Summary: Grissom is attacked at a crime scene, and he can't really remember what happened. Who is going to help him? A little friendship, a little secret sharing and a fair amount of GSR.

Spoilers: There aren't really going to be any just small references to a few scenes in past episodes. Let's make note that Sara hasn't already opened up to Grissom, as we wouldn't be that far into season five.

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or any of the characters believe me I'd love to but I think it's just fine as it is without me spoiling it. I would however, settle for meeting the cast. I do not have a Beta therefore all mistakes are mine.

Thanks for all the reviews, you guys are awesome :D

xChapter 10x

It had been over a week later and the doctor had given Grissom strict orders to go easy whilst out in the field. He had regrettably taken Sara, who listened to the information intently. She had made sure only the smallest cases would be given to him and Greg was made to accompany him as part of his field training. He reluctantly agreed but was secretly happy that he was allowed to be out of his office that was still surrounded by heaps of paperwork.

The two workaholics had taken a night off so they could go out for their first date, which had abruptly ended with Sara being called in for a homicide whilst Grissom got the enjoyable task of logging in the evidence and filling out more paperwork. He began to understand the reason for the lack of trees in the area.

He was still suffering from his nightmares, although they were never as traumatic as the first few, he was incredulous when it came to having a peaceful sleep.

After whining as much as he could to Sara, she had finally caved and allowed him to take on the murder cases with her. They were called out to a homicide that evening and Grissom had noticeably gained a bounce in his step from eventually being able to feel like a full fledged adult again.

"Welcome back to the pleasant cases Gil." Brass smugly threw at the entomologist as he crossed under the yellow tape with Sara in tow.

"Nothing is pleasant about crime Jim. What have we got?"

Unwillingly wanting to get on Grissom's bad side, Brass got straight down to business and fished out the details. "Female DB, found by her sister in the master bedroom. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. Appears to have been stabbed."

"Let's go shall we." Sara walked ahead of the two and went straight into the seemingly innocent house.

Quirking an eyebrow at his best friend, Grissom followed her path. Brass could see the happiness rising in his friend's eyes, he turned and went to begin questioning the grieving sister with the smile plastered on his face temporarily removed.

By the time Grissom had reached the bedroom that was occupied by the dead body and his subordinate, Sara was already intrigued with taking pictures of the victim and cast-off patterns that laced the dimly lit walls.

"Found anything?" He asked.

She turned and smiled. "The usual. You want to start dusting for prints? I'm going to check the body before David arrives."

"Sure." He crouched down to open the silver case containing his fingerprint powder and brush, pulling them out he started over in one corner and made his way around room.

After lifting a rather large amount of prints from everywhere possible in the room, he placed them all in a couple of bindle's and covered the seals with bright red evidence tape. "I'm going to go take a look around the perimeter. You still going to wait for David?"

"Yeah he's probably stuck at another scene or something. I'll ring him when I've finished." She waved her cell in front of her and placed it back in her trouser pocket.

"I'll be back in a bit." Grissom said.

"'Kay." Was her only response.

As he made his way out of the house, he noticed the distinct lack of police officers and hoards of people standing around compared to when they had first arrived. Feeling slightly nervous, Grissom made his way around the house looking for anything worth processing. He kept taking quick glances around the area and over his shoulder.

Before he had realised, he was standing in the back alley looking through the garbage. He became aware of his heart beat racing and the moisture gathering on his forehead, before he could consider what was happening, dizziness took over his body and he fell to floor. The walls seemed to close in and he began hyperventilating. What the hell?

Sara was just finishing up with David and had headed outside in search for Grissom and Brass. Not seeing the former, she walked over to the homicide captain for an update on any information.

Still seeing no sign of the estranged graveyard shift supervisor, she hoped Jim would know something. "Have you seen Griss?"

"Nope, I thought he was in there with you." He replied pointing the house with his small, black notebook.

"He said he was going to check the perimeter. I'll go take a look." She wandered away from the older man for the second time that evening and headed for the area around the home.

Coming up behind the house she noticed Grissom's torch lying on the floor and instantly thought for the worst. Not again! Taking no more time to hesitate she ran further into the dark alley and saw his slumped form against the wall, trying to catch his breath and visibly trembling.

"Oh my god Grissom. Are you okay?" Kneeling beside him, she took in his profile and laid a hand on top of his.

