Okay, people PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not hurt me. It has been an exceedingly long long long long time since I updated. Like, a reallyyyyyy long time. However, so much stuff has been happening my life that I simply haven't even had the time to turn on my laptop let alone write anything. But, I did it. Between the manic xmas charade, and numerous band rehearsals, ever-growing pile of work I have to finish, I somehow managed to finish it off, and give you all the ending you deserve.

Feel free to chastise me for my lack of dedication in any reviews.
But yeah, I kinda know I suck already :(

So here's how I've decided to play it. So far, everyone else seems torn between a Sara/Gil ending or a Sara/Zavvi ending.
So I wrote both. And now it's up to you to choose. I have posted both endings - this one is Sara/Gil and chapter 22 will be Sara/Zavvi.

This chapter is dedicated to nolongerstrong because it was their review that reminded me of my responsibilities to my readers ;)

As always, beta-ed by my lovely lovely kaylarea. She really is an angel, and it has been a total honour to work with her.

Enjoy.

*******PAY ATTENTION MINIONS! THIS IS THE SARA/GRISSOM ENDING!*******
YOU CAN FIND THE SARA/ZAVVI ENDING IN THE NEXT CHAPTER
However feel free to read both. Both end happily, I assure you :)

Chapter20 recap: Sara & Zavvi are about to get funkehh, when Grissom turns up all drunk and shouting. Zavvi leaves and turns up at Ville's hotel.

"Gil, sit down." Sara stood wrapped a dressing gown as she desperately tried to smooth her 'sex-hair' and disguise the fact he had literally interrupted what was going to be the best fuck of her life.

"Sara-"

"Gil, sit down, and we'll talk. Okay? Just, just sit down please."

He obeyed, despite his mind screaming to just kiss her. Talking could be postponed.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Sara sighed. "Talk to me Griss. What happened to us, where are we right now? We used to be so close, but now I don't know where we stand. Tell me what you want from me Gil. Please."

Rubbing at his eyes, the CSI supervisor's shoulders dropped. "I - I don't know anymore Sara. I don't know where we are. But I know that I miss you."

"I miss you too Gil."

"Sara, am I too late? I know what I want. I've always known. I was just scared."

"Why-" Sara pressed her temples. "Why now Gil? Everything has been so good for me, why ruin it now?"

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin…" his words trailed off into nothing.

Sara gasped as it sunk in what she had actually said.

"Dammit, I didn't mean it like that. You're not ruining anything. But, why now Gil? What's changed?"

"Everything. I - I'm losing you. You're moving on. I don't want you to go Sar."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying Grissom?" Sara could barely breathe, anticipation pressing hard upon her chest. Could this be what she had been waiting for for so long? Could Gil actually be saying he wanted her?

"I guess I'm saying, I want to give it a go Sara. You and me. I want us."

Her gentle mahogany eyes met his cerulean blue. A million and one thoughts rushed through her mind. What about Zavvi? What about work? What if they broke up? Could she survive a blow like that? Was it worth the risk?

Leaning forward, Gil took her face into his calloused palm, silently marveling at how they fit together so perfectly.

His lips softly brushed hers, as he waited for reciprocation. It was the make or break moment.
And slowly, just as he was giving up, her warm lips opened below his and her tongue tentatively slipped into his mouth. It was perfect. Everything he could have imagined and more.

But then she stopped, her brown eyes questioning his.

"Are you serious Gil? Because if so, if you really want to make a go of this, I will end it with Zavvi. But you've got to mean this. I'm in it for the long run." A tear formed in the corner of her eye at this thought. She had wanted this for so long, but what she and Zavvi had was so amazing.

"Sara, I've wanted this since San Francisco. I want us."

His answer said everything she needed to hear. Smiling, she lent forward and kissed him passionately on the lips. She knew deep down it was the right decision. Sara just hoped Zavvi would see it the same way.

"Okay then."

Gil's face broke into a huge grin.

And Sara couldn't help but grin back.

*Ring ring. ring ring*

Zavvi leaned against the drivers door, staring at the vibrating phone in her hand.

Greg's name flashed across her screen. She knew he was ringing to apologize. There was no other way for Grissom to know where she lived without being told. And Greg was the only one in the bar who knew.

She would place money on the fact he was feeling awful. With a twinge of guilt she turned the phone off, silencing the incessant buzzing.

She didn't need to be told Sara was going back to Gil. She saw it in the brunette's eyes when the drunken supervisor stumbled towards the couch. It was going to happen sooner or later. Completely inevitable. She didn't need to be a profiler to know how deeply Sara felt for the guy. Even if the CSI didn't know it herself, Zavvi had known all along that one day Sara would go back to Gil.

Looking once again from the dog-eared card Ville had slipped into her pocket, up to his hotel room door, thoughts raced through her head.

