Huge Thanks for all of your reviews, you guys are great…

"Mr. Clark," Grissom started, keeping his voice leveled as he spoke. "I have here some fibers from the victim." Placing the sealed evidence bag onto the table, he turned his eyes toward Sara briefly before continuing. "I also have the DNA results from the victim. The semen found in and on her body is a perfect match to yours."

"I have no idea how that got there," Clark told them, his eyes trained on Sara's while hiding behind a smirk as he spoke.

"How it got there?" Sara started, her anger rising inside her eyes as she turned on him. Beside her, Grissom reached for her arm, touching her elbow briefly, his intention to calm her. Taking a breath, she closed her eyes briefly before continuing… this time relatively calmer than before. "Tell me something?" she asked, directing her words towards the suspect. "Why her?"

"My client doesn't have to answer that question," his lawyer answered.

"Well I'd just like to know," Sara answered with an acid sweet smile, "You know, just for me."

"As I said, my client…"

"You're feisty, I like that," Clark answered; forgetting momentarily that his innocent mask had slipped from his face. Leaning forward across the table, his hands clasped loosely together, he eyed Sara carefully, grinning as he spoke. "She was feisty too."

 Beside him his lawyer leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his hand over his eyes. "For the record I want it noted that I did not council my client to say anything that might implicate his guilt."

"Duly noted," Brass nodded. "Arrest him," he told the officer beside him, "Get him out of here."

"I would have liked you," Clark grinned, directing his gaze at Sara as he was pulled to his feet. "Would you scream like she did? Would you beg and plead for your life?"

Sara watched stunned, unable to draw away from the snare of his eyes. She could feel her entire body starting to tremble inside her. She recognized the look in those eyes. They bore a resemblance to the menacing cold stare of so long ago, ice cold and emotionless, eyes that still haunted her dreams.

Clark licked his lips suggestively, causing her to take a step forward, her anger fuelling her actions. Beside her, Grissom moved in front of her, shielding her body from the evil…. that tried to claim her emotions. "Get him out of here Jim," he growled angrily.

Clark looked behind him as the officers moved him through the doors, a slight smile still lingering on his lips. When he was out of sight, Grissom turned around to chance a look at the woman behind him. "Hey, you okay?"

"Fine," she whispered, avoiding his eyes. Her heart was racing inside her chest and she tried desperately to keep the nausea from rising up inside her throat. Her own personal nightmare had happened over 17 years ago. Today's events only proved to her that the wounds were still very raw. "I…" she started, her pulse thumping inside her ears, "Excuse me…"

Both Grissom and Brass watched her as she rushed from the room with lightning speed, hand over her mouth. "What was all that about?" Brass asked worriedly.

"I don't know," Grissom replied, his own heart screaming at him to follow her, "I'll catalogue this evidence and then I'll talk to her."

"She's a damn good CSI," Brass nodded sadly as he walked towards the door, turning back slowly before offering Grissom a smile, "You know I'm not one to interfere Gil, but I think that maybe you need to open your eyes."

"Meaning?" Grissom asked cautiously.

"I'm just observing," Brass nodded. "I saw her reaction today with the victim's parents. She was holding her own, but there was still something there." Leaning back on the door he rubbed a tired hand over his face, "I'm only telling you because you and her seem close."

"Thanks," Grissom nodded, gathering the bagged evidence from the table before stepping over to join him. "I'll talk to her."

Brass sighed heavily as he moved away from the doorway and walked down the corridor. Grissom's feelings were in complete turmoil as he reached up to click off the light. Something was wrong with Sara, something that she had hidden so well that no one, not even himself, would have ever guessed. He'd had his own suspicions of course, but maybe he was just too afraid to acknowledge what may have caused her to react in the way she did. Stepping out into the hallway, he went in search of Sara, hoping he could help her deal with the aftermath of this case.

Sara stared at her reflection in the washroom mirror. She gasped at the woman staring back at her. Was this really her? When had the dark shadows appeared beneath her eyes? When had her skin turned so pale? Turning on the cold tap, she bent down to splash some of the cool droplets onto her face to bring her completely awake. Her dreams may haunt her when she was dragged down into slumber, but she had always vowed she would never let them cross into her waking world. Taking a deep cleansing breath, she allowed her tough mask to fall once again over her eyes and stepped defiantly over towards the door. Pulling it open, she held her head high as she exited the room, determined to prove to herself and to everyone else that she was fully capable of controlling her emotions.

Making her way over towards the break room, she caught sight of Nick coming towards her carrying a can of soda. "Hey," he grinned, obviously pleased to see her.

"Hi Nick," she nodded, unconsciously holding her breath for his comments on her unprofessional actions, but none came.

"You okay?" he asked worriedly, "You don't look too good."

"I'm fine," she told him, releasing the breath she was holding before smiling reassuringly.

"You sure?"

"I'm good," she told him, rewarding him with her full Sara smile. "I have to go."

"Okay," he nodded, grinning back his own answer to her charms, "later."

Walking past him, Sara continued on, intending to take a slight detour to the exit to take a refreshing breath of the cool early morning air. With her destination in sight, she marched purposely forward until she was met with the sad eyes of Livvie Jones.

