Balancing Act

Disclaimer: I do not own the television show CSI or any of the characters therein. I do, however, own the random original characters who will make cameo appearances in this work. So there:-p

Synopsis: Greg discovers love where he least expects it. Then he's forced to make a deadly choice in order to save the woman he loves. Either way, someone dies.

Pairing: SANDLE…for those of you what ask what the heck that is…it is Sara/Greg. SANDLE is a combo of their last names… Sanders + Sidle Sandle. Get it? Hehe.

C-S-I--C-S-I--


"Flow like the Cassius, swing like the Clay

One day, I'm'a make the whole world pay

With k.o.'s and okay we bash clots-n-dot-dash

You got that right, I'm'a rock the Morse code tonight.

Transmit 'n throwin' fits 'n paparazzi like zits

Get flipped out and squeezed fresh like juicy sun kissed

And if I miss with my missiles you're still gonna sizzle

'Cause I frizzle fry radiation style worldwide.

You got your pipeline clogged man get that puppy routed

You got the style down and since you don't know about it

Who's the loser (I am) because we come in numb love

And choicer and did I mention looser (no you didn't)

Then I do sir, producer, hit me with the juice.

Much obliged got the head of a moose

So mount me on the wall of your livin' room

Sure to bring the boom

Speakin' like a zoom deep into your tomb.

And if you feel the vibe glide true it's on you

And if you need to drive right through it's on you

And if your screamin' "moi non plus" it's like

What you tryin' to do when you can't fade the true one.

Eruption type volcanics I got the vocal spurtmatic

Suction cup hands upside the slammin' daily planet…"

Greg stopped his vocal accompaniment to the stereo as abruptly as the music did.

"Sara Sidle!" The outrage in Greg's voice was belied by the tiny squeak that accompanied it. He cleared his throat, hoping she hadn't caught it. But of course, she had.

"Greg Sanders!" Sara squeaked back at him mockingly.

Greg put on a pout. "Stop making fun of me. And turn my CD back on."

"What? Making fun? Me?" She raised her eyebrows and made an attempt at an innocent face. "I was just coming to drop of some swabs for Mia to test." She set some evidence envelopes down beside him. "Where is she? And what are you doing back in the lab?"

"FYI, Mia is sick. She came down with a virus. Or was it the flu? Anyway, I thought I'd go ahead and process some samples for Griss. That new temp DNA tech…no idea what he's doing."

Sara nodded. "So, do you miss it, Greg? This lab, being a tech, working in here. I mean, it's like you're in your element here."

Greg cocked his head sideways, thinking for a moment. Then he shook his head, smiling. "Nah. I don't really miss it."

"Why?"

"Well, working in the field has been more of a challenge for me. I get to learn about things I'd have never even imagined working in here. Sometimes I feel like I'm making a difference…actually helping people. And, getting to work with you has been…it's been…" He looked down, almost bashfully. He wasn't really that good at sentimentality. "It's been nice."

Sara smiled to herself. He's so damn cute when he does that.

He cleared his throat. "Hey, will you put my CD back on?" he asked, changing the subject.

"No! What in the world are you listening to, anyway? The lyrics are…they don't even make sense!"

Greg rolled his eyes. "Well, in response to the first part of your question, I'm listening to a mix CD. The artist of this particular song is TobyMac. And second, the fact that the lyrics don't make sense is exactly the point. The lyrics aren't supposed to make sense. The song is meant to be a random assemblage of words. That's the writer's artistic way of expressing that life in general sometimes seems to not make sense." He looked over at her. As he talked, she was making a talking motion with her hand and mouthing "blah blah blah" behind his back. She saw him turn to look at her and abruptly stopped her mocking. But it was too late. He'd already seen it.

He playfully lunged at her, but she was quicker. Darting over to the stereo, she managed to extract the CD from it before he reached her. Holding it at arm's length above her head, she taunted him with it. Grinning broadly, he advanced on her. He grabbed her around the waist with one arm, and with the other, he reached upward for the CD.

As his arm made contact with her waist, Sara suddenly started laughing uncontrollably. Greg raised his eyebrows in delight. "Ticklish, are we, Miss Sidle?"

Laughing, she gasped out, "I'm…not…ticklish!"

He watched her laughing face fondly for a moment, scant inches from his own. She's so beautiful when she laughs. Then he renewed his efforts. Sara, gasping for breath, managed to choke out, "Sexual…harassment!"

He stopped, but didn't let go of her. Her laughter slowly died, and she smiled up at him. He tightened his grip around her waist and gently pulled her against him. "If that was sexual harassment…what would you call this?" he asked softly as he leaned his head down and lowered his lips to hers. He felt her lips quiver against his for a moment, and then warmly respond to his. She deepened the kiss, moaning slightly and wrapping her arms around his neck, letting the CD fall to the floor, forgotten. It rolled across the floor and finally spun to a stop, settling in front of the lab door as it swung inward. Greg and Sara were totally oblivious to Grissom's presence until he cleared his throat.