Before her overactive mind could compartmentalize and rationalize her actions, her knuckles were knocking upon the wooden door.

A single tear cascaded down her cheek.

It was seconds before his arms were holding her tight to his chest.

He had instinctively known what to do. For the first time since she broke down in Greg's old New York apartment, Zavvi let go. She let go of everything she felt, and fell straight into the open arms of her past. The past she had spent so long running from.

His voice was deep and soothing, calming her wrought nerves.

"Sssh, honey it's okay. It's going to be okay, I promise you. You want to talk about it?"

Slowly allowing herself to be guided to the couch, Zavvi shook with unshed tears.
"I - I'm sorry about earlier Ville. It's -it's just." her voice cracked.

Sitting down with his arm holding her close, his breathe was warm and ticklish on her neck.

"Now we both know that's not why you're here. It's me Zav. I know you; our unconventional meeting would definitely have not driven you crying and drunk into my arms. What's happened with Sara?" His voice was barely a whisper, yet still rang in her ears.

Sniffling and trying not to laugh, Zavvi faked a weak smile. "You know, you should probably be the profiler."

"Stop digressing babes. Talk to me, what's happened?"

"Sara is going to leave me. I knew it was going to happen at some point, I guess I just didn't expect it to hurt this bad." Zavvi stuttered on.

"Hey, calm down honey. Has she told you it's over?"

"N-no"

"Then how do you know she's going to leave you?" Ville wiped the drying tears from the redhead's cheek with the soft pad of his thumb.

"Hello, my name is Zavvi Kerr. I'm the youngest profiler to work for the FBI, ever. I study human behaviour for a living. I don't believe we've met." Her sarcasm burnt through the mess in her mind.

Laughing slightly Ville ducked his head in concession.

"Okay, okay. You've got a point. But if you love her so much, why are you here? She was with you, so she must have some feelings for you Zav. You're an amazing woman. Don't give up on her. If you want her, you should be over there fighting for her. Not sat here with me."

"That's the problem. It's not that she's leaving me that hurts. The fact that it doesn't hurt, actually hurts. I knew it would happen. It, it's just numb. I feel numb."

"What are you saying Zavvi?"

"I-I'm happy for her. Grissom and her, they-they belong together. I just feel like I should feel something Ville."

A silence passed over the room. Her soft gray eyes met his emerald orbs, and in that instant, years of history flashed before her eyes.

Zavvi smiled gently.

"I- I've missed you Ville."

He smiled back.

"Go on, go and call Sara." He paused as she stood up, and started to walk towards the phone.

"Oh, and Zavvi - I never wanted to stop you working for the FBI. You're great at what you do. Friends?"

Her smile broke into a full blown grin. Everything was going to be okay.

"Hey." Zavvi's voice was quiet down the phone line.

"Hey." Sara nervously twisted her hair round her index finger, unsure of what to say.

"Sar. What have I told you about playing with your hair?" Zavvi's tone was teasing, as she imagined Sara spinning round, expecting for Zavvi to be stood there.

"Wait, what! How, how did you know?" Sara span round just as Zavvi mentally predicted.

"You do know what my job is right?" The pair easily slipped back into their easy banter.

"Haha, Miss FBI. You're a comedian."

"Actually, I'm a special agent. Although, I understand you're confusion, the two careers are very similar." Zavvi laughed.

"Shut up Zav." Sara grinned.

A silence fell upon the line, as they just listened to the other breathe.

"Sar-"
"Zav-" They spoke at exactly the same time.

"God that was so cliche." Zavvi laughed.

"Tell me about it!" The CSI agreed with a grin.

"I guess we should talk."

The line went quiet again, as Zavvi said what they were both thinking.

"Sara?"

"Yeah. I guess we should." Her voice was impossibly small.

"Sara, it's okay." Zavvi sounded way stronger than she felt. Sara knew it was a mask, but she didn't quite know what Zavvi was masking. Was she upset? Was she drunk?

"I always knew you and Gil would end up together. Don't feel bad babes. And stop crying."

Sara wiped at her eye, she hadn't even noticed the salty water streaming down her cheek.

Choking out a laugh, Sara managed to reply "How did you know?"

Smiling sadly, Zavvi replied "I'm a profiler remember. Sara, babe, we'll always be friends. Nothing has to change. We just won't be all romantic anymore. But you can always rely on me. I'll still be there for you honey."

"Thank you Zavvi."

The FBI agent smiled slightly. "What for? It's the truth honey. We'll always be friends."

Sara smiled on the other end of the phone. "That we will. Always."

So Sara & Gil get their happy ending, and Zavvi finally deals with the past. However, if that doesn't quite tickle your tastebuds, the next chapter is all about the lady-lovin' :D

Read & review? Pretty please? Even though I'm sucky at updating?

Keep Cool x