Part II

There was a knock on her door as Sara stepped out of the shower. "Just a sec!" she yelled back. She wrapped herself in her robe and grabbed a small towel to dry off her hair.

Looking in the peephole she saw Greg's smiling face staring back at her. "I know you're in there Sara now open up or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll"

She opened the door and said, "you'll blow my door down?"

"But of course." Greg flashed her his winning smile that would make any woman a little weak in the knees no matter how well she knew him.

"May I?" he asked as he bowed before her in a playing gesture.

"Yes Greg please come in before anyone notices you."

"Oh. So I'm like some big secret now? Hey speaking of secrets, what's up with you?"

"Don't ask. You want a drink?"

"Sure. But you know if I'm drinking, I'm staying a while."

"Right now I don't care. I could use a friend."

"EWWW. The F word. Hey I'll take what I can."

"HAH. So you want a beer or are you in the mood for something a little harder?"

"Hey I like the sound of that. Something harder. Sounds so nasty coming from you."

"Here take a beer cause it's all I have left. I would get more, but I, well, I don't drink and drive" she paused for a moment remembering the first time Grissom ever took her hand.

"Come on. I'll take you home." Those were the words he spoke to her. Thinking of that made her heart jump and nearly brought tears to her eyes once again.

"Are you okay Sara? You want to talk about this?" Greg asked as he took the beer from her hand.

"No. Thank you, but I need to just leave that one alone. I'm going to go change. Be back in a sec."

Sara walked to her bedroom and pushed the door shut behind her leaving just enough space so that when Greg leaned over the counter he could see her reflection in the mirror. As she pulled the robe off he could see her standing there facing the dresser. He could only see her from the back, but it was enough to make him blush and feel as if he had violated some friendship code. He quickly turned away, but could not help taking another glance as he watched her pull on a purple tank top with a black butterfly printed on the back. She was wearing a matching pair of bikini underwear that were the same shade of purple but with a smaller butterfly embroidered on the right side just above her buttocks. Finally she slipped on a pair of black form fitting pants. They hugged every line on her body from were they sat just at her hips down to just below her well shaped calves were they tapered out into a slight boot cut. Her shirt was short enough that it showed off her bellybutton. As she turned to walk back into the room Greg quickly tried to compose himself and made his way over to the couch.

"So?" she asked as she flopped down beside him. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know" Greg replied. "How about you tell me what went down at the lab today. I hear you quit?"

"Yeah well, I need a change. So let's change the subject shall we?"

Sara and Greg sat and talked for the rest of the day. As evening approached Greg looked down at Sara who had laid her head in his lap and found that she had fallen asleep. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Feeling the fullness that is left from drinking too much beer, Greg went to the bathroom to relieve himself. When he was done and decided that it would be better for him if he stayed, he opened the door to find Grissom standing there waiting for him.

"Jesus Grissom what the hell are you doing?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"How did you get in here?"

"The door was open and when I knocked no one answered. I heard something and

decided to investigate."

"Well this could have ended in a much different scenario. Especially since you don't carry a gun."

"Were is Sara? She and I need to clear something up."

"She is in there." Greg said pointing to the bedroom.

"Oh" Grissom said dropping his head. "Just tell her I stopped by then."

"Oh-kay. She's sleeping if you want to wait. I was going to stay, but if you're here."

"How long have you been here?"

"Most of the afternoon. She's had a rough day and we just sat and talked. She's really messed up about some guy. She even quit just so she could move away and get out of here."

"So she told you then?"

"Told me what?"

"Never mind."

"YOU wouldn't know who this mystery man is would you Grissom? She won't tell me his name and the only person I can think of that she's even into is y…" Greg screeched to a hault. "Wow. This is way more messed up than, oh, sorry. I'm just gonna go now. Tell her bye for me when she gets up. There are some cards on the table and some"

"I know Greg" Grissom stopped him.

"Of course you do" Greg said slyly. "I'll just leave you two alone now."

"Thank you." Grissom held the door open for Greg and closed it behind him making sure to lock it.

Grissom sat for a few hours on the couch thinking about the last time he was in this same spot. He was listening to Sara tell him about her past, a very important part of her life. She opened up to him and spilled out details of a horrible event that led to many more terrors through out her life. She sat in the chair before him, which was now empty, and let him hold her hand as she cried. He should have held her. He wanted to so dearly, but that would only make things worse.

"Worse for who? Me or her", he wondered? He felt a tightening in his chest and throat as he fought off the emotion inside him.

"Oh Sara what have I done to you?" he said to himself. She left everything just to be near him. Opened up to him and what did he do? He could have just slapped her in the face and gotten the same effect.

"I'm such an ass."

Grissom had enough. He decided it was time to wake her up and explain to her what happened that day and to let her know that she couldn't quit. He would not allow her too.

What was it he told Ecklie a few days before? "I need her." That's what he said and he meant every bit of it. He needed her very much. She was his breath. His reason for waking up everyday. That scared him more than anything else in the world. More than losing his hearing. More than losing his work. He would give it all up if she asked him again. But she wouldn't, and he knew that.

He found himself standing in the door way to her room. Watching her sleep. She had taken her pants off sometime during her sleep and was in her tank top and panties only. He liked the color she was wearing. It made her skin look darker. He had never seen her legs so clearly before. They were long and lean. Her thighs were thick and well outlined. He studied her feet. She was built like a dancer. His eyes moved up her body and as they did he moved closer to her.

Her shirt was pulled up exposing her midsection. He had to hold himself back from reaching out to touch her. It was torture to him to sit and just look. But that is all he could do. Just look. He knew if she woke it would be all over.

His eyes moved up further to her chest. He could see her breathing. Watching the rise and fall of her breast with each inhale and exhale. Before he knew it he was breathing in time with her. He moved even closer so he could hear her breath.

He wondered if he could lie down beside her with out disturbing her. He sat on the edge of the bed, no change. He moved closer to her, still no change. He lie down next to her propping himself up on his elbow so he could see her face, again no change.

"Good." He thought to himself again.

He imagined slipping his hand under her shirt and caressing her soft skin. Kissing her lips and tasting her with his.

"Sara. My sweet Sara" he whispered.

She stirred slightly and rolled over next to him throwing her arm around him.

"Greg shut up and go to sleep" she slurred sleeply.

"Greg?" Grissom screamed in his head. "What!"?

This came as a shock to Grissom. He thought of leaving at that very moment but soon realized that if he moved she would wake up. She had an arm and a leg draped over him. He was pinned. She moved in closer and put her head on his shoulder.

"Hold me" she whispered. "I just need you to hold me."

"Ok" Grissom softly said back. "I just need to hold you."

He kissed her on her forehead and settled back on the pillow. She nuzzled in closer to him. She felt so good. He held her tighter. She did the same. She moved even closer to him and intertwined her leg with his. He could feel the heat coming from her body as she melted into him. He moved his body just enough so that he was facing her. His body was in perfect line with hers. He couldn't keep the blood from flowing. He was getting light headed from breathing her in. Her scent was like a drug to him. She moved even closer to him. So close that she had to feel the reaction he was having towards her. She turned her face up to him and sleepily whispered, "Gil, Oh God Gil. Why?" She was starting to cry. Did she know that it was him? Was she awake, or was she dreaming?

He held her tighter and placed his lips on hers. He gently kissed her. She responded with a slight nudge of her own.

"Don't let me wake up yet. Let me keep this dream forever."

"What dream is that honey?"

"You and me."

"Sara, it's not a dream. Open your eyes."

"NO. Not yet. I don't want to see you with her again."