Grissom gazed out the window of the cab as it made its way through the streets to his hotel. What had happened? How did a normal routine seminar turn in to so much more? His analytical, scientific brain was having a hard time wrapping around the logic of some unspoken human connection, love at first sight or meant to be. He was far too realistic to believe in those notions, but here he was flirting with the most beautiful woman to ever talk to him on purpose. He chuckled at that. She was beautiful and he was ...what? He knew he was "ok" looking, his mother always said he was handsome, but that's what all moms said. He knew he wasn't young anymore. His graying temples evidence to that fact. As were the creaks and moans that accompanied a long shift and the glasses that seemed to be more and more permanently perched on the end of his nose.

"Just take a chance for once". He kept saying that to himself over and over again. As he walked into the hotel, showered, shaved and picked out his outfit - Just Take a Chance for once Gil! He heard it over and over in his head. He picked out a pair of khakis and a blue polo shirt. Catherine once had told him that it made his eyes seem more blue. So, he figured he might as well enhance his one good feature. He always got compliments on his eyes. He put on his brown suede jacket, put his glasses in his inside chest pocket and sat on the edge of the bed and waited for the front desk to call and tell him that Ms. Sidle had arrived.

Sara pulled her compact car up to the hotel. She couldn't believe her luck in finding a parking spot so close. It was 6:45, did that seem too eager? She hoped not. She didn't have time to go home, but she always kept spare clothes in her locker at work. So, she quickly showered and changed in the locker room.

"Hi, I was wondering if you can tell me what room Dr. Gilbert Grissom is in?" Sara inquired at the front desk.

"He is in room 523. Take the far elevators up to five and make a right" The desk clerk aimlessly pointed in the direction of the elevators, not even making eye contact with Sara.

"Thanks" Sara headed off to the elevators.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!

Grissom jumped up from the bed and whipped open the door, not expecting to see Sara standing there.

"Hey!" she said with a slight wave of her right hand.

Grissom just stood there taking in the sight of Sara Sidle. She had on simple black pants that flared at the bottom, making her legs seem to go on forever and a blue sweater, almost the identical color of his shirt. It hugged her thin frame, accentuating her curves in all the right places. He smiled in appreciation.

"Ummm...can I come in?" Sara cleared her throat.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry." He shook his head and opened the door wider for her to walk in past him. "I was expecting a call saying you were here, not you actually here at the door."

"Oh" She said with a slight frown.

"Oh, no. That came out wrong. Its ok" He smiled. "It's a nice surprise. I just wasn't expecting it."

"Oh, That's ok. I guess I shouldn't have assumed it was ok to just come up here. We don't have to be to the restaurant for like an hour. So, I thought maybe we could...just chat...or something?"

"Oh. Ok. Sure. Have a seat" he pointed to one of the two wingback chairs that sat either side of a lamp table by the widow.

"Wow, you have a great view" Sara stated as she stood in front of the window with her arms crossed in front of her.

Grissom was mesmerized by her. He just kept staring at her. "Yeah, you are a view." Wait! He didn't say that out loud did he? No, she didn't react. Whew! Keep it together, Gil! Quit conversing with yourself in your head. She's staring at you now, waiting for an answer to a question.

"Im sorry, Sara. What did you say?"

She smiled at him and chuckled. " I was saying that I don't bite and you can sit down over here next to me if you want"

He smiled and walked over to the chair and sat down. "Sorry. Im just kinda tired I guess."

"That's ok. I understand. If this conference wasn't here where I lived, I would probably be trying to get out of anything so I could sleep. But don't worry. Dennis isn't a night owl. But he can drink a little. So, be warned!"

"I 'll keep that in mind, thanks." He shifted in his seat a little uncomfortably, not knowing what to say. "Umm. So, Ms. Sidle...Sara...You read my biography. But I don't know much about you. So, tell me about yourself. How did you end up a Forensic scientist?"

He listened to her talk about her college years and training and how she had worked at a coroners office. They had a lot in common. He could listen to her talk forever. He could tell she really loved her work, but he knew that on the tour earlier at the lab.

"So, I have been going on and on. Probably bored you to sleep by now" She grinned at him.

"No" He smiled at her. "You intrigue me Sara Sidle." He looked right into her brown depths, trying to read what was there or not there.

"Yeah?" She pursed her lips and held his gaze.

Just then a loud shrill noise pierced the silence, cutting the tension that was building.

"Sorry, its my cell." Grissom fumbled in his pocket for his phone.

"Grissom. Yeah. Im just heading out to dinner, Catherine." He got up and went into the bathroom, giving Sara an apologetic look.

She could still hear his side of the conversation. "No, just the Director and his wife. No, I wont stay out too late, haha." "Well, it should be on my desk. Tell Brass Ill be back tomorrow and I can find it for him then." "Ok, ok. Yeah, I think Nicky can handle that, Cath. Don't baby him too much, geesh!" "All right, Ill see you tomorrow" "yeah, my flight gets in early, so I will just head home before shift." "Ok, bye. Bye. Goodbye, Dear!" He laughed as he flipped the phone closed. Catherine was worse than a wife sometimes and whenever he said BYE DEAR, she knew to shut up.

