Explosive Love

Author: Moggie / Pairing: GCR & GSR Will be GSR / Rating: Pg13 / Category: Drama/Romance. / Spoilers: Mentions of Hank & Eddie. Maybe some from Season 4. / Disclaimer: I do not own CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, nor do I do character bashing. This is for the enjoyment of others and for my restless mind.

Summary: GCR & GSR Character Death. A big bang and chaos. Will be GSR

WARNING: There might be Grissom and Catherine scenes that may discourage you. I cringe writing it, so I apologise for what I'm about to do, but it's all in the name of Grissom and Sara's Love.

Chapter 17

Never did she imagine herself to be sitting on the suspect side of the interrogation room. The worried feeling was creeping into her soul as she watched Sophia Curtis and Brass take up positions that she had once been accustomed to. With Brass leaning on the wall between the door and the two-way mirror and Curtis seated in the interrogators seat opposite. Once upon a time, Sara had been seated in that same seat, readying to question witnesses, suspects and killers. Never did she think that she'd be in the predicament she was in right now.

"Feel's different, doesn't it?" Curtis asked, her head bowed as she perused her notes.

Hearing the sickly sweet voice the investigator used, Sara couldn't help but think why Curtis was treating her like a suspect or with such obvious distaste.

Sitting back slowly and as casually as she could, Sara looked from Curtis' head to Brass, offering him a small friendly smile, which he returned. "Definitely gives you a different perspective of this room. I never did notice that mirror before."

Brass chuckled, admiring her attempt at levelling the tension.

Curtis looked up, not amused. "This is a serious matter Miss Sidle."

Sara raised an eyebrow. "I'm well aware of that, Miss Curtis." She returned a neutral look. "I've been in that seat many a time, so I don't need talking to like a rookie, or a suspect." She snapped back.

"Let's get this over with." Brass interrupted. "This is a questioning and Sara came willingly. Let's not make this out to be a blood bath. I do have better things to do."

Curtis gave the detective a quelling look before starting the questioning.

Sara expelled a long breath as she walked out of the interrogation room. Curtis practically marched towards the exit, while Brass lagged behind to accompany Sara.

"Well, that was intense." He commented cheerily.

Sara smiled at him. "Guess she doesn't like me much."

Brass scratched at his chin thoughtfully. "There have been some rumours of late and they have… mentioned, your name… here and there."

"My name?" She echoed, looking at him. "My name is popping up a lot. First this case, now at the lab-"

"And here." He added.

"Here?" She looked around them and saw the odd eyeball in her direction. "Great. What did I do to deserve such interest anyway?"

Brass cocked his head to the side, looking off to the waiting room where some witness interviews were taking place.

Sara followed him and looked through the glass wall. She stopped dead in her tracks when her eyes settled on the one investigator that stood off to the side as a detective talked to a group of young woman dressed in short skirts and low tops. She final spoke up when Brass cleared his throat. "You have got to be kidding me."

"It would seem that knowledge of your time in Colorado and him leaving Conrad's celebration party has come to light." Brass turned to her when she turned her back on the room.

"There is no way in hell that you're telling me that there are rumours of me and Grissom." She said through a worried tone. It wouldn't do Grissom's career any good if rumours started flying around that they had slept together whilst in Colorado or the sleep over at her place the night before. It just wasn't possible to know about last night.

Looking briefly over her shoulder, he sighed. "Sara, Gil was supposed to give a congratulations speech last night, but he vanished. Sophia mentioned that you had been there one minute, gone the next. Two and two put together and it makes out that you two left together."

Sighing and rubbing weary eyes. "That's speculation." She looked at him. "And for the record, I left on my own. After I spoke to Greg. That's it."

"Well," Brass hedged. "Looks like someone saw the two of you, because the rumour is that you and Gil were talking by the elevator and entered it together."

Sara shifted on her feet and looked around them quickly before leaning closer to talk quietly to the detective so no one close by could over hear. "Yes. He walked me out. He drove me home because I got a taxi to the hotel. That's it."

"That's it." Brass mused teasingly, earning him an angry sigh.

"He slept on the couch. End of story." She stepped back and bumped into someone behind. "Sorry." She apologised without turning.

"What are you doing here?" A surprised voice asked.

Sara turned and was caught between stuttering a reply or saying goodbye and leaving. She hated it when he caught her by surprise. Thankfully Brass answered.

"It's ok Gil. Sara was just about to leave. I'm sure she has to get back to her class." Brass looked from Sara's wide eyes to Grissom's clear blue ones. It was obvious the entomologist was pleased to see her.

"Ok." He acknowledged Brass with a nod. "What are you doing here?" He asked his question again, his eyes on Sara.

Sara shrugged. "Giving a statement… I think." She chuckled nervously. "To be honest, I'm not sure." Like taking a sudden cold shower at the thought of one of her students being murdered, her smile fell.

Brass answered again, this time giving an answer. "The case Curtis and Sanders are working? They found out that the vic attends one of Sara's classes."

"Oh." Grissom's tone was concerned. "But why are you here? I'm sure one of them could have taken a statement at the university."

"Um…" Sara began. "Actually, they found my calling card amongst a pile of text books at the scene. Guess they think I'm involved… Well, Sophia Curtis is bent on it." She added with a shudder.

"What?!" Grissom snapped and glared at Brass. "Why wasn't I informed?"

