AN: Thank you for the reviews, here is the next chapter.

Chapter 10: Goodbye for Now

Three days later

After waking up a few minutes before the alarm clock went off, Grissom turned it off so it wouldn't wake up the beautiful woman beside him, and after watching her sleep for those minutes, he gets out of bed, grabs the bag he had set by the bathroom door the night before and walked in the bathroom so he could get ready.

Once he got out of the shower, shaved and dressed, he opened the door to the bathroom and walked out, noticing the bed was now empty, so with his bag and socks in his hand, he walked out of the room and headed toward the main area, seeing Sara wrapped in her robe, standing with her back toward him making coffee in the kitchen, and after setting his bag and socks down on the floor next to the end of the kitchen counter, he walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

They both sighed in content before he kissed her head, whispering softly. "I thought you would want to get a few more minutes of sleep."

She was going back to work today after saying goodbye to Grissom, so she had to get up anyways, but there was also another reason she got up earlier than what she's use to since she started working days.

She smiled as she turned around in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I thought I would spend as much time with you as possible."

He looked at her fondly before replying. "As long as you're getting enough rest, you got to stay sharp for work."

She brings him closer to her with a mischievous look on her face. "Oh, believe me, after the last five days with you I got plenty of rest, and I'm as sharp as ever."

He shared her smile with a nod because he felt the same way, this new start made them both ready to take on the world again.

After they did a few short kisses, he pulled back. "Well, now that you're up, you want to go out to eat, or stay in?"

With no hesitation, she answered with a smirk. "Stay in, I'm not ready to share you with the world yet."

He chuckled. "Is that why, aside from Nick and Whitney, I haven't seen anybody else yet."

He thought eventually she would invite her team over, or they would go meet them somewhere, but neither happened. Not that he was really complaining since he enjoyed their alone time together, he just thought with the nice things she's said about them, they were important to her.

She now smiled shyly. "When you get back here and settled in for good, then I won't mind sharing you a little, but before that happens." She brought him closer to her again as she finished. "You're all mine."

With his eyes sparkling, he whispered. "Always and forever, honey."

They shared one more kiss, this one slightly longer than the last few, before they pulled back again, and he asked with their foreheads together. "Alright, so what would you want? Pancakes or Omelet."

Running her hand up and down his back as they pulled back their foreheads from one another, she answered. "How about pancakes." As he nodded, they released one another, then she finished as she stepped back. "I'm going to jump in the shower real quick." After one more nod by him, they started on their tasks.

By the time that both meals were made, Sara was back in the kitchen, ready to start her day too, so they sat down at the kitchen table and ate while working on the day's crossword puzzle, then once the food was gone, the puzzle done and the dishes in the dishwasher, they put on their socks and shoes before Grissom made sure he had everything he needed and they walked out of the apartment.

Down at the lobby they ran into Nick, so he got to say goodbye to him before Sara drove him to the docks, both getting a little sad the closer they got there.

Once they made it to their destination, they got out of the vehicle, and after grabbing his bag from the back seat, he took her hand before they walked toward the dock and down to where his boat was tied up.

When they were there, he sets his bag down on the dock and cups her cheek, both seeing the sadness in each other's eyes while he spoke. "This is different than the last time we parted, I will be back, I promise."

Sara nodded, trying to keep her tears under control. "I know, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm still going to miss you, possibly more than ever before."

Grissom also nodded before he kissed her forehead and brought her in his arms for a hug, both clinging on as tightly as they could. "Me too, but remember it's only for two weeks, three tops, then when I get back into your loving arms, I'm not leaving them again and we can spend the rest of our lives like we wanted."

She sighed in content as she ran her hand up and down his back before whispering in return. "I'm so ready for that, it's our time."

"It sure is."

After holding on to one another for a few more minutes in silence, he started to speak again as he was pulling back. "I better go."

Sara nodded while letting a sniffle pass through, so he cupped her cheek with a concerned look on his face, and she gave him a small smile. "I'll be ok, I promise."

