Title: Length of Love

Author: Spike Speigel

E-mail:

Rating: PG

Classification: Grissom/Sara

Disclaimer: As usual, these characters don't belong to me. Just taking them for a joyride.

Spoilers: Everything before and including Swap Meet.

Summary: Sara and Grissom continue their conversation. Second call.

Status: Finished

It had been another routine day at the lab. So much so, that Grissom had gone home early since he was almost caught up on his paperwork. Couple that with no outstanding cases, and Grissom had heeded Catherine's advice to finish his paperwork at home. Hell, even the boss deserved a breather once in a while. Although Grissom was somewhat certain that Catherine wanted the practice of heading up the lab in the interim while she waited for word about the dayshift opening, he didn't mind it that she wanted to get a feeling for the position. After all, it was because of her that he was currently in his townhouse instead of his office finishing paperwork. Besides, although he'd never admit it to anyone in the lab, he really wanted some time to decompress. To just sit and not think about the evils of humanity. To just sit and not think.

So, here he was, sitting in front of his computer, doing, of all things, checking his e-mail. While his lab account was checked daily per routine, he very rarely checked his personal e-mail. After all, he really didn't know anyone that'd e-mail him outside of the lab other than his mother. So, he checked his inbox at least once a week just to make sure his mother had written to him. Usually, she was pretty consistent, sending an e-mail once every two weeks. And, according to Grissom's count, this wasn't the week for correspondence. But still, just to be sure, he checked.

However, before his inbox could load, the phone began to ring. Grissom turned away from the computer monitor, moving to his right to answer the phone. Upon picking up said phone, he answered as cordially as was in his nature.

"Grissom."

The voice on the other end was both a surprise and a welcome distraction. "I never would have believed it if I didn't hear it. Catherine told me you went home early. Guess I'll have to apologize to her tomorrow for calling her a liar."

Grissom chuckled softly while he spoke. "What can I do for you, Sara?"

"Nothing. Just wanted to see what you were doing with your time off."

"It's not exactly time off. I do have paperwork to complete."

Sara smirked slightly. "Of course you do."

"You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you didn't believe me."

Her tone was playful as she responded. "Perish the thought."

A smile emerged from the corner of his lips as he continued. "So, what are you up to?"

"Nothing much really. Just got in. I'll probably order dinner and mess around on the computer before I call it a night."

The curiosity was evident in Grissom's voice as he spoke. "Mess around?"

"Oh, you know. Surf the web. Check my e-mail. Stuff like that." Sara thought about her response before making an addendum. "Or do you know?"

His response was civil yet teasing at the same time. "Yes, Sara. I do know how to surf that thing you kids call the web. And your automocars don't frighten me anymore once I got the hang of them. Just in case you were wondering."

This elicited a hearty laugh from Sara, still attempting to catch her breath as she spoke. "Automocar?"

"I do watch shows other than what's on the Discovery Channel."

"But, the Simpsons?"

Grissom grinned slightly. So he wasn't the only one in this conversation that was a fan. "What can I say? Homer's a man after my own heart."

"Loud and obnoxious?"

The answer wasn't one Sara was expecting. "Family man."

"Oh."

"Something wrong?"

She spoke, her voice gentle. "No. Nothing wrong. It's just…" She took a breath before continuing, trying to compose her thoughts. "It's just, I never knew you thought about things like that."

"Sara, I may seem to be xenophobic to the casual observer, but I'm really just an ordinary guy when you come right down to it."

"An ordinary guy? That's funny."

Grissom spoke, his curiosity piqued. "How so?"

The honesty in her voice was unmistakable. "You're anything but ordinary to me." Both remained silent, neither knowing exactly the right words to say. Sara thought she'd crossed a line that she thought was still in play while Grissom, who once upon a time would have told Sara that the conversation had become inappropriate, found himself considering her words as well as a suitable response. Unfortunately, before he could come up with one, Sara finally spoke. "So, uh…what are you doing right now? Unless I'm interrupting your paperwork, that is."

Grissom sighed softly, somewhat relieved, somewhat disappointed that he didn't get a chance to respond to Sara's previous comment. "Actually, I'm messing around on the computer."

"Let me guess, an entomology website?"

Grissom laughed softly. "You know, I should be offended for being egregiously stereotyped like that, but I'll let it go." He could hear Sara trying to stifle her giggle on the other end of the phone as his chair swiveled back toward the computer monitor. "But, if you must know, I'm checking my e-mail."

