Collide

Sara is having a bad day… but colliding with a certain young CSI seems to make it a little better.

Fluff

Song lyrics from Howie Day's 'Collide'


The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
you're barely waking
and I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

The day hadn't started all that good for her, the alarm clock that was fool proof had shorted out during the night (or day) and she had awoken with only fifteen minutes to get to work.

Sara Sidle was of course late and Grissom had lectured her, he had been doing that a lot lately and she was frankly becoming annoyed by it. When she managed to get her assignment she was late to that when there was a collision.

She wasn't in the best moods arriving at the scene she was quickly sent to the victim who refused to allow Sara to collect samples. So after two hours Sara finally got what she needed and headed back to the lab.

That's when it happened the first time… she had dropped something off at the DNA lab and was determined to get a coffee. She had rounded a corner not even taking enough time to see him. She collided with something solid and warm, papers went flying and she heard a familiar voice cursing. She growled slightly and saw Greg Sanders staring at her with another curse word cut off.

"Sara you should watch where you're going" he ordered trying to be charming but Sara wasn't in the mood. So she gave him her best 'back off' look and Greg immediately became concerned.

"What happened?" Greg questioned causing Sara to let out a sigh, he had all but forgotten about his paper work. Sara stared into his hazel eyes and felt some of her tension slipping away. Greg… he was innocent in all of this… there was a time when he was innocent to this world… this crime lab.

"Nothing Greg… I'm just having a bad day… I didn't mean to bump into you" Sara stated running a hand through her hair. Greg gave her his best lopsided grin and shrug.

"Hey I'm not complaining… I don't mind if you bump into me" and with that he gave her a wink and scooped down to collect his file. He waved her away when she tried to help and gave her another grin when he stood. Sara saw a glint in his eyes and she knew he was up too something. She watched him walk away with a small smile her self. Sometimes it was hard to believe that Greg Sanders lab rat had become Greg Sanders CSI.

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again
///////

The very next day

Sara wasn't late today, but she was having a hard time with her case. Her team mates were no where to be seen and it seemed none of the lab rats cared about her case. She was fuming by the time she was half way through her shift. She held a folder tightly in her hands as she rounded the corner. That's when it happened again.
She collided into something solid and warm, this time she cursed as she dropped her folder. She glared at her wall and saw Greg grinning at her; she could help but give a small smile.

"Now Sara we discussed this… you have to watch where you're going" he ordered before giving her a wink then scooped down to collect the folder. Before she even knew it Greg stood and handed her the folder. The same glint in his eye from the day before.

"Still a bad day" Greg asked as Sara stared at him then nodded sighing "yeah…" she trailed off and gave him her best 'everything is ok' smiles. Greg shrugged and gave her a lopsided grin and walked around her. Sara gave his fleeting figure a look before shaking her head and smiling… perhaps there was more to Greg sanders then CSI or Lab rat.

Even the best fall down sometimes
even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
you and I collide

Just an accident

It wasn't what she had wanted… she was building the case and then the victim decided against pressing charges. Sara groaned inwardly as she stalked down the corridors. Some people… Sara bit off the thought. It wasn't the victims fault, she was scared and having Sara pushing her more and more wouldn't help.

She had a report to fill and she would have to discuss all this with Grissom but that could wait, she hadn't eaten anything all day. As she turned the corner to the break room it happened again.

She collided with something solid and warm… though this time there was no curses when something fell to the floor. Sara stared at Greg and couldn't help but blush at the smile he was giving her. She liked the feel of his chest against her hands each time they collided.

"Sara" Greg's voice attempted annoyance but she could hear the amusement. He swiftly bent down and collected the box lying on the floor. He grinned at her and Sara pursed her lips… some how after the last two times colliding with Greg her bad day got a little bit better. Today however she wasn't going to let go of her bad day so quickly.

"Now come on Sara if you want to feel me up" Greg was interrupted when Sara slapped his arm playfully. Greg only grinned at her more before lifting the box up slightly and pulled the top off. Inside Sara was amazed to see the most beautifully crafted chocolates. Each glistened in the light, and mixed smells hit Sara.

"I don't know if I should offer you one… you keep colliding into me" Greg half joked seeing Sara eyeing the chocolate. He held it out to her and gave her a wink "go on" he ordered as Sara lifted her hand, slowly allowing her fingers to hover over one and plucked it from it's wrapper.

"You going to promise to watch where you're going next time" Greg demanded as Sara slipped the chocolate in her mouth smiling at both the taste that danced on her tongue and Greg's boyish charms. She nodded and gave him a smile. He winked once more and walked off leaving Sara to watch his fleeting figure once more. Greg Sanders was defiantly a man of mystery.

