A/N Just a little hint of romance, for those of you longing for some Sara-Grissomness. But first, some drama (cause there hasn't been enough of that yet.) To all of you who write me such awesome reviews, thank you! You guys just make me so happy. Yeah me!

Chapter 4

"Sara, open the door." He knew that she was in the apartment, had seen movement when he first knocked on the door. Only that fact stopped him from panicking that she was unconscious on the floor. He was close to panic anyway. For five minutes he had been standing at her door, knocking and calling out to her. She refused to answer. In the five weeks he had been coming to see her she had never failed to open the door to him. Not even the day after her chemo, when it took all of her energy to walk from the couch to the door.

"Sara, I'm not leaving until I see you. I have to see that your okay. If you don't answer the door I'll have to call Brass and have him send a couple of uniforms over to break in."

She knew that he would do it. Grissom didn't make idle threat. As much as she didn't want to see anyone right now, she knew that she had to see him face to face before he would leave. So she compromised. She opened the door to him, but left the chain latched.

"There. You see me. Now go away." She knew that her tone was snippy, and he didn't deserve that.

"I'm sorry. I'm just not good company today. I'll see you tomorrow, maybe."

"What's wrong?" The apartment behind her was cloaked in darkness, curtains drawn against the bright Nevada sun. Sara was dressed in sweats, with a towel wrapped around her head. Grissom thought this was a little odd, since she didn't appear to have just gotten out of the shower.

"If you don't want company that's fine. Just let me come in for a minute and see for myself that your really okay."

Sara sighed, knowing that he wasn't going to just leave her alone. She closed the door to unhook the chain, and opened it to let him in.

He walked in and stopped in the entry way. Slowly he looked her over. Visually there didn't seem to be anything wrong.

"I'm fine. Really." Unconsciously she reached up to the towel, as if to make sure that it was still there. In that moment Grissom realized what was wrong He took a step closer to her, and reached out to caress her cheek.

"If you want me to leave, I will. But I have to tell you something first." He took a deep breath, knowing that he was about to cross a line that he had worked so hard to erect. Over the years there had been innuendoes and double entandras, but never had he openly told her how he felt about her.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I thought so when I saw you that first time in the lecture hall, and I still think so. Nothing could change that." With that he reached up and took off the towel. Her hair looked like it had been cut by a child, and there was a large bald patch in front. He ran his fingers through it.

"I, uh, got mad and unfortunately there was a pair of scissors within reach." In some ways it had been the worst part of the cancer this far. Brushing her hair this morning she had pulled back the brush to find a whole chunk of hair in the bristles. She had known it could happen, but hadn't been prepared. It was stupid and superficial. She had made it through the weakness and the nausea, the tiredness and aches. But seeing that clump of hair and knowing that more would come out was almost her undoing. she had reacted in anger, seizing the scissors and hacking at her hair until the longest pieces were no longer then her chin. If anyone was going to take away her hair, it was going to be her.

"Come on. Put on your shoes and come with me." Grissom threw the towel over the back of a chair and moved to the front door.

"No. Grissom, I'm not leaving the house." She crossed her arms and planted her feet.

"Sara, please. Trust me." He reached out for her hand. "You trust me, don't you?"

It was just the right thing to say. The only thing, perhaps, that would have worked

They drove for twenty minutes before parking in an alley behind a row of shops.

"Come on, there's someone I want you to meet." Grissom led her through a doorway and into a small back room. It was sparsely decorated, containing only a desk, chair, file cabinet and a mini fridge.

"Nora, are you here?"

Sara stood self consciously behind Grissom, wary of anyone seeing her looking like she did. Grissom stepped away from her, walking toward the curtain covered doorway that separated the main shop from the back room. Suddenly the curtain was pulled aside and a woman entered.

"Gil, darling, how good to see you. You don't come around often enough."

Sara almost laughed at the idea of calling Grissom 'darling,' but coming from this woman it seemed natural. Is was hard to tell how old Nora was, she could have been anywhere in her fifties or sixties. She was little, barely reaching Sara's shoulder. Her hair was a coppery red, obviously helped along by Miss Clairol, and she was clothed in a long flowing skirt and peasant blouse. Her hands fluttered as she talked.

"Dearest, do you bring me someone new to meet? I do so love meeting new people. Hello, my dear. I'm Nora." And with that she walked up to Sara and encased her in a hug. Sara was startled, to say the least, and even more so when Nora released her and turned to hug Grissom. If only she had a camera. Grissom, being hugged by this petite fairy of a woman was a sight she would love to share with the guys at the lab.

"Nora, this is my friend Sara. She is in need of your expertise."

"You came to the right place. Come with me dear heart."

