A/N: Hello, my dear readers! I know that one of you panicked because you thought the last chapter was the end - and I want to reassure you all that this chapter is not the end either. I'll let you know when the end is coming, never fear...

This chapter is a series of coffee dates between Gil and Sara after some of the Episodes in S5. Spoilers for 'Harvest', 'What's eating Gilbert Grissom', 'Mea Culpa', and 'Snakes'. Don't own nothing but the original dialogue on their coffee dates - characters belong to CSI!


"What did Daniel say? Why did he kill his sister?"

I stared into my coffee cup, as if I could find the answers somewhere in the dark brew. This case had taken a particular toll on me, not just because it involved children, not just because it reminded me of my lapsed faith, but because it made me angry once again at the depravity of human nature. To conceive a child for the sole purpose of saving your firstborn – it was almost biblical. And yet, those same parents never stopped to think how their actions would affect Alicia or what quality of life she would have because she was created to be nothing more than a human donor for her older brother. The only one who did think of her well-being was Daniel, who loved her so much that he would set her free – even if that meant killing her.

"Gil, what is it?" Sara's hand slid across the table and wrapped around mine, squeezing gently. "Talk to me."

I sighed and lifted my eyes to hers, seeing the concern in her dark depths. "This case – these type of cases – they affect me more than others."

"Alicia?"

I nodded. "Her life - from the very beginning – Sara, they didn't want another child – they needed a match for Daniel – Alicia's life was never her own. I don't know that they ever saw her as their daughter-"

Sara squeezed my hand tightly. "Don't do this to yourself, Gil. We can't – it's easy to judge from the outside. I think their grief was genuine – and now they've lost what little time they have left with Daniel too. I feel sorry for them."

I shook my head at her. "Usually, I'm the one consoling you after these hard cases – pointing out the silver lining."

Her mouth pursed before she grinned. "I kinda like that I can do this for you – that you are opening up and talking to me about the case like this. It feels nice, doesn't it?"

I nodded and sipped my coffee, noticing that we were still holding hands across the table. This was happening more often since she had returned to work after her DUI suspension, and I had reinstated our coffee dates. It took us a few weeks to work it out but after a few missteps we settled on Tuesday mornings after shift. Both of us were usually too awake to fall asleep right away or if we were absolutely dead on our feet, we would order decaf and sip our drinks slowly, not speaking much, just enjoy being in each other's company away from work. But the hand holding was relatively new. We had taken each other's hand before, in comfort or perhaps more, but the lingering holding of hands was something that had happened in the past couple of weeks, and I was trying so hard not to overanalyze it. I always overthink around Sara. She is so beautiful – what on earth could she possible see in me? Could she possibly still be attracted to me after all this time? I wanted to believe so badly that I wasn't too late.

"So did Daniel say anything to you before he was arrested?"

I nodded. "He was kneeling in prayer when I arrived at the church and I hung back, waiting for him to finish. We talked about Alicia, and he said that he just couldn't force her to go through another round of donor treatment for him – he said their parents promised she wouldn't have to do another one. When he relapsed, his parents broke their promise and Daniel knew he had to protect his sister since no one else would." My voice cracked and I fell silent, staring down at our clasped hands.

"So, he killed her to save her?" Sara's voice was incredulous.

"I asked him why he didn't just commit suicide and he reminded me that it's the unpardonable sin. That's when I reminded him that murder is breaking God's commandment. He seemed shaken by that but said he'd be dead in six months so what did it matter?"

Sara shook her head. "I – you're right, these types of cases are hard. They don't make you angry – just overwhelmingly sad."

I lifted my head and gave her a small smile. "And you're not even Catholic."

She snorted. "Thank goodness – then I'd feel guilty on top of everything else. Wait – do you feel guilty, Gil?"

I tilted my head for moment and thought about the question. Catholics are raised to have a strong sense of guilt, the price of being a sinner in constant need of confessional, repentance, and forgiveness until the cycle started over again. But this wasn't my burden to bear – and I had not been a faithful member of the church in a very long time.

"We did everything we could – followed the evidence – and found out what happened to Alicia. I feel angry – and as you said, overwhelmingly sad."

