"I don't think she wants to talk to you."
Nick Stokes stands his ground to the older gentleman who had just entered CSI reception.
"I don't imagine she does but I thought I would try."
Nick folds his arms and stares at his former mentor and boss, his expression softens.
"Stay here."
The tired man sits down in a chair and crosses his legs. He scratches at his beard and gazes around. Nothing has changed physically with his former "digs" but so much has changed emotionally. He shifts his weight in his chair and waits…and waits…..and waits.
He glances at his watch and heaves a heavy sigh. Then he stands and starts to walk toward the elevators and out of her life forever.
"Gil."
She stands before him in the hallway, the very same one she had kissed him only a few years ago. His breath catches in his throat and he swallows hard.
"Sarah."
"What do you want?"
"To give you this," he mutters as he steps toward her, unfurling a manila envelope from under his jacket. "I'm sorry it took me so long to do it….but here."
Resigning to a life alone he hands her the envelope and starts to walk away again.
She tears the package open and lets the contents fall to the floor. Her divorce papers, signed and dated in his neat scroll. Suddenly her eyes well up with tears as she hears the elevator chime and the doors open. She looks up and sees him step in.
"Grissom! Wait."
Either he doesn't hear her or he ignores her as the doors shut behind him.
She slams her hand on the button, willing the other elevator to come faster, but to no avail. She shoves the fire exit door open and runs down the stairs taking them 2 at a time.
She exits the stairwell just as the front door gently clinks shut and she can see him crossing the parking lot. She breaks into a run, heart pumping, fear welling inside her.
"Gil, please wait!" She screams and for a second he stops. She seizes the opportunity and runs to him, instinctively throwing her hand on his shoulder. He turns around, every emotion crossing his face and she thinks for the slightest moment that his eyes are a tinge redder than normal. He blinks.
"I-I"
She can't think of anything, just willing him to stop, not thinking about what would happen once he did.
He shifts his stance and jingles the keys in his hands, unlocking the car door.
"I'm giving you what you wanted," he croaks.
"I never wanted this Grissom. You have to know that. We just grew so far apart…"
"It wasn't fair of me to tear you away from your friends, to uproot you and have you tour Europe with me only to spend night after night in a hotel room, watching pay per view when I had conferences. I was wrong to do that to you and I see that now. Please know, I –"
Sarah edges closer to him and grabs his torso wrapping him in an awkward hug. She buries her face in his chest and says, "We were both to blame."
He holds her at arm's length, staring at her, realizing a small crowd has started to emerge from the building.
"I don't know what you told them," he nods his head toward Nick, Greg and Hodges who had come to see what was going on, "but I wouldn't blame you if you told them it was all me."
She glances over her shoulder and waves to the men, signaling she is alright but none of them move, Nick holding the forgotten envelope.
She turns back to him, tears welling in her eyes.
"I-"
He smirks and pulls her close to him again.
"I know, sweetheart. Me too. Sometimes it's just not enough."
He gently kisses her cheek and slides his frame into his car. She doesn't move as he backs his rental out of the spot, her eyes following his tail lights. She hangs her head, and walks toward her family, the only family she has left.
Finis.