you’ve got. So what’s the problem? There’s ‘adult’ stuff to do down there now. There’s a “Nightlife Disney Downtown’, I hear it’s a blast. There’s plenty of restaurants that are way too expensive that families don’t go in them. What about ‘Cinderella’s Castle’ or the ‘Coral Room’ at the Oceans exhibit? Both expensive and not a place for kids. Roller coaster problem, ummmm. What about Universal Studios, and Warner Brothers? Hey there’s a butterfly farm down there too! You can go there. And there’s.........”

“Okay, okay, I get it. Just drive. I’ll figure out who, when I get up. Just get me home, PLEASE. I’m REALLY tired.”

“Do you need to stop for milk, eggs.......okay straight home.” The look Gil was giving Catherine left no doubt in her mind. “Home it is.”

When they finally arrived, Catherine helped Gil unload the car, as Gil opened the front door the mail truck pulled up. “Perfect timing! Hi Dr Grissom, here’s your mail.” He handed Gil a tub full of magazines and mail for the week he was gone. “Glad everyone on this route isn’t as popular as you are, my back couldn’t handle it. See ya tomorrow.”

“Damn Gil, that’s a month worth for me. Whoooo, it’s stuffy in here, you need to......I’m going, I’m going.” She pecked him on the cheek. “Call me later. And find my present from New York! If you didn’t get me something go out and get something and fake it. I covered your ass again.”

Gil closed the front door and walked straight up the steps to his bedroom. He didn’t even take his clothes off, just his watch and glass case went on the end table. Shoes kicked off and he plopped straight down on the bed and mumbled into the pillow, “Home, home, there’s no place like zzzzzzzzzzz.”

***********

As Gil slept his mind took him many places. All of them in Florida. He saw Heather with him and she was wearing Mouse Ears. They were at the butterfly farm, the flying flowers were fluttering all around her and she was laughing like a school girl. He could feel her in his arms as they danced, oh so closely in this dimly lit restaurant. They walked around the lake in the International Village, when they stopped the moon lit up Heather’s eyes as she glazed up at his blue ones, they started to kiss............then he woke up. “Damn Heather, you are trying to tell me you want to go?” He didn’t need to look down to see his body wanted her to go, that was painfully stiff point at the moment. He got up and hit the shower, while he was standing under the cold water, he decided to call and ask. The worst that could happen is she would say no.

********

“‘Disney World’?” Heather was trying hard not to laugh at the mental picture of Gil in Mouse ears. “Ummm, when do you need to know?” She put her hand over the mouthpiece to muffle the giggle that was working it’s way up. “I..I have ummm, (muffled giggle) ahh I’m free (muffled giggle) on.....”

“Heather is someone there? Or is this idea just too weird for you? The truth, we promised from now on, nothing but the truth. Cough it up woman.”

Heather couldn’t hold it in any longer and let go. She laughed for a good minute before she could get herself under control. “I’m so so sorry Gil. I keep getting this mental picture of you in Mouse ears and please, don’t tell me you have them or I will NOT go, plaid shorts. Skipping!” She started laughing again.

“Funny, funny. I don’t wear shorts except swimming trunks and they are solid. Thank you very much. So I make you laugh? Well then, never mind. Just thought maybe......” He was teasing her by sounding hurt and was playing like he was ready to hang up to stop being insulted.

“Gil Grissom, don’t you DARE hang up on me. I want to go. Really sounds like fun. I could use a few days off. Make the arrangements and let me know. What about a rental car, so we can drive around. Isn’t there a ....oh what was that...one of the girls told me...ah a butterfly farm around there. You would love that! I can get the directions from Sarah. Oh by the way, I’m NOT your second choice am I? Ms Sidle, didn’t turn you down did she?” She was toying with him on the ONE subject that was like ‘nails on a chalkboard’ to him. Sara Sidle.

“Gods NO ! If I have to go, I want to have fun not listen to someone whine the whole time. Sara would drive Mickey to suicide in a week and I would join him. You are my first choice and Catherine’s too.”

