Chapter Three

Sara stared at the men's room door, wondering what she had to do next.

"Oh God Catherine, what do I do?" she asked.

Catherine put her hands up in helplessness, "I really don't know. I wish I did but..." She trailed off.

Nick and Warrick still hadn't taken their eyes off Sara. They were just as lost on the situation as Catherine was.

Sara got up and walked halfway to the bathrooms. Turning back, she saw that the boys had already moved into the booth with Catherine. Their eyes never left her. She felt like the whole world had stopped and it was up to her to get it spinning again. -That would almost be an easier task than what I have to figure out to do now- she thought.

She stepped up to the door wondering if she should knock, enter, or wait for him to come out. She chose to knock.

"Um, Griss," She began, "could you come out here?"

Silence.

"Griss please, I never wanted you to hear that. I never wanted anyone to. I don't know what came over me, I've never lost control like that before." She was talking very softly so that no one else could hear her. She had already made a big enough fool out of herself.

When he didn't answer she turned and leaned against the door. Her weight against the door caused it to open slightly. Not knowing what else to do and needing to see Grissom she pushed the door the rest of the way and walked in side.

"She did not just go in there?" queried Nick, not believing what he was seeing.

"Yes she did. What is she thinking?" Catherine said shaking her head.

Warrick shrugged, "This ought to be interesting, Grissom's pretty hung-over."

Inside the restroom, Sara stood against the doorframe. Grissom was leaning over the sink watching the cold water swirl down the drain.

"Grissom I'm sorry." She didn't know why she was apologizing; everything she said was true. But looking at him now she wished she could have kept her mouth shut, as much as he had hurt her she didn't want to hurt him back.

Grissom had been asking himself why she would want to drink like she was. Now he knew the answer; because of him. "No Sara, don't. Don't apologize. I didn't know I was hurting you like that, at least I ignored the fact. I thought I was doing you good by staying away."

Sara stared at him in disbelief, "Doing me good! How could you think that? What in the past three years makes you think that anything but you could be good for me?"

Grissom look up at her. It was the second time that day that she was close to tears because of him. "Sara you deserve more of a life then what I can give you. I'm not young anymore and one day you'll see that and then I'll be alone again."

She moved away from the wall, not believing that he was opening himself up like he was. "Griss, I don't care how old you are. When will you get that through your thick head?"

" I just don't know what to do Sara."

"You've said that before. How can you not know what to do? There's not that many choice. I've already made mine but I'm getting tired."

He looked into her eyes and he could see it. She was ready to give up. –She should, it would be best- hethought –But that's not what she wants. She wants you and you can give it to her right now- His heart was battling with his mind. He and Sara both wanted the same thing and neither one had it because he wouldn't let it happen.

Sara watched Grissom as he fought with himself. –What are you thinking?- she wondered.

Grissom reached up and rubbed his temples. All this thinking wasn't helping his headache.

Still hunched over the sink he opened his mouth to say something when the bathroom door started to open. Sara ducked into the nearest stall and Grissom looked up quickly, perhaps too quickly, at the man who walked into the room.

Grissom was reminded of his hangover when he looked up. He ran for the other stall and lost the small amount of dinner he had tried to eat before Nick and Warrick showed up.

When the man left, Sara stood up on top of the toilet to peak in on Grissom, still hurling in his own commode. "You have the flu?"

He flushed the toilet, "No."

She walked out to the sink and soaked some paper towels in cold water. When he walked out she turned to hand him the wet cloths. Taking one look at his ashen face, she knew what it was, and why he was talking so freely.

"Alcohol poisoning? You gave yourself alcohol poisoning?"

He gave her a sheepish look.

"Good one. Is your car here? Well I guess I had better return the favor and drive you home." Sara said, taking control of the situation, and herself.

"Nick and Warrick can do it they're the ones who drug me out here in the first place."

Sara looked at her watch, "They don't have time. Shift is going to start in twenty minutes, it'll take almost that long just to get you home."

Sara reached for the door handle but thought better of opening it.

"What's the matter?" Grissom asked.

"Could you look and make sure that no one is coming?" She couldn't help but think of what would happen if she walked past a guy while coming out of the men's bathroom.

Grissom stepped in front of her and stuck out his head. "The coast is clear."

They calmly walked over to the booth ignoring the questioning looks on their colleagues' faces.

Catherine look Grissom over, "You're looking a little green there Gil, you sick?"

"Could you take over shift for me tonight Cath? I'm going home." Grissom said swaying on his feet.

Warrick grimaced as his boss, "You're not driving are you?"

Grissom shook his head and Sara answered for him, "No I'm going to drive him. I don't feel like going to work anyway."

"Anyone got a pen and paper?" Nick asked searching his pockets.

Catherine looked over at him, "No, why?"

He smiled, "This is a monumental moment. Didn't you here what Sara just said?"

"Haha very funny." Sara rolled her eyes.

Catherine glanced at her watch, "Well if you've got Griss then we had better get to work before the entire night shift is late. Bye you two."

When they were all in the parking lot, Catherine watched as Grissom and Sara climbed in the Yukon. –After what just happened, those two in the same car can't be good. Let's just hope that they don't kill each other tonight- she thought.

It only took a few minutes for Sara to maneuver the SUV through the traffic and arrive at Grissom's town house. The situation was oddly familiar as they sat in silence. –Haven't we already done this once today?- they both wondered. Although this time the rolls were reversed.

Sara parked the car and handed the keys to Grissom.

"Would you come up?" He asked her.

She didn't look at him, "No I don't think I should." Sara pulled out her cell phone to call a cab to take her home.

"Please." The soft tone of his voice made her look into his eyes. "There's more to be said but not in the car."

Sara nodded and followed him to his door.

Once Grissom had gotten himself some cold water and an Advil, he sat down opposite of Sara. Taking a deep breath he began.

"I…I've missed you Sara." He stuttered through the words. Sara looked at him questioningly, confuse on where he was going with this.

-Damn this is hard- he tried again.

"I've missed talking with you and being friends like we used to be."

Sara stared down at her feet, "I've missed it too."

Grissom moved to sit next to her on the couch. "I want to be friends again." He shook his head, "I want to be more then that but I don't know how."

"It's not that hard if that's what you really want." She told him.

"I do but I need you to help me. Can you do that? I mean I know I don't deserve another chance but will you give me one anyway. I'll try my damnedest not to screw it up this time."

She reached over and took his hand, staring into his pleading blue eyes, "One more. One more and you better not mess up." She answered. Squeezing his hand she added, "Well I guess here's to a new beginning." She smiled slightly and he closed his hands around hers. "A new beginning." he echoed, smiling back.

FINISH

A/N: Okay so I know I said there would be more but I went totally brain dead. I can't think of a single thing to do with this story without making it horrible. So this is the end it is completed, finito. The New Beginning has ended. Thank you for reading! PS. PLEASE DON'T FLAME ME! I wanted to add more but my muse wants to move on. She can be an evil muse sometimes but don't flame he either. Last time she was berated I didn't see her for over a month. (I really mean that too. I couldn't write a single thing worth reading) TTFN