"I'm glad, because I'd have no idea how to talk to you about Catholic guilt."

I chuckled. "I'm something of a lapsed Catholic. Besides Christmas Mass, I haven't attended a service in decades." I let go of my coffee mug to take her other hand in mine. "Everything we see on this job – all the horrible things human beings do to each other – it's made me question my faith over the years."

Sara squirmed in her seat, and I could tell she was uncomfortable with the turn this conservation had taken. "Gil-"

"What is it? Talk to me."

"I know I haven't shared much about my childhood with you-"

"Yet."

She gave a brief nod of acknowledgment. "Yet. But you know my parents were hippies – free spirits – and I didn't grow up in any faith. I questioned everything – and I still do. That's what makes me a great scientist and criminalist."

I smiled. "You're trying to tell me you're an agnostic, a skeptic."

She shrugged. "I guess if you want to put a label on it. I just – I don't want my beliefs – or non-beliefs to come in between whatever this is – I mean, if we – damn it, Gil! I'm always over-talking around you!" She blushed and dropped her chin to her chest.

I laughed and lifted one of her hands to my mouth, kissing her knuckles. The action caused Sara's head to shoot up and her eyes searched mine, silently asking what I was doing. I ignored her silent query as I pressed on, deciding that now was the time to share a piece of my heart with her.

"Sara, you don't need to worry about over-talking around me – not anymore."

"I don't?" her question came out as a squeak, and I fought the urge to laugh.

"No. I didn't mean to turn this into a religious conversation or make you uncomfortable. What I was trying to say is, since you've come to Vegas, I've seen the cases through your eyes. You have slowly changed how I view the world – that maybe we are making a difference. You've reignited my passion for this job, Sara."

"Gil-" she choked out my name but was unable to continue as her tears spilled over and I knew for the first time that my words had moved her to tears of joy.

"Sometimes I think that the only thing I believe in is you," I whispered, before I lost my courage entirely.

She gasped and opened her mouth to say something, but my phone buzzed in my pocket. I groaned and resisted the urge to bang my head into the tabletop. Sara arched her right brow. "You going to answer that?"

"I was leaning towards no."

"Gil-"

"They can leave a message."

"Answer it. We promised that work would come first – it has to, remember?"

I groaned again as I let go of her hands and fished the offending object out of my pocket and barked into it. "Grissom!"

Sara hid her smile in her teacup.

"Jim – yes, I am busy – no – no! Listen, Sara and I just got off a double! This is Days responsibility!" I rubbed my forehead in frustration. "Of course I know that everyone's busy – where's Ecklie? Of course he is – see you in ten." I slammed my phone shut and looked across at her. "Sara-"

"We have to go in?"

"I'm sorry."

She shrugged. "That's the nature of this job – at least we both had fully caffeinated beverages this morning. And no alcohol." She winked at me as she stood up and stretched.

"That's not funny."

Sara rolled her eyes. "Come on, it's a little funny."


S: Coffee?

I stared at my phone, looking at the one-word text message from Sara, wanting so desperately to go and at the same time knowing I would be terrible company. It was Saturday morning, not Tuesday, but that didn't matter. I needed her.

I needed Sara like I needed air to breathe.

But I didn't want to meet her at one of our usual coffee shops – I wanted, no I needed to meet her some place private, just in case I fell apart. As if the woman could read my mind, my phone buzzed with another text message.

S: I bought a 2-cup coffee maker. My place in 20?

G: Leaving now.

I drove to Sara's on autopilot, only coming out of my dark thoughts when I nearly passed by her apartment building. Finding a parking spot down the block, I parked and walked back, again questioning if I should just go home. When Sara answered my knock and I simply stared at her without saying anything, she sighed and pulled me inside, shutting and locking the door behind me.

"Sara," I sighed. "He got away – I let him slip through my fingers. He was smarter than me-"

"Hush." Sara's voice was whisper soft as she gathered me into her arms and I sank into her body, burying my face in her neck.

"I was so stupid – I never should have let him out of my sight," I mumbled the words against her skin.

