A/N First of all I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update. RL has been a total nightmare but I managed to find some quiet time and settle down to write.
Huge thanks to everyone for the emails, reviews and general well wishes. You guys are great and it has been a tremendous comfort knowing I have so many people supporting me.
Also huge thanks to Suzy for beta-ing this while we were online last night and for pointing out the parts of the stories that needed attention. Thanks hun, you're a star. Also hugs to Laura Katharine, Niff and Marlou, my support system for the last few months. I love you guys.
Chapter 11
Sunlight streamed through the hospital window, casting a warm glow throughout the room. Closing her eyes, Sara relished the welcoming warmth, letting it fill her senses. Part of her couldn't wait for Grissom to come back and pick her up to take her home, but if she was totally honest with herself, she knew that some small part of her was still very much afraid.
Her whole self confidence had been rocked, shattering the very part of her that had distinguished her personality from anyone else's. Gone were the sparks of rebelliousness that kept her grounded. Gone was the independent woman, who strove for justice for the innocent victims, whose lifeless corpses depended on her for answers.
Something was lost the day that Vincent Lurie took her from the life she knew. So many feelings made every problem, every doubt about herself seem so much larger than they actually were. At this point in time, Sara couldn't be sure that she would ever be able to regain her strength and repair the damage that Lurie had already done to her.
Had he been watching her before that fateful day? Had he followed her to her home and fantasized about being with her? The thought of Lurie being so close and yet undetected scared her to the very core. Would she ever feel safe on her own again? She wanted her independence back; she needed it back.
So engrossed was she in her self analysis, that she didn't notice the worried gaze of the man she loved, upon her.
Grissom watched her silently. He knew that when the time came for her to take a step out into the outside world again, with it would come the inevitable chaotic emotions. He knew just from his silent observations, that Sara was over thinking, being overly critical of herself and living in the shadow of her own self doubt.
Taking a step closer, he made his way towards her bed and reached out a tentative hand.
"Sara?"
She jumped at his touch. Blinking wildly, Sara turned her head quickly and swallowed down the lump in her throat. "Grissom?"
"Are you okay?" he asked softly as he moved to sit down onto the bed beside her.
"Me?"
"Yeah, you looked a little...distracted." His gaze met hers and he couldn't resist leaning a little closer to run his fingers through her hair.
"Oh," she smiled, blushing slightly. "I'm fine."
Grissom nodded, still unconvinced that she was anywhere near being fine, but he let it go, for now. "Okay."
Sara smiled up into his eyes and tried as best as she could to reassure him that she was going to be all right, but at the same time, she knew that he knew her better than most people actually did. "I'm ready to get out of here."
"Yeah, I saw your doctor on the way in here, he seems..." he sought for the right word, smiling as he came up with an ideal candidate. "Relieved!"
For the second time in minutes, Sara couldn't help the small chuckle that slipped from her lips. "I guess I've been a little uncooperative."
"Only a little?" He teased softly as he playfully bumped her shoulder. "We're as relieved to get you home as he is to see the back of you."
"Thanks, I think," she smiled, offering him her hand so that he could help her off of the bed.
Sara's legs wobbled slightly, and she grabbed his forearm with her other hand. Grissom reached around her shoulders, steadying her shaking body. "Sara—"
"I'm fine," she insisted. "I stood up too quickly. Give me a minute and I'll be okay."
Grissom watched her cautiously. He knew she had an infuriating stubborn streak, and that on many occasions he had been the recipient. He wanted to protect her in every way he could, if only she would let him.
Silently, he waited for her to regain her bearings and stand up a little straighter beside him. Her free hand slowly slipped from his arm and she smiled at him triumphantly, in her own way telling him that she was right to try on her own.
Leaning closer, Grissom placed a soft kiss on her forehead and bent to pick her overnight bag up from the floor. "You ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
Linking his hand through hers, Grissom led her slowly out of the room, being careful to take things slowly. She was still very sore and in no way one hundred percent fit, even though she argued that she was. "Nick's going to drop by on his way into work tonight," he told her, hoping to ease her back in amongst them again. "He said something about bringing you rabbit food."
Sara chuckled softly and looked up at him. His tender smile melted her heart and she'd never seen him look so adorable. Leaning into him, she took solace in his warmth and let his love for her heal the still open wounds in her self-confidence.
