Part I
The next few weeks passed in relative bliss for Grissom and Sara. Since they had connected on that first date, they were comfortable and easy around each other. They were still each occasionally struck by their respective fears, but the panic was manageable and fleeting.
As most of their off-duty time was spent together, Grissom tended to assign them to different cases at work. Business at the lab was thus far progressing smoothly despite initial concerns, and none of the other CSIs seemed any the wiser. Ecklie continued to hold his tongue, apparently waiting for the most opportune time to spill the beans.
Grissom sat at his dining table, pondering the Ecklie problem. It was rare for him to be alone at home, but Sara's case had kept her late this morning and he had gone home to sleep. He looked forward to seeing her when he got to lab. Ecklie had the potential to make his life very difficult. One of Grissom's biggest reservations about entering into a relationship with Sara was the possibility for complications in the workplace. He had worked very hard for his career, and up until a certain leggy brunette came along, it was all he had. He was terrified by the prospect of anything interfering with it.
If word got around about this relationship, he and Sara could both see their careers suffer. He had other things that he could fall back on, but Sara's options were more limited. He wondered briefly if she would consider returning to college to complete her graduate work The University had a good physics program. It would be difficult for her to do if she had to work while attending, but maybe she wouldn't have to work if she were…no, Gil, you're jumping ahead. Maybe later, though. At the moment, Ecklie needed to be dealt with once and for all.
He finished his sandwich and gathered his things to go into the lab. Driving in to work, he realized that if Ecklie had no ammunition, he couldn't hurt them. Perhaps if he beat his nemesis to the punch, he could defuse the situation. Yes, a preemptive strike, an aggressive move—that's what he needed. If he had to make a sacrifice to be with Sara, he would do it.
Part II
Sara and Warrick were in DNA, discussing their case with Greg. Grissom paused in the doorway to catch up on the evidence, then spoke, "Good work, Greg." He turned to Warrick and Sara. "Now link the custodian to the dead student and you've got a case. Sara, can I see you in my office when you have a moment?"
Sara kept her expression even, not willing to let Warrick notice how charged she became when she heard their boss's voice. "Sure."
Ten minutes later, she knocked softly on the open door to get Grissom's attention. "Hey."
He looked up at her and smiled, motioning for her to enter. "Hey yourself. Shut the door."
"Shut the door? Ooh, what's up?" She grinned slyly as she sat on the corner of his desk. The urge to kiss him was strong, but they had agreed that it was dangerous and inappropriate while at the lab.
He leaned back in his chair. "I want to tell Cavallo."
"Tell him what?"
"Everything. About us."
"Are you sure you're ready for that?"
He let out a breath. "Ready as I'll ever be. I think it's really our only option. Ecklie won't keep quiet forever. And I don't want to keep you a secret forever. You deserve more."
Sara smiled broadly and quickly ran her hand along his bearded cheek. "I should be there. It concerns me, too."
Grissom merely nodded.
Part III
"Dr. Grissom, CSI Sidle. What can I do for you?" Robert Cavallo asked as the duo entered his office. "Take a seat."
"Thank you," Sara said politely. She and Grissom sat in the hard plastic chairs across the desk from the lab's director.
"Robert," Grissom began, "I need to, we need to speak with you about something."
"Go ahead."
"Sara and I are seeing each other."
"As in dating?"
Grissom shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Sara put her hand on his arm in reassurance. "That's right."
"So you're romantically involved with someone who's under your supervision?" Cavallo shook his head. "What am I supposed to do about this, Grissom?"
"You're supposed to do nothing," Sara asserted. "We haven't allowed it to interfere with our work, and there's nothing in the handbook specifically prohibiting this kind of thing."
"Be that as it may, it's still not a good idea," the director responded.
"I'll step down," Grissom said quietly but firmly.
Sara and Cavallo both turned to him, stunned.
He continued. "If it's a problem for us to work together, I'll step down and take a position at the University."
"You can't do that," Sara insisted. "Forensics is your life."
"Not anymore. And I'd still be involved in forensics, just in a different capacity."
"No, no. I'll quit." Sara said.
"Hold it!" Cavallo interjected. "No one's quitting. As I said, it's a bad idea to date someone you work with, especially in a position of authority, but it's not against the rules. As long as you two keep it out of the lab, I'll look the other way. You will have to send me all of her evaluations and disciplinary reports, though."
Grissom relaxed a bit. "Done."
As they left the office, Sara sighed. "That went better than expected."
"Yes, it did."
"I'm glad you decided to tell him."
He cocked his slightly. "'If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance'. George Bernard Shaw. In this case, I don't want to get rid of it. See you in fifteen minutes at my place?"
Sara's smile was brighter than the sun, just as in the picture he kept in his dresser. It was good to see it back. She nodded her head. "You bet."
End.