"Good news about Moneypenny," DB told Sara, putting the last of his omelette in his mouth.

"It's not a done deal yet," Sara replied, smiling softly as she looked up from the coffee cup she'd been staring at.

Tuning into Sara and DB's conversation, Finn, Greg and Nick stopped talking.

"Still," DB went on. "It's only a matter of time before the FBI makes an arrest."

Smiling, Sara nodded her head. "Catherine was great. She put all their resources behind it."

"Is that the Catherine that worked at the lab before I joined?" Finn asked, interested.

"That's right," Nick said, flicking his eyes over to her. "She's working for the FBI now. In the Los Angeles field office."

"The FBI," Finn mused. "I got through to phase 2 of the selection process."

"I did not know that," DB exclaimed, surprised.

"Oh, that was…way before we met. Before I became a CSI even."

"I didn't think you could remember that far back," Greg piped up, a teasing smile on his lips.

Finn pulled a face at him, and they laughed.

"So, huh, what happened?" Nick asked, refocusing her.

"Don't tell me," DB said. "They kicked you out for being insubordinate."

"Nah. I quit," Finn said breezily, not needing any prompting to go on to tell them the whole story.

Sara was pleased the conversation had shifted away from her. Every time the kidnapping or Moneypenny was mentioned at the lab she worried someone would let slip about the link with Grissom. It was one thing their close friends knowing the truth of his whereabouts and how the kidnapping had presumably come about, but the whole of the lab? Sara wasn't comfortable with that, and she knew Grissom wouldn't be either.

While finishing her breakfast, she listened as Finn regaled her rapt audience with a few anecdotes, but soon her thoughts drifted to Betty and the surgery she'd just undergone, and then to Grissom whom she hadn't told and hated keeping in the dark. But Betty had made her promise she wouldn't tell him until after the fact, until they knew more anyway, and so far she'd kept her word.

Not telling him had been hard though when they'd spoken on the phone the previous day and he'd asked if everything was okay. She'd replied a breezy "Sure" before swiftly asking about him. If he'd suspected something was the matter, he hadn't let on.

"Sara, is everything okay?" Finn asked quietly, her tone full of concern.

Sara refocused with a start. "Sure. Sorry." She had been so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed Greg wasn't sitting next to her anymore. She gave her head a shake and Finn a smile. "I just…zoned out for a moment."

"You've been zoning out a lot recently," Finn remarked, making quote marks around 'zoning out' with her fingers.

When Sara didn't reply, Finn's gaze narrowed probingly, questioningly.

"It's my mother-in-law," she said in a sigh. "She's in hospital."

Finn registered a look of surprise. "Your mother-in-law?" she exclaimed, loud enough to interrupt Nick and DB's conversation. "You're still in touch with her?"

Her eyes flicking over to Nick and DB watching her with intent, Sara gave a soft nod.

"Is she okay?" Nick asked, looking and sounding concerned.

"She is," Sara said, giving him a soft smile.

"Is it to do with that flu thing she had a few weeks back?"

"Indirectly," she replied. She looked over to Finn and DB, hesitating only briefly before deciding to tell them the truth. What did it matter if they knew about Betty? "She—she had surgery to remove a basal cell carcinoma."

"Skin cancer?" DB said, his downcast expression mirroring his tone of voice.

Again, Sara nodded her head.

"Who has skin cancer?" Greg asked, sliding onto the bench next to Sara.

"Betty," Sara replied quietly, turning toward him.

"Oh, shit," he said, his hand immediately lifting to her shoulder and patting warmly. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Hear, hear," DB and Nick concurred.

"From what I understand," Sara said, "it's not the first one she's had removed. It was on her neck." Her hand lifted to the right side of her neck, just below the jaw. "Just here. It's normally an outpatient procedure but because of her age they kept her in overnight. She sent me a text this morning. Said she'd had a good night."

Nick, Greg and DB were watching Sara expectantly, a clear 'Does Grissom know?' in their eyes, and Finn's gaze narrowed suspiciously. "What?" she asked, eyes flicking between each man in turn. "What do you all know that I don't?"

