A/N: I love all the positive responses I'm getting to this story. It makes me so happy to know that I've come up with an interesting idea. My boyfriend, who is a casual CSI viewer, kind of snickers at me every time I talk obsessively about CSI or Grissom and Sara or fanfiction, but he puts up with it because he is a wonderful guy. Cheers for him. Anyway, next chapter.

PS: Sorry about last chapter. Bear, I was born in the mid-eighties, so forgive all of my stupid errors like last chapter's "five dollars for lunch" mishap. Sooooo sorry. This is unbeated, so just replace all wrong stuff with the right stuff. Also, by the way, I know the origin of the word willy-nilly. It comes for the Latin "volo-nolo" meaning "I want, I don't want." Cool, huh?

Chapter Three

He looked so damn cute, hands stuffed in is jacket pockets, head hung low. His brown leather jacket hugged his broad, muscular shoulders and Sara couldn't help but notice how cute his butt looked, encased in perfectly worn blue jeans. It was a cold morning for LA, the temperature hovering around forty-fiveish. The wind gusted slightly, blowing Grissom's curly hair willy-nilly. Sara was willing to bet that his nose was turning red from the chill and his icy blue eyes were squinted against the wind.

Sara decided to offer him a ride. She honked, the Mustang's horn piercing the morning. Grissom jumped about two feet in the air and whirled around to see a grinning Sara.

"Oh, Sara, you startled me." He gasped, a puff of air visible when he exhaled.

"Sorry." She grinned sheepishly. "You want a ride? You look freezing."

"Thanks." He jogged around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. "This is really nice of you, Sara."

"Please, it's no problem." She shifted the car and sped off down the street.

"Jesus, Sara, you're going to kill us both."

"Nah." She flipped her hair out of her eyes. "Probably only severely maim."

Grissom clenched a hand on the door and prayed to whomever was listening that they made it to school in one piece.

"So, uh, I never thanked you for dinner the other night." She said nervously.

"Actually you did." He replied with a smirk. "Twice, I believe."

"Oh." The conversation stalled. "Well, um, thank you."

"Three times."

If there was any one thing Sara had noticed about 1973 Grissom, it was that he was every bit as frustrating as 2005 Grissom.

"You're free to get out and walk, if you'd like." Sara tossed back.

"I'm warmer in here."

"Then play nice."

"Who says I'm not?"

Sara pondered this. Even with the Science Club he seemed reserved and quiet. When he was around Sara, he spoke at least two to three sentences at a time. Was he playing nice?

"Don't miss the turn!" He warned her, grabbing the door as Sara pulled a sharp right into the school's parking lot. "In addition, try not to kill me."

"See you in Chem." Sara smiled angelically.

&&&&&&

Grissom actually couldn't stand his English class. He sat behind Tony Marello and Bobby Fritz, two ultra-jocks who's combined IQ's probably didn't top 100.

"What do you think of the new girl?" Tony wiggled his eyebrows at Bobby. "Kinda cute. Got that whole innocent science geek thing going. Be fun to, ya know, mess her up a little."

Bobby grinned wolfishly. "I certainly wouldn't be averse to a little backseat action."

Grissom's ears turned pink from suppressed rage. He hadn't know Sara very long, but he still had the strangest urge to protect her.

"Not like that Stacy chick. Blonde hair and a great rack, but too fat."

Grissom's jaw dropped. Stacy? Too fat? She weighs like…125, tops.

"So you gonna go after Sidle? Could be fun." Bobby slouched down in his chair.

"You know, I think deflowering the chick could be just the thing to bring me out of this funk I've been in since we lost to Mackenzie High."

"Yeah." Bobby stretched out the word and grinned, high-fiving Tony.

&&&&&&

"Hey." Sara flashed Grissom a smile as she unpacked everything she needed for Chem class. "How's your day going?"

"Fine." Grissom replied shortly.

"Uh-huh." Sara raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Let me know how that denial thing works out."

