Author's Note: Just a little something that popped into my head and decided to write. ) Inspired by a text message my sis received. This was originally planned to be a short fic and I came up with something longer than what I had in mind. But I love this fic anyways. ) Dedicated to all my Sandle-buddies and to all who ships the wonderful ship, Sandle. Keep Spreadin' Sandle-love!! God Bless!!
One by one the CSIs left the break room.
First, Nick who seemed to be coming up with a cold. Then, Warrick who was called by Tina to go home early. He looked annoyed and left with a groan. He was shortly followed by Catherine who was escorted by Grissom.
Each one not forgetting to say their last birthday greetings to Sara Sidle before walking out of the room either coughing, mumbling or smiling.
Two CSIs remained in the break room.
Greg watched Sara as she read her birthday cards, a cheeky grin on her face. He watched her smile, say "Aww…", get teary eyed and laugh as she read her birthday cards.
Once in a while, she would look up to him and smiled then turned her attention back to her card. She looked happy. She deserved to be happy. It's her special day. And she deserved the best on her special day.
And Greg had something that he thought would be the best gift she might have ever received on her birthday.
He had been thinking about what to give her weeks before her birthday. A necklace? No, he gave her one for Christmas. A ring? No, I think she already received one from her grandma for her birthday last year. A CD? Hmmm… No. A music box? No. A photo album? No.
He couldn't seem to find the perfect gift until he walked by a flower shop one day.
Greg nervously looked back at Sara. He had been meaning to give his it to her but didn't have the courage to do so. He kept his gift in his locker and promised to give it to Sara before both of them head home. They'll be leaving soon but still hadn't done a single move to hand over his present.
She finished reading and sighed happily. She began to put the cards back to their corresponding envelopes.
"It's sweet of them to give me these." She smiled at him.
Greg finally gathered his courage. He stood up and place his gift gently on the table.
"Happy Birthday, Sara."
It was a dead rose, a small pink card tied around it by a glistering gold thread.
She stopped on what she was doing and looked at him, confuse. A dead rose? Why? She thought for a moment on what to say.
"Thanks, Greg." She replied. Greg simply smiled and nodded and hurried out of the break room.
Sara picked up the rose and eyed it carefully, thinking why on earth would Greg give her something like this for her birthday. She took the card, read it carefully and couldn't help but smile.
"Greg!" She ran after him, the rose still clutched in her hand.
Written in Greg's messy hand writing, the card said,
"This Is Me Without You. Happy Birthday, My Sara."
Sara still kept the dead rose in her bed-side drawer. She'll keep it forever. It really was the best birthday present she ever received.
Another Author's Note: My sister thinks it's weird that Greg had the idea to give Sara the dead rose while passing by a flower shop. I don't think it's weird. I passed by a flower shop and saw them throwing away dead flowers. Greg might have seen the same thing. Sorry, if this note didn't help anyone. Sorry. And ummm, thanks for reading!! Tell me what you think. )