Shadows Of The Heart

By Amanda Hawthorn

RATING: R

PAIRING: Grissom/Sara   

CATEGORY: Angst/ romance

ARCHIVE: Sara and Grissom and my site http://www.pink-martini.net/amanda/

FEEDBACK: Love it, but no flames please I’m fragile!!

EMAIL:  [email protected]

SPOILERS: Let The Seller Beware

SUMMARY: Just what was Sara doing at the Vineyard when Grissom called? The answers bring Sara and Grissom closer.

DISCLAIMER: CSI belongs to CBS and Alliance-Atlantis Productions. No
infringement intended.
AUTHORS’ NOTES: As always a huge thank you to the Sara and Grissom yahoo list for their constant support. This is also for everyone who has sent me such wonderful feedback, I’m sorry I don’t have time to reply to everyone, but your words are very much appreciated.

This is also for Niff and Phon, two of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to know, you guys are great.

 Sara’s sister in this story is based on my own sister who died of cancer 6 years ago, and my mother who we also lost to cancer 12 years ago.

Ó Amanda Hawthorn June 2025

Sara made her way wearily into the break room after her solo case at the school. The images of the barbaric drug induced teenagers played heavily on her mind and her stomach. What had started off as such a promising day had turned into an endless nightmare, one that she was sure she would never escape from.

Thinking back to earlier, she remembered the look in Grissom’s eyes when she had finally managed to get into work. He hadn’t even given her the time to explain the reason for her lateness or listen to her at all. He had treated her like some kind of tyrant, someone who was unworthy of his presence. This hurt.

Running a hand over her eyes, she let a sigh escape her as she stood to her feet. She needed to get away from here and go back to some normality and maybe salvage some of the last few days that had been ruined when she had been called into work. He didn’t want to hear her excuses, though for the life of her she had no idea why he was so angry with her. He didn’t care that she had this day arranged for months earlier, something that had been pre-arranged and logged in so long ago.

This was the one-day that she came together with her family to meet up and say we miss you to her much loved deceased sister. This was the one chance she had to be close to her again, and Grissom had managed to take all that away.

His face clouded her mind once more, her mind focusing on the sheer force of the disgusted look he had given her. The anniversary of her sister’s death was painful enough without the added torture from the one man she thought knew her the most.

Sighing again she gathered up her coat and made her way out of the door, her sole focus on getting home and falling into bed.

As she made her way down the corridor, she hovered outside Grissom's office to watch him silently, undecided whether she should just walk on by or try to apologize for whatever it was she had obviously done to make him so mad at her.

“ Goodnight,” she said softly, waiting for him to look up before offering him a tentative smile.

“ Goodnight Sara,” he nodded briefly, and then returned to his papers.

Sara’s heart sank inside her chest once more as she recognized the same look of distaste in his eyes. Silently berating herself, she shifted from the doorway and started to walk away from him, he so obviously hadn’t forgiven her for whatever it was she had done that was so awful.

Turning away from him, she began to move until he called her back “ Sara?”

Hope filled her heart as she turned around to face him, waiting for him to speak.

“ Good work on the school case,” he said simply, his words so brief that she thought maybe he hadn’t finished talking, but when he turned his eyes back towards the file in his hand, she knew the conversation was over.

“ I,” she started softly, gaining courage as she leant on his door frame “ I’m sorry I missed your page, it’s just that you tell me to get a life and when I get one you expect me to be here on a moments notice,” her eyes met his sadly as she saw the confusion in his eyes, adding a little more quietly “ it’s confusing.”

Her intention had been to turn and leave before he could answer, but as she turned to walk away, she came into contact with a huge squeal of delight from her little niece from the end of the corridor.

Her eyes focused on the little girl who was running towards her. She couldn’t help the smile that came onto her lips as she bent down to scoop the little girl up into her arms to place a kiss on her cheek “ Hey baby,” she beamed “ what are you doing here huh?”

“ I missed you,” she pouted “ Mommy said you had to go.”

“ I did sweetie,” Sara smiled sadly “ I had to come to work, they needed me.”

“ It’s not fair,” she whined, laying her head into the crook of Sara’s shoulder.

“ I know,” she smiled “ but you know what? I would trade everything to spend a whole day with you, but sometimes we have to do things we don’t really want to.” She kissed her hair softly before looking over her niece’s head to see her sister in law.

From his desk, Grissom sat up a little straighter with the sight that greeted him from outside his door. Sara’s apparent delight at seeing the child in her arms was something he wasn’t accustomed to seeing, and he suddenly realized that he was witnessing something very new about her.

Pushing his chair back, he stood up to walk slowly towards the door.

Sara smiled over at the woman who was now rushing over towards her, drawing her into a warm hug “ Honey I’m sorry, she just couldn’t wait to see you.”

“ Hey it’s ok Jules,” Sara grinned “ I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to her before I had to leave for work,” as she spoke, she rubbed the little girls nose with her own, enticing a giggle.

“ Grace,” Julie smiled at her daughter “ did you show aunt Sara what you did to your finger?”

“ What did you do sweetie?” Sara asked softly, her words causing the little girl to stick up a scratched finger. Gasping dramatically, Sara smiled down at her “ How did you do that?”

“ I fell over,” she pouted.

“ Well you know what I have at home that is really good for poorly fingers?” Sara beamed.

Grace gazed up at her in awe, shaking her head in concentration.

“ A little girls favourite ice cream,” Sara whispered close to her ear, causing her to bounce up and down in her arms.

“ You spoil her,” Julie grinned as she ran a hand through Grace’s curly hair.

“ Well I don’t get to see you both that often, and what’s the point of having a god daughter if I can’t spoil her,” Sara hugged Grace to her warmly before placing a kiss on her cheek.

Grissom came to stand in the doorway, watching the scene unfold before him, and coughed slightly to gain their attention.

“ Oh sorry,” Sara said quietly and moved away from his door “ sorry I didn’t realize I was in your way.”

His eyes roamed her face in wonder. Here she was showing him a side of herself that she had never allowed anyone to see and still she thought he was angry “ You wasn’t,” he told her, his voice softening as he was met with curious dark eyes, the little girl in Sara’s arms finding him fascinating.

“ Uh, this is my god daughter Grace,” she smiled down at the little girl and looked over towards the woman beside her “ and this is my sister in law Julie, Grace’s mom.”

“ God daughter?” he asked with a smile “ I had no idea.”

“ Well she’s also my niece, but Gracie here prefers to call me mommy number two,” she laughed “ Even though I can’t imagine why she would want to have me as her mother.”

“ Honey you are a natural,” Julie smiled “ stop putting yourself down.” Julie diverted her attention towards Grissom who was finding it increasingly hard to divert his eyes from Sara, who was completely unaware of his attention.

“ Do you work with Sara?”

“ Yes I do,” he smiled, sticking out a hand “ Gil Grissom.”

Julie’s eyes lit up as she heard his name then shot a look towards Sara who gave her a glare that dared her not to say a word  “ It’s good to finally meet you,” she smiled sweetly, taking his offered hand “ Sara talks about you all the time.”