Grissom released Sara's hand and snaked it around her shoulders to pull her in closer while they walked. He could remember how furious he had been with himself when Sara's relationship with Nick had brought his jealousy to the fore. Their bond had always been more of fellow siblings than anything overtly romantic, but before he had finally seen what he'd been missing for so many years, he had worried that the two of them were involved.
Stopping just outside her room he maneuvered her towards a nurse who was waiting for her with a wheelchair.
"I don't need that," Sara protested, shaking her head in defiance when Grissom looked towards the nurse for some help.
"Regulations I'm afraid," the young nurse insisted. "If you don't get in this, then you can't be allowed to leave the hospital."
"Well, that's just stupid," Sara grumbled as she sat down reluctantly into the wheelchair. "I'm fine, really. You should save this for someone who's really sick."
Grissom shook his head and shrugged apologetically towards the young woman beside him.
"Is she always so argumentative?" she chuckled.
"Very," he grinned, earning a scowl from the woman he loved.
"Hey, I'm still here you know!" Sara complained. "You're supposed to be on my side, remember?"
Shaking his head, Grissom smiled down at her reassuringly. Soon she'd be out of here and free to walk on her own, but he'd always loved the spark of defiance in her.
He was more than relieved to see the warm sunshine welcoming them into the real world. Neither he nor Sara had seen the outside of her hospital room for days, barring the retrieval of his Yukon to take her home.
"Here we are," the nurse informed her, infuriating Sara further with her 'I'm talking to a 5 year old,' voice.
"Okay, great, I'm outside. Can I please walk now?"
"She's all yours," the nurse chuckled, allowing Grissom to link his hand with Sara's to pull her out of the chair. He smiled his thanks and ignored the sympathetic looks that the young nurse gave him.
"Was that really necessary?" Sara asked quietly, when he snaked his arm around her shoulders. "I mean, I'm not sick, not really."
Images of Sara's bloodied body suddenly burst into Grissom's mind, and he shuddered inwardly at the constant reminder that he could have lost her. These last few days, she had given him so much and asked for nothing in return, and he loved her so much more because of it.
"Let's get you home okay?" he murmured, forcing the traumatic images away. He focused on Sara, paying attention to the warmth from her body that let him know she was very much alive.
Sara lifted her face onto the warm air and took a deep cleansing breath. "It feels like weeks since I was outside."
"I know," he nodded, his own thoughts on the same line as hers. They had both been content to stay cocooned with each other inside the safety of the small hospital room, banishing everyday obstacles and closing themselves off from the outside world.
"Everything seems so much bigger than I remember," she mused, looking around her surroundings. "I know that nothing's really changed, but...well, it feels different."
"That's because everything has changed," he told her with a smile. "We've changed."
Sara smiled up into his eyes and felt the familiar wetness brimming in her own. So much had happened in this last week. She had gone from feeling so desperately lonely and unwanted, to being scared for her safety and then to feeling loved more than she had ever felt in her life. The barrage of emotions had brought her to tears on so many occasions these past few days, and she doubted she would ever come to terms with so many changes in such a short space of time.
They came to a stop beside the stationary Yukon and Grissom fished inside his pocket for the keys. Sara's first initial reaction was to fight the bile that rose up from the pit of her stomach. Flashes of memories haunted her mind and she closed her eyes tightly to regain some kind of composure as to not alert the man beside her of her discomfort.
Grissom felt her tense beside him and looked around sharply, worry creasing his brow. "Sara?"
"I'm okay," she breathed, opening her eyes again. Memories of Lurie taking her away from her own Yukon brought her whole body into a trembling frenzy, but the more she tried to control it, the more she shook.
"Honey, you're not okay." Grissom placed her bag on the floor and took her into his arms. "He can't hurt you anymore."
"I know, I'm sorry...I..." pulling away from him, she gave herself a mental shake and turned towards the SUV, cursing inwardly at her weakness.
"Sara, we can take a cab if you're not ready for this."
"He's gone, right?" She told him defiantly, taking a step towards the vehicle. Lifting her shaking hands to the door, she reached to touch it slowly. "He's gone, he's not here..." The second her fingers kissed the cool metal of the Yukon, she pulled them back just as quickly, then took a step back and folded her hands protectively into the arms.
Grissom watched her silently, willing her to combat this fear and giving her the strength to do it herself. He knew this would be one hurdle she would need to conquer, and he wished more than ever that he could take her memories away for her.
