Thanks again for all of the reviews, and to Marlou for beta-ing

Warrick looked up from the file he was reading when she came back into the room. Offering her a smile, he motioned for her to come and sit back down next to him. "I think I may have found something."

"What?" she gasped, "You have?"

"Well it could be nothing so don't get too excited yet." Opening the file on the desk he started to read some of the details aloud, coaxing Catherine closer with his words as she lowered her body into the seat beside him.

"Richard James, arrested for armed robbery on July 18th 1999. He was remanded in custody pending investigation into the death of his brother, who was found dead execution style, bullet wound to the head."

"Yeah I remember that case," she sighed, "At the time he was always the prime suspect for the murder but he killed himself in prison." Looking down closer towards the file on the desk, she started to read some of the other details. Remembrance of the actual arrest visualized inside her mind. The blood, the screams, the sobbing child. "Wait a minute, he had a son didn't he?"

"Um…" Warrick hummed as he read down the file. "Yeah, Robert, then aged 12, so he would be what..16 now?"

"Yeah, I remember his eyes War," she shuddered, "His eyes were so cold and he looked at me with such hatred in his eyes."

"Well it says here, Richard James was pronounced dead on August 3rd 1999 at 1a.m." Looking up quickly, his eyes met with hers to register the same recognition.

"What time was the explosion?" she asked quickly, "Do we know?"

"Uh, rough guess.." Thinking back inside his mind, he tried to remember the time. "Lindsey woke up a little while after you and Griss left for that homicide which was what…12.30?"

"Yeah I guess so."

"If I had to guess, I'd put time around 1a.m., which means…"

"Which means we have a lead," she gasped, grabbing hold of his hand to squeeze his fingers. "You coming?"

"Where to? Cath, this could be nothing."

"And it could be everything, come on War."

Warrick watched her excitement, and felt a grin begin to tug at his lips. Picking up the file, he stood up to follow her out of the room where they came face to face with Cavallo.

"I just got the initial report back from the investigation team. The main impact of the explosion started inside the break room, which in turn destroyed the surrounding areas." Rubbing his hand over his eyes tiredly, he stood back a little to let them pass. "Has Grissom come in yet?"

Catherine and Warrick exchanged glances before Catherine spoke up quickly, "He'll be in tomorrow, he..um..he felt he couldn't leave his team until he knew they were off the critical list."

"Critical list?" Cavallo asked in surprise, "I was under the impression that they both escaped with minor injuries."

"MINOR?" Catherine growled, her first instincts wanting to rip his throat out, but Warrick's calming tone pulled her back.

"Nick lost a lot of blood," he started, his calm voice rising in pitch and volume, " I hate to think what could have happened if he hadn't been pulled out in time, he was still cut up pretty bad. And Sara? Man, do you read any of your reports?"

Cavallo opened his mouth to speak, ready to reprimand the man before him, but Warrick's strained voice cut him off before he could speak. "Sara is lucky to be alive at all, another hour and she would have died. I helped pull her out of the rubble and she was battered and bloody, so don't you tell me to call my supervisor and get him to come back here to this place when it damn well nearly killed the people he cares about." Taking a breath, he turned away from the man before him, disgust reigning in his eyes. "We've got work to do."

Wordlessly, Catherine followed him, her heart pumping wildly inside her chest. Reaching out a hand, she pulled him back, stopping his angry strides. "Hey you okay?"

"I'm mad," he growled, anger flashing in his eyes. "That bastard doesn't give a rats ass about his people, all he sees us as are little numbers on his pay roll."

"I know Warrick," she sighed, "believe me I know exactly what you're talking about, but don't let him bring you down okay?"

"I…" he sighed angrily, turning his eyes away from hers while he swallowed his frustration. "I'm sorry Cath, but that guy makes me so mad."

"Forget him," she smiled, stepping forward to close her hand around his wrist, "we could really be onto something with this." Lifting the folder in her hands, she waved it before him, "Are you with me on it?"

