A/N: This is more filling in the gaps left out by the show. We will get back to cannon soon. Part of this is based on the conversation Grissom and Sara had in A la Cart about changing shifts. All the dialogue is mine. The characters…I just took them out to play with them. They belong to CBS.
Grissom walked out of the hospital to find Warrick waiting for him.
"Come on, Griss, I'll take you home."
"Thanks."
"Do you want to stop and get something to eat first? You need to eat."
"Um…I guess I could eat something."
"Okay, you wait in the car and I'll run in and get you something at the diner."
"That would be great."
Warrick headed toward the diner.
Grissom fell asleep not long after the car started moving. Warrick let him sleep as he drove. When he got to the diner he went in and ordered Grissom's usual. When he returned ten minutes later, Grissom was still asleep.
They headed toward Grissom's house. Warrick was aware he had moved a while back, but he had not been to Grissom's new house. He had to wake him up to verify the way.
"Griss…Griss…"
Grissom woke up and for a moment was not sure of where he was.
"Hey, Griss, I need the directions to your new place. I kinda know where it is but I need to know the exact way."
"Oh, sorry. I fell asleep."
"It's fine. Here's your breakfast."
Warrick handed him the container.
Grissom opened it.
"Do you mind if I eat? I didn't realize how hungry I was."
"Go ahead. You need to eat."
"Thanks, and hang a left at the next street."
Warrick followed the directions Grissom gave as he ate his breakfast.
Soon they pulled up outside a set of townhouses. They were very upscale.
"Nice new digs."
"Thanks, Sara picked it out. She had a great time decorating it. We wanted a place that was ours not hers or mine."
Warrick had just confirmed that Grissom and Sara were living together; a fact not known until now.
"Do you need some help getting inside or are you going to be okay?"
"I think I can make it on my own."
Grissom then saw his car sitting in the parking lot.
"How did you guys get my car back here?"
"We have our ways."
Grissom smiled.
"We found your keys in your desk and Greg drove it back here last night. We knew you'd need it."
Warrick handed Grissom his keys.
"Oh, thanks. I'm gonna need these to get in."
"Yeah. Now don't show your face at the hospital for eight hours or you will have me and Nick to deal with."
Grissom again smiled. He did have good friends.
"Okay. I promise. I'll see you later, and thanks again for the ride."
"Any time."
Grissom opened the car door and headed toward the door of the building. Warrick watched as he headed into the building. He wanted to make sure Grissom kept his word to rest.
Grissom turned around when he reached the door and waved to Warrick. He walked in and headed to his door.
He unlocked the door and went it in. It was quiet. There was no noise. Hank was at the sitters. He had called the sitter and explained what happened. She said not to worry about Hank. She'd keep him as long as she needed to.
On the couch he saw the blanket Sara wrapped up in when she watched TV. He picked it up and took it with him. He walked down the stairs and toward the kitchen. In the sink was her favorite coffee cup. He then walked into the bedroom. On the bed he found her pajamas. He sat down. The emotions and the exhaustion caught up with him. He laid down and fell asleep wrapped in Sara's blanket.
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Nick sat with Sara as she slept. Several hours later she woke up.
"Gil?"
"No, Sara, it's Nick. Grissom went home to get some sleep. We had to make him, but he went.'
"Good, he needed it."
"How are you feeling?"
"Okay I guess. My arm hurts. All of me hurts really, but at least I'm here."
"Yes, you are."
"Nick thanks for finding me. Grissom told me about it."
"Consider it a debt paid for finding me."
She nodded.
"How long has Gil been gone?"
It was strange to hear Sara call him Gil.
"About two hours. We told him not to show up for eight hours. Warrick took him to get something to eat and then took him home. His car was still at the lab. Greg drove it home last night."
"Thanks for looking out for him."
Nick had about a thousand questions he wanted to ask her, but now was not the time.
"If you ever need to talk about what happened, I'm here."
"I know, and thank you."
She was glad Grissom had gone home to rest, but she wanted him back beside her. She was afraid without him there.
Nick sensed her uneasiness.
"Sara, he'll be back in six hours. Get some rest. I'll be here with you."
