A/N: Sorry this is taking so long- Turns out that this college stuff requires some work...what a rip off!! Also I just found out that I am going to be an Aunt- Whoopie- So I will really try to get these chapters out faster...Really... I swear....

Anyway, I will shut up now

Chapter 3

"What?" Grissom asked incredulously

Sara had whispered so timidly that he hoped his ears were playing tricks. Sara only looked at him as a second tear appeared and mirrored the other down her face. He knew he'd heard correctly. The team as a whole had figured that she'd had a bad experience of her own or someone close to her, judging from her varied emotional reactions in sexual assault cases. Grissom had just prayed that it wasn't her experience- he was wrong.

Sara's eyes misted as she started vaguely describing Chase Gregory. As she spoke, Grissom felt a white hot rage building up inside. How dare anyone violate her this way- He knew he'd have to hand lead in this case over to Catherine. Because God help him if he were in the same room as this man for even one second. And he didn't want to risk compromising the case by any means. He also knew Sara would have to come off the case. He knew she could not be objective about it anymore.

"Sara, I think you shouldn't work on this case anymore, you should go home and try to get some rest. This is obviously stressful for you...

I swear to you we'll get him." He added softly

Surprisingly, Sara didn't argue. She just nodded and continued to stare straight ahead, obviously lost in thought. Grissom took her cup and placed it on the counter. He returned to her and gently gripped her hands and pulled her from the couch. Instead of pushing her past him as he had after the explosion, handing her off to the paramedic, he blocked her path with his body. He waited for her to look up at him and he tentatively cupped her cheek in his left hand, holding her hand in his other.

"I promise you, Sara, he'll go down for this. Everyone is on it- there are no other cases, we can pass them to days, and swing shift."

Sara just looked at him and leaned into the support and his warm hand. Grissom felt this was a good sign and pulled her into a large hug. Sara rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes as she sighed.

"I can't believe this is happening," she thought. "Why now? I thought I was getting things back on track."

She reveled in the moment of actual, substantial contact with Grissom as he slowly rubbed large circles on her back. She tried to hang onto the feeling of security that he was giving her as hey stood there. It was amazing that it took something like this for him to touch her. Grissom discreetly breathed in the scent of her hair as he moved hi head away.

"Sara, I also think that you should have a uniform stay with you until we catch ...him." Grissom said. Obediently, not saying his name.

Grissom jumped as Sara pulled away as if she had been burned.

"What?" She asked, astounded

"Grissom, No! I will not let him affect my life like that. I will not be scared to be in my own home again!"

"Sara, this isn't a choice-"

"Don't you dare tell me what to do, you have no say in this. It's my life and the last time I checked, you weren't involved in it." She spat back, vehemently

With that she left the break room and got her things from her locker. Rambling on to no one really, just letting things out.

"Who the hell does he think he is? He can't order me around like that! I can take care of my damn self. I am OUT of here."

She stormed out of the locker room and headed to her car. She sat in it for a few long moments taking deep breaths and trying to compose herself before she got on the road.

Grissom still stood stock still in the break room. He had again bore witness to the ever changing moods of Sara sidle. He thought he had been doing well. He couldn't understand why Sara would be willing to risk her physical well being because of her pride. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized the importance of being able to take care of oneself to a person who had gone this sort of ordeal. He decided to apologize to her. Maybe take her out to breakfast. It would serve multiple purposes.

He could keep her mind off of Chase Gregory

He could keep his mind off of KILLING Chase Gregory

He could keep an eye on her

He could spend real time with her.

Sure it was a sneaky way to do it but hey, he had to start somewhere, right? He decided just to head right over to her apartment so she really could not refuse. He was determined about this.

Meanwhile Sara was just getting home. She was still fuming.

"How dare he talk to me like that?! Trying to say I can't take care of myself. Why is he acting like this? It's bordering on protective... ha... possessive is more like it. What is it Grissom? No one is allowed to throw my life into turmoil or fuck with my head except you? What the Hell is that about?"

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't notice key things that an investigator should notice; especially in their own home. Things like her couch pillow moved, that her window was open, that the bedroom door was closed. She shucked her shoes and flopped onto her couch.

