Sara looked up at Grissom. "I'm…" she whispered, her eyes never leaving his. "I'm sorry," she said, taking a step back from him.

Grissom regained his composure, and warily ran a hand over his face. "I'm sorry too," he apologised. "I didn't mean ..."

"I know, Grissom. Don't worry about it," Sara finished for him.

"Let's get you home," he said, taking hold of her elbow and steering her out of his office. They slowly walked to his Tahoe and Grissom opened the door for her. They locked eyes for a few seconds, before Sara got in and Grissom followed suit.

The ride home was spent in an uncomfortable silence, neither of them really knowing what to say. Sara sat staring out of the window, occasionally stealing glances at Grissom from the corner of her eye. He was concentrating hard on the road and the muscles in his jaw were set tight.

Grissom parked his SUV in front of Sara's apartment building. He slowly unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to look at her. She sat motionless in her seat, tentatively biting on her lower lip. "Sara," Grissom put his hand on her arm, gently rousing her from her reverie.

"Sorry," she mumbled, "I was thinking," she turned to meet his gaze and his eyes bored into hers intently, their sparkling depths holding something unexplainable.

"Are you okay?" he asked concerned.

"I'm fine," she said softly, reaching for the door handle. In her hurry, she forgot to unbuckle her seatbelt. As she reached back to undo it, her hand collided with Grissom's. She shuddered at the sudden contact; a single touch from the man that been holding her heart for so long, set her whole body on fire.

Grissom looked up from their hands to meet her eyes. Her expression was one of confusion and Grissom smiled reassuringly at her. He turned his hand and laced his fingers through hers, gently caressing the back of her hand with his thumb. He put his other hand on her cheek and traced the outline of her face.

"Grissom," Sara whispered hesitantly. "Do you want to come in for coffee?"

Grissom swallowed the lump in his throat and chuckled nervously. "I don't think that's such a good idea," he reasoned in a hushed tone.

"Things are changing, aren't they?" she questioned him.

"Yes," he replied honestly.

"Are you scared?" she intensified the hold on his hand.

"Immensely," he replied, surprisingly relaxed. "The question is, what are we going to do about it?" he asked.

"I don't know anymore," she replied honestly.

"This thing isn't going away by itself," he reasoned matter-of-factly. "And I still don't know what to do about it," he added quietly.

"You're trying Grissom, and I really appreciate it," she smiled as he dropped his hand from her cheek. "I guess we'll have to take things as they come," she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Night Gris," she said softly.

"Sweet dreams," he whispered, watching her as she left the car and entered her apartment. As he drove off, he wondered why life was meant to be so difficult sometimes, especially when it came to matters of the heart.

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

December 18th, 11.45 a.m.

Sara was just closing her suitcase when she heard a soft knock on the door. She left the suitcase on her bed, and walked to the door. After a quick look through the peephole, she let her visitor in.

"Morning sunshine," her extremely relaxed boss greeted her.

"You're in a good mood today," she opened the door wider and he followed her inside.

"I slept like a baby," he replied cheekily. "You look like you didn't sleep at all," he observed.

"I didn't," she grumbled, walking to her bedroom.

"Are you okay?" he leant against the doorframe casually, watching as she struggled with her oversized suitcase. "How long are you planning on staying?" he cocked his head in amusement.



"A boy scout is always prepared," she grunted, sitting on top of her case and trying to pull the zipper.

Grissom walked over to her bed. "Here, let me have a go," he offered.

Sara hopped off the case and stepped back. "Be my guest," she said, gesturing at the stubborn suitcase.

After a few minutes, she giggled. "Um…do you need a hand, Gris?" watching him fight with her suitcase.

"No, I'm fine," he shook his head and managed to the close enormous thing on the second attempt. "Tada," he announced, spreading his arms wide and grinning proudly.

"You're quite the man," Sara chuckled, making a move to pick up her suitcase.