Taking another breath, Sara tried again, this time gritting her teeth defiantly. "Get a grip Sidle," she hissed. "It's just a car, it can't hurt you." This time, when her fingers touched the metal frame she didn't pull back, but instead, forced herself to stay where she was. As the seconds ticked by, her mind eased the visions of Lurie away from her senses and she became more and more confident. Reaching for the handle, she pulled the door open forcefully, cleansing herself of Lurie and his loosening grip.
Grissom wanted to reach for her. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and tell her how proud he was of her, but he kept his distance while remaining close by, until she was ready to let him in. He watched on silently, urging her on with his thoughts. Every time she hesitated he willed her to find her strength and conquer her fears, hoping that in some way she would take his love and his strength to help her.
Sara was starting to feel more secure as the memories of Lurie's face started to fade away. With a triumphant smile, she climbed into the passenger seat and looked towards Grissom, amazed that he had understood her need to do this by herself. The smile she sent his way was enough to melt the ice from the highest mountain, and she hoped he knew that she loved him more than she had ever loved another human being in her life.
Grissom watched her with a mixture of love and pride, and the words I love you, bubbled on the tip of his tongue. Stepping closer, he leaned into the passenger seat and kissed her lips soundly before stepping away to close her door.
With Sara safely tucked inside the SUV, Grissom picked up her bag from the floor and opened the back door to place it on the seat. He then walked around to his side of the Yukon and climbed in behind the wheel.
For a few moments they just gazed at one another, content to bathe in the love that emanated between them. Reaching out to him, Sara slid her hand into his briefly before giving his fingers a squeeze. "I'm ready to go home."
0000000000
Grissom stood beside Sara on the sidewalk, waiting for her to make a move towards her apartment block. His concern for her had always taken a back seat to his fears in the past, but he couldn't deny the overwhelming wall of emotion that so often took his breath from his lungs, leaving him completely defenseless.
As he watched her now, he could feel that very same emotion building up inside him and for a moment he didn't know what to do to help her move forward. So, he decided to do the one thing he knew best. Stepping up closer behind her, he reached for her hand, his fingers seeking her warmth. When he felt her gentle squeeze in response, he knew that they were about to conquer another obstacle.
Sara's eyes drifted up towards her apartment block windows and for the first time, she sensed a feeling of complete clarity wash over her. She could feel Grissom's warmth seeping into her body and knew that no matter how many times she had feared her return to normality, as long as she had him beside her, she could win the battle with her demons.
"I shouldn't be afraid of my own apartment," she whispered. Turning slightly so she could see his eyes, she knew that he was just as much afraid as she was.
"It's only natural to feel apprehensive, Sara," he told her. Sliding his fingers through hers he gently nudged her forward, letting her know that he would be with her every step of the way.
Sara could feel her fear slowly ebbing away as he surrounded her with his warmth. Every other memory of their time in the small hospital room and what his love meant to her, gave her the courage she so desperately craved. With her hand still joined with his, she moved towards the main entrance, silencing the nightmares until they no longer held her captive.
"I can do this," she muttered, knowing every step was another one taken towards her full recovery.
"I'm right here beside you," Grissom whispered, squeezing her hand in reassurance, knowing that they still had a long way to go before she would truly be herself again.
They entered the large lobby and instantly the familiar surroundings sparked off Sara's senses, returning her to the safe retreat that had been her home. Turning slightly, she offered Grissom a small smile then led him towards the elevator.
The apartment was bathed in darkness when they walked in. The blinds were still closed across the windows and the staleness around the room hung in the air.
Releasing his hand, Sara moved towards the large living room window and pulled the cord to open the blinds, letting the warm sunshine swamp into the room. There was still something very unsettling in the pit of her stomach, and even though she knew that Lurie had never been inside her apartment, her mind still cast his unnerving presence into every room.
Turning back to face Grissom, she tried to focus on anything that would lift the veil from her mind and bring her back to her senses. She noticed an empty coffee mug still in the same place on the table where she had left it, before leaving for work almost a week earlier. For a second her memory transported her back to that day.
She'd ran out of beer and the only beverage she had left in the cupboard was some vintage brandy that she'd been given a few years earlier. She could remember the amber liquid burning her throat as she downed one mouthful, leaving the rest of it in the mug before leaving for work.
