Thanks to everyone who is still reading and huge thanks to Marlou as always

 Grissom held onto Sara until her shaking had subsided to slowly die away. In all the time he had known her, he couldn't remember an instance where she openly bared her soul to anyone, that in itself caused more worry to seep into his heart. Gliding his hands down her back, he pulled her closer into his chest. "Feel better?" he whispered.

Sara closed her eyes tightly against the protective warmth of his arms. Taking a deep breath, she slowly began to disentangle herself from his embrace. "Sorry," she said softly bringing up a hand up to swipe the tears away from her eyes.

"Hey, nothing to be sorry about," he chided, bringing his hands back up her arms all the way to her shoulders and then her neck, to finally cup her face between his palms. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No," she told him quickly, backing away from his touch abruptly. "We should really get back inside."

"Sara?" he started, aching to reach for her again, but she stood still, her sad eyes puncturing his soul. He wanted to give her so much right at this moment, but he knew that to push her would be to lose her, and losing her was a risk he wasn't prepared to take. Reaching out a hand, he slipped his arms quickly around her shoulders, guiding her in front of him so they could both return to the lab.

"Please don't say anything?" Her voice cracked under the intense pressure inside her chest. She had let her guard slip down before his eyes and as a result conveyed her weaknesses. After everything that had happened, or not happened between them, it was laid bare for all to see and right now Sara felt raw and exposed.

Grissom watched her silently as they walked, her words causing his heart to ache for her again. "Sara, no matter what you may think of me, do you really think that I would betray you so easily?" he asked softly.

"I don't know any more Grissom," she told him honestly as she chanced a glimpse into his solemn face, "I'd like to think you wouldn't."

Stopping in mid stride, he reached out to still her movements, bringing her around to face him. "I would never betray your trust Sara."

"But you already did," she whispered quietly, avoiding his eyes as she spoke. "You told Catherine that I asked you out. You may think it was hysterically funny, and maybe you both had a laugh at my expense, but from where I'm standing it damn well hurts."

Grissom stared open mouthed as she pulled her shoulder from his touch and turned around to trudge heavily back towards the lab, leaving him alone to stare after her in silence.

As she entered the lab once again, Sara made a beeline for the washroom. She needed to regain her composure and swallow back the aching misery that had held onto her with such force that she had to fight to breathe. What was happening to her? The long distant past that she had fought so desperately to bury only came back to haunt her time and time again. Why couldn't she just get over this and move on? Reaching down to the sink, she turned on the tap to release the cold water that she hoped would hide the evidence of tears from her face. Strength is what she needed, strength and support, something she doubted she would receive from anyone here. Splashing water over her face, she stood for a second to gaze at her own reflection in the mirror. Water dripped from her chin down onto her clothes, the water droplets making dark round patches on her shirt. Closing her eyes again against the memories that haunted her, she decided right there and then that this would all soon be over, one way or another. She just wasn't sure if she was prepared for the outcome. Soon everyone would know and then she would be under scrutinized stares and whispered gossip. Could she survive this again? Taking a deep breath, she grabbed a paper towel and dried her face. It was time to uncover the past and slay her demons once and for all and to do that she would have to tell the truth.

Grissom stood beside Doc Robbins while he pointed out more observations on the young woman's body. "You see here?" he asked, pointing to a small cut just below her left breast. "This was made by some kind of blunt instrument, possible a curved knife."

"It's a butter knife," Sara announced as she came back into the room, fully composed and ready to face her demons head on. "The previous women were tortured before being killed." Coming further into the room, she glanced briefly towards Grissom, offering him a small smile before carrying on. "With your permission I'd like to call my friend and partner and inform him of the investigation, he worked the murders with me back in San Francisco."

"If you think it will help in any way," Grissom nodded, "yes of course."

"Thanks," she nodded, and turned around to leave the room.

"Gil is everything alright?" Al Robbins asked suddenly, causing Grissom to turn around and face him. "You both seem distracted."

"Everything's fine," Grissom nodded, indicating that this topic of conversation was over. "I'll be in Trace if you need me."

Doc Robbins watched him carefully as he left the room before turning back to the body on his table. With a heavy sigh, he returned to his task of further examination.

Later that night, Sara came into the break room for another cup of coffee only to find Catherine sitting at the table with her head in her hands. Watching her silently for a few seconds, Sara was torn between staying in the room, or to turn around and leave. Catherine and herself hadn't been getting along so well over the last week or so, and the last thing she wanted was another confrontation. Backing away quietly, she turned around to exit the room.

"Sara," Catherine called her name, halting her tracks. Turning around slowly, Sara stepped slowly back into the room. She knew that she could never be good friends with the blonde woman who now fixed her with her steely gaze, but Sara had always hoped they could have a professional working friendship.

"Grissom told me about your case and thought I might be able to help."

"Oh," Sara nodded, "well it's always good to have another set of eyes. At the moment we still don't have an identity."

"Well, as of now I'm heading the investigation," Catherine told her, standing up as she spoke. "So why don't you see if you can find…"

"Excuse me?" Sara asked quickly.

