AN:Thanks for the reviews and support. Here is the next Chapter.

Chapter 38: The other shoe

June 27, 2002

6 months later

As the months passed by them, things couldn't have been better between Grissom and Sara, their professional lives had more chemistry then when she had first came aboard, which was hard to imagine since they already had a tight bond from the beginning. And it wasn't just between themselves now, it was with the team as well. Their hard work paid off because they shot the lab up to number one in the country, which didn't surprise Grissom one bit. He knew he had one heck of a dedicated team, all it took was patience and time for the results to show up. So with his professional life thriving he couldn't ask for more.

His personal life wasn't too shabby either, especially when he considers waking up next to Sara the best part of his day. Every day he grew deeper and deeper in love with her, he never knew he could feel this much love for one person but he did. He smiled every time he thought of her and was excited to see her at home and at work, he didn't think his life could be more perfect than that.

That was until 2 and a half weeks ago, before the other shoe finally dropped.

He knew at a very young age that his chances of going deaf were very high, even as he got older he was still preached that it could happen. So when they had went to his mother's house seven months ago and she had asked him if he remembered that he still could become deaf, he really, truly did. He just chose to
think/hope that by now it wouldn't happen to him. In fact he didn't even want to think it still could happen because becoming deaf, he felt he would lose everything in his professional and sadly his personal life.

When his hearing started to waver on him, work was surprisingly not the first thing he thought of...it was Sara. Now deep down if he had stopped and thought about it and not let his insecurities flare up like he did then he should've known that Sara would not think of him any differently and that she would be very supportive of him, but every negative thought he had been feeling, pretty much since they had met, but had kept down because he was so happy, came back to him. It was so overwhelming that one day when they were at work, he had gotten up from the chair in his office and started walking away as she was talking to him about a case she was working on. He came back to the lab about an hour later and she had asked him what was going on, he just told her he needed a little air. She didn't press him on it but he could tell that she was very worried about him. He just reassured her everything was fine, but deep down he knew it wasn't.

He also knew he still could technically work without his hearing, but losing that sense, especially doing the job he does, it wouldn't make him as effective and he would more than likely have to stay in the lab. And for someone like him it just wouldn't do, he couldn't live like that. He loved working out in the field, he had to be out there making a difference.

Grissom sighed then ran his hand down his face as he thought about what's been happening the last six months. He looked up and saw his childhood bedroom door open, he gives his mother a small smile as she walks up to him with a coffee mug that had hot chocolate in it, his favorite comfort drink.

He signs 'Thank you' to her.

After Grissom took the mug she signed back. 'You're welcome honey.' As he was taking a sip she signed again. 'Do you need anything else?'

In his mind he immediately thought of Sara, but then he shook his head both mentally and physically, so she would know his answer and to get rid of what he was thinking. She gave him a slight nod, then after she 'told' him she will be back later to check up on him, she turned and left the room.

When the door clicked shut he sighed as he took another sip and continued to go back into his thoughts.

After that train wreck of their visit here, things between his mother and him had been very strained. He still loved her, but knowing that she didn't really approve of Sara, hurt him a lot. He did keep in contact every once in a while though, just to make sure she was ok because after all she was his mother, and the only one he has.

But all that strained feeling towards her changed the moment he started getting the signs of what was happening to him. He knew that she would be the one person who understands exactly what he was going through. So after he told Sara that he had an unexpected request to do a seminar in LA, left an emergency leave of absence for the director, and told Catherine she was in charge, he went straight here. The moment his mother saw his sad look when she opened the front door she took him by the arm and brought him in the house, then wrapped her arms around him and held him for a very long time.

That had been a week and a half ago, he knew he had to go back to Vegas, but he couldn't, not yet. He wanted to escape his upturned reality for a
bit longer.

He looked back at the door when it opened 20 minutes later and his mother signed. 'You have a visitor.'

Grissom's heart started to pound as he signed. 'Who?'

She smiled as she moved out of the doorway and his heart sinks a little when he saw it was Julia, but he did give her a little smile. He looked back at his mother and she singed so Julia couldn't see. 'Behave.' Grissom nodded his head then Betty left the room.

When it was just the two of them Julia signed. 'Should I not be here?' She had felt his tension right away.

He shakes his head. 'It's not that. I don't mind you being here it's just...' He trails off.

She signed with a knowing smile. 'You just want it to be Sara standing here?'

He nodded, sighed. 'Even if I don't deserve it.'

'Why? Because you are going deaf?'

'No, because I didn't tell her what was going on, I pretty much just left.'

He watches Julia walk up to the bed, sits at the end of it and signed back. 'You just needed time to process this, yeah you've known your whole life that this could happen, but knowing it and actually living through it are two different things.'

He gives her a small smile. 'Thank you Julia.'

She nodded and after a few second seconds she signed again. 'I want you to know your mother had nothing do with me being here. I came to visit my family, and seeing your mom was my last stop before going to the airport. She told me you were here when I was at the front door and a little on what happened, I just didn't want you to think she had a plan.' Grissom nodded with appreciation that she would tell him that. He also saw in her eyes that it was truth, which didn't surprise him because she was always honest with him.

She continued to looked at him for a few more seconds then looked down.

He moves forward to put a hand on her wrist as he was frowning, then waited till she looked back up. When she did, she took her hand out of his hold and signed before he could ask. 'I know a part of me shouldn't be saying this, but ever since I saw you seven months ago I can't stop thinking about you, I think I made a huge mistake letting you go.'

Grissom looks at her wide-eyed and it took him a few minutes to respond, but he finally did, while still looking into her eyes. 'I am shocked and I'll admit flattered but...'

She cuts him off. 'But you don't feel that way towards me anymore?'

He shook his head. 'I'm sorry Julia, but even if I screwed things up with Sara, I can't go back to the way I felt about you in the past and it wouldn't be fair to any of us if I pretended.'

Julia nodded 'Ok, I understand. A part of me knew it would be a long shot anyways, I'm sorry if I upset you.'

'You didn't. You were being honest and that's one of the things I always liked about you and that will never change. I don't like that I hurt you though.'

'I'll be fine, I just want you to be happy again.' She could tell that he wasn't at the moment, but anybody could tell that, there was no sparkle in his eyes.

He sighed. 'Me too.' She gives him a small smile, stands up, walks up to the head of the bed, leans down and gives him a hug, he hugs her back.

While in the hug he looks over Julia's shoulder and tensed when he saw who was standing in the doorway of his childhood bedroom, then he whispered. "Sara."

AN: Things will take a turn, is it a good thing or bad? Find out next chapter. Please review.