A/N - This is very short but the last chapter is longer. Thanks for reading!

Marie had only been gone 14 hours and already Sara missed her. It had been so nice to have a confidant again. Sara didn't realized how much she had needed to talk to someone who knew her as well as Marie did. Marie had been right. It was time. Well overdue actually.

The shift passed quickly as Sara's anxiety over what she had to do once it ended grew. She had managed to avoid Grissom most of the day and had been assigned to work with Warrick on a simple B&E. She was grateful for the distraction and when it was finally time to go home she thought it best to make sure Grissom would actually be home when she showed up unannounced.

Ok – deep breaths, don't give anything away.

Sara stood in the doorway of Grissom's office and stared as he shuffled papers and occasionally swore under his breath. Sara cleared her throat quietly and Grissom looked up. She smiled and leaned into the doorjamb.

"Sara."

"Hi." Good start, one word at a time.

"I didn't get a chance to ask you earlier if you enjoyed your days off." Grissom removed his glasses and waited for Sara to respond.

"Oh – yeah I did. I had an old friend visiting me. I hadn't seen her in years. We grew up together in Tamales Bay but she got married shortly after college and lives in Santa Barbara now. We did the tourist thing, ya know? She liked Vegas except it's too hot, but everyone thinks that, right, even people who live here." You idiot, Sara – stop talking.

"Oh, uh yeah I guess we do." Grissom stared at Sara looking a little puzzled. It had been awhile since Sara voluntarily talked to him about anything not work related and she had even been animated about it. Maybe she just needed to relax for a few days with a friend.

"Well, that's great, it sounds like you had fun."

A few seconds of silence followed and Sara's eyes moved down to the floor as she attempted to appear casual before speaking again. She still needed to know if he would be home later.

"Sara?" Grissom's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Are you ok? I mean was there something you wanted to talk to me about."

"Um – "

"Hey, Sara!" Warrick's voice boomed down the hallway as he approached Grissom's office. Sara jumped slightly and turned to see Warrick smiling at her. "Just thought you'd like to know, the case is rapped up, slam dunk I must say and it is good to work with you again."

"Thanks Warrick – it was an easy case, but it's nice to know I was missed even though it was just a few days."

Sara moved further into the office as Warrick placed his arm across the door and leaned in. "So Nick and I getting breakfast, you two game?"

She looked back at Grissom, her stare willing him to speak first. But he just stared back. Ok, me first. "I am actually not that hungry right now, but thanks for asking. I think I'll just head home. "No prob – next time. Griss?"

"I appreciate the offer but I have some work to finish up and then I need to go home too."

"Ok – more for us. Catch you later." With that Warrick sauntered off in search of Nick.

Sara let out a heavy sigh of relief and tried to mask it with a yawn as Grissom watched her. No doubt about it – she's acting strange.

"Ok so – bye." Sara said lamely. Warrick, you are a lifesaver. She turned on her heel and left Grissom staring at her back completely perplexed by her behavior.

See chapter 3