She huffed out a breath. "Gil, what were you supposed to do? Follow Kevin to the bathroom and watch him take a leak? That's the officers' job-"

I pushed her away from me. "Well, they didn't do a very good job, did they? They missed the trash bag in his body search and now Kevin's dead and those women's families will never get the closure they deserve."

Sara pursed her mouth and crossed her arms under her breasts. "You sound like me. I'm usually the one spouting off after a case like this, not you."

I raked a hand through my hair. "I just feel like I was two steps behind Kevin the entire time and in the end, he got the better of me."

Sara crossed to my side and took my hand. "Come sit down with me." She tugged me behind her over to the couch and gently pushed me down, curling up to sit next to me. "I want you to listen to me for once, Gil Grissom."

I arched my right eyebrow at the use of my full name but said nothing.

"Kevin is dead – he's off the streets and he will never rape or torture or murder another woman ever again. Let that sink in for a minute." She paused and studied my face, waiting for a response of some kind but when I didn't answer, she continued. "Second, we know for sure this time that Kevin was the original blue paint killer – so we won't have to be looking for another one, unless or until a damn copycat killer pops up."

"Don't even mention the possibility, Sara. It's tempting fate." I groaned.

"So, tell me, Gil, how did Kevin outsmart you? You caught him – we found his victims and enough evidence to convict him for several back-to-back life sentences. He escaped justice by killing himself – something you couldn't foresee-"

"No, Sara – I should have known he was playing us. That he had an escape plan – he was never going to allow us to take him to jail."

Sara swallowed and her eyes grew distant. "I should have solved that anagram sooner. Brit Mosscoe – there was just a name but no lock of hair as a keepsake, that was what tipped me off. I saw her picture and then I saw the calendar and it was the same picture. I'm sorry I didn't get the info to you sooner-"

I sat up and cupped her cheek. "It's not your fault, Sara-"

She angrily brushed my hand aside. "It's not yours either! The man was a sadistic psychopath! And we caught him – you caught him! He's dead, he can't hurt anyone anymore. Please focus on that."

My eyes fell shut as a shudder ran through me. "Kevin left me one of his drawings – in interrogation – all his victims in various poses of torture – and then if you fold the paper and turn it – it's a picture of me. And the words 'good-bye' is written in my open mouth-"

"Shh," I heard Sara's soothing voice and felt her hand on my heart. "He's gone and you're here, with me."

I opened my eyes and saw that her face was close – so close. Lifting one hand from the back of the couch, I wrapped it around the nape of her neck and pulled her even closer, breathing a kiss on her forehead.

"Gil-"

"Sara," I breathed her name out softly, almost reverently. "Would you-"

"What?"

I cleared my throat and moved back a bit. "I know you invited me over for coffee, but I'd really like it if we could just sit here for a while." I leaned back and brought her with me, guiding her head until it was resting on my chest, over my heart.

"I'd like that." She lifted her arm until it was slung casually across my waist. "Is this all right?"

I fought the electricity her touch was creating in my body and prayed that she wasn't picking up on my accelerated heartbeat. "Yes."

We talked for a few minutes about the team and the open cases we were still processing but our conversation slowed as our combined body heat made us drowsy. I felt Sara's breathing even out and a thrill went through me as I realized that she had fallen asleep in my arms. But I didn't have long to revel in the feeling before I followed her to dreamland.


"Well, thanks to you and this job, I know now my purpose." Warrick gave me a solemn nod as he slid out of his side of the booth and I watched him walk out the door, wondering how long it would be before we'd have breakfast together again.

Five minutes later the bell above Frank's front door rang and I looked up to see Sara approaching me, her face a mask of barely controlled fury. As she slid into the booth across from me, I saw her eyes were blood shot – evidence that she had been crying.

"I was waiting for the guys to leave – I didn't want to intrude on your last breakfast together – and I needed time to – damn Ecklie!"

I sighed and held up my coffee cup, signaling the waitress for a refill.

"Anything for you, Sara?"

"No, Betty, not hungry, thanks."

"Sara, you should eat something," I counseled her.

"I don't think I could keep anything down."

I turned to Betty. "She'll have tea and toast, bring the jam jars."

Betty nodded. "You got it, Gil."