I'm quiet you know
you make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Coincident

This couldn't be happening. Two days… two days after the victim dropped the charges she had turned up dead. The suspect had returned and made her pay for informing the police. Sara had wanted to cry… she had wanted to lash out but walking around the crime lab seemed to work to. She held her self tightly, it wasn't fair… a young woman killed before she even had a chance to live.

She wasn't sure where she was heading but she needed to get to somewhere… the looks where bothering her. She hadn't meant to yell at either Brass or Ecklie but she was disappointed… at her self because she couldn't protect that poor woman.

As she rounded the corner towards Grissom's office it happened again. She collided into something solid and warm. Again no curse words… and she was sure her hand lingered on his chest longer then it needed to but she needed the touch… something human and something pure. Greg stared at her and he gave her a smile.

"Bad day" Greg questioned and Sara nodded offering him a small smile. He sighed himself before he grabbed her hand and raised it to his mouth, pressing his lips lightly to the back of her hand. Sara stared at him after he pulled back and covered her hand with his own. She had wanted to blush… to pull back but she loved the touch of something warm against her own flesh… she missed the contact. As Greg grinned at her she saw a glint and knew he was up to something again.

"Well I hope you not watching where your going had made it a bit better" Greg questioned before he dropped her hand and gave her a wink. Sara didn't watch his fleeting figure this time. She held her hand to her chest, the one that Greg had kissed only seconds before. Not sure of what happened she couldn't help the smile as she walked away. When had Greg Sanders become so damn sweet?

Even the best fall down sometimes
even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
you and I collide

Pattern

As the week wound on Sara couldn't help but smile a little every time she walked down the corridors of LVCL. Her case against the sick bastard who killed her victim was building. Brass had gone to arrest him.

But there was more to her smile, something that no one else could understand… anyone else but him. Her wall as she had begun to think of him.

She rounded a corner engrossed in the results from her evidence when she collided with something solid and warm, she knew it was him and when she looking up Greg was grinning at her. This had been happening daily… a collision that always made Sara feel a little better.

"Sara we need to get you some glasses… you keep colliding with me" Greg teased as Sara shook her head. He tilted his head and studied.

"Bad day" Greg asked and Sara nodded sighing before she flashed him a large smile "but it might just get better" she offered and Greg thought it over before grinning once more.

"Glad I could help" Greg chipped causing Sara to raise an eyebrow "who said it had anything to do with you" Sara questioned causing Greg to shrug but give her a wink.

"Wishful thinking… any way you have to watch where your going" Greg ordered before he kissed her quickly on the cheek and rushed around her leaving Sara to gape. When had Greg sanders become so darn sexy?

Don't stop here
I lost my place
I'm close behind

Colliding for the touch

It was their thing now… some days weren't bad but she still wanted to collide with him. Just to feel something, to know something more was out there. Every now and then he would be holding the oddest objects… the oddest one being a bunch of red roses one of which he had given her. When she thought she had her wall figured out he would become a mystery again. He would be holding a dozen or more bags of gummy bears.

But the collisions she enjoyed the most were when he held nothing… those days he would simply stroke her face or hand. Pressing his lips lightly to her cheek or hand.

Everyone knew that something had to be going on… why else would Sara Sidle and Greg Sanders keep colliding with each other. Hell they were surrounded by CSI's this was their day jobs.

She was heading to see Brass there was a hold up in their case… she needed to know why she couldn't make the sick bastard pay. She rounded a corner and collided with her wall.

Her hands no longer pulled away instead they stayed on his chest until she needed to remove them or he collected something. However this day… this collision was different. He flinched under her touch and Sara searched his face. It wasn't smiling… it was drawn and pale… his eyes were sad.

"Sorry" he mumbled before he attempted to move around her but Sara figured it… the look the flinch… it was the acknowledgment of what horrible acts man can inflict on each other. He had seen something that would haunt him… they all had it; they all had that one case that could never be closed.

She had one, Grissom had one… Catherine, Nick and Warrick and now Greg… the sweet innocent young CSI had his own ghost.

"Greg…" even though she trailed off her saying his name was enough to root him to the spot. His hazel eyes darted up to her eyes and she didn't know how to finish the sentence. What could she say; there were no words of comfort… only raw pain. It would get better but at first… the first stab as the memory is driven into the heart nothing can make it better.

"A case" she questioned instead, he could at least acknowledge the new ghost. Greg's eyes glistened slightly then he dropped his head a fraction nodding. Sara could see the tears threatening to spill. With out a second thought she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rested her cheek against his head. Slowly he wrapped his arms around her.

