Okay, there is dialogue included here that was written by the CSI writers. It's not mine but it is pretty good, lol.

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Gil worked his way through the week, literally. He spent almost every waking hour at the lab. He made it through all the case reviews, was ahead on scheduling and requisitions, and had just a few monthly reports to complete. He'd also been a part of almost every case that they got called out on. He even spent some time pestering the lab rats, watching them work and taking a greater interest in their techniques. His greater interest made them nervous. One night he even called on his earlier days as a coroner in LA and helped Doc Robbins in the morgue. He did everything he could think of to keep from going home to an empty house and having time on his hands. Hank was suffering, he knew, but it couldn't be helped.

Sleep was difficult, especially after his brief phone call to Sara. She hadn't wanted to talk. All he could get from her was that she was in San Francisco visiting her mother and she didn't want him to come see her. He told her that he just wanted to see her and talk….no pressure to come back or anything. But she had said no, she needed this time to herself. He understood, but it didn't make him feel any better.

When he did allow himself time to think about it, he decided that this was payback for him leaving for a month the year before. But he had talked to her, he thought to himself. He had explained it all before he left. On the other hand, he didn't call or write for the entire month….at least as far as she knew. Maybe it would be okay. After all, his time away had given him a new perspective and things had been much better after he got back. But his demons had been work related; hers were more personal. Her good bye had sounded final and it frightened him.

He had never allowed himself to open his feelings so much before. But she had chipped away at his resolve and finally broken through. That had frightened him too. But then slowly, he grew to depend on her presence; the knowledge that she was there and she loved him. It had felt good to be loved so much. And he had enjoyed opening his heart and showing his love to her. But now it was over.

He wanted her to be happy. He really did. But her leaving the way she left hurt and now anger was beginning to creep in. Not wanting to be angry with her, he tried to push those feelings away, but when he was alone and had time to think it became more and more difficult. Sometimes when he was trying to sleep those feelings would overtake him. The shock of her departure was passing and confusion was settling in. So he stayed at work even more.

Grissom was walking with Jim Brass through the hallway, with a file folder tucked under his arm. He was trying to finish a report for Ecklie.

Talking to the detective he explained, "Ecklie's been on me to finish the monthly stats, so I need a list of all the lab call-outs from dispatch as soon as you can."

"You'll have it by the end of shift tomorrow," Jim promised.

"Thanks."

Changing his tone, Brass commented. "So, you've been pulling a lot of doubles this week."

"Yeah, it's about all I do."

"Have you been in touch with Sara?"

"We've talked a little." Very little, he thought.

"So where's she at?"

"San Francisco, visiting her mother."

"No, I mean -- that's nice. No, but I meant where's she at emotionally?

You know, with respect to the two of you."

"I can't speak for her." He wished they could change the subject.

Trying to be a friend, Brass continued. "So speak for yourself."

"I can't talk, I'm really busy." He walked away from Brass, hoping his friend would get the hint. Making his way back to his office, he buried himself in his work, again.

Later Nick poked his head in the door. "All right, Grissom. That's it for me. I'm out of here."

Gil looked up. "Have a nice day."

Nick lingered in the doorway. "Yeah, I'm going over to Frank's to grab something to eat. I'll probably be there for at least an hour if you want to ... if you want to join me."

He nodded and then headed out but then stopped. "You know, we don't have to talk about anything in particular. Just two guys having breakfast. I just don't think it's good for people to be alone too much." Then he left.

That was awkward, thought Gil. He just wished everyone would stop acting so weird. It just made him think about things more. Focusing, he returned to his work.

Later, he was making his way through the hall when Catherine caught up with him. He knew it was going to be another questioning when he saw her face. She was on a mission.

"Oh, hey. How are you?" she asked.

Her we go, thought Grissom. "Why?"

"I can't ask how you're doing?"

He felt a little guilty. She was just trying to be his friend, something he needed right now. But he wasn't sure how many more concerned friend's probing he could take. "I'm sorry. I've just had a lot of ... uh ... I've been busy."

"Oh. Well, maybe you should take a few days off, for once in your career. I mean, you've got enough stored up. Go after her."

Looking at her, he thought that at least she was taking a different approach. It was so like her to want him to take action. If she were in his shoes, she'd be there by now, he knew. "It's not what she wants."

Looking back at him, mildly surprised by his lack of concern for his own needs, she asked, "What do you want?"

"I want her to be happy." And then he walked away.

Catherine was impressed by his apparent calm. She knew that despite his reputation for no emotions, when he cared about something, or in this case, someone, he cared deeply. It was typical that he would set aside his own emotions to care for hers. Lord knows, he's done it enough times to help me, she thought. Suddenly she was afraid for him. What would it do to him when he finally acknowledged his own feelings about Sara's departure?

Grissom went back to his work. As the stack of reports and files got shorter, he decided it was time for a break. As he walked into the breakroom, his eyed on the board game on the table. It caught his interest.

Seeing his interest, the game's owner, Hodges tried to explain. " … based on this place, but not in any legally actionable sense. You get evidence, scenarios, analysis. Try to solve diabolical murders."

Hodges held up the Mindy game piece. Grissom took it from him and looked at it. Then he looked at the board, the rooms, the pieces, the timer, the dice. He was intrigued.

"I like games," he said.

Hodges was surprised by his interest. "Really?"

"Yeah," he said as he sat down.

"Okay. Let's play." Then Hodges began reading the cover. "What makes it hard to catch a killer? Is it the sheer destructive power of the murder itself that obliterates evidence …" They began to play.

Hodges was amazed as he watched the mind of his superior at work, solving the crime in the game. "I am a mere Padawan in the presence of the Jedi Master." He said as he put his hands flat together and bowed to Grissom.

Accepting Hodges' praise, Grissom replied. "True." Looking at his watch he continued, "Let's play another."

"Sure."

As he shuffled the scenario cards, he glanced at Grissom.

"You weren't ready -- to leave -- this: the challenges, the puzzles, and the job."

"No."

"But Sara was."

"Yeah, she was." Grissom was a little impressed that Hodges, of all people, would be the one to pick up on that aspect of Sara's departure.

Hodges treated it matter of factly. "You can't stand in the way of that. When it's time for someone to move on, you just gotta let them go."

Grissom didn't want to talk about it anymore. "Let's play the game, shall we?"

After the shift, Grissom went home, walked Hank and fed him. Then after a lunch that he didn't want, Gil rinsed the dishes and then headed for bed. He needed to escape into the mental void of sleep.

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