Note: Sorry about the delay. I had a wedding to attend. Now I've got another weeks worth of reading to catch up on. I'm so so behind, it's not even funny any more. I'll get another chapter to you in the next day or so. Thank you for all those who have reviewed and for everyone's patience. It's a short chapter, but the others will be longer, promise.

Chapter 7

Later that evening, Andrew walked through the lower living areas of the bed and breakfast looking for his wife, but he stumbled upon his daughter instead. He watched her from his place by the door. No matter what he tried, he couldn't stop thinking about the waste of a hotshot life she had been holding on to all these years.

Sara knew that she had to think fast about what she was going to do. She had been here for the weekend and even stayed for an extra two days just to see what happens, though she knew deep inside that nothing would change.

He wouldn't come after her and the act of even staying away like she had, made her angry and sick for being so stupid and childish.

The letter had said everything. She didn't really know what she was going to do, though she had told her parents something to keep them quiet. Her mother had only asked a few questions about what she was going to do while at college, but Sara didn't have an answer for her.

It was time to move on. Sara had finally decided.

If he had forgotten so easily and so quickly, she could too… at least try to forget.

But, who would have thought that Gil Grissom, her mentor and friend, loner and socially awkward Entomologist and CSI, would fall in love with someone of his own generation and of same interest.

Sara didn't know.

It was only too fitting that she was the one that was too late. The one that was left to swallow her childish thoughts and feelings. The one that was left with no one to love and be loved back.

Her thoughts were abruptly shattered by her father's voice behind her.

"Where's your mother?" Andrew asked rather emotionlessly as he moved into the room, scanning the small room.

Sara turned slightly and leaned against the wall. "I think she was going to make some coffee." She turned back to look out the window, watching the ocean come and go. No matter what she did, she could never do anything right by her father, unless it was failing.

He was about to leave, but decided that it was now or never. He needed to say his peace before he managed to make things worse by running off his mouth.

"Sara…" He cleared his throat nervously before continuing. "Whatever you decide to do, your mother and I will stand by you." Having caught her eyes briefly, he left.

Standing alone in the room with not a soul but her own, Sara's head dropped slightly at the weight of the millions of thoughts racing through her mind. It was the same every time. She was stuck at the beginning with her father. Her mother had spoken to him and he was making an effort for her sake. That was love. She told herself with an underlying pain in her chest.

Grissom leaned over the side of the conveyor belt and extracted his small travel holdall. His plane had only landed minutes before and his car was waiting for him at the rental desk. He only needed to get his bag and retrieve the keys from the valet.

He had his bag and he was signing for the car in seconds as he rushed out of the airport, trying to get to Tamales Bay as quickly as possible.

He didn't have a phone number and though he had tried to find one, he figured they either didn't have phones or the world was against him. Even if that were true, he couldn't blame mankind for it's hold-ups.

Thinking about it, he had made the worse blunder in history.

"Stewart! I don't care." Sara bubbled with laughter as her big brother teased her with a flying tea towel.

"It's your last chance Sara!" The tall dark hared man yelled mock angrily as he swung the towel at her again.

Sara giggled and backed up quickly, tripping over her own feet as she retreated. "Fine! Fine!" She conceded and turned before she fell out the door. She hit the doorframe and giggled as her brother laughed loudly.

"Yeah yeah!" She glared good naturedly at him and shrugged off her mothers curious look from behind the reception desk as she made her way from the kitchen to the stairs. "Catch you later Stewy!"

"It's Stewart!" Her brother growled in a short laugh before the kitchen went silent again.

"Whatever!" Sara threw over her shoulder as she sprinted up the steps.

"Will they ever learn that this is a place of business and not a playground, Suzy?" Andrew complained to his wife, though his eyes were bright with amusement.

She chuckled good-naturedly as she filled out the order book. "I very much doubt it. They grew up here after all, dear." She looked up at him and offered him an adoring smile. "To them, this is their playground and home. I'd let them play as long as they are happy."

Andrew nodded and moved to stand beside her. "Have you spoken to her?" He asked, shuffling some papers around.

Sue sighed and closed the order book. "There's nothing to talk about. She's made up her mind."

"When is she leaving?" Andrew asked, looking up when the entrance door opened.

"Tomorrow afternoon." Sue answered, her eyes following her husbands. "Can I help you?" She asked politely.

"Hi, I'm looking for Sara Sidle."

Andrew immediately bristled at the sound of the newcomers voice. He stepped around the bar and looked them over with a sharp look in his eyes. "You've got some nerve." His voice dripped with held back anger.

Sue held out her hand to stop her husband. "Hold on, what's going on here? Andrew?" She looked between them before shifting her eyes to the sound of someone coming from the stairs.

Sara smiled at her mother as she jumped the last step, but all but slipped when the newcomer turned around. Her father could be seen holding his temper, but it was about to boil over and her mother wasn't going to be able to control him when it did. Sara could see it all happen before her eyes, the blood shed.

"Sara." Grissom's voice caught her attention again and she near turned and ran, but held herself in check as he made a move to walk towards her.

TBC