TITLE: Facing the Music

AUTHOR: Micky Fine

DISCLAIMER: I just like to play with characters from CSI; none of them are actually mine. The song featured in this chapter is "Feels Like Home" by Chantal Kreviazuk.

SUMMARY: A post-ep for the season finale. G/S. Part 2/4.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: First of all thanks so much to everyone who sent reviews, they're a great booster for my confidence and they definitely pushed me to the keyboard to write this next chapter. I must once again warn you that frequency in posting will be erratic because finals keep creeping closer as I am constantly reminded. However, patience (and reviews, hint, hint) will be rewarded. Song lyrics are in italics and all notes are in bold.

Something in your eyes

Makes me want to lose myself
Makes me want to lose myself
In your arms

Grissom held tightly to Sara's hand as he led her out of the station and into the night. Squeezing her hand tighter, he interlaced their fingers, reassuring himself that she was alright. Unlocking his car, he opened the door for her and she slid in. He came around to the other side and took a deep breath. After getting over the shock and relief he could feel the anger at her stupidity rising and he knew that he couldn't show it. It was the last thing Sara needed. If she was upset enough to get drunk and then drive she didn't need the burden of him losing it over some residual fear he felt. Taking another deep breath, he opened the door and got in.

There's something in your voice
Makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts
The rest of my life

They had driven several miles before Sara said, "Ok, lemme have it."

"Let you have what?"

"The lecture, the yelling, the anger at how stupid I was that I could get behind the wheel drunk, endanger the lives of others and jeopardize my career."

"Well, I don't think I have to yell now, you pretty much covered my entire rant."

"Don't joke Grissom."

"Fine, please don't do it again, I don't think I could take another moment like that again."

"Another moment like what?"

"Like the one when the station called me and asked if I knew a Sara Sidle. I was so worried that... something had happened to you."

"Really?"

"Really," Grissom answered as he reached out and recaptured her hand.

If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've felt so low
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done

The rest of the drive home was silent and Sara spent most of it staring down at her fingers, intertwined with Grissom's. It seemed strange to her that she was sitting in his car holding hands like two teenagers on their first date. And then there was the odd sensation in the pit of her stomach, a feeling of belonging, a feeling of safety.

She was broken out of her reverie by Grissom's soft announcement of, "Here we are."

He moved to let go of her hand but she tightened her grip and turned to face him. "You want to come in?"

"You sure?"

She nodded.

"Ok, just for a little bit."

Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where
I come from
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

After closing and locking the door behind them Sara led Grissom into the main room of her apartment.

"Nice place."

"Thanks, you want something to drink?" Seeing the look on his face, she quickly revoked the offer by saying, "Bad idea."

"Um, yeah. Do you have some tea? Herbal?"

"Yeah, I guess it's a little late for coffee isn't it?"

"Or early, depending on your definition," Grissom added pointing to the clock that said 5:00 am.

"Yup."

The two stood uncomfortably in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil and then both jumped when the whistle blew. Pouring the water into two mugs and adding the tea bags, Sara led Grissom to the couch. She quickly curled up in one corner, while he sat on the other at an angle where he could study her face. After several minutes, he broke the silence.

"What set you off?"

"What?"

"Why did you...umm...you must have had a reason to get drunk. What was it?"

"Oh, I don't know," Sara said, quickly looking away from Grissom's penetrating blue eyes.

"I think you do," he prodded softly.

"Maybe so, but I really don't feel like sharing."

"Ok." Taking another tack, Grissom went for a different angle, "Why do the rape cases bother you so much?"

"They just do," she said shortly, "Everyone has a particular type of case that bothers them and rape just happens to be mine. It's the worst kind of violation."

"Yes, it is," Grissom agreed quietly and then dropped the subject, seeing the anguish on Sara's face.

They were silent for several minutes more, and this time it was Sara who broke the quiet.

"Thanks for picking me up. I'm sorry I disappointed you."

Picking up her hand once more, Grissom leaned over to take away Sara's empty mug and then took her other hand in his as well. "Sara, look at me. You didn't disappoint me. You made a mistake and although I'm a little upset you scared me more than anything."