"Alright, be safe at work, and I'll get a hold of you when I can, it's the best I can do, I'm sorry."

She placed his hand on top of his with a nod. "It's ok, I understand. I love you, and you be safe too, I want you back in one piece."

He smiled with one more nod before he sighed as he ran his thumb up and down her cheek, speaking softly. "I love you too, so much."

A second later they shared one more kiss, this one slightly more passionate than the others, but still respectful enough for when they did this in public, which didn't happen much since they liked to keep this part of their relationship behind closed doors.

When they finally pulled back, they placed their foreheads together for a few more minutes before he finally pulled back so he could get onto his boat, and once he was safely there, Sara tossed him his bag before he started the task of untying his boat from the dock, then a few minutes later, once Grissom was fully ready to leave, they signed 'I love you' to one another before he started to sail away, Sara watching until she could no longer see him, sadness creeping in a little more, but also holding on to the fact that it will be only a few weeks until they'll be back into each other's arms and ready to start a life that they deserve to have.

She sighed as she wiped her tears away before she walked back toward the parking lot so she could get to the lab, which while she loved her time with Grissom, she was ready to get back in there.

At the lab

When she made it to the lab and her office, she was happy to see that no new files were pilled up on her desk, so that meant Kevin took his temporary supervisor position very seriously, and she didn't have to waste her time looking over what they worked on during the week.

Once it got closer to the start of shift, she left her office and headed toward the break room, saying a few hellos to the day shift lab techs, and a couple of people from the night shift, who were finally leaving to rest up before their next shift. Then after she made it to the room, which no one was there yet, she walked to the coffee pot to make a fresh pot, and just as it was finishing, she hears her team talking and laughing as they walked into the room.

The team stopped in the doorway for a few seconds when they saw Sara standing by the counter, then they smiled as Kevin spoke with a smirk while Mariah was coming up to her to give her a hug. "Well, look who found the way back to the lab. We were beginning to think you had gotten lost."

They chuckled as Sara and Mariah pulled back from their hug, then Sara shook her head with a smile. "Not a chance, you're all still stuck with me."

They playfully groaned as the rest of them greeted her back individually, then as Kevin and her pulled back from their hug, he said with a sincere smile. "It's nice to see you back here, we've missed you."

Sara nodded, feeling blessed for having this wonderful team. "I've missed you too. All of you."

There was a short pause before he continued. "And the break seemed to do you some good, you look great. Happy I mean."

She then shyly smiled for a second before clearing her throat and continuing. "About that, I am sorry that I left without any warning, something came up unexpectedly and I needed to work it out. But know that I am still 100% committed to this team, and I wouldn't have left like that, or if ever in the future, if it wasn't important."

Feeling like this just turned into a serious moment, the smiles on the team dimmed down a little as Mariah asked first. "Everything is ok, right?"

With reassurance in her eyes, Sara smiled with one more nod. "Things aren't perfect at the moment, but it will get there very soon, I have no doubt." Of course nothing will be perfect until the man she loved was back here. She stopped her thoughts before finishing her speech. "And don't worry, my week leave wasn't because I was sick or anything like that, if that helps you worry less." They sighed in relief, because they had to admit a small part of them thought maybe something was wrong with her health.

As the smiles returned to their faces, Sara continued. "Alright, now that we got all of that out of the way, how about officially starting shift?"

They nodded, and while Kevin, Tim and Mariah headed for the coffee pot, Nicole, Devon and Sara sat down at the table before Sara handed out the assignments after hearing about a few cases the team had to deal with while she was gone.

Once everything was handed out and she was all caught up on what happened, they stood up from their chairs and walked out of the room so they could get their kits and head to their crime scenes, which Sara was working with Devon today since she wanted to and was ready to solve a crime.

After shift

When shift was done, and their cases were a successes, the whole team, even Nicole, went to the bar to celebrate, and after a beer, the guys and Mariah wanted to play a little pool, so while they were doing that, Sara and Nicole was sitting at the table watching them with a smile for a few minutes, then after Sara had taken a sip of her beverage, she looked over at the younger woman and asked. "Alright, spill."

