A/N: Look; I know that I have yet to mention Spork or the swing shift arrangement, and that's because I like CSI better this way. No Spork and the old team back together. If you wanna see Sophia later in the story, tell me and I'll find a way to fit her in.

Chapter Three: One Inch At A Time

The conference room fell silent as their supervisor clad all in black entered the room. Sara couldn't ignore how the color brought out his California-born tan and lightened his deep blue eyes. Catherine tried her best to hide a smile while watching Sara admire Grissom.

"We have two new cases tonight. Oh, and congrats to everyone on wrapping up the Philips case," stated Grissom. He slowly surveyed the room, and threw down the folders containing the new cases.

Everything appears to be normal, so why had there been so much noise before. Catherine, Greg and Warrick reaching for the case files and flipping through the police reports. Nick and Sara continuing to argue over her new apartment. Wait! Sara never told me anything about a new apartment. When did she move in? Grissom silently pondered to himself. He was disturbed that the news hadn't been shared with him. Was she more comfortable talking to Nick instead of me? Great job, Gil. You yell at her for something stupid and now she doesn't tell you anything. His thoughts trailed. She won't even look at you.

He was about to argue that she should have told him when he fell into her trap. "Wow," he mouthed. His mouth slipped open as he scanned every visible inch of her body. It seemed as if a lifetime flew by as he soaked in every bit of Sara from the long legs escaping her short khakis to her long wavy hair. Damn, she's long. He continued his slow examination.

Catherine, seeing Grissom's obvious admiration of Sara's new wardrobe, found herself saying anything to break her friend's trance.

"Gil? This double homicide…we'll take it, okay?"

Grissom awoke from his daydream to look at his rescuer, and mouthed a silent "thank you." Pulling himself together, Grissom said, "Sure. Make sure that you speak to Brass beforehand. He just called in some interesting news about the two DBs."

"I'll meet you guys in the locker room. Grab your stuff," ordered Catherine. Warrick and Nick rose to leave, and grabbed the case file from her hands.

"That leaves the rape to me and…" Grissom turned to face Sara, a smile behind his solemn cowl. "Sara Sidle. I'll meet up with you in a few."

Sara got up and left without as much as an "okay" or a nod. He watched her unvoiced exit.

"What about me?"

Shit! I forgot about Greg. Quick, think of something.

"I need you in the lab for this one. You're the only one I can trust with this case's evidence."

Well, it's not like I lied. It's true that I trust him in the lab, but I need to talk to Sara. Alone.

"Oh, okay then." Greg's face reflected his disappointment, but he exited anyway.

Catherine leaned back in her chair to relax and looked at Grissom.

"Your welcome," she stated matter factly.

"I believe I said 'thank you'," countered Grissom stubbornly. His face steadily became pale and he placed it in his hands.

"What's going on with you, Gil," questioned Catherine trying to sound serious and concerned.

"I have no idea what you're talking about? I've just been really tired lately. This medicine has some odd side effects."

"Does it make you stare at young women with your mouth wide open?"

Gil Grissom was caught and he knew it. He cursed himself for not devising a better lie, but he knew when he was beat.

"I love her, and did you see her today? She was…"

"We know."

"You don't think she saw me, do you?"

"No. She was too preoccupied with trying not to look obvious after staring at you in that sexy black ensemble of yours. Very nice by the way."

He blushed at the thought of Sara thinking he looked sexy, or even the thought of Sara looking at him with those chocolate brown eyes,

"Why can't I do something about her, and tell her what she wants to hear?"

"What are you afraid of, Gil? Losing you job? Losing your heart?"

"Yes. Afraid of losing my normality."

"And what if you lose her completely?"

Grissom raised his head in panic and searched Catherine's eyes for some reassurance that Sara would never leave. He was out of luck.

"She won't wait on you forever." And with that she left Grissom alone, his face in his hands.

She sped off to the locker room in search of Sara Sidle, trying to think of how to help her lost friends. Sadly, Catherine found only Warrick, Nick, and Greg who didn't hesitate in their bombardment of questions.

"So what's up with them?"

"What did Grissom say?"

"What's the plan, Catherine?"

"The usual. Nothing is going on. He loves her. Afraid to make a move." Catherine turned to Warrick with her hands on her hips. "How did you know?"

Sara, walking alone through the deserted hallways of the Crime Lab, smiled to herself. Her plan had only begun and it was already working. How could she ignore the way Grissom had looked over her body with such want, such precision? The only thing better than knowing that Grissom wanted her, was knowing that the entire team knew it too.

Turning towards the locker room, she knew that she would only have to work at him one inch at a time.

Nearing the locker room door, she heard familiar voices.

"The whole situation is ridiculous. I'm so tired of them tiptoeing around each other, smiling and flirting. Like we have no clue. And did you see the look on his face when he saw her legs?" The entire team exploded with laughter.

TBC