Gil Grissom arrived home exhausted after a week of doubles following a high profile double murder. 'At least I have the next three nights off to recuperate.' But the thought of spending three days home alone with just Hank to keep him company was a little depressing. Opening his front door Hank met him excitingly wagging his tail. Gil rubbed his ears and said "Hello boy. Did you miss Daddy?" Hank barked once then started to look around him as if searching for someone or something. "I'm sorry boy but Mommy still is not home." Hoping Sara had called to say she was finally coming home he checked his answering machine. Just a message from his dry cleaners telling him his suits are ready. They both walked into the kitchen and Gil read the note from the dog sitter about the last time Hank had food, water and a went for a walk. "Thank God for Judy boy or else you would either starve to death or my house would be a disaster from not letting you out."
He made himself some lunch and sat down in the living room to watch a documentary on the Brazilian Leaf Footed bug when his doorbell rang. 'Who could that be?' he wondered. Rising from the couch and walking to the front door to open it he had the same butterfly feeling in his stomach at the thought that it might be Sara.
Opening the door he was once again disappointed when it turned out to be Jim Brass with a bottle of scotch. "Hi ya buddy. Thought that after this week you might need a drink."
Letting him in Grissom said "Make yourself comfortable, I'll get two glasses" as he walked back into the kitchen.
Brass took off his jacket and loosened his tie before sitting on the chair next to the couch. Hank came over sniffing around and started to get excited. "Hey boy" Brass started to pet him.
Just as Grissom returned Hank practically jumped into Brass's lap "Down boy. You know better than that. Sorry Jim, I'll take him in the back yard. Come on Hank." Hank sat by Jim happily wagging his tail not moving until Gil whistled. After letting the dog outside he sat back down on the couch and took the glass of scotch Brass had poured. "Are you hungry Jim?"
"No I grabbed something on my way over" noticing the sandwich on the table he added "But don't let me stop you from your lunch. Go ahead and eat."
"Thanks" he ate his sandwich while Jim sipped his drink and watched him. When Grissom was done he poured himself another drink and lounged back on the couch "Okay Jim spill it. Why did you come over today?"
Shaking his head he stated "I thought maybe you were lonely and needed a little company."
"No offense Jim but yours is not the company I miss." Grissom lowered his head but not before Brass saw the look of anguish on his face.
"Well that's brings me to another reason why I'm here Sara called me"
At the mention of her name Grissom's head snapped up and for the first time since she left Brass saw his friend smile again. "Is she alright? Did she sound happy? Did she say where she was?"
Before he could ask another question Brass held up his hand to stop him "Slow down Gil. She's fine. In fact she wants to come home."
A look of total euphoria appeared on Grissom's face "Really when? Does she want me to pick her up? Does she want me to go get her?"
"Soon and no she doesn't want you to pick her up or come get her."
Confused by his answers he wondered 'Why?' then a thought crossed his mind 'Maybe she doesn't want to come to ME?' Fighting back the feeling of impending doom he asked "Why did she call you? Why didn't she call me?"
"She's afraid Gil"
"Afraid of what?" he asked in a state of total panic. 'Oh my God she's leaving me and she's afraid to tell me'
"Sara is afraid that after the way she left you don't want her back"
Jumping to his feet Grissom yelled "Don't want her back? I've been going out of my mind for the past two months. Every time the phone rings or there's someone at the door I pray that it's Sara. How can she even for a second think that I don't want her anymore. She's my life."
Standing up also Brass put his hand on Grissom's shoulder "Calm down there buddy. She said that you two didn't talk that much while she was away and when you did you never asked for her new number. She thought maybe you were reluctant."
"I wasn't reluctant just the opposite but I was always afraid that I would say or do something that would keep her away longer. I wanted to beg her to come home or let me come be with. I figured since she never offered the number I would be content when she called me. I never wanted to push." He plopped down on the couch and dropped his head into his hands. "I guess she took my silence as a sign of animosity towards her but I was never angry that she left, I understood that she needed to deal with her past especially after what happened in the desert."
Jim opened his wallet an removed a piece of paper. Handing it to Grissom he said "Here's her cell phone number. Call her tell her everything that you just told me. I think she deserves to hear it from you."
