Chapter 38

The next day found Grissom and Sara walking back down the halls of the police department. It was so different from the last time she walked these corridors, only two days ago. Two days ago, she was heartbroken. Trying to deny her feelings for the man striding beside her. Now, she was his wife again. And, despite everything that had happened, for the first time in two years, Sara felt whole.

Her mind kept going back to the night before. The way he looked in that suit. The things he told her. The way he touched her. Sara could feel her face heating at the thought. She caught Grissom's eye and his lips quirked up.

Focus, Sara!

Grissom's hand brushed against hers, electricity shot through her arm. Her body heated and Sara could feel her pule rate increase. Grissom's smile widened, knowing her reaction from just the simplest of touches. She could still remember the first time he touched her, all those years ago, in San Francisco. It was a simple touch. A brush of the hand, just like that one, to get her attention. Drawing her focus to the beetles displayed in the San Francisco Museum.

Sara had taken him there on day four of the conference. They had gone for coffee a few times and Grissom had expressed an interest of seeing it. The museum had one of the largest collections of insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and myriapods in the country. One of the reasons the eccentric entomologist wanted to go to the conference in the first place.

Her reaction to his touch hadn't changed in eighteen years. It was the same, every time. The rush of heat, the fluttering in her stomach, the racing of her pulse. Sara kept her eyes focused forward. Knowing, if she looked at him, she would be blushing like a teenager with her first crush.

They rounded the corner and were met by Finn and Brass. The blonde was holding up a folder and speaking animatedly with the detective.

"There has to be some connection," Finn said as Sara and Grissom drew level.

"I agree with you, Finn. But I can't see it," the detective replied.

"Hey," Sara called. "Shouldn't you still be on bed rest?"

"Shouldn't you be on your honeymoon?" Brass replied, smiling at the newlywed couple. He pulled Sara into a hug and she gripped his shoulder.

"How are you?" She asked as she pulled away, searching his face for any sign of discomfort.

"You know me." Brass shrugged. "How are you? I heard you took quiet the hit."

"Couple of stiches, I'm fine."

"You sure? Concussion would explain you marrying this blockhead again."

Sara laughed as she stepped back, unconsciously moving back into Grissom's space. He put a hand to the small of her back, while the other came up to shake Brass'.

"Don't go putting ideas in her head, Jim," Grissom said, good naturedly.

"Wait, you two got married again?" Finn said, looking between Sara and Grissom. Flicking her hair over her shoulder and raising her eyebrow. "I thought I was the only serial wife on this team?"

"You still are, Finn. I only married one person. You married, how many?" Sara said, grinning at her. "Four? Five?"

"Two, thank you very much," Finn replied on a laugh. "So, when did this happen?"

"Last night," Sara said, glancing back up at Grissom.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Sara only shrugged. "You do realise that Morgan will be pissed," Finn continued. "We would have loved to have been there."

Sara shifted a little by Grissom. She knew she should feel bad, excluding Finn and Morgan from their wedding, but she didn't. The two female CSIs had become great friends, but Sara couldn't bring herself to regret their decision. Their family was there, and that was all she wanted.

"Well," Finn said, sighing in mock defeat. "We'll have to settle for a bachelorette party."

"No," Sara said, quickly. "No, Finn. Every time you suggest some sort of girls' night out, we always end up biting off more than we can chew."

"Sara's got a point, Finn," Brass put in. "I mean, the last time you girls decided to go and have a little fun, Sara and Morgan were caught in the crossfire when some lunatic shot up the Mediterranean."

"And you were locked in an elevator, with your boyfriend bleeding out on the floor," Sara put in.

"Not to mention the disgraced CSI, who tried to use Sara as target practice," Brass concluded.

"What are you talking about?" Grissom asked, his eyes wide and he was staring at Sara.

"Ok," Finn said, before Sara could relieve the slightly panicked look on her husband's face. "But that one wasn't on me. Russell was the one who sent us to that conference."

"Let's not even mention what happened in Larkson," Brass said.

"What happened in Larkson?" Grissom asked.

"Nothing," Sara said, quickly. Shooting Brass and Finn a look. She wasn't sure Grissom's calm demeaner would last if he heard any more of the CSI ladies' exploits.

"I swear, every time you girls tell me you're going out for some fun, I end up having a heart attack," Brass said, shaking his head.

"Ok, but this won't be like that. We'll just have a couple of drinks. Nothing too crazy," Finn said. "We'll invite Catherine, she seems like she knows how to have a good time."

"No, Finn," Sara said again, a little more firmly this time. Finn was bad enough on a night out. Throw Catherine into the mix, and who knows what sort of trouble those two would get up too. "What have you got there?" She asked, hoping to deflect Finn's attention.

"Oh," Finn said, holding up the file. Sara glanced back at her husband. He was frowning at her slightly. Trying very hard not to roll her eyes, she focused back on her colleague. If Grissom was going to insist on hearing of every life-threatening situation she had been in over the last two years, they were going to be there for a while. "I've been doing some background research on Dr Jimmy and you. Trying to find where you two crossed paths. No luck yet."

"I'm going to meet up with Morgan," Brass said. "She's been looking into Dr Jimmy's whereabouts for the last ten years."

"Ok," Sara said. "Call me if you find anything."

"Sara?" Mitch called as walked over to them. "She's ready for you."

"Thanks Mitch," Sara said, smiling up at him. With one final look to Finn, who just grinned innocently, Sara and Grissom made their way down the hall towards the interview room.

"So," Grissom said as they walked away. "What happened in Larkson?"

