Title: The Next Level

Author: loubric

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimers: I have no rights to CSI. It belongs to CBS, Alliance Atlantis, Anthony Zuicker and any number of persons and entities other than me. No infringement is intended in any way, and this story is not for profit.The storyline, however is mine so please don't use it without my permission!

A/N: This particular story is loosely set during the beginning of season 6, throughout which a serious and physical relationship between Grissom and Sara begins and is evident but is unknown between the rest of the staff. I must mention a quick thank-you to Courtney and Kathlena for their help and suggestions! This is also my first story posted online (and my first CSI one) so I would appreciate any constructive criticism. Positive and negative feedback is always welcome :)

She slipped quietly into the dimly lit conference room and took a seat opposite Grissom. He continued reading his notes, oblivious to the fact that Sara had entered the room. He scowled slightly at whatever he was reading and she wondered if she should interrupt him. She let a small cough escape her and he glanced up.

"Hey…." she said as she cocked her head to the side.

"How long have you been there? He asked, with a hint of surprise edged in his voice.

"Just sat down actually, why the frown?"

"Was I frowning?" he replied as he straightened out the stack of papers he had been reading.

"Well come to think of it, you do have that permanent glower that scares the hell out of us, particularly Greg," she added teasingly as she pursed her lips.

His intense dark blue eyes widened, as he looked her up and down, trying to intimidate her.

"Am I that daunting, even to you Sara?" his deep voice sending chills up her spine.

"No, you don't scare me, quite the opposite actually, you….." she was going to say something provocative but she was interrupted by Greg storming in, followed closely by Nick.

Seconds later Catherine and Warrick joined them and Sara was lost in thought as Grissom started handing out the nights assignments.

"Okay, Warrick, you and Greg have a suspicious hit and run..." he handed them some papers "… and Catherine you get to choose Sara or Nick to help you with a shooting at a downtown boutique, the lucky one get's to stay behind with me and do paperwork…."

"Or unlucky one…" Greg muttered under his breath

Sara and Nick exchanged worried looks and then burst out laughing at Greg's remark.

Grissom raised his eyebrows at Greg who cleared his throat nervously and stuttered 'What .I ..uh meant …."

"Never mind that Greg…. Catherine?"

Catherine smiled broadly, and took out a quarter from her pocket "Sara, Nick call it…" she said as she flipped the coin high in the air.

"Heads…" Sara cried as Nick shouted "Tails..." the coin rose up above their heads in slow motion, they glanced at each other and grinned as the quarter hit the table and rolled onto the floor.

"I'll get it!" Greg yelled as his chair scraped on the ground and he dove under the table.

Grissom shook his head as he stood up to leave.

A loud bang echoed the room followed by "OW!!! Damm that fuc…." he trailed off when he heard Grissom's stern voice "Greg…."

Greg stood up "Sorry…… sorry yeah anyway … so the winner is …" he held the coin between his fingers "…Tails!!!!….." he glanced apologetically at Sara.

Nick punched the air with his fist "Yeah!!! Tough Break Sara …sorry….." but he didn't look sorry as he and Catherine left the room.

Grissom looked over at Sara as the rest of the gang left the room, and she fidgeted nervously as his eyes continued to bore into her even after everyone had gone.

"Gris …" Sara began to speak.

"Sara...I…" Grissom said at the same time.

She looked up across the table at him and wondered if now was the best moment to speak about what was really on her mind, their relationship or whatever the hell it was.

She waited, not looking away from him. He shifted, sighed and murmured, "Well, guess we should get started on this paper work then…"

She looked at him, slightly confused as the tension in the air mounted. "Grissom, I thought we could discuss us …." She ran her hand absentmindedly through her hair. Heat rose in her face as she realized how flustered he made her,

A shadowy look came over his eyes and she felt her heart beating faster as he moved around the table towards her. He was inches away from her almost immediately and she could hear him breathing. She looked at him curiously, as his hand reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her face.

She almost forgot to breathe as his hand dropped and touched her left hand softly and her quick intake of air was unmistakable to them both.

He brought his hand up and she followed his gaze. He uncurled his fingers and she squinted to see what he was looking at.

"Coccinellidae…" he whispered and smiled "…..a ladybug…you know, in Sweden, folks believe that if a ladybug lands on a young woman's hand, she will soon be getting married…."

Before she had a chance to respond he had turned on his heels and was out the door, leaving her standing in a state of bewilderment.

Sara's shoulder muscles were killing her after hours of hunching over filing cabinets and putting away mountains of paper. Grissom had exchanged few words with her and she was slightly irritated that they had been working in complete silence for the past 45 minutes.

She put away the last folder, stood back, and stretched her arms high above her head, rotating her neck in an attempt to ease the tightness in her back.

Grissom glanced over the top of his glasses at her, full of concern. "Uh, Sara, I'll be right back..." he said as he left the room rapidly. She shook her head in disbelief and starting sorting through a fresh pile of documents.

