Ironically, it was his hearing that first alerted Grissom to world outside the deep peace of unconsciousness. A soft lub-dub, a gentle smacking noise against something cold. Somewhere in the back of his foggy mind it registered that those were feet against tile.

Then came his sense of smell. Lemon. Clean. Sterile.

He became aware that he lay on his side, head propped up with a firm pillow. His mouth was dry, as dry as it had ever been.

Slowly, he opened his eyes. White. He blinked, attempting to clear to blurry picture before him. He saw the heart monitor beside the bed, the barren walls, the TV in the corner playing on mute.

A brown tuft on the edge of the bed caught his attention. It moved.

"Sara..." he croaked. He could barely talk his throat was so dry. "Sara..."

She stirred and groggily opened her eyes.

"Wha... Grissom!" She sat upright. "Grissom!" He was glad one of the first things he saw was her smile.

"Water?" He asked weakly.

"Yeah. Yeah, sure." She wheeled herself over to the bedside table. Wheeled. She's in a wheelchair. "Here." He greedily drained the white plastic cup of its contents. "Do you want another one?"

"No," he coughed. "No, I'm ok for now."

"How do you feel?"

A smirk crossed his face. "Like I got blown-up."

She groaned. "Very funny."

"I thought so."

She sighed. "Seriously, how are you feeling?"

"To be quite honest, I'm not sure yet. I just woke up, can't feel everything yet." He paused. "But just as a warning, what am I going to feel when I fully come to?"

"Well, let's see... I guess your head isn't as hard as we all thought it was, because you got a good concussion. And, uh, a broken wrist."

"Is that it?" He shifted on his side in order to see her better, but in doing so, a sharp pain coursed through his chest. He couldn't hold back the gasp.

"Oh, yeah, and three broken ribs."

"Thanks for letting me know."

"No problem."

Silence again.

"What about you? What's your inventory?"

"Oh, just two broken legs."

"Both of 'em?"

"Yeah. You're heavier than you look."

"Oh... uh, sorry."

"Hey, that's ok. I'd rather two broken legs than no head." He nodded, sadly recalling the events of the prior day. "How did you know?" she asked quietly.

"About Hol?" she nodded. "I didn't know about him per se, I mean I had good feeling that it was him, but I wasn't sure. I guess I just put one and one together..."

"And got a big bang."

"Yeah."

"Um, Griss," she looked away. "I just wanna... um..." she sighed again. Turning back to him, "I just want to say thank you. I mean I could've..."

"It's... It's ok," he grasped for her hand. "I just wish..."

"Well, Mr. Grissom, welcome back!" A plump, brown-haired nurse entered the room. "Ms. Sidle, are you still here? I tell you Mr. Grissom, this girl has not left your side for the past two days." I've been out for two days... Sara's been here? "Honey, I was just talking to Jimmy and he said you get to go home tonight."

"Yeah, Cass, I do."

"Well, that'll be nice. But right now, you gotta leave this room. I have to do some checks on Mr. Grissom here and, sorry, but you can't be here."

"That's all right, Cass. I'll go." She backed away. "So, um... I'll see you later."

"Yeah." Grissom's eyes never left her as rolled through the door, out of sight.

The halls seemed more deserted than they usually did, but this was his first day back in nearly a month. Maybe things had changed.

He scratched at the white cast that encircled his wrist. He was literally counting the days down on the calendar until it came off.

He looked up just in time to see Judy, one of the receptionists.

"Dr. Grissom it's so good to have you back safe and sound." He could tell she truly meant it.

"It's uh... It's good to be back."

She nodded. "Catherine's waiting for you in the break room."

"Yeah, thanks." He'd gotten the page about ten minutes ago alerting him that his fellow CSI wanted assistance with some evidence. What she was doing in the break room, he didn't know. He didn't want to.

He noticed the door was slightly ajar as he approached, the low hum of conversation emitting from the crack. With trepidation, he pushed the door open.

"SURPRISE!"

Grissom almost made a run for the door, the voice in head screaming "Why did you open it, you idiot?"

"Nnnnnn...." Catherine caught him by the sleeve and hauled the rest of his body into the room. "I don't think so. We may not be able to get away with this on your birthday, but we're sure as hell gonna do it now."

Grissom couldn't help but smile, even with the deep crimson that was quickly spreading through his face.

Nick was the first to approach. "Hey there boss man," he gripped the older man's good hand. "It sure is good to have you back."

"Yeah," Warrick chimed in. "No more having to listen to Attila the Hun." He gestured back to Cath who stood, a happy smirk crossing her face.