Sara sighed. Would a partial lie get her out of this sticky situation, she wondered? "My mystery boyfriend," she said finally. "You know, the one that's made me happier these days," she went on, quoting Finn's words.

Finn's face softened with mischief. "What? The one I'm not supposed to know you spent this last weekend with?"

Sara nodded. "Well, he's not a boyfriend as such."

Finn's frown returned. "I don't get it. If he's not your boyfriend—" Her eyes widening suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. "Oh, my God, Sara. You got yourself a girlfriend? Like a girlfriend girlfriend, not a girl friend?"

Sara registered a look of surprise. "What? No," she denied in a nervous chuckle, while Nick, DB and Greg badly stifled their amusement. She elbowed Greg in the side before giving Finn a sheepish smile. "No. It's…not a girlfriend."

"I don't get it."

Sara took a breath, held Finn's gaze levelly as she spoke. "My mystery boyfriend is my husband, Finn. That's who I've been seeing again."

Finn flicked a look of utter disbelief over her four companions. "What?"

Sara shrugged. She looked over at Greg who gave her an encouraging smile. "Not so mysterious after all, huh?"

"Oh, Sara," Finn said, looking and sounding disapproving now. "I can't believe that you're back with him, after all the crap he's put you through."

"Finn," Nick interjected, his tone soft, mildly scolding.

"What?" she exclaimed, affronted now, whipping her head toward Nick. "The man's been nothing but a jerk to her."

Sara desperately wanted to defend Grissom but, unwilling to divulge more than she had already done, held her tongue.

"Come on now, Finn," Greg said, placating. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"And you do, do you?" Finn's eyes narrowed before a wry smile of realisation formed, twisting her lips. "Clearly you do." Head shaking, she turned her attention to DB. "You too?"

His gaze averting, DB gave a nod and Finn turned incredulous eyes on Sara. "I thought we were friends." There was no mistaking the disappointment and feelings of betrayal in Finn's tone.

"We are," Sara defended fervently. She reached a conciliatory hand across the table toward Finn who ignored it. How could the mood sour so quickly, so suddenly, Sara wondered?

"But not friends enough so you'd tell me you and hubby have shacked up together again, huh?"

"It's not like that." Sara dropped her hand but kept it on the table.

"Oh, isn't it?" Finn sounded hurt now.

"Strictly speaking," Nick said, with a comforting smile at Sara, "you can't shack up if you're married."

Finn's lips twisted with contempt. It was clear his attempt at lightening the mood wasn't appreciated.

"Oh, come on, Finn," DB said, showing impatience and exasperation at her reaction. "Surely it's up to Sara what and when she tells people."

"She told all of you, didn't she?"

"Well, strictly speaking," Nick said, wincing, "She didn't."

"She told me," Greg interjected quietly.

Sara nudged his elbow. "You're not helping." She looked over at Finn and sighed, hesitating.

"You know what, Sara?" Finn said, reaching for her purse on the floor as she pushed to her feet. "Don't bother."

"Finn!" Sara exclaimed, fervently enough as to keep her in place, and stood up too. "Don't be like that. Sit back down please." She kept her voice soft and coaxing. "Let me explain."

Turning, Finn stared at Sara briefly before doing as bid. Blowing a breath, Sara followed suit. She looked over at her friends hesitantly, and Greg gave her hand a warm, supportive squeeze. Opting to tell Finn the whole truth before their friendship was irretrievably ruined, she cast her eye out to the tables nearby to make sure they couldn't be overheard.

"Gil is…" The words were hard to say and, feeling tears rise, she lifted her shoulder in a small shrug. "Gil's in prison," she finally said in a whisper, holding Finn's angry stare as she wiped a quick knuckle to her eye.

"What?"

"He's in prison," she made herself say again. "That's why I didn't tell you."

Finn opened her mouth, only to shut it, visibly struggling to process the revelation. "I'm sorry, Sara," she finally said, looking suitably chastised. "I had no idea."

"Well, that's the thing," Sara said, smiling sadly. "Neither did I."

Finn nodded her head, dropped her eyes. "I'm sorry. Me and my size 9s." Reaching for Sara's hand, she gave her head a shake. "How long have you known?"

