Sara drove her own car to the restaurant, explaining that she had some errands to run this morning and it would be easier if she didn't have to return to the lab for her car. He gave her directions to Lucia's. It was a nicer place than the team usually chose. It had tablecloths.

They sat down in silence at a corner table. A moment passed. See? We can sit in silence too, thought Grissom irrationally, ignoring the fact that this silence was uncomfortable.

"I'm glad we're doing this," said Sara. "I wanted to talk to you. As a friend."

Wait? What? No, you can't just spring these conversations on me outside of the lab. And this is a date, you can't call me a friend on a date. Are you trying to tell me you don't want to date me?

"I want to give you a heads-up. I'm going to want to transfer to days after I get back from maternity leave. I know that's not for a long time, but they have a waiting list, so I thought I'd put in for it pretty soon. I just wanted you to know, before you see the request… It isn't personal, Griss. I'm not transferring away from you. I'm doing it so I can get better child care."

"Let's not talk about work."

"Oh. Okay." Sara paused, apparently confused. Grissom was irritated. It wasn't as though their relationship didn't extend beyond the lab. That was the whole problem, and he was ready to explore it now. So why wasn't she talking?

"What do you want to talk about, then?" she asked.

Damn. We really only talk about work. Why did I say that, anyway? Because I don't want to think about her transferring. I'm an idiot.

"Well, what's new with you?" he asked.

She stared at him. She had the same expression on her face as she did when she was reconstructing a crime. This wasn't going well.

Well, maybe that was a stupid question. Think, Gil! Make this work.

He was saved by the waiter. Grissom realized he hadn't even looked at his menu. He half-listened to Sara's order, and indicated that he would have the same. Sara was staring at him again.

The waiter was gone now, and they were still sitting in silence. Say something.

"Catherine worked nights, with Lindsay."

"Catherine had Eddie. And she has her sister, and her mother." So she's not getting married? And she's not with him?

"So the father…?"

"Is in L.A." Grissom tried not to look too relieved. It was obviously not an ideal situation for Sara, after all.

"I'm from that area." There. I'm sharing personal information. Good job, Gil.

"I know." Right. Of course you do. Say something else, fast.

"Are you still smoking?" What was that? Why did you say that? She's going to think you're criticizing her. She looks mad. Why did you ask that?

"No." She's angry. Smooth things over.

"I don't want you to transfer."

There was another silence.

"Grissom, what are we doing here?"

Good question. Right to the point.

"Talking. Getting to know each other again."

"Getting to know each other?"

"My favorite color is red." Especially when you wear it.

Sara looked as though she was holding back a laugh. She took a long sip of her water.

"Mine is blue." She was willing to play along, at least.

"I used to surf, in California."

"I've done it. My sister was into it and she let me borrow her board a couple times."

"You've never mentioned her." Am I crossing the line, here?

"Well, she wasn't really my sister. Just temporary, you know? I have a real brother, but… I haven't seen him in a long time."

Grissom didn't want to ask about that directly, so he continued the conversation, keeping it light.

"I don't have any siblings. It's a relationship that's always interested me, though. I mean, the parent-child bond is pretty obvious and instinctive, but siblings can turn out so differently. Most of our neighbors had pretty big families, and I always felt a little left out."

Sara nodded. "I think it's a case of 'the grass is always greener.' You didn't have anyone to tease you or steal your stuff. On the other hand, it's nice to know someone has your back."

Grissom was more relaxed now. This seemed to be pretty safe territory after all, and at least Sara wasn't clinging to monosyllables. He didn't have much to add, though, without bringing up parents, and he definitely wanted to avoid that.

"I had a cat," he said. "She scratched me a lot. Does that count?"

Sara laughed softly. "Sure, that counts. What was her name?"

"It's a secret."

"Okay." Sara's smile faded and she looked at her plate. Grissom found he had a sudden heavy weight in his stomach.

He'd been joking, teasing her to get her to push him, and he was stunned at her rapid withdrawal. Had he really damaged their friendship that much? She really thinks I'm not willing to share something that trivial? What have I done to us?

"Schrödinger." Sara looked back up at him.

"My cat's name was Schrödinger," he repeated.

"How old were you when you named the cat?" Sara was smiling again.

"Eleven."

"Smart kid, reading that stuff."

"I bet you were, too. I bet this little one will be."

Sara looked startled, but not displeased. She probably hadn't thought he'd bring it up again. She took another sip of water, trying to hide her surprise.

He continued, talking to fill this next conversational void, "Intelligence is pretty heritable, and you're brilliant, so the kid should be too. This guy, whoever, he wouldn't have to be a rocket scientist. You have enough to go around."

Sara choked on her water, just managing not to spit it out.

"How do you do that?" She asked.

"What?" Why did I do that? I'm not usually the one who over-talks! She must think I'm an idiot.

"Thank you for the compliment. Tim is, though." Tim. That's a stupid name. And I don't want to talk about him.

"Tim is what?"

"An aerospace engineer." A rocket scientist. Grissom felt a surge of jealousy again, hearing about this "Tim." And it had been easier when he could think the man stupid. Suddenly, though, he noticed the sparkle in Sara's eye. She was trying not to laugh, and Grissom suddenly understood the joke.

"Got it in one, huh?"

"Gil Grissom, psychic extraordinaire."

The food came then, and Grissom was a bit startled to realize that he had ordered cooked spinach and cold fruit salad. He looked at Sara.

"Don't blame me," she said, "you ordered it. I'm trying to get more iron in my diet."

He laughed again, and relaxed. As long as she was teasing him, he knew, it would all work out alright.