Here's the next chapter, not too long or too short, but it has to be this way (again, I liked the way it flowed). Thanks again to all who have read and reviewed. Tell me what you would like to see happen. I am open to suggestions at this point (with a few ideas of my own of course!). So write and tell me, what do u want to happen next?

Chapter 9

Grissom and Sara drove to the nearby park, that was nearly secluded except for a few people who walked by. Sara laid the blanket out and took off her shoes. Grissom brought over the basket and quickly did the same. Sara tried again to get the picnic stuff out of the basket, but Grissom stopped her. "Let me do that." He said as he pulled out the light champagne and two glass flukes. Grissom smiled at the surprised look on Sara's face. "Here you go." Grissom poured some into the glasses and gave one first to Sara.

Sara smiled. "Why, thank you, Griss."

"You're quite welcome." Grissom smiled with joy and happiness. Sara pulled out the sandwiches and the salad.

Sara held up the sandwiches. "Now which would you like, cream cheese and olive, cream cheese with cucumber or peanut butter and jelly?"

"I thought you made that peanut butter and jelly for yourself. I'll take the cream cheese with cucumber and lots of that salad, it looks great. But first, a toast."

Sara smiled. "Okay, but what should we toast for?"

Grissom thought for a moment. "For…for…for us!" They both raised their glasses.

Sara smiled her beautiful mega-watt smile. "To us!" And they both drank and laughed the day away.

Grissom and Sara were resting next to each other on the blanket and an uneasy silence had fallen between them. Sara turned over on her side to face Grissom and said, "So, what's your excuse?"

Grissom was surprised by her boldness. "My excuse for what?"

"For acting the way you do." Sara replied.

Grissom took a deep breath and attempted to laugh. Sara turned on her belly and looked at him. "I'm serious, Griss." Grissom looked into her deep brown eyes and could not deny her.

"It has a lot to do with my father. And his presence or the lack thereof in my life. You see," he said with a sigh, "My father left my mother and I when I was about eight. It was just me and her. Looking back, I don't think he could relate to his deaf wife and bug-studying son. We were foreign to him. But I saw how much that hurt my mother, his leaving, and I don't think she ever forgave him either. And I never, ever want to be that guy. So it is just easier to isolate myself from everything and everyone that might hurt me. I don't want to get hurt like that again. I would rather be alone."

Sara listened apathetically. Then Grissom turned the tables, "And you? Why do you act the way you do?"

Sara smiled. "I dunno. A lot of the way I act at work is in direct response to… to…" She was afraid her answer would scare him.

Grissom looked back at her. "To what?"

"To you. I mean, you called me out here after Holly died. I went to leave and you sent me a plant to get me to stay. I stay, and you ignore me. I get too involved in work and you tell me to get a life. I get one and you get mad. And just when I think all is lost, and that it is all so hopeless, you go and do something, something like today, that restores my trust in you completely. If I've become jaded or cynical or anything else, it because I didn't know what else to do. It's all I could do to not break down and cry."

Grissom frowned a little. "I'm sorry. I know that's little consolation for three years of hell, but I mean it. And if there is anything I can do to make it up to you…"

Sara took Grissom's hand and smiled. "Well, there is one thing." Then Sara smiled bigger.

Grissom laughed. "You are scandalous, Sara, really." Grissom pretended to be shocked. Sara just smiled. Then Grissom pulled her closer and kissed her. Sara laughed. And they kissed all afternoon.