Author's Note: Okay, Chapter 8 is Grissom's first person thought narrative. As always, please R&R. Sorry it's been a long time coming, the end of the semester was terrible! I've finally gotten situated in this new semester and now I've finally got time to sit down and start writing again.

Important: All text before the line break is thought.

What Lies Beneath, pt 8

What was I thinking?

I waited five minutes too late, now here I am, at home with nothing else on my mind except Jim's final warning.

"By 7 AM you have an answer or, so help me, I'll take her away from you so that she doesn't have to make that choice herself."

My God. What was I thinking?

My cell phone is just out of my reach, much like her. I wonder if Brass has called her yet, inquiring as to whether or not I've made my move. I wonder… would she lie for me? Tell him that I've swept her off her feet… to leave her alone for a bit…

No. After today and these past three years, why would she? Why would she ever cover for me?

I keep finding my hand wandering towards the abandoned cell phone. Calm down Gil, you're getting ahead of yourself.

The other hand is permanently occupied with a bottle of water. I've finished two in the time I've been lounging here thinking. Moping, rather. Pink Floyd is definitely music for thought, but I've been through Dark Side of the Moon three times, and the Wall is… not what I need to hear right now.

Could this ever really work out?

Scenario A:

I leave her alone. I sleep the night off, here on the couch. Brass calls her, convinces her to give up on me. She turns in a resignation form later this afternoon. I rip it up, she has to stay. Brass pitches a fit, goes straight to Cavallo, and I get fired. She has a job, I take the fall. She's still unhappy, but still employed and near me.

Scenario B:

I leave her alone. I drink the night off, watch the Discovery channel all day long. Brass calls her, tells her to leave. She resigns, and leaves town. I never see her again because she's returned to her family and friends in San Francisco.

Scenario C:

I call Sara. I talk and, God help me, plead for her to forgive my previous transgressions. This time I must let her through the wall I've built around myself. This wall will be the death of us both, I fear, should it not be destroyed. I invite her over here to discuss our situation further. She arrives, we drink coffee and I confess my heart, she returns my affection, and we live happily ever after.

Scenario D:

I call Sara. I clam up, like before. She hangs up on me, leaving me to feel like the complete idiot that I am. She resigns, leaves, see last part of Scenario B.

Which is the path of least resistance? Surely Scenario A because it involves me never leaving this couch (nice, comfy couch) until work again tonight. The most work is Scenario C, but it also promises the most rewards.

Unfortunately I can see that I've missed a few factors that would otherwise affect the outcome of the experiment. What about Brass's input? He said that if I didn't make my move by 7 AM, that he would take care of the situation himself. 7 AM has already come and gone, so theoretically all scenarios may be moot. Additionally, even if I rip apart her resignation letter, she may leave in outright indignation (that would be like my fiery girl).

So despite my careful assessment of all choices, risks, and results, I may not be able to accurately predict the outcome of this day.

That bothers me.

Bzzzz Bzzzz. Bzzzz Bzzzz. Bzzzz Bzzzz.

Oh no. My cell phone is going off. Gotta turn down the Floyd! ::a pause::

Damn! Whoever it is, they hung up. One missed call. Do I even want to see?

These butterflies in my gut are making it quite difficult to hold the phone still.

Please please please…

Sara. Shit. It's Sara and I missed the call. Or maybe it was Jim, at Sara's place, calling to tell me what a loser I am. Or maybe it was Sara, calling to tell me that she was leaving Vegas forever!

I feel sick.

Well I guess that about wraps up my debate. She's probably already packing, writing the resignation letter, and calling her mother to tell her she's coming home.

::a very long pause::

You know what? Screw this. I've made conditions up in my head, whole situations that play themselves out without me doing a damn thing.

I can be a truly lame bastard at times.

Sometime I disgust myself, yes, but that doesn't mean I have to crawl into a hole and die. All I touch and all I see is all my life will ever be. I've heard those words every day for so long and never comprehended what they mean.

Some observant scientist I am… Where's the return call button on this thing?

Maybe it is worth it to take some shit if it means I get the woman I love! Have loved. Have loved for a long damn time.

It's ringing. Jesus! It's ringing, what do I say?

------------------------------------

He sat upright on the sofa, hunched over the side with the cell phone jammed to his ear. After the first complete ring, he started mumbling encouragements to both himself and Sara.

"You can't leave me Sara, I'm not ready to give up on this yet. I need you… Please, honey, pick up. Pick up for me."

The phone rang for an eternity. Grissom rubbed at his eyes viciously, pushing his glasses out of the way.

"Don't give up on me honey, please."

Halfway through his sentence, the other end sprung to life.

He leaned forward, straining to hear every word, every syllable she uttered. The first thing he caught was a yawn, then a rustling sound.

A sluggish yet bemused voice asked "Honey, please?"

TBC…

Author's Note: Next is 9, Sara's point of view. Sorry about the long delay folks, hopefully I'll find more time to write this semester. I'm writing right now mainly because we've had an ice storm and the power's out :X But I've found a constructive use of my time (at least until the laptop battery dies). Again, please R&R!!!