Sara rolled her eyes as Betty walked away. "Why do all the waitresses flirt with you?"

I frowned as I took a sip of my refreshed coffee. "Was that flirting?"

She snorted. "Was that – Look, what are you doing to do about this?"

"There's nothing to do, Sara. Ecklie's flexing his muscles of authority at the moment and our team is his first casualty."

"Why does he hate you so much?"

I shrugged. "Ecklie and I have never seen eye to eye – and we've had strong disagreements in the past about how to run investigations. Now that he's in a position of power-"

"He gets to lord it over all of us that he's in charge and what he says goes. Well, that's just great. He's going to be lurking in the halls just waiting for one of us to screw up."

"So don't screw up."

"Gil, that's not funny! He attacked me today about my DUI – he has access to all our files now. What if he decides to take action-"

I shook my head. "It's not going to happen."

"You don't know that. He's already broken up our team. What if his next step is to terminate my employment?"

I leaned across the table. "Sara, I won't let it happen. Trust me to protect you, all right?"

The fear was still in her eyes but some of the tension left her body. "I do trust you, Gil."

Betty was back with Sara's tea and toast and jam. She took her sweet time setting them on the table and then turned her dazzling smile on me. "Anything else, Gil?"

Sara batted her eyes and made kissy faces behind the waitress' back and I tried hard not to laugh. "No, thank you, Betty."

Betty walked away, wiggling her hips a bit more than was necessary and Sara laughed out loud. "You can't deny that she was flirting that time."

I bit the inside of my cheek. "I didn't notice."

Sara's mouth fell open. "You don't notice when a woman is flirting with you?"

I smirked. "Depends on the woman-"

She choked on the bite of toast before taking a sip of tea to clear her throat. "Good to know."

For the next few minutes, Sara ate her toast in silence, and I stared out the window lost in thought. The fingerprint that had processed itself in the plastic bag – it had provided Ecklie with the opportunity to open the inquiry into my supervisory role and break up our team. I still had Sara with me, but now I had an unknown agent in Sofia. Adding a woman to the mix when I was trying to navigate a new relationship with Sara was going to be extremely tricky – and I knew that Ecklie was going to be watching every move I made. Maybe now wasn't the best time to – no, damn it! I had wasted too much time and we were finally getting closer. I wasn't going to let Ecklie or a team split or anything else get in the way. We were just going to have to be smart and extra careful about this.

"You look pensive, Gil."

I sighed and turned to face her. "Sara, I'm afraid things are going to get rather complicated – again."

She groaned and pushed away her empty plate. "I don't think I'm going to like whatever it is you're about to say."

"No, just listen to me, all right?"

She nodded slightly.

"You haven't had the opportunity to work with Sofia yet, but I think you'll like her – just keep an open mind."

"Can we trust her? Is she going to report to Ecklie or you?"

"She's reporting to me – and yes, I trust her. Conrad burned her too in this. She was acting Days supervisor and had put in for the promotion – and now she's on nights, reporting to me."

"So she's been demoted?"

I nodded.

"Why? What did she do to piss Ecklie off?"

"She cleared me – she said I didn't violate any lab policies or procedures."

Sara smiled. "So, she got caught in the crossfire. Poor Sofia."

I decided to change the subject. "Sara, I need your opinion on something."

"What is it?"

"Do you think Greg is ready for his final proficiency?"

She leaned back in the booth and pursed her lips. "Well, it's just Greg, Sofia, you, and me on nights now, right? Do we have much of a choice- I mean, we kind of need him to be ready whether he is or not."

"Sara, if he needs another month-"

"I don't think another month will make a difference-"

"You mean-"

She grinned. "He's ready, Gil."

"God, Sara, don't do that to me."

"What, can't a girl have a little fun?" she batted her lashes at me.

I laughed. "You're just getting back at me for when I asked you to train him."

"Hey, I warned you then that it was a risky endeavor! You are the teacher, not me. And I also reminded you that Greggo's had the hots for me since my first day at the lab!"

I growled. "Yeah, well, I saw you first."

"Gilbert!" Sara gasped and then laughed, her cheeks flushing pink.