Before Catherine could respond, a tall dark haired man stepped into the doorway followed closely by Grissom. "Harvey?" he spoke softly.

Sara jumped visibly when she heard his voice and spun around in shock, which quickly turned to jubilation. "Mark," she gasped, a huge beaming smile forming on her face as she launched herself into his arms. "It's so good to see you," she told him as she released him to hold onto his hands. From his place behind, Grissom looked on with shocked awareness that quickly grew into a resounding bout of jealousy that which he hadn't felt in a long time. Watching carefully, he took a step closer, his eyes falling onto Catherine as she watched the pair with amusement.

"Oh it's good to see you too," Mark grinned, pulling her to him for another hug. "It's been too long."

"I know. I never seem to have any time to myself." Moving back from him again, she cast her worried eyes up towards his again. "I don't know what to do anymore Mark."

"It can't be the same man Harvey, you're just spooked, that's all." Lifting one of his hands, he rubbed his fingers through her hair gently.

"But what if it is?" she asked, "What if we put away the wrong man?"

"Sweetie, Alan Wilson's DNA was all over the last victim and he had strong links with the other three girls. You of all people know what he was capable of."

"I know," she groaned miserably, as she stepped into his embrace once more, seeking his warmth. "I see his face every time."

"Did you watch his execution?" Catherine asked suddenly, her cold voice causing the other three occupants in the room to look at her. Holding out her hand towards Mark, she offered him a cool smile, "Catherine Willows."

"Mark Burrows," he nodded as he gave her hand a slight shake, "and I went to witness the execution."

"Not Sara?" Catherine asked again, her eyes trained on the dark haired woman.

Pulling away from Mark, Sara turned towards Catherine and took a deep breath. "What do you want from me Catherine?"

"I want you to stop being overly emotional on these cases and get on with your job."

"Catherine.." Grissom interrupted, stepping further into the room to stand between Sara and Catherine.

"You're too lenient Gil," she told him, "I don't expect my authority to be questioned by a subordinate."

"Your authority?" Sara asked quickly as she glanced between both Catherine and Grissom. Realization slowly dawned on her and she fixed Grissom with accusations in her dark eyes. "You told her didn't you?"

"Sara…"

"No I knew you would," she told him, her anger growing steadily as she started to unbutton her shirt. "So Catherine, I'm too involved with Rape cases?" Her voice echoed around the room as it grew in pitch and volume, her anger bringing attention from other members of the lab who had stopped to look in on the two women as they glared at each other angrily.

"It's unprofessional, you are supposed to be the victims last voice, not be someone who wallows in pity" Catherine retorted.

"Pity?" Sara hissed, taking a step closer, "Is that what you think is going on here?"

"Well isn't it? Or are you just trying to get attention?"

"Catherine," Grissom warned worriedly as the tension rose in the room.

"No it's okay Grissom," Sara told him coldly, "you two tell each other everything don't you? So I suppose you've told her about my little breakdown too huh?"

"No, I…" Grissom turned towards her worriedly. Things had been growing steadily worse between the two women over the past few weeks, and he had hoped that they would sort out their differences. That hope quickly went down the drain as he watched the scene unfold in front of him.

Sara gasped back the sudden memory that hit her full force and brought a wave of tears along with it. Pulling the last button open on her shirt, she pulled it off of her shoulders angrily, her mind unregistering her state of undress. "Is this good enough for you Catherine?" she spat as she turned to bare her now faintly scarred back, which mirrored the other victim's, to the blonde woman, whose audible gasp echoed that of Grissom's. "Well is it?" When she heard no response, she threw her shirt back over her body and hurriedly fastened the buttons with shaking fingers.

"Sara?" Grissom's voice shook as he spoke, his need to comfort her outweighing every other emotion that cascaded over his heart.

"Save it," she told him, her voice quieter than before. Looking up towards her friend, she offered him a sad smile as she turned to flee from the room.

"And to think she left San Francisco for you," Mark told him, his voice humming in anger, "you backed her into a corner and now she's shown you the one thing that has haunted her for years. I hope you're proud of yourselves."

"I didn't know," Catherine whispered, her tear filled eyes flitting between Mark and Grissom. "I swear if I'd have known…"

"It's a little late for that now don't you think?" Mark told her coldly before turning towards Grissom. "I came here because Sara asked for my help. Looks like I arrived just in time doesn't it?"

"I assure you I would never do anything to hurt Sara," Grissom told him quickly, his voice betraying the aching pressure inside his heart. "Anything she may have told you is in the past."

"Look I'm here to work," Mark told him in resignation, "For some reason which I am still trying to understand, Sara holds you in high regard. I wouldn't be a good friend to her if I let my personal feelings control my actions."

"I'll go and find her," Catherine whispered, "I need to apologize." Pushing past Grissom, she walked through the door to go in search of the woman who didn't deserve to be on the receiving end of her bad mood.

Both men watched her retreating form before turning to eye each other suspiciously. "Why don't you show me the body?" Mark suggested, putting an end to the silence.

TBC