"Since May?" With a sigh, Sara went on to tell Finn about the car accident he'd caused and the subsequent guilty plea. She kept her account brief, matter-of-fact, leaving out the link with her kidnapping. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you," she said finally. "I—I wanted to – more than once. But well, you don't know him." She glanced at Nick and Greg. "You only know what you heard, what I told you, and for a long time I was so angry and bitter at him that I said things I didn't mean. Things that aren't true. I—"

"You know what, Sara?" Finn cut in softly. "You don't have to explain. All I need to know is that overall you've been happier these last six months than I ever saw you since we've known each other."

A soft smile forming, Sara gave a nod. "I have. Very much so." She sighed. "If I couldn't tell you the truth, it wasn't for me, because I'm ashamed or anything, but Gil, well, he's finding it hard to cope."

Finn scoffed. "I don't think I'd cope either." She paused. "When is he coming out?"

"Within the next six months?"

Finn gave a nod. "I look forward to meeting him. I look forward to meeting the guy who could win your heart and keep it all this time and that despite everything that happened between you." She glanced at Nick. "Nick once told me that…Grissom? Do I call him Grissom?"

Smiling, Sara nodded.

"Well, that he was the one for you. That you and him had a thing." Finn pronounced the word with a strong Texan twang.

One brow rising, Sara turned toward Nick, mimicking Finn's speech. "A thing?"

Nick was looking contrite. "I believe I said connection," he said, addressing Finn and then looking earnestly at Sara, "And I was only defending you. It was before I found out the truth anyway. I wasn't—"

Sara lifted his hand, stopping him in his tracks. "Don't worry about it. But a thing, huh?" she said again, making him blush.

Nick's visible embarrassment made everyone laugh.

"What pisses me off though…" Finn went on.

"Oh, there we go again," DB interjected, laughing.

"…is that I'm the last one to find out." Finn looked pointedly at Nick, DB and Greg. "Because I am, aren't I?"

"Hodges doesn't know," Greg remarked lightly.

"Neither does Morgan," Sara said more solemnly.

"But her father knows," Nick said. "Brass had to tell him. He had no choice if he wanted to be able to speak with Grissom directly after…you know…you got taken."

This gave Sara pause.

"Conrad hasn't told Morgan," DB said categorically. "He told me he wouldn't."

Sara gave a nod. Then she gave Finn a pointed look and Finn pretended to zip her lips shut. "I won't breathe a word to anyone."

"Thank you."

"So, this long weekend?"

Sara's smile returned. "I went to see him."

"I bet he was pleased to see you after what happened."

Sara's expression softened lovingly. "He was."

Finn gave a thoughtful nod, then she smiled and touched Sara's hand. "I'm happy for you. I really am."

"Thanks, Finn," Sara said.

"So, does Grissom know about Mrs G?" Nick asked, after a beat in silence.

Sara's expression darkened again and she shook her head. "Not yet. We wanted to wait until after the op – well, it's not an operation, more a procedure – before we told him. Betty's coming home today and I said I'd pick her up." She checked her watch. "Actually, I ought to go." She grabbed her purse, looking inside for some money.

"It's okay," Finn said. "This one's on me. It's the least I can do."

Sara paused. "You don't have to do that."

"I want to."

Sara gave Finn a warm smile.

"Yeah, thanks, Finn," Greg and Nick said.

"I'm not forking out for yours," Finn said, laughing. "Just Sara's."

DB caught her eye and held it probingly, and thanking him for his concern with a smile she nodded that she was fine. She said her goodbyes, giving everyone hugs, grateful she had such supporting friends in her life, and left. She knew she would be all they'd talk about now that she was gone, but she didn't care. She trusted them and knew they had her best interests at heart - including Finn.

As she drove the thirty-minute commute to the Surgical Dermatology and Laser Centre on the edge of Spring Valley, she realised that Finn was the first person she told about Grissom that didn't know him personally. She knew Morgan would have to be told next. She, Finn and Sara saw each other socially too often for it to remain a secret much longer. A smile formed. At least now, she wouldn't have to pretend anymore and hide the reason for her happiness.

