Greg and Morgan were in the locker room getting ready for shift when Sara arrived. After exchanging greetings, Sara made for her locker and stowed away her purse and the lunch Grissom had put together for her. She felt a little self-conscious, as if fearing her newfound happiness showed and she was susceptible to be found out. She wouldn't mind as such, if it wasn't for all the caution and concern, and reproach too maybe, that was bound to come her way if people knew.

She still couldn't believe how swiftly and seamlessly Grissom had re-entered her life, how normal and natural it felt to have him home with her. All wasn't forgotten or forgiven of course, and she knew she should tread carefully, but it felt so good between them, so right and genuine. How could she voluntarily deny herself this pleasure? In her heart of hearts she wanted to believe a reconciliation between them was possible despite the many hurdles. Could the last two and bit years of heartache simply be erased from their past?

She was removing her jacket when she paused, a smile tugging at her lips as recollections of her afternoon with him flooded her. God, he'd made her feel so alive and so damn fulfilled and satisfied it was almost scary. She didn't think their making love so soon was a mistake, quite the opposite in fact as once again they'd been able to communicate in ways they simply couldn't with words, but it complicated things. A flush rose to her cheeks, and shaking her head to bring herself back to the present she cast a brief, awkward look around her. Greg looked up from tying his boot lace and smiled at her.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Sure," she replied with a bright smile.

His eyes lingered on her for a beat longer, and she wondered whether he'd seen straight through her and into her mind. She glanced over at Morgan checking her phone, and Greg stood up without another word, much to her relief.

She hung her jacket, then closed her locker and made for the door. "I'll see you in the break-room in fifteen minutes with assignments," she said, and garnering nods from both escaped toher office.

She was checking her messages and writing assignment slips when there was a knock on her open door. She looked up to find Greg standing there, looking hesitant and conflicted. Her smile wavered slightly as she wondered at the reason for his visit. What did he want to say now he couldn't say in the locker room?

"What can I do for you?" she asked, hiding her unease behind a professional tone.

Greg flashed a quick smile, then shrugged his shoulder and Sara frowned.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, concerned now.

"Sure." Greg looked behind him, then fully stepped inside the office and closed the door. "You…you're looking happy."

Sara's puzzlement intensified. "And that's a bad thing?" she tried tentatively.

"Well, no, I guess. It's just that…well, with Grissom due to leave today I thought you might…you know…be feeling down."

Sara couldn't help the amused smile that spread across her face. "Your concern is touching, Greg, but I'm fine." She paused, wondered whether she should tell him that actually Grissom was still in town, but then opted not to. She didn't like to hide the truth from Greg, but Grissom's whereabouts were none of his business and it would save a lot of questioning. And besides, she was doing fine. Her smile returned. Better than fine, actually.

"Okay," Greg said, still looking somewhat sceptical, and then hesitantly made for the door. He paused with his hand on the handle and turned back toward her. "You'd tell me, right? I mean, I'm always there if you need to vent or just remind me what a bastard he is."

"Don't say that," she said quietly, grateful for Greg's support and loyalty but annoyed at his sentiment. "I told you before. I'm—we're…trying to move on from what happened…then. We're trying to look forwards rather than back, toward a future as friends." She gave him a smile, gauging for his reaction, but when he just stared back blankly felt compelled to add, "It's complicated."

Greg managed a smile and a nod of the head before he paused and then went on his way. She wished she could have opened up more on what was truly going on, but she needed to take a moment and step back to really think about her feelings before she could begin to discuss them with Greg and make him understand that despite the divorce Grissom was still the only one for her. And maybe Grissom going away again was a good thing. It would give her some time and space to think things over and decide how best to move forward, if at all.

"Hey, Greg," Catherine's happy voice cooed from the corridor, and then, "Oh, my. You look like you just got a ticking off."

"Hi, Catherine," she heard Greg say, "What brings you here?"

"Do I need a reason to see my favourite people?" There was a pause, and Sara imagined Greg had given Catherine a dubious look. "I'm here to see Sara. She's in her office?"

"Yep."

"I'll catch you later."

Laughing, Catherine breezed into Sara's office like she owned the place. A visitor's badge was clipped to the lapel of her jacket.

