POV Grissom
"So what did you need to talk to me about?", I said as we walked into my townhouse uncomfortably. I closed the door and sat down on the chair, as she was already sitting on my couch.
"Well, I need to leave the lab for a bit. I have some,", she paused, trying to find the right words, "personal matters to deal with.", she said, sounding a little guilty as she said it.
"How 'little of a bit'? If you want to go on vacation, do it. God knows you've earned it.", I said matter-of-factly.
"I need to leave for seven months.", she said quickly, forcing the words out of her tense mouth. She looked at the floor as she said it, not wanting to see my reaction to this sudden request.
"Is there something wrong with you?", I said, realizing that was the least sensitive way to approach the subject
. Leave it to me to mess up a simple question. I replaced it carefully with, "Are you all right?"
"Yes. Everything's fine.", she said with an obviously forced smile as she looked up at me once again.
"Sara, you can tell me anything."
"I know.", she said as she looked down at the faded carpet. "I am fine. Nothing else to be said!", she added sharply, raising her voice unnecessarily.
"Sara, I care about what's going on. And, I can't just give you a paid leave for seven months, I have to approve it. And I can only do that if you tell me what's wrong!"
She started to cry and she crossed her arms over her abdomen, looking like she wanted to curl up and disappear. I had hurt her feelings. I felt horrible.
"I can't tell you. I-I just c-can't", her voice started to quiver. She was trying to hide something.
"You can trust me. I promise"
She looked around his living room, checking to see if any invisible people were secretly listening to her conversation. She opened her mouth to speak.