Chapter 2

Grissom had retreated to his safety of his office, his sanctuary. He fell backwards into his chair as he replayed what he had just done over and over in his head. He had been standing so close to her. He had felt the warmth of her body, smelt the sweet sent of vanilla, as he had held her. When there eyes met he stopped thinking for just a minute. He had pushed himself on her and she hadn't responded. He had waited too long to make his move, she had gotten over whatever it was she had felt for him… just like she had said she would all those months ago.

"I don't know what to do about this." he had told her honestly for the first time since she came to Las Vegas.

"I do," Sara had said sadly, "You know, by the time you figure it out, you really could be too late,"

He was interrupted from his thoughts as Catherine and Warrick entered his office. Catherine gave him a strange look as she took a seat across from him. Pulling himself together Grissom lent forward pushing Sara from his mind and got back to the case at hand.

It wasn't until later as they watched Brass and Warrick through the glass that Catherine was able to comment on the events in the conference room earlier that day.

"So, I liked your tough act yesterday," she told him.

"Huh?" he grunted not understanding what she meant as they continued watching the interrogation through the window.

"'I hand out the assignments. This isn't a negotiation.'" she quoted his words with a smirk.

"What, too much?" he asked, as he realized that he had messed things up with Sara more than once that day.

"Not enough," she told him shaking her head. "You really do need to be harder on her. She has no respect for authority and is just going to get herself in more trouble later on if you don't put a stop to it now."

They returned to watching the interrogation as Grissom contemplated Catherine's words.

Thing with Sara had been strained for months, maybe even years now. Most of the time he had found it easier to avoid her so he didn't need to deal with the strain between them. He said things around her that he knew he shouldn't, the words always seemed to slip from his lips before he could stop himself.

"I've been a baseball fan my whole life," he had defended himself from her accusation of not liking sports.

"Baseball. Well, that figures. All those stats," Sara had assumed.

"It's a beautiful game," he had told her.

"Since when are you interested in beauty?" she counted.

"Since I met you," he admitted without though. When she looked at him he knew he had said the words out loud and mad a hasty escape back to work.

He hated knowing that he constantly caused her pain. The one time she had the chance to leave, get on with her life, he had put a stop to it, sent her a plant, gave her hope once again. As much as it hurt for them to be near each other it would be ten times worse if they were apart, if he was unable to catch that glimpse of her each day as she rushed around the lab. This time he had gone too far. He couldn't just act like it hadn't happened.

As he watched their only suspect be released Grissom wondered, would he ever be able to release Sara from the prison he had put her in.

GRS

Sara remained in the lab after Grissom had left. It didn't take long for the sadness she had felt to turn into anger. How dare he do this to her. She was finally ready to move on. She had accepted that he hadn't wanted her after he turned down her dinner invitation. When the key CSI position opened up she knew that this is what she needed, a distraction.

"Sara. Do you have any diversions?" he asked once during a tough case.
"Do I what?" she hadn't understood what he had meant at first.
"You max out on overtime every month. You go home and listen to your police scanner. You read forensic textbooks…" he told her
"Yeah," everyone knew this was what she did. She was the job.
"Look, every day we meet people on the worst day of their lives. It's a lot to deal with. Everyone who's had any time on this job knows that you have to have a diversion in order to cope with what we see. What do you do for fun?" he asked.

"I chase rabbits. And...I read crime books. And I listen to the scanner," he didn't understand that work was a diversion from her life.
"You need something outside of law enforcement. Catherine has her kid, you know? I sometimes... ride roller coasters. What do you do?" he tried again.
"Nothing," he didn't understand that she couldn't have the thing she really wanted.

It wasn't the kind of distraction he told her she needed, it was a distraction from him. She couldn't have him, but, she could have the career she wanted. Now after what he had just done that was on the line as well. What chance did she have to get the promotion now. Now it would be easier to start fresh at a new lab and work her way up there, she was going nowhere here.

Slamming her hand on the table she pushed her chair back roughly knocking it over. Storming out of the room she passed Nick. Ignoring his call she continued down the corridor and out into the night.

When she reached her car she got in, revved the engine and tore out of the labs parking lot. Not caring about how much trouble she was now in for leaving work, she just drove.

GRS

Nick watched as Sara passed him, ignored his calls. She looked pissed, more so than she had earlier. Something had happened. Something bad. Probably another confrontation with Grissom, Nick thought. Things had really gotten bad between the two of them. The whole lab saw it, felt the tension. Knowing that it was best to leave her alone he let her go.

Luck was on her side, he found out, their part of the case was taken care of. Grissom, Catherine and Warrick were able to handle the rest of the case on there own. Nick had covered for Sara when Grissom had told him they were no longer needed and left for the day, hoping his friend would call if she needed to talk.

Wow I was amazed by the response I got from the first chapter. To everyone who left a review, you are what encourage me to keep writing. I read all the reviews and love hearing what you think. I hope this chapter lived up to your expectations

I have a couple of ideas where this could go. First would involve Sara leaving for a short time. Second would involve Sara finally let Grissom feel her frustration, making things as difficult as possible for him. I am leaning towards her leaving… what do you think? Would you prefer me to follow the shows story line or now go off in my own direction. Let me know what you think.