Three days later. Grissom is at his townhouse getting ready for work when his cellphone rings. His heart jumps just like it has done every time his phone has rung since she left… but just like before, it's not her name that pops up on the little screen. And his heart brakes a little more every time. He's been sick, physically sick, with worry. He's called everyone he can think of that might know where she is, which frankly aren't that many. Besides, he knew in his heart that if she hadn't contacted him, she wouldn't have contacted anyone else either…
"Grissom" he answer the phone in a flat voice.
"Hey…"
He tries to speak, but the words get stuck somewhere in his throat and he gasps for air. He tries again, but all he manages is a ragged whisper… "Sara?"
"Yeah, I just… I'm sorry, I just wanted to let you know that I am okay, that you don't have to worry about me…"
"Sara…" He's got a million things he wants to tell her, but no idea where to start… So there's silence. For what seems like an eternity. His mind is racing, but suddenly it's clear to him…
"I love you" he says…"and I understand… we have all the time in the world, and I will be here for you when the time comes. I just need to know that you are safe… that's all."
For the first time in weeks she smiles a real and genuine smile…and although he can't see it, he knows it. Because somewhere along the line they became one, and wherever she goes, she takes a part of him with her. She is his whole world now, and that will never change.
"You know" he goes on "I will wait for you until I draw my last breath, and long into eternity. Never doubt that. I know that I will be okay."
"I love you" she says… because he just told her everything she needed to hear. She needed it to be his decision to wait, so she had given him a way out. She couldn't make any promises right now, but he didn't ask her to. And even though she didn't think it was possible she loved him even more for that.
Even though this was the hardest thing she had ever done, she knew it was right.
And that everything was going to be okay…
