Disclaimer: All rights to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and its characters belong to CBS/Alliance Atlantis/Jerry Bruckheimer Television/Anthony E. Zuiker. No copyright infringement is intended.

Spoilers: Through Bloodlines at present
Rating: Currently PG-13 but most likely will change as it progresses
Pairing: G/S
Summary: Inside the minds of Grissom and Sara during the Season 4 Finale End Scene - and beyond. Some revelations and perhaps some changes?

A/N: This is a WIP (Work in Progress). I am trying to update as often as 'Real Life' allows so please keep checking back in. I WILL finish this... I won't let it become an orphan, I promise.

XxxOOOxxX

Chapter 1

Even if Sara hadn't heard Grissom's voice as he approached the waiting room and thanked the officer, she would have known he was there. It was as though she had a sixth sense when it came to him. Whenever he was near she could feel it. It wasn't something she could describe with words; it was a sensation like no other. When Grissom was in proximity to her, she knew.

Grissom hesitated in the doorway for a moment, relief washing over him as he silently drank in the image of Sara before him. The phone call informing him that she had been involved in a DUI had caused his mouth to go dry and his heart to pound wildly in his chest, as images of her torn and bruised body slammed into him. Even though the officer had assured him she was fine, his investigative mind required tangible evidence before his heart could begin to beat normally again. And here she was. Physically she looked fine, but even from a distance Grissom could see that emotionally, Sara was far from it. He stepped forward tentatively, his left wrist flexed in his characteristic uneasy gesture.

Sara saw Grissom's approach in her periphery but she didn't turn to look at him. She didn't want to look at him, and even if she did, her body wouldn't have allowed it. She felt stiff all over... heavy... much like the feeling one gets when the mind wakes from a vivid dream before the body has had the chance to catch up and remains immobilized. No, she couldn't look at him right now. Her eyes couldn't gaze into his and see the disappointment that would surely be there. Her ears couldn't stand to hear the recrimination that would be in his voice, nor the lecture that was sure to come. She had heard enough of that in the past couple of years. She didn't need any more.

She felt him sit beside her, but she said nothing, keeping her gaze steadily on the wall before her as she heard the soft sigh that he let escape from his lips. She watched from the corner of her eye as his hands clasped together, mirroring her own. Then, as if in slow motion, she saw his hand begin to move. She stared in wonderment as it reached towards her own without hesitation and clasped hers tenderly. She felt his body heat seep through to her palm, his feather-light touch as his thumb caressed her hand sending a frisson of electricity throughout her body. She couldn't speak. She couldn't move. She just stared at the image before her of their two hands entwined. It was so odd, yet so right at the same time.

"Come on, I'll take you home."

His voice was like silk; smooth and soft. For a moment she wasn't sure she had even heard him speak - perhaps it was only in her mind. She dropped her head to her chest as she struggled to process it all.

Grissom gazed at Sara's solemn profile and then squeezed her hand ever so gently.

"C'mon," he demanded softly as he rose from the chair, drawing her up with him, never releasing his hold on her hand. He turned to face her but Sara kept her head down, eyes closed, at a loss for what to say or do. She felt so tired. Bone-weary. Numb. She didn't know whether she should feel elated at this tender side of Grissom or angry that it took a stupid lapse in judgment on her part to bring it about.

"Sara," he whispered as he placed a single finger under her chin, gently lifting her face up to his.

Finally Sara opened her eyes and met Grissom's impossibly blue ones, witnessing the kind of emotion in them she had only envisioned in her dreams.

Love.

Sara furrowed her brows as a small laugh escaped her lips in disbelief. Love? Now? Surely she was more inebriated than she had thought.

Grissom tilted his head and offered a gentle, albeit confused, smile at her reaction. "I think… you could use some coffee. Let's go."

XxxOOOxxX

No words were spoken as Grissom drove Sara home. She stared out the passenger window at the passing hustle and bustle that was the Las Vegas strip, the bright lights becoming blurred as they drove past. Grissom glanced over at her still form every now and then, but remained silent. There would be time enough for talking later. Before she knew it, Grissom was pulling into Sara's parking space at her apartment. It suddenly struck her that she had never given him directions nor told him which space was hers. Sara turned and gave him a questioning look.

"How did you know… how to get here? I've never had you – anyone – over."

Grissom shrugged lightly as he stared out the windshield, hands still gripping the steering wheel.

"When I can't sleep, I… drive."

"And you drive... here?" she asked, surprised.

He remained silent for such a long time that Sara thought he wasn't going to answer her. Then quietly he replied, "Sometimes."

"–Why?"

It was then that Grissom finally released the steering wheel and turned to face her. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but couldn't seem to find the words. He exhaled and looked down at the seat, and when he looked back up he said, "I was going to get you some coffee. Do you have any or should I find a Starbucks?"

Sara just stared at him in frustration, once again marveling at how quickly he could change gears when the conversation got personal.

"I have some." She opened the car door. "Thank you for taking me home Grissom." As she got out of the Denali she was stunned to see Grissom getting out as well.

"What are you doing?"

Acting as if this was the most natural thing in the world for him to do he said, "Coming in for a cup of coffee."

This was all just too much for Sara to grasp at the moment. "Listen, Grissom. I'm fine. Really. I didn't have that much to drink. I just hadn't eaten all day and it must have gone straight to my head."

Grissom knew that Sara would actually eat meat before she would ever admit that she needed someone to keep her company right now. He knew that her excuse was probably valid, but…

"Okay… But even if you didn't mean to get drunk…" He hesitated as Sara glared at him, and then continued, "Just like drinking and driving… drinking and solitude are not a good combination. Trust me… I know what I'm talking about."

Sara's expression didn't change. Although what had happened tonight was serious, it was clear to Grissom that he needed to take a different approach with Sara to be successful.

"Look… it's been a long night… for both of us. I could use a cup of coffee myself and besides," he paused, a grin emerging as he cocked his head and lifted his chin, "I've never seen your apartment. You've seen mine – quid pro quo."

Sara simply smiled to herself and shook her head lightly. Damn, how did he do that? No matter how mad she was at him or herself he could always turn on the charm and get past her defenses!

"Fine. I'm too tired to stand here in the parking lot and argue about it," she said, turning to make her way up the stairs to her apartment.

Grissom followed close behind, smiling to himself as he savored his small victory.

TBC