Disclaimer: I still don't own CSI or any of the characters from the show. If I did, this would be on TV and not on the internet.

Help Me

Chapter 8

"Gris, I can tell something's on your mind. You seem very distracted," Sara observed as they were finishing up their breakfast together.

Grissom's head shot up, "Am I that obvious?"

Sara nodded, "You seem a little extra quiet today."

"Oh. Well, Catherine made me think of something interesting today," Grissom said.

"What?" Sara inquired.

Grissom took a deep breath and paused, unsure of whether he should really propose this idea to Sara, "She was just saying how she thought you could use a vacation, a real trip away from Vegas. Just go somewhere and have fun. I know you are out of vacation and sick days, but I would let you take a week off anyway. I want you to be fully rested and ready to go when you come back to the lab."

"I don't know where I'd go," Sara sat her fork down.

"That's not all, you know Catherine, she can be so persuasive," Grissom continued, "she said that I should take a vacation too. She says I've been extra tired and irritable lately. I guess I have been on edge. So I was uh, thinking, you know maybe..."

Sara looked at him expectantly, amused at his trouble speaking. He never tripped over his words and whatever he was about to say was clearly very hard for him.

"You know, I think maybe we should finish this conversation in private," Grissom finally recovered.

Sara's eyes grew wider, "Okay. If you say so."

"It's nothing bad I promise," Grissom assured, catching her nervous look, "I just don't think this place is the best place to have a private conversation."

"So, where should we go?" Sara asked.

"Why not just back to your place since I'll be dropping you off anyway?" Grissom suggested.

"Works for me," Sara smiled.

"SARA!" Greg bounded up to their booth, "Sara, Sara, how are you?"

"Whoa Greg, down boy," Grissom laughed.

"Sorry, it's just so good to see you Sara," Greg grinned widely.

Catherine, Nick and Warrick strolled up to join Greg.

"Hi guys," Sara smiled weakly.

"It's good to see you Sara, we've been worried about you, you know," Catherine told her.

"Why don't you guys go ahead and sit down, I know you're dying to," Grissom instructed.

Two of the CSIs slid into the booth, Nick and Greg pulling up chairs. They all looked slightly embarrassed at having interrupted a private meal, but this was the diner they frequently ate at after shift.

The waitress arrived, looking a little flustered at so many new people at the table, to take their orders. Once she was through, they all wanted to talk to Sara.

"Are you feeling better?" Nick asked.

"Yes, Nicky, I'm feeling much better than I was a few days ago," Sara answered.

"Good to hear, we have really been missing you at the lab," Warrick told her.

"Yeah, so when are you coming back?" Greg inquired.

"I'm not sure yet. I still need some time off," Sara said.

"Don't rush her Greggo," Catherine warned.

"I'm sorry, it's just that it doesn't seem right without you around Sara," Greg narrowed his eyes at Catherine for acting like his mommy.

"Greg's right, it seems weird without you there," Nick smiled.

"It'll be good to come back to you guys when I do, you're like my family," Sara smiled, "and I'm sorry for banning you all from seeing me. I didn't think I could handle all the questions you were bound to have for me. I am still having a hard time with this."

"It's okay Sara, we understand that you went through a lot of emotional stress," Warrick assured her.

"No questions, we'll just be open for you to talk to any of us if you need it," Catherine offered.

"Thanks guys," Sara leaned gratefully back into the booth.

They chatted for a few more minutes before Grissom and Sara got up to leave, having finished their meals shortly after the rest of the gang showed up.

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Once they were safely inside Sara's apartment, she offered him a spot to sit down. Grissom sat uncomfortably, running over what to say and how to say it in his mind.

"So, what is this about a vacation you were saying?" Sara inquired.

Grissom smiled slightly, "Am I ever glad I decided to wait to say what I was about to say. I wouldn't have wanted the whole team there."

Sara furrowed her eyebrows, "Now you've just got me confused Grissom."

"Sorry, I just have a lot of things on my mind at once. I am not sure which part to start with," Grissom breathed heavily.

"Now you've said to me plenty of times not to be afraid to share what I was thinking with you, the same goes for me," Sara offered gently.

"You're right. What I was about to say, or was trying to say...would you be interested in taking a vacation together?"

Sara's eyes widened again, "What did you just say?"

Grissom's eyes shot up to meet hers, "I was just thinking that since both of us need to take a vacation. And I thought maybe we could go together. So you have someone familiar to talk to if you need."