Sara's face lit up with a bright smile as she stood up from her desk. "Did I miss a memo?" she asked, as the two friends embraced.

Catherine pulled back. "What memo?"

"The one that said you were starting tonight."

Catherine's smile returned. "I wish. But sadly I can't, not for another week or so, not until all my paperwork's in order—which is why I'm here actually." She paused. "I was wondering if you'd let me use a corner of the lab some place for a couple of hours so I can practise my very rusty processing skills."

"Worried you've lost your touch?"

"Something like that. I promise not to touch anything case-related. I'd just like access to the equipment. The technology's evolved so much in the last few years and I'm afraid I haven't kept up."

Sara patted a reassuring hand to Catherine's shoulder. "Sure. No problem. But you're going to be fine, I promise you. You'll pick everything back up in no time. It's not changed that much."

"Thanks, Sara."

Turning to her desk Sara picked up the assignments slips, then motioned for Catherine to come with her. "How are the girls doing?"

"Elena and Maria? They're doing okay, actually." Catherine paused, hesitating, then stopped walking.

A frown forming, Sara followed suit.

"I—I…" Catherine sighed and lowered her gaze before bringing it back up and meeting Sara's expectant one dead on. "I know it's going to sound crazy, but I was thinking of maybe becoming their foster parent. The authorities are looking for relatives, but so far they haven't found anyone, and I feel so responsible for them."

"You're thinking long term?"

"Yeah."

"Wow," Sara said, stunned. "That's…"

"Crazy, I know. Lily said she'd help, and financially…well, as you know money's not an issue, but it feels like the right thing to do. No. I know it's the right thing to do."

"You're going to be great at it," Sara said vehemently, understanding that Catherine was looking for validation of her decision from her. "Look how well Lindsey's turned out."

Catherine's smile was wide and pleased. "I did well there, didn't I?"

Sara laughed, then raised her assignment slips in front of her and Catherine lifted two fingers to her temple in a salute.

"You're right, boss. Time to get to work. Can't wait to come back and be part of the team again."

"And believe me when I say we can't wait to have you back," she said, knowing that Catherine's presence, expertise and experience would take a lot pressure off her. "Hopefully everything can start to get back to normal then. We have such a backlog."

"And I bet a night off would be nice too."

Sara gave Catherine a genuine smile. "That too."

And as she walked into the break room while Catherine went the other way, she was thinking that a night off while Grissom was still in town would definitely have been nice. Still, it couldn't be helped. Her team of three was waiting for her, chatting animatedly as they sat around the table nursing drinks. She made for the coffee pot and poured herself a cup.

"What's my mother doing here?" Lindsey asked suddenly, frowning as she followed Catherine's progress down the corridor. "I thought she wasn't starting until next week."

"She's not," Sara said, bringing her coffee to the table.

"Worried she's going to cramp your style?" Greg asked, laughing.

Lyndsey shrugged. Sara understood how Lindsey left, but she was sure mother and daughter would find a way to work together without letting their personal differences interfere in their work. Catherine was a professional, and even if Lindsey still had a lot to learn she was bright and keen and shaping up to be a competent CSI.

"It's going to be fine," Morgan said, patting a reassuring hand to Lindsey's shoulder. "I was a little anxious working here with my dad too, you know, with him being the sheriff and all. But it's okay as long as you keep it strictly professional." And then looking at Sara, "And I'm sure Sara won't pair you up together too much."

"I'll try my best," Sara said.

"No, it's Greg we should be worried about," Morgan went on.

Greg frowned. "Me?"

"You're the alpha male now. How are you going to cope with all these women around?"

Greg caught Sara's eye. "I'm sure I'll cope just fine."

"So, assignments," she said, hating to have to be the one to dampen the good mood. She paired Lindsey up with Greg on a murder suicide and Morgan went solo on a B&E. She'd have loved to have gone out in the field too, she was sure Morgan could do with an extra pair of hands, but staff evaluations were due at the end of the week and she was still to make a start. Plus, she had to prepare for her first budget meeting with Ecklie the day after next, and as it was her first one she wanted to be thoroughly ready for it. Grissom used to hate doing all of that, and now she was beginning to appreciate just how much time it took.