"So I guess that's why you keep colliding with me" Greg attempted to joke but it sounded too painful. Sara reached and placed her hand against the nape of his neck. Her fingertips brushing against the fine hairs on his neck.

Sara could feel the tears on her shoulder and knew he was going to be fine… he had found a release.

"How" he chocked against her shoulder. She knew what he meant, how a human being can do this to another human being. And she wished she had some answers but she had none… so she shrugged and stroked his neck "I don't know Greg… I just don't know" Sara admitted feeling her own ghosts hovering close behind. After a few moments Greg pulled back and swiped at his eyes, Sara pretended not to notice.

"Bad day" Sara said lightly causing Greg to laugh and look her at, sadness and innocence's lost still flickered in those bright hazel eyes.

"I thought that was my line" Greg offered lightly… he would continued with his mourning but in his own time. Sara gave him a grin and winked "well guess it's my day off for a bad day" with that she brushed her lips against his cheek and squeezed his shoulder. He gave her a slight nod… he was going to be fine.

"Sanders" Sara said as she began to move away she looked at him "watch where you're going" she ordered then headed towards Brass's office.

When did Greg Sanders become so important to her?

Even the best fall down sometimes
even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
you finally find
you and I collide

/////

Even the best fall down

She didn't care… she couldn't. The tears had stung at first when she wiped them away. It wasn't a good idea to allow the whole LVCL see her cry but half way to the locker room she broke down. Tears spilled freely and she ducked her head. A whole week of collisions couldn't help her today… she thought that her wall couldn't hold her up.

She had lost… the murderer… the sick bastard had walked free. She knew it had nothing to do with her… she had collected all the evidence but he had a false alibi and no one could prove it wrong.

As she stepped in to the locker room she found relief… she had found peace. She sat on the bench and allowed it all to spill out. He had killed her… she refused to pressed charges and he still killed her… Sara felt the disappointment… at her self she could have pushed more. She should have…

After twenty minutes Sara allowed one last sob to rake through her before she stood and raced to the toilets and began to wash her face. Glancing up she saw her pale and drawn features. A new ghost added to her dozen others… she spun away from the image before her and walked back to the door. She stepped out side and walked down the corridor. A new case, a new suspect and a new victim the world didn't stop moving for a death neither could she.

And then it happened… just when she thought she didn't need it. She collided and her wall had stopped her… she wasn't the world… she could stop moving. Glancing up Sara looked in those hazel eyes and knew she couldn't help it… couldn't stop it anymore. She loved colliding with Greg… not because she missed the feeling of someone human… someone good. She loved it because she… she loved Greg… her heart went out to him and she needed to know he was real… each time; she needed to know that GREG was good.

"Bad day" two simple words… a simple question but it meant the world to her… it summed everything wrong in her life up. Because when she collided with him even a bad day had an ending. A new day always had to start.

"Greg" she started but tears threatened to spill and her voice cracked. He gave her a lopsided grin and squeezed her hand.

"I know… you need to watch where you're going" Greg said lightly causing Sara to smile at him through teary eyes. Greg grinned, but he knew… she could see it in his eyes. He knew the ghosts surrounding her. He wrapped his arms around her and sighed against her ear

"Its fine Sara… it's going to be ok" he whispered pressing his lips against the side of her head. She wanted to cry out it wasn't but with Greg she believed it might be. After a few seconds they pulled back and Greg swiped a small tear from her cheek and grinned.

"You ok now Sidle" Greg questioned gaining a smile and nod from Sara "yes… and don't call me Sidle" Sara ordered as Greg laughed then winked before he walked around her. Sara didn't have to watch him walk away anymore. She could picture him in her head… anyway she didn't enjoy the fleeting image she enjoyed the collision.

Sara began to walk then stopped dead…. When had she fallen for Greg Sanders?

You finally find
you and I collide
you finally find
you and I collide

You and I collide

Sometimes people just crash to feel things… she had heard that in a movie once. And it was true… things in the world were so strained and complicated that sometimes people just crashed… no collided with each other to feel something… to feel anything.

And hadn't that been what she was doing… colliding with him. At first it was an accident… then it became a pattern of friendship… she had felt something when she needed it the most… she had reminded her self she was human and that a human touch could make it better. She didn't have family to turn to… no children to hold during the night.

But she did have him… her wall and their collisions.

Sara was going home… the last week had been bad and she didn't want to stay any more. Where death was so near. Grissom had told her that sometimes even though the evidence is always right it wasn't always loud enough. She wanted to hit him… but then she remembered that it was Grissom she was angry at… it was the sick bastard who was free… free to make another mistake and she would get him.

