A/N: People, this took me forever to write... and it's quite bad, I have to say. I just... needed to get this out so that Holly can take the ball and pitch one over the plate.

Sorry for the suckiness.

---

The ride home was filled with buckets of tension. The pressure pushing at his chest, forcing his breath to come out labored. "Sara..." He began, licking his lips, wondering just how to bring up the issue. "Everyone has... dark secrets, stains on their past, you know I won't... it won't..."

Sara's eyes lifted to meet his and he was surprised to find them angry.

"No, Sara, look at me."

"Griss, you don't understand-"

"Help me understand, honey. This is something that's bothering you; we can work through it together. I promise." His hand clasped hers lightly, the light from the afternoon sun setting their skin aglow.

Sara sighed and let her head loll on the cool glass of the window. "Let's just, let's just wait until we get ho-" She paused, not wanting to take the conversation there. "Back to your place." His place was beginning to feel like her place, and therefore home. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about that and wondered why every time she thought of that notion she became giddy.

Grissom bit his lip, furrowed his brow, but made no complaint. He steered the Tahoe quickly down the back streets of Vegas, the interior of the vehicle silent, save for the quiet hum of the air conditioner. It was eating away at him, the notion that someone had hurt Sara in such a way to leave an emotional scar. He knew, from personal experience, that emotional scars were far worse than physical ones.

Record time was made getting back to his townhouse, and once inside, they sat down, side by side on his sofa. Her mouth was incredibly parched, and she longed for a glass of water. Knowing that if she got up she would most likely lose the courage to tell him, she sat, staring in front of her. "I just want to try and get this off of my chest..." Sara trailed off, not quite knowing where to begin.

Brushing the hair away from her neck, he spoke, low and soothing. "Honey, you don't have to say anything you don't want to, but... there's something wrong, and it's obviously bothering you, and I want to help."

Sara laid back on the couch and spoke low words, frightened, coming from her mouth. They flowed, over the hitches in breaths, the pauses to sob, and the whole while Grissom sat next to her hand on her knee, sliding silent comfort her way. Sara found it necessary to go into all the details, to release herself from the tension she felt. Her admission came slowly, as she paused to remember the small details, the details that mattered, that she thought mattered.

No one had ever really heard the entire story; she'd told Nick an abridged version, skipping over the more emotionally damaging aspects. He'd done just as Grissom was doing, giving her silent comfort, for which she was grateful. Afterward, he'd walked away from her, face red, anger overtaking him, and he'd told her that she didn't deserve what had happened to her, wished he could change things.

And she'd attempted to explain to him that she wasn't angry that it happened to her, didn't feel the need to seek revenge. She'd told him that it wasn't his place to be angry for her... and he understood and bought her another beer.

Drawing her account to a close, she was surprised that she hadn't broken down in the middle of it, she usually did. "What are you thinking?" She asked him, sounding incredibly chipper, which sounded incredibly forced.

Gil pulled his hand from her knee and shuffled closer to her on the couch, slowly, making sure it was okay with her. She made no move to push him away, so he settled his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. "I'm thinking... I feel... very said. And, I'm thinking... I love you very much, and nothing changes that." Smiling sadly at her. "So, you're not gonna get rid of me." He ribbed, kissing her on the forehead. "I am glad that you told me though, I feel better knowing."

Sara hadn't expected his reaction to be so subdued. For some reason, she'd pictured him getting angry, and she, in turn would be hurt that he did. It wasn't anyone's place to be angry, or sorry, for what had happened to her. It felt strangely liberating to be proved wrong in her assumption.

---

The next three days were a blur of work and strained conversations, of stolen kisses and awkward silences. Then it was time for breakfast at Catherine's, where they had agreed to meet their friends and discuss what Sara finally admitted had to be accurately called "the wedding."

Catherine handed her a sheaf of papers detailing the background of the Justice of the Peace she had hired.

