A/N: Thanks for your reviews. Your support really encourages me to write. I know I keep telling you that I will only update on the weekends, but this chapter almost composed itself while I was driving home today. (Those two just WILL NOT stop their whispering in my ear!) : ) I hope you will continue to review. I am realizing this story will go a bit longer than the first one. (When you finish this chapter, you may begin to figure out why.) -Kathy

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Grissom stood in the middle of his office. He couldn't help but mull over the drastic changes in his life since the last time he had stood here.

He missed Sara.

They had spent the last week together enjoying every moment of Sara's convalescence. Day and night they were just happy together, whether in his townhouse while talking and cuddling in the den, or in their Better Place while cherishing the time in their undisturbed getaway.

He had never been so happy.

Now he was here, faced with the stark artifacts of what had comprised his former life.

What had he been thinking? Life, without Sara, had not been living at all.

He felt emotionally overwhelmed now, as when you are faced with revisiting the scene of a horrific memory.

He wanted to flee. He wanted to turn around and kick the dust of this existence off his heels.

He wanted to go home.

He missed Sara.

Yesterday, he had wiped her tears after Doc had gone. Try as she might, she could not get the doctor to agree to reinstate her to active duty. No amount of cajoling would change his mind: that rib needed to heal and she needed to rest it a few more days.

This afternoon, he had awakened her gently, selfishly wanting to spend the end of his personal leave wrapped in each other's arms.

They had talked a bit about their future. The conversation was crazy at times, as they pursued the 'If you could have any wish granted, what would you wish for' scenarios concerning where to live, where to vacation, where to seek out what was personally relevant to each of them.

And their answers always revolved around each other.

In truth, he didn't care to work anymore. What had been the sole focus of his professional expertise had disintegrated in the last seven days.

He had almost lost her. That reality had changed the view of his life forever.

He had gotten a second chance.

He was going to make the best of every moment of it.

But as always happens, the realities of life often get in the way of our dreams. Today would be no exception.

Sara had put on a brave front as Gil prepared for work. Able to move around more easily, she had given him time to dress for work while she searched for what would entertain her until he returned.

She would read for a while, listen to music, and perhaps watch a DVD. Despite his protests, she insisted on waiting up for him before going to sleep, so they could nestle together and ensure her sleeping soundly.

Sara marveled that in the past five days she had not had a nightmare and had slept soundly without medication. She understood the reason: he had been there, every minute, watching over her, guarding her while she slept. She had felt …safe.

She had felt loved, for the first time in her life.

She finally had a home…a real home…with sharing and caring…and selfless giving.

It was only as he dallied at the door, pulling her into his embrace one final time before leaving, that a few recalcitrant tears made their way past her defenses.

And they had been his undoing.

He was hugging her to himself, already having opened his cell phone. She squirmed to raise her hand to prevent the speed-dialed number from ringing through. She snapped the cell phone closed as she smiled bravely into his own watery gaze.

"I love you. I am going to be fine. I love you. GO!, already!", she said a little too cheerily.

He demurred, but she was insistent.

"The sooner you go, the sooner you can come back… to me," she said, choking a little at the emotions that rose inside her in being able to say those words.

The sentiment was not lost on him.

"That's it!" he said determinedly, "I'm not going anywhere!"

She began to argue again.

He was standing firm. "I'm not leaving you alone again!"

She laughed as he tried to pry her out of his arms so he could remove his coat. Sara was ensuring he could not shrug his arm out of his sleeve, insisting that he was "going to work, mister!"

They mock-struggled, he argued, she stood her ground, and this scene continued until they both broke off their efforts, giggling and embracing happily.

"I love you," he said, smiling into her bright eyes. "I suggest a compromise," he continued as he held her so close she could feel his heart racing.

And so it was that he stood in the middle of his office.

They had agreed he would work half-shifts until Sara could return to work without restrictions.

It had sounded good on paper. But as he stood here alone in his dimly lit office…

He missed Sara.

So deep in thought was he that the faint rap on the open door behind him did not attract his attention.

Sofia stood there admiring him standing in the shadows of his office. What a handsome man.

She coughed lightly as she knocked again.

He whirled around, a bit nonplussed at being caught so deep in thought.

"Sofia," he started, but failed to continue.

She moved forward while taking charge of the conversation. "Gris-som", she purred before pulling herself upright and inhaling deeply. "Good to see you back in action. Nice vacation?" she flirted.

Her comment led him to remembering what was indeed the best week of his life. Noticing he had slipped away again into his thoughts, Sofia again tried to steer him back into paying attention to her.

"I can't be that boring, can I, Gil?" she cooed.

He was so intent on clearing his head that he missed the obvious overtones of her calling him impishly by his first name.

Before he could reply, there was another voice added to the conversation.

"Grissom. Good to see you back."

Gil was surprised to see the Sheriff flanking his open doorway.

That man rarely stepped foot this far inside the lab, and when he did – Gil sighed – it was never good.

"Glad to see you here also, Sofia. Saves me tracking you down. Grissom," he addressed him pointedly after ungluing his eyes from Sofia's form, "I've decided a meeting of all the lead staff is in order. It will probably by lengthy, so I've already secured your coverage for tonight's shift."