That's when it happened….again. She turned the corner and collided. Sara smile as she looked up and saw his hazel eyes. Bright and beautiful.

"We have to stop meeting like this… people will begin to talk" Greg declared with a wink. Sara shook her head and pulled her hands away, "Greg" she started but just smiled at him.

"I'm tired and I'm going home once I get some folders" Sara declared as Greg smirked then a glint came to his eyes. One that had been missing for a few days. He lent in close and Sara licked her lips hoping he would create a new collision.

"Workaholic" he declared as he gave her a lopsided grin. He pulled back and went to walk away but stopped and looked at her.

"Bad day" he questioned as Sara thought then looked at him fully and shook her head "no, Greg it isn't now" she offered as Greg swallowed hard before he shrugged "good" and he turned. Sara watched him, she was about to turn away when he looked over his shoulder and grinned "hey Sidle" he called and Sara groaned.

"Maybe you should watch where I'm going this time" he declared and then turned back and headed towards the main entrance. Sara stood confused… what did he mean… it was usually look where she was going. Sara was about to carry on walking when something hit her… had he meant it the way she could only hope.

She followed him… she had to know… if only to figure out what is meant to happen after a collision… what happens after they collided and didn't go their separate ways.

Sara stepped out into the car park and took in the smell that was Las Vegas. She had no idea what was going to happen next… after crashing into something… after colliding nothing made sense any more. Everything was just tangled up.

"Thought you wouldn't understand" Greg declared as he walked away from his car… Sara grinned at him. Her wall… he was still holding her up, Sara walked over to him but before she could say anything he dragged her to the car and opened the door for her. He ushered her in and Sara frowned but followed him.

She hadn't dared ask a question, to break this moment. So they sat in silence for thirty minutes until they pulled into the desert. It was in the middle of no where and Sara was amazed even now at its beauty. Greg pulled the car to a stop and sat for a few moments staring out ahead of him. Sara was confused and was now going to break their silence when Greg jumped out of the car and raced around the other side pulling the door open and helping her out.

Once out he didn't let go of her hand, instead he walked around to the front of the car and rested against the hood of the car. Sara watched him… wondering what exactly was going on in his mind.

"Greg" Sara called jumping slightly when Greg seemed startled out of his thoughts. He looked at her and grinned before he let go of her hand and ran it across the back of his neck. He spun round and raced back to the driver's side, leaning in he hit the CD player and music slowly drifted out of the car. He turned the sound up and moved back to Sara standing a little further back then before.

Sara listened to the words for a little while wondering what Greg was up to… till she heard one word. She looked at him and found he was staring at her… his eyes wide and full of worry… and hope. Sara tilted head as the words 'you and I collide'.

"Sara," Greg stopped and cleared his throat, adverting his gaze. "Sara" he started again and Sara felt her stomach tighten.

"Do you ever think why we collide" Greg asked not looking at her, Sara thought… it was because of friendship… it was because she had let it happened… it was because she wanted it to happen. She wanted to collide with him.

"I... all those times we collided… it was my fault" he offered flickering his eyes to her face… what had he expected to see anger… regret… he had found confusion.

"apart for the first time… you looked so sad, then you smiled and I thought that maybe… that maybe if I kept bumping into you then it wouldn't be so bad… or perhaps I could give you something to focus your anger on" Greg declared dragging a hand through his hair. He desperately wanted not to look at her, but Sara desperately wanted to see those eyes. To see that smile.

She stepped forward closing the distance between them slightly.

"It annoyed me at first… on my worst days you were there bumping into me. Then… then I guessed I needed to feel you bump into me… you gave me a smile, one that made me think that not everything was so bad" Sara admitted moving closer to him still.

"I've come to enjoy our little moments… I don't feel so bad when I'm near you" Sara stated but still Greg didn't look at her.

"Greg people like us… who deal with what we deal with… well we collide in different ways… we like to feel something alive… to know that we're still alive" Sara stopped and looked at the young man beside her. A new collision. Her turn to make it happen.

"Sometimes we collide… we collide to find peace… to find happiness… to find something human to cling to" Sara stopped when she stood inches away from him. She saw his eyes were closed and he gripped at his car hood tightly.

"Me and you… well we collided because we needed to feel… to feel love" Sara stated before she pressed her lips against the corners of Greg's. She felt him stiffen before turning his head towards hers. His lips capturing hers and his fingers threading themselves in her hair.

His arm snaked around her waist and drew her deeper into the kiss. Sara wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss fully.

Sometimes a collision doesn't mean bad things… sometimes it means someone loves you…..

The End

Might do a Greg POV as to why he collided with Sara in the first place. Thoughts welcomed. Actually their wanted.