Disclaimer: I lost the rights to CSI in a poker game in '99.

I'm sorry if my chapters seem short its just that I stop when I can't think of anymore to add. Plus I'm not into those long winding paragraphs about a door nail. Case in point: anything by Charles Dickens. Also If i don't update oftenI lose interest in the story and just decide to say "screw it" for two months. And to drakien: the Grissom posters mine though. Lastly please dont attack me for what follows.

Sara was sitting on a swing, gently pushing backwards and forwards. The soothing motion led her mind to a place where it rarely ever went; to rare memories from her childhood when her parents were happy.

Independence Day of 1976, her seventh birthday when her father had actually listened and had gotten her a toy science kit, and the last Christmas before her life was completely turned on its head would always be the defining moments of her youth. She still couldn't help but smile at the image of her dad with bows stuck to his head.

She supposed that these things were coming to her now because today was the day her parents had gotten married. In fact the only real picture she kept of them was from their wedding ceremony.

Sara was so caught up in her memories that she barely noticed when the swing next to her creaked under someone's weight. She didn't even need to move her head though to know who it was.

"Sara—"

"Grissom, what were you like as a child?"

He thoughtfully considered the question. "Strange. Word got to the police that I was dissecting animals. An officer came around to check me out. It was hard to explain why I was doing it, even now, but when I showed him that they were already dead when I found them he let me off the hook. After that they would call me at times to do autopsies on cats or dogs. It didn't make me any more popular at school."

"I can't imagine why."

"What about you?" He watched her carefully in the pale light given off by the moon.

"I was a dreamer. No matter what happened I always looked forward to the light at the end of the tunnel." She hesitated and licked her lips. "Sometimes when the fights got really bad I would escape into the attic and pretend I was a princess trapped by her wicked uncle who had taken over the kingdom. I was thrown into the highest tower but a prince would come to rescue me. As I got older the prince stopped coming."

Grissom reached out to lace his fingers with hers, so that their arms hung together between the swings. "I can't imagine why."

They drove back to Grissom's house in silence, a companionable silence. It was one of those moments when words were unnesecary. As they walked up the steps to the door they linked hands again, it just seemed natural.

Sara was nervous. When they got inside Grissom wrapped his arms around her. She took in his scent for a moment then pushed him away to look into his eyes.

"Are you sure? Once we do this there's no going back."

"Yes. It's time we moved forward."

She still looked worried though so he lowered his lips to hers in a reassuring kiss.

A little while later Grissom was watching the ceiling fan in his bedroom as Sara lightly dozed beside him. Her hand rested over his heart. A quick glance at the clock told him they should be getting up soon, but they'd been in early practically everyday since the beginning. They could afford to be late at least once.

What was really bothering him though was what happened now. Was this a one time thing? And what about the no romance between employees rule? Would anyone find them out? Catherine most certainly. She had a nose for this kind of thing.

A million more questions coursed through his mind, each filling him with more dread than the last.

Suddenly Sara stirred beside him and none of it mattered just then. He covered her hand with his and relaxed while the moment lasted.

When Grissom and Sara entered the lab they were no longer hand-in-hand, but there was a difference in the way they walked. Usually professional their postures were now loose and casual.

They were almost to Grissom's office when they ran into Sofia.

"Oh, good. Grissom, I've been looking for you." Her tone was urgent.

Sara hung back with her arms crossed.

"What is it?"

"A woman was found murdered with the same MO as Melissa Davis."

"How long ago?"

"About an hour."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"I did. You weren't answering your cell."

"Must've been bad reception. Are you heading over there now?"

"Just waiting for you."

Grissom turned to Sara. "Stay here." When Sara would have spoken he held up his hand. "If this is the same guy then we can't risk having you at the scene." He then gestured to Sofia. "We'll take my car."

Sara stood watching them leave trying not to feel cast-off like last years Halloween candy. She hated the feeling she got when Grissom was around Sofia and she knew she'd go crazy if she continued to think about it. So she went in search of Greg to see if he could fill her in on their cases. But she was almost positive that his anecdotes about Papa Olaf would help right now.

I had to get that out of my system. the next couple of chapters im going to be focusing on more of the mystery angle.