"I've got it," he held his hand up to stop her and grabbed the handle of the suitcase. "You ready to go?" he asked, lifting the case from the bed. The weight almost tore his arm off and he gasped loudly. "What on earth did you put in there?" he groaned. "Bricks?" He followed her out of the room, cursing loudly with each step he took.

"Grissom?" she turned around to look at him.

"Yeah," he puffed, still fighting with her suitcase.

"You can put it down," she stopped in her tracks.

"Huh?" he mumbled.

"That thing," she pointed her finger to the bottom of the suitcase. "That thing has got wheels," she chuckled.

"Now you tell me," he scowled. "My arm has gone numb," he complained.

"Awww poor baby," she rubbed his arm gently, setting the sparks flying between them.

Grissom boldly met her gaze and smiled. He let go of the suitcase and stepped closer, taking her hands in his. "You confuse me, Sara," he said unexpectedly, letting go of her hands and wrapping his arms around her body.

"I confuse you?" she mumbled against his shoulder. "How so?" she asked as she raised her head to look at him.

"I don't know what to do with you," he shrugged nervously. "My feelings for you are so intense that they confuse me," he looked into her chocolate brown eyes. "I care a lot, Sara," he said in a highly emotional voice.

Sara just stared at him, her mouth hanging slightly open in surprise. "Are you gonna say something?" he asked. "Don't stare at me like I've suddenly grown a second head," he said, giving her a half smile.

"I'm shocked," Sara managed to mumble.

"I…" Grissom paused to gather his thoughts. "I didn't mean to," he mumbled incoherently, and took a step back from her.

"No Gris," Sara stopped him from retreating with a hand on his arm. "I wasn't rejecting you," she found her voice again. "Gris," she took a hesitant step closer to him and put her arms around him.

"I'm sorry I ever hurt you," he mumbled in to her hair. He pulled her closer to him, crushing her tiny frame against his strong, muscular body.

Sara inhaled his scent and smiled against his chest, gently playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. She was pleasantly surprised when he placed a light kiss on her temple.

Grissom stepped back from her and took one of her hands in his. "I promise that from now on, things will be better," he said honestly.

Sara gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Thank you," she whispered softly. "Thank you for putting your fears aside," she smiled.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," his voice catching in his throat. 'I think you're more than worth it,' he added mentally, still afraid to say it aloud. "Are you ready to go?" he asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be." She gasped in surprise as he grabbed her hand and pulled her after him, the suitcase in his other hand, occasionally colliding with his heels.

The short walk to the car was spent in awkward silence, Grissom not letting go of Sara's hand. "Gris?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes," he stopped and turned around to look at her.

"You do realize that we're walking hand in hand?" she asked with a raise of her eyebrows.

He shrugged. "Does it bother you?" he met her gaze.

"No," she smiled shyly. "I kinda like it."

"So do I," he answered softly. He turned back to his Tahoe and opened the passenger's door. Offering her his hand, he helped her inside.

"You're going all gentlemanly on me," she grinned.

"What? You don't like it?" he asked in mock surprise.

"You never seize to amaze me, Gil Grissom," she pulled his hand to her mouth and placed a tender kiss on his palm. "I love it when you hold my hand," she whispered shyly.

"Why thank you, my lady," he bowed his head and closed the door with a mischievous grin on his face. He put her suitcase in the trunk and joined her in the car. "You ready to go?" he turned to look at her.

"Yep, let's go bugman," she stared out of the window and smiled when she saw his reflection. He was gazing at her adoringly and he smiled when he caught her eyes. She turned to look at him and chuckled. " We're quite a pair," she grumbled in amusement.

"You can say that again," he agreed, leaning over to tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear, his hand lingering on her cheek longer than necessary.

She put her hand over his, holding it against her cheek, his warmth encompassing her. "What am I gonna do with you?" she smiled.

"You could always kiss me," he whispered bravely, leaning over the console to place a tender kiss near the corner of her mouth.

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