Disclaimer: NCIS and CBS belong to CBS and sadly not to me.

Georgetown University

Lecture hall 223

Washington DC

Present day

Sara's First Day of Class

Sara was an hour and a half into her first lecture when she looked at her watch and realized she had gone ten minutes over her allotted time. 200 students looked at her with rapt attention as she showed them slides from cases solved using various techniques derived from physics. Abby sat in the front row as promised, taking detailed notes on her lap top.

"That's all for today. I'll see you on Wednesday." The students began talking to each other as they gathered there things and filed out of the class room. Abby looked at Sara with a smile,

"Not bad professor Sidle." She teased

"Really?" Asked Sara anxiously.

"I knew this would be a good fit." Said the head of the physics department, who had been watching from the back row.

"Professor Hinkins." said Sara, "I didn't finish on time."

"And not one student even attempted to leave until you dismissed them. If that's not a sign of a born teacher, I don't know what is." He chuckled to himself, "Besides, If you remember... My lectures tend to go a bit long as well."

"A bit." Sara smiled at him. She had taken at least one class with him per semester while in graduate school. Not one time had they been let out on time.

"Your lesson plans look great. The syllabus seems tough but doable. I have high hopes for you Sara." The professor shook hand, "I'll see you on Wednesday."

"Was it really ok?" Sara asked, once he was gone.

"Brilliant." Abby assured her, "I don't have to be back at NCIS for another hour. Want to grab some lunch?"

"Love too." Sara answered.

Abby's Lab

NCIS

Later that Same Day

"You should have seen her." Abby said as Gibbs walked in holding a coffee for himself and a Caf!Pow for Abby

"Good teacher?" Gibbs asked, looking at Abby as he handed her the Caf!Pow

"That's the understatement of the year." said Abby, pulling up the test results she wanted to give to Gibbs. "She definite has a future in teaching if she wants it."

"She's an investigator." Answered Gibbs firmly. "She belongs in the field, not in front of a classroom."

"People change." said Abby, looking at Gibbs, wondering why he was so insistent that Sara get back into the field.

"People don't change." Said Gibbs, lost in his own thoughts, "Not in anyway that really matters."

"Gibbs." Said Abby, turning to look at him, "You didn't think one case back in the field would make her want to go back?"

"Maybe." Gibbs admitted, "We solved the case and saved the girl. Very few things are better than that."

"You thought she would realize how much she missed it and want to be a CSI again." Abby smiled at him before wrapping her arms around him, "You're a lot nicer than most people think you are."

"No I'm not." He insisted, gratefully excepting her hug.

Sara and Grissom's House

Washington DC

That Night

Grissom opened the door the the palatial mansion that had become his home. Home because Sara was waiting for him. He heard the sound of laughter as soon as he opened the door. Sara's laughter was like music. He followed it to the living room where he found Sara sitting on the floor playing some kind of video game.

"What are you doing?" Grissom asked, amused,

"Playing guitar hero, Abby lent me her play station two." Said Sara, without taking her eyes off of the screen.

"I'm going to make dinner." Grissom bent over to kiss Sara on the cheek. She turned her head and caught his lips. She dropped the controller and wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her up, until they were both standing and held in earnest, needing to feel her close to him.

"You ok?" She asked him as he held her tightly.

"I'm supposed to ask you that." He answered, his voice catching with the strain of the day. He kissed her again.

"It goes both ways Griss. Sometimes it's my turn to take care of you." Sara looked at him, taking a deep breath, "Did it scare you, when I went back into the field?" She asked softly, watching his eyes, he nodded.

"Yes." his voice was horse.

"It scared me too." Sara admitted, "But here I am."

"And we're ok."

"We're ok."

Georgetown University

Lecture hall 223

Wednesday

An hour after the class began, Sara lectured as she flipped through slides. The class was again, starring at her with rapt attention. This time it had only taken her a moment or two to become comfortable in front of the class. Abby still sat front row center, taking lightning fast notes on her laptop and asking questions that were far over the head of anyone in the class but still far too interesting to not answer.