It was then, after a few moments, that she started to become aware of these things. Sara slowly unclipped her gun from its place at her hip. She walked slowly and cautiously through the rest of her tiny apartment, save for the bedroom. As she approached it she took a deep breath to calm her ragged nerves. She turned the knob and pushed the door open halfway. She entered the room gun first and followed with her body.

She didn't see anything out of the ordinary so she lowered her gun. She started to think she was being foolish. She didn't finish that thought because as she neared her bed, her door slammed shut. She whirled around and found Chase Gregory leaning casually against it. Smiling an unsettlingly large smile.

"Well hello Sue, I was beginning to wonder when you were going to get home. I have been waiting patiently for hours."

Sara cringed and raised her gun back up level with his head.

"Don't call me that, and get the hell out of my home.

Chase just continued to smile. He stood up straight and took a small step towards Sara. She stepped backwards but kept her aim steady. He laughed.

"Why are you pointing that thing at me Sue, we both know you would never be able to kill someone, especially me, in cold blood."

"You are in my home without permission. Take another step and I will shoot you. It will be self defense."

Sara's voice sounded firm but her hands were visibly shaking. Chase did not appear to be threatened at all. He just kept on staring. The clock in Sara's living room suddenly sounded the hour, startling Sara so much she almost dropped her gun. This was all that Chase needed. He lunged forward and swatted the gun easily from her hand. It landed with a soft thud on the top of her bed. He grabbed Sara's wrist and flung her against the wall next to the door. She knew that her head was probably bleeding and that she nly had a limited amount of time until she passed out. Her vision blacked for a moment. When she could see clearly she saw Chase going for the gun.

She launched herself onto his back and knocked the gun out of the way. He managed to get her off of his back and give her a sharp backhand across the face. Sara felt the blood coming from her mouth and her nose. That combined with the pounding in her head from being slammed into the wall was making her disoriented. Somehow, she kicked him in the face as she fell to the floor beside her bed. Her hand pressed on something hard and she realized it was her gun. She only half aimed it in his general direction before shooting.

She missed but it was enough to scare him. He spun around and ran out of the room. Sara got up to follow him. As she turned into the living room she saw him fumbling with the dead bolt and chain on her door. She was setting up her shot but was having difficulty aiming because of various hits she'd taken to the head. He heard her and faced her with a bloody nose, he looked around frantically and grabbed the first thing he could to hurl at her. The closest thing was a medium sized pot with a large beautiful white orchid in it sitting on her hall table. He grabbed it and threw it at her head.

Sara was able to move and duck. The pot landed at her feet, but the shards scattered and some shot into her feet and hands. When she stood up again Chase had the door open and was rushing out. She let out one more shot just in case but he was already out the door.

Sara started heading for the door and she heard a loud "Oomph" it sounded like two people had literally run into each other. She heard someone yell "hey, watch where you're going." By the time she got to the door, she was feeling so lightheaded that she sat down right there in the open doorway.

As she was fading out of consciousness she heard a voice.

"Sara? Sara! Oh my God, Sara. Can you hear me?"

She was surprised as she recognized the voice as Grissom. There were so many things going through her head that she wanted to say to him. But only one thing came out of her mouth.

"He broke your plant."

She passed out and Grissom looked around frantically. He saw the blood coming from her mouth, nose, hands and feet. He also saw the blood that streaked down the door from where her head had slid down. He checked to make sure that she was still breathing and then called 911. When he got off the phone he looked around the small living room again. This time he saw the broken pieces of pottery clay, dirt clods, and the lovely orchid he had sent her laying on the floor.

It made sense now what she had said to him. He was surprised that she had kept it alive this long. Hell, he was surprised that she kept it at all. He turned back to her unconscious form and gathered her into his arms. He murmured in her ears comforting things until he heard the sounds of sirens in the distance.

!3 hours later, Grissom woke up sitting in the chair next to Sara's bed. The doctors had bandaged her head, hands, and feet, but she was still unconscious. All of a sudden he saw her stir. He sat up quickly and leaned near her. Sara's eyes fluttered open and looked around. Her eyes settled on Grissom and she looked confused.

"Sara, honey? How do you feel?"

She just looked at him and blinked. After a few moments she opened he mouth. Her voice was dry and raspy.

"Who are you?"

TBC

See? Told you it was cliché. But there is a reason people do these stories a lot. They work. Or at least I hope this one is. Keep up with the feedback. I love it! Sorry this is taking so long guys.