"Cath, the man's name is Gerund." Sara laughed. Catherine shrugged and set about clearing the remainder of the table. "As in the grammatical phrase. That's... not right."

She laughed and placed the papers down on the table, quickly becoming fed up with the entire idea of the institution of marriage. There was far too much planning. She was always so simple, and she wished that they could just go down to City Hall and grab their papers. But, she felt the need to humor Grissom, indulging in his softer side.

She had a feeling she'd be doing that a lot.

She noticed Greg, Warrick and Nick all looking towards her conspiratorially. Out of habit, her brow shot up and she questioned them.

"What? Do I have something in my teeth?"

Nick held out a plush box for her to take. Warrick and Greg looked on in apprehension. "We uh, didn't really know what to get you-"

"I told you really... not to get me anything." Sara said angrily, and Nick winced. Greg stepped in front of him to take the heat. Everyone was making this marriage a huge debacle, and she was uncomfortable with it, especially since they were all showering her with unneeded attention.

"Yeah, we know, we just wanted to, uh... we wanted to get you something pretty you could wear..." Greg stuttered over his words, painfully.

"It's to wear with the dress. Cath said you weren't going for any jewelry... so we got you this." Warrick said, looking from the box, to Sara to Greg, who merely shrugged and stepped back, bracing himself for Sara's reaction. She glared at the three of them and reluctantly opened the box. It creaked at her, and she paused from flipping on the three men when she saw the contents of the box.

It was a small, silver necklace, with three teardrop diamonds hanging down at different lengths. Very simple, very delicate, very beautiful. "Guys, this... this..."

Greg smiled stupidly, grinning like an idiot at the way her eyes glossed over with a sheen of tears. Warrick bounced on the balls of his feet and pulled her into a quick hug. "All this hugging guys... you're throwing off my balance. There should be a quota." Sara finished sarcastically, finally being enveloped by Nick.

Grissom re-entered the room to the cacophony of emotions, and noticed the box that his fiancé was admiring. Moving closer, he slid up behind her and glimpsed at the necklace. It was gorgeous, truly, and he was sure it would look stunning on her neck but...

"Guys. That looks rather expensive." Me mentioned, glancing meaningfully over the bridge of his glasses. Nick's face fell, Greg became confused, and Warrick rolled his eyes.

"Alright man, look." He began, advancing on Grissom. "You have to stop being so... you. It's a gift. Deal with it." Warrick laughed a bit, and pushed Grissom on the shoulder. "And before you give us a speech, we got you something as well."

A lingering silence hung over the group as Sara gingerly touched the delicate silver in her hand. "It's... tasteful. What we got." Greg broke the silence and Nick shot him a glare.

"Whatever." The Texan muttered dejectedly and shoved a similar box into Grissom's hands before moving away to the kitchen to help Catherine with the dishes. Sara's face fell into Griss's shoulder and she chuckled softly. Gil patted her hair and held the box up in front of him, examining it.

"It's not a puzzle Griss, you can open it." Warrick pointed out, and Greg leaned in eagerly as Grissom pulled at the ribbon surrounding the box. Sara giddily grasped his arm and watched on as he skeptically opened the box.

Sara gasped and Grissom simply raised a brow when they saw the contents. Greg, who was eager to hear his boss's reaction, looked to Warrick in agitation.

Gil sighed and fingered the object within. "Guys... this is..."

Sara groped his arm, pulling on it. Encouraging him. "This is... more than..." Warrick shot hit boss a warning look, and Grissom smiled wearily. "Thank you." His fiancé looked up into his face and suddenly pecked his cheek. Nick took that moment to reenter the room, and the three of the men looked on in shock at the strange display of public affection.

"See!" Nick gestured to Grissom with his hand. "That's all that I was asking for."

His friends all gaped at him as he quickly corrected himself. "Not, not the kissing, the... the thank you!"

Greg looked at him skeptically.

Nick sighed and caught Greg's glance. "COME ON NOW!"