"Okay. I just wasn't sure I was hearing things right," Sara studied his eyes, "you want to protect me?"

"Sort of," Grissom said nervously.

"That's really sweet of you. I think we could go somewhere together. Of course you can't tell the lab, they'd have a field day with that, thinking we are on a honeymoon or something. They all seem to think that we are in love or something," Sara laughed.

"As long as we're being so honest with each other...I do think I have feelings for you, Sara. I have for a long time, but I recently realized what an idiot I was for not accepting them sooner," Grissom closed his eyes, surprised at his own boldness.

Sara was dumbfounded, never having expected those words from his mouth, "Gris? You really still have feelings for me? I thought you didn't care for me that way. I still have feelings for you too."

"That's what I was afraid of," Grissom cast his eyes away from her.

"What?" Sara was puzzled.

"You're too good for me Sara," Grissom mumbled.

"Are you crazy?" she asked softly, as he turned his face to meet her gaze again.

"No Sara. I don't deserve someone like you," he sighed.

"Whatever makes you think that?" Sara studied his blue eyes.

"I've hurt you so many times. I'm afraid that if we were to try a relationship, I'd just end up hurting you again. I'm no good at this stuff Sara," Grissom lowered his head.

Sara reached out and gently raised his face, "Gris, you are nuts. I've always felt that I was the one who wasn't good enough for you. I'll admit you have hurt me before, but that was partly my own fault for wearing my heart on my sleeve."

"Sara, it's not your fault that I am afraid of affection," Grissom sighed.

"I think we both have some definite issues," Sara smiled.

Grissom cocked his head, "So you would still have me?"

"Gris, you saw me at my lowest point in my life. You weren't afraid to help me. You were there for me just when I needed someone the most. You didn't turn away and shun me. If anything, I feel like I should be ashamed when I look into your eyes, but I'm not. I see that you truly care for me. I can see that in your eyes, the way you look at me," Sara explained.

"I was amazed that when you needed help so badly you turned to me. I have always ended up pushing you away, but still you came back to me," Grissom whispered.

"I think it's because I still cared about you that I came to you," Sara said.

"Really?" it was his turn to be surprised.

Sara nodded, "Yeah. I could have gone to anyone for help, but I wanted to go to you. Maybe it's finally time for us to try a relationship."

"I agree. It's been way too long. We've played our stupid games. I think we need to be adults and admit the truth. I have had feelings for you since the day I saw you," Grissom admitted.

"I've had feelings for you for quite a while too," Sara said.

"I guess I'm just having a hard time believing it," Grissom explained, "after all the times I've turned you away and hurt you. Yet here you are, sitting in front of me, telling me that you still want me. I'm also kind of scared. I don't know, the word 'relationship' is a little frightening."

"Love is a complicated thing," Sara offered, "that's got be the only explanation for it all these crazy feelings.. I have a hard time believing this too. I think the best way is to take this slowly. We can figure it out together."

"This has been weighing on my mind all morning, that's why I was acting funny earlier at the diner," Grissom explained.

"I figured as much," Sara grinned warmly at him.

"I can't believe I just admitted all that to you, my heart is pounding," he said.

"Mine too," she admitted, "but I think it's a good thing. What do you say we pick out a movie to watch?"

"Sure, sounds like a date?" he stated, more as a question.

"I think so. If you want it to be that is," Sara returned.

"Okay, let's go pick out a movie," Grissom stood, offering Sara his arm.

"I'll pop us some popcorn," Sara said when they had picked out a movie to watch.

"Okay," Grissom went to put the movie into her DVD player.

A few minutes later, Sara entered the living room with a bag of freshly popped popcorn, two cans of pop and a blanket slung over her shoulder.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Ready whenever you are," he returned.

Sara sat on the couch and Grissom lifted his arm so she could snuggle up to his body. She then spread the blanket over them as Grissom pressed play. They settled in to watch the movie, munching on popcorn. They didn't speak much, but it felt good to be close to each other. About halfway through the movie, Sara felt her eyelids getting heavier and heavier. At first she tried to fight it, but before she knew it, she was asleep. Grissom smiled and studied her face as she slept.

"You're so beautiful Sara," he whispered.

"Mmmm," she mumbled in response.

Before too much longer Grissom was asleep too.

A/N: Would have been posted sooner, but Document Manager was down when I went to upload this.