Disclaimers: I do not own any of the characters in CSI or the rights to the show itself. However, I would like to thank CBS for letting me take the characters out to play.

I would also like to thank my beta: mbbowman/swismiself. She has put her time and effort into editing this and I greatly appreciate it.

I guess I should let you in on the fact that this is pre-season 6, and although it is GSR it is not pre-existing. Also unlike my other story - This one is a WIP - I will do my best to update regularily though.


Chapter 3: Rundown

Gil Grissom wasn't sure what he expected when the door to Sara's apartment opened, but the blonde haired, blue eyed, police officer with a striking smile and build like a Mack truck certainly wasn't it.

Grinning tightly, the enigmatic entomologist took in the man in front of him before moving past the young cop and entering the apartment. "Officer Marshall, what are you doing here?" he asked, eyeing the cup of coffee in the man's hand and the shit eating grin plastered on his face.

"Oh…" He held up the coffee. "Just finishing this up…" He pulled back a final gulp and moved around the counter to drop the cup into the open dishwasher. "Miss Sidle offered me some in exchange for dropping her home."

"Last time I checked she had a car…" He informed the young man tersely.

"Oh she does, but it wouldn't start, so I had it towed to the motor pool shop and dropped her home." He grinned dangerously.

"Great use of department resources…" Grissom commented dryly.

"Hey, she's one of our own, and we look after our people. You know that." He bent over and closed the door to the dishwasher. "Besides…" He cast a look towards the bedroom door and dropped his voice a tad. "If it racks up some brownie points for me then all the better." He shrugged. "Then maybe she'll go out to dinner with me." He winked at the nightshift supervisor, and then sobered. "Hey you work with her, do you know if she is seeing anyone?"

Grissom was dumb struck; firstly, he was certain that no man had ever winked at him before, and secondly, he couldn't believe the gall this guy had. He was going to spit out a ream of information about rules and regulations, and throw in a few lectures about consideration, common courtesy, and inappropriateness, but he was interrupted by the appearance of a tall brunette at her bedroom doorway.

"Hey Gris..." Sara's voice traveled easily through the small apartment, as she distractedly grabbed her kit, and laptop up in her hands.

Grissom's heart caught in his throat. She was freshly dressed in what could only be described as a breathtaking, and form fitting, cherry red summer dress. It was perfect for her. Though sleeveless, it wasn't low cut or revealing. It was a v-neck and it ended a little above the knee, baring just enough to titillate the imagination. A fumbling "Hi." was all his addled brain could come up with, amidst all the covetous synapses taking place inside of his head.

"I'm almost ready," she told him. Oblivious to his stare, she walked by him, leaving the scent of tangy lemons and soap in her wake. "I just have one more bag."

"Where is it?" he asked, absently noting that she had chosen not to straighten her hair after her shower.

A cascade of damp ringlets bounced around her face, as she spun to point out her bathroom bedroom doorway. "Just inside the washroom…"

"I'll get it." he announced, before the younger man used it as another opportunity to rack up more brownie points.

"I guess I'd better be going…" Officer Marshall declared as he made his way towards the door. "If you want I can drop your car back here, when it's fixed" he offered.

"Thanks Tim." Sara smiled at him and gave him a quick hug. "It's okay though, you've done enough…"

"It's really not a problem," he countered, at the same time flashing her a stunning smile.

"No, no, it's okay." She opened the door for him to leave, and ushered him out. "I'm just glad you came by when you did." Sara told him, as he reluctantly exited the apartment.

"Me too..." He grinned and threw a slight wave in Grissom's direction. "See yah later Doc… And I'll see you when you get back." He said winking at Sara before clearing the doorway.

"What was the matter with your car?" Grissom came up behind the slim brunette, startling her slightly.

"I have no idea..." She smiled over her shoulder, and grabbed her purse off the small table beside the door. "If I'd had the time I would have taken it into the garage and figured it out myself. But Tim happened along and offered me a ride and some free mechanical services… So I let him handle it." Turning around she eyed the tall graying man no more than a foot in front of her. Her heart beat a little faster. He looked deliciously casual in a dark fitted t-shirt and light jeans, and he was staring at her curiously. "What?" She checked the front of her dress to see if she'd dropped toothpaste on herself or something.

"You're wearing a dress…" He stammered.

Sara shot him a speculative look. "It's my inalienable right as the proud owner of two X chromosomes." She smiled at the creep of red that moved over his face.

"I… yeah…" He was discombobulated by her proximity and the softness of her femininity. "I don't think I've ever seen you in a dress before," he commented plaintively.

"Mmmm…" She nodded slowly and carefully moved around him and into the living room to gather the light sweater she'd left slung over the couch. "I know you won't believe this…" She told him, grabbing the kit and laptop up off the floor and then moving along side him to take the handle of her suitcase. "But I do own several of them, and I wear them often, just never to work." Sara's hand met with dead air as Grissom yanked the case away from her grab radius, and gently tugged the laptop strap off her shoulder.

The meaning of her last statement was not lost on him, and he felt his chest clench tightly. She'd offered him the chance to spend time with her outside of work, and he'd refused her. It had been a knee jerk reaction to a difficult situation. The potential loss of his hearing had been a debilitating realization. And she was so very much younger than him. How could he ask her to commit to a relationship with a man who was both emotionally and physically disabled? He knew he couldn't give her what she needed. He had convinced himself of this fact. Yet try as he might his heart wouldn't let her go. It was a fact that was made all that much more painful by the reality that she appeared to be moving on. And now looking back on her new outlook and the ready string of suitors that appeared to be lining up at her door, he couldn't help but wonder, mournfully, if his reluctance - nay, fear - hadn't cost him what would probably be the most important relationship in his life.

Noting the silence and the sudden sadness in his eyes, Sara smiled softly at him and nudged him out the door, before casting a final glance around her place.

God, how Gilbert Grissom could still make her heart ache with one simple look…

TBC