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Chapter 13

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"You cried for me?"

Grissom looked up. Sara had just walked into his office and was making her way toward the chair in front of his desk. It was funny… Grissom could've sworn everyone had left.

"I didn't think anything about that… I … I didn't know you cared that much." She looked at the floor, embarrassed.

Grissom walked around the desk, kneeling in front of her. He lifted her chin so he could look her straight in the eye.

"Sara, I told you in the hospital how I felt. I do care about you, more than you know, and after everything I've done to you, I know that's hard to believe…"

"After everything you've done for me, it's not," she said with a small smile and a single tear. "But that still doesn't answer my question."

Grissom pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her, wishing he could kiss her tears away. "Yes, " he whispered. "I did cry for you. As far as we knew, you were dead for three days, and the only thing that got me out of bed last night was the thought that Vivian was still out there hurting people."

"I want to see her."

"What!" Grissom pulled back to look at her.

"I want to see her," Sara repeated. "There's still something I don't understand."

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It didn't take much to see Vivian. Grissom stayed in the background out of respect,providing supportbut giving Sara space. He watched and listened as Sara walked up to Vivian's cell.

"Sara… I didn't expect to see you here." Vivian was clearly shocked, but put on a smile as she walked up to the bars.

"I'm here because there's still something I don't get." Sara's tone made it clear that she was on a mission of her own.

"Okay, shoot," Vivian shrugged.

"Why break a commandment to enforce them? You never explained that." A crack in Sara's voice warned that she was emotionally on the edge.

"Because it emphasizes the consequences of crossing God. 'The wages of sin is death.' We discussed this once before, Sara."

Anger flashed in Sara's eyes. "That's not the point and you know it!"she screamed. "You're nothing but a hypocrite, do you hear me? A hypocrite!"

At this point, Grissom came forward and guided Sara away from the cell so that she could recompose herself. He was stopped, however, when Vivian called out to him.

"You always were one to avoid confrontation, weren't you, Gil? Even though you love her, you still can't bring yourself to say it, can you?"

Guiding Sara to the door, he went back and looked Vivian in the eye.

"Who are you to talk about love?" he demanded, acid dripping from every word. "You killed 23 people! I find it very interesting that you paid so much attention to the Ten Commandments but so little to the most important commandment of all: 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.'" He snorted in disgust. "Your last name suits you. Paul wrote chapters on love, but the Corinthians didn't get it either. Maybe next time, God should send Cupid. He might get the point across."

He stormed out, leaving Vivian in shock and Sara in awe. She was waiting for him by the door. When it closed behind them, they headed in silence to the car.

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Once they settled in,Grissom stared at the steering wheel.

"How long were you standing at the door?" he asked uncomfortably.

"The whole time," she answered softly. "Nice speech."

"Uh…thanks, I guess." He started the car, then looked back at her. She was still staring at him. "What?" he asked.

"Is it true, what you said?"

"Which part?"

"About the Corinthians. How'd you know that?"

He sighed before answering, "I used to be Catholic. I used to know a lot more Biblical stuff, but science lured me away."

He was surprised at how easy it was to talk to her. He'd never shared his past with anyone before, but he knew that once it came time to share his bigger secrets, it would be harder.

Even quieter than before, Sara asked, "Is it true, what she said?"

"Which part?"

"About you loving me." This time her voice was barely above a whisper as she looked at the floor, embarrassed.

For the second time that morning, he lifted her chin to look deep in her eyes.

"Yes."

He leaned over and planted a kiss as soft as butterfly wings on her forehead, then started driving.

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