"Oh," she almost gasped, "you're here." Looking down at her watch, Sara looked back up into Mrs. Jones' eyes, "Did I miss your call? I'm sorry, I was…"

"No," Livvie told her tearfully, "I wanted to see Laura, I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay," Sara told her gently, moving closer to touch her arm, "Listen why don't you just wait here for me for a few minutes and I'll see if it's okay for you to see her yet."

"Thank you," Livvie nodded thankfully, reaching out to hold onto her with desperate hands.

Somewhere behind Sara, Grissom spotted her. Quickening his pace he walked up to stand beside her, "Sara could I have a word with you?"

Sara broke her eyes away from the woman before her and looked over at him. "Grissom," she whispered gratefully, her relief to see him pouring over into her eyes. "This is Mrs. Jones, Laura's mother."

Grissom was just about to ask 'Laura', when he suddenly realized and stepped forward to offer her his hand. "Mrs. Jones, I am so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," she nodded sadly, her eyes scanning over his features before she offered him a small smile.

"Grissom, Livvie wants to see Laura, do you think you could arrange that for her?" Sara watched him with silent communication, hoping that he would understand her wordless request.

"Of course," he smiled, reaching out to give her elbow a gentle squeeze before releasing her it to walk back into the direction he had came.

"He seems like a nice man," Livvie told her quietly.

"Who Grissom?" Sara asked with a smile as she looked over her shoulder to watch his retreating form. "Yeah, yeah he is." Turning back, Sara squeezed Livvie's hand reassuringly, "Where's your husband?"

"Oh, he's outside," she whispered quietly, "he needed to finish his cigarette."

"Oh okay," Sara nodded sadly, her whole body protesting its tiredness as she pushed the fatigue away. "You want to sit down for a while?"

"No," Livvie shook her head quickly, "thank you, I've been sitting down for too long."

"It shouldn't be much longer now," Sara told her softly, "Would you like some coffee or something?"

"You're such a sweet girl," Livvie told her, a grateful smile reaching her lips. "I just wish I could wake up."

For a moment Sara looked into her eyes slightly confused until she realized the meaning of Livvie's words. "I know that feeling," she sighed, "I wish I could do something to help you."

"You have helped," a voice spoke from behind them. Both women turned to see Fred Jones coming in through the doors to join his wife.

"Mr. Jones," Sara nodded, pulling her hand away from Livvie's to touch his arm gently, "how are you coping sir?"

"Oh my dear," he smiled, patting her hand on his arm, "the last time I was called Sir was a very long time ago. Call me Fred."

"Okay, Fred," she smiled, nodding.

Sara could feel Grissom's presence before she actually saw him. Turning around slowly, she met his eyes as he approached her. His concern touched her deeply and for a heartbeat she would have willingly drowned in his eyes. Turning away from him, she clasped Livvie's hand in hers, "Are you ready?"

Turning to her husband, Livvie reached out to him with her free hand, "Freddie," she whispered tearfully.

"It's alright Liv," he nodded, taking her hand protectively in his. Sara released Livvie's hand and stood slightly away from them as she urged them towards Grissom.

"Mr. and Mrs. Jones," he nodded respectably, "if you would like to follow me."

"Wait," Livvie said quickly, turning to face Sara, "you're coming too aren't you?"

"Of course," Sara nodded, pushing a smile to her lips. "I'll be right with you."

"Thank you," Livvie nodded, and started walking again. Grissom fell into step with the elder couple that were clinging to each other with every step that took them closer to their daughter. Casting a backwards glance, Grissom offered Sara a reassuring smile, one which offered her his support for as long as she needed.

Coming to a stop outside of the morgue, Grissom stepped aside to open the door for them. He caught Sara's arm before she could follow them inside. His gentle touch startled her for a second. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he whispered.

"They need me," she nodded, her hand coming up to his hand on her arm to squeeze his fingers in reassurance.

"If it gets too much I want you out of there?"

"I'll be fine," she smiled, "you don't have to stay."

"I know," he nodded, "but I want to." Taking a breath, he tried to cover up his affection with another sentence that only punctuated the first, pulling him deeper into her eyes. "I'll be right outside okay?"

"Sure," she smiled, watching his eyes with some simmering feelings of her own. "Thanks Grissom."

Releasing her hand, he stepped back to watch her enter the morgue. The closing door provided the boundary he needed to calm his soaring heart rate that shot through his senses whenever he was near her. Since his absence from the lab she had been on his mind every second of every day. He was acutely aware of his growing feelings for her, and his time away had only increased his aching need to see her. Stepping forward, he peered through the small glass window that provided a shard of light highlighting the two grieving parents. His eyes drifted over towards Sara who stood a little away from them, her arms wrapped around her waist as she struggled for control.

For a moment he fought with the urge to go to her. He knew she had to prove to everyone that she could do this, so with a heavy sigh, he backed away from the door to lean up against the wall. She needed his support as much as his trust, and he was going to make sure she knew that she had both, and more, for as long as she wanted.

Tbc………