Chapter Two

Gil Grissom pinched his blue eyes shut. Sara had lost her husband a bit more than 6 months ago. Last week, he had suggested she take more time. 7 years ago, he would have expected her to look at him like he'd grown an extra head, but now, she thought it over, since she had two little ones to consider. He conjured up their innocent little faces... sometimes, in selfish fits, he thought that perhaps they should be his children instead of the ex-detective's. He knew that was horribly self-centred, though.. Sara had never really been his.

He wanted that to change now, though. He truly did. Over a decade of keeping her at bay --even when she had been available and made it clear that she was interested in a relationship-- seemed like a long enough to him. He felt so stupid, looking back! He was in his mid-50s now, and no farther in life than he had been 9 or so years ago when he bluntly turned Sara down. He had justified it to himself that work kept him busy enough. It really didn't, necessarily. Sure, he worked overtime, occasionally came in on his days off, but he didn't really have to. He just did to keep himself busy. Roller coasters were losing their appeal; he had gone on every one in and around Las Vegas more times than he could ever count. What he wanted now was Sara.

He had decided she would always be the only one for him about four years ago, when she was still happily married and had her little boy. She had brought Josh in on her day off to visit Greg. The younger CSI had been doing paperwork that day and Sara brought in her toddler to visit his idol. As Grissom watched from his office, he saw Greg tickling the small boy and had seen Sara's eyes light up at her son's giggles. It had all flooded him so suddenly; he loved her. He should have expressed his feelings to her years ago, but at that point he hadn't realized the magnitude of his feelings for her.

4 years ago, Gil thought he had lost her to Det. Miller. But James had passed away now, and Gil wondered if Sara had moved on forever and left him behind. New fears replaced the old; he used to worry about the age difference, now he worried that she no longer had feelings for him. She was in her early forties now, and as he'd once hoped, she'd led a life with another, maybe more suitable man. He was so confused now.. should he approach her? Or was he really too late?

He blinked a bit and opened his eyes, and was taken aback to see his whole team of CSIs in the doorway. He had been pleased that when Sofia left the lab that Ecklie put swing and night shift back into the one night shift.

"Um, hey, guys.." he said slowly, questioningly.

"Hey," they all mumbled back.

"Grissom, we were just wondering if we were doing the team picnic again this year...you haven't mentioned any plans yet..." Sara piped up.

His head snapped up and he held her gaze until she blinked nervously and looked away. "Right, the picnic," he said. "Uhh, sure. Yeah. When's the best time for everyone?"

"Mid-Saturday's good for me, that way I can get a quick nap in after, before shift," remarked Catherine. Everyone agreed that Saturday worked.

"Okay, let's do it at Bronson Park, like we do every year?"

"Can we bring our kids?" asked Sara. There were her two, and Catherine had Lindsey (who was in her late teens, now, but still liked catching up with her mom's work buddies.. she had known them since she was very young after all), and Nicky had a young son about Grace's age with his wife Lynn. They had married about 5 years ago and, by all appearances, were very happy.

At Sara's question, Nick and Catherine looked up hopefully.

"Uh-huh, and significant others, whatever," he replied, glancing at Greg who grinned widely.. he had recently gotten engaged.

"Sounds cool!" said Warrick, and they all filed out. Sara cast a look Gil's way, but it was so fast he couldn't read it.

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Saturday turned out to be beautiful. Sara came home at 7 AM as her kids were drowsily waking up. She made salad for the picnic as Dora the Explorer played in the background and her children ate cereal noisily. Around 8:30, she dressed Grace in an adorable pink sundress and laid out a nice t-shirt and khaki shorts for Joshua. At 9, even after changing out of work clothes into a pretty, seafoam green, summery top and nice jeans, she had run out of things to do and was jittery for the picnic. Grissom had turned her world upside down again with just a few emotion-filled looks and a few potentially meaningful sentences. She hated how just a look or a word could drive her crazy. How could he still hold that power? She had been sure she'd moved on, but she supposed she never really had. She knew one thing for certain: a relationship was the last thing she wanted from him. It wasn't fair to her if he finally wanted a relationship. She had tortured herself for too long over him. She would just have to figure out how to really get over him.

They had all decided 11:30 would be a good time for the picnic and she antsily stared at the clock. She had combed hers and Grace's hair at least 3 times and gone over Josh's once before he pulled away and griped that he was a "boooy, Mommy, I don't have to brush my hair like you girls!" She settled Josh in with his books, the kind with only a sentence per page since he had only begun to learn this year. She was very proud of him, he was turning out to be very bright and picked things up quickly. Grace was becoming a true girly girl, becoming obsessed with all things pink and princessy. She had started preschool during the mornings this year, and Sara missed hearing her little feet patter around the spacious apartment. The only time Sara really slept was the hour and a half Grace napped and on her days off.