Panic started to rage through her veins. She had to essentially dispose of the offending evidence before Grissom smelt the stale alcohol on his own and decided she wasn't worth the effort after all.
"Oh God, this place is a mess." Ignoring the aching in her shoulder, she snatched the offending mug from the table and started towards the kitchen area. The last thing she wanted was for Grissom to know that she had been drinking, sometimes quite heavily in the weeks leading up to her abduction.
"Sara..." Grissom reached for her but she didn't seem to hear him.
"I need to..."
"Sara. Stop." He took her hand and stopped her movements, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"I..." she began, her lips suddenly feeling dry. "I should have made sure I cleaned before I left for work...I thought I'd be back...I thought..."
Grissom could see the ever present self-doubt creeping back into her eyes. Reaching for the mug in her hand, he took it from her and placed it onto the work surface. He didn't notice the stickiness in the bottom of the mug, nor that Sara's eyes seemed to be fixated on it. "You don't have to explain anything to me, Sara. I'm not here to check out how clean your apartment is. I'm here because I want to be here."
"I'm sorry." She whispered, relieved and saddened at the same time. "Lurie was never here, I know that, I should be able to make myself understand that...but, it feels like he's intruded into all the places that I thought were safe."
"You are safe, Sara." Reaching his hand to her hair, he smoothed down an errant strand before stepping closer to envelope her in his arms. "You have been through something traumatic. Don't beat yourself up over something that you can't control."
Tears gathered in her eyes as she forced herself to look up at him. "I feel so stupid. Why can't I get past this?"
She sank into his embrace and let his warmth surround her. She felt safe around him and the intensity of her need for him scared her. She had never needed anyone's help or comfort in the past, but since Lurie had stolen her life away from beneath her, she couldn't seem to find the strength that she had once relied on to keep her grounded.
Her arms slipped around his body and she held him to her. Even after everything they had been through. Even after all the pain and doubts, she was still just as scared as she had always been.
Grissom soothed her with his quiet murmurs of 'it's gonna be okay.' He could sense the change in her instantly and instinctively tightened his arms around her. They had both been through so much over these last few days, some things that he would much rather forget. He knew she was afraid of everything right now, but then so was he. His love for her terrified him, and at times, left him completely breathless.
Needing to reassure her, he started to slowly pull away from her so that he could look down into her eyes. "Tell me what I can do."
Sara could feel the usual wash of tears welling inside her eyes. She loved this man so much. "I want you to love me."
"Oh honey," he whispered, leaning in to place a soft kiss on her forehead. Didn't she know by now that she was everything to him? Swallowing down his own fears, he gazed into her eyes, hoping that she would see the love in his. "I do love you."
Sara's heart skipped a beat when he spoke and for a moment she feared that she would wake up from some wonderful, scary dream, but this was no dream. Sniffing back the ever present tears, she reached for him, needing to feel his arms around her again.
She wanted to tell him she loved him. She wanted to reveal to him how long she had loved him, how deeply she loved him, and in some way, she knew he had always known.
The last year had left her broken inside, with Lurie's kidnapping of her the final nail that held her down. But Grissom had changed everything, her growing love for him over the years causing her more pain than happiness, until now.
"I'm so tired," she whispered, suddenly feeling that her legs would no longer support her. "I want to be me again, not the pathetic weak woman I am now. This isn't who I am."
"You're not weak," he whispered. "You have been through so much and survived it. You'll get it all back again, I promise."
Sara pulled him closer to her body, her need to feel his warmth surrounding her outweighing everything else in her mind. Her eyes focused on the discarded mug that seemed to taunt her on the kitchen surface. It held a dark secret that left her feeling lost and guilty. She knew that she had to be honest with him if they were going to start off this relationship on the right footings.
"I have some things I need to tell you," she whispered softly, her mind conjuring every kind of different explanation for her distance with everyone of late. How could she tell him the truth about seeking solace in the bottom of a bottle and yet convince him that it wasn't a problem anymore?
Grissom released his hold on her slightly and lifted his head so that he could see into her eyes. Her usually deep blown eyes were glazed with worry, and not just from the nightmares she had suffered. Lifting his hands to her face, he trailed a finger over her cheek and smiled. "I'm here."
Sara closed her eyes against the burning tears inside them and cradled his hand on her face with her own. Opening her eyes again, she returned his watery smile with one of her own before leading him over to the small couch in front of the table.