"Yeah," he nodded, the anger leaving his eyes when he turned towards her. Offering her a reassuring smile, he let her lead him towards the outer building.

Sara opened her eyes to an intense ache inside her lower body. Gasping a breath, she looked around to search for Grissom, her need for him right now becoming more overwhelming than anything she had ever felt before.

Moving her hand, she probed along the bed in search of his warmth, at the same time afraid to move even slightly because of the searing pain she was in.

"Griss?" she whispered hoarsely when she came into contact with his fingers. He didn't move with her touch, so she tried again, "Grissom."

Snapping his head up, he looked around disorientated at first, until he realized where he was. Blinking back the tiredness in his eyes, he shuffled closer towards her bed. "Hey," he smiled, "how are you feeling?"

"My leg hurts," she whispered softly, gasping back the sob that threatened to escape her throat. "Talk to me," she smiled through the wave of pain, pushing it towards the far reaches of her mind, "please?"

"Honey let me call the nurse okay?" he asked softly, "You may need more pain meds."

Nodding slowly, she released his fingers, allowing him to retreat from her touch. Closing her eyes against the loss of his warmth, she found herself wishing he would stay with her, that this tenderness he was now showing towards her wouldn't die away when he came to his senses. She knew he was dangerous, that he had an immense power over her life and maybe sometimes and perhaps occasionally he used that power against her. Tears stung her eyes and she pushed the thoughts away, intent on enjoying his closeness while he gave it so freely.

Grissom came back into the room to return to his place by her side. Reaching for her hand, he cradled it against his chest, "The nurse is on her way."

"Okay," she nodded, trying to hide the tears in her eyes. She threaded her fingers through his, tightening her hold to increase their closeness. She would deal with his inevitable separation when it happened.

Squeezing her hand gently, Grissom urged her to turn her eyes towards him. "What do you want to talk about?"

Another wave of pain ripped through her body and she grasped his hand tighter, his knuckles turning white under the pressure. Shuffling in a little closer to her, he lifted his free hand to comb his fingers through her hair. "It's all right," he whispered as he lulled her with his gentle strokes, soothing her until the pain subsided.

" Thank you," she whispered brokenly, her eyes closing to hide the tears that threatened to fall down her cheeks. Images descended on her mind, bringing her rubble filled tomb back to her with choking accuracy. She could almost taste the imaginary dust that threatened to engulf her, its overwhelming power causing her to choke back the breath she was holding.

"Sara?" Grissom asked, the worry in his voice causing her to turn her eyes towards him. He held his breath when he saw her pain and in that one moment he knew he would move heaven and earth to help her. Standing up from the chair, he perched up onto the side of her bed, careful not to dip the mattress enough to cause her any more pain. "Tell me what I can do."

Closing her eyes, she fought against the pooling emotions that threatened to engulf her heart. They pulled her down, back into her dark and dusty prison, staking their claim on her soul. She could feel herself falling, further and further away until she heard Grissom's soft voice calling her name.

"Sara?" he spoke softly, leaning down towards her so he was close enough to feel her breath on his face, "Honey I'm here, I won't leave you."

"I…Griss.." her voice caught inside her throat as a single tear escaped to roll down her cheek. "I'm scared."

"I'm here," he whispered through the intense emotions rising inside his heart. "For as long as you need me, I'll be here for you."

"Then don't leave me?"

Grissom's heart almost melted, her words breaching his already crumbling walls, allowing his emotions to overflow from his heart. Shaking his head slowly, he leaned down further, lifting her shoulders slightly so he could encircle her tenderly with his arms. His need to feel her closeness fueled his emotions, as he willingly gave himself to her for as long as she would need him.  Seeking his comfort, Sara buried her face into his neck. Tightening her arms around him, she pulled him closer, drawing strength from his embrace and his love that he so willingly offered.

TBC……….