Nick and Sara arrived at the lab about ten minutes before shift was scheduled to begin. Sara felt a sinking feeling as they entered the building together and made their way down the hallway. They stopped by Grissom's office but noticed that he wasn't in it so they headed to the break room in search of coffee. As they approached, they noticed Catherine, Warrick and Grissom seated at the table.

Sara slowed and glanced over at Nick. "I'm not sure I can do this."

He smiled at her and slung his arm around her shoulders, giving her a hug. "Yes, you can. Just remember, we all care about you. Ok?" He looked at her expectantly.

She nodded and took a deep breath as they entered.

Warrick was the first to notice them as they walked into the room. He was on his feet and across the room in moments, pulling Sara into a bear hug. "Girl, I am so glad you're ok. I was so worried about you."

Sara was a little overwhelmed and blinked back the tears she felt forming in her eyes. "Thanks." She stepped out of his embrace and put on what she hoped looked like a genuine smile.

In the next instant, Catherine was standing before her, her eyes misting. "You had us really worried." She touched Sara's shoulder and smiled. "If there's anything I can do, if you ever want to talk, just let me know."

"Thanks." Sara glanced over at Nick who was still standing beside her. Her brow furrowed slightly and he could tell that she was feeling anxious.

Grissom studied the exchange and then interrupted what he felt was becoming an awkward moment for Sara. "Sara, I need to talk to you in my office after I hand out assignments."

A slightly panicked expression crossed her face and then she relaxed as she felt Nick's hand at the small of her back. "Grissom, I want Nick to come too."

Grissom glanced at Nick for a moment and then nodded at Sara. "Ok." He turned towards Warrick and Catherine. "Warrick, I'll meet you at the scene. Catherine, take Greg with you."

Warrick moved towards the door, pausing for a moment as he looked back at Sara. "I really am glad you're ok, girl."

Catherine patted Sara's shoulder as she passed by and then headed down the hallway in search of Greg.

Grissom raised an eyebrow at Nick and Sara. "I'll meet you in my office." He picked up his coffee cup and headed out the door.

Sara let out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding and then moved towards the coffee machine. "That went well." There was a hint of sarcasm and relief in her voice. "Now the fun part."

Nick let out a soft chuckle. "Let me know if Warrick and Catherine get too intense. After what happened with Nigel, I felt a little smothered at times."

She glanced back at him with an appreciative smile. "Thanks, I will." She handed him a cup of coffee that she'd just poured and then turned around and poured herself one as well.

"You ready?" He gestured towards the doorway.

She let out a deep breath and nodded. "I guess." She was lost in thought as they walked down the hallway. She really didn't want to talk to Grissom about this, she wished that she could just ignore that it had happened at all, but of course, that was impossible. She knew that there were consequences for her actions and that this was one of them. She only hoped that Grissom wouldn't act so Grissom-like in this situation. It would be nice to know he cared for her as a person, but then she reasoned that while it came so easily for Nick, Grissom was very much like her and she had a difficult time letting people know that she cared. Nick had mentioned that Warrick and Catherine had practically smothered him with concern after what had transpired with Nigel Crane, she on the other hand had just acted as if everything was normal when she knew that he had just gone through a hellish ordeal. She just hadn't known what to say or do. She expected much of the same type of reaction out of Grissom.

The firmness of Nick's hand at her waist made her realized that they were at the doorway to Grissom's office. She glanced up as she entered and noticed that Grissom looked genuinely concerned.

Grissom looked at her over the rim of his glasses as she sat down and Nick closed the door and then came and sat beside her. "Sara, how are you?"

Sara glanced over at Nick and then back at Grissom. "I'm fine."

Grissom looked skeptical. "Sara, I find that difficult to believe after what's happened in the last thirty-six hours. You were picked up for DUI and you threatened to jump off the building."

Nick touched her arm in a reassuring gesture.

"Ok, so obviously I'm not fine." Sara let out a deep sigh and visibly relaxed a little. "But I'm doing better after talking to Nick."

Grissom considered her words for a moment. "I'm glad you talked to someone, Sara."

"But?" Sara knew that she wasn't getting off that easily and she was prepared for it.

Grissom was surprised she wasn't more defensive. He let out a deep sigh. "You need to talk to a professional about what's been going on." Grissom took a deep breath before he continued. "Nick told me about the extent of your drinking, and I'm concerned, especially because you got pulled over."

Sara's shoulders slumped, but she didn't say anything.

"We can all offer you support, but a professional is going to be able to help you with things that are beyond our capabilities." Grissom offered gently.

Sara glanced over at Nick who had a pensive expression on his face. She looked back over at Grissom. "That's what Nick said."

"You don't agree?" Grissom queried her with concern.

She met his gaze. "This is just really hard. I really don't want to see a counselor, but I will."

Nick reached over and squeezed her shoulder, smiling at her. "I'm proud of you, Sar."

Grissom studied Sara for a moment. "You don't have to see the department's counselor, but I do want you to see someone and we'll make whatever accommodations are necessary."

A small smile began to form on her face. "Is this your way of telling me you're keeping it out of my records?"

A half smile tugged at Grissom's lips. "I'd rather deal with something like this internally than have it affect your entire career."

"So does that mean you're going to let me keep working?" Sara didn't want to sound too hopeful.

Grissom had had plenty of time to think about the situation since he hadn't gotten more than two hours of sleep and even that was on the couch in his office. He nodded at her. "You can keep working, but with the following conditions."

Sara looked at him nervously.

Grissom continued. "For the time being, you cannot work solo and I don't want you to carry a firearm."

Sara nodded. "Ok." She glanced over at Nick who was smiling softly at her and then back at Grissom. "Uh, Grissom, I had a gun at home; I gave it to Nick."

"Voluntarily." Nick informed him.

"That's good." Grissom intoned in a somewhat surprised manner.

"Is that all?" Sara asked hoping that this meeting would be over soon.

Grissom still looked concerned. "Sara, I think you should consider staying with someone or having someone you're comfortable with stay with you for a week or so."

Sara bristled somewhat defensively. "You think I'm a danger to myself."

Nick quickly reached over and put his hand on her arm. "Sara, that's not what he's saying."

She looked over at him with an expression that challenged his statement.

Nick continued. "You scared the hell out of us and it would make all of us feel better if you'd let one of us stay with you or have you stay with us, that's all." Nick looked over at their boss. "Isn't that right, Gris?"

"Yes." Grissom agreed.

Sara was quiet for a moment as she considered their words. She glanced over at Nick and when she spoke, her voice was tentative. "Would you stay with me?" She looked at him with an expectant expression.

Nick smiled. "Why don't you stay with me? I've got more room, real food, and a big screen TV with cable."

Grissom studied Sara for a moment hoping that she would take Nick up on his offer and at the same time wishing that he felt capable of making the same sort of offer.

Sara rolled her eyes and chuckled as she quipped with a hint of amused sarcasm. "Has any woman ever turned you down?"

He grinned at her remembering that she'd said those same words up on the roof when he'd pulled her away from the railing. "Not that I can recall."

Grissom breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a twinge of sadness at the friendship he saw before him and a bit of regret for what he'd passed up.