"Ah," started Grissom as he stared down his formidable superior. "Well, Sheriff, that may present a problem. You see, I only planned on working half-shifts this week. So…"

The Sheriff was undaunted. "So?"

Grissom's brows furrowed. "So…this meeting…"

"Is important, is scheduled, and takes precedence over whatever business you have scheduled." replied the Sheriff curtly.

Grissom was beginning to get angry, but took a calming breath before beginning.

"There is an appointment I have made…"

"I understand, Grissom."

Gil relaxed.

"Take a few minutes to get your affairs rescheduled and meet me in my office on the hour."

And with that the Sheriff turned and strutted towards Ecklie's office.

Sofia glanced at Grissom, moved a bit closer, and placed her hand softly over the clenched muscles of his fisted hand.

"I know how you feel, Grissom, really. This whole department restructuring is overwhelming to me, too."

Grissom bristled at the words. He had not informed Sara of the changes yet. In all honesty, he didn't know how to tell her that Sofia had uncovered the evidence Sara had missed, and how that event had snowballed into the Sheriff's new edict.

He felt terrible that he was the one who had assigned Sofia to the task so he could be with Sara when she needed him.

His worry was clear: Would she blame him for aiding Sofia in securing this promotion? Would she believe him, especially after the hurtful gossip following their dinner fiasco?

He sighed softly. Sofia took that as an indication that her soothing efforts were being appreciated. She smiled softly and cleared her throat.

"So…" she said as if she had just solved the world's worst dilemma, "are we ready to get this meeting over with?"

The we went right over his head, as he thought again of Sara looking out the window for his car to pull into the driveway.

"Uh…no…I…uh…have a few calls to make. I…I…I'll see you there…..Sofia…." he stammered absently as he moved to close his door.

Sofia's hair whipped softly over her shoulder as she turned to strut her stuff out the door. "See you in a little bit, then."

She gave him her bounciest departure through the lab hallway. What an adorably yummy man!

Sofia would have been disappointed if she could have known that Gil had not noticed her bouncy exit, having already turned his back and flipped open his cell before she even cleared the mahogany door frame.

"Robbins."

"Al…" Grissom said, wondering how to ask his friend for help. The earlier conflicts over Sara's condition were long forgotten in their mutual desire to speed her healing and help her return to emotional and physical health. They both had silently agreed that their behavior had been hindering that goal.

In truth, when they calmed down, they realized they shared a great affection for this woman. Although expressed through different outlets, both men would sacrifice for her happiness.

"Gil! What's wrong with Sara?" Doc Robbins rasped into his tightly grasped receiver.

"No…Al…no…uh…Sara's fine. It's just that I was only going to work a half-shift this week, to be there with her so she wouldn't have to be alone that long, and the Sheriff called this powwow and I can't get out of it, and I don't know how to tell her that I ….hell…I just want to go home, I'm sorry I even came in tonight..." Gil rambled at breakneck speed.

"Gil!...Gil!...GRIS-SOM!" the coroner responded, finally getting Gil to stop speaking and calm down.

"Gil, calm down. It'll be okay. Listen, I am going to take an early lunch break. I will head over to your place and have something to eat with Sara. I'll call Brass on my way. Maybe he can visit with her later. Just relax. Nothing lasts forever."

The ill-chosen words did nothing to ease Gil's discomfort. Nothing lasts forever. He sighed. Am I running out of time?

Focusing on getting through the shift, Gil was grateful for the suggested plan. But nothing could fully relieve his heartache.

He missed Sara.

He wanted to be the one to share a meal with her, hear her laugh, see her smile…

That smile. The thought of it had him grinning unashamedly from ear to ear.

He'd go to this meeting. When it was done, he'd use this opportunity to speak privately to the Sheriff, to convey the need for him to slow down a bit and get control back over his life.

Filled with renewed purpose, Gil Grissom strode down the hallway toward the Sheriff's office suite.

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Unbeknownst to Grissom, there was a new face sitting in the Sheriff's office.

After the Sheriff's private session with Sofia, she had recommended an old colleague from California as a reliable addition to the new configuration of the lab.

The Sheriff had taken her suggestion to heart, personally contacting the out-of-state lab director, recruiting and securing an agreement with the CSI to begin work within the week.

Now, perched on the edge of the Sheriff's desk, the strapping figure looked more like a tennis pro than a crime scene investigator.

His trim, well-manicured figure made a startling first impression. This truth was evidenced by the large amount of intercom chatter as he had waltzed through the main doors and headed towards the Sheriff's office – turning heads and shifting bodies as if he were a magnetic black hole.

Sofia wanted to shriek wildly and jump into his arms as she noticed him upon entering. Instead, she smiled broadly and grasped his hand with both of hers excitedly, breathing out, "Andrew! Oh, I'm so happy to see you again." I'm sure I can show you how much later.

"Sofia, dear Sofia!" Andrew returned, not too formally. "Great to see you too!" My place later?

Grissom arrived a moment later, curious as to the newcomer and the significance of his inclusion in their meeting.