"Ahem."

The two broke apart quickly, almost guiltily. Sara looked down with a hand on her lips, embarrassed to be caught making out by her boss.

"Can I…uh…can I help you, Grissom?" Greg asked, face slightly red.

"Yes. I came to check on my samples, but you're obviously working on something else." Grissom said with a hint of sarcasm.

"No, I finished them. I was uh…just getting ready to start on some swabs for Sara." Greg handed Grissom the printouts.

"Thank you, Greg. Sara, don't you have something you should be working on? The case, maybe?" If Greg didn't know better, he would have sworn that he heard a hint of jealousy in Grissom's voice.

Sara looked up at Grissom, a determined glint in her eye. "Actually, Grissom, I'm going to wait here for my results while Greg processes the samples. I've got the case covered. Thanks."

"You know, you two, this is not the place for a romantic tryst. If it had been Ecklie to catch the two of you, you'd probably be given your walking papers. Do…whatever…on your own time." Grissom's tone was uncharacteristically sharp.

As Grissom left, Sara turned to Greg, smacking him lightly on the chest with the back of her hand. "What were you thinking? In the middle of the lab, no less."

"I…I'm sorry…I just…I mean…" He was stuttering badly, clearly at a loss for words.

She smiled at him. Adorable. "Shut up, Sanders. I didn't say I didn't like it." She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Dinner later?"

He grinned. "You bet."

C-S-I--C-S-I--

Sara set down the water glass. She absentmindedly traced designs on the frosty glass, chasing a drop of condensation as it winded its way down to the tablecloth. The remainder of their meal lay cold on their plates, for the most part untouched in favor of conversation. 24-hour diner food was not what one might consider quality cuisine.

"Well-"

"You know-"

They both laughed. Sara gestured at him, indicating that he should go on.

"I like you, Sara…a lot. And I think it could be more."

Sara nodded in agreement. He continued.

"I just…I know you used to have this thing for Grissom. And…let me finish," he said, holding his hand up as she started to protest, "I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. All I want to know is, are you willing to give us a fair chance without bringing expectations into this relationship based on your previous ones? I don't want you to expect me to ignore your feelings like Grissom, or undervalue you, like Hank. I want you to give me a chance to surprise you with unexpected gifts just because, to listen to you when you have something to say, to comfort you when you're sad, and to make you feel like the most special woman in the world all of the time. Will you give me that chance?"

"Oh, Greg." Sara leaned forward, putting her hand on his cheek. "You are the best friend I've ever had. I can't imagine anyone I'd rather have as the most important person in my life. Whatever this is between us," she said, gesturing at herself and Greg, "I want to give it chance."

The huge grin on his face rivaled the glow of a 75 watt bulb. He gripped her hand and leaned forward. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you better, Miss Sidle…much better."

"You know what, let's get out of here. Take a walk or something." Sara suggested. Greg nodded in agreement.

They'd been walking down the city street for maybe half an hour, his arm around her shoulders and hers resting comfortably around his waist. The sounds of the city in the middle of the night were muffled and soothing, and the streets were deserted.

Greg stopped suddenly, his shoe anchored to the ground. "Damn it!" He pulled hard, and his shoe was finally released with a snap. "Some drool-faced kid spit their gum on the sidewalk," he laughed, hopping on one foot.

Sara laughed at his goofy antics, and slowly meandered on. He stopped, pulling out his wallet and taking out a credit card to scrape the sticky residue off of the sole of his shoe.

"Sara, wait for me!" he half-yelled after her as she began to cross the street.

She turned around in the empty street to face him, walking slowly backwards. "Come on, you slowpoke," she teased.

Greg watched her fondly for a moment, then started after her.

All of a sudden the squealing of brakes cut through the air like a knife. Sara looked away from Greg into the headlights of the black sedan that had just sped around the corner and was now headed towards her. Her muscles froze, and she was unable to move.

Terror and adrenaline rushed through Greg's veins, and he began to run toward her, realizing with dread in his heart that his valiant effort to save her was going to be too late. At the last possible second he leapt off of the sidewalk toward her, but the car reached her first. It struck her, propelling her several feet out and to the side. Greg landed on the hood of the car. His head struck the windshield, cracking it, as the force rolled him over the roof of the car. He instantly lost consciousness, and fell limply off the back as the sedan sped away into the night.


TBC

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Sorry it started out so fluffy but I needed to establish a budding relationship between Sara and Greg. Now leave me lots of reviews!