Sara held his gaze for a moment before she looked away toward the lake. Grissom's eyes lowered to Hank whose eyes were closed as he dozed, and again he patted the dog's side warmly, comfortingly. Hank lazily opened one eye before turning his body, seeking more of his master's touch, and smiling Grissom gently scratched at his belly. He was grateful for Hank's presence, for the distraction the dog provided now and every day. Without Hank, he wouldn't be here, now, with Sara. He knew that.

Hank had given him the opportunity, the impetus he'd needed to ask Sara out. Is that what they were doing, he wondered suddenly, going out? He wasn't shy generally, not around women anyway, but with Sara it was different. Sara was his subordinate, fifteen years his junior. If it went wrong between them there would be ramifications at work.

Over the years she'd made her feelings for him plain, giving him the opportunity more than once to take the initiative if he so desired, but he'd always found a reason not to. Not because he didn't care for her enough, but because he cared too much. Their relationship, their friendship, had been fraught at times, through his own fault he would be first to admit, but this past year they'd reached more of an understanding, had grown close again, friendly like they used to be.

Was he prepared to jeopardise their friendship for a possible romance that might never flourish? Was he ready to take that next step with her, he wondered with a sigh? And if so, would she still want him to? Had that ship sailed? She'd seemed to be moving on recently. Tread carefully, he told himself, for both your sakes.

She'd opened up to him and the last thing he wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable. He needed to take his time, let things develop slowly, naturally, between them, if they were to develop into anything more meaningful that just their friendship. And if that was what she wanted to settle for with him, then so be it. It was better than nothing at all.

Hank stood up suddenly, breaking into Grissom's thoughts, shook himself and wandered off. Sara turned back to him and he gave her a smile. Her eyes lowered, and she pinched a cherry tomato from her plate she brought to her mouth. A little juice leaked out of the corner of her mouth, and quickly she wiped at it with the back of her hand. He was openly staring.

"Why did you stop coming?" he asked in a whisper. Sara finished chewing slowly, then fixed him with a puzzled look. He held his ground. "To Desert Breeze Park, I mean. Hank missed you." Pausing, he caught her eye and held it, then tried a smile that wavered uncertainly. "I missed you."

It was Sara's turn to look away, and she remained a while looking out to the lake, seemingly considering her reply. "I thought it'd be too painful," she finally said, turning back toward him.

It was his turn to be confused. "Painful?"

She swallowed, nodded her head at him. "Seeing you outside of work, like that with Hank, relaxed and happy, it was…painful." She brought her hand up to her chest, tapped it over her heart. "Here."

Grissom had felt that way himself, earlier when he'd watched her play with Hank, jealous of the attention, the affection she was lavishing the dog, and for the first time he truly understood how she felt, and why she would want to protect herself. Come on, Gil, you've got this far. It's now, or never.

"And this? Here," he said, "Today, I mean. Is it painful?"

She smiled. "No. It's not." Her smile broadened. "It's nice."

Grissom felt his heart swell again. Maybe he wasn't too late after all. With a hard swallow he smiled and nodded his head, and they finished eating. He was packing the empty containers back in the backpack when he suddenly felt the urge to go. Wincing, he looked up and all around them for a spot where he could sneak off to and do his business unnoticed, but the vegetation was sparse, too sparse to conceal anything.

"Grissom, are you all right?"

Sighing, he lifted sheepish eyes to her. "I need to pee. And there's nowhere to go really."

Sara pinched her lips, badly suppressing her amused smile. "You could always go in the water."

Grissom pursed his mouth at her teasing, then nodded his head at a large rock further up along the coast. "I was thinking more behind there. Would you mind?"

"When you got to go, you got to go."

"Still."

"I promise I won't look."

Grissom pursed his mouth again, wishing he could hold, but he knew he wouldn't be able to, not all the way back to the Marina. He gathered his hiking shoes and socks and put them back on. "All right," he said, pushing to his feet, and Hank sauntered over to him. "Hank, you stay here with Sara. Make sure she doesn't peek. I'll be right back."

"Take your time," she called brightly as he rushed off.

Hurrying away, Grissom glanced then gave them a wave over his shoulder. Sara was holding Hank back by the collar, all the while talking in his ear, and Grissom wondered how long it would be until Hank came bounding over. As it turned Hank never materialised and Grissom took his time doing his business, making sure the coast was clear from all angles.