Sara sat in the chair listening to his conversation. She knew she shouldn't be, but it was hard not to. "Whose Catherine? His wife? Girlfriend? Maybe just a coworker." Then when she heard Grissom talk about a kid named Nicky, her heart sunk. He had a kid! What a dope she was. She didn't even THINK to ask him if he was married or had a family. Then his final Goodbye Dear. She shook her head side to side in frustration and folded her arms across her chest.

"Sorry, about that, Sara. Work always finds you, no matter where you are!" He was smiling at her then stopped dead in his tracks. "What's wrong?"

Sara got up and began stomping her way to the door. "We better go. Dennis will be waiting"

"Ok, ummmm...what just happened?" Gil looked around confused.

"You know, you should have told me you were married and had a kid. Im an adult. I can handle it."

"WHAT? I don't! Im not! That was a coworker and we were talking about work!" He had the most confused look on his face that made Sara almost believe him.

"Fine. If That's what you want to tell people. But I heard you call her DEAR and you were talking about how she babies a kid named Nicky. I may be young but im not stupid and I WILL NOT be made a fool of, Dr. Grissom!"

Grissom stood there in disbelief. Then he tried to hide his smile, but his laughter burst through and he doubled over with the hilarity of it all. He sat on the bed wiping the tears from his eyes.

"What's so funny?" Sara stood there, pissed off and fuming.

"Nicky is a CSI! Catherine is too. She babies him too much on cases. I guess we are kinda like a big dysfunctional family. But catherine has her own sleazy husband and a beautiful daughter. And Nicky is in his twenties..." He laughed again and rose from his sitting position to stand in front of Sara.

"Im sorry, Sara." He put his hands on her shoulders and began to lightly run his hands up and down her arms. "Can you please forgive my outburst? I guess if you didn't know who I was talking to it would have sounded the way you interpreted."

Sara stood there in disbelief. How could she have gotten that conversation so wrong? He was laughing at her! Some investigative skills she had. HMPF! She needed to change the subject. Then he was there, right in front of her. He wasn't laughing. He was touching her so lightly. It felt so nice. She could feel the heat from his hands warming her arms and her insides with his light touches. She just stood there, reveling in the moment. Taking it all in and engraving it on her memory.

Grissom stood there, lost in her eyes. What was he doing? Should he be doing this? She was so young and beautiful. He let his hands wander down her arms and took each of her hands into each of his. He took a step closer. She didn't pull away. He moved his head closer to her lips and she slipped her pink tongue out to moisten them. He waited a moment more, and when their lips touched, it was a light kiss. Just lips on lips. He pulled back a little, looking for approval in her eyes. She loosed her hands from his and just stood there, staring into his blue pools.

He looked down then saying "Sara, im sorry" but was stopped by her hands on his head and her lips crushing his in a passionate kiss. All thoughts ceased to exist at that point. It was just lips, tongues, hands and the sweet vanilla smell of Sara Sidle. They each explored and tasted and teased. She couldn't seem to keep her hands out of the slightly curly hair at the back of his head. She loved the feel of it in her hands, surrounding her fingers. Grissom let his hands wander down Sara's back, settling on her hips. He pulled her closer and she deepened the kiss, changing angles. They finally broke free to gasp for air. Grissom rested his forehead on hers and laughed and breather out a barely audible "WOW".

Sara just smiled at him, placing her hands on his face, pulling him in for another kiss. "Definitely, Wow!" She stated and licked her lips before devouring his mouth again. Grissom let out a groan and wrapped his arms around her, holding on tighter. He never knew that just kissing could be so erotic. But then again, he had never met anyone like Sara Sidle.

"DAMMIT!" Sara yelled out.

Grissom stood there confused still reeling from the last kiss. It took him a moment to comprehend what was going on. Sara was on her phone. Did it ring? He didn't remember hearing it.

"Yeah, Dennis. We're on our way right now. See you in 10." Sara closed her phone and clipped it back onto her waistband.

Grissom was still standing there in the middle of the room when Sara walked up and placed a simple kiss on his lips and grabbed his hands. "Hey. That was amazing, and I wish we could continue" she flashed a crooked grin at him " but that was my boss. He got done early and wants us to meet him at the restaurant as soon as we can."

"Oh, ok." Grissom smiled seductively at Sara.

Sara released his hands and turned toward the door, Grissom followed close behind, picking up his room keycard as he exited the room. They stood staring at each other as they waited for the elevator...as they rode the elevator to the lobby...as they drove the short distance to the restaurant.

"You have to stop that, Grissom." She grinned at him as she pulled into a parking space at the restaurant.

"Stop what?" He looked genuinely confused.

"THAT!" She laughed. "That look. You keep looking at me like that and we might get arrested for indecent acts in public"

Grissom laughed and shook his head. "Oh. Ok, Umm...sorry. Didn't realize I was doing that."

"Hey, I don't mind. But, we do have to meet my boss and your colleague."

"Don't worry. Im in complete control now." He smiled at her, that boyish grin and Sara wondered if either one of them were really in control of anything at that moment.