“Ah Catherine suggested me....ummmm Remind we to thank her when we have our usual breakfast next week. We’ll have to think of something special to bring her back. Call me when you got things together. Got to go now.”

Gil called Catherine after clicking off with Heather. “Hey Cath, she said yes! Heather said yes. When did you two start having breakfast together? Should I be scared?” He heard Catherine’s laughter in the phone, sounded a bit like Heather’s. He couldn’t be anything but pleased his two favorite women were becoming friends.

**************

It was a short plane ride from Las Vegas to Orlando, Florida. They left right after the graveyard shift was over. Heather had her limo driver wait outside the Crime Lab building as she walked thru and greeted Jim Brass, Warrick Brown, Nick Stokes, and Catherine. They were just ending their hellos when Sara walked out of the Evidence room and saw them together.

“Here again? What now, another girl killed at the Dominion? Or are you a suspect again?” The sour look on Sara’s face left no doubt Heather was NOT on of her favorite people. As if she had any favorites other than Gil Grissom.

Gil came up from behind Sara, with his suitcase in hand and a big smile on his face. “Heather! Right on time. I’m ready for ‘DisneyWorld’ if you are. Cath, my desk is cleared off! My present to you for suggesting I take this grrrrrrrrr woman with me. Thanks.” He put his arm around Heather’s shoulder, then he leaned over and gave Cath a peck on the cheek. “See ya in a week!” He turned Heather around and they walked out of the lab.

“What the hell was that? Where are they going? And together? Did he say ‘Disney World’? They are going to ‘Disney World’ together?” Her hands were moving as fast has her lips were flapping. The look was total shock.

Nick, Warrick and Brass quickly left the area. They didn’t want to be around during the explosion. Catherine was standing there just shaking her head. “Sara, you will NEVER learn will you?” She walked into Gil’s office.

“That son of a bitch”, was all Sara could muster at the moment.

Gil decided to upgrade the entire package. He arranged for the suites at the ‘Floridian’, a limo driver for the entire week, and the ‘Best Guest VIP’ treatment. Everything from daily massages to private boat rides were arranged. Gil planned for all the adult things, Heather was planning for all the fun things. She made arrangements too. Mickey would be greeting them with special Mouse ears with Gil’s name on it, and she was determined he was going to wear them the entire week. She was going to make him have fun whether he wanted to or not. Of course she wasn’t against any ‘adult’ fun he had planned.

A gloved hand stretched out to reach Heather’s as the limo driver opened the rear door. She momentary stopped, looked and smiled. Good, they got it all just right. She walked passed Mickey and waited for Gil to exit the limo. He had just stepped out when he noticed the main Mouse standing in front of him with a set of ears. The ears had his name on it. “Gilbert”. He looked at Heather who was feigning innocence, but lost it when Mickey placed the ears on Gil’s head. A photographer came out of nowhere and snapped a picture of the memorable magical moment, when Gil got his ears. Heather now had tears rolling down her cheeks. Gil mouthed to her ‘I’m going to kill you’, which set her off even more.

They were shown to their room by the manager. On the elevator ride up he explained the extra allotments the ‘Best Guest VIP’s’ receive, he also mentioned several of the things Heather had planned for them. Gil’s eyebrow went up at the breakfast with the cast. He wasn’t planning on getting out of bed early enough to eat breakfast, yet alone converse with ‘Chip and Dale’. When the manager left them alone, he turned on Heather.

“What did you do?” She was trying to look innocent again, but Gil was having none of it. “Heather....answer me.” She just stood there and raised her shoulders and her hands in a ‘I don’t know what you are talking about’ gesture. “Okay, you want to play dirty. Dirty it will be.” He ran for her and picked her up carried her into the bedroom area and threw her down on the bed with a bounce. He then jumped right next to her, threw his leg over top of hers and straddled her. “Tell me!” She just shook her head and laughed. “Tell me!” Again she shook her head. “Okay you asked for it.” He started to tickle her without letting up. She was getting breathless, tears were rolling down her face, and she started to hiccup. But she wouldn’t talk. “Okay, that’s not working....maybe I should try this.” He started kissing her neck and undoing her clothes. He was tasting the roof of her mouth when she hiccuped and she bit his tongue. “Ow, Heather!”

