AN: Warning: Suggestive behavior. Thanks for the reviews, here is the next chapter, enjoy!

Chapter 10: A little more time

One week later

Grissom stopped the vehicle in the lab parking lot, and after he got out, he pulled his phone out of his pants pocket and hits speed dial number one on his phone as he stopped on the sidewalk, in front of his vehicle.

He smiled a second later when heard that voice. "Sidle."

"Hi Ms. Sidle, your ride is here."

He took the day off, and since Sara had gotten a ride to work last night, he thought he would surprise her on coming to pick her up.

He could imagine that cute smile while she answered. "Very sweet of you, I'll be out there in a few minutes."

"Ok, love you."

"Love you too."

Once they said bye, he hung up the phone, and as he was placing it back in his pants pocket, a vehicle pulls in the parking spot next to his, then a few seconds later, he sees Erica getting out of the passenger side while a man he's never seen gets out of the driver's side.

Grissom and Erica gave each other polite smiles, then she cleared her throat and said. "Grissom, this is Joe Ashby."

Joe was around Erica's age, about 5'7, above average build with short brown hair and brown eyes, he shook Grissom's hand while Grissom nodded. "Nice to meet you, Joe."

"You too."

Erica looks at Joe and asked. "Can you give us a minute?"

Joe nodded with a smile and walked a little ways up the sidewalk to give them a little privacy.

Grissom watched Joe before looking at Erica, giving her a smile. "So, who is Joe?"

He was just being a concerned friend.

She smiled. "We had dated in college for awhile, and the other day we ran into each other, so we sort of reconnected again."

Grissom smiled a little bigger as he replied. "I'm happy for you, if he makes you happy."

"He really does."

"Alright then." He hugs her while continuing. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." He nodded while they pulled back, then she continued after she cleared her throat. "And about before, I hope there isn't any hard feelings."

He shook his head. "I'm the one that really should be asking that, but no, on my end there isn't." Then he smirked, but his eyes showed her that he was really serious. "I have to admit that it was kind of flattering that you liked me."

Erica smiled shyly as she looked down, which he smiled even bigger, then when she had enough composer, she looked at him again and replied. "I really did, you know? And I never thought of the age difference, Sara is one lucky woman."

This time he was a little embarrassed, but he shook it off while speaking. "Thank you, but I believe that I'm the lucky one." Erica just nodded as he finished. "And I meant what is said about your friendship, I hope that we can somehow continue it."

Things between them have been ok, but their dynamic had changed since she saw him with Sara, even though Sara's talk did help a little, in fact, Erica's thoughts went to that conversation.

Flashback

Three days ago

Erica walked in the locker room to get ready for shift when she saw that Sara was in there getting ready to leave, then she took a breath while she got the locker before opening it.

Sara shuts her locker and saw that Erica was standing in front of her locker, then she started walking toward the door, passing her in the process, but stopped before she got to there and turned around. "Erica?"

She looked at Sara, and a part of her wanted to have that unflattering high school attitude, but decided against it because she was above that, plus they didn't need that type of drama, so she cleared her throat and asked. "Yeah?"

Sara walked closer the bench before speaking. "I can't blame you for what you saw/see in him, I mean any woman with half a brain can see how special he can be, it just may take a little time for him to show it, but it is there."

Erica couldn't help but smile a little. "You can really see it when he gets that boyish grin on his face when he finds a crucial piece of evidence that could solve the case." Now it was Sara's turn to get a smile, so Erica lost it and said. "Sorry."

Sara also could have gone to that high school attitude, but she decided against that too, she didn't want to make things worse, so she shook her head. "Don't be." Erica nodded while Sara walked up to her, stopping when she was in front of her. "He never meant to hurt you, he would never intentionally hurt anybody, and neither would I for that matter."

"Strong feelings just don't disappear like that, especially a love like what I heard you two have, so I understand. And you don't have to worry about me trying to come between that, I couldn't even if I wanted to, that man is crazy about you."

Sara just nodded at that, not wanting to rub it in her face. "And he really does want to be your friend, those aren't just words." Erica was about to talk, but Sara continued before she could. "I know it isn't easy to do that when you have feelings for that person, believe me. But I also believe that I would rather be his friend than nothing at all, you could never go wrong with him having your back, so I hope you really think about it."

Erica nodded while Sara turned and started walking toward the door again, but she stopped when Erica asked. "Why did you talk to me about this? You didn't have to."

Sara turned around look at the younger woman with a smile. "Because you being his friend means something to him, it will make him happy, and I would do everything I can to keep/make him happy."

Erica raised an eyebrow. "Even convincing another woman to be his friend?"

She smirked while shrugging her shoulders. "I guess that's just how crazy I am about him." Erica chuckled a little, then Sara gets more serious. "But, which I don't mean to sound like I'm threatening you or anything, but he makes me happy too, so I'll fight with everything I got to keep that."

