A/N - This is my take on why Sara stays in Vegas after she threatens to quit in the second season. All Grissom did was send her a plant, no real apology to speak of yet she didn't take her leave of absence and she didn't quit. The tricky part is that they aren't in their relationship yet, but here's my take on it anyway. . . enjoy.

The knock on her door shocked Sara out of her reverie. She'd been sitting on her couch staring off in the direction of the TV. It wasn't turned on, but even if it hadn't been she wouldn't have been able to focus on what she was watching.

Opening the door she was shocked to see a delivery man with a plant.

"Miss Sidle?" She nodded her head. "Please sign here."

She signed on the designated line, took the plant and shut the door. The whole transaction took place without Sara even opening her mouth. She felt guilty about not even telling the man thank you but it was over with now. On top of everything else she was feeling she wasn't going to traipse after some delivery man to make herself look like a blithering idiot.

She set the plant down on her kitchen counter to look at it. It held a large orange flower in the midst of large, thick leaves. Searching, she found the card stuck amongst the leaves. Not knowing what to expect, she opened the card.

From Grissom.

What the hell? Not even a hokey "The lab needs you." Nothing. Just "From Grissom". Of course it wasn't like Grissom to leave clues about why he did what he did but this was more cryptic than usual. Without consciously thinking about it she reached for her phone and hit the speed dial for Grissom.

"Hey," he answered.

"I got the plant. Is this your sorry excuse at an attempt to convince me to stay?"

"Sara, I'm not sure what else to do. I thought it would be a nice gesture, maybe help you see that you are respected and wanted."

"Griss, A plant isn't going to help me see anything except that you're grasping at straws to get me to stay. For the lab no less, not even because you want me to stay on a professional level. You can't even admit that to me!"

She heard a long sigh on the other end. "This is too hard to explain over the phone. Meet me somewhere?"

"I don't know. Would it get me anywhere or will I end up leaving more confused?"

"I promise, Sara, I will explain the best I can."

An hour later she was meeting him at a small restaurant on the edge of town. It was quiet, away from the Strip and allowed them to talk without being interrupted. Once they'd sat down and ordered coffee, she just sat looking at him waiting to begin. It was his idea to talk so she was going to sit there until he did.

"It's not as simple as me saying 'stay because I want you', Sara" he started. He never was one to mince words.

" Ok, then what is it Griss?"

"It's many things. You really are a great criminalist and the lab definitely needs your skills. You're a gifted and brilliant person, Sara, and I don't want anything else I say to diminish that in any way at all. I know that's not what you wanted to hear right now, but it does need to be said."

"Is that all you wanted to say then?" her eyes challenged him to say otherwise.

"No," he exhaled. "Sara . . . I think I know what you need to hear, but I can't give that to you right now. Our relationship has been one spent on thin ice. I value your friendship and would like to keep it intact. I'm not ready to handle more than that, however."

The lump in her throat almost made it impossible for her to respond. To buy time she took a sip of coffee and looked out the window to her left. A few cars passed by and she was able to look at him again and speak without wavering.

"Thank you," she said.

She made to get up and leave but he laid a hand on her arm.

"Sara, please stay. I'll do my best to help make things better at the lab for you. But please stay."

"Fine. But I'm keeping my eye out for other opportunities. I really would like to check out the Federal system eventually." Leaving this caveat hanging between them might give him the sense that she might not actually be around forever. Some part deep inside her probably realized she'd stay until he actually told her to leave, but she couldn't admit that to herself yet.

"If that's what I can get for now, I'll take it."