Her team was scrambling away when Sean Yeager from days came bounding into the break room. "Sorry I'm late," he told Sara.

She frowned. "Late for what?"

"For shift? Ecklie didn't tell you? I'm your extra pair of hands. Well, only until a permanent appointment can be made."

"Oh." Sara's face lit up. "Great!" She paused, tried to recall his name. "Yeager, isn't it?"

He gave an eager nod. "Sean Yeager, that's right."

"Welcome to Grave." She paused, tried to put some order into her thoughts. "Morgan's headed out – B&E in an industrial unit in North Vegas. You can be her extra pair of hands for now."

A wide smile broke across Yeager's unshaven face. "I look forward to it."

Sara's eyes narrowed uncertainly; was there some history between them she wasn't aware of? "You'd better hurry, or you'll miss her."

"Sure thing, boss."

He was the second person to call her boss, and it still took some getting used to. Smiling at the thought that Greg's alpha male status had been short-lived, she watched as he left then headed back to her office and set down to work. Several times she checked her cell for a missed call or a text from Grissom, but disappointingly there were none. She hoped his evening with Brass had gone well, and that the two men had been able to reconnect a little, or at least properly catch up with each other.

Catherine came by at around midnight and bid her goodnight. When Sara asked why she didn't use the lab during daytime hours, Catherine laughed and explained she was trying to get her body clock used to working nights again and it was tough. The rest of shift was busy, and Sara found the hours slipping by so quickly that it was only when Lindsey came to say she was leaving that Sara realised that shift had ended a good half-hour previously.

"You did good work tonight, Lindsey," she said. "And don't worry about working with your mother. It'll be fine. She's a professional, and a great CSI."

"I know, and that's what worries me. What if I'm not?"

Sara smiled. "You're still young, and learning, but you have all the makings of a great CSI too."

Lindsey's face lit up with pleasure. "Thanks, Sara."

"See you tonight."

"You will!"

Oh, the eagerness of youth, she thought, smiling. She was the same once upon a time, a lifetime ago it seemed. Sara was tidying her desk, looking forward to when she'd finally get home and see Grissom again, when Brass showed his face at her office door.

"Is this a bad time?" he asked, cracking a smile.

"Depends," she replied, smiling too. "On how long you intent to be."

"In a hurry to go home, are you?"

Her smile widened pleasurably. "As a matter of fact, I am."

"Gil's waiting for you there?"

Something in Brass's tone rubbed her the wrong way. Her smile stiffened. "What can I do for you, Jim?" she asked, wary now.

Brass must have picked up on the change, and he stopped all pretence. Stepping fully into Sara's office, he closed the door after him, then made himself comfortable on one of her chairs. Her bubble was about to burst, she could tell.

"You two had a good night?" she asked.

"Yeah. We did." Brass smiled. "It was nice catching up with him."

Sara gave a nod of the head and waited. It wasn't long until his smile vanished and he jumped in with both feet.

"Sara, what's going on?"

Sara paused. She didn't need explaining to know he was talking about Grissom's return into her life. Wondering how much Grissom had opened up about his intention, if at all, she took a seat across from Brass. "What did he tell you?" she asked in a sigh.

Brass didn't hesitate. "That you were talking again. That you were working through your differences."

Her gaze averting from Brass's probing stare, Sara slowly nodded her head. "That's true," she said. "We're…trying to rebuild our friendship."

"Friendship, huh?"

"Yeah," she said in a quiet voice, and this time she made herself hold his gaze steadily. What she was telling him wasn't a lie, even if it wasn't the whole truth. But she wouldn't lie to him – couldn't lie to him – he meant too much to her for that. She just wasn't ready for a lecture.

"So, you're telling me nothing's going on between you," he insisted, his brow rising questioningly, almost as if challenging her to deny what he already knew to be true.

Sara sighed.

"Sara, I'm not stupid," he went on, "So don't treat me like I am. I picked up on all the smiles and looks…I didn't make captain for nothing."

A small smile formed, tugging at the corner of Sara's mouth. "You never did first time round."

Brass tried to keep a straight face, but didn't fully succeed. "That's beside the point."

