Disclaimer: I still don't own CSI and I am beginning to think I never will.

Caution: Contains spoilers for Mea Culpa if you haven't seen it and don't want it ruined, don't read this. This takes place directly after Mea Culpa.

Breaking Grissom

Chapter Four: Sara

Sara knew she was being unreasonable, but she was really hurt that Grissom had left and not said a word to her. She couldn't believe he would take off and not even say so much as goodbye to her. Sure, there was the note, but that was for all of them, it was impersonal. She'd had her bad times with Grissom, but in the end he was a good friend to her. She didn't want their relationship to end. It had finally stabilized into a good healthy friendship and then he turned and ran away.

Catherine and Greg had tried to talk her into staying at the lab, but she wouldn't have it. She had meant it when she told them that Grissom was the only reason she had ever come to Nevada. Of course, over time she had become attached to the rest of them, but now they would be a painful reminder of how Grissom had abandoned her. Nick had even showed up at her house, but she hadn't let him in. Now, she knew she was hurting them all too, but she didn't care because she was hurting too much herself.

"California!" Sara suddenly exclaimed aloud to her empty apartment, "he must have gone home."

She called the airport to see how soon she could get a flight to California. She had a strong feeling that Grissom had gone home to see his mother. She had been to his hometown only once, but she knew she could find his home if she could only get there. Sara was able to get a flight that evening and she packed up some of her belongings and headed for the airport.

"Hello Mom," Grissom signed as she wrapped her arms around her son.

"What brings you home?" she signed back.

"I just wanted to see my mother," he signed.

Mrs. Grissom could tell her son was not telling the whole story, but she accepted his explanation for now. She was glad to see he had come home. There would be time later to find out what precisely had brought him here.

"Let me help you bring some of your things inside," she signed to him.

"We can do that later, how are you mom?" Grissom signed.

"Same as always," she replied.

Grissom smiled, "It's nice to be home."

"Can I get you something to drink?" his mother asked.

"That would be great," he answered.

"Make yourself comfortable," she gestured for him to sit down.

Grissom found a spot to sit on the couch and scanned the house. It had been quite a while since he'd been able to come home. He'd visited a few times, but now he could stay for as long as he wanted. He could really catch up with his mother. He smiled as she returned with a glass of lemonade and plate of fresh chocolate chip cookies.

Grissom made a funny face, "Did you know I was coming? Fresh cookies?"

His mother smiled, "I eat cookies too, son."

Grissom laughed and bit into a warm cookie, "Good."

Several hours later, a knock came at the door.

"I wonder who that could be, I'm not expecting visitors," his mom said.

"I'll get it," Grissom stood.

He opened the door and was shocked to find Sara Sidle standing in front of him.

"Oh good, this is the right house," she smiled.

"Sara, what are you doing here?" Grissom's jaw dropped.

His mother appeared at the door now and signed, "Who is this?"

"A friend from work," Grissom explained.

"Don't be rude, let her in," his mother smiled and opened the door so Sara could enter.

"Thank you," Sara said, "I don't know any sign language."

"It's okay, she can read lips," Grissom explained.

"Welcome to our home," Mrs. Grissom signed.

"That means welcome," Grissom translated.

Mrs. Grissom offered Sara a cookie and then went off into the kitchen to get her a glass of lemonade.

"What are you doing here, Sara?" Grissom asked when his mother was gone.

"You left so suddenly," Sara began, "it really hurt. You just disappeared. So when it hit me that you would probably come home, I had to come find you. You just left."

"I'm sorry, Sara, it's just that I thought it would be best for me to leave that way," Grissom said.

"Best for who? Everyone is really upset," Sara told him.

"I just didn't want to have to deal with the goodbyes, you know I'm not good at that stuff," Grissom reasoned.

"Well I quit too," Sara told him.

"What? That's crazy, why would you do that?" Grissom asked.

"You're not the only one who can just leave," Sara crossed her arms.

"But Sara, you were doing so good. You're one of the best CSIs, why would you just leave?" Grissom inquired.

"I could say the same to you," Sara narrowed her eyes.

Grissom squeezed his eyes shut, "You don't understand, Sara. I had to just leave and not look back. Besides, I'm old, you're still young, don't throw your career away because of me."

Grissom's mother returned carrying a glass of lemonade for Sara, "So what brings your friend to town?"

Grissom signed, "It's a long story."

Sensing the tension, Mrs. Grissom signed to her son that she was going to go for a walk and that she'd be back later.

"She's going for a walk," Grissom explained to a confused looking Sara.

"I'm not throwing my career away," Sara started, "I just thought that if you could quit, there was no reason for me to stay in Vegas."

"What about Nick, Catherine, Warrick and Greg? You're just going to let them drop out of your life?" Grissom asked.

"You were willing to let all of us just go," Sara countered.

"It's different for me though, I have worked in Vegas for so long, I've taken so much crap from Ecklie. It was time for me to move on," Grissom tried to explain.

"And in moving on you were willing to let your closest friends suffer?" Sara asked.

"I didn't think anyone would really care that I was gone. I planned this out a long time ago in my head. Whenever I left, I would just sort of disappear into the night. I guess I never counted on getting attached to anyone or having anyone get hurt when I left," Grissom sighed.

"Well guess what, I got hurt!" Sara exclaimed, "and so did the rest of your team. We all looked up to you Grissom."

"I'm sorry, but can we please drop this, I don't want to start a fight with you, Sara," Grissom stood.

"What? You want me to leave?" Sara sounded upset.

"No, you don't have to leave, but I don't want to continue this conversation. This is exactly why I left without saying goodbye. I knew things would get complicated," Grissom turned away from Sara.

"Life is complicated, Gris," Sara stood and made him face her, "and you're willing to let the only friends you've got just slip away?"

"I'm sorry, I can't stay in Las Vegas anymore," Grissom explained, "and it's too late. I've already done serious harm to all those relationships by leaving."

"Where are you going to go?" Sara asked.

"I'm not sure," Grissom answered.

"So, just goodbye, have a nice life? You're just going to let it all end like this," Sara whispered.

"Just, please go back to Vegas," Grissom directed, "don't worry about me, I'll be fine. And go back to the lab, I will even call and make sure you still have a job there."

"Fine, have it your way, goodbye Gil Grissom, some friend you are," Sara sobbed and ran away.

Grissom sighed heavily. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but he hadn't expected anyone to chase after him. Although, he should have known them better, they wouldn't just let him disappear forever without at least trying to look for him.

A/N: Don't worry, this story is not over yet!