It had been 5 days since the funeral and Grissom still hadn't called anybody or come back in to work. Not that it would be out of the ordinary for somebody who just lost a parent, but this was Grissom. He lived and breathed work, and if he needed to not think about something, that's where he'd be.

Sara thought about him incessantly, hoping he was alright. She picked up the phone to call him at various times throughout the day, but could never seem to make herself dial his number. On the sixth day she couldn't take it any longer. She had to go check on him and make sure he was okay.

She knocked at his door but got no response. Knocking again, she put her ear to the door, listening, straining to hear anything. Nothing. His SUV was outside, so she was quite certain he was inside. Unsure of what to do, she tried the doorknob. It wasn't locked and that made her a little apprehensive.

Adrenaline started pumping as the hairs on the back of her neck bristled and a tingling sensation could be felt in her fingertips. Entering his house, she quickly and quietly scanned the confines for any clues.

Everything appeared to be fine. Nothing was knocked over; there was no apparent sign of a struggle. She tried calling his name, but once again there was no answer, no sound at all.

Figuring that since she was already in his house, she might as well do a thorough walk-through to make sure he wasn't lying unconscious somewhere. She headed down the hall to what she could only assume to be the bedroom.

The knot in her stomach grew with each step she took. The door was slightly ajar and she quietly pushed it all the way open with one hand. Looking around cautiously, she spotted his form on the bed.

She couldn't help but gasp at seeing him. She really hadn't expected him to be there since he didn't respond when she'd called his name, and if he'd heard her gasp he didn't acknowledge that either.

He was lying fully clothed on his stomach at an angle across the bed. Creeping closer to make sure that he was breathing, a silent prayer was offered up when she saw he seemed to be just sleeping.

It was then she saw his suit which he was wearing at the funeral, lying in a heap on the floor. The sudden tightness in her chest was her heart breaking for him, as she realized he'd been wearing his current clothes for days.

She had to help him through this whether he wanted her to or not. Standing by and watching him crumble like this was simply not an option.

Sitting on the bed next to him she tried to figure out how to proceed. The eye that was visible flicked open and immediately focused on her. This instantaneous response followed by a lack of reaction sent a current of concern down her spine. He didn't say a word, just laid there looking at her, a one-eyed shell of a man, lying prone on the bed.

She placed a cautious hand on his face, as much for her comfort as for his. His beard was as soft as she imagined, but was so out of control that it no longer resembled the sexy facial accent she had dreamed of so many times.

"Grissom..." She had no idea how to begin. "Are you okay? Are you sick?"

He just slowly shook his head no, and didn't utter a word.

"Okay. No to what Griss? I'm not trying to annoy you here, but I am worried about you, and I need to make sure you're okay."

Again no verbal response, just him moving his head and a single blink of the eyes. She could see his eye start to tear up a bit. Still not sure what was going on, she was at least comforted by the fact that there was some emotion there.

"Grissom, I can see that you don't want to speak. That's fine but I'm not leaving you here, so I'm going to ask you some yes or no questions. Just nod alright?"

She watched the tear that was forming in his eye and for a moment it teetered on the rim of his lid. It was finally large enough to spill over and wet the bedspread which was pressed up against his face. That did it. That was the one act that completely shattered her heart. "Oh Grissom, I'm so sorry. It's okay."

Lying down behind him she encased him in her arms while continuing to whisper supportive words in his ear. His left hand snuck out from underneath his stomach to grab onto her arm, and give it a squeeze. She could feel him start to shake and knew that the tears were flowing stronger now. No noise could be heard other than his ragged breathing through the onslaught of tears.

She held him like that for what seemed like forever. Him crying, her comforting, and neither wanting to move once the storm had passed. She hated to disturb him, but her worry was still so strong.

"Grissom, do you think you can talk now?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"You don't have to thank me. I was worried about you. I still am."

"I'm... I'll be okay."

"Grissom, have you been eating?" He just shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, well I'm taking that as a no. I'm going to see if I can whip you up something. You have to eat."

"Okay. Thanks Sara."

"Don't mention it. Now, don't take this the wrong way, but you need to go shower...now." She tried to lighten the demand with a smile and a pat on his leg, and it looked like he appreciated that.

