Title: Changes

Author: Joy

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't even own a car.

Spoilers: All episodes up to and including 'Bloodlines.'

A/N: Once again a huge Thank You to everyone who has read/reviewed and followed the story. As always Alison and Alicia are the most awesome of betas. Any mistakes you may find are all mine and I don't share well with others.

On a side note the case in this story is based on an actual event that happened in my hometown, though no one died in the real case.

The songs in this chapter are obviously not mine. I'm no good at verse. The song that Grissom listens to is 'Talk to Me' by Keri Noble from her album 'Fearless.' I love this song and think it fits perfectly with some G/S situations. The song that Sara listens to is 'Heartbreaker' by Pat Benetar, another song that I love. Anyway, on to the final chapter.

Chapter 8

Grissom drove to his townhouse with the radio turned on to drown his doubts. He was at a stoplight when a song caught his attention.

There you are again

I see you all the time

We haven't really met yet

But you know I don't mind

Cuz I think today's the day

I'm gonna go right up and say to you

Would it be alright

If I called you up sometime

He liked the melody and voice of the woman singing. He looked sharply at the radio dial when he heard the next words.

There you go again

I let you get away

At least I've got more time

To think of what I might say like

Couldn't we be good or maybe

Don't you think that we should find

Some quiet little place

Where we make love all day

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat as visions of making love to Sara filled his head.

Come and talk to me

What are you waiting for

Cuz I can see you passing every day

And I'm always wanting more

Come and talk to me

What are you gonna do

Cuz I can't seem to get the nerve

To get off my own ass

And come and talk to you

Grissom was starting to feel a little creeped out. That verse seemed to describe his state of mind perfectly.

You know I love your type

You look like you've been up all night

And yet somehow still look beautiful

You do it all at the same time

Whenever you walk by

You always look me in the eyes

And in that moment I know

You're thinking the same thing as I…am

It seems to always be that

I let the good things pass me by

Because I let my fear stop me

From trying, but not this time.

"Not this time," he echoed. He smiled and turned into his parking space, now in a hurry to get inside and prepare for Sara's arrival.

Sara finished some paperwork she had yet to file and grabbed her things from her locker. As she passed the break room she heard the robbery case mentioned on the television. She thought about the two young men sitting in jail right now, waiting to be charged. They had cut a deal with the D.A. and would hopefully get lesser charges. Since they had committed several federal offenses however, there would be no telling. Shoving those thoughts aside Sara left the building. Once she was settled in the front seat of her car she hesitated before she put the key in the ignition. She was nervous. Grissom had invited her to breakfast. At his place. Maybe it was because he wanted privacy when he told her how much he loved her and couldn't live without her. She snorted. Delusions of grandeur. He probably wanted to tell her that nothing would ever happen between them and didn't want to be in public in case she made a scene. As if she would.

She shook her head and started the car. There was a slow song on the radio and she was not in the mood. Sara changed the station to classic rock and Pat Benetar blared from the speakers. "That's more like it."

Your love is like a tidal wave, spinning over my head

Drownin' me in your promises, better left unsaid

You're the right kind of sinner, to release my inner fantasy

The invincible winner, and you know that you were born to be

You're a Heartbreaker

Dream Maker, Love Taker

Don't you mess around with me!

You're a Heartbreaker

Dream Maker, Love Taker

Don't you mess around -NO NO NO!

Your love has set my soul on fire, burnin' out of control

You taught me the ways of desire, now its takin' its toll

You're the right kind of sinner, to release my inner fantasy

The invincible winner, and you know that you were born to be

You're a Heartbreaker

Dream Maker, Love Taker

Don't you mess around with me!

You're a Heartbreaker

Dream Maker, Love Taker

Don't you mess around - NO NO NO!

Sara was singing along at the top of her lungs, completely engrossed in the words that describe Grissom so accurately.

You're the right kind of sinner, to release my inner fantasy

The invincible winner, and you know you were born to be

You're a Heartbreaker

Dream Maker, Love Taker

Don't you mess around with me!

You're a Heartbreaker

Dream Maker, Love Taker

Don't you mess around with me!

You're a Heartbreaker

Dream Maker, Love Taker

Don't you mess around with me!

You're a Heartbreaker

Dream Maker, Love Taker

Heartbreaker!

Sara sighed as the song faded into a new tune. 'Must be kismet,' she thought wryly. Fifteen minutes later she pulled up to Grissom's townhouse. She took a deep breath and went to knock on the door.

