Chapter 7

The examination with Dr Jenkins didn't take long. Other than advising her to stay silent for a few more days, and to keep up with the medication, he cleared her to go home. Though he did tell her to have a least a week's rest before heading back to work. Something Sara resolutely decided to ignore.

As he left, she became painfully aware that she and Grissom were alone. Their eyes met. Silence pressing around her. Words faltering. She should speak, should sign… She should…

Think of something!

But nothing came to mind. No words. No questions. No quips. Her brain had shut off. Rendered mute by the clear blue drowning her.

Sara turned around and started to gather her things. Needing to break the contact, if only for a moment. She could feel Grissom move up behind. And when he took the bag from her, Sara turned to face him.

He was close. Too close. She could see every line on his face, could feel his breath against her skin. Her traitorous body responded as the warm air touched her. Her heart started to pound, and she could hear her pulse beating in her ear. She could see his eyes dilating, and something in her core started to pull.

God, he smells good.

Sara opened her mouth, she had to say something, but Grissom just placed two fingers against her lips. Her skin started to tingle.

"No speaking," he said, his mouth pulling up in that lopsided smile she loved so much. "Doctors orders." She could feel his ring resting against her jaw. If she only lent forward an inch… No!

Sara pulled back, sharply and Grissom dropped his hand as if he had been burnt. She stumbled a little in her haste to put some distance between them and threw her hands up.

"What are you doing here, Gil?" She signed.

"Brass told me about the accident," he signed back, his face soft, almost wistful.

"I don't mean here, at the hospital. I mean, here, in Vegas." Sara dropped her hands and searched his face. He was like a rabbit that had just been spotted by a fox. She could see the clogs working in his brain as he tried to formulate the answer.

"I, uh," he hesitated. "I got Brass' message," he finally signed, a little lamely.

"Which one?" Sara replied. "The one about me? Or the one about Lady Heather?" Grissom didn't answer and Sara knew. He wasn't there for her. Sure, he came to the hospital when he heard she was hurt. But he came back for Heather. She shook her head, trying to not show the pain she was feeling.

Taking her bag form him, Sara turned her back. This was not how she wanted their first meeting to go. She wanted to be cool, calm. Collected. Not some jumpy, jealous schoolgirl mooning over her crush. A hand slipped into her pocket, clenching her first around her wedding ring. Willing herself to calm down.

He's only here for Heather, she reminded herself. Nothing has changed. He didn't… Sara could feel the tears starting to build. But she wouldn't let them fall. Couldn't. Looking up and blinking rapidly, Sara zipped up her bag. Grissom's gaze was heavy on her back, but Sara did not turn. Not until a knock sounded on the door and Nick poked his head in.

"You ready to go?" He asked her, eyes flicking between the almost non-existent distance between his friend and mentor. "I told Cath I'd drop you at her place before heading in."

"Yes," Sara said aloud, her voice was cracked from the smoke and lack of use. Grissom shot her a look. She ignored him.

"Got your voice back, I see," Nick said with a smile.

"They say silence is golden," Sara replied with a grin. "But I find it rather irksome."

"Why doesn't that surprise me," Nick laughed. Sara drained a glass of water from the bedside table, making a mental note to keep a bottle with her. Her throat did hurt.

Grissom was watching her, carefully, and Sara knew he could tell she was in pain. He always knew, even when she tried to hide it. He opened his mouth, probably about to chastise her for going against doctors' orders, so Sara spoke up quickly.

"I want to go into the lab first," she said to Nick, refusing to look at Grissom. She could see his eyebrows raise in surprise then furrow. Nick, to his credit, didn't even glance at Grissom before he responded.

"I don't know, Sara," he said slowly. "Have you been cleared for work?"

"Yes," Sara said.

"No," Grissom replied at the same moment. "Sara, Dr Jenkins…"

"Dr Jenkins advised that I take a few days off, he didn't actually sign me off," Sara interrupted, turning back to Grissom, and narrowing her eyes. She gave him a look that sent most people running in the other direction. Grissom wasn't most people.

"He also advised that you shouldn't be talking," Grissom retorted, not backing down.

"We both knew there was little chance of that sticking."

"Honey, you need to rest…"

"I have rested," Sara interrupted. Her voice cracked, and she couldn't stop the wince as pain lanced across her throat. Grissom raised an eyebrow, his point just proven. Sara wasn't going to let him win this one. She had to get back to the lab. The sooner she got back to work, the sooner they would find Lady Heather. The sooner they found Lady Heather, the sooner she could get her answer and Grissom could leave. Sara's heart constricted at that last thought.

"Whether you like it or not," Sara said, her voice low as to disguise the pain. "I'm going back to the lab. And if you don't want to give me a lift," she shot at Nick. "I'll get a cab."

Nick held up a hand in defence. "If you want go in, I'll take you," he said. "Russell ain't gunna like it."

"Russell will get over it," Sara said. She pulled her bag over her shoulder and brushed past Grissom. She could have sworn he reached for her, as if he was going to stop her, but Sara's arm slipped through his fingers.

"You should let Betty know," Nick said as he held the door open for her. "She's waiting for you at Cath's."

"I'll text her from the car," Sara replied before looking over her shoulder at Grissom, who didn't seem surprised to learn that his mother had turned up. "You should go and see her." She needed to get away from him, if only for a moment. Needed to clear her head. To wrap her mind around the idea of potentially working with him again, even if it was only for one case.

"I'm staying with you," Grissom said, his bright blue eyes deepening as he looked at her. Sara couldn't stop her gaze from traveling down to his hand, and the gold band sitting there. When brown met blue once more, Grissom gave her a small half-smile. Mask dropping for a fraction of a second, allowing Sara to read everything on his face.

"At least call her," Sara said softly. "She'll want to know you're in town." She slipped her hand, once more, in her pocket. The urge to slip the ring back on was growing stronger each second.

The three of them walked out of the hospital and towards Nick's SUV. Ever the gentleman, Grissom took Sara's bag and opened the front, passenger side door for her. Before slipping into the back. Once they were on their way, the estranged couple sent separate messages to their mother.

Betty wasn't best pleased to hear that Sara had decided to go back to the lab so soon. But other than triple checking she was truly ok, the older woman let the matter drop. Betty didn't mention Grissom, or what he had told her. And Sara didn't ask.

She could feel his gaze, like it was burning on the back of her head. She wanted to turn, to face him, but couldn't bring herself to do it. Instead, she just stared out of the front window. Not allowing her eyes to roam in case they tried to catch a glimpse of him in the mirror.

Nick was glancing at her from time to time. Shooting looks out of the corner of his eye, but her friend held his tongue. Something for which Sara was grateful. Having Grissom back, so unexpectedly, had thrown her. Seeing him again. Hearing his voice. Smelling… Stop it!

It was like she was two different people. One person wanted to slap him, right across the face. Wanted to shout and scream until she completely ruined her vocal cords. The other wanted… Oh, how she wanted.

Sara couldn't get the look on Grissom's face out of her head. It was so open, so raw. So emotional.

He loved her. He was still wearing his ring and he loved her.

So why did he leave her?