Title: Too Late

Author: Winn

Spoilers: None ATM

Disclaimer: Under no circumstances do I own CSI or any of it's characters.

Note: I'm sorry for starting another fic before finishing the last one, but the next chapter of Unfair is on it's way. Promise.

Part I - Goodbye Gil Grissom

It was the begining of shift and Sara found herself standing in the doorway of Grissom's office staring at the sheer amount of paperwork on the overflowing desk. How did he keep track of it all? Not envying his job she got straight to the point.

"Grissom, can we talk?" She asked.

"I'm uh, really busy here Sara, Can it wait?......."

It was so typical, every time she tried to straighten things out between them he avoided her with the skill of a man who had been doing it for nearly 2 years. When you loved somebody wheren't you supposed to want to spend time with them?

"It's important Griss, how about breakfast after shift?" Her voice made it clear that he had no choice in the matter.

Giving in, Grissom reluctantly nodded his head in agreement.

"Fine. Great." She muttered before turning and heading towards the locker room to change.

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

It was a dead night. Well that is to say no one was dying. Sara spent the majority of shift working on a cold case and after going over it twice the reason it was cold was quite obvious. There was no physical evidence whatsoever to link the crime to the murderer. Glancing at the clock she sighed. Two more hours and she would be having breakfast with Grissom. This was his last chance she thought to herself as she bent over the evidence again.

Not that she expected much from him, but she had to try just one more time before giving up for good. Hope was a dangerous thing; the absence of it hurt. But so does having it shredded to tiny bits time and time again, she reminded herself.

Why was she still going over this evidence.

"Your not going to find anything new this way Sara" she mumbled and was startled when she got an answer.

"Why don't you take a break, then you can come back and look at it with fresh eyes. Though if it's the case I think it is your not finding anything cause there's nothing there."

Turning she smiled at Nick who as always looked like a cowboy. How does he do that? I've seen hundreds of guys in jeans and a t-shirt but when he puts them on......

"Well that depends is there coffee?" She asked aloud.

From his vantage point in the doorway Nick studied Sara. There was definitly something wrong and it had nothing to do with the amount of weight she'd lost. Vowing to wheedle it out of her he responded in the affirmitive.

"Yep sure is, Greg just made a fresh pot and I'll even share my doughnuts with you." Greg always made the best coffee and even though he wasn't hungry he was going to make sure she ate something.

"I'm not really hun..."

Nick interupted her midsentance. "And don't tell me your not hungry. Your so skinny you can't be eating more then one meal a day and that's not good for you."

Unable to refute his statement she had no choice but to agree.

"Ok, whatever." She said as she began quickly and carefully packing away the evidence that had been spread across the table.

When she was done she walked over and threaded her arm through Nick's. "Ok handsome--lets go" she said jokingly.

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They where alone in the breakroom--apparently the others had found something to occupy them. Munching on a doughnut, Sara poured copius amounts of suger into her coffee.

"How can you drink it like that?" asked Nick with a disgusted look on his face. Nick drank his coffee black.

"I like it this way," she replied with a smirk before dropping down next to him on the couch. It wasn't beautiful but at least it was comfortable she thought, letting out a sigh and sinking even deeper into the cushions.

"Sara...." Nick began.

"Yes?"

"Why wont you tell me what's wrong?" He asked, his tone somewhere between hurt and sorrow. They where best friends and always told each other everything; he knew all about the situation with Grissom. What could be worse and why was she keeping it from him?

"I was going to wait til tommorow to tell you but I geuss it doesn' make a difference." She paused to take a deep breath and continued. "I'm leaving."

"WHAT?" Nick sprang up from the couch and stared at her.

"Just what I said, I'm leaving. I've talked it over with Brass and he's already lined up a replacement." Her voice was calm and steady.

"Your leaving for good?" He said his voice breaking slightly.

"For good, you of all people should know how bad it's gotten Nicky."

"Yeah, but I never thought it would go this far." He sighed and sat down on the edge of the coffee table facing her.

Sara was surprised she had expected him to put up more of a fight, not that she was disapointed it was just so out of character for the normally flamboyant Texan.

"Aren't you even going to try and convince me to stay?" She asked catiously.

"Would it do me any good? Besides all I want is for you to be happy and I would have to be blind not to see that you aren't happy here anymore. I'll miss you." Nick sincerely meant everything he was saying but there was still a part of him that wanted to yell and scream and tell her that she couldn't leave them. Surpressing that urge he continued.

"Have you told Grissom?"

"Not yet. we're having breakfast after shift. I just.... Nick I gave up on hope a long time ago but, I can't leave without giving him one more chance, giving us one last chance." She wiped at her eyes--in spite of her efforts to control her emotions she couldn't stop the tears from spilling over.

"I'll miss you too." Reaching out she pulled him to her in a tight hug.

"Where are you going? Do you have another job to go to? You'll keep in touch?" Nick asked in rapid succesion.