Grissom was making coffee when he heard a soft knock on the door. He froze, still holding a heaping spoonful of coffee grounds. His heart started beating again and he dumped the grounds into the filter all the while cursing his nervousness. This was Sara for heaven's sake. He went to open the door and paused to run a hand over his beard. He opened the door and smiled at an empty doorway. He stuck his head into the hall and saw her disappear into the stairwell.

"Sara!" He jogged to the door that had closed behind her and jerked it open and ran right into the woman he was chasing. The sudden contact knocker her off balance. As she started to fall backward Grissom caught her by the arms and hauled her body up against his. He leaned his forehead against hers and took a shuddering breath. "Sorry."

"If you didn't want to talk you could have just said so. There's no reason to throw me down the stairs," she joked. Breathlessly. Her hands which had clutched his shirt in panic now relaxed to rest with her palms on his chest.

He smirked at her remark. "Where were you going?"

She avoided his eyes. "You took a while to answer the door and I thought maybe you weren't home."

His eyes narrowed as he leaned back to study her. "My car is in the parking lot, and I didn't take that long."

She cleared her throat, embarrassed, and looked at him trying to think of another excuse. Then she rolled her eyes and sighed. "I got nervous and decided to leave," she admitted.

He smiled. "I'm not entirely prepared for this either. Come on let's go eat. We'll just ease into it." She looked at him skeptically but followed him back to his door. She already missed the feel of his chest under her hands. They entered and he led her to the kitchen. Sara leaned against the counter while he finished making the coffee. "What can I do?"

"Watch."

'Gladly,' she thought as he bent over to get a griddle from the cupboard and presented her with a fine view of his rear end. He looked behind him to ask her a question and caught the direction of her gaze. Smirking he watched her face as he flexed his ass.

She blinked. It was then that she realized how long he had been bent over and knew that she was caught. She lifted her eyes and her mortified gaze met his amused one.

"See anything you like?" He asked with a grin as he straightened.

"Yes." She answered him truthfully even as the blood rushed to her face. Then she added, "I've always wanted a cast iron griddle." She pursed her lips, repressing a smile at the blank look of confusion on his face. Then he looked at the griddle in his hands and it was his turn to be embarrassed.

"Oh."

Sara stopped trying to hide her smile and let a laugh escape. Grissom looked back at her and realized that she was kidding. He shook his head in amusement and finished gathering the ingredients for the pancakes. Sara wanted to kiss him. She just couldn't resist him when he looked so confused; he was just too damn sexy. 'Let's just get everything straightened out. Then I'll kiss him,' she thought to herself.

He turned to find her practically leering at him and raised his eyebrows in question. She carefully composed her features into a blank mask. "Are you sure I can't help with anything? Watching doesn't seem to be working out very well," she pointed out.

He laughed. "You can pour us some coffee. Then you can get the fruit out of the fridge." She nodded and set about her tasks while he finished cooking. A short while later they were seated at his table eating breakfast. She was halfway through when she looked up.

"This is really good."

"Thank you. Why are you so surprised?"

"I don't know. I just never pictured you being…domestic."

"Oh? And how did you picture me?" He asked teasingly.

She blushed and returned to eating without responding. Occasionally they glanced up at each other during the remainder of the meal and each time Sara could feel her face heating up again. She wondered if he had really expected her to answer his question.

After the dishes were done and they had fresh coffee they sat together on the couch. Grissom looked at his hands for a long moment. He turned his head to look at her and uttered her three favorite words; "You were right."

"About what?" Now it was her turn to be confused.
He gazed longingly at her, letting his eyes drift over her face. "It was my choice not to see you outside of work. It was a bad choice made out of an attempt at self preservation." She opened her mouth to speak but he held up a hand. "Please. Let me finish." She nodded silently. "Sara, I didn't want to let you in. I didn't want to let myself care about you. The truth is that while I was so busy trying not to care about you; I fell in love with you. I've come to the conclusion that even if it doesn't last I want to be with you while I can. If I still can, I want you to know that won't change no matter what you decide about the shift. If you still want me, we will work it out." He watched her reaction.

"Grissom I don't think it's fair that you've doomed the relationship before it has even started. In case you haven't noticed, I love you. I have for the longest time. Sometimes I have absolutely no idea why! You're stubborn as hell, especially about 'this.'" He nodded his head sadly, thinking that it was too late even if she did claim to love him.

She stood up and slid onto his lap. His arms came around her automatically and he looked up at her in surprise. Sara took his face in her hands and continued. "You are also the smarted, sexiest, most handsome and compassionate man that I have ever known."

She kissed him lightly on the corner of his mouth. "This is going to be a big change." She ran her tongue along his lower lip and kissed the other side of his mouth, teasing him.

"I'm starting to like change," he said as he captured her mouth with his for a passionate kiss. "I love you, Sara."

End