"I…I can't breathe." He managed to shake out.

"I'll call Brass." Quickly grabbing her cell, Sara dialled his number. "Jim, it's Sara…I've found Grissom…Are any of the EMT's still there? Bring one round to back alley. Quick!"

Gil could only hear part of the conversation but tried to calm himself down before a huge fuss was made about nothing.

A few seconds later, Brass rolled around the corner into the mouth of the alley with an EMT in pursuit. He sat his kit down and Jim pulled Sara away, giving the paramedic room to work.

"Dr. Grissom can you hear me?" He said, his voice slightly elevated.

Trying his hardest to focus on the younger man, Grissom just nodded in response.

"What's wrong with him?"

The EMT pulled out a torch and directed it at Grissom's pupils. He sat for a minute, checking his pulse against the timing of his watch before answering Sara. He turned to look at the two.

"Judging by the shaking, sweating and apparent dizziness I would say he's having a panic attack." The EMT reached for his kit and pulled out a brown paper bag and handed it to Grissom. "Breathe slowly in this for a few minutes, you should be okay."

Again he nodded and began to breathe into the paper bag. Sara and Jim stood patiently, staring at the brown material as it inflated and deflated in the same rhythm as Grissom's chest. Soon, Grissom was calming down, breathing properly and the colour was coming back to his face. Sara had to let out a sigh of relief that it wasn't something more serious; after all, he had just managed to sort himself out within different aspects of his life, one of which took far too long in the brunettes opinion.

Once the young EMT had left, with the warning of a doctor's appointment for Gil, Sara had sat beside him until he recuperated and was ready to leave for rest at home. She gave orders to Jim for transportation of the evidence whilst she helped Grissom from the floor and headed towards his Denali.

Early hours of the morning began to show signs as the bright hues of the rising sun made their first appearance of the day. Thankfully the early hours were never sweltering hot in Nevada and driving through the strip with ease came as a short lived reprieve.

He walked through into the townhouse and pulled out a bottle of amber liquid and a small glass. Disappointment flooded her features as she made her way to sit beside him. Pulling the two objects from him, the look he shot towards her made her feel slightly uneasy.

"This is not the best thing for you at the moment." She held up the whiskey and glass, wishing it would count enough as an explanation.

"Might as well. There's not really more I can do." Grissom placed his elbows on his knees as he lent forward, dropping his head to his hands, he let out a loud huff.

"Your just not ready for it yet. Gil, you were shot, it's not something you can easily forget." He turned his head and gave her a confused look, and then bringing his eye line to meet hers, he gave her a bright smile. "What?"

"You just called me Gil."

She felt worried that she'd said the wrong thing, although the smile plastered on his face didn't make her feel any different. "Is there a problem with that?"

"Nope, I believe it's the first time you've every said it to me."

For a minute, the shooting didn't cross her mind and Sara just stared straight at the huge mahogany bookcases lining his walls before remembering the one time in the hospital. "Second."

"Sorry?"

"I called you it when I first saw you in the hospital."

"Oh. First time I was conscious then." He released a humorous breath and his facial features crossed back to looking solemn. "I'm not going to stop going into those scenes."

"Don't you think it would be a good idea to stay away until you speak to your doctor again?"

"Not really."

"Why?"

"Because it was a one time thing, as you said, I was shot." Grissom shrugged his shoulders and sat back in the chair.

"I think it would put your mind at ease if the doctor confirmed that."

"Maybe." He crossed his legs and let out an exasperated breath. "I'll be fine."

Sara had known Grissom to be incredibly stubborn and gave up her persuasion tactic as a bad idea; instead she's let him have his way this time. "Okay. I've got to get back to the lab, you okay here?"

"Sure. I think I'll catch up on a couple hours sleep."

"Good. If it's okay, I'll come by after shift."

"Yeah that's fine. I'll need my car back anyway."

"Right, see you later." She stood from the couch and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. As she walked through the room she shouted back over her shoulder. "And leave the whiskey!"

He laughed and welcomed the silence that enveloped him. Looking from the bottle of whiskey to the space in which Sara sat previously, he picked it up and placed it back where he had got it from. Grissom walked to the bathroom, had a long shower and took those few hours of sleep he offered himself.

TBC

A/n: Why do I always add an authors note? I guess we'll never know :P Hit the little purple button down there please! Reviews are awesome :D Plus it's nearly Christmas!