I don't have another job, I think I might go back to school for my PHD. But first I'm going to take a couple of months for myself, to try and distance myself from Vegas and from... other things. I can't tell you where I'm going. I know you wouldn't mean to but if I told you it would be all over this place within the week and I can't risk anyone coming after me. If I'm going to do this..."

"Your going to need time," he finished for her. "I understand, but you'll get in touch when you can?"

"It might be a month or even two, but you'll be the first person I call. I promise."

Sara stared into his eyes and was saddened by the sorrow she saw there.

"I need to ask you a big favor Nick." She said reaching out and taking his hand in hers.

"Sure anything Sar, you know that."

"Don't tell anyone until after I'm gone. You know how bad I am with goodbye's."

"They'll be mad you know."

Smiling in thanks, she responded "I know. They'll get over it."

Behind them the door opened and Grissom walked into the breakroom.

"They'll get over what?" he asked taking in the scene before him. Sara was cozyed up to Nick on the couch. They where holding hands. Why did it bother him? He wasn't quite sure, but somehow it still did.

Standing huriedly Sara brushed his question off. "Nothing."

Scowling at Nick who was still sitting on the coffee table he glanced at his watch, "Don't you two have work to do? There's still over an hour left of shift."

Glaring hostilely at the man some considered a genius Nick responded angrily. "We where on break, since when is that against the law?"

Realising that he had been wrong Grissom backed down. "You're right Nick. You have the right to take your breaks, whenever and with whomever you choose. Sorry." Turning, he exited the room. Forgeting about the coffee that had originaly drawn him there.

Turning to Nick, Sara put her arms around his neck and held on tightly.

"You understand why I can't let this go on," she stated.

"Yeah, I do. Don't wait to long to get in touch ok?" he asked putting his arms around her and squeezing.

She couldn't breath, but that was ok. It felt so good to be held and comforted by a friend. By someone who didn't want anything from her but her own happiness.

"Only as long as it takes Nicky, only as long as it takes."

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

Sitting across the table from Sara, Grissom fidgeted with his coffee--wishing for once that he drank it with suger so that he would have something to do with his hands. They were nearly alone in the diner, which was not uncommon for the hour. After all, who wanted to be awake this time of the morning unless they had to be? Hell he didn't even want to be awake. If it wasn't for Sara he would be home, alone, asleep in his bed. Instead he was here having breakfast in the cheap restaurant around the corner from the CSI office.

Sara opened her mouth to start speaking but closed it when she saw the waitress aproaching. She could have come straight out of the movies--tall, short skirt, big hair and gum. Blowing a bubble the waitress pulled a notepad out of her apron.

"What can I get y'all?" She asked with a fake drawl.

"Oh just the coffee for me," Sara responded, wrapping her hands around the warmth of the cup.

"Your not going to eat?" Grissom asked disaprovingly. Like Nick, he too thought she was overly thin.

"Oh I ate already, don't worry about me, go ahead and order." The truth was that she might have been hungry again had there not been a passel of frogs jumping around in her stomach.

Without glancing at the menu Grissom placed his order with the impatient waitress.

"I'll have scrambled eggs and toast."

"Anything else?" There was a loud crack as another bubble burst.

"No thank you," he replied.

Waiting a few seconds for the waitress to leave the table Grissom studied his companion.

"So Sara, what is it you need?"

"I just need to know.... I need to know if there's any chance for us."

"Us?" he asked incredulously, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

"Yes, US. You know you and me?"

Sighing, Grissom braced himself. Why in the hell couldn't she just leave this alone? Why couldn't she just leave things the way they were. When she had first come to Vegas everything had been great. They could flirt and tease but it wasn't anything serious. Then she had started pushing for more. More attention? that he just couldn't give her. He was too old, too set in his ways; eventually she would get tired of him and leave. That was life. The Lurie case had brought it home to him.

"Sara... " he began only to be interupted.

Watching his face, she saw all she needed to know. He loved her, but he wasn't going to admit it. Especially not to her. She had wanted confirmation, and it was written all over his beautiful face.

"Nevermind, I'm just being stupid again. There is no Us. I know that."

Staring into his deep blue eyes for the last time she leaned across the table and gave him a sweet lingering kiss.

While he was staring at her in shock she quickly gathered up her coat and purse. Brushing her hand over his cheek, Sara tried her best to memorize his face.

"Goodbye Gil Grissom." This said softly, before she turned and walked away.

She was already out the door and in her car by the time he recovered from his shock. She kissed me, he thought his mind going a mile a minute trying to process the unexpected sensation. It had sent a shock straight through him, it was a wonder he could think at all. All in all it had been one of the sweetest experiences of his life, but the way she said goodbye gave him an eerie feeling. It had sounded so...final. Shaking it off, Grissom looked up at the waitress as she placed his breakfast in front of him and removed Sara's cup from the table.

"Thanks," he said picking up his fork. He put the first bite in his mouth, but suddenly he wasn't hungry anymore..

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