"Because you're involvement would be biased and you can't take the case either. You're too close. You know that Gil. Let the others do their job." Brass said sternly.

Grissom turned to Sara and tuned Brass out. "Do you need a lift back?" He asked.

"Er, no. I. I drove." She replied, surprised by his offer and by his candidness in front of Brass. If denying anything was going on between them was hard enough to explain, Grissom's kind behaviour would be impossible to explain.

He nodded. "How about I walk you out?" He offered, turning to start down the corridor.

"Uh, sure." Sara stumbled and glanced at Brass. "If you need anything else-"

"I'll call. Don't you worry Sara. We've got everything we need at this moment." Brass confirmed.

"Ok. Bye." She caught up with Grissom's slow strides.

Stopping beside Sara's car, a dark blue Audi hard top, Grissom looked around before letting out a deep refreshing sigh. "I'm glad you're here actually."

Sara glanced at him as she opened her door.

Turning, he looked at her questioningly. "Something wrong?"

Tossing her coat onto the passenger seat, she slipped into the car. "Was there something you wanted to talk about?" She asked casually, unsure what else to say to him. He seemed to forget what had occurred last night and this morning.

Moving to the opening of her door, he uncharacteristically crouched down to her level, his hands balancing against the frame and door trim. "There's a lot to talk about." He said evenly, watching as she stared out the windshield. "Sara?"

"Hmm?" She turned her head to look at him.

"I'd really like to talk to you. If I need to apologise for this morning, I will. I was only…" He sighed and dropped his gaze from hers briefly. "I know I lost it last night and I'm sorry you had to witness it-"

"You don't need to apologise for being human Grissom. You've been through a lot and I understand." She assured him, a slight lump forming in her throat as his blue eyes clouded somewhat.

"Yeah." The corners of his lips upturned a little in a slight smile. "You seem to understand a lot." He bounced a little in his crouched positioning, only wincing at the pain in his knees. "Which is why I'd like to talk with you some more. About some things that have been bothering me."

Sara sighed heavily, running her fingers through her hair, her elbow connected with his shoulder for a second and she smiled embarrassedly, earning her a small grin in return. "I doubt you really want to talk. I think you just want to spend time with me because you still feel guilty."

Grissom nodded slowly and glanced through the drivers door window at the police departments front entrance. "Perhaps." He turned back and shrugged. "Guess there's only one way to find out."

She shook her head and pushed the key into the ignition. "I'm a little, no… a lot, concerned about what's going on with you, but you can't keep expecting me to give in and let you take what you need from me and leave."

He stared at her for a moment before looking down. "That was…" He searched for the words. "Very… brave, gallant, of you."

"Yeah, well, it's been a long day and I'm more worried about what's going to happen if…" She paused and searched his eyes. "Grissom…" She stopped again.

"Yes?" He asked, shifting closer.

"Have you… have you heard any rumours lately?" She looked at him and waited. The look in his eyes were unreadable.

"Not that I listen to rumours… that was always-" He cut himself off when he realised he was going to mention that the rumour mill was always Catherine's area of expertise.

Sara nodded faintly and reached to turn the ignition key.

"Sara." He reached out and stop her with his hand on her arm. "Just listen to me for a minute, ok?" He waited and watched her. When her arm relaxed and released the key, he nodded his thanks. "What's going on in the lab and the police department, doesn't have any relation to you any longer. You're a professor. Soon to be a PhD. The rumours are old news and because I really, really didn't want to speak at the party last night, they are trying to find reasons why I would leave. You're the scapegoat, but." He said with conviction. "I know the truth and as long as you know that I know, we have nothing to worry about."

"And Sophia?" She asked, starting to worry about the sudden level of casual conversation they had elected.

"Obviously she is doing something for Conrad or she has a personal agenda, either way, I'll find out."

Closing her eyes briefly, she hesitantly brushed her fingers of his hand that still rest on her arm. "Just, don't get yourself into trouble over me. Ok?" She looked at him as she pried his hand from her arm and gently pushed it towards him. "And stop being this friendly in public."

Blinking owlishly at her, he cleared his throat. "I guess I can do that."

"Yeah, well, it's not like you." She stared at him and sighed. "I didn't like the way Sophia treated me-"

"Form a complaint." He said firmly but softly, trying to let her know he wasn't going to let Sophia intimidate her.

Sara chuckled with not amusement whatsoever. "I doubt that would put a dent in her armour."

"So? It'll be on her record. I'll get a form and drop it by this evening-"

"Griss-"

"Sara," He talked over her. "Listen, I'm going to go back in there and wrap up my case. Then I'm heading back to the lab to finished up some paperwork. What time will you be home?"

She watched as he stood and stretched his legs. "Probably late. I have a meeting until ten."

He nodded and checked his watch. "It's my night off seeing as I just pulled a double. I'll bring take out. I'm sure cooking isn't on the books." He smiled and reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "I'll see you later."

Sara watched his walk back towards the police department entrance and waited until he had disappeared from sight before closing her door and turning the key. Once the air conditioning had kicked in and the interior cooled, she sighed heavily and pulled out of the parking lot.

Note: It's not the lack of ideas of writers block that's making this story slow to update. It's more of the energy to write and being awake enough to formulate a full sentence. I'll try and make the next chapter a bit longer and posted sooner. Thanks for reading. I love all the reviews.