The night was advancing slowly in Grissom's estimation. While he feigned interest in the conversations around him, having been pointedly included by one or more of his team members, he searched through the expanding crowd on and near the dance floor for a glimpse of Sara who'd been whisked away from their table.

His intentions earlier were to make an appearance and quickly depart thereafter. But then, Sara had made an appearance and he found he couldn't leave. She looked enchanting with her hair swept up and off her shoulders, enhancing the long line of her slender neck and the sensuous cut of her bronze-colored halter-style dress. Too many times, when she'd worn her hair up in a ponytail because of the tireless heat in the desert sun, he'd caught himself drifting off in wonderful thoughts of kissing her neck and inching lower as she gasped for air from his attentions.

Shaking himself out of going there again in such a public arena, he glanced around to those closest to him to see if he'd missed anything. Thankfully, he hadn't. His gaze lingered now in the direction that Sara had been led off to, hoping to see her return. He could kick himself for not asking her to dance earlier, but as was his norm, he couldn't find the words. And by the time she returned, all courage had fled him.

Longing to just slink away into the darkness to the safety of his lonely abode, he'd attempted to leave, but when he rose from his chair, Catherine had returned and this time with a tall, dark man in tow. Instead of leaving, his curiosity got the better of him and he remained stuck in his seat watching and listening as the unrehearsed display began. Soon, the revelation that this man was not with Catherine, but was actually there for Sara, created a deep chasm within his heart. For he concluded, this man was – him.

Barely anything had been said, and suddenly he'd whisked Sara. Communication – it wasn't his forte, and maybe that's why Sara had given up on him. He knew how it had to have appeared to her, that he didn't want her to know him, that he didn't trust her. But that wasn't it. He did trust her. He'd just never had anyone to confide in before that he could approach. With her as his subordinate, the chance was taken from him. Maybe if he'd at least tried it with her, he wouldn't be stuck in this god-awful situation.

A waitress came over at that moment, disturbing his disquieted thoughts to ask him if he wanted a drink. He nodded and ordered another. When she left, he took another glance out to the dance floor and realized he'd missed something. His team was no longer talking; they were attentively watching the dance floor.

Aeric had swung Sara onto the dance floor, her skirt swirling around her legs, her head tossed back and her laughter singing to them over the music. Her expression was one of pure joy, ecstatic even. Her smile, which once was reserved only for him, was now beaming on her dance partner. It was painful to watch. He wanted to take the empty glass in his hand and throw it against the partition wall. It probably wouldn't break though, and he knew it wouldn't be enough.

It was hard not to notice that they danced well together, as if they'd done so as partners for years. This other man was fluid in his steps and she was graceful. Oh, how he wished that he'd step on her toes. Shaking his head, he realized that, no, he didn't wish that. He'd caused her enough pain.

At the end of the song, he dipped her, leaning down to kiss her before righting her once again. Grissom looked away, at anything other than them, finding Catherine staring in his direction. Great! Just what he needed, he was sure she'd say something, but instead her eyes grew large, as if to get his attention and she nodded emphatically toward the dancers. Then she gestured with her hand for him to get out on the dance floor. At first he thought she was telling him to watch what was going on, until she started to get up. She wanted him to join her on the dance floor.

He jumped out of his seat and followed closely behind Catherine as she led him out on to the dance floor, taking a second to wave the waitress on with the drink. Catherine twisted him around in front of her, the strains of the violins indicating a slow dance was about to begin.

After making one turn around the floor, Catherine mumbled through her teeth, "Cut in," all the while, never breaking her smile. Astonished at her audacious suggestion, he stared at her until she took the liberty of swinging him aside, right next to Aeric and Sara.

Oh shit!

They stopped, stared at him for a moment, the intrusion unwelcome in Sara's eyes. Grissom licked his lips nervously, but somehow found the courage to ask, "May I cut in?" and then watched Aeric look from Sara to him only to take a step back, graciously, to allow Sara to make the decision.

