Chapter 4

Grissom excused himself when he was called away before the three of them reached the DNA lab. He agreed to meet up for breakfast after shift and headed of to find out what Doc Robbin's had found. He stood looking at the x-ray machine while it scanned the parts of body still in one piece. He was watching the light flicker as the machine glided across the table.

^ Flashback ^ Screams came from the small-enclosed room as they got closer. He pushed the door open and everything went dark. The next thing anyone could remember was being tied to metal chairs that were bolted to the floor. The group that was once running around with energy and full of life now waited for their fate. The room's light woke them and their doom was shown from the items in the centre of the cold room. ^ Flashback ^

Doc was speaking, but realised he wasn't listening. "Gil?" Grissom didn't move, just followed the movements in the other room through the glass. "Gil?" Doc asked a little loud and placed a hand on his arm. Grissom jumped. "Sorry, I've been talking to you. Did you hear any of it?"

Grissom pulled his eyes away from the light and turned to face him. "A little." Grissom leaned against the desk and took a deep breath.

"You alright? You seem distracted." Doc moved across the small room to a stool. He sat down and positioned his crutches against the wall. "Wanna talk?"

Grissom looked up at the coroner and pondered his questions. "I am distracted, but I wouldn't know where to start." Grissom gave out a light laugh and he stood. "I better get back. Contact me if you find anything else, I'll get these back to the lab."

Doc nodded and watched as Grissom opened the door to leave. "I'm still be here if you figure out a starting point." Grissom turned and nodded his thanks.

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The locker room was quiet and the silence was welcoming. Sara sat on the bench looking at the snake bit and cut on her arm, when Grissom walked in. She didn't look up as he walked to his locker and opened it. Grissom glanced at her, but quickly grabbed his coat. He shut his locker and turned to her.

Sara was amazed at the bruising and the blood that still coated the wound. She winced as she moved her arm to place a clean bandage over it.

"Sara, hold on." Grissom grabbed the first aid kit from the top of the lockers and pulled out some cleaning wipes and straddled the bench facing her. Sara let her hand fall to her lap and groaned in defeat. Grissom lightly grasped her arm as he cleaned the blood away.

"You don't have to do that Griss, I." She stopped and flinched as the antiseptic sank into the wound.

Grissom looked up and crinkled his face. "Sorry. . Did Ashleigh go?"

"Yeah. I gave her my spare key." He nodded and continued to wipe the blood away. He held his hand out for the bandage in her hand. Sara placed it in his hand and their fingers brushed ever so lightly that it tingled. Theirs eyes locked and the bandage was forgotten. Nothing else seemed to exist but the two in the locker room. Blue eyes gazed into Brown; both mesmerised and unable to break the stare that is until Nick barged through the door. They broke eye contact and Grissom slowly pulled the bandage from her hand and gently covered the wound with it.

Nick saw them sitting close and as he got closer noticed the bandage and blood. "Sara what happened?"

She tore her eyes away from Grissom face and looked up at him. "Snakebite."

"What! When? How?" Nick's concern plastered all over his face, approached and knelt in front of her. "You all right?" He placed a comforting hand on her knee and Sara covered it.

"Don't worry Nicky I'm fine. I've been checked over by the EMT's and received anti-venom." Sara looked down at her arm and slowly pulled on her sweatshirt. Nick stood and stepped away, Grissom pushed back to give her room and saw her wince as the fabric brushed the bandage, pulling at the skin.

"A rattle snake was housing by our decomp." Grissom said standing. Nick sighed with relief and gathered his things.

"Well, ring me if you need anything ok?" Nick offered and turned to his locker.

Sara smiled as she stood and picked up her purse and cell phone. "Thanks Nicky, but I'll be fine. See you guys next shift." Sara walked towards the door and looked at Grissom briefly before leaving. He looked up at her, then looked away. She left leaving Nick who put his sports bag over his shoulder and said his goodbyes.

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Sara exited the front doors of the CSI building and stood at the bottom of the steps, she sighed loudly. "How the hell am I going to get home?"

"I can drive you." Sara jumped at the sound of his voice as he came up behind her. She turned and smiled, hiding the momentary shock. "That's if you'd like?" Grissom added quietly.

"I would like that thank you." Grissom gave a small smile and took her elbow lightly in his hand to guide her towards his car.

Sara waited for him to unlock the doors and climbed in.

"Sara." Grissom started, but couldn't find the words to finish.

She looked at him. "Griss what's wrong?"

Grissom glanced at her then back at the road. "I.I know Nick offered, but.if you need anything.just ring me.ok?" Grissom looked at her again then returned his attention to driving.

Sara smiled. "I will." She said looking through the front window to watch the few cars as they lined up at the traffic lights.

Grissom turned to her, seeing as the lights were red. He opened his mouth, but closed it again. As Sara turned to look at him he looked away not knowing what to say. The lights turned green and the line of cars started moving.

He pulled up to her apartment and noticed Ash's car out front. "I'll meet Ash and you later for breakfast." Grissom said as he looked down at his hands resting against the steering wheel loosely.

"Sam's Diner at 9?" Sara asked as she opened the passenger door.

Grissom nodded with an added. "Say hi to Ash."

She looked at him as she turned to close the door. "Sure." Sara said softly as she closed the door and turned to walk up the path to her front door. Grissom watched as he gave a deep sigh and pulled away from the curb when she entered her apartment.

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* The morning sun took residence behind the small apartment giving plenty of shadow from the surrounding houses to disguise the dark car. The owner watched the midnight blue Tahoe pull away as the female closed her front door. The Tahoe's driver seemed reluctant to leave at first, but soon drove away looking slightly drained and worried. The dark car owner couldn't suppress the smile that appeared as he tapped a calming rhythm on the dash with his right hand. *

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