"Would you believe me if I said nothing?" Sara asked. A raise of an eyebrow was her only response. Sara sighed. "Gil, now isn't really the time to get into… that." She glanced at the door and saw Lady Heather already seated inside.

"When will be the time?" Grissom asked.

"When we're on the boat, far away. So, you can't storm into the lab and throw a fit."

"Is it that bad?" Grissom asked, voice light and teasing. But there was a tension behind his eyes that he couldn't hide. Very aware of the fact they were in the middle of the police station, Sara refrained from touching his face. But she did squeeze his hand gently.

"I'm fine, we all were. I promise, I'll tell you everything. Larkson, the Mediterranean. The incident with the CDC…"

"CDC?" Grissom interrupted, his voice raising slightly.

Damn it! Sara looked around. An officer had just walked past, turning to them curiously.

"Later," she said again. "When this is all over. I'll tell you everything, I promise."

"Everything?"

"Everything," she confirmed.

"Basderic?" He asked. Sara opened her mouth and shut it tight quickly. How did he… An echo of a memory touched her.

"Nick?"

Grissom nodded. "He rang me, when it all started. Before he knew about…" His voice trailed off a little. Taking a breath, Grissom continued. "By the time I got back, it was over. He was very… angry. With me."

"You came back?" She asked.

"Did you think I wouldn't?" There was no hiding the hurt in his eyes as he spoke. Sara looked around her once more. This was not the time, nor the place for this conversation. But she couldn't leave it like this. She pulled him to the side.

"Now, I know you would. But then… I couldn't let myself think that way. Couldn't let myself hope. It was too painful."

"Sara, I…" he started, but she silenced him with a touch to the arm.

"I'm not saying this to make you feel bad, Gil. We still have so much we need to talk about. But we have time. A lifetime in fact. I promise, I'll tell you everything. I'll be honest, I won't hold back. Just as I hope you won't hold back from me. But I don't want us dwelling on past mistakes. It won't help."

Grissom entwined his fingers with her own, squeezing them gently in agreement, and Sara let out a breath. They had come so far, in only a few days. But there was still a long way to go. If they were going to make it work, they needed to honest. Completely honest. Even if it might hurt.

There were two people in this marriage. Two people who made mistakes. There were things she had done. Decisions she had made, which hurt him. And she needed to hear them. It would be hard, but he was worth it. They were worth it.

"Are you ready?" She asked, watching his face carefully. There was still a little tension around his eyes, but the smile he gave her was warm. Loving. I won't give up. The words they had both promised each other the night before hung around them. Covering them. She could hear him, silently promising her once more.

"Let's go," he said. And with one final squeeze of the hand, Grissom lead her into the interview room.

Lady Heather was sat at the table, unruffled as ever. Not even a hair was out of place. The woman had been in a cell for the last day and half, yet she still looked as pristine as the moment they first brought her in.

It was very annoying.

Sara nodded to the uniform standing in the corner and he left the three of them alone.

"How are you?" Grissom asked as he took the seat next to Sara.

"Fine," Heather replied, her sharp eyes flicking between the two of them. "I would be better if I could go home." She shot the last remark at Sara, raising an eyebrow in question.

"You home is still a crime scene, Dr Kessler," Sara replied. She placed a file on the table, tapping her fingers atop the brown paper. Heather's eyes glanced to the folder before settling back on Sara.

"Could I, at least, have a change of clothes?"

Sara's eyes squinted a little at the request. She wasn't surprised at the entreaty, but the vulnerability in the older woman's gaze was a little unsettling. It was hidden, far away, but Sara could see.

"I'll make sure someone brings some to you," Sara replied. Heather lips lifted into a faint smile and Sara glanced over at Grissom.

"I'm glad to see you two have finally settled things," Heather said, her eyes flicking between the two of them one more. Lips twitching up into a slight smirk. "Congratulations."

Sara's gaze swung back to the dominatrix, eyes wide and mouth hanging open slightly. How did she…

"You're both a lot… calmer then last we spoke. More settled."

Sara looked back at Grissom, who didn't seem surprised in the slightest at the other woman's observation. Catching her eye, he raised a brow. Sara shook her head.

"With your powers of observation, Dr Kessler," she said, focusing her attention back on the woman before her. "You would have made a good CSI." Heather chuckled.

"I believe you said that to me once, too," she directed to Grissom. "Though I doubt anyone would truly believe that to be a good idea. Considering my history."

Neither Sara nor Grissom said anything to that. It's true, Lady Heather's history was a little in the grey area. But no more than Catherine's, or even Sara's. The dominatrix, the stripper, and the foster kid. It sounded like the sort of joke Greg would come out with.

"Heather," Grissom said, pulling their attention back to the case at hand. "We need to ask you a few more questions."

"Does this mean I am no longer a suspect?"

Grissom glanced over at Sara, letting her take the lead.

"No," she said. "You're not." Heathers shoulders relaxed a little and she let out a sigh. She furrowed her eyes, searching Sara's face.

"You never thought I had anything to do with this, did you?" Heather said, more of a statement than anything else.

"No, I didn't."

"Why?"

"I trust my husband." Was the only reply Sara gave. Heather smiled, eyes settling on Sara. They weren't warm, per say. But there was something in them. A satisfaction that wasn't there before.

The CSI cleared her throat and held out a photo. "Do you know this man?" Sara asked.

"Yes," Heather replied. "That's Dr Quinn." Sara's gaze shot to Grissom, he sat back in his chair. They knew this, but hearing it, having it confirmed by Lady Heather… "What is going on?" Heather asked.

"His name isn't Lucas Quinn," Grissom said.