Chapter 5

Grissom sat in his car for a good twenty minutes before turning the engine on and going home. He decided to go into work after he showered and changed. He still hurt, but he was also angry. As he walked through the lab, he didn't say a word; afraid he'd snap them in two with one glance. He closed his door and sat down behind his desk. He stared into space as he chewed on the tip of his pen and that's how Catherine found him an hour and half later.

"I thought you weren't coming in." She saw he wasn't listening and sat down. She tapped on the desk. He started and looked at her. Her eyes widened at the dark glared. "Wow, calm down."

Grissom continued to glare at her. "Do you need something or are you going to leave?"

Catherine couldn't believe what he just said let alone in the cold and icy tone he used. "I'm going to sit here until you tell me what's going on with you."

"There's nothing. I've got work to do." He looked down at his desk and pulled a file from on side of his desk to in front of him.

"Yeah, I see that. Also, I've been told you've been here for a while and in that time those two folders there would have been done. Now tell me what's up and I'm guessing this has something to do with Sara and how is she by the way?" Catherine watched him and leaned back in her chair.

"If you ask her you'll get an answer that's more than she gave me." He closed the file angrily and pushed away from his desk to stand. Catherine followed him as he stomped towards the break room.

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Warrick and Nick looked up at Grissom as he entered the room and poured himself a large cup of coffee. "Hey boss, how's Sara?"

Catherine looked at Grissom and realising he was going to snap at the young Texan, she stepped up to the coffee pot. "She's fine Nick, still exhausted."

Grissom pursed his lips as he looked at his hands then searched his pockets. Catherine handed him the case slips on her way past him. He sighed and gave out assignments.

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Sara sat at home and pulled the blanket closer. What was she doing? She's not well, probably some cold or flu. Her cell phone started to ring and she automatically answered it. "Hello."

"If I didn't know better, I'd guess you were avoiding me."

Sara sighed. "Sorry. I've been busy. What's up?" She really didn't want to talk and especially not with the head case of the year.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go for dinner?"

"Sorry Hank. I'm not well and I'm not having company either. I thought we discussed this." Sara rolled her eyes as he tried to talk her round.

"We have, but I thought a dinner between friends would be fun, but if your ill, maybe I can bring you something to eat."

"I've eaten thanks and no I'm not coming out another time. I'm going to tell you for the hundredth time Hank, please just leave me alone." She hung up and tossed her cell onto the coffee table. Staring at it for a few minutes, she sighed angrily at herself for being an idiot, maybe she went too far this time.

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Grissom sat in one of the labs looking into a microscope, but not really seeing what he was supposed to. He sat back and removed his glasses to rub his tired eyes. His pocket began to shake making him jump. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out his cell and put his glasses on as he flipped the plastic open. '1 Message.' Pressing the 'read' button he was surprised to say the least.

'I'm sorry too.'

Grissom gave a small smile and nodded to himself. He pressed the reply button.

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Sara was flipping through the channels of oblivion to find absolutely nothing on. Just as she turned the TV off her cell phone beeped out a series of tones telling her she had a message. Reaching for her cell, she flipped it open and smile.

'I make a mean omelette.'

Sara pursed her lips and chuckled lightly. She pressed the reply button and after a few minutes of thinking she sent the message.

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Grissom had finished in the lab and was making his way towards the break room when he felt his cell again. Raising an eyebrow at the devise, he opened it.

'Soup?'

Grissom grinned and poured himself some coffee as he sent a message back.

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Laying on the couch and staring up at the ceiling, she hugged herself with a small smile playing her lips. Her cell phone rang out its dancing tune and she reached for it.

'Ok. How are you feeling?'

Looking up at her cell from her lying position with one hand behind her head, she replied.

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Catherine and Warrick walked into the break room to find Grissom reading the paper with his cell in his hand. As they sat down at the table, his cell beeped.

'Headache, sick, hot and tired.'

Not looking up at the two pairs of eyes on him, he text back.

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'Sounds like the flu. I'll bring the soup you bring the hot chocolate.'

Sara laughed at the message and turned onto her side.

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Catherine watched as Grissom went back to reading the paper. He seemed more relaxed than earlier when he was tensed up and snapping at everyone. She looked down at his phone as it beeped again.

Grissom kept reading before glancing at the phone and reading the message.

'Just friends no talk of work.'

Pursing his lips in thought, he closed his phone and stood. Warrick's eyes watched his supervisor leave the room.

"Wonder who that was?" He asked.

Catherine shrugged. "Don't know, but at least he wasn't angry like earlier." Warrick nodded and turned back to his sports paper.

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Sara stared at her closed phone and realised she wasn't going to get and answer. She suspected as much but thought she'd try anyhow. She went to the bathroom and when she came back her cell phone rang, didn't beep or ring out a dancing tune, it rang. She looked at it and turned it off not bothering to look at the display. She had a fairly good idea who it was and distinctly told him to back off.

Chapter 6

Grissom pulled his cell from his ear and stared at it. Huh? It was the only thought that registered. He tried again but got the answer phone. He closed his phone and stuffed it into his pocket as he walked into his office. Maybe she changed her mind. Should he go anyway, just to make sure she was ok?

