Sara's return

This is my story of Sara's return, in keeping with most actual events and reason's for her return and departure in the first place. It's sort of how I would see the few episodes of season 9 in which she does return. But because I'm not entirely sure about Warrick's case, I have cut out the major case bits. And because it's a story I have added some thought bits and memories that are highlighted, and that are also skip-able if you want to read it as if it were an actual episode playing out, or just can't be bothered with those bits.

Sara's return.

Catherine pulled up into the temp car park outside the airport, in one of the lab's black SUVs. She killed the engine and pulled out her cell phone. She checked the time at the top of the screen, which glowed in the dark night, before flicking through her phonebook and dialling Sara's number.

Sara grabbed her bag of the twisting belt, and pulled up the handle. She breathed in heavily as she pulled her bag past the huge glass windows showing the vast expanse of Las Vegas. The fake, bright, neon light blanking out the sparkling stars. One thing she already missed about San Francisco.

She loved the stars. The stars in Vegas made her sad. In San Francisco, at the beginning, they had reminded her of her relationship with Grissom. Sara would sit out at night and watch them, observing them, mostly still, but now and again a shooting star would fly past. She thought about how the same stars were showering above Grissom's head, but then, as her thoughts continued, she got upset.

He couldn't see them. If Grissom were to look up, standing in the middle of Vegas, he wouldn't be able to see the stars Sara had just wished on.

Sara's mind continued, making comparisons between them and the stars and them and their relationship. Sara could see it, she could see the love she had for him, but although he was so close to her everyday, he couldn't see her love.

Of course that had changed. She knew that, but after that realisation, her mind would continue. The shooting stars this time. How for the second they were there, the shooting stars where the most beautiful thing in the sky, sparkling and smiling, flying at speeds that if you blinked you'd miss it. As soon as you'd found it, it was gone. Just like her and Grissom.

They'd found each other in San Francisco at the start, a trial on impulse, but he was young, she was younger, he wasn't going to switch jobs for her, she wasn't going to stop studying for him, but while it was beautiful, it was gone within minutes.

The fling they tried after Sara first arrived in Vegas, a bit of fun, but couldn't continue, as Grissom feared both their jobs at risk, so while it was beautiful, it was also gone within minutes.

When they had finally started properly. Dated properly. Took it all one-step at a time, the way most people take a relationship. It was all perfect, they were happy together, and when they moved in together it was the best time of her live. Sara would have bet on it being his too. They did have to hide it from their colleagues, so in work, they rarely got anytime to even just look at each other with the love they both felt, and while those moments were beautiful, they were gone within minutes.

Then, then she had left him.

When that thought showed up, she'd grab up the blanket she used to keep warm, run inside and without getting changed, cry herself to sleep. For a while she cried herself to sleep in the single bed in the spare room. The double bed felt too big to her, too empty.

The electro music that echoed in her pocket and the heavy vibrating against her leg pulled her from memories she was sure she'd forgotten, and she pulled out her cell phone and answered.

'Hey, this is Sara.' She said, momentarily forgetting where she was, and looking around, wondered how she'd managed to get herself the whole way to the front of the airport while she filed through painful memories.

'Hey Sara. It's Cath, I'm in the car park, where are you?'

Hearing Catherine's name and hearing her voice reminded her. 'Just coming to the exit now, I'll see you in a bit.'

Catherine frowned at hearing the sudden realisation in Sara's voice. It told her she had been gone in her head for a while, but she forgot it and answered. 'Great, I've got a lab SUV, but I'll pull up out front for you.'

'Thanks.'

Catherine smiled at the sincerity in her voice and added with complete sincerity herself. 'Welcome back Sara.'

When Catherine saw Sara walk through the automatic doors of the airport and step into the darkness, her appearance made Catherine sigh. Her hair was pulled back, messy, showing the tiredness on her face, she wore dulled jeans and a regular tee, and when the cold night air hit her she untied the baggy sweatshirt from her waist and pulled it on. It was so different from the Sara, Catherine had been used to, had worked with, gone shopping with a few times. Granted Sara had just spent a good few hours on a plane, but Catherine was going to make sure she felt relaxed and comfortable tonight. Well as relaxed as she could be, Catherine thought, with knowledge that Gil Grissom was only a few miles.

When Catherine had called Sara about Warrick, Sara was distraught and insisted on coming straight away, no mention of Grissom, and Catherine insisted if that be the case, she should stay with her and Lindsey, at least until she decided how long she was going to stay and found somewhere. Before she left for the airport Sara had rung Catherine, just to finalise arrangements, and Cath felt compelled to bring Grissom up, just to make sure Sara would be okay.

