A continuation of And She Saw the Snow part I and II. This will continue on indefinably. Follows canon closely. Will eventually aim for Sara's departure in Season 8. Then the title will become clear.

Chapter 1

Grissom had asked Sara out for breakfast after work. It had been an emotional day, Holly Gribbs had died, Warrick was almost fired but not, Gribbs' killer was caught and charged, and Grissom had found out that his position as supervisor would be permanent.

He needed someone he could talk to. He also needed someone to stay and take Holly's place. He needed Sara.

"Hey, Sara. You want to grab a bite?" Grissom asked as the rest of the team got into their cars that morning.

"Sure. Where? I don't know anything about the city. I barely know my way back to my hotel."

"Just follow my car."

They arrived at a local diner a few blocks from the lab and took opposite sides of the booth. "Sara, I'm really impressed with the work you did here. Thank you for coming."

"Thank you. I really needed something to get me out of San Fransisco right now."

"Can I ask how you are doing?"

"I'm alright. I mean, I'll be fine. I have to be if I'm going back there, you know?"

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that," Grissom said, raising his eyebrows. "I have some pull over there. I'm sure that with my recommendation, you'll be up for joining the CSIs over there."

"You'd recommend me?"

"Absolutely. Think about it?"

"Yes."

"Good. Just let me know what you decide."

"No. I mean, I accept."

They got breakfast and were preparing for Sara's departure. She left in two days. They took the opportunity to spend time together. They went to a movie, dinner, and Sara asked him to her hotel room.

"Griss, I am only here for a day and a half more, it's been a hard, long day. Come on in and have a drink." Sara opened her door for him.

"I'm not sure this is a great idea..."

"We've been dating for what... two years?"

Grissom choked at this. "What do you--"

"When you told your mom that we were dating. That was two years ago or so." Grissom chuckled at this. "And now you don't think that coming in for a drink is a good idea? Grissom, are you a prude?"

At this Grissom smiled and walked in. He took a seat on the hotel room sofa while Sara continued talking, "I mean, we've even spent the night together, granted, it was on top of a frozen mountain when the sky was falling, but it was night..." She got out two glasses. "What's your pleasure?"

"Whiskey, please, on the rocks." He smiled at her as she poured his drink and hers and made her way to the chair near the couch.

"So how is your mother doing?"

"She's fine. Still teasing me, but she's alright." Grissom remembered the last letter he had gotten from her.

If that Sara girl ever comes back, you'd be stupid not to do something. I know I raised a smart boy.

With his mother's words hot on his brain, Grissom thought about them. "She said that I was dumb. Not in the lack of speaking kind of way."

"Why's that?"

"Something about not doing something she thought that I should," Grissom's eyebrows raised as he looked at his drink, swirling in his hand.

"And that was..." She knew that he was being illusive without being deceitful.

"Basically, if I had another chance at something and I didn't go for it, that I was stupid."

"Ah. Mothers can be demanding in their opinions of what they want their children to do."

"Yes," he said as he took another sip of his drink.

"So can I still come in to the lab tomorrow? To absorb some more?"

"That would be great. I could show you some of my bugs. You haven't met Rosie, yet."

Sara drained her drink and motioned to Grissom to see if he wanted a refill as well. He inclined his head and handed her the glass. She poured more drink and said, "So you really are just bugs, roller coasters, and chess?"

"Mostly, yes. Do you find that boring?"

"No. I just think there's more there." She handed him the drink and took a seat next to him. Her face was very close to his. She whispered in his ear as she sat down, "More to you."

Grissom's resolve was slipping. He went through the list, quickly, of reasons why he shouldn't. He was much older than her. He... he...That was the only reason. She obviously didn't care and she was leaving in two days.

Maybe he should take his mother's advice. He turned his head and met her eyes. Centimeters separated them and he closed the gap, finally kissing her for the second time.

His lips burned with her heat. He suddenly remembered how the last kiss had felt--where the last kiss would have went if they hadn't been interrupted.

