Grissom couldn't help smiling to himself as he stalked down the familiar corridors past familiar rooms full of familiar faces.  It was good to be back.  Already he had been stopped every few paces by members of his team, and even Greg and Al, saying how good it was to see him back.

            There was one person he wanted to see more than anyone else, but he couldn't find her.  Perhaps she had gone home to have a rest, she had looked like she needed a break last time he had seen her.  But wouldn't she have wanted to be here for his return?

            He sighed.  Still, he would find her eventually, he had to.  Smiling again as he reached his office, Grissom walked into the dim light and cast his eye around.  This was his little piece of home, his sanctuary, his shelter in his hectic and sometimes confusing life.

            He took a step into the room, allowing the door to swing closed behind him, and stopped.  Shock flew over his face but was soon replaced by a wide grin.

            Grissom walked over to his desk as lightly as he could and looked down fondly at Catherine's sleeping form.  He laughed softly, remembering how this had all begun and now the roles were reversed.  Reaching down he tapped Catherine on the shoulder, it was a nuisance to wake her and he would gladly have let her sleep, but he needed to talk to her.

            'Go away'  Catherine said groggily and batted his hand away.

            'Catherine'

            'No, she's in the bar drinking herself silly.'

            Grissom smiled.  'Well, in that case, I might have a drink myself.'

            Catherine looked up and their eyes met.  Grissom saw how tired she looked and regretted waking her.

            'I should have let you sleep.'

            'Don't sweat it' she waved a hand and forced herself to stand up.  'Have a seat,' Grissom hesitated.  'Go on.'

            Reluctantly Grissom sank into the chair.  He had been perfectly happy to stand and let Catherine have the seat.  Looking up at her he saw the weariness etched on every line of her face.

            'You look like you need a rest.'

            'I was resting' she smiled 'Hey, now we're even; I woke you, you woke me.'

            Grissom smiled back but it was only to mask his concern.  Her condition troubled him; if she collapsed from exhaustion now it would all be his fault, she had been working non-stop on his case for the last 36 hours after all.

            'You have the seat.'  He made to stand.

            'No' She pushed him back down with considerable force but Grissom saw the effort it took her.

            He stared at her half in surprise, half with concern.  She attempted to stare him out but failed, having to close her eyes to escape the overwhelming urge to sleep.

            'Okay, okay.'

            Grissom smiled, genuinely this time, but before he could stand he found Catherine seating herself on his lap.

            'Oh, don't look so shocked, Gil.' She said, leaning back against him and closing her eyes.

            The close contact kept him silent for a minute, but the beat of her heart along with his was reassuring and finally he felt as if his question had been answered.

            'So Dave did it after all?'  He would work his way up to the important stuff.

            'Hmm, he thought she was having an affair,'  Catherine paused for effect 'With you.'

            'What?'

            Catherine laughed and Grissom felt the vibrations run right through him.  It was an odd sensation yet strangely soothing.  Little did he know that his exclamation of surprise had laid to rest something that had been nagging Catherine.

'Did you know that Anna was a husband beater?'

            'It had occurred to me once or twice, she certainly had a temper.  Incidentally, she'd never actually hit me until that night.'

            'She definitely got her comeuppance.'

            'Catherine, she was a good woman really-'

            'And Dave was a good man.'

            'So, in all this, who was the real victim?'

            'Personally, I still think the bush did it.'

            'Excuse me?'

            'You'll have to ask Archie.'  Catherine laughed at her little joke and allowed the bittersweet silence to envelop them.  She felt so safe and secure in Grissom's arms that it didn't matter if they talked or not, simply being there, together, was enough.

            'Hey Catherine.'

            'Yeah?'  She could feel the tiredness catching up with her again but she was too blissfully happy to let it overtake her.  She wanted to remember this moment for the rest of her life.

            'Thanks'

            ''S'kay.  You would have done the same … wouldn't you?'

            'Well …'

            'Oy!'  Catherine thumped Grissom playfully on the arm and turned her head to see him laughing.  She smiled as she saw her own feeling reflected in his eyes.  She had seen that once before; when she had been in his house and he had pulled her close.  She had thought he would kiss her but then he had uttered the words that had probably saved him.

            'Y'know this morning?  When I came to your house?'

            'Yeah.'  Grissom drew the word out wondering where it was leading.

            'Why didn't you kiss me?'

            'It wasn't the right time.'  Grissom said coolly 'You were getting hysterical and it might have compromised the case.'

            'Well the case is closed now.'

            Grissom raised an eyebrow at Catherine's suggestive tone but he couldn't stop his heart from fluttering.

            'Yes, it is.'

            'Well?'

            'Well what?'

            'Well kiss me then.'

            He laughed softly and leaned towards her, lightly brushing his lips across hers.  He felt Catherine's arms slide around his neck, drawing him closer still.  Closing his eyes, Grissom allowed himself to be led by the woman he had watched for such a long time.  Having always been forced to watch from the shadows it was such a difference to finally be bathed in the full light of her presence.

            The need for air broke them apart and Catherine laid her head on Grissom's shoulder.  There was silence for a while, then:

            'What did Sara want?'

            Grissom flinched, but he didn't want to spoil the moment so he decided to play the truth card and hoped that Catherine would drop the subject.

            'Me.'

            'Duh!  But what did she want with you?'

            'What you just got probably.  I can't read minds, you know.'

            'Hmm.  I kind of guessed as much.  What are you going to do about it?'

            'Nothing.'

            'You can't just ignore it, Gil.  Her feelings for you aren't just going to disappear and I don't want to be constantly under attack.'

            'I know, I'll think of something.  Let it rest for now okay?'

            Catherine muttered something that could have been 'okay' but most of it was lost in Grissom's shirt.  Again silence drifted in.  It wasn't an awkward silence nor was it the air of defeat and neither was it for lack of things to say.  Both parties were bursting with questions, wanting to put a stop to those little nagging voices at the back of their minds.  However they couldn't find the will to disturb the others peace and so neither spoke for several minutes.

            Grissom was just beginning to wonder how much longer they could stay like they were before his leg fell asleep, when he heard Catherine sigh.

            'What's wrong, Cath?'

            'I wish we could stay like this forever, but there's this little problem I've got at home.'

            'And what's that?'

            'Well, it's about this tall,' she gestured with her hand 'has blonde hair and usually answers to the name Lindsey.'

            Grissom smiled.  'Don't worry, Cath.  You get some rest I'll take care of Lindsey.'

            Catherine looked at him.  'Thanks, Gil.'  She leaned towards him and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek before lying back against him and smiling again.  'You should have a shave first.'

            Grissom smiled as well, he couldn't help it.  This morning he had awoken with doubt and fear in his heart but now all he felt was the deep and unconditional ache of love.

            Sara looked on, not in disbelief but in despair.  For she had seen this coming but had hoped she could change things.  Now, she knew, he was lost to her.

            She looked down at her CSI ID badge in her hands and sighed.  Then, casting a final glance at them, together, she turned and headed silently to the locker room.

Note from the author – I apologise if I made Sara into a cow but she is only human; what would you have done in her shoes.

            Also, technically I killed Anna cos I knew she had been killed and where, why, how, before anyone else.  And When I was writing this I just happened to be wearing my blue blouse that is 100% pure cotton …