Erica didn't pause. "I hear you loud and clear." Sara nodded, she didn't want to take this conversation down an ugly road, but she had to make sure Erica knew she wasn't going to stand by and watch if she did become a threat. Then Erica cleared her throat. "And I appreciate you talking to me, he's a lucky man."

Sara smiled bigger. "I think I'm the lucky one, but thank you." Erica just nodded as Sara cleared her throat. "I should go, have a good mourning."

"And a good night to you."

After one more nod, Sara walked out of the room, leaving Erica alone.

She took a breath before concentrating on getting ready for shift. She knew that being his friend would be a good thing in the long run, but she also knew that it was going to take a little time to change how she felt about him.

End of Flashback

She mentally shook her head before clearing her throat. "I really would like that, I just need a little more time."

"I understand."

Erica nodded, then asked. "You not working, today?"

"No, I needed to take a day off."

"Alright, I guess I'll see you when I see you then."

"Ok, be safe today."

"I will, bye."

"Bye, Erica."

After one more nod, she walked away and met Joe before he walked her toward the lab hand in hand, passing Sara after she had walked on the sidewalk.

When Sara had gotten closer to Grissom, she asked with a smile. "Who was that with Erica?"

He smiled in return. "It looks like we aren't the only ones reconnecting." Sara raised an eyebrow and he continued. "That was an old College flame of hers, it looks like they weren't as over as they thought they were."

She wrapped her arms around his neck while she smirked. "We better be careful or we might set a trend of this reconnecting business."

He chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Well as long as it works for us, and the people who are reconnecting are happy, then I'm all for it."

She shook her head with a smile while she leaned toward him. "I can't really argue with that."

After they pecked each other on the lips, they pull back and he speaks again. "Alright, we better get out of here so we can go to the store, then we can get you to the house so you can take a nap."

She nodded while she unwrapped her arms from him, then as he walked her toward the passenger side, she speaks. "Griss about..."

Grissom cuts her off. "I understand Sara, I can wait to move in as long as you want me to."

Even though he's been at the house more than his apartment this last week, he wasn't officially moved in, and he wouldn't be until Sara gave him the word, which he understood.

She smiled as she still saw the understanding in his blue eyes. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

After peck on the lips, he stepped back and shuts the door before walking to the other side so he could get in and take them to the grocery store.

After he parked the vehicle in the parking lot of the grocery store, they get out and walk inside hand in hand, before grabbing a cart. Then they started going through the aisles to get some food for the week and restock some of the other items.

When they were walking down the vegetable aisle, she takes a breath while wrapping her arms around his right arm, making him look over at her. "What's up?"

She shook her head with a smile. "Nothing, just walking through the store like this feels so right, I missed it."

A warm feeling spread though him because he had been thinking the same thing.

After he kissed her temple, he asked. "So what do you want for dinner tonight?"

She didn't even pause. "How about your vegetarian lasagna? I've missed that too."

They stopped in front of the tomatoes, and he looked at her while asking. "What? Bruce never made you that?"

She shook her head as she wrapped her arm from his arm. "He may own a restaurant and can cook somewhat, but he has nothing on you." Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and replied a little lower so only him could hear. "In everyway that counts."

Grissom's eyes sparkled as he leaned toward her and kissed her, and for a public kiss, it kind of went a little long, which someone thought that because they were interrupted when a clearing of a man's throat was heard.

They pulled back a little embarrassed, and was about say something, when they heard his voice. "Well look at this, I guess I shouldn't be that surprised, now should I?" They both tensed up as Sara turned around and Grissom looked over her shoulder to see Bruce standing there.

Then he looked at Sara and asked. "So how long did you actually morn our relationship before you jumped in bed with him, A week? Days? No wait, hours, right?"

They hadn't seen him around the neighborhood because he had moved shortly after the wedding was called off, so this was the first time they've seen him since becoming a couple.

Sara felt Grissom tense even further so she puts a hand on his arm to calm him down, ignoring the look Bruce was giving her when he saw that, then she glared at him. "What relationship? It was based on a lie, there was nothing to morn there."

He smirked, then replied, trying to get a raise out of Grissom. "Really, no relationship? I don't remember ever forcing you into anything, in fact, some of the things we did..."

He trials off as Grissom was about to take a step closer to him, but Sara stopped him while turning her attention to him. "Griss, he isn't worth it, let's just go."

Grissom looked at her and nodded. "You're right." Then he looked at Bruce and smirked, wanting to get a little shot at him too. "I can think of other things that has better use of my time."

Before Bruce could say a comeback, they walked away, forgetting about the ingredients for dinner tonight since they both silently agreed that they'll wait another night for a special meal like that, not wanting an encounter like this to taint it.

When they made it back the house, and after they unpacked the groceries, Grissom saw Sara sitting on the couch, looking down at the floor, and that got him a little worried, so he walks toward the living room and asked. "Sara?" She looked at him while he sat down next to her, then he cupped her cheek and asked. "You aren't still thinking about what Bruce said are you?"