"Sara—" he started, but she silenced him with a finger to his lips.
"No...Gil, let me say this okay?"
His silent nod gave her the tiniest bit of confidence that she needed to unleash her burdens and release herself from the ever present pain within. Taking a deep breath, she averted her eyes and thought of a way to begin what was going to be a very difficult admission. "When I was in the hospital I told you some things, but I wasn't totally honest with you."
"Ooo-kay." Grissom watched her cautiously as if she was a delicate package that could explode any second.
"I hadn't been happy—no, that's not totally true." Looking down at their intertwined fingers she blew out a breath before looking into his eyes again. "I felt like I had this big dark cloud looming over my head, and nothing could make it go away...and I did something...some things..."
Grissom couldn't bear to see her struggling to tell him what was on her mind, so he offered her a way out, telling himself that whatever it was that was still keeping her from him didn't matter any more. "Sara...honey, it doesn't matter now..."
"But it does matter," she insisted, letting a single tear escape to roll down her cheek. "I thought you'd lost faith in me, that you didn't think I was worthy of anything but your criticism. But, I was stronger than that, so I focused on the promotion. I wanted to prove you wrong and be the best I could be, because no matter what you thought of me, I was a damn good CSI."
"You are..."
"But you recommended Nick, and everything started to slip away from me." Shaking her head she relived the darkest moments of her life before Lurie. "I have no real friends here, or at the time I thought I didn't. I had no one to talk to, although Brass gave me his advice."
"Excuse me," Grissom asked, squeezing her hand gently before he continued. "Brass?"
"He told me...I'd find more problems in..." she met his eyes and was instantly taken in by the gentleness in them. "He said I'd find more problems than solutions in the bottom of a bottle."
Grissom sat quietly taking everything in and suddenly it all seemed to fall into place. Her dark moods, her distance, her reluctance to be alone with him, it all made sense now.
"Say something," she whispered, desperate for him to say anything to convey how he was feeling right at this moment.
"I wish you'd have come to me," he told her quietly, his fingers gently stroking hers. "I should have been more supportive."
"I could have been more open too," she whispered, "but I thought you hated me."
"Oh, Sara." Moving closer, he engulfed her in his arms, pulling her closer, being mindful of her still tender injuries. "We've both wasted so much time."
"I thought you'd be disappointed..."
"In you...no. Myself, yes. I should have asked you if everything was okay, but I didn't and I could have lost you because of it."
"No...no you couldn't. No matter how badly I thought you thought of me, moving on from you is something that I couldn't quite achieve. I..."
When her voice trailed off, Grissom nudged her gently. "You what?"
Sara wanted to tell him she had loved him for a long time but something still held her back. Leaning her head into the crook of his shoulder she let the feelings slide and relaxed against him. "I'm really tired."
"Okay," his breath brushed against her ear, causing her to shiver involuntarily against him. Moving back slightly, he began to release her, instantly missing her when she lifted herself from the couch to stand before him.
She watched him carefully, wanting him to come and lay with her more than anything else in the world. Holding out a shaky hand, she watched for his reaction, hoping he knew she wanted his closeness. He had been her rock in the hospital, keeping her nightmares at bay with his presence. She needed him to know that she still wanted that connection with him, more so now that she was home.
The slow, understanding, then slightly embarrassed smile that formed on his lips brought a new found warmth to her heart. His hand joined hers in slow motion, as if everything they had shared over the past few days had merged into one pure emotion.
He followed her blindly, knowing that their need for each other to heal was all they craved right now.
Sara's bedroom revealed the still made bed that indicated it hadn't been slept in for a while. Unlike the rest of the apartment, there was nothing out of place, no evidence to suggest that this room had been used in a very long time.
"I haven't used this room in a while," she admitted when he turned to her in silence.
"Oh...I..."
"I never slept with Hank," she whispered softly, keeping her eyes averted from his. He didn't need to know, she knew that, but somehow it made her feel better knowing he'd heard the truth from her, and that she hadn't slept with anyone since moving to Vegas.
Grissom didn't know what to say. He wished he could have offered her the same of him, but he hadn't been exactly celibate. All he could offer her now was his undying devotion, and the promise that when they did eventually take the next step into intimacy that he would always belong to her.
Letting go of his hand, Sara moved towards the bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress. Grissom's silence both scared and reassured her at the same time and for a moment she couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze.
