I had been a long, difficult shift for Sara working a scene at the mental institute. Grissom had apologised over and over again for asking her to do it, knowing how hard it would be for her, telling her she could leave if she needed to, but it hadn't helped. The memories of her childhood had flooded back once again only now, they were joined by those of her attack by Adam Trent in that very building years earlier.

"Here." He placed her breakfast in front of her and sat down at the table opposite her, giving her yet another apologetic smile. She looked up at him, the man she loved, sat at their table, in their house. She smiled back at him. But the smile did not extend beyond her lips.

Silently they began to eat but she found herself struggling after only a few mouthfuls. Noticing her stillness, he looked up at her and placed a hand on hers.

"You sure you're ok honey?" He asked, his voice full of concern. She fought back the tears yet again.

"I don't know." She replied honestly. "I'm sorry Gill, I guess I'm just not hungry." She pushed back her chair and pulled her hand from his. "I think I'm just going to go to bed." He nodded and watched her leave, his heart pounding with concern and guilt. How could he have been so stupid as to ask her to work with him there, even if there was no other choice?

She lay on the bed in the darkness. He knew she wasn't asleep but knew that she wouldn't want him to know that fact, so he silently climbed into bed beside her and placed a hand gently on her waist. She stiffened for a moment, expecting him to encourage her to talk. She didn't want to talk. When she realised he wasn't, she relaxed again but sleep never came. She just laid there, her lover sleeping silently beside her.


"Sara?" He whispered, almost certain she wasn't sleeping but being cautious just in case he was wrong. "Honey are you awake?"

"Yeah. " The sadness in her voice made is heart ache for her.

"Did you get any sleep?" He asked, hoping she would say yes, knowing she wouldn't. She rolled over to face him, giving him the answer he had feared.

"Why don't you take the night off?" He offered. She shook her head and moved so it rested on his chest. He ran his hand through her hair and down her back, resting it there to run his fingers in circles along it, hoping to bring her some comfort.

"What time is it? Do we have to go?" She didn't want to move. She felt safe here like this.

"Soon." He replied before kissing the top of her head. She closed her eyes and sighed before forcing herself upright. He watched her silently as she made her way to the bathroom, wishing her knew what he could do to help.

He had noticed her apprehension as soon as he told her about the case, seen it grow as they made their way to the scene. He had tried to reassure her, never left her alone, kept her away from the patients. He held her close when they took away the killer, whispered words of comfort to her but now he didn't know what to do. It was not unknown for Sara to become involved in a case and Grissom knew too well the reasons behind it, but this seemed to be upsetting her more than usual. She had barely spoken about it, something that he thought they had fought past, and he was worried. The woman he loved was hurting and he didn't know what else he could do to help.


They had driven to the scene silently, processed the scene with barely a word spoken and now they were driving back to the lab in silence. Nick eyed his companion wearily. She was pale, dark rims framing her sad eyes with her gazed was fixed on an unknown object in the distance. "Sara?" He got no reply. "Sara is everything ok?" He his voice was gentle and full of concern.

"It's fine." She mumbled, dropping her focus down her hands.

"You sure? It's just that you seem…"

"I said it's fine Nick. Just leave it." She sighed, closing her eyes. He nodded his head and turned his attentions back to the road. He wasn't surprised that she didn't want to talk, but that didn't stop him worrying.


Ok what do you think? Reviews much appreciated!