DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters from 'CSI'. They're not my property.

She returned home with a yellow envelope in her hands. Once she got settled in, Sara opened the top of the envelope and instinctively flipped it upside-down, waiting for something to fall from it. It had been a tiny package from Mark after all. And he usually sent the same gifts such as…

A thud was heard.

A small necklace. She smiled and picked up the accessory. A long brownish leather lace with a white circular stone hanging from its middle was on her palm.

Sara brought it closer to her, noticing the small inscription on it. I live because I love, it said. She recognized his letters. Sara flipped the stone and noticed a blended image of a Virgo and Leo. She smirked. She found the artwork flawless and beautiful as always, but a little unusual as he had never sent her a necklace with an engraved image or anything. For some reason she found the inclusion of Grissom's sign as disturbing.

She was grateful to Mark for providing her with so many pieces of necklaces over the years, most of them from his visits abroad, which she wore to work. Sara liked them not only because they had been a gift from her brother but because they were also unique. They suited her personality.

She peeked inside the envelope and found a folded piece of yellow paper. Sara pulled it out and unfolded it to reveal his usual messy handwriting.

I should have given you this necklace when we met but I did not expect to meet your Grissom and I realized it wasn't complete. I got inspired to add the signs and words, otherwise it was just an empty piece of stone.

He needs to live more but he's a good man. I hope he can make you happy, Sara….

Mark

Sara read the note again. She then looked back at the necklace and especially at the signs. They seemed prettier now. The small maiden leaning against the stomach of the sitting lion as if preparing herself to fall asleep. Such comfort….

Yeah… they both needed to live more….

When Catherine came in Grissom's office, she saw him concentrated among piles of books and documents. He appeared not to notice her, even when she got close enough to read a paper that was in his hands. "Retirement?" she read the word.

Grissom's head shot up. He quickly removed the piece of paper.

"Are you thinking about it?" she asked.

He didn't answer.

"Isn't it a little early for that? You're not so far away from –"

"Anything you need?" he interrupted her flatly.

She was forced to observe his reaction with suspicion. "Everything okay with you?"

"Yeah."

Catherine tapped her fingers on her hip. She finally sighed. "Okay, well, here's the file you wanted." She handed him the yellow folder.

"Thank you," Grissom replied and took the folder.

"Had a relaxing weekend by the way?" she then asked.

"I did," he lied.

"Where did you go off to anyway?"

"Jack and Cynthia's ranch."

"Again?"

"It has been a while."

"It must've been." She leaned forward on the desk. "Gil…" her voice soft. "What's going on?"

He looked up at her with a blank look in his eyes. "Should there be something going on?"

"You tell me." Her face gave him a clear picture that he should have known what she meant without having to explain herself further.

His look didn't change, but he showed a weak smile. "Everything's fine. Don't worry."

Catherine tilted her head and distanced herself from the desk. "Okay." She would let him be.

"He was a burden to the family," Eric said.

"Enough to kill him." Nick leaned forward.

"I did him a favor. He was already a walking corpse with all that shit he was taking."

"But your own brother man."

"Our mother has a very weak heart. We tried to get him help but he didn't want any. If she ever found out about him, it would have killed her."

"What do you think this will do to her?" Nick asked.

Eric did not give an answer but looked away instead.

"Thought so," Nick said and nodded.

Sara came into the locker room as her shift had ended ten minutes earlier. She saw Warrick standing before his locker, getting ready to head home.

"Case finished?" she asked.

"Finally yes. You?"

"I'm in the clear as well." She smiled. "Wanna go grab some coffee?"

"No, thanks. Right now all I see is a big bed in front of me."

"Would that be an empty one or would it have someone in it?" she teased him.

Warrick smirked and looked at her. "As much I'd want to, my body isn't exactly in the mood for it."

"Bummer." She chuckled.

"Why? Are you offering?" He grinned at her.

"I'm going to have to disappoint you there." She gave him a wink and chuckled again.

Warrick laughed and shook his head. "Too bad. I might have made an exception for you." He closed the door of his locker and swung the jacket over his shoulder.

"I am flattered." She hit his arm gently and turned back to her locker.

Warrick shrugged with a smile and walked out of the room.

Sara put her warm jacket on and was about to exit the locker room when Grissom's sudden appearance caused a near collision between them.

"Sorry," he apologized with a raised hand.

She smiled as her own way of apologizing. She noticed the book in his hands.

"New?" Sara asked.

Grissom glanced at the book. "Yes, actually."

"What's it about?" She appeared loosely curious.

"I wouldn't know, I haven't read it yet," he responded and walked pass her. "You're off for tonight?" Grissom asked.

"Yeah."

"Good. What are you up to?"

"A date," she replied simply.

He stopped and stared at her for a moment. "With whom?"