Sara queried with a casual tone. "Anything interesting?"

"No, not rea…" That's when he saw it. Instead of the empty inbox he expected to be awaiting him, there was one solitary message waiting his perusal. He clicked on the inbox icon, the name attached to the message one he didn't expect to ever see again.

"Grissom? You okay?"

"Um, yeah. Hold on a sec?" He read the name once more, just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. He looked at the date stamp. It was only two days old. He was so focused on the e-mail waiting for him at this point that he almost forgot that he was talking to Sara. That was, until she whistled into the earpiece.

"Earth to Grissom. Helloooooo."

Grissom stirred from his near hypnotic trance, his voice wavering as he spoke. "I'm sorry, Sara. It's just…" He didn't bother to finish his thought.

"Just what?"

His voice was monotone as he spoke. "Teri Miller."

The puzzlement in Sara's voice was apparent as she spoke. "The forensic pathologist?"

His answer was concise as he finally opened the e-mail. "Yeah."

"Are you calling her in for another case?"

Grissom began to read the message that Teri had sent him, speaking only in simple sentences at this point. "Uh, no. No."

"Grissom, are you okay? You sound…" Sara really couldn't put her finger it, but something had changed during the course of the conversation. "You sound, I don't know…different."

He continued reading, alleviating Sara's concern as best he could. "I'm fine."

"You sure?"

A moment of silence passed as he finished reading Teri's e-mail. "Yeah." Another moment passed until Grissom spoke once more. "Sara, can I ask you a personal question?"

Sara thought about the request before answering. "Of course."

"Did you love him? Hank. Did you love him?"

Sara pondered Grissom's query, taken aback by the intimacy of the question. Nonetheless, she answered frankly, solemnly. "I thought I did. But, no matter how much you want something, it's not going to work if your heart's somewhere else." She sighed, frustration tinting her voice. "I'm sorry. I'm probably not making any sense."

Grissom continued to stare at the e-mail, his attention now fully invested in his conversation with Sara. "It's okay. I think I know what you're trying to say."

Sara nodded absentmindedly, her mind still going over Grissom's question. That's when it hit her. She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Did you love her?"

She expected him to brush the question away as he did so many other personal questions posed to him in the past. That's why his answer startled her to the degree it did, his answer eerily familiar to hers. "I thought I did."

Sara's breath caught in her throat, unsure of whether she wanted to continue along this direction. Unfortunately, she was already too far in. She had to see where this was going, if not for herself, for Grissom. "So, what does she want?"

His voice was somber as he spoke. "She's recently divorced. She wants to have dinner. For old times' sake."

Sara's voice remained soft, timid, as she spoke. "Um, that's good. Right?"

Grissom smiled slightly as he hit the reply button on the e-mail. He began to type his response. "Sara?"

Her voice faltered as she tried to mask her insecurity. "Yeah, Griss?"

His fingers continued to move deftly across the keyboard. "You haven't had dinner yet, correct?"

The confusion was evident in her voice as she answered his question. "Uh, no. I was just about to order some Chinese. Why?"

Grissom's fingers finally stopped, his hand moving to the mouse, the arrow hitting the send button. "Would you like to have dinner with me?"

Her heart stopped. Yes, it was finally official. She'd died earlier and this was all some beautiful, cruel fantasy. "Dinner?"

"Dinner."

She stumbled for a response, hoping she was as coherent to Grissom as she sounded in her head. "Uh, sure. Yeah. I can do dinner."

Grissom smiled at her nervousness as he continued. "This Chinese place. Do they have dine-in as well?"

"Um, hold on. I'll check." Grissom could hear a slight rustling of paper before Sara came back on the phone. "Yeah, they do."

"Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"There?"

Grissom grinned slightly at the question. "Your place. You'll have to show me where it is since it's likely I've never been there."

"Oh, okay. I'll…I'll be waiting."

"See you in a bit." As he was about to hang up the phone, Sara's voice emanated from the earpiece, Grissom bringing the phone up to his ear.

"But, what about your paperwork? Didn't you want to finish it?"

His answer was to the point, his voice serene. "It'll keep."

Sara smiled upon hearing his words, her voice matching his. "Okay. I'll be here."

"Okay."

With that, Grissom hung up the phone. He looked at the computer screen for a moment, thinking about what had just transpired. A smile emerged on his face as he placed the computer in sleep mode, never looking back as he made his way out of the townhouse. He'd seen what the past had to offer. It was time to see what the present had to show him.

Fin