He kissed her more deeply and she reciprocated. Her hands flew to the back of his head, his to her waist and back. Soon, he trailed kissed down her neck and she sighed. She arched her back toward him, pressing her breasts to his chest. He continued toward them, pushing her shirt up, revealing her lacy bra. Her nipples, pert with arousal, stuck through the widely spaced fabric. Teeth found flesh as he tasted her, through the lace. He could feel himself become completely aroused, repositioning himself so he half covered her, pusher her against the back of the couch.

She responded by vigorously kissing his neck and shoulder, gently biting as she went along. She was now pulling at the back of his shirt, revealing his bare back, the tops of his pants with boxers ringing the edge.

Skin against skin.

They pressed themselves against one another. Grissom returned to Sara's mouth and passionately kisser her again. Her mouth watered with desire. She could feel him pressing against her, hardening with each passing second. She pushed him off her and he began to frown until she unbuttoned his pants. They slid to the floor and she quickly stood up and walked to the bed. He followed and grabbed her from behind, one hand around her waist, unbuttoning her pants, the other across her chest, grabbing her neck. She turned her face to kiss him as he breathed into her ear, "I've waited so long..."

Her pants soon fell slack against her skin and slithered off of her. He roughly pushed her to the bed and turned her over in one fluid movement. He straddled her and unclasped her bra, moving his hands up and down her body. Her hands flew to his chest, stopping briefly over one nipple—then the other—pinching them and making them stand erect.

Her hair splayed out on the bed and he rubbed himself against her, grinding through two layers of fabric—the last two obstacles. He hooked both his thumbs in the waist of his boxers and slid them down, revealing himself to Sara. He continued to gyrate his hips. He stopped for a moment and slid off of her, peeling her panties off as well. He didn't take a moment to look at her. He didn't think about anything. Lust had taken over.

He climbed back over her and put his knee between her legs, pushing them apart. She shivered and he threw a sheet around them. He was not slow or reverent or meticulous about this. He firmly pressed his lips against hers and they delved deep into each other. It was frenzied. Almost panicked. Like they both thought the other was going to disappear at any moment.

Hands flew, lips and teeth kissed and nearly tore into flesh. Sweat began to form on them both as their harried rhythm turned into longer, deeper strides.

A sharp intake of breath marked the heat the spread from Sara's toes, to her joints, up her back. She was soon staring without seeing—a loud moan escaped her. He still rode long and deep, closing his eyes as he felt his body contract. Neither breathed for a full minute while basking in the moment.

When they both finally inhaled, their eyes met and Grissom collapsed into her arms, rolling to her side. The connection not lost, they calmed their breathing. Reality set in as they both realized what had just happened. Grissom was first to talk.

"I can't believe you're leaving." Grissom knew that there was no way around it. She had to go back and he had to stay. He knew, though, that he had not lived like this in many, many years.

"I know. We always have e-mail, right?" Sara said quietly back to him.

"Right." They both lay in silence, feeling the connection slipping, and fell asleep under the sheet.

When evening came, they awoke at the same time. The hotel's curtains were very thick so the room was still rather dark, despite it being an hour before sunset. They looked at each other.

They were embarrassed. They were relieved. They needed coffee. Sara got up first, quickly slipping a long shirt over her head as she got out of bed. He watched her from where he lay, pondering the woman who moved before him.

She came back to bed with two cups of coffee from the room's machine, and she handed him his cup. She sipped hers so as to not feel obligated to talk.

"We've got to get going if we're going to the lab tonight." Grissom tried to break the silence with something that was comfortable. It worked.

"Right. I'll just shower and change. When does shift start?"

"Usually midnight, but I always get there early."

"Alright. When should I be there?"

"I'm going to go home and shower. I'll pick you up at about eight thirty." He got out of bed and slid his boxers up. She walked toward the bathroom.

"Sounds good. I'll see you then." Grissom was already dressed. He left out the door without another word and Sara nearly ran into the shower. This was typical morning after behavior and Sara figured that they would be fine again once they met up later.