Again, Sara sighed. "I know what I'm doing."

Brass's brow arched. "Do you? Because it seemed to me, as we talked, that Grissom doesn't. Know what he's doing, I mean."

Sara's ears pricked up at that.

"You do know he's headed back out to sea, right?" Brass went on without pausing for breath.

"Of course."

"And you're prepared to wait for him? How long for this time? Didn't you learn anything the first time?" Sara opened her mouth to argue, but Brass raised a hand, immediately apologising for what he'd said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that the way it came out. I know you're a big girl and old enough not to have an old timer like me breathing down your neck. All I ask is that you be careful, and that you put yourself and your wellbeing first. Don't go making the same mistakes again. That's what I told Gil, and I'm telling you now."

"You've got no right to…"

"To what, Sara?" he questioned gravelly, but not unkindly. "Interfere? I care about you, hell I care about the both of you, but he can look after himself. I saw what happened the last time, how tough it was for you." He sighed. "I remember, even if right now you don't."

"You didn't warn him off, did you?"

Brass gave a wry chuckle. "You think it'd have worked if I had?" He sighed. "Who do you take me for? But I did tell him a few truths, which needed to be said before you both make a big mistake."

Sara bristled at his arrogance. Who was he to decide if she was making a mistake or not? "Is that what you think we'd be doing?"

Brass pondered his reply before he opened his hands out in a helpless gesture. "I don't know. He said he'd asked you to go with him."

Sara's gaze averted. "And I said I couldn't."

"But you'd like to, right?"

"Honestly? I don't know. It's not as simple as that."

"It never is. But remember you've got a good life here. You got a good job, a new promotion you deserve, your friends and family. Me."

Sara smiled. "I know."

Brass watched her intently for a moment, and with a nod pushed to his feet. "Whatever you decide," he said, flashing her a quick smile, "you know I'll always be there for you, right? I just needed to say my piece. And now I have."

A wide smile broke across Sara's face, and standing up she walked round her desk and opened her arms out for a hug Brass was only too happy to return. "I promise to put myself and my wellbeing first, alright?" she said when they pulled apart.

"I'm glad to hear it," he said warmly, "'cause I'd hate to see you unhappy again."

Sara drove the familiar commute home with a feeling of dread and foreboding. She could only imagine how Grissom would have felt after Brass's visit. She parked on the driveway and made her way to the house. She tried the handle, but the door was locked and quickly she rummaged inside her purse for her keys and let herself in. The alarm was on, and as she disabled it she noticed his backpack wasn't where he'd left it the previous day. When she turned, she found the house eerily quiet and darkened, the blinds all down, the curtains pulled.

"Gil?" she called quietly.

Her sense of foreboding increased. What if he was already gone, she wondered? What if, after reflection, he had thought it better to leave before it got more complicated between them? Was history repeating itself, but in reverse? She couldn't really blame him if he'd gone. After all, that was exactly how she'd left him the second time.

She took her shoes off and padded her way to the lounge. He'd obviously spent the night there – the spare bed linen had been used and was now neatly folded at one end of the couch. Maybe he'd caught the early morning commuter flight back to San Diego. She looked for a note, a sign that he was still around and had maybe just popped out on an errand but there was none.

Her disappointment crushing and tasting bitter in her mouth, she headed for the bedroom. The door was ajar, and she could see that it too was in darkness. Her senses were instantly on alert as she walked in. She smelt his scent first, then heard the even rasp of his breathing and as she inched closer saw the outline of his body under the covers on the left side of the bed – his side. The relief that flooded her was immediate and all-encompassing, so profound she felt weak.

He stirred and let out a breath, and she wondered at what time he'd gone to bed for him to be still sleeping so soundly now. She watched him for a moment, her hands aching to touch him. Then she walked round to her side of the bed and noiselessly got undressed, slipped between the warm sheets and slowly snuggled up to him until he once again shifted in his sleep, instinctively draping his arm over and gathering her to him. His breath was hot on the back of her neck, redolent of the whisky he'd shared with Brass, or maybe drunk afterwards to drown his sorrow.

Still, he'd stayed. That was all that mattered.