"I'm not in denial."

Sara rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Okay."

&&&&&&

Grissom is acting weird. Sara read the note Stacy had passed to her.

He's Grissom. Sara scribbled back. What's weird is when he's acting normal.

No, like weird even for him. Today he said to me, "Stace, you know you aren't fat, right? No matter what anyone says to you, you're not fat.

Um, okay. That is kind of strange, I'll grant you that. But who knows, I'm sure he had his reasons.

Look, Sara, he's a complete enigma to even his closest friends. Everybody in Science Club has noticed that he's way more comfortable around you and that you two are getting close. Maybe he'll open up to you. Something's got to be bugging him for him to be that sensitive.

I'll try, but I asked him if something was bothering him and Chem and he totally denied it.

Okay. Thanks, though.

&&&&&&

He'd better not touch Sara. Grissom thought furiously, staring at Tony the next morning. I know Tony Marello and he's no gentleman. He's not getting anywhere near her.

Yeah? Grissom's inner voice taunted him. What are you gonna do about it? It's her choice to make. You can't stop her from going out with Marello if she wants to. She isn't yours to stop.

She'll listen to me. Grissom insisted.

She thinks you hate her. You wouldn't speak to her this morning when she offered you a ride to school. She probably thinks you're pissed at her. Not the most effective way to keep her from going out with Marello.

I'll find her and apologize.

You never apologize. Face it, Gil. Marello's a big high and mighty jock. You are a science geek. Sara will choose him. Might as well give up now and spare yourself the pain.

Grissom sighed. His inner voice was right. He could never compare to Marello. Marello would go after Sara and there was nothing he could do about it.

&&&&&&

Sara hefted her bookbag and moved towards the door of the French classroom.

"Hey, Sara." A tall dark-haired guy jogged up to her. "I'm Tony Marello."

"Hey." She nodded, walking through the doorway.

"I know you're new to BHS, so I was wondering if you wanted to go out on Saturday night. I could show you around LA."

Sara smiled politely. "No thanks, Tony. It was nice of you to ask."

"Hey, well, here's my number if you change your mind." Tony scratched it out on a piece of paper and handed it to Sara.

"Thanks." Sara accepted the paper and stuffed it into her jeans. "Later."

&&&&&&

Sara didn't want to wait for him. He'd been a jerk that morning when she offered him a ride. He'd ignored her and been rude. By all rights she should have left his ass to walk home.

But he was Grissom. That was the only explanation Sara could give. He was Grissom.

"Thanks for waiting." Grissom said breathlessly, climbing into the car.

"Yeah." Sara nodded coolly. "Grissom, are you sure nothing's bugging you? You've been acting weird all day."

"I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"I'm fine, Sara." He snapped.

She opened her mouth to say something, but quickly decided against it. They rode the rest of the way in silence.

&&&&&&

Gil, Mrs. Grissom signed to him. What's going on?

Nothing, mom. He signed back quickly. I'm just going to my room to work on homework.

Olivia frowned. No matter what he said, there was something wrong. When are you going to have Sara over for dinner again? She was so nice to have over.

She's pretty busy, mom. Grissom signed back absentmindedly. Maybe when school calms down.

Christmas break is coming up. Why don't we invite her family over for dinner?

Grissom's eyes widened and he shook his head. No! He both signed and spoke emphatically. No. Leave it alone, mother.

Olivia pursed her lips. Go do your homework.

Grissom raced up the stairs to his bedroom and slammed the door. Christmas is coming up. I wonder if I should get Sara something. But then, what if she takes it the wrong way. What if she takes it the right way? Grissom groaned and for the first time since second grade, wasn't in the mood to do homework.

AN: How do you guys like the inner monologue thing I'm trying out with Grissom? Did you like the conversation between Stacy and Sara? Would you like to see Stacy developed more? Would you like to see a Stacy/Sara friendship developed more? Points for anyone who knows who Stacy is.