"Thanks Nick."
She went back to sleep. The pain medication they gave her made it hard to stay awake. She was thankful that it also took away the nightmares.
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Grissom woke six hours after he had fallen asleep still in his clothes. It was mid afternoon now. His muscles ached. He sat up. A shower, I need a shower. He undressed and headed for the shower. The hot water felt good on his aching muscles. He let it run over him for a long while.
His thoughts wandered again to the idea of losing Sara. The tears came in ragged sobs as the water ran over him. Sara had absolved him of guilt, but he still blamed himself for what happened to her. It was his fault. He was just glad Sara was going to make it.
He had just finished shaving as his cell phone rang.
"Grissom."
Sara was on the other end.
"Hi, you kept your word."
He smiled though she couldn't see it, "A promise is a promise. I got six hours sleep and I just had a shower. I'll even shave for you."
She smiled, "Thanks."
"You doing okay?"
He was a bit worried she had called.
"Yes, I'm fine. I just….needed to hear your voice."
"Is Nick still there?"
"Yeah, he hasn't let me out of his sight. He made sure I ate the lunch they brought me. Thanks for telling them I am a vegetarian."
"It's the least I could do."
"Are you coming back soon?"
"I'm going get dressed and grab something to eat then I'll be there. By then my eight hour rule should be up. Nick said he and Warrick would take care of me if I didn't stay away for eight hours."
"I think you're fine."
They both laughed.
"Do you want me to bring you anything?"
"No. I'll be fine…oh wait. Will you bring me some clothes to wear home tomorrow?"
"What would you like?"
Something that will fit over this cast and some pants and shoes and….."
"I got the rest."
"Thanks. Nick was getting uncomfortable with where that was headed."
He knew she was feeling better because she was making jokes. It was a good sign.
"Okay then I will pack a bag for you. I will be there in about forty five minutes."
"I can't wait."
"I love you, Sara."
"I love you, too."
Nick was a bit uncomfortable to hear them like that. He was just getting used to them dating and now he was hearing this.
Sara turned to Nick, "Gill's on his way back there."
Nick checked his watch. "He has forty five minutes before he's allowed back."
Sara laughed.
"He said that and promised not to be here before that."
"Good, I wouldn't want to have to kick his ass."
Sara laughed again.
Nick was happy to make her laugh.
"Seriously, do you need anything?"
"No, I'm fine. Gil is bringing me clothes for tomorrow."
It still seemed strange to hear her call him Gil. He thought it would seem even weirder to know that they were lovers and she called him Grissom. He really wasn't sure what upset him more. It was not the time to ask questions. That would come later.
"I'll stay until he gets there, then I'll go. I have to work tonight."
"Oh, you shouldn't have stayed then. You need to sleep."
"I'll be fine. They can't spare anyone tonight. Besides, I promised Grissom I would not leave you alone."
Sara felt guilty about that.
"Grissom took three days off."
"Oh."
"Yeah, he wanted to be there for you."
She felt bad that they would be down two people tonight.
"Ecklie called in someone from swing to fill in for a few days. "
"Okay. I'm sorry about this Nick. I hate to leave you shorthanded."
"Sara, it's not your fault."
She still felt bad.
They talked for a while longer when Grissom came in the room.
"Hey there."
Sara's face lit up when he came in, "Hi."
Nick checked his watch, 'Eight hours on the button."
"I know I had to wait in the hall for ten minutes."
They all laughed.
"Thanks, Nick for staying with Sara. I appreciate it."
"My pleasure, man. You know that."
"You better go get some rest before shift tonight. You have enough time to get some sleep."
"I'm headed out now. Call if you need anything."
"Thanks, Nick, we will."
"Bye guys."
"Bye, Nick."
Nick left them alone.
Grissom walked over and kissed Sara.
"Are you feeling better?"
"I am. I hope I get to go home in the morning. I am ready to get out of here."
"I know. Sara, there's something I need to tell you."
"What?"
She was suddenly nervous.
"There is something you need to know."
"What?"
"The team knows about us. I…."
He saw the look on her face which was somewhere between shock and horror. She knew what that meant. They could no longer work together. The secret they had kept for two years was out.