“I’m (hic) sorry, it’s YOUR (hic) fault. Shouldn’t have (hic) tickled me so (hic) much. Damn, up I’m going to (hic) have them all day. (hic) Well, I can think of (hic) something I’m not going to (hic) do.” She looked at him smiling devilishly. “If I did, this (hic) trip might end up in the (hic) emergency room. Sugar, I need sugar.”

“Oh no, you are going to be careful this week. We keep you on schedule. I’m not letting this vacation put you in diabetic shock. NO sugar.”

“Gil I do need it. Really, it (hic) will help me get rid of these (hic) damn hiccups. One (hic) packet, that’s all just (hic) one. Thank you for worrying (hic) about me.” She went to kiss him, but her hic caused her to jolt.

“One packet and .....you can.......” Gil was looking at her and half smiling. She nodded. He got up and went into the wet bar and brought back two packets of sugar. “Open, I’ll pour.” He shook the packet and then ripped the corner. She opened her mouth, but hiccuped as she did. They both chuckled. “Are you sure this works for you?” Again, she nodded and hiccupped. She wiggled her fingers for him to hurry. He opened the contents in her mouth and waited. Nothing. A minute went by no hiccups. “Hey it does work for you. Now it’s my turn.” He laid her back down and started shaking the second packet. She just looked at him with a puzzled look. He finished taken off her clothes and sprinkled sugar in a thin line the whole way down her front. Then he started licking it up from her chin down.


*********************

They spent the days acting between five years olds and newly weds. Everyday Heather insisted Gil wear those special ears. They were quickly taken to the front of the long lines and given priority seats when the ears were spotted by the park employees. In the ‘Old Fashion Ice Creame Parlour” on Main Street, they got a free ice cream cone. Each of the stores they walked into gave them a special edition pin. Soon Gil’s ears were covered with them. Heather was walking around yet another gift shop looking for something for her ‘girl Friday’ Rachael, when Gil disappeared for a few minutes and then came back over with a mischievous grin. Heather just looked at him and went about her shopping. A few minutes later, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned thinking it was Gil. Standing in front of her was ‘Goofy’ he had a set of ears with her name on it. Gil started laughing, and the photographer came out of nowhere to snap a picture of Heather and Goofy. How could she be mad? They were having such a wonderful time.

*************

Halfway thru the week, they chose to skip the park and head to the butterfly farm. It was an hour’s drive and the limo driver allowed them to sit back and enjoy the ride. Gil sat with his arm around Heather’s shoulder and she had her head resting on his chest, playing with his polo shirt
button. They didn’t say a word the whole time.

She was not wearing black at all this trip. Black was her business attire. This trip was far from business as she could get. She was wearing a breezy flowing dress that molded to her body and flared out just below her waist. As she walked the breeze would pick up the edges of the skirt and it appeared to flutter like the butterflies they were heading to see. Gil never saw her look more beautiful than she did at that moment. He couldn’t help but to run his finger along her cheek. She blushed slightly. “Heather, you? Blushing? Will wonders never cease?” She playfully hit his chest and looked up into his blue eyes with want in them. “Rats, we’re here. Hold that thought until later.”

They walked thru the gardens at the butterfly farm hand in hand. Several butterflies fluttered around Heather and she giggled like a school girl. Gil snapped off a few pictures, he was thinking that this scene came right out of his dream. One butterfly landed smack on Heather’s nose and she was looking at it cross eyed. Gil snapped that picture quickly before Heather could get it off her nose. It caused both of them much laughter. They had a nice lunch and tea break there before heading back to the hotel. Again they sat and snuggled on way back to the ‘Floridian’. Gil had arranged a ‘white gloved’ dinner on their balcony that faced the lagoon. A gentle breeze cooled the evening, the waiters expertly serviced and retired in between courses. The dessert course was all that was left, when the waiters brought out a ornate chocolate swirled box. Heather figured it was filled with creme bruee’. She opened the lid and discovered she was wrong. Inside Gil had arranged for a diamond necklace of Mouse Ears to be inserted. Heather’s eyes expressed what she was thinking. The waiters quickly disappeared.

