Twice As Much Tomorrow

By: Manigault

Note: Sure, Sara is a bit OOC in my book, but then, this whole thing is OOC in my view.

Thanks: Thank you to everyone who is reading this and for those who left reviews. It's very much!

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Las Vegas, November 2007

Grissom pushed the front door open and was met with a pair of big sad eyes as Bruno pushed past, looking around him before trotting back inside and laying down, resting his head on his paws as he looked back up at Grissom and then away.

"Not you too, Bruno." Grissom sighed loudly and bent down to pat his dog gently on the head. "She's going to come home." Whomever said that dogs were not intuitive had obviously never been around one. It was obvious that Bruno had picked up on the fact that Sara was no longer in Vegas. It wasn't the first time Bruno had exhibited such strong emotions when it came to Sara. When Sara had been missing at the hands of the seriel killer Grissom had asked Nick to check on him and make sure he had plenty of food and water. Nick had returned with a sober expression and informed Grissom that his dog was worried. Grissom had tilted his head and given him a slight nod, only partly registering what Nick was telling him. When Sara had returned safely home Bruno would not leave her side for days and only ate when she encouraged him to do so.

"Sara should have taken you with her, pal, but she would insist that this was your home and you would be fine." Grissom walked into the kitchen and found Bruno's dish was untouched. "You need to eat, Bruno." Grissom opened the refrigerator door and stared inside. Sara had gone shopping before she left as he found that every shelf was stuffed with a variety of food. He closed the door and turned towards the counter where Sara always kept a bowl of fruit. She had left a note on the counter top beside the fruit bowl that explained that she'd left some containers of food in the freezer so that he wouldn't need to cook for several days.

She'd been busy, Grissom mused as he picked up an apple and left the kitchen to retrieve Bruno's leash in order to encourage the Boxer to go for a walk with him. Bruno was still in the same spot, his eyes following Grissom's movements with that heavy sadness.

"We'll get some fresh air, pal. Let's go outside." Grissom fastened the leash on Bruno's collar and took a step towards the door. With a heavy rumbling sigh Bruno flopped over onto his side and closed his eyes. Staring at his depressed dog Grissom decided not to push the issue. He removed the leash and returned it to the table by the front door before shuffling over to the sofa, having no desire to go inside his and Sara's bedroom. He wasn't ready to sleep alone in their bed and he wasn't prepared to face the memories of their last intimate encounter.

Picking up a remote control Grissom hit a button that released a beautiful mix of classical music that never failed to ease his mind. He would lose himself in the melodious tunes and dream about Sara finding what she needed in order to return home to him and Bruno.

It didn't take long before he drifted into a restless sleep, unaware that Bruno had moved over to the sofa to lick his hand that dangled over the edge before settling down between the sofa and the coffee table.

San Francisco, November 2007

If someone had asked her how she made it from the airport to a hotel and safely inside a room, she couldn't have begun to tell them. She sat on the edge of the bed and wondered how Bruno was handling her absence. He was such a senstive dog and it killed her to leave him behind almost as much as it killed her to leave Grissom behind.

"It's only for a short time." Sara reassured herself as the ripples of longing and regret washed over her and she found her shoulders shaking. She wondered for the hundredth time if she'd made a horrible mistake. Was there anything that she could learn about herself in San Francisco that she couldn't have figured out back in Vegas? In Vegas she had Grissom who was by far the best friend that she'd ever known and the one person that could accept all of her deepest secrets and love her despite her own weaknesses.

Picking up her phone she pushed a number and waited for the connection that would give her some little bit of peace. She hoped it would give her some reassurance at the least.

"Jim? It's Sara."

"Hi there Mrs. Grissom, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Sara smiled at the mention of her married name before explaining her concerns to Brass and then waiting for his response.

"I heard that you were taking a break for awhile, Sara, and between us I think it's a good idea." He didn't bother to remind her of their last encounter and how snappy she was with him.

"However," Sara prompted at the hesitation she detected in Brass's tone.

She heard Jim clear his throat and could almost hear the wheels turning in his mind before he spoke. "I want you to know that all you have to do is pick up a phone and I'll be there if you need me."

"Thanks, Jim." Sara wasn't sure why she pressed the issue, but she felt compelled. "Do you think that I was wrong to leave Grissom?"

"If you actually left him, then yeah, but this is a short break to get your shit together. So, no I don't think you were wrong. However," Jim heard the soft chuckle run along the line as he made his concerns obvious. "I do expect you to keep in daily contact with a certain entomologist that will be walking on pins and needles until you come home. I don't know if I can handle him being all moody and grumpy."

"I'm afraid that when I hear his voice I'll want to take the first flight back home." Sara confessed with a stifled sob. "There's so much that I need to do and I don't want to feel like I'm counting on communication with him to get me through this."

"There's nothing wrong with leaning on someone else, especially your husband, Sara." Brass encouraged softly.

"I promise you that I'll call him at least once a week, Jim, but I can't hear his voice right now. It's too hard for me and I seriously don't know if I can accomplish what I need to if I'm calling him every time things get rough." She took his silence as disapproval and felt another tug at her conscious. "That's why I need you to check on him for me and make sure that Bruno is eating."