“ I talk about everyone,” Sara hissed quickly, glaring towards Julie with a look of vengeance in her eyes.

“ Sure you do honey,” Julie grinned wickedly, her eyes darting back towards Grissom again. He’d seemed to go a deeper shade of red as she spoke, his actions purely clear to her that the feelings Sara had for this man were returned to her equally, even though she denied the fact entirely.

“ Hey have you eaten yet honey?” Julie asked Sara with a smile

“ No,” she sighed “ haven’t had time yet, and to be honest, the last case has ruined my appetite anyway.” Closing her eyes briefly against the nausea rising inside her stomach, she opened them again to focus on the little girl in her arms “ How about you baby? You think you could eat some ice cream?”

“ Yep,” she smiled, nodding her head vigorously.

“ Ok,” she smiled “ how about you and your mom go and meet me in the car park? I’ll be there in a minute ok?”

“ Ok,” she giggled as Sara placed her feet on the floor, waving to her happily as she walked away.

Grissom found his eyes focused on her. This was something in Sara he hadn’t been fortunate enough to witness before and it seemed to open up a whole new side to her that he had never expected to see, and he found all the protective blockades he had erected around his heart begin to melt slowly away, part of him still keeping up the struggle only to be defeated into submission by this woman by his side. She had always held his heart to ransom, something he would never readily admit to her. He couldn’t ever admit to her how much power she held over him with just a smile, not now anyway, not while she was in a relationship with Hank.

Pushing the feelings of regret away, he looked towards her, suddenly realizing she was watching him carefully. He felt his heart lurch inside his chest as she stepped closer and he found himself trying desperately to control his breathing.

“ I’m sorry about my sister in law,” she sighed “ she has these romantic notions for me sometimes, I’m sorry if she embarrassed you.”

“ No need to apologies Sara,” he told her as he fought the urge to touch her “, uh do you have a minute?”

“ Yeah I have one,” she smiled sadly as she met his eyes, the sudden awakening in them scaring her.

Grissom motioned for her to follow him into his office, and waited beside his desk while she closed the door behind her.

“ I’m sorry for my behavior earlier Sara,” he told her “ I had no right to speak to you the way I did.”

“ It’s ok,” she said, forcing a smile to her lips “ I left my phone and pager in the car, it was my fault I didn’t get your message.”

“ It’s not ok,” he sighed heavily “ I have no right to question where you are on your day off, my actions were unforgivable.”

“ I thought so too at the time,” she told him, her voice softening towards him as she spoke “ but, as my sister once told me life is too short to hold grudges and arguments.”

“ I didn’t know you had a sister,” he gasped, realizing he didn’t really know her as much as he always thought he did.

“ Well she’s gone now,” she told him, her voice shaking slightly “ she died twelve years ago.”

“ Oh Sara I’m sorry.”

“ Not your fault Griss,” she smiled “ you didn’t give her cancer.” Averting her eyes, she swallowed against the lump rising in her throat “ That’s where I was when you called. She loved the vineyard, so we meet there on the anniversary to be closer to her, it’s not a huge thing, but it gives me time to be with her if only for a little while.”

“ Sara,” he said softly reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder softly “ I had no idea, I’m so sorry.”

“ Hey it’s ok,” she sniffed forcing a smile to her face “ I don’t need some stupid family ritual to let her know how much I still miss her. She’s still with me, I just can’t see her that’s all.”

“ If I’d have known I wouldn’t have called you in,” he told her “ take tomorrow off ok, spend time with your family.”

Shaking her head, she smiled sadly before searching his eyes with her own “ Thanks, but it’s too late now, my parents went back home today, and my brother had to get back to work, there’s only my sister in law and my niece here, they’re both going home tomorrow.”

Grissom’s heart sank heavily in his chest as the realization that he had once again managed to hurt her completely without even knowing it his time. Closing his eyes, he sighed heavily as he sat down on the edge of his desk “ Sara, I’m so sorry, I know you must really dislike me right now, but..”

“ No I don’t,” she told him softly as she reached out a hand to touch his shoulder, causing his head to snap up and his eyes melt into hers. She graced him with her brightest smile as she squeezed his shoulder “ I could never dislike you Griss.”

Pulling her hand away she moved towards the door, turning her head back slightly to offer him one last smile “ I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“ Tomorrow,” he nodded as he fought the urge to follow her and pull her into his arms, anything to crush the pain and replace the loneliness with the love he so much wanted to give her.

Once again, he was alone in his self made prison, looking around his lonely office, her absence only making the room grow darker. Moving from the edge of his desk, he grabbed his coat and rushed out of the door to follow her, maybe it was time to take the next step.

Sara stepped out into the crisp evening air, the cool blast hitting her body, coaxing her to pull her jacket closer to her body to protect her from the onslaught.

She scanned the car park for her sister in law’s car and smiled when she saw Grace waving frantically to her from inside the car. Raising her hand, she waved back, blowing a kiss towards her little niece as she walked over towards them.

As the window rolled down, she leaned in to place a soft kiss on Grace’s head and ruffled her hair affectionately “ So you ready to come and eat all the ice cream I brought you?”

“ Yep,” she grinned, “ you always buy me my favourite.”

“ Well that’s because I love you sweetie,” she smiled, then directed her eyes over towards her sister in law “ You want to follow me?”

“ Might be a good idea,” Julie grinned, “ you know my sense of direction hon.”

“ Yeah, almost as bad as mine,” she laughed happily “ see you guys in a few.”

As she turned away from them to walk towards her Tahoe, her eyes spotted Grissom waiting for her. The waves of fluttering hit her suddenly, encasing her in a nervous spark that seemed to emanate through her entire body. This man never failed to cause her heart to leap inside her chest and turn her legs to jelly. He could command her attention from anywhere in the world, all he had to do was smile or speak and she was lost.

“ Griss?” she asked, keeping her voice steady as she neared him “ did you want me?”

Grissom watched her silently, unable to speak without betraying his torrid emotions. Her words encased his heart as she spoke, the simple question having more than one meaning and he found himself drifting away to heaven, her voice providing him with the lift he needed.

“ Grissom,” she asked again, stepping close enough to touch him “ are you ok?”

The second her hand came into contact with his skin his eyes fluttered closed in the sensations she caused throughout his body “ Sara,” he whispered, her name like velvet on his lips as he opened his eyes to gaze into hers.

Sara was transfixed for a moment, lost in his eyes as they sought out her very soul. His closeness was causing her body to shake and she had to physically hold herself back so not to step into his body and wrap her arms around him.

“ I wanted,” he started, but stopped to re think his words, his careful rehearsal of a few moments ago seeming all wrong now that she was so close to him.

“ It’s ok,” she smiled as she stepped a little closer to him, gliding her hand down his arm to clasp his hand in hers. The contact sent flames roaring from her heart into her eyes as she conveyed with one look alone, how much she valued this.

Grissom was floating, his whole insides melting under her soft gaze and he realized in that one single moment that she had been here for him all along and he had never chosen to acknowledge it before. Trailing his eyes away from hers, his gaze drifted to their clasped hands and he squeezed hers gently “ I wanted you to know how sorry I am,” he whispered finally “ for everything.”

