DISCLAIMER:  No copyright violation intended. Characters = not mine. *pout!*

Doorstep

By Jane Moss

Between her latest science magazine and Nicky's playful comments, Sara almost felt good. There were times when she could forget. Grissom cleared his throat and she instantly knew that time was over. She glanced at the assignments in his hand. Was he going to send her out solo again?

"Catherine, Nick. You got a 419 at the Monico. Warrick – missing person. Last seen on security camera in her company parking lot. Sara, you're with me"

She looked up, her surprise unmasked. After a moment she still hadn't spoken.

"Unless, you'd like to help Greg run those dirt samples…" he offered innocently.

"No way! Talk about choice…" she muttered, following him, until he abruptly entered his office. She looked at him in confusion.

"Paperwork"

"PAPERwork?" Guess the choice was fair then.

"You can always help Greg," he suggested and before she had time to reply, his tone changed completely. "I realised we haven't worked together for a while." Oh, you just realised that NOW? "I didn't want you to think I was ignoring you." She stared at him in shock for voicing such honesty. Just when she thinks she knows him, he becomes something else altogether. She still hadn't replied. Had he said something wrong? "I left Catherine with paperwork last time," he offered as an apology.

"Let's do it!" Her smile slowly faded as the tedious work began. She almost felt sorry for Grissom. Being stuck in his office for hours, doing administration, instead being the brilliant criminalist he really was. After what seemed like hours, his pager went off.

Their eyes met - his sparkling with anticipation, hers questioning.

"We've got a dead body"

"Alright!" They both stood up at the same time and walked briskly to the parking lot.

* * *

Sara looked down at the victim sadly. There was so much blood. She got the camera ready. Somebody slashed his face up pretty bad. Two full body shots. The skin on his face was so lacerated - it was almost removed altogether. Three close ups of the face. Like somebody wanted to take his identity. A shot of defence wounds on the wrist. "To make him disappear," she said quietly. Her face set in determination, as she examined the scene and collected evidence.

"What was that?" Grissom's voice came from behind her.

"He was dumped here," she stated. When Grissom watched her intently, waiting for explanation, she continued. "His upper class business suit-" she indicated in the direction of the ripped pieces of what was once an expensive suit "-he didn't belong in this bad neighbourhood."

"Yeah, and there's also not nearly enough blood on the pavement to suggest he was killed here," Grissom added.

"Such a hate crime takes privacy," she looked down the road, "Anyone walking down this street would have seen it."

"What makes you think this was a hate crime?"

"Such violence is unusual in hit and run cases…I bet he knew the killer, if only briefly…"

"Unusual isn't impossible-"

"Yeah, we don't rule anything out," Sara repeated the same old line.

"But in this case…" Grissom's eyes suddenly got drawn to something on the body and she followed his gaze. He picked up a pair of tweezers and pulled a small piece of fabric free from where it was caught on the man's belt buckle. He held it up for further comparison and then brought it to his nose and took a sniff. "Perfume" Their eyes locked.

* * *

The case wrapped up, Grissom sat at his desk, supporting his head in his palms. He could feel a headache start. If he didn't try to relax right now, it might progress into a migraine. He dreaded the pain on top of everything else.

It had been so utterly easy to work with Sara again. It was almost as if they worked together everyday for the last three years. When he worked with her, he could almost forget what it's like to work with anyone else. He knew he would need to do something about 'this' soon, but everything in his power would be done to prolong that time a little more. Just a little longer to sort things out. Why was everything about her so confusing?

'Just think about 'this' as an experiment, Gil' Alright. Question: what would she do if he asked her to have breakfast? Possible responses: "No", "I'm busy", "Sure". Prediction: -

"Hey, you still working?"

Great timing. A grin threatened to appear, but he kept it skilfully hidden. "I was just finishing." Better look at the desk, or you'll lose your objective. How shall he ask?

"You… uh…wanna get something to eat?" she asked, looking straight at him. The urge to grin was stronger. She was two steps ahead of him. Just when she was about to reassure him it was not a date, he spoke.

"Yeah," he paused, "you know a place?" That's it – keep it casual.

She smiled at him then. It was infectious. Surely all too good to be real.

*        *         *         *         *

More soon… subject to that muse of course! – JM:)