For some reason Sara and Grissom's relationship has always been fraught with

misreading and misunderstanding.

Occasionally these can lead to surprising results especially when Grissom takes the chance and issues Sara a rather unexpected invitation.

First part of the Finally Setting the Date series. Takes place shortly after the events of episode 521 "Committed," circa May 2005.

Two's Company, Three's a Crowd

"Greg, you're running point on this one," Grissom said as he and Greg finished loading up Sara's vehicle.

"No problem," Greg replied, seemingly flushed with the pleasure at receiving the added responsibility and certainly not quite realizing that he had not just pulled the most plum of assignments, a fact that neither Grissom nor Sara seemed to be interested in cluing him in on at that particular moment. Sara smirked. Grissom just chalked up the chore as yet another learning experience for the still green investigator.

"Sara, give Greg the keys to the Denali. I need to speak with you in private," Grissom said in his usual brisk professional manner.

Sara for her part made no protest; she merely merely cocked an eyebrow up at her supervisor before returning to the task of fastening the latches on her kit.

Greg attributed her easy acquiescence to the fact that it had already been a long shift and would likely prove to be an even longer one once they set down to processing the evidence that they had just spent the last nine hours collecting. As she straightened up and handed Greg her keys, he gave her a half-commiserating/half-better you than me look. Sara shrugged and followed Grissom to his car.

After Greg had pulled away, she turned to Grissom and said, "Greg seems to think I'm in trouble for something."

As Grissom started the car, he replied, "Let Greg think what he wants."

Sara smiled. "So I'm not in trouble then?" she asked in a light teasing sort of tone.

He shook his head. "No. But I really did need to speak with you in private."

"Oh?"

"Yes," he answered.

"About?" she asked curiously when nothing further seemed forthcoming.

"Your work schedule."

She tried not to sound disappointed when she muttered a second this time halfhearted, "Oh."

It was going to be another one of those moments, she thought.

The new more "hands-on" Grissom that had emerged after Ecklie had broken up the team more than six months previously had given her a great deal of pause.

On the one hand, he had begun to demonstrate a great deal more care and apparent interest in the people he supervised which had softened and mellowed him a little.

On the other hand, he had begun to demonstrate a great deal more care and apparent interest in the people he supervised, which could make him a royal pain in the ass when he tried a bit too hard.

So Sara decided to cut him off at the pass.

"Look," she began. "I know I've been working more than I should have. We just went through this a few days ago. I promise I won't do it again."

"You finished?" Grissom asked.

"Yeah."

"Good. Because that wasn't what I wanted to talk about."

Sara shook her head and muttered something under her breath that Grissom either didn't hear or was intentionally ignoring. She figured it was probably the latter as Grissom turned to her and said in that annoyingly knowing sort of way, "Although I am glad you finally came to that realization without me having to say anything."

Sara made no reply to this.

"Actually, I had a question about one of your days off next week. You're off Monday, aren't you?"

"You know I am," she said feeling slightly confused and rather nettled. "You're the one who makes out the schedule."

"True, but as you often tend to turn up at the lab on the days you are scheduled off, I wasn't sure if you knew."

"I thought we were skipping the whole Sara works too much lecture as hypocrisy doesn't suit you."

"I plan on actually taking my time off next week, thank you very much."

"Really?" Sara said genuinely surprised.

"Yes," he nodded. "And as it happens to coincide with yours, I was hoping to spend it with you."

Suddenly, Sara felt very stupid. She had jumped to conclusions and proceeded to chew Grissom out when in reality all he had been trying to do was...

Was what exactly? she wondered bewildered.

Ask her out?

She shook her head at the absurdity of that conclusion.

Gil Grissom did not ask anyone out.

Gil Grissom never went out.

"You can pick your jaw up from off the floor, dear," Grissom said, unsuccessfully smothering a chuckle. After Sara was silent for several long minutes, he continued feeling a bit self-conscious, "I just thought, as the last time we had dinner we both seemed to be having a good time, that we might risk it again. Although this time under better circumstances."

"You mean you really don't want me to be sick all over you again?"

"We could just agree to skip that part."

Sara smiled slightly at the remembrance.