DISCLAIMER: The usual applies (characters are not mine, no profit, etc). You didn't think I'd forget a disclaimer and let you sue me, did you? *raises eyebrow*

SUMMARY: Post 'Inside the Box'. Here's what COULD happen. ;)

A Sense of Time

By Jane Moss

Grissom woke to the delightful feeling of having someone warm in his arms. He wondered what exactly drove him to offer his bed to her. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't logic. He knew that he was very close to falling off the side of the bed, but it seemed so cruel to wake her. She worked so hard. Pretty soon, he knew he would feel numb again from being in the same position for too long. He let out a breath and realised how much he had missed the human contact. But this was Sara! Her arm was around him and her face was buried in his shoulder. He could easily feel her warm breath though the thin hospital robe. He wondered what it would be like to wake up like that every morning and immediately tried to forget the thought.

It felt so good right now, but he convinced himself it was only a temporary feeling, considering all the things he's been through recently. After all, he was her supervisor, older by so many years…

She stirred and moved her head from his shoulder, waking up very slowly. Before she had a chance to open her eyes and they would fall back into professional mode, Grissom decided to indulge himself, as he gently brushed hair away from her cheek. Suddenly, feeling the need to move, he got up as smoothly as he could and walked around to the chair she occupied last night. Walking felt easier now. Looking at her, he remembered his bandaged ears and recalled his strange reflection in the mirror the previous night. Not that he was overly conscious about his appearance, but he did not want anyone else from work to see him like this. Being on a hospital bed, makes one seem vulnerable. His fingertips slowly brushed against the bandages and he knew he wanted them off, as soon as possible.

Something beeped loud enough to make him jump slightly. Sara now turned over and tried to reach something by the side of the bed. He caught her arm, before she could fall off. She opened her eyes in confusion and it took her a moment to register where she was and what Grissom was doing next to her bed. He passed her one of the bags, assuming that's where her pager would be.

"Oh, shit… I'm late for work!" she said rubbing her eyes to clear her vision. "I can't believe this! I'm always early!"

Grissom smiled, despite himself. "I'm sure your boss will forgive you"

"When are you getting out of here?" her eyes did not meet his, as she occupied herself with reaching for her bags.

"Sometime today"

She looked up. "I'll come by and pick you up, okay? Just give me a call…. You know my number right?"

He nodded. "I do"

Just as she was ready to gather up her belongings and get up to go, she looked up at him and placed her hand on his bare forearm. It was warm.

"Thanks," she said, meaning it.

"Anytime"

"Anytime?" she smiled coyly, walking out the door. "I'll see you later then"

*         *         *

When she received Grissom's phone call, Sara had to ask Warrick to handle the case on his own. Twenty minutes later they were both in her car. His bandages were replaced with what looked like large earplugs and he was told to remove them in two days time and to avoid loud noises for at least a week, until it heals.

He looked over at Sara, whose attention was in the road. He knew she must still have questions, but kept them to herself, while he was in hospital. She didn't want to cause him stress and she was surprised at her own patience. She knew that she was probably being far nicer, than he really deserved.

She walked him to his door. "Would you like to come in?"

It was tempting. "Ugh… I have to get back… I told Warrick I wouldn't abandon him."

He nodded. Grissom knew he didn't have the right to ask her if she would come after shift. She'd already given up two nights for him.

"Sara, thank you… for everything"

She nodded. "I'm really glad you're okay." They stood at his door for a moment until she felt it was time to leave. "I'm… gonna get back to that crime scene…"

"Okay" OKAY? She looked somewhat disappointed. What was he thinking? He wasn't okay with her leaving. "Sara," he called out, making her turn around, "If you'd like to come… any time…" he stressed, "I'd be glad to have you here."

She smiled. "I'll come by."

He stood at the threshold of his apartment until she disappeared from his sight.

*         *         *

He spent most of the remaining morning going through a small stack of mail and messages on his machine. Later he checked his emails. By mid-afternoon, Catherine came by to inspect on him back from hospital.

"Having fun as supervisor?" he teased.

"Grissom, you have got to have THE most boring job! I still have stacks of paperwork on my… your desk. I worked for the entire morning signing reports and I haven't even done half of them!" she paused, not wanting to sound nagging, "How's Sara?"

"She's fine"

"Sorry I couldn't make it to hospital. I planned to go, but Lynsey… It's a long story…" she let out a tired sigh.

"It's alright, Catherine, I know you have a life. Just get through that stack of paperwork before I return, alright?" A smile teased on his face as he sipped his coffee.

Catherine proceeded in filling him in on details of various cases, before she had to leave and by 5o'clock he was alone again. He guessed he still had a few hours of sunlight, before it went dark. Grissom wondered what he could occupy himself with for the seven days he had to avoid work. Looking over at his computer, he decided to initiate a few emails with old acquaintances he neglected to keep in touch with, over the years. He briefly wondered if they all still remembered him.

Soon, running out of people to email, he considered calling a few, but he could not bear all the questions. A thought hit him. He entered the lab's database, through his computer at work. Someone suggested this service to him and he guessed it was now good time to put it to use. He clicked on the "Employees" folder and for the first time felt like he was finally becoming computer literate, as he searched for "Sidle, Sara". He clicked and her file came up. He scanned the page until he came across "contact details" and copied her email address.

He wrote a brief note to her, saying nothing in particular and nothing new. Then he in turn sent a message to Catherine. Glancing at the clock, he decided to email Warrick and Nick about their case as well. After all the emails were sent, Grissom sat back and wondered what he could do next. Did he really have a life outside of work? His only close friends – or may be not so close – were his co-workers. That really said something about him. He hardly spent any time at his apartment. The TV and VCR were standing quietly on the shelves and gathering dust. They were doing so very nicely. And what do you do when you run out of trivial errands?

After much deliberation, staring at his computer screen, a curious thought crossed his mind. If only the security cameras in the lab could be connected to his computer there and he could access it from home. Oh, the fun he would have! Just their shock and confusion on their faces, would be ever so amusing to see. He could finally find out who had been chewing his pencils… Well, that was not in his limited computer capability. He shook his head trying to forget the thought, as it reminded him too much of what the lab rat, Greg, might think of.

The rest of the day passed slowly, as he proceeded to read the papers and cook dinner for himself. The earplugs were starting to irritate him somewhat and he had to restrain himself from pulling them out.

*        *         *         *         *

Okay, so there wasn't much Sara in this chapter! Don't worry! The next one's gonna improve on that! lol! Thank you all for the lovely reviews, as always! (keep them coming and I'll hurry with the next chappy!) – J.M.:)