'Sara, you know Gil's going to be around…'

Sara in haled, 'Yea, well sure he would be wouldn't he. For Warrick, and working and stuff. Yea I know.'

Catherine tried again, 'And you're going to be okay…with him, seeing him?'

Sara fought the tears. Catherine talking about Grissom. The realisation she'd been blocking out. He was going to be there, a few miles away. 'Yea, I'll be fine. Thanks Cath, see you when I get in.'

'I'll call once I get to the airport okay, keep your phone on.'

'Will do, see ya.'

'See ya.'

Catherine popped the trunk, and got out of the SUV.

'Sara!' She made her way towards Sara, who grabbed her bag again and walked towards the SUV; similar to the one she used to drive when working in Las Vegas.

'Hey Catherine. God, it's great to see you.' Sara released the bag to Catherine, who threw it in the trunk, and after closing turned to her a grabbed in her a hug.

'Missed you Sara, really.'

'Missed you too.'

They got into the SUV and drove off without another word.

'Lindsey! Lindsey, we're home hunny.'

Catherine locked the door behind her, and motioned for Sara to follow her down the hall. Sara, who had declined Catherine's offer of doing do, dragged her bag behind her, while she took in Catherine's house. She had only been here a few times, and Catherine had redone the open plan living room since she had been there for breakfast.

'God that was way over a year ago.'

'Hmmm?' Catherine turned her head, but continued down the hall.

'When we had the big group breakfast here.' Sara smiled, especially remembering Greg's face at some of the photo's Lindsey had revealed of her mother.

'Oh god yea, that was a fun time.'

Catherine opened the door to their left, to reveal her spare room. 'Here.' She moved into the room, and pulled open the curtains while Sara sat her bag on the bed.

'I think it was Greg's face at those photo's of you in college, I'll remember for the rest of my life.'

Catherine laughed, she felt like it was before. When sadness and anger hadn't been tearing at her heart. When she could laugh, with Sara. It took them a while to get there, and they had still had ups and downs but generally they were good. 'I don't know,' Catherine smiled weakly, 'I think Gil managing to scramble the sausages and brown the eggs was a good one. He had a good cook rep until that one.' Catherine laughed quietly and then stopped suddenly. Sara stared blankly at the window.

Catherine doubted the ability to cut the tension in the room with a knife. She figured a chainsaw might just about do the job. How could she have dropped her guard like that? With Sara, she had decided strictly no unnecessary Grissom. She coughed slightly and made her way to the door.'Why don't you sort your self out and I'll go find Lindsey, get some tea on. Suppose your hungry after that flight.' Without giving Sara a chance to reply, she had pulled the door over and disappeared down the hall. Sara hadn't planned on replying anyway, her head was away in the memories. The group were sitting in the living room, minus Grissom, who was in the kitchen, which smelt great. Greg had joked, as usual, and the group were in stitches. Then a burning smell came from the kitchen and Grissom's calm voice called out to them, 'Uh, Catherine.' Catherine had made her way into the kitchen, and after an outburst of laughter from the kitchen; the rest of the gang had made their way to see what was up. The pan and oven were both smoking and Grissom, poor Grissom, looked pretty sorry. Sara rubbed his shoulder. 'Ah, it's okay Grissom, we won't let anyone know.' She had whispered in his ear. He had turned to look at her; his face was so close, she almost…

Sara pulled herself out of the thought. She had been doing well in San Francisco. She had been filtering the thoughts, even been able to remember and laugh, without the pain. Maybe Vegas hadn't been a good idea. She had to remember why she was here. She was here for Warrick. For her college and friend. She pulled off her sweatshirt and tidied her hair, before checking the mirror and heading to the kitchen.

Lindsey was sitting at the counter.

'Hey Lindsey, good to see you again. How's school?'

Lindsey smiled. 'School's, well school.' Sara smiled.

'Yes, I was definitely a geek. What we having?' She nodded her head to Catherine at the hob. Catherine turned to talk to her.

'Veggie lasagne. Sorry it's probably very regular for you, but it was all we could think off once we remembered you were vegetarian.'

'You didn't need to cook, we could have stopped off at the diner…' Sara's voice trailed off as she realised. No one could go to the diner right now, knowing that Warrick wasn't going to turn up. Sara amended her statement. 'No that's great, I love lasagne. Thanks for remembering.'

I know this isn't much but there is more coming i promise!