Sara's brown eyes studied Grissom's blue ones and saw the truth that resided there. With a little hesitation she moved her head forward until her nose touched Grissom's. Grissom closed his eyes and let out a whoosh of breath before he captured her lips in his own. When they broke for air, Sara stood up, pulling Grissom up with her. Then she pressed closer to him, kissing him again as she led him back to her bedroom.

Just as they were about to cross the threshold, Grissom stopped, "Sara, are you sure?"

"I wouldn't have let you come in if I wasn't."

A window breaks down a long dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I'm alright 'cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see through the dark there's light

Grissom pulled Sara's body closer, intertwining their fingers once again on top of her naked stomach.

"Well this definitely adds a whole new dimension to employer-employee relationships," Sara joked.

"Funny," Grissom murmured as he buried his face in her hair.

Sara suddenly turned over to face him and her brown eyes studied his face for several minutes.

"What?"

"You don't regret this, do you?"

"Sara, I won't ever regret this. I have wanted this for...well for a long time anyway."

"Good, me too," she said as she buried her face in his neck.

"We are going to have to discuss this though."

"What's to discuss, you're sexy, I'm sexy," Sara giggled at Grissom's grunt of approval, "and we fit, and I think that if I let myself I could..."

"You could what?"

Very quietly, almost so that Grissom couldn't hear she said, "I could love you."

"Well, if it makes you feel less vulnerable I think I could too."

Sara's head popped up and she looked him in the face. Seeing only truth there she gave him a light kiss and then laid her head down on his chest. The last thing she said before her breathing became even as she fell asleep was, "Gil."

If you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
If you knew how happy you are making me
I've never thought I'd love anyone so much

Grissom woke up with a small patch of sunlight on his face and it took him a moment to remember where he was exactly. When the memories flooded back he smiled and rolled over to find...an empty pillow. Grissom sat up and saw that Sara's clothes that had been strewn across the floor were gone and his were neatly folded on a chair.

After getting dressed he walked into the kitchen to the smell of coffee, but no Sara. Pouring himself a mug he opened the refrigerator to find a bowl of fruit salad and some yogurt with post-it notes stuck to them with his name on them. Taking the meal intended for him, he found a spoon and sat down on the table. And there he found the note.

It was neatly folded in half with his name scrawled on the front. He picked it up, unfolded it and read the message enclosed.

Dear Gil,

I woke up this afternoon the happiest person in the world, lying next to you. Don't think that I'm avoiding you or what we did this morning. It's just that in the waning light of day our pending relationship seems a lot more monumental and as I sat watching you sleep this afternoon I realized how drastically this could affect you. And so, I'm taking a very wise man's advice and taking a vacation, giving you time to think us over. As you'll remember I have ten weeks on the books. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I miss you already.

Love,

Sara

PS Could you take care of my plant while I'm gone?

Grissom read the note twice before it sunk in. For a brief moment he thought about going after her, but then realized that Sara was too stubborn and she wouldn't stand for him to not follow her wishes. Despite how much it pained him he knew he would wait for her to come back. Knowing that his decision would make the next ten weeks the longest of his life.

Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where
I come from
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

Ten weeks to the day later, Grissom received a visit from the personnel director at CSI who gave him some upsetting news.

"What do you mean she's transferred?"

"About three weeks ago she sent me notice of her resignation. She said she felt that she had reached her maximum potential here and had greater possibilities somewhere else. She informed me that she had found a job working at the CSI in Phoenix."

"Arizona?" Grissom asked unbelievingly.

"That would be the one."

"Did she give you anything else?"

"Well, after I sent her her official notice of termination she mailed me an envelope which she wished to be delivered to you. I think she feels guilty for not resigning directly through you," the director said as he handed Grissom the envelope.

"Is that it?"

"Well, other than the fact that you will have to orientate a new team member when I find one..."

"We don't need a new team member, Greg is ready to move up to a field position. What we need now is a new lab tech."

"Well then I'll get to that and leave you to your work."

"Thank you."

As soon as the door closed behind the director, Grissom ripped open the envelope to find only a small slip of paper inside with Sara's distinctive scrawl on it.

Trust me Gil, this all for the best.

Love,

Sara

PS Please keep my plant, I know you'll take good care of it.

Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

Next chapter: Nick goes to visit Sara in Phoenix.