About a month after Ecklie split up the team, Sara came knocking on my office door. "Hey, you got a minute?"

"Sure, come on in."

She plopped down in the chair in front of my desk. "I wanted to let you know that I may have said some things to Ecklie that might have done the team a disservice."

I sighed, wondering why we are going over this same ground again. "Ecklie wanted to break up the team, and he did."

"He asked me if you and I had had our post-PEAP counseling session-"

"And we didn't. Regardless, you should never have to cover for your boss. I'm sorry."

"You've always been a little more than a boss to me – why do you think I moved to Vegas?"

I stared at her in shock. Why were we talking about this here – in my office? Where anyone, particularly Conrad could walk by and hear?

"Look, I know our relationship has been complicated – it's probably my fault – it's probably definitely my fault-"

I felt the strong need to interrupt her rambling and I realized that I had never asked her, either in a private or professional capacity, so I said, "You completed your counseling, right?"

"Yeah."

"And?"

"Let's just say that – sometimes, I look for validation in inappropriate places."

I desperately wanted to hear more if she was willing to finally open up to me. Was I one of the inappropriate places? And did she really move to Vegas for me, not the job? "Look, let's um-" My emotions were all over the place, but my tongue was tied up in knots, as I was hyperaware of the bustle of the lab behind her. Sara nodded at me, taking pity on my poor communication skills yet again.

"It's okay – it's okay. You know what? We did our session. Don't forget to document this for Ecklie."

I watched her stand up and walk out of my office, wondering again if that's all this was supposed to be – a formal discussion for Ecklie so that I could document things properly. Sara was always trying to help me out with my paperwork.

I opened my drawer and pulled her employee file to make a note of our discussion before something else distracted me. As soon as I signed my name on the memo line and closed the file, I reached for my phone to text her.

G: Coffee?

Her reply came back almost instantly.

S: It's not Tuesday

My pulse was roaring in my ears as I tried to think of a reply when my phone beeped again.

S: Just kidding. Where?

G: My place. Leaving now. See you in 30?

S: OK


I was just flipping the second French omelet onto a plate when I heard the doorbell, followed by Hank's frantic barking as he ran to the door, pawing at the wood. I snapped my fingers and he sat down, tongue lolling out of his mouth, wiggling with impatience as I opened the door a crack.

"Brace yourself," I warned "Someone is very happy to see you."

I threw open the door and watched the joyous reunion as Sara dropped down on her knees and Hank covered her with kisses. Shaking my head, I returned to the kitchen and pushed start on my coffee machine, putting the omelets and fresh fruit on the small table.

"What smells so good in here?" Sara asked as she padded into my kitchen on bare feet, having removed her work boots and socks.

"I made breakfast – I hope you're hungry."

She snitched a piece of melon from the bowl. "I am, but you didn't need to go to all this trouble. Fruit and toast are fine."

"I like to cook."

"I know you do – you spoil me."

I grinned as I placed my hands lightly on her hips and steered her towards the table. "You deserve to be spoiled, Sara."

She giggled and sat down, diving into the fluffy eggs with moans of delight. As usual, I derived more pleasure from watching her eat than I did in the consumption of food.

"You make me feel like a gluttonous pig, stuffing my face while you sit there and watch."

"I like to watch – you eat, I mean." I felt myself flush to the roots of my hair. "It's nice to have someone to cook for."

"You could cook for Hank," she smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't want to cook for my dog, Sara. He'd never eat his regular food again."

She threatened to stop eating altogether so I picked up my fork and joined her. Soon both plates were clean and even though I had a dishwasher, she insisted on doing the small number of dishes since I had cooked us breakfast. I took our refreshed cups of coffee into the living room where Hank was snoozing on the rug, and I put on a light jazz record.

"Is that Etta James?" Sara called to me from the kitchen.

"Yes – is that all right?"

"I love Etta – my foster mom listened to her albums every Sunday evening."

I wandered back into the kitchen, smiling at the sight of Sara up to her elbows in soap suds, her hair caught up in a messy bun. She turned and smiled at me over her shoulder.

"So, good memories then?"

She nodded.

