When Sara returned to work the next day, she found herself smiling at her new life. Passing through the doors of CSI, she ran into Brass.

"Sara, you look good, it's good to see a smile on your face."

"Thanks Brass, I do feel good. You don't have to worry about me anymore; I am not popping cough drops any longer. "

"It feels good to be free of that burden, doesn't it Sara?"

"Yes Brass, it does. Later."

Sara continued her walk into the office. Funny how her head was up now, very different than even two months before when she barely looked up, and never made eye contact with anyone.

Walking through the corridors of CSI, Sara felt as if she was being followed. Stopping in her tracks, Sara turns around to see Conrad Ecklie standing behind her. She heard the rumor's he was back, but wouldn't believe it until she saw him.

"Well, well, Sara Sidle. Don't think just because you got some fancy title now that you are training any of the day shift hires. You night shift folks may have fooled Cavallo, but you haven't fooled me."

In the past, Sara would have shrugged a comment like this off, but not now.

"You know Conrad, if you want me to re-train some of your current staff, maybe the day shift would have a solve rate that equals the night shift."

Sara smiled at him with a big smirk on her face, and walked to the break-room. Inside she found that no one was in yet, so she decided to start a fresh pot of coffee. While the pot was brewing, she thought about Molly, and her young life. Knowing what the counselor told her, she was sure Molly was hiding what she knew about her Father abusing her Mom. Sara made a mental note to try and talk to Molly next time to make sure she knew it wasn't her fault.

Catherine was the first to arrive after Sara. Catherine looked over at Sara with a look of admiration. She could help but think that Sara had really turned her life around. Everyone knew of Sara's near DUI, and wondered how that would effect her. Whatever she did to change, everyone liked having the new Sara around. Tomorrow morning they were all having breakfast, that would be a good test to see how the team acted around each other. Catherine was curious to see how Sara and Grissom acted towards each other. Things seemed better between them, less tense. Not that they were overly friendly but casually comfortable.

"Cath, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"When Lindsey was six, what kinds of things did she like to do?"

"Well, that was a long time ago, but let me think. She liked playing with her dolls, having tea parties, going to the park, going to the zoo, and Ballet."

Sara wasn't sure if Molly would like dolls and tea parties, nor did Sara think she was the type of person to actually do those things, but she was happy to see the Zoo was a good choice.

"Thank Cath. I am actually being a 'big sister' to a six –year- old named Molly. I'm not sure of the kinds of things she would like. Next Saturday we are going to the Zoo. She has a really hard life, Dad is in jail for assault on her Mom, and Mom works a lot. She is a latch key child at the age of 6. I hope that I can make some part of her life happier."

"Sara, just ask her what she wants to do, at that age, they will tell you!" Once they start taking, they never stop. Trust your instincts and just go with the flow.

At the same time, both Catherine and Sara turned towards the door when they heard the rest of the team coming down the hall. Grissom seemed to show a different side to the whole team. When he sat down to hand out assignments now, he always took a few minutes out to see how everyone was. It wasn't an overwhelming change, nor would he become best friends with each of them, it was an understanding, a respect of human beings that Grissom was now allowing himself to show he had. Before the team left to each of their assignments, he reminded everyone about the team breakfast, and told them they would leave at 8am on the dot.

Sara and Greg were assigned a floater in Lake Mead. She was sure Greg would be sick at the bloated body, but he was very professional. In the short few weeks she had been training Greg, he had learned a lot. He still cracked his jokes, but took his duties seriously. Grissom was even impressed, and told Greg so on several occasions.

Sara and Greg were back at the lab and had all evidence into DNA and Trace. The body probably was in water for a few months, so it was a mess. Usually floaters stay at the bottom of the lake until gases in the body build up so much the body is almost shot up out of the water. Her explanation to Greg met her with a look of disgust, but he managed to keep his stomach in check.

True to his word, with five minutes left in shift Grissom strolled down to the break-room to collect his team. They all headed over to the diner, and took their seats. Grissom casually slipped next to Sara, hoping no one would notice. The conversation was light, and they all had a good time. Grissom found out that Nick was dating a girl for several months, she was a teacher at the local grade school Nick really seemed to like her, a lot, and was even bringing her home to Texas next weekend to meet his family.

Sara told the team about Molly, and what she hoped to accomplish. At one point Catherine looked at Grissom, noticing him hanging on every word Sara spoke. Maybe he did figure some things out while he was away. Whatever happens in the future, she for one hoped this happy team environment kept up.

Work was more relaxing, and this breakfast was very enjoyable.

