Chapter Two- Love Never Dies

They climbed into the Tahoe, Grissom driving. At first, Sara didn't think he was going to say

anything. He just stared at the road, his whole body tense.

Finally he parked, and he said, "I used to be married."

Sara turned in her seat, mouth agape.

Grissom caught the expression, and smiled wryly, although there was pain there.

"You look shocked Sara. Anyway, you're the first person to know. No one else does... Not Catherine, Brass, Warrick, anyone. Anyway, her name was Monica. Monica Nichols. We were only twenty-two when we were married. Kids, but we really loved each other. We were living in California at the time."

Grissom rubbed at his forehead, "A year and a half later, we found out Monica was pregnant. I was so happy. I had always wanted to be a father, and it looked like my dreams were coming true. Nine months later, our beautiful daughter Jessica was born. I had never been happier in my entire life, and for six years, we had the perfect family..." he trailed off, and stared into space.

Sara caught her breath.

"One night, while I was at work, I was working for the LAPD Crime Lab back then, a rookie, someone broke into my house, and kidnapped my daughter. My innocent little six-year-old Jessica. Someone stole her from Monica and me. The cops couldn't find anything, we never got a ransom note. Monica and I divorced six months later... and Jessie was never found."

Grissom finished this trying hard to keep the emotion from his voice, but failing desperately.

Sara wiped the tears that had rolled down her cheeks, "Oh god Grissom. I'm so sorry."

He swallowed, and shook his head. Tipped her chin up, "Hey, why are you crying?"

"Because...life sucks." she managed.

He nodded in agreement.

"But my love for Jessie never died. Even if the bastard that took her did... kill her, she'll always be with me, even if it hurts so bad. And my way of fixing it is helping other people try to find their children before it's too late." Grissom stared out the window again.

Sara smiled at him, "That's very sweet Gil Grissom."

"Yeah? And all this time you thought I was a emotionless robot." he said jokingly.

But she did feel bad that time she said he had no emotions. Her temper had gotten the better of her that day...

"I'm sorry I said that." she said abruptly.

He frowned, "Said what?"

She fidgeted, "You know, that one time. After you reprimanded me for getting too close to the victims? And I said I wish I could be like you and have no feelings? I'm sorry, I was angry, and stupid. I'm sorry."

"That was forgotten a long time ago Sara...but did you know I envied you sometimes?"

She stared at him, incredulous, "Envied me?"

"The way you empathize with the victims, how effortlessly you do it... in a way I never can. We both can solve the crime, bring peace of mind back to their family... but only you can give them that empathy."

Sara smiled, touched. She reached out, and tentatively ran a hand down his face, watching as his eyes lit up in surprise and... what? Satisfaction.

"Looks like you're doing a pretty good job to me." she murmured.

He caught one of her hands, and grasped the other gently at the wrists, and pulled her forward.

Her dark eyes peered at him with a mixture of wonder, curiosity, want, and love.

Her lips grazed his, hesitantly at first, then harder, rougher.

Grissom had released his grip on her wrists, and his began to roam. Hers did the same, almost of their own accord.

When the kiss finally ended, Sara stared at him, slumping a little into the passenger seat, "Uh, wow."

Grissom appeared slightly stupefied, "Well, I'd say thanks, but there was definitely lot of effort on your part."

They both were still, both breathing hard.

"We should get back to HQ." Sara said.

"Yeah. See if there's been any word on Madison." Grissom nodded, and started the Tahoe.

"Your hair's messed up...sorry." Sara finally blurted out. She had ran her fingers through it.

He gave it a glance in the mirror, and winced.

"Hold on. I think I have a comb in my bag." Sara said, and began to dig, "Ah hah. Found it."

Grissom pulled over, and went to work on fixing his mussed hair.

"Okay, you're good to go." Sara grinned.

He handed back the brush, and she put it back in the bag. Grissom resumed driving, and in a few minutes, they were at CSI HQ.