A/N – This chapter is a little short, but I promise to have another one up by the weekend. Thanks for sticking with me through this. I have really enjoyed the reviews.

Thank you, Nessa, for looking over this chapter even though you have sick kids running about.

The drive west was made in silence. Alex expected as much, but thought that Sara would be sleeping, not looking out the window in what seemed to be deep thought. The moment he picked her up, he sensed that something was wrong. When asked, however, she explained that it was just tiredness.

"You're quiet," he said, risking a glance at her. "What are you thinking about?"

If Sara heard his question, she gave no indication. Alex reached over and grabbed her hand to get her attention. "Babe, you still with me here?"

Sara looked over at him in surprise. "What? I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"I'm just wondering what has you so distracted. You've barely said a word since we left Vegas."

"Really? Oh." Alex glanced over and noticed her studying their clasped hands in her lap, not knowing that was the same hand Grissom had caressed just a few short hours ago. He gave her fingers an extra squeeze, urging her to continue. "Well, um, I guess I just need to get used to this whole vacation thing. You know, decompress. It's been a while."

"Is that the only reason?"

"Yes. Why have you been second guessing everything I say?" she replied, a little impatiently.

"I'm sorry, I just really want this trip to be good for you – for us."

"I know you do. Really though, don't worry. I'm just not all that good at not working."

"How about this," he looked over to make sure he still had her attention, "after we check in, I'll run you a bath. While you are in there, I'll get us unpacked. Then I'll work on helping you decompress."

"And just how will you do that?"

"These hands here, babe, work wonders - you've said so yourself. So what do you think?"

"Sounds nice. What other plans do you have for us this week?" she asked, twisting to face him. "This trip was your baby – fess up."

Her smile and her response relieved him. "Actually, I don't have any plans for us. I figure that we could see where this week takes us. I just want us to be together," he said, hoping that she caught the double meaning. "Though, if you need for us to plan something, Venice has-"

"No. You're right, let's see where it takes us."

Keeping his eyes on the road, Alex smiled as he kissed the back of her hand.

-----------------------------------

The bed and breakfast that they checked into was nothing short of beautiful - Alex had made a wonderful choice. As promised, he started her bath, leaving her to herself as he settled them in.

Sara sat on the edge of the tub and ran her fingers through the bath water to check the temperature. It was still a little hot to bathe in, so she took her time undressing as she waited for it to cool down.

Toeing her shoes off, the magnitude of what conspired that morning hit her full force. Grissom pretty much laid it all out for her. He said that she was worth the risk - that she was worth waiting for because he believes they belong together. The knowledge of this excited her but did nothing to ease her mistrust or apprehension. Leave it to Gil Grissom to always be the one throwing a monkey wrench into her life. It would be dishonest, however, to say that she didn't let him.

Sara walked to the mirror over the sink and inspected the reflection presented to her. The past few months had erased the dark circles and tired lines. Her work hours remained the same but she slept more, laughed more - being with Alex has been good for her. She wasn't lying when she told Grissom that she needed a little 'safe' right now. She didn't love Alex, but maybe ... She wanted the chance to find out if she could. Looking closer at herself she could see something that was new and unwelcome. She saw doubt.

Sara turned back toward the bathtub and began unbuttoning her blouse. She had to shake off this mood she was in. Alex was trying really hard to make this trip special for them – for her – and she needed to try just as hard.

Alex's knock and inquiry of her wellbeing interrupted her thoughts. "I'm fine." There's no time like the present. Taking a deep breath she continued, "Actually, I was just thinking about how it would be nice to have some company in here."

She heard the soft sound of the door opening and his footfalls as he approached her from behind. "I was hoping you would say that," he said, as he brought his hands up to her shoulders and finished removing her shirt. His kisses began at her shoulder and continued their slow path to her ear. "Mmm, I love you," he whispered.

Sara turned in his arms and joined him in divesting each other of their clothes, all the while praying that he could make her love him as much as he loved her.

----------------------------------------

That evening found them arm in arm, taking an after dinner stroll down the shop-lined sidewalk along Washington Boulevard. As they made their way toward the beach, she only half listened as Alex told her something about the roasted eggplant lasagna they'd just shared, and how he could enjoy vegetarian food like that for the rest of his life. Her attention was on the small handful of galleries along the street, telling herself that her interest in them was only because of her fascination with art.

TBC…