Authors note: Hello everyone, this is my first attempt at writing CSI Las Vegas fanfiction. I have written a few other fic's in various other sections (See my profile), but have lurked the stories on this show for a few years now. This is my first chapter, please read and review and let me know if you want to see chapter 2 and possibly beyond. The idea for this story simply came to me, and I have been flying by the seat of my pants ever since. It was inspired by Season 7 episode 17 "Fallen Idols" and the previous episodes mentioning Grissoms sabbatical. This is going to be a Sara and Grissom fiction. But there might be some tid-bits of Warrik and Catherine. Basically cause I want to smack Warrik around for the Tina thing, as brief as it was ... But I digress!

Disclaimer: I do not in any way shape or form own any of the plot, characters, etc. They belong to whoever owns 'em. I just took the general idea for a test jaunt. So, don't sue me...not that it would be beneficial, as I am a poor college student, yadda yadda yadda.

Other Story Related Issues: If you want to add my story to your site or what not, thats fine, I'd be flattered, but please PM me first for permission.

A Lost Lifetime Journeys End

There was only one thing dominating his mind...Sara. His Sara. Well not completely his, but oh how he hoped someday. 'What a blind, stubborn fool I have been.' He berated himself. 'A damn old fool! A coward!' Four solid weeks of mentally beating himself up. If his scientific mind didn't assure him this was impossible he would have thought his heart and mind were beat to a bloody pulp.

He rubbed his hands across his tired face, his beard softly tickling his palm. He was weary with long hours of plane travel. He felt absolutely bone weary, there past weeks had taken a noticeable toll on the handsome CSI supervisor. Long sleepless nights had filled his days. Drive to escape his ever-present internal guilt and doubt he fled to find solace in nature. But even mother earth and her many wonders held no allure for him anymore. He ended up taking out his frustration, and pent up self-disgust on the university's gym and the woody running path's criss-crossing the shallow forest that surrounded the campus. He had even started to eat vegetarian style, primarily as it was the only food the kitchens cooked that he felt was safe to eat without breaking out his kit and testing it for poisons or other impurities.

While his sabbatical had been immensely enjoyable, and the break and change of pace had been much needed indeed. It had given his mind time to dwell on this indescribable woman. He had been holding back for so many months, the thoughts of her has always been conveniently swept aside by pure exhaustion, or the engrossing drama of Las Vegas' darker side.

God help him, but he loved her. It was more than lust, more then just a passing passion. He truly loved and cared for her. He could even pin down the time in which he has felt this way for her, and that was in San Fransisco all those years ago. He feelings for her had only grown since. And he had knowingly scorned her! But yet she still loved him. Even after the distance, avoidances, and dismissals for dinner, she loved him still. How? He could not even begin to fathom. During this time, where his mind plotted against him, his mental barriers had crumbled. Much like her face had, upon his rejection for dinner, and his abrupt departure...oh how he wished he could rewind time! But he had now realized all his excuses and rationalities of why they shouldn't, why he shouldn't were a load of bullshit. Plain and simple.

Work complications? That could be easily worked around. Love? Oh for that blessed second chance at love! Age? Well, Sara wanted him, surprisingly, unbelievably. He was no fool, he knew her heart and body longed for him. Lord, just thinking about her made him want to...

"Your drink sir?" The chirpy flight attendant exclaimed, beaming down at him, throughly breaking him from his musings. How, in all the world could, at three in the morning, any person be so happy and awake to be fluttering about thousands of miles in the air was beyond him. In fact he noted the attendants in first class seemed to be made of a different caliber then those in coach. Shaking his head in tired bemusement he accepted his ordered "pick-me-up" and slipped it carefully. Grimacing slightly as the harsh kick of vodka slithered down his throat, followed quickly by the soothing cranberry flavor. Vodka and cranberry, his anxious drink of choice.

A few fruitless hours later, pursuing his worn copy of "Insects of Samoa: A description of the Environment", the plane landed in sunny Las Vegas. The early morning rays already setting itself up for another blistering desert day.

Waving down a cab, he arrived at his townhouse, feeling eager for home. As empty and lonesome as it was, but he wanted the comforting familiarity of home. Key clicking in the lock he opened the door and was immediately assaulted by an unmistakably female scent. Lilac? Wolf-like he sniffed the air, attempting to identify this scent that smelt, oh so familiar. A yellow piece of note paper on his kitchen counter caught his eye. Placing his suitcase on the tiles of his small kitchen, his eyes devoured the familiar flowing scrip upon it.

Gil,

I took the liberty to feed your bugs and water your plants. I hope that was alright. You never asked me to, but since I had your key and you left in such a hurry I wasn't sure if you had already made plans, or just forgot to ask.

Hopefully your course went well. We have a lot to talk about when you get back.

Sara.

Sara! He hardly knew what to think. Firstly, how in blazes did he manage to leave without asking her to watch the house? Secondly, her ...command...no request? To talk? That sounds good ... he thought. At least she still actually wants to talk to me. She must have been here at the end of her shift before going home. Air tight rooms, that why her scent had lingered. The note fluttered lightly down to the counter top as he mentally berated himself. 'I am still on vacation! Stop being the CSI! And secondly, shut up brain! I don't need those thoughts...they always end in a frigid shower..'

Sighing deeply, he padded through the living room, divesting himself of his thin jacket on the couch, tossing it carelessly aside.

He quickly stripped down to his boxers, and climbed into his bed gratefully, sighing deeply, and for now, until his dreams, contentedly, elating at the feel of the cool sheets against his bare skin. Quickly, he slipped into sleep, and into nagging dreams filled with the smell of lilacs and her voice calling out for him.