She was about the dismiss the class when she noticed him, standing in the back of the class watching her carefully. She had expected Grissom to come in the spy on her but Jethro being here was a surprise. Gibbs made his way down the stair, hugging the wall attempting to not interrupt. He held his omnipresent cup of coffee and attempted to sign something to Abby who was scowling at him for interrupting the class. He held up a Caf!Pow, he had clearly brought for her and she smiled slightly at the sight of it. Sara tried to not be distracted by his presents but it was impossible.

"Ladies and Gentlemen." Sara said, turning towards Gibbs, "It seems we have a guest. Introduce yourself to the class, Jethro." She said causing Abby to smile and Gibbs to role his eyes.

"Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS." He answered, pulling out his badge to show the class, flashing the gun in his hip. "And if you don't mind getting out of class a little early, I need to borrow your teacher for a case." Sara nodded, dismissing her class

"Don't forget lab reports are due on Monday and I don't take late papers." The class grumbled and made there way out of the classroom. Gibbs made his way to Sara.

"You didn't answer your phone." Said Gibbs, accusingly

"I'm not one of your agents, Jethro. I don't have to jump to the ceiling every time my phone rings." Sara gathered her materials, "What's the case?"

"Your bug man is already on the scene." He said, "I need you and Abby in the lab, double time. Unless of course you're willing to go back out into the field."

"I've got papers to grade and an experiment to prepare for next week."

"So the lab?" Gibbs asked

"I'm fine with that, you might have to drag Abby away." Sara motioned to Abby, who was still in her chair, only now she was surrounded by several young men and one very wide eyed female.

"Abby!" Gibbs shouted, louder than he intended. She jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Gibbs." She smiled at him.

"If you're done fawning over my forensics specialist. I need her." he looked at her intensely. The students jumped and quickly left the room. Abby gathered her materials and followed Gibbs and Sara out the door.

NCIS

The bull pen/ Gibbs's Office

Half hour later.

Grissom walked into the bull pen as Gibbs's was divided up the work load among the team who included much to his dismay Sara. She waved at him as she rushed out the door after Ziva, Tony and McGee. As soon as they were out of sight, Grissom turned to Gibbs and glared at him.

"Gibbs" He shouted

"You're late and I don't have time for this."

"I was in MTAC with the director." Grissom answered.

"Elevator." Gibbs walked towards the elevator.

"Fine" Grissom followed him. The elevator doors closed and Gibbs pressed the emergency stop button. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I could ask you the same question." Gibbs answered starring at Grissom, ready for a fight.

"She said one case. One case back in the field. It's been less than a week and you've already got her back in the field."

"It's were she belongs." Gibbs defended

"I know. But it has to be her choice, her decision."

"You mean yours." Gibbs shot back, "She was back at the crime lab for six months without going back into the field. You and I both know that's a recipe for loosing your nerve." Grissom sighed. Gibbs was right and there was no denying it.

"I wanted her to be ready."

"She is ready, Grissom." Gibbs looked at the other man with understanding. "You couldn't force her back into the field. I understand that but it's what she needs. She belongs in the field and I don't think she'll be happy with herself or anyone until she overcomes her fear and this is the only way to do it."

"I know." Grissom admitted, "I just don't like seeing..."

"You're in love with her." Gibbs said, "It's not your job to kick her ass and get her back in the field Leave that to me." Grissom nodded slightly. Gibbs took it as a sign that the conversation was over and reached for the emergency stop button.

"Just so you know the second you go to far or I think she can't handle it, I'm pulling her out."

"I wouldn't expect anything less." Gibbs said. The two men walked out of the elevator, pausing so that Grissom could grab his gear.

"Where're is the body?" asked Grissom.

"Who said anything about a body?" Gibbs said, smirking at Grissom.