“ Don’t be sorry Griss,” she told him as her voice caught in her throat. She knew that this had taken a lot for him to actually touch her so she wasn’t going to push him further, so before she could make a complete idiot of herself she stepped back, squeezing his hand reassuringly as she let it go.

“ You don’t have to apologize to me,” she smiled “ you have nothing to be sorry for.”

“ I, uh,” he started, trying to find his voice as he started to turn away. This was madness, why couldn’t he just tell her how he felt, but instead, he lost his nerve and said the first words that came into his head, “ you have a good night.”

“ You too,” she smiled through her disappointment, she had hoped that he wouldn’t give up so easily, she didn’t want to have to say goodbye to him now, not after she had been so close. Her heart ached with his loss and she suddenly couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him, so finding her courage she called his name, “ Griss?”

He turned back towards her when he heard her voice, a smile dancing on his lips “ Yeah?”

“ Would you, I mean, uh, would you like to come and have ice cream with us?” she asked, motioning her head back indicating her sister in law and niece. When he didn’t answer, she started to curse herself silently as she swallowed the humiliation back down inside her throat “ Of course you wouldn’t, sorry, just forget I said anything.” She turned her eyes away from his so he couldn’t see her embarrassment, but before she could step back he spoke, his voice breaking through her doubts and fears.

“ Yes I would,” he smiled “ thank you.”

Sara thought she hadn’t heard him right and blinked a few times before actually registering that he had agreed willingly, without any persuasion from her.

“ Great,” she grinned, her smile causing him to duplicate hers. “ Do you want to follow me and my sister in law? I know you don’t know where I live, but then when you’ve had enough you can leave when you want to.”

“ I know where you live,” he smiled, delighted with the shock he had caused in her eyes “ but I’ll follow you.”

“ Ok,” she nodded, a smile on her face as she spoke, “ I’ll drive extra slow so you can keep up with me.”

“ Just get in the car Sidle,” he laughed as he made his way towards his Tahoe.

Sara couldn’t believe this was happening, Gil Grissom was actually coming back to her apartment, willingly. She was sure that any moment she would wake up in her bed and realize this was all some wonderful dream and he wasn’t here at all. Trotting over towards her sister in law again she leant down to speak through the window “ Grissom’s coming too, you don’t mind do you?”

 Julie grinned as she leant across to squeeze Sara’s hand “ Honey just get him back to your place before he can change his mind.”

“ I think you might be right,” she beamed as she looked down at her niece and stroked Grace’s cheek “ how about you sweetie?”

“ Does he like ice cream?” Grace asked with a beaming smile.

“ I think he does, yeah,” Sara laughed.

“ OK,” Grace nodded enthusiastically.

Sara grinned happily as she moved away from the car to find her own, her heart dancing with happiness as she thought of the night ahead. Maybe this year’s anniversary wouldn’t be filled with sadness after all, she mused.

Starting the car, she waited until everyone was ready before she pulled slowly out of the car park to take the drive towards her apartment.

Sara pushed the door to her apartment open to allow her little niece to run into the room, followed closely by her sister in law. Turning her head, she offered Grissom a shy smile before moving out of the way for him to enter.

“ Are you sure you don’t mind me intruding?” he asked worriedly, lowering his voice.

“ You’re not intruding Griss,” she smiled “ why, don’t you want to be here?”

“ Of course I do, it’s just that I thought you’d want time with your family,” as he spoke, Grace came up to stand beside them and tugged on Grissom’s hand. Looking down, he felt his heart melt a little more as he was met with a beaming smile.

“ Do you like ice cream?” Grace asked as she started to pull him over towards Sara’s couch.

Despite the earlier discomfort, he found himself smiling down at her “ Yes I do.”

“ I do too,” she beamed “ but mommy only lets me have my favourite when I come to visit aunt Sara.”

“ Well, isn’t it better that way?” he asked with a smile, stopping to sit on the couch as she scrambled to sit next to him.

“ Yep, cos aunt Sara always buys me my favourite,” she grinned up at him, only to pout when her mother called her.

“ Go and see what your mother wants,” he smiled as he helped her down from the couch “ I’ll see if I can hurry your aunt up with that ice cream.”

“ Ok,” she nodded with a huge grin. Without turning back, she ran off to the bathroom to find her mother.

Sara moved around her small kitchen humming to herself totally unaware of the one-man audience who watched her captivated. Reaching up to the cupboard she pulled out three mugs, singing a few words as she moved.

Grissom found himself moving slowly towards her, the pull of her voice calling to him as he moved closer until he was almost in touching distance. Still he watched silently as she reached up to pull down the coffee jar from the top shelf, her fingers touching it slightly, only to push it back further into the cupboard.

She sensed his closeness before she saw him and turned slowly to come face to face with the man who had possessed her heart and dreams for as long as she could remember. She tried to find her voice, needing to say something to break the spell that had their eyes locked and gazing unbroken.

“ I’ll get that for you,” he told her quietly; as he reached up to retrieve the elusive coffee jar to hand it to her, grazing her fingers with his own.

The touch ignited something deep down inside Sara’s heart, bringing a warm flush to her whole body as she moved closer, his eyes calling to her.

“ I,” she began, losing the power of speech as he leaned over her to place the jar on the counter top, closing the small distance between them. She couldn’t move, his power over her dominating her senses as she felt his fingers trace the line of her jaw gently. Her eyes fluttered closed with the sensations he was enticing throughout her entire body and she felt herself tremble when he moved his other hand up to cup her face in his soft grasp.

“ Griss,” she whispered, opening her eyes to meet his again, their intense gaze drowning her in sweet surrender as she gravitated towards him slowly.

Grissom didn’t know what was happening to him. Never before in his life had he felt so reckless or wanted a woman as badly as he did Sara. She had taken his heart from him so long ago and held onto it with her own, keeping him in her possessive embrace. He needed her lips as much as he needed to breath. He was so close now, close enough to feel her warm breath on his lips, all he had to do was inch just a little closer and he could seal them together.

Their lips grazed gently, casting the tiny seeds of doubt away as they came together, touching briefly, leaving a promise of so much more. They found each other’s eyes, seeking their closeness as they once again gravitated together, needing this sweet release as their lips touched again.

The door to the bathroom banged open loudly, forcing them to jump apart as they tore their eyes and lips away with reluctant speed, moving as far away from each other as they could, both flushed and fighting to breath.

“ Hey honey bee,” Sara smiled, calming her trembling body, as she looked down towards her niece “you ready for that ice cream?”

“ Yep,” she nodded, looking from Sara to Grissom, confusion in her eyes as her mother came to stand beside her.

“ Honey I’m just gonna take Gracie down to the store for some chocolate syrup, we won’t be long,” Julie spoke softly, pulling on Grace’s arm. She had witnessed the kiss between them as she came out of the bathroom and tried to pull her daughter back, trying to distract her long enough to alert them to their presence.

“ Mommy,” Grace whined, “ why can’t I stay here?”

“ Because I want you to come with me,” Julie told her sternly “ now come on.”

Turning towards both Grissom and Sara she winked “ I’ll be back in ten minutes ok?”