When he returned Sara had packed the rest of the food away and was once again standing barefoot at the water's edge with Hank. She looked miles away as she stared out at the water and rugged terrain beyond, and Grissom took a moment to watch her. Hank came over to greet him, and Sara turned round with a start. He gave her a smile.

"You're ready to head back?" he asked.

"Whenever you are," she called back and Grissom set about folding the rug and packing away Hank's food and drink Sara had kept out.

Out of the blue, Hank gave a distant bark, and then a series of more urgent ones. With a frown Grissom turned round toward the sound, but Hank had wandered off over the ridge separating the coastline from the desert beyond, concealed from view. Standing up, Grissom gave a shrill whistle, then another, calling Hank back. Hank barked again in response. Buzzards circled overhead where Grissom assumed Hank's barks were coming from.

"He's over there," Sara said, covering the distance to Grissom and quickly shoving her bare feet in her boots. "He must have found something."

Grissom gave a nod, and together they jogged up to the top of the beach. Hank met them as they came over the ridge through some brush and barked again before setting off toward where the buzzards had landed and were pecking at what Grissom assumed to be the carcass of a dead animal. As barking Hank approached the birds flew off, but not very far.

"Hank," Grissom called, stopping. "Come here boy!"

Hank turned toward Grissom and Sara and barked again, calling them over. Grissom and Sara shared a look before setting off again.

"It must be big," Grissom said, slightly breathlessly, "For Hank to have picked up its scent from the beach." He scanned his eyes around but the area was deserted. When they got to the body Grissom was relieved to see it was that of a bighorn sheep, dead a while, judging by the amount of insect activity. Grissom grabbed Hank by the collar, keeping him back, and looked at the buzzards circling above.

Sara let out a giggle and Grissom fixed her with a less-than-amused look. Trust her to find the situation funny. "Could Hank have been a cadaver dog in a past life?" she asked, still chuckling.

"I don't think so," Grissom mumbled back, a little disgruntledly. If he was, the people at the shelter had certainly kept that from him.

"What do we do?" Sara asked.

Grissom shrugged. "Let nature take its course, I suppose." With a sigh he indicated they should head back to the shore. "There's no getting away from it, is there?" he said when they got there, downcast at the thought that their happy and carefree day had been spoiled.

"From what?"

He glanced over at her; she'd taken her cap off and was wiping her brow. "Death. Even on our day off."

Smiling, she put her cap back on. "Could have been worse," she said, nudging her elbow to his arm playfully, "Could have been a real DB, and then our cover was blown."

Her words gave him pause. A smile broke across his face, and he shook his head at her. She winked at him, then perched on a boulder and took a moment to put on her socks and lace up her boots while Grissom drank some water. Already forgetting about his find, Hank had wandered off toward the lake. They picked up their stuff and silently set off along the coastline back to the Marina, Hank merrily leading the way. They took their time about it, the mood once again relaxed and happy.

"You in a rush to get back?" she asked, when they reached the car lot.

Grissom checked the time; four pm. Normally after a night off he liked to go into work a good couple of hours early, catch up with what he'd missed and sign off on the stack of case files and reports that needed signing off on. Not today. "No, why?" he said, thinking how proud his doctor would be at the new leaf he'd turned over.

She pointed toward the cluster of buildings to their right. "I'm just going to pop in there for a minute. Is that all right?"

"Sure," he said, thinking she needed to go to the ladies. "I'll wait out here with Hank."

Sara nodded and without wasting time headed to the souvenir/grocery/service store. Grissom called Hank, clasped the lead on his collar and walked over to the bait and tackle shop next door. They didn't go in, but looked at the equipment displayed in the window. Maybe when he got himself that rod, he could get one for Sara too. A tap on the shoulder a moment later had him turning around with a start. Sara grinned at him; she was holding a plastic carrier bag and two ice cream tubs and plastic spoons.

"Thank you," he said, surprised when she held one out to him.

"It's the least I can do."

He smiled at her, and they moved over to a low wall in the shade and ate their ice creams there, away from the main thoroughfare. All too soon it was time to head back. They'd barely set off that Grissom sniffed, then turned off the air conditioning and opened his window. There was a distinct bad smell coming from the rear; Hank must have got closer to the sheep than he'd thought.