She sighed before replying. "He's right though. It was, what? Barely a day before I jumped into bed with you after I called of the wedding."

"It wasn't like you just met that night though, we have a history."

She nodded. "I know, but..."

Grissom cuts her off. "A history that has been both rocky and smooth at times, but we never stopped loving each other, and it wouldn't have gotten as bad as it did if it wasn't for our lack of communication and truly voicing what we wanted, something he took advantage of."

She nodded again. "I know, but he's also right about sharing moments with him." Her eyes started to tear up as she finished. "Real moments, and no matter how hard I try, I can't pretend that we didn't share them. I don't know what hurts more, feeling like I was being used to hurt you or lied to, I really cared for him but he hurt me, hurt us."

Grissom released her cheek before wrapping his arms around her and bringing her close to him, then he kissed her head and whispered. "I know you did Sara."

After a few minutes of sobbing, she pulls back sniffling, then as she wiped her tears away she shook her head. "Sorry, I don't think you really wanted to comfort me for something like this."

Grissom shook his head and cupped her cheek while looking into her eyes with love in his. "Hey, I'm here for you, no matter what it is I'm comforting you for." She smiled while her eyes were sparking back at him. "You shared something with him, but like I said, it would have never happened, had..."

She puts her finger up to his mouth while nodding her head. "I know, we don't need to rehash that. Just know that I never loved him, or anybody for that matter, like I love you, you have to know that."

He nodded as he took her hand away from his mouth, only to kiss the palm of her hand before looking into her eyes again. "I know. You'll be ok?"

"Yeah, you?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

"Yeah, you know the stuff he said, well implying."

He waved it off while he ran his thumb up and down her cheek, continuing while looking into her eyes. "I know what we have, I know how we are together." He leaned toward her and whispered suggestively. "I know how you are when we are together, he can't compete with that."

She smiled with a little embarrassment, knowing exactly what he was implying, then couldn't help but say with a smirk. "Very confident are we?"

He pulled back a little with a raised eyebrow. "You denying it?"

She slowly smiled as she cupped his cheek. "You know when I said that he has nothing on you in everyway that counts?" He nodded as she learned toward him slowly. "I meant it in that way too." He started to smile bigger but was cut short when she placed her lips on his, and he couldn't help but kiss her back.

After a few minutes of some very strong, passionate kisses, they slowed it down to a few pecks before pulling back breathlessly and placing their foreheads together, closing their eyes in the process while trying to catch their breaths, and after Sara had gotten hers first, she ran her fingers through his hair at the nape of his neck. "So what are the things that are better use of your time."

He smiled. "Well kissing you is one of them, especially like the one, or should I say, ones, we just shared."

She smiled as she pulled back. "I like where you are going with this, go on."

He chuckled while cupping her cheek. "I really would like to, but I think we need to get you into bed."

She playfully pouted. "You mean that's not one of them?"

He chuckled again. "You know what I mean, Sara."

"I know." Then sighed with a nod. "And as much as I would love to see where you would go, I do need some rest, last night's case was a long one."

Grissom nodded while they both stood up. "I'll lock up."

"Then you'll come lay with me, right?"

"Of course, I'll be there in a minute."

After she nodded, she turned and headed for the bedroom while he watched her until he couldn't see her before locking up the house and turning out any lights that were on.

When he walked into the bedroom, Sara was still in the bathroom, so he walked to the bed and sat down before slipping his shoes off and laying down.

A few minutes later, Sara walked into the bedroom wearing an old t-shirt of his and a pair of sweatpants, they shared a small smile while she walked to her side of the bed, then after crawling under the covers, she moved near him before laying her head on his chest. Once she was settled against him, he wraps an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

After a few minutes of silence, he whispered. "Lying here like this with you is on the top of that list, this is what I love doing the most with you."

He would take just holding her over about any other action he's ever shared with her, and the best thing about that was that Sara believed it, because that was on top of her list too.

They loved their more intimate moments, don't get them wrong, but laying in each other's arms like this was something they had always wanted to do first, and now that they could anytime they wanted, they never wanted to take it for granted, especially after missing out on this for two plus years.

She snuggled closer, if that was even possible, and whispered. "Mine too, I love you."

He ran his hand up and down her arm and whispered back. "I love you too, sleep tight, honey."

Sara nodded while moving her hand over to his other hand before slipping her fingers through it as she was closing her eyes, now feeling like she was safe in the arms of the man she loved, it didn't take her long to fall asleep.

AN: Is this the last of Bruce? I guess time will tell. Please review.

*I really hate to do this because I know you guys are use to me updating everyday, but it may be a few days before I can post another chapter, I've been having some family problems and it has really gotten me down a little, so please be patient with me, and I hope you continue to read when I get back. Until then. GSR4ever!