Only Hope

Disclaimer: I do not own any CSI characters or settings.

Author's Note: I hope you all like the story.

Summary: Sara and Greg meet in a bar after work one day and have a lot of fun, but Sara runs scared. Will they get over it or is their friendship or something more ruined?

Chapter 1:

Sara stared at the brown liquid in her shot glass. She didn't drink very often since her DUI, but today was one of those occasions that a drink was necessary. The case she had been working was a heartbreaker: a five year old girl had been found naked in an alley, sexually abused and beaten until she was dead. They had no ID for the girl, no suspects and almost no evidence. It seemed like one of those cases where there would be no justice for the victim.

"Can I get a beer please," a familiar voice came from behind her. Sara turned and saw Greg sitting down in the bar stool next to hers.

"What are you doing here?" she asked surprised, wiping a stray tear on her cheek.

"I needed to get out of the lab," he answered, pretending not to have seen her tears, knowing it would make her uncomfortable if he mentioned it, "and I didn't want to go home to an empty house." He grabbed the beer that the bartender had placed in front of him. "What about you?" he asked before taking a swig of beer. She shrugged not truly answering and drowned her shot. "The case," he whispered gently. Sara froze for a moment before motioning the bartender for another, but that was all the answer Greg needed. Greg glanced with worry at the growing number of empty glasses in front of Sara.

"Don't worry Greg," she noticed his concern. "I got a cab here and I'm taking a cab home. I don't do this very often. I just needed to forget," her voice cracked and tears began to gather in her eyes, "I just needed to forget that little girl." Greg placed his hand on hers and gently squeezed it.

"We'll find who did it," he consoled her. "She'll get justice."

"How do you do it Greg?" she whispered, a few tears escaping from her eyes and landing on the bar. He looked at her, confused at her question. "How do you get over a case like this?"

"I guess you don't, not really," he mumbled. She looked at him, surprised by his answer. "A case like this, but you have to separate yourself from the job."

"How?" came her pathetic question.

"Well,... Warrick's got Tina, Catherine has Lindsey, Nick has his family. Even Grissom's got his bugs," he joked. Sara laughed softly.

"What about you?" she questioned.

He remained quiet for a few minutes before answering. "I guess I have my music and friends, my cat..."

Sara interrupted him, "you have a cat?" Greg nodded. "What's his name?"

"Manson," Greg replied and Sara laughed, "he's a tabby."

"Typical,"she joked. "You know I always thought of you as a dog person."

Greg shrugged, "dogs are a lot harder to take care of with this job and besides, Manson kind of found me." At Sara's questioning glance, he explained, "one day after work, I came home and he was sitting on the stoop of my apartment building. It was pouring so I took him inside, and the next day put up flyers and posters. No one claimed him, so I've kept him with me."

"You big softie," Sara punched him lightly in the arm, laughing at the shocked look on his face, but quickly got over it.

"You had better not tell anyone at work Miss Sidle," he warned her jokingly, "I've got a rep to protect."

"Of course you do," she mocked him. "What are you gonna do if I do tell," she asked slyly, turning to face him fully.