"I'm afraid I don't have any of that punk rock or R&B you and Greg like to listen to-"

"Gil-" she sighed and drew out the three letter of my name as she rinsed off the last dish as well as her hands. Wiping them on her hands, she came over to stand in front of me. "I would never expect you to listen to that kind of music – that's what headphones are for – but for the record? I'm eclectic when it comes to music – I love many different kinds."

"I hope that only applies to music-"

She snorted and grabbed my hands, pulling me out into the living room. "Dance with me."

I stiffened. "Sara, I don't-"

"Oh yes, you do. I have it on good authority that Gil Grissom dances quite well – maybe not to head banging music – but to Etta James?" She nodded. "And if you've forgotten how, just take me in your arms and sway."

"Sara-" I was searching her eyes now, asking permission. The past few months, we'd held hands and I'd kissed her forehead, but that was it. I hadn't held her in my arms except for that one time when we fell asleep on her couch. I hadn't held her for a prolonged period of time while we were both conscious. That was a line that hadn't been crossed – and once it had there was no going back. I knew that I didn't want to go back. I was ready to go forward. I wanted Sara. It was just – now that Ecklie was in charge, and if he found out about us, he would end both our careers.

At last

My love has come along

My lonely days are over

And life is like a song

Etta's voice broke through my fears, and I swept Sara up in my arms, swaying to the music. When she was wearing her work boots, I didn't have much of a height advantage but with both of us barefoot, Sara curled her body into mine and rested her head under my chin, over my heart.

"Sara?" I whispered, not wanting my voice to carry over Etta's.

"Hmm?"

"Did you mean what you said earlier- that you moved to Vegas for me?"

"Well, not just you. The job was certainly a draw as well."

I pulled back so I could see her face. "Do you want to have dinner with me?"

A smile started but was quickly replaced by a frown. "No, I can't."

My arms dropped and she backed up a step. "Why not? I thought we were on the same page here- let's have dinner - let's see where it goes," I pleaded, echoing her words from three years ago.

She shook her head but when she raised her eyes to mine, I saw the twinkle in them – she was teasing me. She was going to make me work for this.

"I don't know that you know what to do about – this," she waved her hand back and forth between us.

I took a step towards her as she took a step back. "Oh, I think I do."

"Really? What's caused you to suddenly change your mind?"

We continued our advance and retreat journey across the floor until she hit the island in my kitchen and could go no further. I placed my hand on the counter on either side of her, trapping her body in front of me. "It wasn't sudden, Sara. I've always wanted you."

Her eyes grew wide at my declaration. "Always?"

I nodded. "Ever since I saw your face in Frisco, that was it. No other woman compared to you."

The hurt was back in her eyes. "Then why?"

"Fear. Doubt. Insecurity."

She sighed as she raised her hands and cupped my face. "For one of the leading entomologists in the country, you are one of the stupidest men I've ever met."

I grinned. "I'm smart with bugs, not people, Sara – especially not women."

She snorted. "Now you tell me."

I licked my lips. "Does this mean I'm not too late?"

She narrowed her eyes at me, trying to look stern. "You should be. I ought to make you beg, grovel, and suffer for the years of pain you've put me through –"

I closed the gap between us and placed a feather light kiss on her lips.

"Gil-"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you – it's just – I've been wanting to kiss you for weeks now and-"

"Gil. Shut up."

Years later, both of us would continue to argue about who kissed whom for our first official kiss – but the point was the next thing I was conscious of was Sara's mouth on mine and this time, it wasn't a light peck. Her arms wrapped around my waist and my hands were off the counter, on her shoulders, pulling her into me as our kiss deepened. When air became necessary, we broke apart and leaned against each other, panting slightly, and I wondered if the same slightly dazed, happy expression was on my face that was present on hers. I pressed a kiss to her forehead before pulling away to search her eyes.

"So, dinner?"

She closed the distance and pressed a quick, open-mouthed kiss on my mouth, grinning as I groaned when she pulled away.

"Dinner," she nodded.


A/N: At last, indeed! Up next: Nesting Dolls - how does Gil react to Sara's deep, dark secret? And yes, I will address the "dinner" with Sofia.

Reviews are LOVE!