Sara’s mouth gaped open as they left, shutting the door behind them, “ Oh god I’m sorry,” she gasped, directing her attention towards Grissom who seemed to be enjoying her discomfort.

“ Don’t be sorry,” he grinned as he looked down at his watch, “ she’s not very subtle, but ten minutes should be enough time.”

“ I um,” she stuttered, suddenly realizing he was ascending on her, backing her slowly into the cupboards.

He found her again, cupping her face gently in the palms of his hands as he looked directly into her eyes, seeking her acceptance of him and this situation.

Sara was lost in him, his scent intoxicating her soul as she moved her arms up over his chest. Her whole existence centered around this one moment as she closed the short distance between them to capture his lips, banishing everything but her from his mind.

They lost themselves in each other, drawing together in their own heavenly spell, which encased them in a passionate glow.

Grissom’s fingers traced the length of her back, up towards her shoulder blades and back down again, burying themselves inside the waistband of her jeans.

Sara groaned into his mouth as he tugged her closer, opening her mouth to him, deepening their kiss as her own fingers began an exploration of their own.

One of her hands journeyed up towards his hair, entangling her fingers into the curls, holding him to her while she took possession of his soul, sealing them together in a blinding intoxicating kiss. Her other hand began to mimic his as she delved her fingers into the rear of his pants, delighted with the shiver that emanated from deep inside his body.

Grissom pulled his mouth from hers, his breathing heavy with passion “ Sara,” he gasped “ god Sara.”

“ Shhh,” she whispered, moving her lips to his ear to place slow arousing kisses over his lobes, granting them her full attention before moving to the skin of his neck to trace her lips along the fine lines.

Grissom’s whole body was on high alert as she continued her sweet torture, driving his senses through the roof as he fought to control his breathing.

His body cried out for her to grant him the release he needed as he responded in every possible way. His hands left her jeans to travel up towards her shoulders, enticing soft moans of approval from deep inside her throat as her lips traced the line of his chin before coming back up to capture his mouth, plunging her tongue deep inside almost making his knees buckle from the sensations she was evoking inside his body.

He pushed her closer towards the cabinet, pinning her between him and the door, holding her prisoner as his lips left hers to begin their journey downwards over her chin and neck.

“ Griss,” she gasped, flexing her fingers over his shoulders only to clutch his shirt possessively a second later. She threw her head back, gasping for air as she gave him better access to her throat, her soft groans only encouraging him to move lower, taking courage from her sighs. One of his hands left her back to reach beneath the edge of her shirt to touch the skin on her stomach.

Sara shivered with the contact, her whole body clutching him to her, keeping him close, unwilling to let him go for just one second.

Grissom’s fingers began tracing soft circles over her stomach while he continued to caress her skin with his lips, granting her every ounce of love he possessed, pouring it into her as he moved his fingers further up her stomach until he came into contact with the edge of her bra. In a heartbeat, all time seemed to stop as his mouth left her lips so he could bring his eyes up into contact with hers. He watched her as he cupped her breast, waiting for any sign that she didn’t want this, didn’t want him, but as her eyes fluttered closed and she pushed further into his hands, he knew he could never turn back now.

Leaning forward, he touched her lips softly with his own, rousing her passionate eyes into awareness as he slowly lowered his fingers from her breast to slide down her skin.

“ As much as I want this,” he breathed, lowering his forehead so it was against hers.

“ I know,” she spoke, her voice shuddering through the passion that enveloped her entire body “ ten minutes will never be long enough.”

“ No where near,” he smiled, bringing his fingers from beneath her shirt to trace up her body until he was holding her close to him again, bringing her into a tight embrace as he kissed her neck.

“ Is this real?” she asked into his shoulder “ Am I gonna wake up any second and you’ll be gone?” Lifting her head again, she gazed into his eyes, searching his blue depths for reassurance.

“ This is as real as it gets,” he smiled, kissing her lips soundly before pulling her back against him, unwilling even now to let her go.

Sara pulled him closer to her, relishing the feel of his arms around her body as he wrapped her in his protective warmth. She moved her lips against his chest to place a tiny kiss on the exposed skin before pulling away from him to hold onto his hands. The smile that passed between them conveyed all the feelings that had lain unsaid for so long, bringing them to the surface unwilling to let things go back to the way they had been before this night of revelation.

The loud knock on the door caused them both to burst out into a huge grin as Grissom drew her closer for one more kiss before releasing her to walk towards the door.

Pulling it open, he was greeted by Grace who held up a large box of ice cream wafers “ Look what I found,” she beamed “ do you like the chocolate ones?”

Grissom smiled over towards Julie, who nodded her approval to him as he stooped down towards her, picking her up in his arms to carry her over towards Sara who was pulling the lids off two large ice cream tubs “ I love them,” he grinned.

“ Hey sweetie,” Sara beamed, her heart melting at the sight before her. Here was Gil Grissom, emotionless and never showing himself to anyone holding her niece, and she suddenly found herself thinking what a wonderful father he would make. Shaking herself out of her trance, she smiled towards her niece again, “ Did you behave for your mom?”

“ I did,” she nodded, turning her attention to Grissom as she clutched his shoulder “ is aunt Sara your girlfriend?”

“ Grace,” Julie groaned sternly, casting an apologetic look towards her sister in law, while Sara almost choked on the blob of ice cream she had sneaked into her mouth.

Grissom looked over towards Sara, the look of sheer embarrassment on her face priceless, and he found himself grinning        “ You know Grace that’s a very good question.”

Sara opened her mouth to speak but closed it again when she saw his amusement. So leaning over the counter, she reached over to grab a handful of his shirt to pull him closer across the counter “ Well Griss?” she smiled seductively “ am I your girlfriend?”

Grissom lost all power of speech as she ran her fingers over his shirt before drawing away, watching him expectantly, as a smile formed over her soft features.

“ I guess you are,” he said softly as their eyes met again, the smoldering flames behind his words causing her own embers to stir once again.

Sara gave Grissom a heart-stopping smile as he turned away from her to walk over towards her couch, sitting down as he placed Grace on the seat beside him.

“ I like you,” she beamed, watching as he tore his eyes away from Sara to give her his full attention.

“ I like you too,” he grinned as he reached out to place a hand on her head softly “, your aunt tells me you’re going home tomorrow.”

“ Yep, daddy had to go to work, so mommy said we could stay here for a little while,” her eyes left his face as she saw Sara approaching with a huge bowl of ice cream.

“ Ok honey bee,” she smiled as she placed the bowl on the table “ here you go.”

Without a backwards glance, Grace scrambled down from the couch to sit in one of the chairs before tucking into her ice cream.

Sara giggled as she came over towards Grissom, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder, the sweet contact causing her heart to race once more as she sat down beside him, “ Don’t feel bad Griss. She stood her father up for ice cream too.”

“ Yeah,” Julie laughed as she sat down into the chair opposite her daughter “ I’m afraid when it comes to ice cream Gracie has no other loyalties.”

“ Hmm,” he smiled, leaning closer to Sara as he nuzzled her ear softly “ I hope that doesn’t mean you’ll stand me up for ice cream too.”