"Sara, it's going to be fine, really."
"How?"
"I told them."
"Why?"
"When I found the miniature in my office I took it to the layout room and the team was gathered to look at it. The moment I realized that it was you under that car it stopped thinking rationally. I thought like your lover not your boss. I was worried and scared to death. Catherine said this felt different and that's when it hit me. I knew it was my fault Natalie had taken you. She did it to get back at me for Ernie killing himself. She blamed me for that and she was going to kill the one person I love more than anyone…you."
Sara then realized how agonizing it must have been for Grissom when she was missing. He would have not betrayed their secret otherwise.
"Gil, you know what this means. Ecklie will never let us work together."
"I know. We'll work it out, honey."
He kissed her to reassure her.
"How are we going to work it out?"
"I'll change shifts. I'll go to swing. At least that way we can have the mornings together."
She could not answer at the moment. It was all taking a while to register. She did not want to face the questions and the looks at the lab. She looked at Grissom. He didn't seem concerned in the least at the moment.
"How can you be so calm about this?"
"The only thing I was ever worried about was losing you. Compared to that, this is easy. We'll make it work. I promise."
"That's gonna be a hard promise to keep."
"I love you, Sara. We can survive anything as long as we stay together."
She desperately wanted to believe him.
He sensed her fear and leaned in placing his forehead against hers.
"We'll make it, Sara."
"I love you." She whispered back.
"I love you too."
There was a knock at the door.
"May I come in?" Catherine called out.
Sara answered, "Hi, come on in."
She came in and looked at the two of them. It was so obvious now that she knew. Why had she not seen it before? Catherine was happy for the two of them. They both deserved happiness. She decided not to push for answers right now. There would be time for that later.
"How are you feeling, Sara?"
"I've been better. I get to go home in the morning."
"That's great."
"Catherine thanks for everything you did. I really appreciate it."
"We're family. We take care of each other."
They smiled at each other. Over the years they had had their fights. They had also been there for each other when the chips were down. Sara knew Catherine was more Gil's friend than hers. She was glad he had friends there to help him through the past few days.
"I just came to check on you before I headed into the lab. I'm on tonight."
"Nick left a while ago. He said he has to work tonight too." Grissom offered.
"Yeah. Glad you went home and changed and showered. You were getting a bit ripe there."
Grissom shrugged in agreement.
"Nick made me."
"Good for him."
"Sara, is there anything you need?"
"No, Gil brought me everything, but thanks."
Catherine had never heard Sara use his first name.
"I can't stay long. I have to get into work. We have to continue processing the evidence in…."
Catherine had almost said Sara's case, but she stopped.
"Catherine, it's okay. I know you have to process the evidence. I appreciate all your hard work. I want her behind bars where she can't hurt anyone else. Do what you have to do."
"We will. We'll make the case airtight. She won't get off. Gil, keep us posted please."
"I will. I'm going to stay here tonight with Sara."
He took her hand. It was strange to have him do that in front of others. He'd never done that before. She looked down at their fingers as they intertwined. She knew at that moment he meant to keep his promise. It was such a small act, but it meant so much to her. They would be together forever.
"Well, goodnight you two. I'll see you later."
Grissom thanked her for coming and told her to keep him posted on the progress of the case.
"I will. Bye."
"Bye."
Catherine left and they were alone again.
"Gil, are you sure about changing shifts. I…I can do it."
"No, you need your friends. I'll do it."
He picked up her had he'd been holding and kissed it.
"I'll do anything for you." He whispered.
"I know. What I need the most is you."
"Now get some rest. You get to leave here tomorrow. I'll stay here with you tonight."
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
She nodded. She was glad to have him near.
He kissed her, "Goodnight, Sara. I love you."
"Goodnight."
He watched over her as she slept. In the morning he would take her home. From there they would figure out what was going to happen. For now it was enough to know that she was alive and would make a full recovery.
He pulled the chair up close to her and fell asleep a few hours after Sara did.
A/N: Thanks for reading. Please leave a review. I know it was a long time between updates, but I promise to be quicker about it now. I will be even quicker if you leave me a review so I know you are interested still.