She yawned for the millionth time and glanced at the clock again. 10:54 AM. Still a little too early, she figured. She repacked Grace's diaper bag and stuck in a few of Josh's action figures and a book, in case he got bored, as well as Grace's princess tiara and wand. Then she put some juice boxes, peanut butter sandwiches and two apples in a small cooler and went downstairs to pack up her SUV. She'd be a half an hour early, she figured as she folded up Grace's stroller, but she was way too bored to wait any longer. She made sure Josh was in his booster seat and Grace was safely strapped into her carseat before she climbed into the front and headed to Bronson Park.

She smiled wryly as she pulled into the small gravel parking lot and found Nick and Greg to already be there. Greg and his fiancee, Aya, were on a bench beside the children's play area, heads bent together, talking softly. Nick and Lynn were more rowdier, playing on the swings with little Andrew. Grace squealed in delight as she recognized her young playmate and took off as fast as her little legs could carry her. Nick looked up as he saw Grace approaching and waved at Sara. She smiled and waved back as she got everything out of the trunk. Josh trotted over a little more slowly, stopping to greet Greg loudly before clambering onto the play structure and zooming down the slide.

"Hey, Sara," said Greg. He had looked up at Josh's loud greeting and had shouted "Heyyyy, Josh, my man!" almost as loudly back. Aya flashed her a smile. Sara liked both Aya and Nick's wife, Lynn.. her friends had found great girls for themselves.

"Hi you guys," she said to the younger pair. She went over to help Grace on the swings and greeted Nick with a hug and Lynn with a smile.

"Andrew's looking good," she said to them, glancing at the young boy giggling with her daughter.

"So's Grace," replied Nick cheerfully. They all turned as they heard another SUV pull in. From the passenger's side a frazzled Catherine slid out, while a gleeful-looking Lindsey slid out from the driver's. From the back, Catherine's live-in boyfriend, Warrick, jumped out and high-fived Lindsey.

"Nice job," he congratulated the teen. "Your mom only shrieked once."

Catherine rolled her eyes at him and punched his arm. "Oh, whatever."

Sara gave Lindsey the once-over. God, the girl had grown up. She was attending UNLV and would be turning 20 in a few months. She had really grown to look like her mother: long, wavy blonde hair, bright blue eyes, a bit on the short side.

"Hey you guys," everyone shouted.

Lindsey waved cheerfully and ran to play with one of her favourite babysitting clients, Joshua Miller.

Catherine narrowed her eyes. "Soo.. everyone's here but Gil?"

Nick and Sara nodded their assent.

"If he forgot..." sighed Catherine, but just then, they saw his SUV pull in.

"Nice of you to make it," shouted Catherine.

"What? It's only 11:24!" Gil shouted back, dragging the stuff to the designated picnic site, two big picnic tables Nick and Greg had just finished picking together.

Catherine rolled her eyes and shot a grin at Sara, who smiled back. Everyone gathered around the table and set out food: salad from Sara, a platter of different sandwiches from Nick and Lynn, soda and water from Catherine and Warrick, and Greg and Aya brought KFC.

"Ew," complained Sara at the sight of Greg's tub of chicken.

"Sorry, Sara, he insisted. Said carnivores need to eat," remarked Aya with a grin.

Sara threw her hands up in the air in defeat. "Fine, but carnivore food goes nowhere near me."

"I brought a nice treat," announced Grissom as they all settled down. Grace and Josh wound up on either side of him, and Sara sat directly across from him. "Chocolate-covered grasshoppers!"

Everyone at the table crinkled their noses in disgust but Joshua, whose eyes grew as big as saucers. "Bugs?" he squealed. "For eating?"

Gil nodded happily. "Bugs for eating," he confirmed.

"I'll have some of those, Mommy!" announced Joshua.

Sara just laughed and served her kids a bit of everything, and soon everyone was digging in. The conversation was loud and happy and Sara finally relaxed a bit. Until she caught Grissom staring at her. She looked at him oddly and turned back to Lynn Stokes, with whom she was discussing vegetarianism. When she looked back to check on Grace she caught him looking again.

"What, Griss? Is there something in my teeth, on my shirt.. what?" she demanded.

"Wha..? Oh, no. Sorry." He shook his head and offered Josh another bug.

What was going on with him? Sara wondered. She was going to find out.. and it was going to be soon.

Thanks for reading again, guys! Please review, tell me what you think.. constructive criticism would be appreciated :)