Chapter 2

He still had the shot at his mouth, when a strong arm pulled him away from the bar and shoved him into a dark corner. He was blurred and disorientated for a moment, shaking his head, he dropped his glass onto the floor. It hit with a soft thud.

"What are you doing here?" The voice was stern but gentle, a woman's voice. He looked into the dark where he was stood, instantly recognising the fire in those eye's.

"Sara?" His face contorted, he wasn't aware that Sara went to bar's. Perhaps she was here with a friend, he though. The whisky unexpectedly hit his stomach, it burned. "What are you doing here?" He stammered, pulling her towards the wall where he had been thrown, rather than being stood over like a protective mother figure. "I mean, I'm sorry, I shouldn't ask that. What, what I meant was... I didn't know you came here." He was bashful, he had presumed too much.

Sara smiled, his smile, the one that held a thousand smiles and tears. "Yeah, I come here every now and again." She paused for a second, turning her head slightly, "I'm on my own actually, just having a quiet drink." She blushed, ashamed at her loneliness, but despite this, they both knew she had very little social life. "What did you just drink? It was too damn dark to be water! You only drink water!" She was avoiding his eyes, he had caught her out, and she had caught him. "What the hell are you doing here? You don't go out." It was a fact, one of the few things she thought she knew about him, she felt slightly put out that even this had turned out to be untrue.

Grissom stung slightly, he wasn't sure how to reply. Truthfully, he decided.

"I do go out, but it is rare. I'm here with a friend, he's the reason I come here," He noticed her blush still avoiding his eyes, so he continued "He plays in a band, covers Pink Floyd and does his set here from time to time. And yes I did just have a drink," he wanted to change the subject, it felt like a weakness, "What did you think to the singer? I was impressed, she was very good. A little raw, emotional perhaps, but very good." He caught himself again, he had forgotten Robin, "You wanna meet Robin? I just bought him a drink, he's brought me a CD of his band playing their music alongside the video of..."

"The Wizard of Oz?" She half smiled, he hadn't expected her to know. He searched for her gaze and raised an eyebrow "I happen to enjoy Floyd very much. So that would be the Dark Side of the Moon set, right? God, I really should have done that you know... listened to the music and watched the film." She let her hip slide into the wall slightly, getting comfortable, Grissom noticed and repeated his question,

"So, you wanna meet Robin? He'd love to meet you." He moved back towards the bar glad to have a little personal space again, but turned back towards her, "Would you like a drink Sara?" She hadn't moved, she was in her own world for a second. He had seen it often, during cases when she was contemplating something.

"You buying?" He nodded, yes "Lager, pint." She smiled again, this time revealing a little of her teeth. He ordered her a drink and had a chance to steal a glance, she was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, tight as always, but her top was black v necked with three quarter length sleeves. Not an unusual ensemble for Sara, her colours, but definitely not her work clothes.

"There ya go honey, two dollars please." He slid the coins to the barwoman, and placed his hand on the cold glass, relishing the feeling. He lifted it and turned back to her, holding the glass out towards her. She took it, and nodded. Returning to the bar he found Robins whisky and his own glass of water, now spattered with condensation.

"OK?" He asked, her face towards the glass. He referenced with his head towards where Robin was sat.

"Sure, lead the way boss." She was stood behind him, smirking.

"Sara!"

"I'm joking Grissom. Promise." He lead the way to his table, to find Robin standing, pulling his coat back over his shoulders.

"You leavin' Robin?" It occurred to Grissom that he had been gone more than fifteen minutes. He placed the drinks on the table, Robin looked at them and smiled,

"Yeah, I have to go, places to be, people to see. You know how it is." He looked to the brunette standing behind Grissom, "Hey, you're doing well, that last one was pretty damn good." Turning to his friend, "Have my drink for me huh Griss?" Robin winked and headed to the door.

"Wha...?" Gil stood, dumbfounded, he looked towards Sara, she was blushing furiously, but not smiling, in fact she looked perturbed. "What was that?"

She lifted the glass to her mouth, took a long drawn out drink and ventured towards a chair, opposite to where she could see Grissom's coat hung over the seating area.

She sat down, her leg's feeling weak. "Sit down?" She sat, wiping her top lip.

She crossed her legs and spread her arms across the back of the chair acting casually, as if he hadn't asked the question.

Grissom sat, back straight, still confused. He ventured, "So...? Do you know Robin?"

She sat forward, in a rather confronting manner. She wasn't smiling, but her eyes gave her away.

"You told me to get a hobby." It was a statement of fact, he had in fact told her to get a hobby, something to take her away from her everyday life.

"I still don't fully understand, do you go to see Robin play?" She sighed, her frustrated

sigh, "What? I don't understand," She had to tell him.

"I sing, Grissom. That was me. How could you not know it was me?" She shook her head slightly, upset. "I sing here once in a while. He comes in for a drink. OK? That's why I'm on my own. Anyway," She felt trapped, was trying to find a way out, "It was you're idea. You said to do something away from work. So I did. And here we are."

Grissom was dumbstruck. His face showed little of anything. "You gonna drink that? I think I could do with it." She asked, but had already got the glass in her hand and it was at her lips. She downed the whisky in one sip. She slammed the glass on the table and shook her head slightly. "You want another?" She asked furtively, uncrossing her legs needing an exit.

"Yeah, sure. Double." She stood and headed to the bar.

Grissom couldn't believe what had just happened, he was upset he had pursued this, it was obviously something personal to her, and he knew she must have felt awkward.

Her initial reaction to his presence confirmed this. He was awestruck by her talent, but confused by his memory.

His reaction had been so primal, the sense of the song so strong inside him.

She returned, slowly slid herself behind the table, she had evidently bought four drinks, two of which she pushed towards him.

"Thanks." Was his only available answer. He clenched one glass and allowed the liquid to warm his throat, and he hoped his senses, which had dulled slightly despite the revelation.

She cradled one in her long slender hand, her eyes still avoiding his,

"You're not angry at me?"

"I have no reason to be angry! You sing well, it was nice. Did you write the song too?" He was genuinely interested. She snorted, which stung him a little.

"No. I can't write. But I like the song." She gulped the drink.

"Evidently." He wasn't going to push, but she knew what he was referring to. She had cried during her song, she blushed at the memory.

"So... I like Robin's band, they're almost as good as the real thing." She had found common ground, even ground, "Would you mind lending me that CD once you've finished with it?" She attempted a smile. Grissom, catching her glance, lifted the other drink and threw it back in his mouth. The metallic taste was bitter but warm and friendly. He swallowed, hard.

"You wanna watch it now?" He enquired tentatively. He knew it was uncalled for, but he felt like socialising, and this didn't happen often.

"Sure." He was surprised by her reaction; he wasn't expecting her to agree so readily.

"Good. You wanna leave you're drink?" He smiled, knowing her tolerance to alcohol was good. In response she grabbed the glass and stood up, downing it in one.

"Nope, but I'll leave the cold one." She stood, her coat on, and allowed him to lead the way.