She felt his presence before she saw him as he knelt down in front of her and took her hands. "Thank you for telling me."
She shrugged her shoulders as if the admission hadn't bothered her, but she knew he could see right through her façade. When he didn't move, she thought he might turn and flee. But when he came closer and gently urged her to lie back into the pillows, she met his gaze and knew they had crossed the invisible line that had always kept them apart in the past.
Grissom slowly sat down next to her on the bed and reached down to remove her shoes from her feet, one by one.
Sara watched him silently, his gentleness causing her to reach for his hands. He threaded his fingers through hers, and watched, mesmerized as she brought their joined hands to her lips.
There was so much she needed to say to him, but her words seemed to die on her lips. The last week had seen her go from a self confident, independent woman, to a scared shell of the person she'd been. She owed him so much. Grissom had not only become the man she always knew he was, but also the light in her darkness. He lit the way forward, melting her fears away.
Grissom could see the changing emotions in her eyes, and before he could stop himself, the words he had been so afraid to say before, spilled out onto his lips. "I love you."
Sara's hands stilled and she untangled her fingers so that she could caress his face as she brought him down to her lips. "I love you, too," she whispered, feeling elated and unburdened at the same time. Those three words had haunted her for so long, and only now, when she was finally able to unleash them and free her heart, did she understand how much she had needed to tell him.
Grissom's breath left him. It had been so long since a woman had whispered those words to him and meant them. Leaning in closer, he captured her lips and kissed her with every ounce of love that he possessed. This time there was no holding back, no hiding emotions that ached to be set free. They loved each other, had done so for a long time, and now they had both voiced their love, giving it a life of its own.
Closing her eyes, Sara focused on the feel of him, etching his touch into her mind. The memory of Lurie's hands upon her had left a deep scar, that still kept her locked inside an emotional prision. She wanted to be free. She needed Grissom to erase those memories and create new ones, memories that would burn inside her for all the right reasons.
Despite the pain in her shoulders, she reached for him and tried to pull him down to her lips. He readily complied, kissing her with a passion she had never known before. No man had ever made her feel like she was the only woman in his world, and her need for him grew deeper.
"Love me," she whispered hurriedly, desperately trying to remove his shirt as her hand left his neck to force the buttons apart.
All kinds of alarm bells rang inside Grissom's head and he had to fight with the rational side of his brain to register how wrong this was. He knew Sara still had a long way to go before she would be completely healed, and even more so before she was ready for the intimacy they were heading towards.
Focusing on every ounce of will power he had, he pulled his lips from hers and reached down to catch her hands with his. "Sara..." His breath came in ragged gasps and his body screamed out in protest, but he knew he had to be strong for both of them.
Sara stopped for a moment, opening her eyes to meet his in confusion. "Why have you stopped?"
"We can't do this..."
His words sent a thunderbolt straight to her heart and Lurie's grip on her tightened once again. "You don't want me..." Straightening her shirt, she released his hands and started to push herself away from him. Lurie's words rang in her ears, had he been right all along?
"Sara...God, honey, I want you, of course I want you." In desperation he reached for her hands and made her look at him. "I love you."
"Lurie told me..."
"He lied to you, Sara." Shuffling closer he slowly pulled her towards him. "He told you that no one would love you. He told you that you would never be free...Don't let his hatred pull you down, if you do, then he's won and you'll forever be doubting yourself." Pulling her hands to either side of his face, he leant in closer so she could feel the breath from his lips. "You are loved, Sara, more than you could ever know."
"I know," she nodded, tears springing to her eyes. "Make him go away."
"I will," he whispered, kissing her tears away. "But not like this, not yet."
Laying her back down onto the bed, Grissom removed his shoes and laid down beside her. He sought her warmth and pulled her into his arms, holding her close to him and relishing the feel of her body against his.
"I'm sorry," she whispered against his chest.
"Shh," he kissed her head and closed his eyes. "Rest now, we can talk about this later."
Closing her eyes, Sara relaxed against him. His love surrounded her, easing away the cobwebs of doubts that had sought to weave her mind with uncertainties. Vincent Lurie didn't emerge from the darkness to take her into a screaming nightmare this time. Instead, Gil Grissom's love encircled her, protecting her with his devotion, enabling healing sleep to calm her for the first time in many months.
TBC