"I don't understand why you're so eager to go back, Sara."

"They need the help." She spoke as she continued to pack her suitcase, "I feel responsible." She added, but there was more to it an they both knew it. She turned to face him as he sat on the edge of the bed, watching her walk back and forth from the dresser to her suitcase. "It's only for a few months until they find someone else." She smile sadly, "They're really hurting."

Grissom sighed softly, "I'm going to miss you."

Sara smiled at this and walked to him, leaning down and kissing his lips gently, "It wont be for long."

"Alright." He stood and moved to leave the room, returning a moment later with something in his hand. "Keys to the condo." He offered as he handed them to her.

"You didn't sell it when you left?"

He simply shook his head in return, "Market was doing well at the time and I didn't know our future plans."

She nodded, thinking back to the conversation they had on the balcony a few months prior when he voiced his distaste for the idea of returning to Vegas now. Perhaps that wasn't always his feeling, she thought. Perhaps he could change his mind back.

"It'll be weird to stay there without you or Hank." She thought aloud. Grissom placed a gently hand on her cheek, pushing her hair behind her ear and looking deep into her eyes. She could sense the worry in his own.

"You're sure?"

"I am." She said softly but confidently. "I think I need to do this for me too, not just the team. I think I need to prove to myself that I truly am better. All of me, not just the part of me that ran away."

"Okay." He conceded.

The next day came a bit too quickly for Grissom as he rode along with her in the taxi to the airport. He reached out and held her hand in his, squeezing gently. The cab driver pulled into the departures lane and helped Sara with her bags from the trunk.

The two walked to the security line as Sara turned to him, "This is as far as they'll let you go." She spoke the obvious, feeling him not want to let go of her hand.

"Be safe, Sara." His features were etched with worry.

"I will, Gil. Please don't worry. I'll be fine."

"I believe you. But I can't help it." He smiled through his worry and kissed her lips gently.

"I'll be back in two weeks. Ecklie pre approved four days of time off so I could book a return flight."

"Good." He paused momentarily, "Tell the team I say hello."

"I will." She leaned in now, closing the remaining space between them and kissed him deeply. "I'll see you soon."

"See you soon." He echoed and watched her walk through the security line.


Sara walked through the familiar hallways for the first time in a long time. She could feel the difference in herself as she did. Judy quickly exclaimed her name at the sight of her, welcoming her back with a warm gesture and glowing grin.

"They're all in the break room." She smiled.

Sara made her way through the halls to the break room, peaking into the transparent labs as she did, seeing some new faces in lab coats. Then she heard the familiar voices she was looking for.

"Nobody in the lab should be talking to anybody in the media about an open investigation! Let alone one of this profile!" The voice was a little distant be she could detect Ecklie's furry as she turned the corner.

"Hey! Take it easy, Ecklie. I'm sure she's not the leak." And there was good 'ol Nick..

"I can defend myself."

"This is a discipline problem, Catherine. Just get a grip on your people. I'm beginning to think Reilly was right about you."

"What is that supposed to mean!?"

"You didn't read her exit interview? I put it on your desk. Just read it." Ecklie spun around to leave passing right past Sara, his anger not letting him be able to register her presence.

"Uh.. Hi. Guys. This a bad time?" She smiled widely as she took in the familiar faces.

"Sara!?" Nick exclaimed "Sara! What are you doing here!?" He took two large strides toward her and wrapped her in a hug.

"Ecklie said you guys could use some help."

"Sara, you don't know how relieved I am to see you. I thought he was going to stick us with another level 1 to train." She turned to Ray, "Sara, this is Ray. Grissom brought him on just before leaving."

"It's nice to finally meet you, Sara."

"Likewise." She smiled, unable to wipe the grin off her face.

One by one they each left the break room, needed to tend to the case at hand.

Greg walked down the hall, hearing the familiar voice he quickly let his feet bring him closer to it.

"Sara!" She spun to see him just in time for him to wrap her in a tight hug, "What are you doing here?" He gushed, unable to contain his excitement at seeing her, "You tired of being happy and married?" He teased.