Sara's hesitancy would have normally sent him running for the hills, or lab in his case, but he held his ground. The wait was short-lived. Sara placed her hand on Aeric's arm, silently thanking him, for what, Grissom wasn't sure, but the next thing he knew Catherine had stepped in and was now dancing with Aeric. Grissom held his hand out to Sara and she stepped forward to take it letting him lead her into a slow dance. It was several seconds into their first turn around the floor when Grissom finally broke the silence after he saw the questioning look in her eyes. "I may never get the chance again."

"Grissom –"

"I'm at a loss here, Sara." His voice broke and he grimaced at his lack of control. Grissom didn't beg, for anything or anyone, but damn, she took his breath away whenever he gazed longer than a second into her eyes.

Sara wasn't born yesterday, and she knew what he'd meant. What she didn't know was how she felt about it. Her eyes darted away from his gaze and met Aeric's across the dance floor, setting her confusion firmly into place. Aeric had shown her a different life and she had enjoyed it immensely. Now, here was Grissom, offering to fulfill her dreams. Wasn't he?

As Grissom swung her into another turn, she watched the changing shades of emotions flickering across his face. They went from fright to determination in the blink of an eye. And in the midst of that blink, she found herself outside the boundary wall set up for the fundraiser and out of view from the partiers, and Aeric.

"Grissom?"

"We need to talk," he sighed heavily, "Actually, no, I need to talk. Can we..." his voice trailed off, mesmerized at the site of Sara so near. Taking a deep breath, he took in the scent of her, sure that he smelled lavender and vanilla mixed with the natural scent of her. He recognized it, how could he not, he'd been familiar with it for the last four years – going so far as to smell her in his dreams. Her eyes, large and curious, enticed him. Uncontrollably he pulled her closer, feeling the length of her pressed against him. She was irresistible. How had he kept her at a distance for so many years? His hand snuck up between them, tenderly caressing the smooth curve of her slender throat just as he'd dreamed of doing so many times before on many a lonely night. She gasped at his touch and he smiled with joy, joy that he could have an effect on her. Whispering close to her ear, "We need to talk, privately."

Regretfully, he tore his eyes from her and looked toward the dancers. Aeric, along with Catherine still, were searching for them. After not finding them, he was sure they would head in this direction. He needed just a few more moments with her, he was sure that's all it would take. Things between them couldn't just be buried and forgotten, he knew her well enough to know, especially after that kiss they shared, that she wasn't yet giving up on him. "Sara?"

"Griss, I agree. But now is not the time. Let me..." Her eyes darted past him and grew larger.

He knew then that their time was up, for now. But not before the knife that had cut into his heart was twisted hard and deep.

"Grissom, we do need to talk. And I think the sooner the better, however..." biting her lower lip she contemplated her next words carefully. "Aeric doesn't deserve to be shoved aside just because you've found your footing. I... want... to be with Aeric tonight."

His breath hitched and refused to release. The pain in his chest was near unbearable and he couldn't but wonder if he was having a heart attack. Had he heard her correctly? She wanted to be with Aeric, tonight. She wanted to be with... brought to a painful understanding, he stepped away from her. Aeric and Catherine reached them at that moment and with the briefest of hesitance, Sara took Aeric by the arm and quickly drew him out of the garden and out of Grissom's sight.

Catherine stood next to him, staring from him to Sara and then back to him again. "What are you doing? No, wait. Don't answer that. Why aren't you going after her?"

Without a glance in her direction, Grissom walked away.

AERIC and Sara drove until the lights of Las Vegas diminished and became nothing more than a halo of light in the distance. The somber timber in the air between them was disquieting to both. Aeric knew the deep feelings that existed between Sara and her supervisor Grissom. There was love on both sides, unconsummated love though it was. He stole a glance in her direction, catching a glimpse of her reflection in the darkened passenger window. This was new for him, he wasn't sure what he should say or do, what he was allowed to say or do. If he took her hand would she pull it away? And for a moment, he was afraid to try – until he saw her eyes meet his through the window.

