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"Gil, I think we're going to have to cut back on spending a little bit. Funds are starting to run out. We're not in the red zone yet, but if things don't change I'm afraid we'll be there soon."
"Did you happen to see the gray tie?" Grissom asked in response from the bedroom. "I have to go to that meeting at the university and I'm afraid I’ll be late."
"I found it on the dresser. I thought you'd changed your mind and wanted to wear another one. I put it away."
Sara finished her coffee and stood up from the kitchen table. "Did you hear what I said?"
The sound of Hank's nails on the floor preceded Grissom's arrival in the kitchen, his hands busy with the knot in his tie, his gaze wandering around looking for something.
"How far are we from the red zone?" he asked as he entered with a determined step.
Intent on washing her freshly used cup, Sara nodded at the bank papers left on the round table in the center of the room.
Grissom stopped and glanced at them. "Oh, well, there's still time," he commented. "Not so much, but there is some time." He then resumed walking around the house.
"I thought we could start by changing supermarkets," Sara suggested, wiping her hands. "I'm under the impression that the one we usually go to isn't among the cheapest." She took a set of house keys from the bowl of junk on the window sill and followed the trail of Grissom's light scent that led her to the front door.
"Have you seen my house keys? Never mind, I'll get -
"They’re right here," Sara interrupted him, reaching over and jingling the keys next to her face.
"What's wrong with that supermarket? It's nearby," Grissom objected as he finished slipping on his jacket.
"The veggies don't look all that fresh to me, and have you seen how much fruit costs?" Sara pondered, watching Grissom adjust his jacket in front of the mirror by the door. "Not to mention the cost of meat."
He paused and turned to her with a slightly offended look. "l don’t eat that much meat," he protested.
Sara laughed and spun him around to straighten his tie.
"I'm not saying you shouldn't eat meat. I'm just making suggestions on how to save money." She gave him a general look and gave her approval.
"We'll do whatever you want, honey. I have to go now." He opened the door. "You know what you could do in the meantime? Look for places to play poker."
"Are you going to take up gambling to support the family?" Sara asked incredulously and amused.
"Hey, I financed my first body farm in college with it!"
"I have no doubt, but I'm not sure now is the time for adventures of that sort," Sara rebuked him gently.
He shrugged, gave her a kiss, and walked away.
*
"Look, Gil, we talked about this last week. Do we really need to buy this thing?" Sara asked as they entered the house after their evening walk with Hank.
"Well, we don’t really need , but we can afford it," Grissom retorted, hanging Hank’s leash on the coat rack by the door.
"We talked about it last week," Sara repeated, spreading her arms wide. "Red zone, remember? Reduce spending."
Grissom assumed a shrewd look. He motioned with his index finger for her to follow him and reached the small living room down the hall. There, he opened the door of the cabinet next to the light fixture and took out the box where they kept the few items pertaining to their old job at the Las Vegas crime lab. He pulled out a package and handed it to Sara. She didn't recognize it and took it hesitantly. Inside she found a wad of cash. She took it out and counted it. It was two hundred euros.
"And these?" she asked, perplexed.
He leaned against the kitchen door frame with his arms crossed.
"I told you to look up poker clubs."
"You're kidding."