"It wasn't me," Sara said, laughing, and indicated Hank snoring at the rear.

Grissom looked over his shoulder at Hank all tired-out and sprawled over the whole of the backseat with his tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth. He was glad he'd followed the animal shelter's advice and purchased a removable and washable seat cover.

"Man's best friend, huh?" he muttered, with a complicit smile at Sara, and shook his head disparagingly. He was going to have to give the pooch a bath, which he wasn't exactly relishing. His lips twitched with a smile. Maybe he could take him to a car wash and hose him down. That might be easier. Better still… "Do you think I can take him to CSI and hose him down out back?"

A small, pained whine came from the backseat, and they laughed. The rest of the return journey was quiet but pleasant and far too short for Grissom's liking. Already he was dreading the moment he'd have to drop her off. Could he fake an engine breakdown, he wondered? Delay the moment they would have to part? And what should he do when he dropped her off? Walk her to her door, tell her he'd had a great time and kiss her on the cheek? On the mouth? With a sigh, he kept his eyes on the road and his speed steady. Sadly far too soon he was pulling into Sara's apartment building lot.

"Thanks Griss for today," she said, releasing her seatbelt when he cut the engine.

"You're welcome," he said, staring at her a little awkwardly.

"I had a great time."

"Me too."

"I'll…see you for shift tonight then."

"Yeah."

Sara turned to Hank and patted him goodbye. Before Grissom could react, she'd gathered her things and had stepped out of the car. He was about to do the same when he noticed she'd left the plastic carrier bag from the harbour store in the footwell. Quickly, he reached over for it – it was surprisingly bulky but very light – and got out of the car. Hank jumped onto the front seat, ready to disembark too, but Grissom shut the door before he could do so.

"Sara, wait up," he said, and caught up with her. "You forgot this."

She paused but made no attempt to take the bag he was holding out to her. "It's for you, and Hank. To say thank you for a lovely day."

Grissom's brow rose in surprise. "You didn't need to do that."

"I know. I wanted to. It's nothing special." Her expression turned sheepish, almost embarrassed. "Just a little something for when you get yourself that fishing rod."

Grissom's face softened. He opened his mouth, then shut it and made to open the bag, wanting to take a peek.

"Not now," she said softly, and he looked up. "Please."

He gave her a smile, nodded his head. They stood awkwardly, silently watching each other for a moment, before Grissom looked away to check on Hank in the car. The dog was watching them hopefully through the window, and so he refocused on her, taking his courage in both hands. "I was wondering. Would you…like to do it again some time? I mean, come out with Hank and me."

A slow smile crept over Sara's features. "I'd love to."

"Yeah?" He couldn't contain his surprise.

Smiling widely, she nodded. "Yeah."

He glanced at Hank again, grinned at Sara giddily. "Okay. So, I'll see you in a few hours then."

"You will."

Sara made to turn away, but then thought better of it, leaning across to kiss Grissom softly on the cheek before smiling awkwardly and moving away toward her front door. Grissom's hand lifted to his cheek as a smile of disbelief formed on his lips. His heart was beating madly in his chest. Again, she'd taken the initiative, but next time he promised himself he would.

As Sara stepped inside her building she turned round and smiled at him over her shoulder, and Grissom raised his hand in a small wave. Then he turned to his car. Hank let out a bark and Grissom hurried back to him. Reaching across, he put the plastic bag on the passenger seat. Curiosity got the better of him and gingerly he peeked inside the bag.

He laughed out loud at the content, Sara's Thank You gifts to him and Hank, and turning in his seat dipped his head toward Sara's windows on the first floor. He was smiling widely. He couldn't see her, but she was watching. From this moment on, he knew everything would turn out all right between them. With a happy heart, he turned the engine over and put the car in gear.

"So, Hank, I was thinking…" He looked over his shoulder, ready to back out of the spot. "How about next time we take Sara to Red Rock Canyon?" He glanced over at his faithful companion. "You think she'd like that?"

A/N: This is where the oneshot initially ended. I added a bit to it, but that's it.

But what do you think? Shall I continue and take them on that second date, or is this a good place to leave it?