I'm so glad you're all reading, thanks so much for your comments and story faves. Here goes chapter four...


Chapter Four

"Thanks for your time everyone, see you tomorrow." Grissom smiled at the class before him as the clock on the wall hit 5pm.

With muttered thanks, the students gathered their papers and left the room. Sara rose from her seat and started to pack away her own things, her mind buzzing with thoughts over the cases Grissom had laid out before the group.

Grissom caught her eye, "I'll meet you outside in a couple of minutes; I need to lock up."

She nodded and left the room. What was he going to talk to her about? What should she say? Should she think of something for them to talk about? Before she had to chance to get even more nervous, she saw Grissom coming out of the building and heading towards her as she stood at the edge of the parking lot.

"My car is over there," he pulled his keys from his jeans pocket and pointed with them towards a green station wagon. Sara followed him, heading over to the passenger side of the car as he slid his key into the keyhole and the locks popped up. She opened her door and climbed inside, placing her bag on the floor in front of her and buckling her seatbelt.

"It's only a few minutes drive," Grissom explained, starting the engine. "Do you like music?"

"Mhmm." Sara nodded and Grissom flicked on the radio to fill the car with the gentle sound of blues. They spent the rest of the short drive in a comfortable silence, both listening to the music, and their own thoughts.


"What would you like to drink?" Grissom asked.

The coffee house was cool, refreshing from the heat outside. The windows had a slight tint to the glass, and the lighting was low, creating a relaxed atmosphere. There were a few other people sat at various tables across the room, the tables running along side the window were partitioned, but there lots of empty seats left.

"Black coffee, please." Sara smiled, she couldn't remember the last time someone had taken her for coffee.

"Two black coffees please," Grissom asked the waitress behind the bar.

"I'll bring them over to you." the waitress smiled.

Grissom led the way to a table at the other end of the café by the window, partitioned from the other people. Sara slid into the booth-like area on one side, Grissom taking the seat opposite. Sara smiled at Grissom uncomfortably, she wanted to say a thousand things, but none of them seemed right. She felt nervous.

"Two coffees." the waitress placed their coffees in front of them.

"Thank you," Grissom smiled and the waitress walked off, "did you enjoy today's lecture?" he turned to Sara.

She nodded, "it's fascinating. I thought I knew an amount, but there's so much."

"Being a good CSI means you're always learning. Always keep your mind open to new ideas, never assume anything. Assumptions can damage the processing of evidence."

"How long have you been in forensics?"

"I've been at the Vegas lab for 9 years, went straight from university."

"Why are you in San Francisco?" Sara took a sip of her coffee, it was bad stuff, but she didn't want the conversation to move from learning about Grissom, so tried to hide the face she wanted to make at the bitter taste.

"On one week's paid holiday, I have to take it, but I usually hate time off, so I decided to do something about it." Grissom sipped his coffee, "this stuff tastes horrible." he made a face at the cup, before laughing a little.

Sara laughed too, "It's alright."

"Sorry, Sara."

The way he said her name made her stomach flip excitedly. "Don't worry, Gil." She'd meant to use his first name in a jokey manner, but it came out soft and she felt herself blush as she caught his eye.

He was looking at her with complete seriousness. "Sara..." he paused, and cleared his throat, his eyes leaving hers, "can I get you another drink?"

"This is fine, honestly, I drink worse at home." She took another sip to prove her reply.

They were silent for a few minutes, taking glances at other customers, or at passing traffic outside.

Sara let her mind wander; the closeness to Grissom was sending her body into overdrive. She thought she could feel something coming from him, nerves or a tension of some kind, but was unsure - maybe her mind was playing tricks on her.

"I've got the details of my last case in my bag," Grissom spoke up. "Do you want to see?"

Sara nodded and he took the folder from his bag and slid it across the table to her. "The case information I gave in the lecture was accurate, but missing the finer details. Gotta give the others a chance." He smiled.

Sara opened the folder to reveal case photos, documented evidence reports and logs. This was much more than Grissom had offered the class earlier.

Grissom sipped his coffee as she read over the file in silence, taking in every bit of information. "Borrow it," He said, "bring it back tomorrow."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded, "But I've got to get going. Can I give you a lift home?"

"That'd be great." Sara placed the file into her own bag and Grissom placed a few dollars on the table to cover the bill.

They left the cafe and got into Grissom's car.

"Lead the way." He smiled softly at her.

"Down past the academy and 5th road on your right." She buckled up, smiling back.

"Do you live alone?" he asked, not turning on the radio this time.

"No. I live with a housemate, but we keep out of each others' way."

"Bit of a party animal, is she?"

"Am I that predictable?" Sara let out a little laugh, but felt slightly embarrassed Grissom had come to the right assumption that she wasn't the type for all-night parties.

"You're like me."

Sara remained silent, willing Grissom to expand on his comment.

"Hard working, determined, careful, passionate."

She was sure she saw his cheeks blush as his last word. She was sure a shiver had run through her body like electricity.

Grissom turned the car on to her street.

"Just here is great. Thank you."

He pulled in and turned off the engine.

"You can let me know what you think of that case tomorrow."

"I will," Sara unbuckled her seat belt and opened the car door to get out, "You can buy me another coffee." She hadn't meant to be so blunt, but she'd said it now.

"I will." He agreed; a small smile on his lips.

Sara closed the car door and headed into her apartment building, looking forward to spending the evening immersed in the case file: she hoped a diversion from Grissom would settle her mind, and her heart. Was she kidding herself that he was even slightly interested in her? Who would be interested in messed up, boring, insomniac Sara Sidle anyway?

Nobody.

Sara sat down at the desk in her room and spread out the case file. If there was one thing she could always count on, it was evidence.