"Ah, that's private, sorry." She smiled. "Night, Grissom."

She walked out way too fast for his words to come out on time. His face fell. He shrugged and even shuddered, as selfish and possibly mean as it may have sounded…. Grissom hoped she had other than the answer he received.

She leaned back in her seat, trying to be comfortable. She didn't lie. Sara had decided to go off to a date.

By herself.

The view was truly beautiful from here. Just like last time… when both had been here.

Sara's gaze loosely held onto the glittering image of the city far away. It was quieter then, she remembered. She couldn't see the glitter though; she could barely see any sign of civilization beyond those quarters where she stayed; her eyes absorbing the thick shadows of the moving clouds as she lay in her bed. She cursed her insomnia for kicking in at such a wrong night. Not that the view had been bad. No, on the contrary it had been a beautiful sight.

She could tell the air had been cleaner here. The stars, even those she thought could never be visible, sparkled strongly, brightly enough, giving the illusion that they could be touched if she only reached out her hand. But then something kicked in inside her down low. Sara cursed the timing once again and angrily pushed the sheets aside.

Threading on the soft carpet in the hallway, she somehow reached the bathroom without much difficulty.

Feeling her way through the darkness, back to her room, Sara wished she had not underestimated her bladder's timing and had asked for a flashlight earlier. Her fingers touching the walls like a blind person, she felt nothing but the cold, rugged wall. After a while they came across a wooden surface. She smiled. Finally.

Remembering that it had not been closed, Sara merely pushed the door gently forward, worrying that if done more forcefully it might make a disturbing noise. She remembered the location of the bed, and it was confirmed when her legs felt the soft fabric of the sheets. Gently she sat down and turned to the side. Sara couldn't see the stars anymore. She could barely see anything. The clouds had already taken over.

A male moan was heard. Her eyes widened and moved her arm which resulted in a sudden movement from another body on the bed. "Oh, shit!" She quickly jumped out of the bed. "Grissom?" she sounded confused.

"Y-eah…. Sara??"

Wrong room. "I'm so sorry… I thought…. I… crap. Uh, I thought this was my room." Embarrassment crept up in her voice. Perhaps in her cheeks as well but it was difficult to tell.

"You lay down here?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm really sorry. I had to get to the toilet and the lights are out and…" She tried to explain herself when he interrupted her with a sigh.

"It's fine, Sara, don't worry about it." She heard him say.

There was silence as she had just stood in her place, not moving a muscle. "I'm sorry I woke you," she told him softly after a moment.

"It's fine."

She took a step back and straitened her pajamas. "Good night, Grissom."

"Night, Sara."

And she left.

Sara closed her eyes, hearing the wind pass by. That had been embarrassing. She wondered about the moan. She had never heard that profound sound from him before. Maybe a nightmare had taken over him and she had done him a favor by accident. But his moan was not a scared or painful one. Sara had heard a moan of the same nature before.

She pressed her lips. Could he have been….?

Sara shook her head, her eyes still closed. She hoped that was a mistaken conclusion, but if it had been right, then… A long, very, incredibly long sigh escaped her. Now she felt even more relieved that that night hadn't been discussed between them.

She put her hands on the steering wheel. She had asked him of the horse's name the other day though; a safer conversation.

"Butterfly," he told her. The language he mentioned was unfamiliar to her.

Sara confessed of never having the chance to hear that language. She saw him smile softly as if he had expected her response. "Not many have," had been his response.

Her lips opened. She felt like another sigh had wished to escape when some quiet giggles and chuckles interrupted her. Her eyes opened and she turned to her left.

She saw another car parked next to her, inside a young couple observing her with some sort of devilish amusement. Sara narrowed her eyes, wondering what they could have found amusing about her. Their gazes and movements gave her a hint. She glanced down at her lap and back at them. "Ah, no, I… there's noo-" But she could not finish her sentence when she could no longer see the young woman inside. By the posture of the young man though, his head and closed eyes, gave her a very clear idea of where the woman could have disappeared to. Apparently she had managed to give them an idea.

"Oh, geez!" Sara shook her head and reached for her keys. Instead of taking them immediately, her fingers appeared clumsy enough to push them to the pedals. She reached down, her gaze somewhere to her right.

Finally she had them firmly in her hand. She glanced towards the neighboring car to see the two front seats empty. A question mark would have aroused if she had not noticed the almost hidden movements in the back seat. The pair had relocated rather quickly. "That was fast," she said quietly. Sara placed her seatbelt on her when she heard some muffed noises coming from the other car. The quick lowering and raising sounds of the vehicle that accompanied those noises left little of the imagination to Sara of the way that the couple had chosen to entertain themselves; not that she had wished to leave nothing to the imagination. She turned on the engine and steered the car away from here. Some are simply bold and adventurous. She was not willing to sit and listen to it.