Title: Supernova

A/N: This is an idea that has been formulating in the back of my head for a while. Although I have great respect for G/S shippers and their wonderful fanfic, this story will not be G/S (you have been notified!) Any and all feedback is appreciated. (Preferably constructive criticism – this is my first fanfic.) Please forgive me for my grammar and/or spelling errors. This has been edited, but there is always something that slips through…

Disclaimer: The television program 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' does not belong to me.

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The humid breeze that wafted along the trail was a welcome change from the dry heat of the morning. The setting sun cast shadows erratically along the gravel pathway as she moved towards the rocky outcrop in the distance. Although it was a beautiful evening, the park was almost deserted. The occasional shriek of the lonesome child echoed amidst the trees as the mother pushed the swing higher and higher. In the foreground, an elderly couple sat quietly on a memorial bench overlooking an expanse of trees.

The park was her quiet place. Since she'd moved to Vegas, it had been the place she'd made all her decisions. It had been a while since she'd had time to come out here. Perhaps if she came out here before she'd asked Grissom to dinner, she might not have asked. His response, strangely enough, didn't surprise her. She wondered, as she lowered herself onto the smooth, cool rock that overlooked the playground, whether she subconsciously knew he wasn't interested.

Sighing, she stretched her legs towards the grass below. As she gazed at the streaks of purple and pink that cut through the sky, she relaxed. It was the first time she felt comfortable since the explosion. Perhaps because today was the first time she slept in over a week. Catherine had been insistent that Sara take the night off. It had been nice, Sara reflected, to go home and sleep soundly knowing that at least tonight there would be no reminders of the broken lab. The nightmares had still come, but it was easier to talk herself out of them when she didn't have to worry of returning to the scene of the explosion.

The piercing scream of the little girl focused Sara's attention on the surroundings. She smiled to herself as she remembered the decisions she'd made here. However, Sara couldn't help but frown as her reminiscence brought her back to the reason she'd sought the solitude and peace of the park.

Grissom.

She was one of those people who constantly rehashed any moment in their lives that hinted of failure or inadequacy. Asking Grissom to dinner and being refused certainly gave her much to think about. It wasn't, Sara reasoned, the refusal that bothered her so much. It was her reaction to his refusal that bothered her. What bothered her was the fact she wasn't upset that he refused. If anything, she was probably relieved he refused.

At first, she'd analyzed why he'd refused. Did he have feelings for someone else? Catherine? Or was it that she wasn't his type? Or did he see her as a daughter, not a lover? Perhaps he was afraid of starting a relationship with a co-worker. Or, he was just afraid of relationships period. Whatever the reason, Sara realized it didn't matter why he refused.

Deep down, Sara knew that she didn't want nor need a relationship with Grissom. At some point, she worshipped him. When she came to work in LA with him, the idolization of her youth transformed into what she interpreted as love. Sara didn't know if it had been love. What she now understood was that it was over. She would also respect Grissom more than anyone else in her life, but there would be no Sara and Grissom. It wasn't because Grissom didn't want Sara, although that certainly played a part. It was because Sara didn't want Grissom anymore.

Sara lay back on the smooth surface to gaze up at the sky. The sun had set almost thirty minutes ago, but the sky remained tinted purple. Behind the wispy violet clouds, the brightest of stars twinkled, waiting for the twilight to dissipate so they could shine brighter. As a child, her mother taught her that the stars had held the answers to all the questions since the beginning of time. As Sara grew older and studied astronomy and physics in school, she learned to laugh at her mother's whimsical message. Now, Sara looked back into the stars with all the intent she had so many years ago when she had been five. She wished silently that the answer to her problems would explode right in her face like a supernova.

Although it wasn't by any astronomic intervention that the answer came to Sara, an answer came as she rested amongst the trees in the park. She wanted something else out of life than what a relationship with Grissom offered. Grissom offered stability, steadfast love and intellect. Sara knew she wanted these qualities in a relationship, but it wasn't enough. She didn't know what she wanted, but she wanted something else. The realization brought a strange sort of peace to Sara. It wasn't a complete answer and it certainly wouldn't pass as the slightest bit scientific, analytical or intelligent, but it was an answer based on raw human emotion. Somehow, this was more calming that the most carefully researched answer. It was based on what Sara felt and needed, and that was the most important part.

Sara stretched lazily as she stood, zipping the front of her jacket up. The humid breeze that had been so pleasant earlier in the evening now cooled her skin. She scrambled down the rock face to return to the path. She wanted to go home, watch some TV, eat a late dinner and perhaps look at a couple magazines she'd bought a couple weeks ago. In the morning she'd go for a run, and maybe clean the kitchen. Sara was surprised, but she was actually enjoying her night off. Usually, she couldn't wait to get back to work and would sneak home case files to look at. Tonight was different. Tonight, she had needed to think, and the night off allowed her to return to the park to watch the sunset and think.

As she strolled lazily along the path back towards her car, her thoughts turned to menial tasks such as her grocery list. In the middle of her contemplation of whether she actually needed more laundry detergent, her cell phone rang sharply. It took her a moment to find the phone, which was buried in the pocket of her sweater.

"Sidle."

"Sara," Warrick's voice emanated clearly from the phone, "do you think you come into work? We're getting kind of busy and with both Catherine and Grissom off, we could use the help."

Sara sighed softly. Just when she was getting used to the idea of time off and the opportunities it provided, the lab decides it actually can't operate without her.

"I'll be there in ten."

***