"No..." She smiled widely letting her voice trail a bit, "Grissom is guest lecturing at the Sorbonne while we're waiting for our research grant to get funded and Ecklie called said the team was down a man, wondered if I could recommend anyone. And, you know, as much as I love Paris—and my French is actually getting pretty good—I realized I missed you guys."

"Well, we missed you too."

"So, how's the world treating you?"

"Well you know, still being treated like the lab tech with the crazy hair." He joked easily, "How long will you be here for?"

"Probably a few months. Just until we can find the team a suitable replacement."

Greg nodded knowingly, "It's really good to see you, Sara. You seem really well."

"Thanks, Greggo. I feel good. The time off helped a lot."

Greg's phone buzzed causing him to look that the screen, "I've got to get going here but I want to hear all about your travels. Drinks later?"

"You got it."

"Sara." She turned now to see Ecklie approach. "Welcome back."

"Good to be back." She smiled.

"Let's get you set up with equipment." Sara walked with Ecklie over to processing to retrieve her department issued gun, badge and ID.

"Grissom or Sidle?" Ecklie spoke quickly.

"Excuse me?"

He looked back at her as he signed off on her paper work, "For your name tag—you know on your vest."

"Oh." She hadn't really thought of that. "Sidle." She decided, "It would fee weird to wear Grissom around here." She shrugged, but Ecklie didn't seem interested in teh second half of her answer.

"Alright, Sidle." He handed her her gun, badge, ID and now vest, "You're all processed in. Welcome back for real."


Sara followed Catherine through the lab halls giving her an updated on the case and her findings as the approached the locker room. Catherine walked in and opened her locker sighing as Sara asked "What's next?"

"Look, Sara—I know you walked into some fireworks in the break room."

"What? Ecklie?" Sara laughed and waved off the comment.

"No, I just read Reilly's exit interview. She had some harsh things to say about my leadership. That the team's fractured. That it lacks cohesion because of me—because of my managerial style." Catherine took a seat on the bench and looked up at Sara, "I don't know. I admit it. I admit that things are different since Grissom left."

"Well, It's like when a great baseball team looses their clean-up hitter. Everyone is swinging for the fences and no one is playing small ball."

Catherine raised her brows, a small smirk lifted her otherwise grimaced lips, "You're using a baseball analogy."

Sara breathed in deeply, "Apparently, part of being married is attempting to share in your spouses interests."

Catherine laughed at this, "Okay. It's a weird side of you."

"I know." She smiled easily, "Look you still have a lot of great players, and some new talent. Maybe... you just need to reshuffle your line up."

"English please?"

"You are a great CSI, Catherine. And you know how to manage your team. The only thing that Grissom had, that you don't" She watched as Catherine braced herself to hear another flaw, "—is you." A smile slowly formed on Catherine's face, it was exactly what she needed to hear.

She breathed in deeply, "Have I mentioned how great it is to have you back?"

Sara laughed softly, "It feels good to be back, honestly. I didn't think it would."

"How's Grissom?"

"He's good. He's really good. The sunshine suits him."

"It suits you too, Sara. You look well."

"Thanks." She smiled and then gestured with her head toward the door, "Now lets go wrap this case."


"Before I say anything else, Just know that I'm completely fine."

"Sara." Grissom sighed on the phone, "What happened."

"Nick and I were in a shootout with a group who came through the lab to steal evidence."

"On your first day back? Really." She could hear the disbelief in his voice, "What part of stay safe didn't you get?" He joked and she laughed on the other end.

"A few lab techs were injured but nothing serious. Everyone's fine." She reassured him. Grissom smiled, it had only been a little over 24 hours since he'd dropped her at the airport and he already missed her terribly.

"Oh! I almost forgot to tell you!" She exclaimed excitedly, "Nick and Greg found Stevie!"

"Stevie!? Really. Wow, I lost him years ago."

"I know, I remember the small panic of 2005." She smiled against the phone as they continued their conversation easily. For two people historically terrible at communication, day one of long distance marriage seemed to be going well.