Sara’s eyes closed against the raw desire rushing throughout her body as she tried to form a sentence anywhere near coherent  “ No,” she breathed, turning to capture his eyes with her own, pouring every ounce of love she possessed into her gaze           “ Standing you up would never be an option.”

Grissom lost his heart to her once more as she spoke, all the love and desire he had been holding for her all these years finally being permitted to run free, taking him willingly to her heart, wanting no one else but her.

Lifting his fingers, he traced the line of her jaw lovingly, wanting nothing more than to kiss her, but after their previous encounter of a short time ago, he knew he would never be able to stop himself from taking her over the edge with him falling closely behind.

Sara needed a distraction, anything to keep her mind away from his body and the sweet release he promised her with his skillful fingers “ You ready for coffee?”

“ If you are,” he smiled, reaching out a hand to squeeze her thigh.

“ Yep,” she gasped, jumping to her feet so quickly she caused her niece to look at her questioningly. “ Coffee,” she nodded, trying to convince herself that was what she needed.

From her seat at the table, Julie smiled brightly as she saw the flustered look on her sister in laws face, and at the present time she couldn’t have been more happier about the fact that she had at last found the love she so desperately craved from the man who hadn’t taken his eyes off of her since her hasty retreat to the kitchen.

Standing up, Grissom walked slowly over towards the kitchen to where Sara was distracting her raging desires by trying to take her mind off of Gil Grissom and the effect he was having over her entire body. How could it be that he only had to stand a few feet away and she reacted to him so strongly? Her body had always been on high alert from the very first day she had met him, and then as the years went by his effect over her had been almost heart stoppingly painful, her whole body crying out for his touch, anything to sooth the ache that built up inside her.

As she moved to the kettle, she felt his presence, her whole body trembling with anticipation of his approach. Clicking on the kettle, she felt him move up close behind her and brush his fingers over the back of her neck to move her hair away. Sara held her breath, waiting for the inevitable sweetness that she knew she would soon be granted.

The second his lips touched her skin, her eyes closed, reveling in the erotic sensations he had managed to create throughout her entire body.

“ Griss,” she whispered softly as her hand traveled up to his head, threading fingers through his hair as she moved her neck to give him better access for this beautiful torture he was inflicting on her.

Grissom was losing himself as every second ticked by. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her as they stood together, their kisses becoming intoxicating and addictive and if he didn’t pull away from her now then things would soon sky rocket out of control.

Reluctantly, he pulled away slightly, his arms wrapping themselves around her from behind to rest on her stomach “ You need some help?” he whispered into her ear, kissing her arm as she disentangled her fingers from his hair.

“ I need you,” she whispered back hoarsely as her insides melted under his closeness.

“ You have me,” he smiled softly, kissing her cheek before pulling away entirely so he could turn her around to face him, holding her eyes in his protective gaze.

The smile that graced her face almost caused his whole body to melt into a puddle at her feet; such was her power over him. Wordlessly, he reached for her hand to bring it to his lips to place a soft kiss oh her skin.

“ Aunt Sara,” a voice spoke from the table causing them both to turn around.

“ Yes sweetie?” she grinned, granting Grissom one last smile before she moved away from him.

Grace climbed down from the table and met her half way, coming into her arms for a hug “ Can you show me some photo’s of aunt Annie?”

The mention of her sisters name caused Sara’s heart to flutter in painful memories, but she pushed them away as she smiled down at the child in her arms “ Of course I can, but why don’t we go and get you washed up first?”

“ I’ll do that honey,” Julie said softly as she walked over towards them to draw Sara into a warm hug. She knew how hard it was for Sara to handle her emotions when it came to the anniversary. She had always tried so desperately to be strong and not show her tears, but as the anniversaries came and went, every year became harder and harder to cope with.

“ Will you be ok to do this?” she asked quietly as Grace skipped off towards the bathroom.

“ I need to,” she smiled “ today is her day Julie, she would want us to remember her.”

Julie nodded sadly and gave Sara’s arm a final squeeze before she followed her daughter towards the bathroom door.

When they had gone, Grissom came over towards her as she stood alone in the middle of the room “ Hey?” he asked as he touched her shoulder gently “ you ok?”

She found his hand with her own, skimming her fingers delicately over his as she turned to wrap her arms around him, burying herself in his chest. His arms encircled around her, tightening his hold on her body, wrapping her in his protective embrace.

“ Sometimes I forget her face,” she whispered into his chest “ and then I spend the whole day looking at photo’s of her just to make sure I never forget again.”

“ It’s ok,” he soothed into her hair “ you don’t have to do this by yourself anymore.”

Drawing away slightly, she looked up so she could see his eyes, the love emanating from his blue depths causing her to fall in love with him all over again, and she found herself wanting to tell him the words, wanting nothing more than for him to understand just how deep her feelings ran for him, but she was afraid he might turn away and distance himself from her again, so she silenced the words bubbling on her lips, instead choosing to lean back into his chest, soaking up the warmth he offered her.

The moment passed as Grace came out into the living room just in time to see her aunt move slowly away from Grissom to walk over to one of her book cases to pull out a large photo album.

Sara opened it slowly, her eyes scanning the glossy pages, as her mind flooded with childhood memories. The sorrow hit her full force and she tried to swallow back the tears that threatened to fall. Reaching down, she ran her fingers delicately over her sisters picture, touching the only link she had left that closed the distance between them, if only for a brief moment.

Turning slowly, she placed the album lovingly on her table and helped Grace into the chair beside her.

Julie looked over towards Grissom and smiled reassuringly, nodding her encouragement for him to go to Sara and help her through what would be a painful memory.

She watched as he moved towards them, her heart aching for Sara who had become so much like a sister to her over all these years. She could remember with perfect clarity the day her husband had taken her home to meet his parents. Sara had been on her way out when she arrived, but the two of them hit it off instantly, becoming first best friends and then slowly becoming closer until the day she married Sara’s brother making their bond official.

Moving towards the kitchen, she smiled at the memories that swirled inside her mind. Sara had been with her and her husband at Grace’s birth, for the whole 32 hours of labour. She knew she could never replace the sister she had lost, but she could help ease the heavy burden of sorrow that this day always brought around.

Looking up from the steaming mugs of coffee as she approached the trio at the table, she was suddenly struck at how right Sara and Grissom were for each other. The scene before her caused her heart to melt inside her chest. Grissom had sat down next to Sara and now had Grace on his lap as the looked at the photo’s, every one in a while his hand came up to rub Sara’s shoulder and they would share a look that seemed to crackle electricity throughout the room, as they had silent conversations, speaking without words.

Placing the three mugs on the table, she sat down opposite Sara and smiled “ How you doing honey?”

Sara looked up into her eyes, showing her the liquid emotion that she was desperately trying to keep restrained. Leaning across the table, Julie reached over to squeeze her hand in reassurance, offering her as much support as she needed to take.

A beeping suddenly made it’s way through the room, casting an invasion into the solitary silence.

“ That’s work,” Grissom sighed as he lifted Grace from his lap to place her onto his chair to go in search of his jacket. Sara’s eyes lifted from the photo’s to follow him across the room, silently pleading with him to stay.