After having their fill, the team rose to leave. Sara excused herself, as she had to use the restroom before she went home. When she got out she expected everyone to be gone, and was surprised to see Grissom leaning against the exit clearly waiting for her.

"I thought I'd wait for you and walk you out to your car."

"Thanks Gil, that was nice of you."

"Well, I'm trying Sara."

Sara thought the mood had gotten to heavy, so she casually punched Grissom in the arm, and said, "Let's go!"

Walking out into a warm Vegas morning, Grissom asked Sara if she felt like taking a walk. "You know, to walk off the food."

Sara couldn't help smiling at a fumbling Grissom; it was kind of cute. They decided to go to the park near Sara's house. It had nice walking trails, and would at least put one of them near home.

They walked along without a lot of words, but both were content with each other company. It was Grissom who finally broke the silence and spoke to Sara. He wanted to say more, but fumbling with his words he decided to talk about work, which was safe.

"You are doing a terrific job with Greg. He is coming along nicely. I knew you'd be the person to teach him the proper way of tackling a crime scene." UGH, I can't even speak right around her now, 'tackling a crime scene', what was that?

"Thanks Gil, I do like it. To be honest, I wasn't sure at first, but I like how it makes me feel. Greg is very attentive, and really wants to learn." Pausing for a moment she remembered the first time she met Grissom. He was teaching a Forensics seminar at Harvard. She can still remember his every word. She remember his talks and exactly what she learned from him. Just a few hours molded her life into where she is now.

"Is that how you felt when we first met? I'm sure I was such a pain in the ass asking you all of those questions, but it was so fascinating and I couldn't get enough of you."

"Yes Sara, it was nice. Usually people are so bored by my seminars, but you wanted to learn it all. You ate it up, and it gave me a sense of accomplishment. I was happy to give all I had to you." What I really wanted to tell her was how I longed to see her every day. How I love teaching her, hell, I love her.

"Gil, how come it was so easy back then, and not now?"

Before answering, Grissom walked them over to a bench overlooking a little pond. The ducks were swimming around and making peaceful chirping noises. In the distance, they could hear kids playing. He couldn't very well tell her it is because he didn't love her back then. Thinking carefully about his reply, he barely managed to open his mouth and speak. "Sara, I can't answer that, all I can say is I can make it better now. I cannot explain to you things that I don't even understand... I truly hope you understand."

"Yes, it is a start. I just miss you Gil. I miss learning from you, laughing with you, and I know the rest of the team feels the same, at least Nick and Warrick do. You have so much to teach us all, and in ways we have so much to teach you. Please don't go back into your cocoon again. Can you promise me that?"

Stifling back a yawn, she turned to look at him. He was looking off to the lake thinking about what she said, he knew she was right. With their silent communication happening, they rose and started walking back to Sara's. Sara didn't need answers to her questions, she just needed him to realize what she said. She knew he was thinking about it, just by the way he crinkled his brows down. She knew his body language better than even he did. She could tell if the stress was getting to him simply by the way his shoulders shrugged forward. She new if he pinched his nose it meant a migraine was near, she also new when he looked into her eyes he so badly wanted to say something, but left it up to his eyes to handle his communication.

When they arrived, Grissom turned to say good bye to Sara. Having the same thought, at the exact time, Sara turned and they bumped square into each other.

"Ouch, that hurt" Sara exclaimed as she rubbed her nose dramatically.

"I'm sorry Sara, I didn't mean to hurt you." Grissom said to her with his best smirk on his face.

"It's ok, the bump on my nose should go down before shift." Sara couldn't help sneering at him. Gosh, it did feel good to joke again

Her laughing was not lost on Grissom. Grissom started to smile at the sound of her laugh, a sound he loved to hear. He briefly closed his eyes to soak the past hour in.

Sara looked back up at him and noticed his face became serious again.

"You know Sara, I never mean to hurt you." He hoped she read further into his statement than just discussing her nose. But for now, he would leave it at that.

"I know Gil, just don't let it happen again, ok?" She smiled at him attempting to ease the impact of her statement. Sara hoped he would catch the double meaning behind her bold statement. Looking up at him, she saw his beautiful blue eyes looked down into her soul. She had to admit she loved when he looked at her that way. If she could only get him to say what his eyes were telling her all along, she would be even happier.

"Now, get out of here and let me get some sleep. Before you say a word, I do sleep. Sleep and I have a new faithful understanding." She casually looked up at him, noticing he still held her gaze.

"Goodnight Sara, I'll see you tonight." One day maybe he would see for himself how she slept. Maybe one day they too will have a newly found understanding, at least now they were on the way to finding one.