Next thing she knew, Sara found herself in a barber's chair with Nora standing behind her. The thought of those thin fluttering hands holding scissors worried her at first, but it turned out that her hands were rock steady and confident as she snipped away at the remains of Sara's hair. Soon her hair was evenly styled in a short crop. Nora laid down the scissors and left momentarily, returning with a pair of styrofoam heads, each one supporting a wig.

"Now this wig here looks pretty close to your natural hair color. Sometimes that's good, but sometimes you want a change. Let's try some on."

Sara was reticent about the thought of wearing a wig, was sure everyone would be able to tell. It was a happy surprise, then, when Nora slipped the first wig over her shorn head and she found that the reflection in the mirror was almost like it had been yesterday, before her hair fell out. She turned to Nora, a smile on her face.

"You know, I've always wondered what I would look like as a blond."

Grissom entered the shop to a sound he hadn't heard in too long to remember... Sara was laughing. He had left her in Nora's capable hands, thinking that she might be more comfortable if he wasn't around while her hair was cut and Nora introduced her to wearing wigs. He had gone down the street to the bakery, and now returned with hot teas and pastries for the three of them. The drinks almost ended up on the floor when he walked in. Sara was standing in the middle of the shop, a purple mow hawk perched on top of her head.

Sara smiled at the look on Grissom's face.

"What do you think? Is it me? Can you picture the look on Nick's face if I walked into the lab like this?"

Grissom was beyond relieved to see Sara so happy. He hadn't been sure coming here would be a good idea, but it was the only thing he could think of. Seeing Sara earlier, so upset about her hair, he had known that he had to do something. Fortunately it hadn't backfired on him.

"So how do you know Nora? Sara was sitting in the passenger seat of Grissom's Tahoe, wearing a wig that was a close match to her natural hair in both color and style. In her lap was a bag of scarfs in many colors and patterns. Nora had taught her how to tie them around her head while explaining that wigs can get itchy when worn too long. They were best used for going out, or having company. The scarves were more comfortable.

"I helped send her to jail."

It was the last thing Sara expected to hear.

"What?"

"Twenty years ago, when I first came to Vegas I had a case involving a con artist and his accomplice."

"Nora's a con artist?"

"Was. She cleaned up after a three year prison term. She looked me up, after she got out. Thanked me for helping to set her straight. Opened her shop about ten years ago. I visit, once in a while. Nora's an interesting person."

"Yes, she is."

They had reached Sara's apartment, and this time Grissom did not have to ask to be invited in.

"Thanks, Griss, for everything. I don't know how I would have made it through today without you."

Grissom accepted her thanks with a simple 'your welcome' and quickly changed the subject, a little uncomfortable with her gratitude.

"So how about a movie. I brought Swing Time and Maltese Falcon." It turned out that both of them shared a passion for old movies, a discovery they had mode over breakfast one morning. Many hours had passed with the two of them on the couch, popcorn bowl between them and vintage Hollywood on the television.

"Maltese Falcon," Sara decided. "I'll make the popcorn, you get the movie ready."

When she came back with the popcorn, Grissom noticed that she had removed the wig. His heart sped up just the slightest bit at the memory of Nora's words. Wigs are for company, for work. Sara didn't feel the need to wear the wig around him, and he found that very pleasing. He wasn't company, and here in her home he wasn't her boss either.

"When I was little, I used to want to be Humphrey Bogart. PI detective in one movie, master thief in another."

The credits to the movie were rolling. The part two hour had passed in comfortable silence, broken only for occasional comments about the movie or requests for more popcorn. Sara walked Grissom to the door. It was already afternoon, and if Grissom was going to get any sleep before shift started he needed to leave.

"You learn something new everyday. Although I can see you as Bogie. Strong silent man who saves the woman by soling mysteries using his keen intellect." She liked being able to tease him. It was an element that had been missing in their friendship for the past few years, and she was glad it was back.

"I learned something new today too."

"What's that?" Sara queried.

"Not only would you look beautiful with no hair, but I even find you attractive with purple spiky hair."

Sara didn't know how to react, but it didn't matter because she didn't get a chance to. In the next moment Grissom leaned down and gently kissed her lips. Just a simple touch, but to Sara it was something more. It was a kiss of promise, not for now but for the future. Someday, it whispered, there would be something more for them. More then friendship. More then 'this.'

Before Sara recovered Grissom was gone. But he would be back tomorrow. And for now, she had hope. Sara rubbed her index finger over her lip and smiled to herself. Hell, she had a kiss from Grissom and a new head of hair. For a day that started out in the toilet, it sure ended well. Better then she could have thought.

To be continued...