DISCLAIMER: Don't own anyone - characters are property of creators.

S E P I A

By Jane Moss

Sara stared at the heap of files on Grissom's desk. They were both in his office. He began reading.

"This your idea of 'talk'?" She was surprised she felt fractionally better.

"Hmm?" Grissom faked distraction, but she knew better. "Anything bothering you?"

"A couple of things." she answered without much thought. It was the truth.

"Anything you'd like to share?"

"No"

"Alright, Sara," he dropped the file, "I know I'm not good with these things, but despite your initial assumption, I do notice when people around me have something to hide-"

"Yeah, I guess it's easier to dissect bugs rather than people." She bit the inside of her lip and felt the sting in her personal attack.

"Don't try to change the subject," Grissom seemed unaffected.

"Look I don't wanna talk about it, alright?" Was it his cold detachment she was shrinking from?

"Then why did you come?"

She faltered momentarily. "Because you asked me to"

"Because you were curious?"

She stared at him. "Yeah?"

"Well, I was curious also" He looked pleased - at what? Sara let out a breath of annoyance, sinking deeper into the chair. What was it with this man? He wasn't capable of anything but confusion. He sent confusing signals. He said confusing things. How could she ever think this would work out? She noted that there was silence as she stared at the plain ceiling of his office. Normally, she liked to be inside these walls.

"I wish you hadn't sent me that plant," she came out of the blue and confirmed his slight surprise when she glanced his way.

"I didn't think it would work so well," he came out with his own confession.

"How did you-?"

"Catherine. she made me realise."

"Realise what?" her head came up suddenly curious. Would he give her something?

"Oh, you know Catherine."

"That didn't answer my question-"

"And you didn't answer mine," he pointed out and they were quiet once more. "We can play this game all night-"

"It's not a game!"

"- but it won't get us anywhere."

Sara held herself before she asked him to clarify 'us' in a suggestive tone. "What do you suggest?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "It's all up to you."

"Why do I get the feeling we have been down this road?"

He looked up at her again, this time his eyes open to her. "May be we have" Surprisingly, he didn't look away. "You know how productive we've been so far?" he glanced at his watch.

She took her queue. "This means work!" She didn't know exactly how long paperwork was going to last and it seemed to stretch on forever, as if time forgot about them. It was so maddeningly quiet in the room that she could hear both of their breaths. She tried to keep hers quiet but that would only create irregularity. Occasionally, she'd shift in her chair to break the silence.

Sara was glad when, five to twelve, Nick came in. "Hey, Sara, how'd you solve that case so quickly?"

"I didn't," she offered no further explanation and Grissom's raised eyebrow at Nick kept him from questioning further.

"I. uh. came to a dead end. No body. We searched the house, garden, garage. There was some blood but not enough to qualify for murder," Nick said and waited.

"Check the front lawn, attic, basement. Remember it could have been buried long ago so you won't be able to tell without equipment."

That seemed to give Nick an idea. "Yeah, I'll be back. later," he added at the risk of sounding like the Terminator. Nick left and took with him the only sound in the room.

Sara felt hesitant to return to the paperwork.

"Problem?" Grissom asked.

"Umm. I need a break"

Again, he glanced at his watch. "It's only been 40 minutes. Okay, I need a break too," he gave in, taking off his glasses and massaging the bridge of his nose briefly.

She stood up with the intention of stretching but instead got drawn to his collection of butterflies. Sara was too aware of his somewhat scrutinising gaze and wondered, not for the first time, if the cold façade was only a mask. She tried to keep her breathing even, as the thick silence enabled him to hear it too. She couldn't concentrate on those butterflies anymore, but instead only heard dull thuds of her heartbeat and wondered if perhaps he could sense something.

"Find something interesting?" his voice was very close to her ear and she had nearly jumped. She tried to laugh in an attempt to dissolve the mad tension, but couldn't get anything out. Finally, she willed herself to turn around and look at him. To her disappointment, he was just walking out the door. "I'm going to get us coffee"

Well, thankyouverymuch. Why would she want that stupid coffee? She had barely touched her cup this morning. Sara could feel her blood boiling and stubbornly refused to admit he was getting to her. Now, THIS is a tease! She searched her mind for one good reason why she shouldn't just walk out the door and leave him to come back to an empty office. That would serve him right. May be he'd learn something then. Sara held herself in the doorway, at the threshold.

She knew he had feelings, no matter how coldly he seemed to acknowledge hers. She knew it would hurt him. Why should she not hurt him, after all those things he'd done to hurt her? She let out a breath and looked down at her shoes. She only looked up when she sensed the smell of coffee and knew she had stayed too long. When she looked up, Sara made no attempt to mask her feelings any longer.

He was looking at her. She couldn't meet his gaze. For some reason unknown to her, her eyes was becoming increasingly hot and she was afraid if she looked at him, the tears would come like a flood. At that moment she remembered how many times she'd fantasised how he'd come to her house, as if forgetting something, how she'd meet him in the street on their day off, how he'd initiate something. anything. None of this ever happened outside of her head. She had been so stupid. And she didn't even want to begin to think how sad she was to waste all these lonely years, waiting for some delusional fantasy to fulfil itself.

"Sara." she heard his voice grow soft and quiet, as if in a dream. He was close to her. They were moving back into the office and the door closed. After a moment of brief hesitation, his hands found themselves on her shoulders. She could feel the heat seeping through her blouse to reach her skin with a shiver. Before she knew what was happening, the delightful feeling spread throughout her body as his arms embraced her in a hug. It was tentative at first, but then holding her tighter, pulling her closer. It took her a moment to recognise uncharted territory. She moved to return the embrace, noting his deep breath when she entwined her arms behind him. Inwardly, she smiled: who was he trying to fool with that cold façade anyway? The smile extended on her lips despite all the confusing emotions, which were just swimming underneath the surface. It had just become very simple.

After long minutes ticked by, he forced himself to let her go and instantly missed her hot breath at his neck, her soft hair at his cheek, her warm form in his arms.

"Better?"

Yes. "A little."

"Sara, why don't you go home? Relax?"

"Why don't you meet me after shift?" she said in the same even tone. His expression remained mildly surprised, and leaning his head to the side, he continued to dissect her offer. She hoped he wouldn't ask why.

"Okay"

If he had noticed her face light up, he refrained from comment.

* * *

Now I was intending to finish it there, but may be I will continue it! It does sound fun! Thank you all for the lovely reviews! I'm always glad to hear what you think! JM.