"I'm glad to back guys. I really am."

He took some more congratulatory shakes and even accepted the slice of cake that at one time had said "Welcome Back Grissom".

It took him a while but he was finally able to spot a certain brunette among the other festive celebrators.

"Sara," he brushed his hand against her shoulder to get her attention.

"Hey." She has the most beautiful smile. Funny how I never noticed it before. "How you doing? And don't you dare say like you got blown up."

He put his hands up in surrender. "Ok, then. I won't." She took a sip of pop from the yellow plastic cup in her hand. "I'm good. Feeling good, especially being back here."

"Home?"

He chuckled. "Yeah, something like that."

"You know, Griss..." She stopped mid-sentence and glanced down at her belt. "Damn thing." She shook her head apologetically, holding her small beeper. "I gotta go return this call"

"Yeah, sure. I'll see later."

"Right."

Grissom leaned back in his chair. It had been a long time since he'd been here in his office. A longer time, he mused, since he'd done any real paperwork. And it showed. Catherine had kept up with most of it, but there were certain things that only a shift supervisor could do. Why she hadn't just forged his signature floored him.

A gentle rap sounded from the door.

"Come in." He'd welcome just about any distraction at the moment.

"Hey."

"Hi Sara. What's up?"

"Um," she said, closing the door. "Guess I just wanna talk."

"Ok. What about?"

He could see the mental anguish coursing through her as she sat down on the chair opposite him. He stood and came to rest on the edge of the desk.

"What's up?" That's right. Try to reassure her.

Suddenly, looking up: "I never thanked you."

"What? Yes you did, back at the hospital..."

"Those were just words. I mean, really, how much can they possibly mean?"

"Sara, they were enough."

"No!" She shouted. "I just feel like... I don't know. They somehow weren't enough."

"Sara," he reached down and took her hand. Again. It was becoming a not uncommon occurrence. Even he noticed it. "Trust me. It was enough."

She looked up, a shaky smile slowly beginning to form on her face. "Thank you," it was barely above a whisper.

The sat for a moment, just savoring the sweetness.

"Actually," he began, dropping her hand and rising. "I'm glad you came by. I have a question for you." He walked across the room. He needed courage for this. And that meant being as far from her as possible.

"Really?" Here we are again, back in our Everything's Normal mode.

"Yeah..." He stood for a moment gazing at his hands.

"Just spit it out Griss." He smiled at her directness.

"I was wondering if... um, that is, would you.... uh, I'd like...maybe you don't even want this anymore, but..."

"Are you asking if it's too late?"

His head shot up. His silent shock edged her further.

"What did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking breakfast... or, or dinner... you know whichever..."

"And then what?"

"Then?" He was honestly confused. "I guess another breakfast and/or dinner."

"Uh-huh... Then what?" She had risen by now and was halfway across the room.

"See where it takes us." She nodded.

Face-to-face now. He could feel her body heat. But he could also sense that she was just as unsure as he was.

"Where do see it taking us?"

He gulped. "I was hoping for something that ended with 'I do.'"

She nodded and backed away, her face falling, and with it, his spirit.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't want it to end with 'I do.'"

"Oh." He literally felt like a sail suddenly deflated of wind.

"That's always just been a beginning for me."

She smiled shyly, barely revealing the gap. His face quickly lit up.

"So, will you?"

"Is this your breakfast invite?"

"Yeah. Yeah it is."

She thought for a moment.

Suddenly she was in his arms, pressing against his still healing chest. "Ouch."

"Sorry!" she pulled back.

"That's ok." He looked down at her. "Sara, thank you."

"For what?" Now it was her turn to be confused.

"Everything." With that he placed a chaste kiss upon her lips.

Had they not been so engaged with the other, Sara and Grissom might have heard the soft sigh of frustration coming from the Texan just outside the door.

"Ah man! You've got to be kidding me!" Nick backed away from the small section of window that was not concealed by the blinds. Warrick just laughed.

"You lost, man. Pay up."

Reaching for his wallet, Nick continued, "As sad as I am to see this money go to you, War, I can't say I'm disappointed."

"Yeah, I hear ya. Had I known it was gonna be this easy, I'd have blown up Sara's apartment three years ago."

"Well, doesn't look like you'll have to do it now." He handed the newly minted bill to his coworker.

"Welcome to your new home Mr. Grant."

A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed this!! It was GREAT!! I really and truly appreciated every single one of them.

For you YTDAW users- I almost put the couch in the office just for kicks!!