Pulling out his phone he dialed in Brass’s number “ Grissom,” he said, his voice bearing the annoyance at this intrusion.

“ What? Well can’t you pull someone from days? Ok, ok, I’ll head over.”

Closing his phone, he pushed it back into his pocket and turned towards Sara, who had started to walk towards him.

“ I have to go,” he sighed as he reached out to pull her into his arms.

“ I heard,” she whispered sadly, closing the tiny space between them to press up against his body, needing his warmth to heal her aching heart.

“ I’ll deal with this and head back over ok?” he told her, pulling back slightly so he could cup her face in his hands as he gazed down at her.

“ Don’t take too long,” she smiled sadly, as she moved her head to the side so she could kiss the palm of his hand softly.

Her kiss sent shivers coursing throughout his body and he found himself battling with his heart. Work duty called him but he longed to be here, with her and it took every ounce of self-control to convince him that he had to leave. Pulling away he smiled over towards Grace and Julie “ It was nice meeting you both.”

Standing up, Julie came over towards them holding out a hand to shake his “ You too Gil, I hope we see more of you.”

“ I’m sure you will,” he smiled and looked down at little Grace who had come to stand beside him. Bending down to her level he stroked her hair gently before he whispered “ Look after your aunt for me ok?”

“ Ok,” she whispered back in a conspiracied whisper before she wrapped her arms around his neck for a quick hug before releasing him to go and stand next to her mother.

“ Maybe you and Sara can come visit us soon,” Julie offered, “ Joe would love to meet you.”

“ Joe?” he asked until realization dawned “ Your husband?”

“ And my brother,” Sara smiled.

“ Yes we’ll have to do that,” he nodded as his eyes drifted back towards Sara again.

Taking that as her cue to leave, Julie pulled on Grace’s arm and guided her back towards the table “ Let’s go and look at some more photo’s.”

“ Ok,” Grace grinned, skipping off towards the table.

“ I have to go,” Grissom said again, his voice dropping so only she could hear him. He reluctantly tore his eyes from hers as he moved towards the door only turning to catch her lips with his own before opening the door.

“ I’ll see you later,” she breathed, her hands clasped around his as she forced herself to relinquish her hold on him.

“ I’ll be back soon,” he promised as he stepped out of the door, planting a final kiss on her lips before he turned to walk away.

She watched him until he was out of sight before closing the door to turn back towards her family, the ache in her heart intensifying, as her whole apartment seemed empty without him.

“ Is this you aunt Sara?” Grace called out, breaking the spell that had her bound to the same spot where Grissom's essence still held her. Shaking herself out of her reverie, she granted her niece a smile as she walked over to sit down beside her, losing herself in the memories once more.

A few hours later Sara busied herself with clearing the ice cream bowls and candy wrappers from the table, a sure sign of her niece’s presence.

Grace had always managed to steal her heart every time she saw her, her total love restoring Sara’s faith in the human heart and it’s capacity for love.

As she placed the bowls into the sink her mind cast back to just a few hours ago to the tearful goodbye that she had shared with her niece and sister in law.

She wished they could have stayed for longer but with her weird work schedule that was always out of the question, so she had promised faithfully to the pair of them, hand on heart, that she would visit them soon, for as long as she could.

She was so deep in thought, she didn’t hear the bathroom door open or a towel clad Grissom emerge to come and stand behind her.

 “ What you thinking?” he asked huskily as he stepped closer to warp his arms around her waist, delving his fingers into the waistband of her jeans.

Sara leaned back into his body, breathing in the scent that was uniquely his. She cupped his hands with her own briefly before leaving the softness to trail her fingers behind her to come into glorious contact with his bear sides. She opened her hands, her palms gliding down further to feel the towel over his damp skin. His closeness sent her desire into overdrive and she felt herself drowning in his closeness, her whole body sinking into submission as she turned around in his arms to face him   “ You,” she smiled, raising her hands up over his chest to entwine her fingers around his neck.

“ Ah,” he grinned, his voice starting to catch in his throat as he dipped closer to her lips.

She met his lips hungrily, pulling him closer to her body so she could deepen their kiss. Grissom opened his mouth to her, entwining her tongue with his as he sank deeper and deeper into her heavenly prison, her hold over him a willing acceptance that he would never be free. When she started to pull away he whimpered with her loss, almost opening his eyes to question her withdrawal until he felt her lips meet his skin, sending passionate fire coursing through his veins.

She couldn’t seem to get enough of him, her lips needing his skin as she began to kiss a blazing trail of passion along his jaw before grazing the side of his throat. Words burst into her heart, words she needed to tell him but when she turned her head upwards to look into his heavenly face, she couldn’t stop them tumbling from her mouth, “ I missed you.”

Her words opened his heart, the floodgate widening to allow all the love he needed to share with her break free as he focused into her eyes. He struggled to find the right words, but nothing came out, so instead he pulled her closer to him, holding her in his protective embrace as he rained kisses into her hair.

“ I wanted to stay,” he whispered, encouraged by her fingers raking over his back in an almost erotic gesture. She moved against him, pushing her body into his as she lowered her head slightly to attack his bear chest.

Grissom’s eyes closed as she continued to place open-mouthed kisses all over his sensitive flesh, her ministrations causing his whole body to shake with passionate acceptance.

She continued to kiss him, leaving no part of his skin untouched by her love as her fingers trailed down towards the towel keeping his dignity intact.

“ I,” he gasped when she found his ear, once again pulling his ear lobe into her mouth, sucking gently on the sensitized flesh. The sensations she was causing inside his body almost took him through a thousand levels of arousal as passion poured through his entire body.

“ Sara,” he gasped when her hands found the very essence of him, pushing the towel away so she could wrap her possessive hands around his flesh. His breath caught in his throat as she continued to move in a loving rhythm, taking him to places that had remained unvisited for so long. His whole body was on fire, needing to touch her as his fingers flexed over the material that kept a barrier between their bodies. Needing to feel his hands on her skin, Sara’s hand left him briefly to grab the edges of her shirt to pull it off over her head, a sinful smile dancing over her lips as she unclasped her bra, her eyes never leaving his while she discarded the offending material, throwing it to one side before she came to him, skin on skin, clamping her mouth to his in a kiss so powerful his knees almost buckled beneath him.

His own passion amazed him. He’d never wanted to make love with a woman as much as he did Sara; his entire body was tingling with anticipation, needing release from the painful build up of sexual tension that had kept him sustained for the many years he had known her.

Without leaving her lips, his arms scooped her effortlessly into his arms as he carried her towards her bedroom, her moans of pleasure only increasing the speed in which he moved.

Kneeling down onto the mattress, he laid her down, his mouth still joined to hers, both unwilling to release the other from this powerful show of intense desire.

Slowly, he pulled his lips from hers, smiling at her soft whimper as she tried desperately to pull him back to her again.

“ Shh,” he whispered, leaning closer to her lips again, his fingers brushing her flushed face before he started the slow worship of carnal kisses down over her body.

Sara’s head sank back into the pillows as she surrendered to his touch, letting him take over her whole body, submerged in pure pleasure.