"I'll make sure Grissom eats, but I can't make any guarantees about a dog." Brass chuckled as he thought back to the first day he'd met the mutt. It was before Grissom had outed his relationship with Sara and he'd literally run into them in a park as they had been playing frisbee with the Boxer. He'd first seen Grissom as he tossed the disc through the air and it landed near his feet as his friend had stared at him with a shocked expression that still made Brass laugh. Before he could bend to pick up the disc a large dog had galloped over his feet and grabbed it up in his teeth and bounced away taking the frisbee to a tall brunette who also stood staring in his direction with a stunned look. It took him a few minutes to process the situation and then a wide grin had spread over his face and he walked slowly towards the exposed couple and asked with all the innocence he could muster. "Imagine running into you two here. What's going on?"

If two people could look any more guilty then he didn't know how it was possible. He'd given them his word that their secret was safe with him as long as they invited him to dinner to fill him in on the details. Grissom had arched that brow, but Sara, she'd exchanged a grin with him and invited him to come over that evening.

Las Vegas, November 2007

Once he'd disconnected with Sara, Brass took a quick shot of whiskey and left his modest home to drive over to see Grissom who he was certain would be absolutely thrilled to see him. He took the bottle of wihiskey along with him for support.

The irritation that spread through Grissom was transformed to anticipation when Brass made the announcement that he'd been directed by Sara to check on him.

"She phoned you, Jim? She's in San Francisco?"

Holding up the bottle of whiskey Brass lifted his chin in the direction of the kitchen as Grissom stepped back and followed him over to the cabinets where he retrieved two small glasses. It was certainly not his first visit to the Grissom home.

"Sara is worried about you," said Brass while handing him one of the half filled glasses. "She is safely at her destination and was simply too hesitant to call you at this point because she misses you so much."

Shaking his head, Grissom put the glass on the counter and leaned both hands on the hard smooth surface. "She misses me too much to speak to me? What kind of nonsense is that?" Grissom felt the first stirrings of anger in his gut and glared over the counter at Brass who was rolling his eyes.

"That wasn't the way I should have stated it. I'm no good at this middle man stuff, Gil, you should know that." Taking another sip of his whiskey he met Grissom's gaze with a stern one of his own. "She loves you and misses you. She told me that she would call you as soon as she can."

This wasn't what he needed to hear although he was grateful that she was safely in San Francisco and had at least spoken to somebody. He didn't want to sound so insecure when he spoke, but he couldn't help it.

"She assured me that she didn't leave me and I told her that I understand. I do understand, Jim." Grissom thought his own words sounded rather hollow and wondered if Jim would buy what he was selling. He wasn't.

"Bullshit. You want to fix this for her and I wish that she'd let you but you can't and she can't. Sara needs to face whatever these deep issues are on her own so that she can come home and go forward with you."

"You reading psychology books now Jim?" Grissom picked up the glass of whiskey and took a deep swallow. He had no intentions of turning to alcohol, but for this time only it did help dull this pain.

"Call me Dr. Jim and we can have a therapy session anytime you want." Brass spied the water and food dishes on the floor. "Where's the mutt?"

"Bruno is in the bedroom and he's not a mutt, he's a Boxer."

Grissom was about to launch into the exact breed of Boxer when Brass held up the hand that held his drink and cut him off. "I know, Gil, no lectures." Rolling his eyes he pressed on. "Sara is worried that he isn't eating."

"He isn't, but it has only been a day. When he gets hungry enough then I expect him to eat something." Grissom kept the concern from his voice and asked briskly. "And who is making sure that Sara is eating?"

"I suppose that would be Sara." Brass settled into the chair opposite the sofa and studied his friend. " You okay, Gil?"

"I don't have much choice do I Doctor Jim?" Grissom asked, his eyes focused on the liquid as he tilted the glass to the left and then the right and watched it ebb and flow.

"That's the funny thing about life." Brass waved one hand in front of himself and smiled. "Everything we do is a choice and how you respond to this situation is no different." Brass crinkled his nose and shook his head. "What do you think? Do I sound like you?"

"You should stick with the one liners, Jim." Grissom's retort was softly spoken and he leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes tightly. Jim was right, though, and they both knew it. He could withdraw into himself and become angry with Sara or he could support her and whatever decision she chose. "I miss her already."

San Francisco, 2007

Sara paused outside of the apartment complex that boasted a swimming pool, gym and community center. Crumpling the piece of paper in her hand she bit her bottom lip while squinting at the numbers displayed on the side of the buildings. She was searching for building 204, apartment A-72. She probably should have called first and let him know that she wanted to see him. No, that wasn't right, she needed to see him. It had not been difficult to track him through AFIS. She'd followed him for years and knew that he'd spent five years in prison for armed robbery when he was twenty years old. He was released at twenty five where he then drifted around the country until settling back in San Francisco at thirty two. She had no idea what he'd done in those years or what he was doing now, but she had his address.

Stephen was a stranger in her life and if she were honest with herself then he always had been. Stranger or not he was family and the only blood relative that she had left aside from their mother who she had no idea of where or how to locate. CODIS had provided no clues and she could find no records of Laura Sidle after she'd left prison nine years ago.

Taking a deep breath Sara took deliberate steps towards the building that held her past and hopefully some resolution to her present.

TBC