Taking it he whispered "Thanks"
Picking up his jacket Brass said "I think I'll go home and get some sleep."
Grissom was already starting to dial the phone. He mumbled a "Goodbye" and started to pace the floor anxious to hear Sara's voice again.
Chuckling Jim let himself out of the townhouse.
After about the fourth ring Grissom maybe he would have to leave a message when she answered in a nervous whisper "Hello"
Excitement mixed with a sense of apprehension ran through him 'Please don't let me screw this up by saying the wrong thing' "Sara, Honey it's me."
"So since you have my new number I guess Brass talked with you."
"Yes and I want you to come home. No I need you to come home Sara. I miss you so much."
Sara started to softly sob and asked "Why didn't you ever tell me that before?"
"Honey please stop crying. I was worried that if I begged you to come home you would be mad at me for not understanding why you left."
"I thought you were made at me for the way I left."
"No Dear."
He heard a choked laugh and decided to stop being afraid and tell her what is in his heart "I love you Sara. Please tell me you are coming home to me."
"Yes Gil I'm coming home to you."
Relief washed over his body. "When?" Before she could answer the doorbell rang.
"Do I hear the doorbell?"
"Yes"
"Well are you going to answer it?"
"No, no one could possibly be on the other side of the door that is more important to me than you. So you never answered my question. When are you coming home?"
Again the doorbell rang but this time the visitor was repeatedly pressing the bell making it virtually impossible to ignore.
"Someone sounds persistent. You better answer the door Gil."
"Alright but please don't hang up as soon as I tell whoever it is to get lost I want to finish this conversation." Angrily opening the door he was about to start yelling when he saw who it was.
"Hello Gilbert" Sara said as she closed her phone.
Blinking repeatedly to make sure his eyes were not playing tricks on him he whispered "Sara"
"I'm home"
He grabbed her and started to kiss her. When the need for air became too great he regretfully ended the kiss but engulfed her into a tight embrace.
"Gil can we take this inside I really don't want to give the neighbors a show."
As if coming awake from a dream he realized that he was on his front porch. "Oh right, sorry let's go inside" Gil took her hand and led her into the living room. Sara was shocked when he sat down on the couch and pulled her onto his lap and started kissing her again.
Again the need for air became a necessity and he broke of the kiss but wrapped his arms around her as if afraid she would vanish once more.
"How did you get here? When did you get here? Where you waiting a long time for my phone call?" Sara gave him a quick kiss to quiet his questions.
"I arrived home this morning. Brass picked me up and I was waiting out in his car while you two were talking."
"Jim knew you were outside and never told me." He asked a little agitated.
"I asked him not too. I wanted to know you wanted me back before I showed up at your door."
"Sweetheart, I was miserable without you."
"That's what Brass said but I wasn't sure if you were miserable because you missed me or maybe you decided you made a mistake and regretted being with me."
"The only thing I regret is not telling you how I felt every single time you called. I should have told you how much I love you but I promise you that for as long as I live you will never go a day without hearing it."
"I love you too Gil and I'm sorry for leaving." She started to openly sob tears streaming down her face.
He lifted his arms from around her and gently cupped her face in his hands wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "Sara there is nothing to be sorry for. You needed to do what you did in order to heal. I just wish you would have told me."
"I tried several times but I kept on chickening out. I didn't want to leave you but this was something I felt I had to do on my own. I knew you would ask to come with me and I wouldn't have been strong enough to say no."
"Sara I" he was cut off from finishing his sentence when they heard Hank scratching on the back door whining to come in. "I wasn't the only one who missed you." He let Sara off of him so he could open the back door to let the dog in.
Hank came barreling into the room and jumped into Sara's waiting arms. "Did you miss me boy? Have you been a good dog for Daddy?" He rolled onto his back so she could scratch his stomach.
"Hey I just realized something. Hanks went nuts when Jim was here. I guess he smelled you on him and that's why he got so excited."
After a couple of minutes of scratching Sara said "Alright Hank, you had enough you spoiled little boy now go law down on your bed so Daddy and I can talk." Hank let out a whine but did as he was told.
Walking over to Gil Sara put her arms around his neck and softly kissed him. "How about you and I have ourselves a homecoming celebration." Without a word he led her to their bedroom.
Should I leave it there or continue the story? Please review and let me know.