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 What's Eating Gil Grissom.

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

Status: Finished

After Kevin Greer's suicide, Grissom kept mostly to himself for the rest of the day. At first, Sara had thought that he just needed time to think, but when he remained in his office after shift change, she realized that something was wrong. There was no doubt that the case had affected everyone involved at one level or another, but she had never seen Grissom this…detached? Even with the Paul Millander case, Grissom had treated it as just another case, even when Millander had tried to make it personal. So, that was why Sara was having trouble figuring out why this case was having such a profound effect on him.

She had debated stopping by his office before heading out, but thought better of it. They had finally began talking again, being amicable to one another once more. If he wanted to talk, he knew her number. After their impromptu dinner, she believed in her heart that if he wanted to talk, he'd call her.

At least, that's what she kept telling herself. In the back of her mind, she was really wondering what if Grissom was just giving her what she wanted? Just enough to appease her, but not enough for it to be meaningful.

Sara tried not to think about it, instead losing herself into the latest issue of Forensic Magazine. Just because she was off the clock didn't mean she had to leave the job behind. She was particularly fascinated by one of the feature articles, Microbial Forensics, which focused on possible implications in a bioterrorist attack. Sure, biological attacks were the last thing Las Vegas had to worry about, but it couldn't hurt to be somewhat versed in the subject.

Unfortunately, the ringing emanating from the phone interrupted her. She reached across the couch, her attention still on the article, when she picked up the phone.

"Hello?" There was silence over the line, Sara's attention waning from the magazine in her lap. She waited for a response, but one never came. "Hello?" At this point, she made an educated guess as to who was on the other end of the line. After all, he was the only one that she'd been talking to recently on the phone. "Grissom?"

Finally, the silence subsided. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called. I…"

She stopped him before he could convince himself that this was a mistake. "It's okay. I'm not busy. What's up?"

He hesitated for a moment before answering her question. "It's nothing, really. I just…" Sara wasn't certain if Grissom had finished his thought or just let it fade away.

"Just what, Grissom?"

He sighed softly, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I just wanted to hear your voice."

Sara subtly smiled at his words, her voice soft. "Anything else I can do for you?"

"Just…just talk to me?"

Sara curled her legs beneath her as she continued. "Okay. What do you want to talk about?"

She could hear something different in his voice as he spoke. What was it? Sorrow maybe? "Anything. I…anything you want."

"Okay." Her back pressed against the cushions of the couch, her head tilted to one side, practically lying on her shoulder, as she thought of a suitable topic. "Have you read the Fall volume of Forensic Magazine yet?"

This elicited a small chuckle from Grissom, his tone less somber than before. "And here I thought I'd be the only one who'd ever ask that question."

Sara matched Grissom's chuckle. "Hey, you said anything. I just thought you'd feel more comfortable talking about something familiar is all."

"You're familiar." Her mouth opened slightly as though she was trying to speak before she closed it once more. She'd heard the words, but she wasn't sure what he meant. After all, Grissom was the master when it came to misinterpretation. "Sara?"

"Yeah?"

She could hear him audibly groan as he spoke. "Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

Sara leaned forward, finally realizing what Grissom was trying to say, even without the words. "What's wrong, Gil? Talk to me."

Even though he laughed, Sara could hear the insecurity laced within. "I thought that's what I was doing."

Her voice never wavered. "Gil. Talk. To. Me." She sighed softly, her hand running through her hair. "I'm not asking you to let me in. Just…just tell me what's on your mind. Just give me something. Anything, so I can help you."

Another awkward silence permeated the line, Sara about to speak. Fortunately for her, Grissom beat her to the punch. "I don't think I have anything to give."

Her initial observation was correct. The Greer case was indeed bothering him. "I'm not sure if I followed you around that corner. What do you mean you don't have anything…" She never got the chance to finish the question.

"I look at Greer, and I wonder what makes him all that different than the next guy? What makes him different than me? He was just a normal guy." He lowered his voice, the confusion evident. "A normal guy."

"They're all normal guys on the outside, Gil. It's what's on the inside that makes you who you are."

"What if there's nothing there?"

Her voice was tender as her heart began to ache for him. "If there wasn't, we wouldn't be having this conversation. You wouldn't be letting this get to you like this. And you wouldn't have cared what I thought."

His voice matched hers, the honesty clearly evident. "I always care what you think, Sara."

She smiled at his words. "I know you do. I was just trying to make a point."

"Which is?"

Grissom could hear the lightheartedness in her voice as she answered him. "You're a helluva guy. Even if you don't seem to think so."

Grissom chuckled softly, cynicism lacing his words. "Give it time. You'll figure it out eventually."

"Figure what out?"

"What a bastard I really am."

She never hesitated as she spoke. "I know, Gil. Or have you forgotten last year."

Grissom sighed, beginning to regret his response to Sara's compliment. "No. No, I haven't."

"But, you know what?"

"What?"

"I still know you're one of the good ones, even if you can't see it."

Grissom smiled at her words as he spoke. "You're never going to give up on me, are you?"

Sara answered, certainty in her tone. "Not a chance."

His voice was gentle as he responded. "Thank you."

"Nothing to be thankful for. It's what friends do."

"Guess I should be thankful for having you for a friend then."

"You and me both." Both shared a gentle laugh. Then, as an afterthought. "Hey, are you busy?"

The puzzlement was evident in his voice. "No, not really. Why?"

"I was going to take a run through Baker Park later. Wanna tag along?"

She could hear the uncertainty in his voice as he answered her question. "Sara, I'm not really the runner type."

"Then, how about a leisurely stroll?"

Grissom chuckled softly. "I can do a stroll. When?"

He could hear the playfulness in her voice as she spoke. "How's now work for you?"

She was rewarded with another gentle laugh. "Rather well, actually."

Sara returned with a small chuckle of her own. "Okay, see you in a few minutes?"

"I'll be there."

The line went dead, Sara returning the phone to its charger. She smiled slightly as she rose from the couch, making her way to the bedroom to change into appropriate walking attire. She hadn't a clue what was happening between the two of them, and she really didn't care. All that mattered to her for the moment was that Grissom opened up to her, and that meant more to her than he'd ever know.

Fin