So, here is my take on what happened after Grissom left Vegas. I do deviate from cannon slightly in this, but that is mainly on the timeline (so, please no haters when my timings differ from the show). It's finished, so I'll post updates regularly and might do a sequel later on. I have a few ideas floating around in my noggin.

All mistakes are mine. I don't own the show or the CSI characters.

I hope you enjoy and, as always, please review!

Chapter 1

Turbulence shuddered through the small aircraft carrier. An elderly woman, probably in her late 80's, clutched her handbag to her chest. Knuckles whitening as her fists held on for dear life. She was wearing a pale pink skirt suit, the pastel colouring clashing with the now delicate shade of green tinting her cheeks. Her neighbour took pity on her, her fear reminding him warmly of his own dear mother.

In a soothing voice, he questioned her on her journey.

"My h-husband always wanted to travel. To see the world," she said in a shaky voice. Her companion couldn't help but notice that she was traveling alone, and a stab of pity coursed through him. He wondered how long it had been since the woman had lost her partner.

"So," he asked, "where have you been so far?"

"This," she halted as more turbulence hit them. Taking another breath, she continued. "This is the first trip. My daughter thought I was crazy, she kept telling me to try something a little closer to home. But Harry, my husband, had always dreamed of seeing the rainforest."

"Well, you've picked the perfect time to visit." Her companion smiled, and he could see her visibly relaxing as they talked. In fact, she only shivered slightly as the next load of turbulence hit them. "I think you've very brave," he continued. "To come all this way alone."

"Well, Harry had always wished I could have been a little more adventurous. He would never push me, mind you, but I could tell. He was always the braver one out of the two of us. Always looking for the next great adventure, whereas I was content to live out our lives in our comfy routine." She looked over and gave him a sad smile. She was an attractive woman, the lines on her face doing nothing to take away from her appearance. Bright, blue eyes. A small button nose, thin lips, and high cheek bones. Her face was slightly rounded, and she had a full head of white hair.

Her companion could tell that, when she was younger, she would have been considered an extremely beautiful woman. Something that had only grown with age.

"It's sad," she said. "To only realise what you have missed, once it has been taken from you." She rummaged within her bag and took out a small, cream coloured, purse. She pulled out a passport sized photograph and handed it to her neighbour.

It was a picture of the woman and a man who he instantly knew to be her husband. The man was a good-looking male, strong jaw, high cheek bones, dark brown eyes, and a head full of silver hair. It was clearly taken a few years ago, judging by the difference between the woman in the photo and the woman sat next to him. They looked happy; faces creased in laughter. The woman's crow's feet less pronounced than they were now, but still prominent as her eyes crinkled with amusement.

He smiled.

"Are you married?" She asked him and he shook his head sadly. Thinking back to his one and only proposal, and the joy he felt when she had said 'yes'. "But there is someone?" It was more of a statement than a question and she was looking at him with the wisdom of her age.

"There is," he confirmed. "At least, I hope there is." He didn't elaborate, not really willing to discuss the current state of his love life, or the woman he prayed waited for him at the other end of his journey.

The woman studied him for a moment before tucking the photograph safely back into her purse.

"Where are my manners," she said suddenly. "I'm Mary, Mary Cuthbert." She held her hand out to him and he took it.

"Gil Grissom."

"Well, Gil Grissom, I hope you don't mind the prying of a nosey old woman." Mary gave him a warm smile. "But, if there is someone special in your life, don't wait too long."

Grissom laughed; he couldn't help himself. That was the mistake he had made for the last eleven years, ever since that unforgettable day at the Forensic Academy Conference. He waited, he withdrew, and he almost lost her. Then, when he finally had her, he still waited. Still held back until he came closer to losing her in the most permanent way. But, even after all that, even after watching her slowly fall apart before his eyes, helpless to do anything to save her, he still waited. It wasn't until he received her video message he realised; he had waited too long. He had lost her. She was gone and Grissom knew, this time, she wasn't coming back.

He had made his decision without even realising.

Mary was watching him with the same intensity he used when examining a piece of evidence. And Grissom knew that she could see what was going on behind his stoic mask, something he would have thought impossible for anyone but the very woman he was chasing after, and she gave him an understanding nod of the head.

"I always find, with many relationships, if they are real, and true, no amount of time will keep the couple apart."

"Really?" He couldn't stop the hope rising in his chest. Ever since he had decided to leave Vegas, Grissom had been second guessing his next course of action. It was time to leave, time to move on to something bigger, but he still had doubts niggling at him mind. Would she want him, after all this time? After all the mistakes he had made, would she still be waiting for him like she had before?

"When Harry and I first met, he asked me to marry him right away." Mary laughed at Grissom's shocked expression. "Yes, we had only known each other for a few weeks, and he walks right into my classroom and proposes to me. I used to be a teacher," she said, answered his questioning look. "Yes." She looked at the chair before her without seeing. "He walked right up to me and told me, on no uncertain terms, that we should get married."

"And what did you say?" Grissom asked, already guessing the answer.

