Sara came around the corner, her heart soaring in her chest, her knees almost weak with anticipation of seeing him again. She had evidence to show him, good evidence. If she played her cards right, she could draw out their encounter for a few minutes longer just to be near him.
She was addicted to him now. The night he had come over to ask her why she was so angry, had been the turning point in her life. He had sat there so focused only on her. His warm hand strong against hers as she had cried her eyes out to him.
She found herself almost smiling, but that wasn't like her.
No smiling, she told herself, you'll look like a fool.
She moved faster now, her adrenaline slamming through her veins as she neared the small lunch room.
But, suddenly, she slowed down, her heart nearly stopping in her chest, her hands almost dropping the folder she clutched.
There he was seated, laughing, happy, with Sofia.
She felt something ball up in her throat, pressing against her lungs. She wondered if she might pass out right there in front of them, her heart finally broken.
But, she didn't stop walking toward them, eventhough she really wanted to.
When she entered the door, she stood motionless listening to the smiling voices in front of her. His voice had never smiled that much for Sara.
She had gone through the evidence with them, mainly focusing on Grissom, trying her best not to look bothered by how close they still seemed to be sitting.
At some point, Grissom's focus had shifted back to Sofia, leaving Sara feeling as if she were an onlooker.
"Did you need anything else?" Grissom had asked upon finally noticing that Sara was still in the doorway.
"No." she had said softly, her eyes empty, "That was all."
She had left quickly, so quickly that she tripped on her own feet, and fell forward onto her palms. She hadn't waited for help. She didn't want help. As quick as she had fallen, she got up and made her way to the locker room.
She sat on the cold, hard bench in front of her locker, her hair shielding her face as she began to cry softly. She watched as her tears hit the red palms of her hands and slid over her skin, dropping to the cement floor.
"Sara?" she heard Grissoms' soft voice.
She didn't look up. She didn't want him to see her crying.
She felt him seat himself beside her, his hands reaching for her hands, "Are your hands okay?"
"Fine." she said quietly, her hair still shielding her face from him, "I'm fine." She pulled her hands away from him and got to her feet, "I need to use the restroom." She hurridly left, grateful that he hadn't seen the tears.
She washed her face off in the bathroom, her cheeks red and patchy from drying off her skin with a paper towel. For a long moment she stared at herself in the mirror wondering what she didn't have that Sofia did.
Behind her, the door had opened and in walked Sofia.
"Are you okay?" she had asked as Sara stared at her in the mirror, "Grissom was worried."
"Fine." Sara said as Sofia disappeared into a stall, "You two have lunch everyday together?" As soon as she asked it, she wanted to take the question back. What the hell was she doing.
"Usually dinner." Sofia had laughed.
Sara didn't know it was possible for her frown to grow deeper, "That's nice." she had found herself saying.
Catherine walked into the bathroom, "What's nice?"
Sara gave her a quick, fake smile, "Sofia and Grissom are dating."
She exited the bathroom quickly, only to run straight into Grissom who had just come around the corner.
"Have you been crying?" he questioned her, his eyes roving her face, "What's wrong, Sara?"
She shrugged, "Fine." she said with another shrug of her shoulder, "Everything's great."
Grissoms' eyes narrowed as he stared at her, "Do we need to talk again?" he asked, as his hand gently touched her back.
Just as Sara was about to answer, Sofia walked out of the bathroom followed by Catherine. They parted, but Sofia stayed near Grissom, "Is everything okay?" she asked.
"Fine." Sara said quietly as Grissom dropped his hand from her back, "You two have a nice dinner tonight." And with that said, she left them.