Title: Timing is Everything
Author: Erin (erinm_)
Characters, Pairing: Grissom and Sara (mention of Greg and Catherine)
Rating: G
Summary: "By the time you figure it out, it may be too late..."
Warning: post-Play With Fire (Episode 322) *Written for Round 10 of prompt_in_a_box at LiveJournal. Prompt: "But the story needs some mending and a better happy ending." (Fairytale, Sara Bareilles)
Disclaimer: The original characters belong to CBS and the Bruckster.

"By the time you figure it out, it may be too late," Sara stated curtly. Grissom didn't know how to respond to her remark. Just what was she trying to say to him? Was she expecting their relationship to go further than it already had?

If so, no one told him.

Sara waited a moment for a reply and huffed before turning away and starting down the hallway. Grissom paused then followed after her. "Sara... wait!" Sara stopped, but paused before turning to face him. Grissom's face twisted into one of those 'I'm trying to form an answer'-looks and he took a deep breath.

"Sara, I... You are a beautiful woman, a fantastic CSI and a great friend... but I just don't... I can't reciprocate..." This was about as hard as he'd imagined it would be. As the scenarios flashed across his mind, he decided. 'Screw it.'

"My heart belongs to another." Short, sweet and to the point. Sara blinked, but didn't react otherwise.

Letting out the breath she was holding, she asked: "Do they know that?"

Grissom's blank face became a frown. "No." Sara pursed her lips in a very Grissom-fashion and nodded sharply. She turned away from Grissom, took a few steps and turned back.

"You should tell them, Grissom." She shrugged and continued: "Perhaps, some time in the next 'five days of unpaid suspension.'"

"Yeah," Grissom responded absent-mindedly.

"Good answer," Sara said with a half-smile.

A second later, his answer registered. "What?" Sara nodded and turned away with a grin, leaving Grissom in the hallway. She was three offices away when she heard him ask again: "What?"

Sara smiled and decided to sneak some ice cream into Greg's hospital room.