And they were.

Sara walked down to his car when he arrived and they spent the evening and night talking about interesting files and the night's cases. She was a quick study, as he knew she would be, and got along with most of the crew rather well. She would have made a good fit here, he noted. All signs of the weirdness they both experienced that early evening were gone.

The next morning, the Sheriff was walking down the hall when Sara and Grissom were bantering back and forth about the possible outcome to the case that Catherine was working on. He listened on. She was good. She was excellent, in fact.

Maybe she would stay. Grissom left her alone in the break room and the Sheriff followed her in.

"Excuse me, I'm the Sheriff."

"I'm Sara Sidle. I was here as a favor for Grissom."

"You work as a CSI?"

"Sort of. I've worked in the coroner's office in San Fransisco. I've also taken a whole slew of forensics seminars."

"What are your future plans?"

"Well, I think I'm going to work for the CSI lab in San Fran. Grissom is recommending me for the job."

"Grissom is recommending you?" This was impressive. "What if I offered you a position here? Our crime lab is better and you could work directly under Grissom."

"I..uh..." Sara was completely taken aback. This could be what she had hoped for. Doing a job that she loved with a man that she, well, at least admired.

"Will you consider it?"

"I will. When can I let you know?"

"Tomorrow. We have to start interviewing again soon."

Sara stood dumbfounded as the man left the lounge area. Nick had heard the whole thing.

"Sounds like you have a job, you want to stay?" Nick was eager to find someone who would stay for at least a few months so he could take vacation.

"I don't know."

Later that morning, Grissom was dropping Sara off at the hotel. She still hadn't told him about the Sheriff's offer.

"Grissom. Would you like to come in? I need to talk to you about something."

"Sara, I would love to, but I have to sleep at home tonight." His eyebrows had raised and he half-smiled.

"This isn't about that. I need some advice." Her voice was business-like and serious. Grissom looked at her with concern and apprehension. Maybe she regretted it. Maybe she was upset with him. He turned the ignition off and followed her to her room. They were sitting on the couch when she started.

"How would you like it if I stayed in Vegas?"

"Sara. I don't know where this is going." He looked up at her, "That would be great and all... but what would you do?"

"I would work at the lab. You already said that you'd recommend me."

"For the San Fransisco lab."

"So I'm not good enough to work here?"

"That's not what I said. Look, Sara. I don't want you to uproot your life for something that is, well, casual." The last thing he needed right now was something serious. The only reason he had taken the chance was because she was leaving. He was looking for an affair, not an engagement.

Sara's eyes darted to his. He didn't want her to stay. "This isn't about you. This is about your boss offering me a job here. I'm thinking about taking it." She was beginning to get defensive.

"Oh." A long pause followed. "Sara, Las Vegas is a hard place to work. You will see things here that you never dreamed of. Bad things. Are you sure?"

"Yes. I--I want to do this."

"Our relationship would have to change. It would have to be professional. Supervisor and subordinate. Nothing more. Ever."

"I can do that." He eyed her, "No, really, I can."

"You'd have to spend the first couple of weeks with me to get your CSI skilled honed." He was trying to discourage her. While he loved having her around, he wasn't sure he wanted her right there.

"Fine. Sounds good." In truth, it sounded like agony. She was half mad over this guy and now she would spend all that time with him without any possibility of taking it further?

They sat in silence for a while, both mulling over the possibilities, some burgeoning and some being dashed. Grissom thought about the fact that she would be a constant temptation. Something that he knew he wanted and wouldn't be able to have.

Sara thought about the same thing.

After a few more minutes passed in silence Grissom finally said something. His tone had decidedly changed. "Alright. Well, as the new graveyard shift supervisor, I welcome you aboard, Ms. Sidle." Grissom extended his hand and Sara laughed lightly as she gripped it.

Her eyebrows raised and she laughed again when he asked, "When do you start?"