Grissom walked quietly, but not sneakingly, through Sara's apartment. He found his way through the lounge room to her bedroom. He knocked on the door. When there was no answer he felt it was safe to enter.

Sara was asleep curled up in her bed. Her face was squashed into her pillow. There was a bottle of sleeping pills beside on her bed side table. Grissom grabbed the half empty bottle and tried to work out how many someone would need to take for it to be dangerous. Before he could complete the mental arithmetic Sara shuffled in her sleep and repositioned her head on her pillow. Grissom froze, hoping he hadn't disturbed her. She seemed to shrug before falling back into deeper sleep.

Grissom put the bottle down carefully. He walked around to the other side of the bed where he could see her face more clearly. He couldn't think of any consequences as he kicked off his shoes and took off his belt so he could lie opposite her comfortably. The bed was firm, but comfortable and he could rest on his side watching her.

He stroked the hair back from her face where it was buried in her pillow. He could see her face, soft now she was sleeping and vulnerable without the even the minimum of make up she wore.

He smoothed her hair and tucked it behind her ear. He stroked her cheek lightly. He couldn't resist the sensation.

She woke. He knew when her breathing changed. He snatched his hand back. He would have moved away but she reached for him. One hand on his shoulder was enough to keep him there.

"Nick?" she asked. She sounded anxious.

Grissom could hardly breathe. His heart felt that it was in a vice. He could hear Sara's gargoyle, "You're not allowed in there," and see her fear when she had let him in.

"No, it's, it's Grissom," he managed.

He tried to pull away then. He couldn't stay.

"Grissom," Sara breathed.

She pulled him closer. She pulled herself closer to him. Grissom couldn't do anything as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his shoulder. He could feel her tears through his shirt.

Sara tried to stifle her sobs, to hold her tears in. She'd never cried for Nick. She'd woken up ready to cry but it was Grissom there and the river broke. He wouldn't ask why; she would have to lie.

Her breathing was ragged. She gasped breath in and choked out a broken sound.

"Shh, Sara, shh," he whispered a couple of times. "You don't need to cry."

Grissom realised that really it might be better for her to cry herself out. He stroked her hair, feeling it against his fingers, and concentrated on breathing steadily. Slowly her breathing quieted in time with his. Slowly she realised that she was in her apartment, in her bed with her arms around Grissom and she could feel his heart beat against her cheek. They breathed in an out together, their chests rising against each other in time. They were each very aware of where they were, of how close they were.

Thinking only to move away, Grissom kissed Sara gently on the top of her head. He could think off nothing else to do, no other way to welcome her back from the depths of her sorrow.

Sara understood, and without considering what she was doing, or why, she pressed her lips to his. It was a warm kiss, not desperate. She pulled away. Grissom let his breath out carefully. Sara smiled sweetly and kissed him lightly once more. He kissed her back gently. The kiss lingered.

Grissom didn't pull away. All he could feel was her lying against him. He kissed her again. She kissed him with all the passion and longing she felt for him. He responded. He ignored all the arguments he'd made; that she was too young, that he was too old, that he was her boss. They both forgot everything except that they were there, together.

Sara methodically unbuttoned his shirt. His hands wandered feverishly underneath her pyjama top. They explored each other's bodies meticulously. They lost themselves in each other through the afternoon. She kissed his neck warmly, savouring the taste of his skin. She ran her lips across his cheek to kiss him deeply.

Sara closed her eyes and breathed softly again. Grissom held her gently and watched her breath disturb the hair across her face. He realised with a start exactly who they were and what had happened. He realised that for him there was nothing to regret. But he couldn't pressure her if there was no more to it than her need for somebody just then.

"Sara…?" he prompted.

She murmured, "Mmm-Hmm" and snuggled closer to him.

Some how they would work this out. It would work out. With a flash of fear he thought that maybe she wanted him there because of what was happening. That it was a need for warmth. Until then he hadn't realised how much he wished it wasn't.

Slowly he began to move his arms away. Sara gripped his shoulder harder.

"Don't," she said. Her voice what thick with both sleep and warning.

He froze.

"Stay?" she murmured.

Even in her sleepy mind she knew that he probably thought that this was a bad idea. She wasn't going to let him go without a fight.

Grissom smiled slightly at the catch in her voice. He relaxed against her slightly. He still held her carefully.

"I will," he promised quietly.

"Forever, Gil," she said. She sounded smug.

Sara fell asleep curled against him. Safe. He fell asleep listening to her breathing. Content.