She was crossing the parking lot over to the Centre's entrance when she checked her cell and found a text from Betty. Waiting in the lobby. Don't rush. All's well. Smiling, she walked through the automatic doors, slid her sunglasses up to the top of her head and then scanned her eyes over the smart lobby, finally locating Betty sitting on a small couch over by the water cooler, reading a magazine. Sara walked over to her, then tapped her gently on the shoulder.

Looking up with a smile, Betty set the magazine down on a low table nearby and reaching for her overnight bag pushed to her feet. She looked well and rested, the only outward sign of the surgery a small self-adhesive dressing on her neck.

"Everything okay?" Sara signed.

Betty gave a nod. "The doctor thinks he got it all."

Sara stared at Betty questioningly and laughing Betty crossed her heart. "I have an appointment next week, but the doctor is optimistic they removed it all."

Her expression relaxing, Sara nodded her head, then touched Betty on the arm affectionately. She insisted on carrying Betty's bag, and after a quick word with the clerk at the front desk to say Betty was leaving, they went on their way. They had been in a roadside diner, headed back to Bakersfield from visiting Grissom, when Betty had shown her the cancerous lesion on her neck and told her that surgery was scheduled to remove it on the Tuesday. It was a small, barely noticeable blemish. It wasn't the first time or a big deal, Betty had insisted, but still it had come as a blow.

"Do you need anything?" Sara signed after starting the car. "Food, medication?"

Betty shook her head softly. "I have everything I need. Besides, it's not like I'm bedridden."

Sara watched her with disbelief.

"I'm fine, Sara," Betty insisted, laughing. "I promise."

"Okay," she signed, giving a grudging nod, and paused. "Can I tell Gil now?"

Betty's face softened and she nodded her head in agreement before lifting a flat right hand to her chin in thanks. "I know you didn't like not telling him," she signed.

Sara shrugged. "Too many secrets already."

Betty's expression darkened as again she nodded her head. "You're right. And I was going to tell him, but…" Betty dropped her hands and shrugged and Sara understood all she wasn't signing, that getting the news of Mr Martinez's death had put paid to her intentions.

Sara stroked her hand to Betty's arm. "It's okay," she signed, and smiled. "He'll understand." And she knew he would. After all, hadn't he done the same thing to them, albeit for a year and half?

Betty mustered a smile before she raised her hand to her chin, once again thanking Sara. "Tell him I'll email soon."

Sara nodded her head. Then she slid her sunglasses back onto her face, backed the Honda out of the space and left the Centre. The drive to Betty's apartment was quiet but quick, the traffic fluid at that time of day. Sara pulled up in a free spot, killed the engine and pressed the button to open the trunk, and the pair got out of the car.

"I'll come up with you," Sara signed, pointing toward the apartment complex, when Betty tried to take her overnight bag from her.

Betty waved both hands in the negative. "It's not necessary. You go home and catch some sleep. You got work tonight."

Sara paused. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I'm going to take it easy, I promise." Betty decisively took the bag from Sara's hand.

"You text if you need anything, okay?"

Betty gave her a definite nod, and the two women embraced warmly. Betty thanked Sara again, then gave her a small wave and turning on her heels walked over to the entrance. Sara waited until the front door had fully closed behind Betty to close the trunk and get back behind the wheel. Already, she was rehearsing what and how she'd tell Grissom so as to cushion the blow.

When fifteen minutes later she backed the Honda up on her driveway, she cut the engine, stifled a yawn and then rummaged in her purse for her front door keys. Immediately on alert, she scanned her eyes up and down the street before she got out of the car and quickly went to check the mailbox. Keeping her eyes on the road, she grabbed the small stack and hurried to her front door and inside the house. She knew the chances of a repeat kidnapping were slim, but until Moneypenny was behind bars she didn't take any chances.

It was only when she'd disabled the alarm and shut and locked the door behind her that she flicked through the mail. There was one letter with a prison logo on it, not from Grissom as she expected but from Manuel. Breaking into a wide smile, she immediately opened the letter and scanned its content. His news was heart-warming, the tone of the letter so positive and cheerful that she couldn't wait to tell Grissom. It would go a little way toward lifting his spirits after she told him about his other.