His lips trailed over her skin, meeting her breasts as he began the soft caressing of her flesh with his tongue causing her to cry out in incoherent ramblings, urging him on.

With skillful fingers, he popped the buttons of her jeans to push them down her legs, taking her underwear with them until she was completely naked beside him.

His eyes met hers briefly, both of them facing the fear of rejection only to cast it aside as she moved against him, causing his whole body to explode within, bursting his passion into liquid fire as he found her mouth again, pouring every ounce of love into their kiss.

Gasps and moans urged them closer as he moved above her body that called out to his, willing him on to fulfill this heavenly torture, bringing them both over the realms of pure passion as he sank into her.

She opened to him, drawing him deeper into her body, moving with him in her bid for release. Her hands traveled over his body, urging him on with her soft moans of approval as she scraped her nails enticingly over his back, the sensations causing him to lose his mind and his body as he thrust into her, bringing them both over the edge of passion, falling deeper and deeper into the heavenly abyss, both of them willingly drowning into the succumbing passion that left them spent and craving more.

Grissom rested on top of her slick body, his breathing coming in soft gasps as he tried to regain some of his strength

Leaning up on his elbows, he smiled down into her face, meeting her haze filled eyes with his own. Closing the short distance between their lips, he kissed her softly, needing to tell her so much but not knowing the right words to say, but as she deepened their kiss once more, he felt his embers stirring again, amazed at the effect this woman had over his body and his soul.

She moved beneath him again, breaking their kiss while catching him by surprise as she flipped him over onto his back so she could straddle him effortlessly. She found her gaze drifting down to his again, their eyes melting into each other.

She knew she loved him more than she had ever loved anyone before in her life and now they had shared themselves with each other she wasn’t afraid to say the words anymore.

Her hands claimed his face as she lowered her head down towards him, close enough to feel his warm breath on her face “ I love you Griss,” she whispered, the words spilling from her mouth with such ease she found herself repeating them while she met his lips.

Moving against her, he rolled them over so he was once again above her, lowering his lips to hers in a long lingering kiss, taking every care to make sure she knew just how much he meant to her. When he pulled away, he stroked her face with his fingers, meeting her eyes with his own “ I love you too,” he whispered before kissing her again, taking her body with his once more, sealing the love between them in a powerful bond that had remained intact for over ten years.

When they flew to heaven once again, they sank back down, clinging to each other with an outpouring of pure love that left them both breathless and in no doubt of their need for each other. When his breathing had returned to something resembling near normal, he moved onto his side, taking her with him as he spooned them together, reaching around them to hold her close to him, as they both drifted off into an exhausted slumber.

Some time later, Sara opened her eyes suddenly, the ringing of her phone in the living room rousing her from sleep. Leaning her head up, she looked over towards her clock, the red numbers indicating it was still early afternoon.

Her body ached. The unused muscles inside her body screaming out their protests as she pushed the discomfort away to turn to look at the man asleep beside her.

A wave of love passed over her body with the sight of his sleeping face. The last few hours had merged into a wonderful erotically charged haze, which ended with them at last sealing the silent attraction that had kept drawing them towards each other for an eternity. The telephone’s intrusion was cast aside; it’s ringing pushed to the back of her mind. There would be time for the real world soon enough, she wanted to keep their time for just a little while longer.

Grissom stirred beside her, his arm involuntarily pulling her closer as his eyes started to open slowly, a warm smile creeping to his face when she turned in his arms to face him.

“ Hey,” she greeted, closing the small distance between them to place a kiss on his lips before pulling away slightly.

“ What’s that?” he asked with a yawn as he rolled over onto his back pulling her down with him. Sara was tempted to stay exactly where she was, reveling in his touch, his fingers dancing over her naked back.

“ Phone,” she groaned as she moved her head on his chest to look up into his face. In that moment she realized just how much she loved him, and this was a side of him she had never seen before. His unwillingness to release her from his arms only made him so much more attractive, and she found her gaze drifting over the lines of his handsome features. His eyes were closed, and he looked totally relaxed.

“ Tell them to go away,” he said softly, cracking his eyes open to smile down at her, “ better still I’ll tell them to go away.”

As he spoke he leaned down to kiss her head before laying her back down on the bed. Sitting up, his body protested with the heavenly torture that had been inflicted on it. Every muscle ached as he sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. Looking around, he turned his head back to her curiously, “ Where did I leave my pants?”

Sara’s mouth twitched in amusement, her barely contained laughter slipping from her mouth into a chuckle, which she tried to hide behind her hand. He regarded her with mock frustration, his first instinct to lean backwards and pin her beneath him, but for now, he took another approach.

“ And what is so funny?”

“ I’m sorry,” she grinned, sitting up to stroke his naked back with the tips of her fingers “ it’s just that I never imagined I’d ever hear that comment from you.”

When he didn’t move, she pulled herself closer to him, using his shoulders as leverage as she knelt up behind him to encircle her arms around his shoulders. “ Oh come on,” she grinned, kissing his neck softly as she spoke “ you have to admit that was pretty funny.”

His chest began to rumble softly, her laughter becoming contagious and he found himself laughing along with her. His hands clasped hers on his chest, holding her close to him before he turned to draw her into a hug. His lips found hers again, needing her closeness as he pushed them both back down into the pillows. When his lips left hers, he gazed down at her, his fingers stroking her face lovingly “ Why did we wait so long?” he whispered.

“ We’re together now, that’s all that matters,” she told him huskily as she lifted her head up to kiss his lips again, drawing him back down into her again.

The ringing from the phone died away, forgotten into the background as they poured their newfound love into each other once more, taking time to savour every touch.

They lost themselves in each other once more, wrapped in their own heavenly world that cast all others aside, uniting them in a cocoon consisting of love and respect, the two things that bound them together so tightly, linking them over a thousand life times, their souls always seeking out the other until they came together once again.

Sara laid her head on his chest, her fingers threading through the hairs on his chest as she listened to his heart beating. She closed her eyes slowly, relishing the feel of his hands taking possession over her skin, the gentle stokes of his fingers sinking her deeper and deeper into contentment.

“ We have to get ready for work soon,” he sighed, his words seeping through the loving haze that they had created around themselves.

“ I know,” she groaned miserably, wrapping her arms around his body, as she tried to bury herself into his chest “ I don’t want to lose this.”

Grissom opened his eyes as her words sank into his soul. Looking down at her, he moved a hand to her chin, lifting her face so he could see her eyes from where she lay on his chest. “ We won’t ever lose this,” he promised “ you believe me don’t you?”

Moving her hand to his, she wrapped her fingers around his own to place a soft kiss in the palm of his hand before pulling herself up towards his lips “ Do you have any idea how much I love you?” she whispered, her lips a breath away from his.

“ I know,” his voice shook as he spoke, the emotions in his heart rising up into his eyes “ I only know because you mean the world to me Sara, you are everything.”

“ Not everything,” she smiled as she kissed his lips soundly only to pull away again “ this,” she waved her hand over them        “ this, what we have is everything, and I would go through a thousand years again and again if it meant we could have what we have now.”