"Nothing. I ran away," she said on a laugh. Grissom was not expecting that. "Yes, right out the door without answering him. Harry was not one for holding back when he wanted something. He knew what he wanted, and he went after it." Mary smiled fondly at the memory. "We worked together, I taught English, and he taught History. To say it was awkward is an understatement. But he persisted, the man knew me better than I knew myself. I had fallen in love with Harry Cuthbert the moment I met him."

"So, why did you say no?" Grissom asked and Mary just threw him a look.

"I was terrified. Here was this handsome, intelligent, vibrant man telling me that he loved me and wanted to marry me. I was a nobody, from a small town no one had ever heard of. I had a little beauty and some brains, but nothing that could ever draw a man like Harry." Mary shook her head. "He could have had anyone he wanted, and he chose me. I couldn't trust it, so I ran. And he followed."

"What happened?" Grissom asked, not able to stop himself from seeing the similarities between his own situation.

"After a few years, he finally cornered me. He told me he was leaving, but, if I only said the word, he would stay. I knew then that I couldn't let him go. Maybe it was selfish, but I loved him and couldn't find it in me to let him leave. We got married a few weeks later. Now, I've had forty wonderful years of being loved. I have two beautiful children and five precious grandchildren. I have very few regrets in my life. In fact, I only have two." Mary looked over at him. "One, is not giving Harry his wish of travel."

"And what is the second?"

"That I didn't say yes the first time he asked me."

Grissom couldn't help his smile as he watched the older woman think back over her life. What would it be like to only live with two regrets? To have forty years of love and fulfilment? And he thought again of the woman at the end of his journey. If he could do it all over again, he would have taken her away the moment he laid eyes on her. Grissom didn't believe in love at first sight, but even he had to admit that the first time he had seen Sara Sidle, he was pretty damn close.

"So, Gil Grissom, you've heard my little story. What about you?" Mary was more relaxed than Grissom had seen her since getting on this plane and he knew that he had done what he set out to do, but this wasn't part of the plan. He debated a moment on not telling her, on keeping this to himself, but there was something about the woman that put him at ease.

Maybe it was the way she reminded him of his mother, or the way in which she reminded him of himself, but Grissom found himself confiding in her. Albite in a roundabout way.

"I'm looking for my new start," he said.

"And is this 'someone special' a part of that?"

"If she'll have me," Grissom said, not able to keep the wistfulness out of his voice.

They talked for the rest of the flight, never straying into the person again. Mary seemed to understand that he couldn't discuss it any further. He asked her about her classes and laughed at some of the antics of her former students. Comparing them to his own experiences of teaching. He told her some of his more interesting cases, keeping the most gruesome details to a minimum. Mary told him about her children and grandchildren and Grissom spoke about his team, and the students he's had over the years.

All the time they spoke, Grissom couldn't stop his thoughts going to Sara. Wondering what she was doing right then. He knew where she was, knew that she was alright – or at least was assured that by the other members of her research team when he had spoken to them last.

He had called the head of the research team months ago, to ask if he might be able to join them before he had even handed in his resignation. Dr Julian Osbourne was one of the world's leading marine biologists. When Grissom had asked to join their team, Dr Osbourne had jumped at the opportunity. Grissom's own reputation, and Sara's glowing commendations when she spoke of him, had left it so all he had to do was ask.

Grissom hadn't been able to give Dr Osbourne an exact date on when to expect him. There was still so much to do at the lab: find a replacement, pack his things, organise his house. But the Doctor had just told him to arrive when he could.

Grissom didn't have the courage to ask how Sara felt about it. She hadn't contacted him after he had spoken with the project leader. Uncertainty hit Grissom. What if she didn't want him, but didn't feel comfortable saying? He wasn't sure how much, if any, say she had in the acquisition of new members.

They were just entering the last leg of their journey when Mary asked him about his 'someone special' and Grissom told her. Told her of this beautiful, intelligent, fiery young woman who turned his whole life upside down.

Once they had landed, Grissom waited for Mary to leave her seat so he could follow. He helped her with her bags, even insisting he carry them off the plane. Mary thanked him with a smile and preceded him down the stairs. Hot, humid, air hit Grissom as they left the air-conditioned plane, causing sweat to build up across his brow.

Grissom only had his carry on, but he followed Mary to the baggage area, helping her retrieve her luggage and the two travellers walked together. Through security and back out into the stifling Costa Rican air.

Grissom waited with her until Mary's taxi arrived to take her to her hotel.

"Have a nice trip, Mary. It was nice to meet you." The taxi driver was putting her luggage in the boot, so Grissom opened the passenger door for her and held out his hand. Mary took it and they shook.

"And you, Gil."

Grissom gave her a warm smile and helped her into the car. Before he could close the door, she spoke again.

"Good luck with your 'special someone'. She is a lucky girl," Mary said, giving him and almost motherly smile.

Grissom only lifted his lips once more and shut the door. He watched as the taxi drove away, his mind once more going to the tall brunette he was getting more and more desperate to see.