"Yeah, I just... I couldn't seem to make myself get up."

"It's alright Grissom. I'm here now. We'll get through it, together." She wasn't sure why she said it that way, and neither was he, but they shared another shy smile, and she went out into the kitchen. Her smile returned when she heard the shower down the hall.

They sat in the living room in silence. Grissom looked better after his shower and small meal, but this wasn't something that was going to go away with some freshly scented soap and a full stomach. Sara got up suddenly and held her hand out to him.

"Come on, we're going out."

Grissom looked up at her. His face still bore the tired and ravaged look of a man who'd been to hell and back. "Sara, I don't know. I haven't gotten out of bed in days, I'm not sure I have the energy for it. Or want to."

"I know, but the fresh air will do you good. Come on, it's just a little walk, I want to check out that lake behind this town house of yours."

She threw a wink at him. She knew he was mentally drained and she could probably talk him into anything right now. It was a plan she meant to use to force him back among the living.

He got up slowly shaking his head at her. "I'm surprised you didn't stick your bottom lip out and stomp around the floor." He grinned at her.

"Well, that was going to be my next move, if the wink hadn't worked."

He looked a little shocked until he saw the big smile spread across her face. It was the smile he liked to think she reserved just for him. He couldn't help himself, it warmed his heart.

They walked around the small man-made lake mostly in silence. Close enough to brush up against each other occasionally, but neither seemed to notice. There was no tension like there had been in the past. For once, there was nothing sexual in their movements. He was hurting, and she was there as a friend. Both were more than content with that.

On their third lap around the lake she could see his mood start to change. There was too much silence and he was becoming sullen again.

She grabbed his hand in hers, watching his face to make sure she didn't cross some invisible boundary of his. He just glanced at her and gave her a brief grin.

"What are you thinking about Grissom?"

She could tell he was fighting tears again. He took a minute to blink them back before speaking.

"Hmm. My mother."

"Good memories?" She squeezed his hand as if to remind him that she was right there with him.

"I was thinking about all she had to endure. All of the heartache of going deaf, my father leaving us, raising me alone, and being alone for all those years after he left. Having me as her son, and not having any grandchildren. Dying alone."

She didn't reply right away. She gave him some time to think about those awful things. She figured he had to, that he needed to think about them, but she wasn't about to let him dwell on the negative for too long.

"Grissom, you need to think about the good things too. All of the good memories. Going deaf wasn't a curse for your Mother. You told me that she was a strong woman. I'm sure she would have handled that part of her life as a new challenge, and not let it limit her. As far as your father leaving... do you think she wanted him to stick around just because some people thought it would be the right thing to do? She was better off without him."

"I know you're right. It just... she's gone and it hurts." His face reddened at this admission and for the third time that day, she ached for him. This man who had invested so much time and energy into covering up his emotional side now seemed to have no choice but to open up. She was thankful that she was the one he was opening up to, but it was still hard to see him so anguished.

"Now, as for the rest for your negative thoughts, I never met your Mother, and you don't speak of her too often. From what you have said though, I know she adored you, that she thought of you as a blessing. Would she have wanted grandchildren? Of course she would have. Every mother does; it's in their genes. But not at your expense. She didn't want you to just be a sperm donor, Grissom."

Sara continued on though both of them had a slight blush gracing their faces. "She wanted them because she wanted you to be happy. She wanted you to love and be loved. If you didn't find somebody to make you happy yet, then I'm sure she didn't want you to settle for less than what you deserved. She wanted you to have it all."

"Yeah."

"You need to remember the good things too Grissom. You need to remember her as a strong woman who loved life and loved you."

She stopped to let him chew on that for a while. They finished another lap around the lake before he spoke again.

"Thank you, Sara, for being here. Thank you." He pulled her into a brief hug. And again there was nothing sexual about it. It was a warm embrace given, and taken, in friendship. Both of them felt better.

Sara stopped by every day after work to check on him. To talk about how their respective cases were going, how William was fairing settling the rest of Olivia's affairs all alone in California. Small things which had set them on a path of healing, for both of them.

They even made plans for a full day of movies and popcorn on Grissom's couch for later in the week. A day which they both found themselves looking forward to.

TBC

Battus philenor