Grissom’s strong arms engulfed her body, drawing her close to him in a tight embrace, “ I don’t know how I’m gonna stop the others from seeing the way I look at you Sara,” he breathed, his fingers drawing patterns on her back “ I can pretend I don’t miss you, I can carry out an act that could earn me outstanding actor awards, but I can’t pretend I don’t love you. I can’t hide what I feel for you when I look at you or say your name.”

“ You don’t have to hide the way you feel,” she smiled “ I know you love me, I think I knew all along, but knowing now that you really do have all these feelings, well,” she kissed his chest “ I’ve never hidden my feelings from you Griss, although I was beginning to think you were blind.”

“ No,” he sighed sadly as he wrapped her against him again “ just in denial.”

“ Not anymore though,” she told him, the spark of passion in her eyes as she moved her hand over the side of his body while looking up into his eyes before finding him beneath her.

Grissom was powerless to her possession over his body and he found himself responding, allowing her to take control of his senses once again as he lost himself in her.

An hour later when they finally emerged from the bedroom, Sara made some coffee while Grissom went for a shower. She put the radio on in her small kitchen, humming along with the song that was playing loudly throughout the room.

The telephone rang again; it’s shrill breaking through the singer’s voice, demanding to be answered. With a sigh she turned down the music and lifted the phone from it’s cradle “ Sidle,” she said huskily, her annoyance of being disturbed melting away with the voice on the end of the line.

“ Gracie,” she beamed “ sweetie I thought you and mommy would be on the plane home by now.”

“ We’re going soon but I miss you,” she sniffed.

“ Oh baby,” Sara sighed, her voice shaking as she tried to control the emotion rising into her voice “ I miss you too, so much.”

Behind her, Grissom came out from the shower, fully dressed. He watched her curiously, wondering who could be on the phone until he saw tears in her eyes. Stepping closer, he touched her shoulder, mouthing his concern until she smiled up at him reassuringly “ Gracie, Grissom’s here would you like to say hello.”

“ He’s there?” she gasped happily “ I like him aunt Sara, are you gonna marry him?”

“ I don’t know yet baby, we’ll have to see ok,” she found herself smiling as she handed him the phone, leaning her head against his shoulder as he took the phone from him.

“ Hey sweetheart,” he said softly “ how are you doing?”

“ I’m ok,” she told him “ daddy’s meeting me and mommy at the airport, but I wanted to stay with you and aunt Sara.”

Grissom’s heart melted with her words, how could it be that a small child could read his feelings when it took him almost half of his life to realize?

“ I know,” he soothed “ but didn’t we promise to come and visit you soon?”

“ But that will be ages,” she whined sadly, and he could practically see her pouting from where he stood.

“ No it won’t I promise ok, we’ll see about taking some time off and plan a visit,” he smiled with her gasp at the other end “ ok?”

“ Yeah,” she almost yelled, squealing as she jumped up and down.

“ Ok sweetheart, I’ll give you back to your aunt now while I make her some breakfast.”

“ Breakfast?” she giggled, “ it’s not morning time silly.”

“ I know,” he smiled, his eyes lingering over towards Sara as she reached over to kiss his lips before he handed her the phone.

“ Hey sweetie,” she smiled “ it’s me again.”

“ Mommy wants me to give her the phone,” she moaned “ but will you call me later? You and uncle Gil?”

“ Of course we will sweetie, as soon as we get a chance ok?”

“ Ok,” she smiled “ I love you.”

Sara’s eyes closed against the sudden rush of emotion surrounding her body “ I love you too baby.”

“ Hey honey it’s me,” Julie’s voice came into her ear “ how did it go last night?”

“ Oh Jules,” she beamed “ everything was so amazing.”

“ We girlfriend are gonna have a long talk and I want details,” Julie laughed, her voice dropping a notch before she spoke again “ I really like him honey, he’s good for you.”

Sara smiled at Grissom as he handed her a steaming cup of coffee then placed a soft kiss on her head.

“ Honey? You still there?” Julie’s voice broke through the dreamy desire that had found its way into Sara’s emotions once again “ Oh sorry Jules,” she grinned “ I was um..”

“ Oh god he’s there isn’t he?”

“ Yeah,” she grinned.

“ Oh and when I called before and you didn’t answer you phone, you and he were, um, you know?”

“ Yes,” Sara laughed, “ we were.”

“ Oh girl I’m so happy for you,” she gasped happily, “ oh we’ve gotta go, they’ve just called our flight. Call me later?”

“ You know I will,” Sara smiled “ love you.”

“ Love you too hon, bye.”

Sara smiled to herself as she replaced the phone onto the receiver. It had been a wonderful few days and the painful anniversary of her sister’s death had seemed to be reborn into a day of happiness.

“ Hey,” Grissom smiled as he came to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist “ you ok?”

Leaning her body into his, she folded her arms over his, keeping him close to her body as she took the love he offered her “ I think I’m gonna keep one of Annie’s photo’s out,” she smiled “ it’s time I stopped hiding her away.”

“ That’s a great idea,” he smiled, hugging her tighter as he kissed her temple.

“ Wanna help me pick a photo? We’ve still got some time until we have to go to work.”

“ I’d love to,” he whispered into her hair as he slowly unwrapped his arms from around her to take her hand as he led her over to the couch where she’d left her album.

Sara came to sit beside him, drawing in his strength as she flicked through the pages until she came to a stop at one photo from the hospital.

“ You know, I think she looks so beautiful in this photo,” her voice wavered slightly as she spoke, trailing her fingers over the photo delicately “ she was so sick, but she never complained, not once.”

“ If that’s your favourite, then I think you should use that one,” Grissom told her softly, his voice reaching through her despair, pulling her back to him again.

“ I like this one,” she nodded “ I’ll buy her a nice frame, maybe a blue one, she loved blue.”

“ Well how about you pick two photo’s,” he suggested, catching her eyes when she looked at him curiously “ you’ll need one at my house too, when you stay with me.”

Sara’s eyes filled with tears as he spoke. He never ceased to amaze her. He didn’t have any photos in his house but he was willing to break that, for her.

“ I love you,” she whispered, reaching a hand to the underside of his jaw so she could pull him down to her lips for a brief kiss. When their lips parted, he pulled her back with him into the cushions on her couch, holding her tightly to him before he reluctantly released his hold on her “ I hate to break this to you honey,” he smiled “ but we have to be at work in 2 hours and you need a shower.”

“ Well ok,” she sighed, closing the treasured album to place it on the couch beside her “ I’ll grab a shower on one condition.”

“ Oh?” he asked curiously, recognizing the fire in her eyes.

Sara stood up beside him and held out her hand, wordlessly conveying her plans for their final hours before reality set in once again.

Taking her hand, Grissom let her lead him, willingly following to wherever she planned to take them. As she led him towards the bathroom, any thoughts of protesting died on his lips when she entwined her fingers around his and gave him the most heart stopping smile he had ever seen. Life was great, he mused as he followed her silently. She had brought him to life, breathed love into his heart and from now on they would be together, no longer hiding behind a wall of denial.

This time, this place, was theirs……