A FRESH BEGINNING part 4

Slight spoiler for Grave danger.

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The next few weeks passed in a blur. Graveyard had seemed to have been hit with all the big cases, which often led to double shifts. Grissom and Sara hadn't managed any more meals together (which in a way Sara was pleased about. She wasn't sure how to deal with Grissom at the moment!) But they'd had a few coffees. That night's shift was due to start in an hour. Grissom was already in his office doing paperwork when Catherine knocked on his door.

"Grissom, we've got a problem," she said as she walked in," Nick has gone missing from his crime scene."

Grissom looked up,

"What do you mean gone missing?" he asked as he stood up.

"Exactly that. One minute he was there, the next gone. Let's go."

Grissom followed Catherine out of the building and into his truck. When they arrived at the scene, Brass was already there.

"There's nothing to go on, just this." He pointed to where Nick's CSI vest was neatly placed on the ground.

Grissom and Catherine went over the scene searching for any sort of clue but the only thing they found was a coffee cup already sealed in an evidence bag. They collected the few things together and headed back to the lab. On the way in they bumped into Greg and asked him to get everybody together in the lay out room.

Sara was the last one to arrive; she looked around at the sombre faces.

"It's true then." She said," I heard but didn't want to believe it."

For the next twenty minutes or so Grissom and Catherine went over what they had which unfortunately wasn't a lot. Suddenly everyone looked up; there was a commotion down the corridor. Grissom walked out to see Hodges stood there with a brown package.

"What is it Hodges?" Grissom asked wearily not in the mood to deal with him.

"It's about Nick," Hodges answered as he thrust it at Grissom.

After pulling on gloves, Grissom took it to the evidence room. Once there he carefully opened it, inside there was a tape and a computer flash card. He carefully examined both items and then took them to Archie. Everybody stood in stunned silence as they listened to the demand of 1 million dollars. Archie leaned towards the computer and plugged in the flash card. Instantly a screen came up with a message saying that they could only look. He clicked on the link and the computer screen was filled with a picture of Nick.

It was too much for Sara; she gave a gasp and left the room. She found herself wandering the corridors, heading nowhere.

Pull yourself together, she thought, this won't help Nick. With that she went straight back to the evidence room where she started going over every little piece of evidence that they had. She had been sat there awhile when she heard little whispers outside the room. Sara looked up and listened.

"Grissom's going to take the ransom money." Came a voice.

"You mean they got it?" the voices drifted away.

Sara stood up quickly, her face full of shock and fear. Fear for Nick but also for Grissom. Her hands started to shake, so she thrust them deep into her pockets. Sara started to walk towards Grissoms office, not really knowing where she was going. When she arrived one glance told her that what she had heard was true. Sara tapped on the door frame, then went in and shut the door behind her.

"Grissom," she started to say not able to look up, "let somebody else go. It's not your job."

Grissom looked up, his face full of concern.

"Sara, I have to do this." He told her, walking around his desk.

"But," Sara finally looked up at him. "What if it goes wrong?" she whispered. "I don't want to lose you."

"Oh Sara," Grissom reached towards her and gently wrapped his arms around her pulling her close. "Sara, I promise I'll be okay. Look, I'll text you as soon as it's done. I'm not going to get hurt." Grissom said quietly into her hair.

Sara looked at him and bit her lip. She took a deep breath and reached to brush away the over flowing tears.

"Promise?" she asked leaning into his arms." You know I'll hold you to that."

"Sara, I promise, nothing will stop me letting you know that I'm okay." Grissom slowly pulled back." I've got to go now, but I'm going to make another promise to you. When this is all over we are going to sit down and have a long talk."

Sara glanced up, fear once again in her eyes. Grissom smiled and leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"Don't worry, it will all be okay." He told her as he reached for the bag and left the room.

Sara stood there stunned for a moment; never in her wildest dreams did she think that Grissom would kiss her, most especially at work! Then again this was a shift like no other. Sara allowed herself a small smile and then headed back to the evidence room, after double checking her cell phone was on.

Half hour later Sara's cell beeped. She quickly pulled it out and walked to the locker room. She wanted to read the message in private. Once there, Sara shut the door and sat down on the bench. Fingers shaking she opened the message.

AM OK. BOMB WENT OFF! AM NOT HURT. G.

Sara released the breath that she was holding and quickly hit the reply button.

Thank you. Hurry back. S

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Hours later they had managed to find and rescue Nick. He was badly bitten by fire ants and very shaken. The guys followed the ambulance to the hospital, Grissom bringing up the rear. He had gotten reassurances from Ecklie that his team was going to be put back together.

Everybody gathered around Nick quietly talking to him and going over what had happened. Eventually one by one they said their goodbyes and left leaving just Grissom and Sara. Sara moved over to Nick and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"I'll come back later, get some sleep." She told him and then she left the room. Sara didn't go far, she was waiting for Grissom.

Five minutes later Grissom was in the hallway, head lowered exhaustion finally hitting him. He didn't see Sara and jumped when he heard her voice.

"I think it's my turn to take you home. You are shattered, come on."

Grissom nodded his head in agreement.

"Thank you." He told her as they walked to the elevator.

The drive to Grissom's town house was silent, neither quite sure what to say. Eventually Sara pulled up outside his house and turned to look at him.

"Hey, we're here." She said.

"Sara, will you come in?" Grissom asked a pleading look in his eyes.

"Do you really want me to?"

"Yes I do." With that Grissom opened the car door and walked up the path. Sara got out the car, locked it and followed him. Grissom unlocked the front door and stepped back to let Sara in.

Sara stepped inside and slowly turned around to look at Grissom.

"Grissom," she started to say but was silenced by his finger on her lips.

"Sh, there's time for talking later. We both need sleep and I know that I will sleep better if you are here with me." Grissom lowered his finger but replaced it with his lips. The kiss started off gently but got more and more passionate.

"God Sara!" Grissom broke away, "Let's go to bed."

Sara looked at him, her breath heavy with desire but fear in her eyes.

"Grissom … Gil I want to I really do but I can't. It will destroy me tomorrow when I go home alone."

Grissom took in Sara's down turned eyes.

"Look at me Sara. I'm not letting you go home alone today or tomorrow. I know what to do about this. I'm never going to hurt you or let you go ever again."

Sara wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"Gil do you know what you are getting in to?" she asked him with a smile.

"No but I'm sure I am going to enjoy every little moment. Now we really do need to get some sleep so that tomorrow we can talk and I can see just exactly what I am getting in to" Grissom chuckled as he led Sara to his bedroom.

Grissom pulled out a t shirt for her and showed her where the ensuite was. When Sara came back into the bedroom Grissom was already in bed. Sara gave him one of her special smiles and climbed into his bed and arms.

"Good night dear." Grissom wrapped his arms around her.

"Good night Gil."

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AN sorry this chapter has taken a few days to get up, I apologise as it's not the best one I have written. I have rewritten it a couple of times, thrown teddies and dummies out the pram and had lots of chocolate so hopefully it is ok. I promise to do better next chapter, which should be easier as its now onto the fluff!

You know the drill read and review thanks