Disclaimer: See first chapter.

As always, thanks to my beta Kasey for all her help. And thanks to all who have read and reviewed. The juicy parts are just beginning...

Chapter Four:

They pulled into the parking lot. Sara was getting really nervous.

Sara: "Griss, I don't know about this. I have a bad feeling."

Grissom: "Sara, don't you trust me?"

Sara: "I do, but..."

Grissom raised a finger to her lips.

Grissom: "Sara, let me show you how much I love you. Let me do this. Ecklie won't have a chance to put up a fight. Now do you trust me?"

Sara: "Okay Griss, I trust you."

Grissom: "Good. Now let's go."

Grissom and Sara walked into the building. They walked down the hall to Grissom's office.

Sara: "What are we doing in here?"

Grissom: "Leverage."

Sara: "Oh."

Grissom went to is desk, opened a draw, and pulled out a small file.

Sara: "What do you have there?"

Grissom: "You will see."

Sara: "Is it illegal?"

Grissom: "Maybe."

Sara: "Grissom, you are going to use blackmail?"

Grissom: "Maybe. Come on, I will do all the talking."

Before they left, Grissom grabbed another folder from the file cabinet.

Grissom: "You ready?"

Sara: "Um..yes."

They walked out and went to Ecklie's office. As they got there, Grissom knocked on the door and stepped in. Ecklie was on the phone, but waved them in. Grissom walked up to the desk and dropped the file on the desk. Ecklie finished his phone call and picked up the file.

Ecklie: "What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

Grissom: "Conrad, I am here to tell you there is a conference in Flagstaff, Arizona, and that Sara and I are going to attend it this week."

Ecklie: "You both need to attend?"

Grissom: "Yes. I'm going to teach an Entomology class, and Sara is going to attend a blood splatter class."

Ecklie: "Gil, this is a bit sudden. I mean you couldn't inform me before today?"

Grissom: "I was called today. The teacher who was supposed to give the lecture backed out at the last second."

Ecklie: "That explains you, but Sidle?"

As Ecklie said Sidle, she tensed up. She wanted to run out, but she told Grissom that she trusted him. She stepped next to Grissom and looked at him with battle on her face.

Grissom: "Sara has expressed to me that she wants to learn more about the field of blood splatter. And this course is an introduction of a new way to look at it, with new equipment that will be coming up in the next few years."

Ecklie: "I thought Catherine is the blood splatter expert?"

Grissom: "Sara just wants to better her skills in that area. She deserves the right to advance in her career. Also she is maxed out on overtime this month so she will only be able to stay in the lab."

Ecklie: "I don't know Gil. I mean that puts your team down two members for a week."

Grissom: "Conrad, you know my team can run circles around any team here. I have faith in them. Cath can be in charge, and then there is Greg. He is becoming a good CSI."

Ecklie: "And this is going to convince me to let you both go? You know I won't let both of you go."

Grissom: "You can't or you won't?"

Ecklie: "I won't."

Grissom: "Well then if you won't, then I will have to take this folder to the sheriff."

Ecklie: "What do you have there?"

Grissom: "This is all the evidence of all your affairs with the Sheriff's wife and the Mayor's wife. So i you don't let us go, I will turn this over to them and to who ever else I can find. You will never work in law enforcement again."

Ecklie: "Where did you get that?"

Grissom: "I have my ways Conrad."

Ecklie: "Are you blackmailing me?"

Grissom: "Yes. So what is your answer? And if you think you will have mine or Sara's jobs before we get back, I will have yours before you can say lawyer."

Ecklie: "Then I'm left with no choice but to say yes. But don't think you can hold this over me forever."

Grissom: "Oh, I believe I can Conrad."

Ecklie: "So how long are you going for again?"

Grissom: "One week. Seven days. Starting now!"

Ecklie: "Then fine, I will see you both in a week."

And with that, Grissom and Sara turned and walked out of Ecklie's office and back down to Grissom's.

Sara: "Are you kidding me? Ecklie is sleeping with the Sheriff's and Mayor's wives?"

Grissom: "Well just the Sheriff's. I wasn't sure about the Mayor's. But my suspicions looked to be right."

Sara: "How did you find this out?"

Grissom: "I know more about what's going on in this building then I let on. Cath tells me to learn politics. I think I have my own politics."

Sara: "I can't believe you just pulled that off. I thought he was going to breakdown and hit you. But one thing, what if he finds a way to fire us? Grissom, this job means everything to me. I can't lose it."

Grissom: "Sara, I promise you will not lose your job."

He walked over to her. He checked around to see if anybody was watching, then he grabbed her hands and looked into her eyes.

Grissom: "Sara? Do you want this...us? Because I feel like you are having second thoughts. I need to know if you really want me...us."

Sara looked into his eyes. They have always made her feel like she could do and be anything. Oh his eyes were what she wanted. To love, to be secure, and melt all her insecurity away. And with her heart, she said.

Sara: "More than anything."

Grissom: "Good. Because Sara Sidle I love you. So please honey, trust me. Ecklie doesn't have a leg to stand on. He would not risk his job or his life to fire us. He knows it will take that away."

Grissom took one last look around. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. With that one kiss, Sara felt that she could conquer the whole world.

Sara: "Okay I trust you. I'm going home to pack a few things for our trip. When should we leave?"

Grissom: "I need to wrap up a few things here. I have to go home and get myself packed. I will pick you up, let's say around 12:30?"

Sara: "Okay. It's 10:00 now. Are you sure 12:30? Maybe 1:00 would be better?"

Grissom: "Okay, 1:00. I will see you then."

Sara: "See you then."

Sara turned and walked out of his office and drove home with the biggest smile. Grissom grabbed his cell phone and started to dial Catherine's number.

Catherine: "Hello Gil, what can I do for you?"

Grissom: "Hello. I am going to a conference in Arizona."

Catherine: "Oh when?"

Grissom: "Today. I'll be gone for a week."

Catherine: "Today? For a week? Why didn't you tell me before now?"

Grissom: "I just got the call today. I need you to take care of Nick, Warrick and Greg."

Catherine: "What about Sara?"

Grissom: "She is going also."

Catherine: "Sara is going with you?"

Grissom: "That's what I said."

Catherine: "What's going on Gil? Why is she going with you?"

Grissom: "She is going to attend a blood splatter class, and I'm going to teach an Entomology class."

Catherine: "Blood splatter? That's my field."

Grissom: "She wants to take this course so she can learn more about it."

Catherine: "Gil, what's going on? This doesn't sound like you."

Grissom: "Catherine, just do what I say. If you need something, I will have my cell phone with me."

Catherine: "Okay Gil. But when you get back, we need to talk."

Grissom: "Goodbye Catherine."

Catherine: "Bye. Have a nice time."

Catherine looked at her phone and said to herself that something was up and she was going to get to the bottom of it.

Grissom shut his phone, looked at a few files he was already working on, and signed all the ones that needed his approval. He grabbed the book on blood splatter, shut all the lights off, shut the door, and walked out to the drive home.

TBC