**********

Their wonderful week at ‘Disney World’ drew to a close quickly, much to their dismay. Heather looked around the room once more to check and make sure they didn’t forget anything and sighed. Gil’s head popped thru the door just as she sighed.

“What’s wrong?” He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t want to leave? Don’t want the mad, mad, mad world coming back into our lives? Gonna miss having me next to you in the mornings? Got to find someone else to nibble sugar off you?” He felt Heather giggle with the thought of that last one. She just laid her head back on his chest and nodded ‘yes’. “Well we could do this every year. No reason why we can’t. What do you think? Same time next year?” She just nodded yes. When the knock at the door came. “Damn, timing sucked. Thought maybe had time for one more quickie, before we left.”

Heather turned to Gil. “Hold that thought until we get back to Vegas.” She kissed him.

*****************

Heather’s driver was waiting for them when they landed. They got to the limo, while they driver looked to the luggage. He swore there were twice as many suitcases as they took. He drove straight to the Las Vegas Crime Lab, Graveyard was about to start. Both Heather and Gil walked in with arms loaded with packages. They headed to his office first. Catherine was behind the desk.

“Hey you two! Welcome home! Did you have a good time? How’s ‘Mickey’? Tell me everything, errrrr....by the looks of you two NOT everything. Wee bit too much info there. Leave that part out.”

Gil put his arm around Heather’s waist. “Yeah, I say we had fun. We’re planning a return trip, next year, same time. Hopefully this time, we’ll see some of the park.” Heather smacked Gil playfully and blushed. “Cath here you go something for you and Linds. We got something for just about everyone. Are they gathered in the Break Room?” Cath nodded and they all walked toward there, chatting about odds and ends until they got there.

“Hey boss! Lady H!” They were greeted with hugs and everyone got a bag with a personalized gift. Heather took great care in choosing something personal for each of Gil’s staff. Including Sara. She took special pains not to exclude Sara. She thought she found the perfect gift, but refused to show it to Gil.

“Sara, this is for you, from both Gil and myself. I er WE hope you enjoy it.” She smiled as she handed it to Sara. “Careful it is quite heavy.”

Sara was somewhat speechless. “Me? Ahh, I er thank you. Errr both of you.” The ‘both’ part left a bitter taste in her mouth. The lab waited for her to open it. Several people asked ‘what did you get?’ She had no recourse but to open it in front of everyone. She pulled a box out of the bag. “Ah a snowglobe, nice.” Everyone again said ‘open it, what kind?’ So again she had to endure more public teasing. The globe was nested down in the Styrofoam box. She noticed right away that her name was engraved on it. “Nice, thank you.” She started to close the box when Greg leaned over to look closer at the figures in the globe.

“Ohhh, Lady H.” Greg walked past her and ‘high fived’ her one and walked out the door. “Wicked!”

“What’s the matter Sara don’t you like it? Heather picked it out. I haven’t seen it. May I?” Gil reached over and looked inside the box he looked over the top of his glasses, at Heather who was fending innocence. “Perfect Heather, just perfect. Suits Sara to a tee I say. Ready to go home. See you all tomorrow night.....maybe.” He grabbed Heather around the waist and walked quickly out the Break Room door. He was trying hard to hold in his laughter.

He managed to do so until they were standing next to the limo, then he lost it. “Heather, Heather, Heather. I have to work with Sara. Oh God did you nail her. Hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”.

“Why Gil Grissom, don’t you think it was the perfect gift? When I saw ‘The Villains’ and the snowglobe with the witch from ‘Sleeping Beauty’, the queen from ‘Snow White’ and ‘Ursula’ not to mention ‘Cuella de Ville’ what could be more suitable for Sara? Of course the personalizing of it might have pushed it a tad to far but........” She was grinning evilly and enjoying every second of the payback to Sara.

“Come on my wicked one, lets see if we can make her even madder.” Gil saw Sara standing at the window in his office, which faced the parking lot. He started to kiss her long and deep before picking her up and getting into the limo.

Sara let the snowglobe drop to the floor.