As soon as Sara was seated in Grissom's car her head fell back. When he crawled in she was sound asleep. He knew that heat exhaustion was like going ten rounds with a heavyweight boxer. What little energy you have, is spent trying to recover from collapse. Your body just can go anymore; you stop. He reached across her lap to buckle her in. She could have been seriously hurt. The thought just wouldn't leave him alone. He glanced over to her and took in her peaceful appearance. He hoped he would get a chance to question her, but running for eight miles meant that she wasn't going to be awake anytime soon.
He remember that she said that she ran to clear her head. Something was very wrong to make her run so hard. He thought everything was fine this morning so whatever was bothering her happened after he left.
He pulled up to her apartment building and finally got her awake. "Sara come on, you're home."
She blinked hard. "Okay." She slurred.
Grissom knew she didn't really comprehend what was said because she just closed her eyes again. He went around the side and helped her out of the car. She winced in pain as he practically carried her up to her apartment. Her leg muscles were tightening as the lactic acid started to make a comfortable home. Once inside her bedroom he started to peel the wet clothes off of her.
"Sara, sweetheart, how do you feel?" He asked as he pulled her wet tank top off.
"Sleepy." She fell onto the bed without another word. Her mind was thanking him for once again being there for her.
He shook his head while he removed her shorts and shoes. He found an old t-shirt in her drawer and pulled it over her head then removed her bra. He didn't know why but it didn't feel right to see her naked when she was unaware of him. He removed the ponytail hair-tie then backed away.
"Sara are you really okay?" He wasn't expecting a response but he had to ask. She meant the world to him, and he didn't like to see her like this. Again. She was so drained.
Satisfied that she was warm and taken care of, he picked up her wet clothes and hung them over the towel bar in the bathroom then he went to the kitchen for a drink. His nerves were shot, seeing Sara like this twice was leaving him drained too. The tap water was cool. He drew some water in her sink and did what little dishes she had. After he finished wiping the counters off he checked in on her once more. She didn't even move. He left the door open so he could hear her if she got awake. He wasn't ready to leave her. Not now. Catherine would have to deal without him. He sat comfortably on the sofa and began to read a book she had laying open. Before he even got past the prologue he fell asleep.
~ * ~
Sara rolled over and noticed that her bed lacked its other resident. She sat up and looked around. It was now dark outside. She was sure when Grissom drove her home it was still light out. He probably went back to the lab, she thought. Her stomach growled and she realized just how hungry she really was. Because of Ecklie's warning, Sara didn't eat before she went for a run. It was for the best really. If she did eat she would have thrown it back up.
She began to ease out of bed to go to the kitchen but stopped at the pain. Every muscle from her abs down to her feet hurt like hell. She managed to come to a standing position without screaming out in pain, but the first steps were horrible on her thighs. "Shit!"
Grissom's eyes flew open. He heard Sara. It wasn't part of the dream he was having; she sounded upset. He went back to check on her and found her bent over, hands on thighs. "Sara?"
She looked up. "I thought you went back to work. What are you still doing here?"
He frowned at her inability to answer the question he was asking when she he called her name. "I am sure Catherine can handle it for one night. Besides it seems that it was a good thing that I didn't leave. Sara...look at you."
She laughed. It was so sudden that it startled him. She was in tears and red from laughing but she didn't move from her bent position. "I can't move." She said between breaths. "Help an old lady out would you?"
He went to her side and helped her to the bed. Once seated she let her head fall back onto the mattress. "How's that?" He asked.
She laughed again. "It still hurts. I think I aged thirty years as I slept."
He looked at her body. "Well do you mind telling how this happened?"
"You know you should be more concerned that I can't move."
"I am concerned but it's because you collapsed in the lounge. What happened?" His tone was serious.
She raised her head just slightly to see him. "Oh not much."
He leaned over her on the bed, resting his hands on both sides of her shoulders. He was on his knees looking down at her. "Seriously Sara. Over exertion and collapsing from heat exhaustion is not a joking matter. I told you to go easy."
She bit her lip. She was afraid of this. "Gil I swear this isn't normal. I usually don't run so hard. I swear." She paused for a quick breath. "Are you mad at me?"
He sighed. "No but I would like to know what happened after I left to make you run the whole way to work? Something was bothering you."
"My legs hurt." She said at the thought of how long and hard she ran. She wasn't trying to avoid his question but the pain in her legs really made it hard to think.
"I bet they do."
"I'll tell you if you rub them." She smiled seductively.
"You'll tell me anyway."
Her smiled widened. "True but that doesn't help the pain in my legs any."
He found his footing again as he came to a standing position. He bent down and took her right foot in his hand. He began to massage it. "Start talking."
Sara jerked as he kneaded her tense muscles. It hurt but felt too good to tell him to stop. "That feels so good. You have no idea." He climbed his way up her calf. She was tense, he could feel the knots. "Ow! That hurts. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts. Oh stop!"
"I told you to take it easy Sara." He stopped but let his hand travel up to her thigh. He was actually enjoying touching and rubbing her legs. They were in great shape from the years of running. She got goosebumps as his hand traveled further up her leg. He stopped just shy of the shirt hem touching the top of her thigh. He began to knead the muscle with his fingers. She groaned in response. "I don't know whether to kill you or make love to you."
He had to raise an eyebrow. "I'll keep that in mind." He continued to rub harder. "Well are you going to tell me?"
She raised her head. "Ecklie called me."
He stopped. "Really? Why?"
She let her head fall back and she closed her eyes. "That doesn't matter. He told me that there might be an investigation examining your duties as supervisor."
"I told you that." He shrugged.
She jerked under his hand. "No you didn't. You brushed it off like it wasn't going to go any further. Why didn't you tell me it was this serious? God, Gil you can lose your job if an investigation is started." She closed her eyes again. "And don't tell me that you aren't worried."
He stopped and came to lean over her again. She opened her eyes. "So you mean to tell me that you ran until you couldn't anymore because of me? You collapsed because you were worried about me?"
She searched his eyes for something; anything. "Gil are you mad? Tell me the truth."
He caressed her cheek with a warm hand. His thumb traveled over her busted lip and his rage melted. Something inside him chiseled away when she confessed her concern for his well being. He had no idea. "No Sara I am not mad. I have found that it's impossible to stay mad at you for long periods of time." He kissed her lightly on the lips. "And yes I am worried, but as long as I have you...it doesn't matter."
"You say that but I know you Gil. You love your work."
"I do."
"I know you do so don't say things like that. I don't want to be any reason for your discomfort." He looked away from her but she pulled him back to her gaze. "Promise me that you won't give up. We all need you."
"I promise Sara." He whispered. He knew he could not break that vow that he just took. It was unbreakable.
"Good because I can't lose you Gil." She was about to say something else but her brain lost it's function as he began to kiss her neck. It sent electricity through her body. Words lost their appeal and action took their place. She decided to begin her own assault on his ear. It stopped him dead in his tracks. She smiled against his skin.
"Oh...Sara...where do you get all this energy?" He pulled away from her lips' grasp but came to sit on her hips. She got up on her elbows and sent an evil smile. "I thought your legs hurt." He croaked out.
Her response was a jerk of her hips against him. It was painful for her yet it had it's rewards for both of them. He fell forward on his hands and closed his eyes. "Sara do you know what you do to me?"
She began to kiss him again. "You started it."
tbc...