Sitting down, he went to reach for his office phone, but pulled his hand away. Her cell was off. She might have turned it off when he didn't reply. She had turned it off whenever it rang at work and from what he could tell, she did the same elsewhere. Someone was obviously pestering her enough for her to turn it off whenever it rang, but she'd check the display wouldn't she? She normally did, why not now? If it was only the one caller who kept ringing she might have automatically thought he was the caller she didn't want and turned it off any ways. That might be it. He would ask when he arrived at breakfast.

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Sara lay on her bed hugging her covers to her in her sweats and large Harvard jumper. She was sweating, but was cold. She didn't want to take anything in case she was sick. Her stomach wanted something hot, but liquid. She didn't feel like coffee or anything cold like water or juice. Her head was hurting more and more. She wiped the sweat away with her oversized jumper sleeve and moved to lie on her back. A knock at the door was unexpected as she jumped out of her skin and gasped. God why did she have to get ill? She's hearing things and anything that moves or hums is driving her insane. There was another knock and she sat up confused. She looked at her clock and realised it was morning. That's strange. She didn't feel like she'd been sleeping, quite the opposite.

Throwing the covers off, she dragged herself to the door and leaned against the doorframe as she opened it. Grinning at the visitor as she dropped her head in disbelief.

"Soup as requested." Grissom raised a container and smiled.

"I wasn't sure you would come." She said letting him pass.

"Oh course I was coming. I said I was didn't I." He placed the container on the kitchen counter and turned to see her walk over to him and peer at the soup. "Vegetable no meat, blood, any creature from my office or fridge from home."

Sara laughed and leaned against the counter. She rubbed her face where more sweat had formed. "I was hungry about 5 seconds ago, but I don't think I can convince my stomach right now."

Grissom saw her sweating and reached up to feel her forehead. "Sara, you're freezing. Have you taken anything?" She shook her head. "Hmm. Try these." He pulled out a small packet of tablets that he picked up from the chemist on his way over.

"Wouldn't stay down Griss. Sorry." She looked up at him and saw his frown. "Ok, I'll take them, but it's your fault if I'm sick." She took the tablets and swallowed them with some water.

"If I put this in the fridge, you want to sit and watch TV for a while? Until you feel like eating." He shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head to one side.

Sara looked at him then the soup, then back at him. "Ok."

Grissom nodded and after storing the soup he sat down on the couch while Sara fetched a blanket to curl up in. She wrapped it around her, covering her entire body and dropped down on the couch. She handed Grissom the remote and watched as he channel surfed for a few minutes before landing on the discovery channel. Sara closed her eyes and was soon asleep. This was going to be interesting. What did he give her?

Sara leaned against him as she drifted off to sleep. Grissom smiled down at her and rested his arm on the back of the couch behind her as her head came to rest on his shoulder.

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Hours later after the discovery channel had played more than a dozen programmes on forensics, animals, life, human evolution etc. Grissom was fast asleep with his head leaning against Sara's. Sara woke up slowly and felt an arm on her shoulder and a head on hers. She breathed deeply in shock and soon found herself wrapped up in his scent. God he smells good. She turned her head slightly and his breath tickled her nose. Mmmm. coffee and mints, nice combination.

She closed her eyes and listened to his soft breathing as he slept. She was still going to kill him for doping her up. She did feel better, but still had a headache. Bringing her hand up to rubbed her eyes, she accidentally brushed Grissom's nose and giggled as he wrinkled it up, but stopped when his hand came up to take hers. She stared at her hand in his. Blinking a few times to check she was awake, she squeezed his hand to feel if it was real and not her imagination.

"How you feeling?" He mumbled not moving.

Sara raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Better, but what ever you gave me hasn't got rid of the pounding headache. Also you're going to die for drugging me enough to sleep."

Grissom's mouth turned up at the edges as he opened his eyes. His smile disappeared when he realised he was so close to her. His face was right next to hers, his arm was on her shoulder, his hand held hers and she was looking into his eyes. "Erm, I didn't drug you." He said clearing his throat and pulling slightly away.

Sara's face fell as he pulled his hand away from hers. She stared at her hand and closed the warmth from his in it. His arm came down to his lap. "I must have been more tired than I thought then." She offered lightly and sat up. He obviously didn't want to touch her now, so she had might as well change the subject before he goes too quiet and started stammering all over the place. "I'm hungry."

Grissom grinned. "Ok, food, you shower and then we get you some fresh air." He warmed up the soup and they ate in silence.

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They ate as they talked about the case Grissom was working on and he relayed 'get wells' from everyone. Sara trudged into the bathroom to shower. She stood under the spray and washed her hair. As the suds washed away and the steam collected she felt dizzy all of a sudden and fell against the shower door with a thud.

Grissom was looking out her living room window when he heard the light bang. Walking towards the bathroom door, he put his hand on the handle. "Sara? You ok?" Getting no answer he opened the door slowly. "Sara? I'm coming in alright?" Still no answer. Moving into the bathroom he grabbed the large towel from the rack. He quickly opened the shower door and wrapped it around her as he lifted her up into his arms. "Sara." He said with deep concern. "Come on."

Sara pulled the covers over her as he laid her down on the bed. "I'm sorry Griss. It was just sudden." She drifted off.

Grissom brushed his hand over her wet hair and reached for a small towel on her clean clothes pile on the chair. Gently, he dried her hair and sat back on the bed to watch her. It was just the flu. He kept telling himself.