Nicole looked a little confused as she asked. "Spill what?"

"What's the rumors going around on why I wasn't at the lab all week?"

Nicole chuckled. "Oh that."

"Yeah that, I'm sure there were a few outrageous ones."

"There were a few, I guess." After clearing her throat she continued. "The guys thought that maybe you were shacked up with a one night stand that lasted all week." Sara chuckled as the younger woman continued. "Mariah thought that maybe you went out of town to visit a sick friend."

Sara nodded, and before Nicole could move on to the lab tech's thoughts, Sara asked. "What about you, what do you think?" When Nicole looked down at her beer a little shyly, Sara continued in a reassuring tone. "Whatever you thought it's ok, I won't make you do any decomps or anything like that, if that's what you're worried about."

There was a short pause before Nicole spoke softly. "I also went with the guy angle, but it wasn't some random guy you just met. He meant a great deal to you, and you thought you lost him for good."

Sara had to admit she was speechless for several seconds, since Grissom was never talked about with her team because one, at times it was too painful to, and two, she liked to keep the good parts of their relationship close to her heart and private, before she asked after clearing her throat. "What makes you say that?"

Nicole smiled a little sadly as she continued. "I saw the look in your eyes this morning, and heck, even now. And from personal experience only a special person can make you have that look, and while I may not know you a lot on a personal level, I have a feeling it would take you more than a week to fall in love like that, except..."

Sara cuts her off with a smile as her eyes were glowing. "With that 'one' person."

Nicole nodded before she asked. "It happened pretty fast for you, didn't it?"

Sara chuckled a little as she nodded in return. "After I stopped denying to myself that love at first sight does actually happen, yeah, it did. What about you? If you don't mind me asking."

Nicole looked down at the wedding ring she still wore while speaking softly. "From the second we met." Nicole looked into Sara's eyes again while continuing. "Cherish every moment you have with him, don't take it for granted."

Sara nodded as she saw Nicole's eyes water. "I always will."

Nicole nodded one more time as she wiped a few unexpected tears off her cheek. "I'm sorry about that."

Sara shook her head while placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder before speaking in a comforting tone. "You have nothing to be sorry about, and if you ever need to talk, my door is always open."

She gave the older woman a smile. "Thank you."

As Sara gave her a warm smile in return, Kevin's voice was heard behind them. "Hey Nicole, you want to play next game?"

Nicole wiped the remaining tears off her cheek and cleared her throat before looking back and smiling at him. "One game, but first I have to call the sitter to check on my little guy." Kevin nodded with a smile, happy she was staying a little longer.

Nicole then stands up so she could find a quieter place to make her phone call, and while she was doing that, Kevin looked at Sara. "So, you game, boss?"

Sara finishes the last sip of her drink before standing up with a smile. "Sure, why not." Then she smirked as she finished. "I can take a few minutes out of my schedule to beat you."

The group said 'ooh' as Kevin tossed a pool stick to her with a smile. "You know that's big talk, I hope you can back it up."

She spoke just before stopping at the table. "I guess there is only one way to find out." Then once she made her first shot, a few of her pool balls went into the pockets, making her look at him with a smirk, who looked a little shocked as the team smiled, glad to see Kevin's winning streak has a chance of ending tonight. "You should know to never underestimate your opponent."

Kevin smiled with a nod while holding up his hands in surrender. "You're right, I'm sorry. I guess you are just full of surprises."

Sara smirked one more time. "You have no idea, Mr. Woods."

Kevin chuckled this time as she continued her turn, making another good shot, and by the end of the evening, everybody, including Sara, enjoyed their time together.

Now that her personal life was slowly coming back to the way she wanted it, she felt she could enjoy every part of her life again, and she loved it.

AN: I hope you liked it, well, besides Grissom leaving, but you know what I mean. Next chapter coming soon. Please Review.