I went ahead and wrote Chapter 8, while waiting to see if I should post it. And I've had reviews, so here's Chapter 8!I know some will be disappointed with the choice I'm making, but oh well. This is where the story brought me. I just want to quickly say I'm sorry that I kept writing "they were quiet" and blah blah blah. But there had to be empty spaces to put the rest in. Enjoy!

The next chapter will be up by Thursday, June 30th. I hope. But definately by Saturday July 2nd!

Oh, What a Night

They said the taxi should be here to pick her up in the next five to ten minutes. That was a half hour ago. She looked at her watch. It was 5:30. Grissom had just gotten off of work, surely he wouldn't mind picking her up. He wasn't that far away, and the institution wasn't out of his way home. She didn't have her cell phone, so she had to go back in. With a sigh she trudged back in. Three weeks was enough for her, she didn't need this extra time inside, but she needed a way home.

"May I please use your phone?" she asked the receptionist. "I don't have change for the pay phone."

"May I ask what you need the phone for?" she asked.

"I need to call a friend for a ride home." she said, being used to people being nosey and having to know everything. "My taxi never came."

The receptionist handed over the phone and dialed the number as Sara told her.

Ring.

Ring.

This was longer than it usually took for Grissom to answer his phone.

Ring.

"Grissom."

"Hey Grissom. It's Sara. I need a ride home, can you pick me up?"

"Sure. Uh...Hold on a second." He talked to someone else. "Yeah, I just have to drop someone else home first. I'll be there in twenty?"

"Great. Thanks."

Drop someone else home first? Who could he possibly be driving home? Didn't he care about her anymore?


She got in the car. He was happy to see her. The last time he saw her was two weeks ago.

"Thanks Grissom. You're a big help." She said, wondering who this mysterious person was.

"I don't mind. How come you needed a ride home?"

"My taxi didn't come."

"Oh ok."

It was quiet for a moment. She was just itching to ask who he drove home. She could feel the words in her mouth. They could just slip out at any moment. But was it any of her business?

"You're wondering who I drove home." He said knowingly.

"No I'm not."

"I can see it on your face. Go ahead. Ask."

It was silent for a minute. She didn't want to give in to the temptation. She didn't want to prove him right.

"Who were you driving home?"

He laughed.

"I knew you wanted to know. It was a colleague of mine. His car broke down and he needed a lift home."

"Oh. Ok."

"Sara." They stopped at an intersection. "Where to?"

"Home, I guess." She wanted to go somewhere with him. Any where. Just be with him. For them to finally be together. "Do you want to go get something to eat?"

They went right, still going in the direction of Sara's home.

"Sara."

"No, it's not like that. I'm just hungry and I don't think I have anything to eat at home."

He thought. "Okay, but this is not a date." He wished it was. But now was not the time for dates. Now was the time to keep Sara well.

"I know. So, how's everything?"

"It's good. My students are doing very well."

They kept talking. He talked and talked. But it came to an awkward end half way through dinner. It was quiet for several long moments. Sara shifted in her seat. She didn't know what to talk about.

"Sara, you've liked me for a while, yes?" Grissom asked, seemingly out of nowhere. She turned a deep red and swallowed hard before answering. "Yes."

"Okay." There was a faint smile on his face.

That was the of that topic of conversation. His face got kind of serious.

"I was talking to Nick the other day." Grissom said.

Uh-oh. Sara thought, not knowing where he was going to go with this.

"We were talking about you, and he told me what happened in the hospital room. I th-"

"Nothing really 'happened.' It's not a big deal." She said, wanting him to stop talking about it.

"Well, I just wanted to tell you that I think you did the right thing. Letting him know that it had to wait."

Sara didn't say anything. She just looked at him.

"Grissom? Why are you talking about this with me?"

He was confused. He hadn't expected this reaction from her. "I don't know. I just thought you should know that he talked to me about it. I'm sorry, I didn't know it would upset you."

"It's ok, never mind."

They quietly finished their meals and payed the bill. In the car, the silence was broken only by the music.


He walked her to her door.

"Sara," he touched her arm, "I'm sorry for upsetting you." He was sincere.

"It's okay, Gil."

He smiled, she never called him by his first name.

She smiled back. "Would you like to come in for a drink?"

He looked doubtful, but then nodded.

He walked to the couch and sat down while Sara got two beers from the refrigerator. She sat down next to him. They both drank, without saying anything. He put his bottle on the coffee table.

"Sara-"

"I know." He liked her too.

He leaned over and kissed her softly. He looked at her for approval and she smiled. He kissed her again, softly at first and then more rough.