Grissom:

I wasn't sure where she would go. Where would she have gone, if she heard the confession of a lifetime, from a broken man?

I stumbled into my office, grabbed my car keys, and left.

The drive to her apartment only took a few minutes, but to me, it was hours.

I wondered what I could say to her.

What if what had been broken, couldn't be fixed? What if it was too late?

What if I didn't get a second chance?

I parked on the street, my mind still blank.

All that was there, was an image of her.

A solitary light blazed. She was home.

Now I had to find the courage to go to her.

As I sat in his car, the image of Debbie Marlin came to me, unbidden.

And my conversation with her killer.

"We wake up one day, and realize for fifty years we really haven't lived at all. But then all of the sudden, we get a second chance. Somebody young and beautiful shows up, somebody we could care about."

A second chance...

And suddenly, I had my courage.

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Sara

I stood in my bedroom, packing. After all of that, I told myself I was going back to San Francisco.

Why stay here, and endure the pain? If something hurts, fix it.

Leaving would be the solution.

Sure, they'd might miss me for a moment, but it'll be a momentary thing. I'll be very easily replaced.

After all, I was a transplant, a replacement for the late and lamented Holly Gribbs. I wiped at the tears that were now streaming down my face. I was...

A knock at my door.

Who the hell could it be, no one comes to my apartment. Hardly no one knows where I live.

Frustrated, tired, sad, and angry, I yank open my door without checking to see who it is.

Big mistake.

Because the reason for all of my troubles is standing there.

I blink, then furiously wipe at my face, "What are you doing here?"

He swallowed hard, those blue eyes which I so adored serious and intent, "I had to talk to you."

"Brass ratted me out, didn't he?"

"If you mean, he told me that you were behind the glass, yes."

I swore softly, "Go away Grissom."

He doesn't though, he comes closer. He catches a glimpse of my suitcases, and his gaze softens, "What are you doing Sara?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going home."

"You're already home."

I shook my head, my eyes filling up with tears again, damn him.

"Stop hurting me Grissom."

"I didn't mean to hurt you, ever. But I realize now that I did, and I'm sorry. But I don't anymore, but I don't want you to go."

The tears overfilled, and ran hot, down my cheeks.

"But I can't stay..." I whispered.

He stepped inside the apartment, and closed the door.

He touched my cheek, "I know I've been a stupid man, afraid of someone as sweet and beautiful as you...but I'm not afraid anymore Sara. It took the thought of losing you to realize that, dumb as it sounds, but it did."

He slowly wiped my tears away, "Sara, will you give a complete and total idiot a second chance?"

I stared at him steadily, even though I wanted to scream yes, "I don't know."

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Grissom:

For a moment, I almost did turn away, and did what she had earlier requested. To leave.

But the memory of my conversation with Debbie Marlin's killer drove me on, as strange as it seemed.

I crossed my arms, "I'm not leaving Sara, until you talk to me."

She glared at me, "How does it feel Grissom, to be other side this time? To want something with someone, but they throw it back in your face? You want it so badly, but know you that you aren't wanted? How does it feel?"

Her words felt like physical blows, but I didn't allow the pain to show on my face.

"You sound vindictive. It isn't part of your nature."

She brushed the hair from her eyes, but said nothing.

"I never meant to throw it in your face, Sara. And you were always wanted, and I just couldn't let myself show it."

She swallowed hard, and looked away.

"Always wanted," I repeated, "Why do you think I called you in from San Francisco? I could've easily gotten someone from Las Vegas, but I wanted you."

Still, she was silent.

"But I was a coward, and I wouldn't admit it. Couldn't admit it. But I'm going to now, and I don't care who knows. I love you Sara."

Those beautiful brown eyes of hers widened, and she stared at me, "What did you just say?"

"I love you."

Her mouth opened, then closed. She was speechless.

******************************************************************************

Sara:

I wanted to say something, anything. But the words wouldn't come. They stuck, halfway in my throat.

Grissom was studying me intently.

"That isn't easy to hear Grissom." I finally managed.

"Why?"

"After all of this time, you finally want a relationship? How can I be sure that you won't back out?"

He grasped my hand, "Do I look like I'll back out?"

No he didn't. He looked like he was here to stay.

I swallowed again. I think about it for a long moment.

"Okay. I'll stay. But this doesn't mean we have an instant relationship...but it does mean I'll give you another chance."

"That's all I was asking for. I didn't expect you to trust me all at once. That's not the Sara I fell in love with."

There was that word again. Love. So strange, and foreign. To both me and Grissom.

He grasped me by the shoulders, and displaying a degree of gentleness and passion I never thought he had, he kissed me, long and deep.

I thought I'd melt on the spot.

"You want to talk...you know where I am. Or call me, and I'll be over." he said, still not taking his eyes off me.

I nodded, "Okay. I have to have some time...to think things over."

"Of course. But I'll be waiting. And that's a promise." And then he turned, and left.

I shut the door, and leaned my head against it.

Just when I thought I had to run away, Grissom stepped in, and wants what I always dreamed of.

A relationship.

It's the butterfly effect. A relationship with Gil Grissom after all this time is like chaos theory, madness, for hell's sake. But if so, why the warm feeling spreading throughout my body?

I go to my window, and watch him drive away.

"Goodnight Grissom…and I love you too." I say to the empty apartment.

******************************************************************************

Grissom:

I wanted to slump in relief, but I wouldn't allow myself too, until I reached the refuge of my car.

She was giving me a second chance. That beautiful, talented, woman that I loved was giving me another shot at this thing called a relationship.

It would probably be rocky, and it might not survive, but at least we could try. At least she wasn't going back to San Francisco.

I smile as I drive away from her apartment, maybe everything would turn out okay after all.

We'd just have to wait and see...it might take awhile, weeks, months, maybe even a year.

But she was definitely worth waiting for.