When he returned, she didn't hear him enter the room, but she felt his presence. He stood behind her and she breathed in his musky, wood-like scent that smelled faintly of chlorine.

"Here…" he whispered softly as he handed her a fresh cup of coffee. She turned her head around and smiled softly at him. "Thanks..." her mood lifting.

She looked up at him as she sipped the coffee and her eyes wondered over to the plant he had on his desk. She had seen something move. She abruptly left Grissom and walked over to the plant to examine it.

Sara put her cup down and starting moving the leaves around. Grissom was curious "What's wrong? What did you find?"

She spun around breathlessly and he was taken aback by the excited and triumphant look she had in her eyes. "Well, I was wondering if you knew about the little fellow that was living in your plant." She grinned as he looked down and saw the light green praying mantis walking slowly over the palm of her hand. He knelt down in front of her and peered closely at the delicate insect. "You do know that after they have sex the female praying mantis ferociously bites off the head of the male…..kinky huh?" she retorted in a husky tone.

She looked down at him and heard his breathing increase. Sara's heart pounded in her chest as his eyes roamed her body. He stood up slowly and carefully took the insect from Sara and put it back in the foliage. He turned to face her again and whispered, "You know, I've wanted to kiss you since the first time we met..."

Sara's eyes widened and unconsciously she licked her lips and murmured "Gris, how …?" but she was cut off before she could say anything else. "No Sara, no more talking, it's time I did something about this ….."

Grissom stepped forward and placed his hands on either side of her on the desk. He leaned his head towards her face, his eyes staring deep into hers.

Sara couldn't believe this was happening here and now, in his office, nevertheless she tilted her head in anticipation.

Their faces were inches away from each other and the sexual energy in the room was at a breaking point. Her chest was heaving and she slowly placed her hands on his stomach and ran them slowly up him until they were around his neck. .

"…god … Sara …" he murmured.

Before Grissom had a chance to kiss her, his beeper went off.

He swore under his breathe and the irritation and anger showed in his face, but Sara, although disappointed, laughed as she said "Gee Grissom, do I entice you that much that your pants vibrate when you're about to kiss me?"

Despite his frustration, he smirked and reluctantly walked away from her. Her face flushed she sat down on the desk and picked up the discarded coffee cup.

Grissom's half-closed office door swung open forcefully and Ecklie barged in. Sara jumped at the intrusion and Grissom and her exchanged a brief look before turning to him.

Ecklie had his hands on his hips and with an air of arrogance and hostility; he glared from Sara to Grissom.

"Can I help you….?"Grissom asked.

"Well, I've been waiting for you to answer my page … but it seems you've been occupied here …." Ecklie sneered as he frowned at Sara suspiciously.

Something snapped in Sara's mind and she smirked and said "…Oh ….I'll have to apologize for keeping Grissom, it took me forever to put my clothes back on …" Sara retorted.

Both Ecklie and Grissom turned to look at her, their mouths wide open.

"Sorry boys, didn't mean to make your jaws drop…." she breezed past them and walked out the room. Stopping at the door she quipped sensually "…..and I look forward to finishing our uh … filing a little later on Gris ….." she flashed him her brightest smile and left.

She felt euphoric as she walked down the corridor towards the locker room. By the time, she reached her locker some of the exhilaration had left her and she felt a little apprehensive. She tried to shrug it off and smiled to herself as she remembered that Grissom had almost kissed her.

She closed the metal door with a loud bang and jumped at the sight of Grissom standing where the open locker had just been.

"Sara ..." he said warningly "... I should be mad at you for what you said to Ecklie but..." he took a step towards her and reopened her locker door. She stepped back and felt her back pressed against the cold metal of the locker next to hers.

He didn't hesitate this time and his lips were on hers within seconds. Her mouth parted automatically. His body pressed hard against her as his hands ran up her back and entwined into her hair. Sara tilted her head back to let him kiss her deeper. She wrapped her arms around his neck as the kiss became more and more passionate. His tongue explored what felt like every inch of her mouth and the intensity of the kiss become more urgent than either one of them ever expected.

Suddenly he pulled away and she was shocked by the hunger she saw in his eyes. He grinned at her and she smiled back, her body tingling from the kiss. Grissom absentmindedly ran a hand through his hair as he stepped back and sat down on the bench. He slowly looked at her from top to bottom and she laughed flirtatiously "See something you like...?" He just nodded and said "MMmmmmmmm..." then he added "Maybe we should go back to my office, Ecklie has left for the evening..."

Just then Hodges came into the room whistling happily. "Hey ... what you up to?" he asked as he approached them. Grissom and Sara exchanged knowingly looks. Sara responded as she and Grissom started for the door "Just stopping for break... see ya later."

Sara glanced at Hodges as she left the room and laughed at his confused face.

End ... for now.