She turned and gave him a diminutive smile. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little out of it now."

Without thought, Aeric grasped her hand, tenderly stroking the tops of her knuckles. "It's not like you knew I was coming tonight. Did you have other plans afterward?"

She shook her head emphatically, her words spoken with the same intensity, "No, I hadn't even planned on attending, but Warrick and Catherine made me their private mission, dragging me along."

"So, what do you want to do? Do you want me to take you home or go somewhere else?"

She did want to go home, just to lie there and not have to think about anything or anyone. But just the idea that Grissom might stop by was more than enough to make up her mind for her. "Can we just take a few minutes out here and just not–"

"Talk?"

"Yeah. I'm not really in the mood. I f you know what I mean?"

"I think I do."

They remained in silence even through the turn he made onto a county road. The drive continued for several miles until he suddenly pulled over and turned off the ignition. He lifted his hand to the door handle, hesitating to see if she wanted to get out. When Sara did the same, they both exited the vehicle. Meeting in the middle, he encircled her in his waiting arms and held her as they gazed at the starlit sky. The warmth from the engine seeped into their bones, keeping them from freezing in the cold desert air.

An hour later, after they had broken their silence and discussed his plans for the near future, he asked her if she wanted to go home or if she would like to share the night at his hotel.

Still, the idea of going home to an empty apartment did little to induce her. She shook her head, clearing the thoughts and made her decision. "Let's go to your hotel."

It was her resolve on their drive back into town that the silence wouldn't continue, so she told him of the Callahans and the pictures they'd brought with them to give to her. Then she remembered the Jasmine blooms that he thoughtfully had delivered on her first night back. She thanked him, telling him how much that had meant to her. She'd already done so in previous communiqués, but this time it was more personal.

It was only coincidence that when they arrived at The Bellagio, a crowd was gathered at one end of the parking lot, blue and white lights flashing against the dark of the night. Sara immediately searched for the shock of salt and pepper hair belonging to her boss, though not really expecting to see him. To her surprise, he was there.

Trying desperately to avoid being seen, her steps quickened toward the door and Aeric had a hard time keeping up.

As she looked back over her shoulder, a pair of steely blue eyes caught hers through the distance, bringing her to a standstill.

But at that moment, Aeric caught up with her and drew her inside without so much as a look in the other direction, not realizing what she had seen. Quietly, she let him lead her to the elevator, then to his room.

Sara had seen nice hotel rooms in her time, but this was truly elegant. And for a moment, the muted but shimmering colors distracted her from her dreary thoughts. The bedspread was an off white and as she ran her fingers along the edge of the mattress the softness was keen on her fingers. The fireplace was lit and so was the candles spread out through the room.

It was an odd mixture of feelings that swept over her at the realization that Aeric had assumed she'd return with him. At first it was a giddy feeling, one she had dreamt of many times in regards to Grissom and how she'd wished he'd been just as decisive. Then there was the other feeling, the one that called out to her independent spirit. It annoyed her, slightly, that he had assumed she'd stay with him. What was it they said about assuming? Oh yeah, assuming makes an Ass out of U and Me.

"Sara? Is everything all right?" Aeric asked.

With a visible shake of her head, she pulled herself out of her ruminations and walked quickly to the balcony and threw the curtains back with a loud whooshing sound then opened the doors.

Now, as she stood against the railing, hearing Aeric approach quietly behind her, she cursed herself for allowing this added frustration into her life. This evening could've been beautifully romantic, that is until Grissom stepped in, clouding her mind. On the other hand, what if Aeric hadn't shown up, would Grissom have taken the chance? With Aeric, she had no doubt of the romance, the security and last but definitely not least – the sensuality.

Knowing that Aeric was quietly confused as well, she turned to look deep into his eyes and made a decision.