All your kind words and encouragement for this story leave me in awe. This chapter took me a little longer to get just right.

I originally did not plan on splitting the conversation Ecklie into two chapters but it felt right with the tone of it to end where I did. So on to more Conrad and Sara.

Writing Ecklie was a pain. I was trying to give him a slightly softer side. We all know he has one..we just never saw it until Morgan came into the picture. I've rewritten this so many times that I lost count. So I'm not totally happy with how it came out but here you go.

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI or the characters.

"I need help."

Sara let a breathe she hadn't realized she had been holding in. She finally spoke the three simple words that in the past, she had never been able to bring herself to say. It felt like half the world had been lifted from her shoulders. The tension that had taken up residence between her shoulder blades started to ease. One of the biggest and hardest steps Sara faced had just been completed. She admitted she was not okay and that she needed help. She knew she had a long, hard journey ahead of her and that what awaited her outside this office would also be hard but it deep down, she knew that this all had to be done if she wanted to find her way back to herself.

Conrad looked at Sara, giving her a slight nod in acknowledging he had heard her and understood what she meant. He didn't speak right away. He wanted to give her time. He wanted to make sure she was comfortable and able to fully express herself, if she wanted. He had worked around her long enough to know that she wasn't one to express how she felt or what she was thinking- unless it was case related. He had observed her over the years, never letting people close. If a certain case bothered her, she would dive head first into the evidence and only surface again once she had found the answers. He knew that was one aspect that made her such a great CSI. But he could tell early on that it would also be her downfall. And he had been right.

Giving her another moment, Conrad closed her file. He had also already pulled the list of names for services that the department offered. Names of doctors and counselors. Some right there in Vegas and near the lab and others a little more outside the city limits as to give her more privacy than just the "in-house" counselors. He knew if he was in her position, he would rather travel a little outside the city to keep the rumors out of the workplace.

"Sara.." Saying her first name sounded odd to him but in that moment, it felt appropriate instead of calling her Sidle like he normally would. "I can't begin to understand what you have been through and I'm not going to sit here and tell you I do." Conrad was being honest. He did not see the need to try and sugarcoat anything. "I'm also not going to give you the 'it's part of the job' speech." Leaning back slightly, Ecklie folding his hands in front of him.

"I want you to know that I will help you in anyway that I can. I mean it. You're great at your job and the lab needs you." He cast his eyes down to the personal file then back to her. He knew she had more than enough sick and vacation time saved up that she could take at least a month off with pay. He did not want to use that time unless it was totally needed. It wasn't her fault she had kidnapped and left to die and that the actions taken by an ill woman left the CSI with trauma that she now needed to work through. It happened on the job, forcing her to use her earned time off and sick did not sit well with Ecklie, something he wasn't use to feeling.

"I can put you on a three month paid leave." He started again, looking at Sara. "We both know how much time off you've accrued over the course of your years of service. Normally, I would have to have you use up that time first. Seeing as what has come to pass in the last few weeks, I'm over ridding that. I know I'm not the most liked and I know we never saw eye to eye." He paused, the corner of his mouth turning up in the signature Ecklie smirk. "I'm not a terrible guy. I've seen first hand what you can do and how you've supported this lab since moving here. Now it's time that we support and help you."

Sara was shocked. She couldn't be hearing Ecklie correctly. He was willing to overlook her accrued time off and sick leave to give her paid time off to be able to seek help. Her lips parted slightly, her gapped teeth showing. "I...I..." She was stumbling to find the words. She was emotionally and mentally drained.

"Thank you." She finally managed to get the words from her brain to her lips. Ecklie gave another nod.

"This." He handed over the folder. "Has as many resources as I could pull. Some of them are in house others out in Henderson and surrounding areas if you wanted to be more discreet at the moment. After the three months, we will meet again and discuss if additional time is needed or if you feel comfortable to returning to lab only duties and slowly working your way back into the field. We can even consider the possibility of you moving back to graveyard and having Willows take over as your reporting supervisor."

Again, Sara found herself speechless at what the man in front of her was saying. She had never thought he would allow her to work on the same shift as Grissom, not after the two of them had lied and hid their relationship for so long. Though, she did recall him saying that if they had been open with him, they could have worked something out with Catherine doing her evaluations.

Reaching out, Sara took the folder from him and opened it. A list of different counseling services were listed. Private practices that partnered with the department along with the ones who specialized in traumatic care looked back at her. Taking a deep breath, Sara ran a hand through her hair. She did not know how she would be able thank him for what he was doing.

"Ecklie." She started as she closed the folder and looked back to her boss. "Thank you. Really." She couldn't find anything else to say. Nothing seemed appropriate for what he was offering. She was grateful he hadn't pushed her for more information or to make her talk. That he had taken it upon himself to do for her what she wasn't able to do for herself.

After outlining the details of her leave, Sara had to hand over her badge and her weapon. Since she was on leave, she would not be able to carry her department issued gun. She knew the rules and wasn't going to fight him it. She handed both over but unlike when she was leaving the city, just an hour or so ago, her heart did not feel as heavy.

The brunette put the folder into her bag as she stood and put the strap over her left shoulder. Both gave a slight nod in understanding as Sara made her way back to his office and entered the lab. She could hear day shift just down the hall in the breakroom getting their assignments. For the first time in weeks, Sara did not feel like the sights, sounds and smells of the lab were drowning her, slowing sucking away what little life force she had left.

Making her way back towards the front of the lab, Sara kept her head up this time and made her way to her parked car in the employee lot. She had taken one step in getting her life back and the weight it lifted from her was relieving. Unlocking her car, Sara tossed her bag into the empty seat beside her and looked into the review mirror,

"Now to talk to Gil"