She dumped the rest of the mail, keys and her purse on the hall table, took off her jacket and boots and went to the kitchen. There she poured herself a glass of water she took to the bedroom and made space for on the bedside table. Her laptop was on the bed where she'd left it the previous evening and, sitting cross-legged, she opened the lid, put in her password and connected to Grissom's Corrlinks account.

I've got news! she typed. Call if you can. About 7pm would be good. I promise not to use up too many minutes.

Hope you're having a good day.

I love you,

Sara.

No sooner had she clicked on send than the house phone rang. Lifting a wry brow, she looked at the lit-up device on her bedside table and giggling reached to pick it up.

"Gil?"

"Huh, nope," said a laughing voice.

"Catherine! I'm sorry." Sara gave her head a shake. "I thought you were Gil."

"Not last time I checked. I'm not waking you, am I?"

"No," Sara said, closing the laptop lid and making herself comfortable on the bed. "I just got back from breakfast with the guys."

"How's everyone?"

"You know, same as usual, just a little older."

Catherine laughed. "Tell me about it. I just tried your cell but—"

"It's in my purse," she said, stifling a yawn. "Sorry."

"It's okay. I won't keep you up. I just called to say we've made two arrests."

Sara's heartbeat quickened with anticipation. "Marisa?"

"And her boyfriend."

Sara registered a look of surprise. "Boyfriend?"

"Who would have thought, huh?" There was no mistaking the cynicism in Catherine's tone. "The IP address from the Hushmail account led us to a Peter Ellis. He's domiciled in Jackson, Mississippi, but the internet connection on his laptop led us to an address in—"

"Let me guess…Port Arthur."

"Orange, ten miles east of Port Arthur. But close enough. He was staying at a motel on the outskirts of town. He's a systems analyst by trade."

"Well, that makes sense," Sara mused. "Gil was convinced Moneypenny had advanced computer skills."

"He was right. There's no way Marisa alone could have done it."

"And the husband?"

"A bit of a bum actually. Got a drink problem, from what I heard. We took him in for questioning, but he didn't know anything about your kidnapping, or what his wife was up to with the boyfriend. We found the cell they used to call Dooley in Marisa's purse, but no evidence to link the husband to the kidnapping or blackmailing."

"So, what? Marisa and this Peter Ellis were going to run off with the money?"

"Pretty much yeah," Catherine said, laughing. "They hooked up online, some dating site or other I forget the name of right now. Met a few times after that. When her father died, Marisa came up with the idea of the kidnapping and blackmail. The boyfriend executed it. We got the laptop he used. It's encrypted, but the guys are on it. Marisa's bag was packed. As soon as they had the money they were headed across the border to Mexico."

"Sounds like she wasn't happy."

"You can say that again."

Sara sighed. "Gil thought the kidnapping was his fault," she told Catherine quite candidly. "That she wanted revenge for what he did."

"Nah," Catherine said. "She was just after the money and a better life for herself. Maybe her parents were the only thing keeping her in Port Arthur. Once they died—"

"She's got two kids, Catherine, a granddaughter. Surely they count for something."

Catherine paused. "I don't know. Anyways, upshot is – we got them. So now the question is, will you tell Grissom, or shall I?"

Sara smiled. "I'll do it." Her smile faded. "Which reminds me…when we spoke on the phone yesterday Gil asked for your email address – a current one. He said he wrote you a letter too, you know, explaining. He's trying to build bridges, Catherine, so…please don't be too hard on him."

Catherine made a musing sound. "I guess that if he's trying I can try too."

Sara's smile returned. "Thank you."

As the conversation drew to a close, she got off the bed and went to retrieve her cell from her purse, noticing the missed call and subsequent voicemail from Catherine, but no text from Betty. Afterwards, feeling a lot lighter and brighter than she had in days she had a quick shower and got ready for bed.

Things were looking up for them at last, she thought as finally, gratefully, she slipped into bed.

Seven pm couldn't come fast enough.