Disclaimer: See first part

AN: SO sorry I didn't get this posted Saturday, but I moved into an off campus apartment and we don't have internet yet. I had to wait till today when I'm on campus to pick up a wireless connection :-)

This is kind of a filler chapter, a segway to the good stuff

Chapter 2: The Diner Experience

She left, leaving Grissom to gather his things and lock his office up. He quickly punched out and exited the building. Once outside his eyes roamed the parking lot before finally landing on the lanky form of his former student as she walked toward his car. He quickly met up with her, opening the driver's side door and climbing in. He pressed a button to unlock the other doors, watching as Sara settled into her seat, strapping herself in.

He twisted around to stick his briefcase in the back. "I'll take those," Grissom held out his hand to Sara for the stack of files, grabbing them and placing them atop the briefcase. He turned to Sara as he started the engine, "Let's get out of here."

The drive was short, mostly due to the diner being less than even a quarter mile from the lab. They walked in with their papers, choosing a booth against the far wall, keeping a good distance from the dawn of day panning in through the windows. Grissom ordered black coffee for the time being, Sara opting for orange juice.

"Those double shots must really have you going. This is the first time I've seen you pass up caffeine at breakfast," Grissom's eyes twinkled.

Sara opened a case file and took out a pen, writing as she spoke, "Yeah, but how many times have you seen me at breakfast?" She looked at him knowingly.

"Aha, and now you know why I never assume to know anyone," he took a sip of coffee and began looking through his own set of papers.

The time passed in relative silence, the only interruption coming when the waitress brought their food - Sara's plate contained buttered biscuits, a banana, orange slices, and half a hash-brown; Grissom chose a light meal of fried eggs, bacon, and a single biscuit. Clanking dishes and utensils, scribbling pens, and tired sighs filled an hour and a half, coming to a halt as the waitress took their dishes and left the bill.

Fifteen minutes later Sara closed the last case file, looking up at Grissom. "Done. How's your end coming?" She glanced at the paper in front of him.

He finished signing his name at the bottom under "I testify to the validity of this document under penalty of law", closing the folder and putting Sara's completed files on top of his.

He looked her in the eyes, "Mission accomplished. What do you say we get out of here?" He pulled out his wallet when she nodded an affirmative. "Consider this meal on me," he gave a friendly smile.

"You sure?" He nodded. Grissom laid down the bill amount and a 15 tip, grabbing all the files and heading to the door ahead of Sara. He fought with it for only a moment before Sara came to his rescue, "Ya know you don't always have to be a gentleman, Griss." She smirked as he walked through the door without a response.

The morning was cool, a light breeze making Sara shiver slightly as she walked back to the truck. The sun was blocked by puffy clouds and she could hear birds chirping around the parking lot. She watched Grissom as he opened his briefcase in the back seat and stuffed all the papers in it. Pulling his head back out of the car he made eye contact with Sara. She smiled a little uneasily when he didn't break contact.

Grissom thought a moment as he looked at the woman in front of him. He smiled at her almost shyly, feeling like he hadn't really seen her in a long time - something he had felt often in the past few years. "...We...haven't spent much time together lately - outside the lab, I mean - have we?"

Sara was taken aback by the question, it was definitely unexpected from someone like Grissom. "Well, if you're talking about...the two of us...alone...together...I suppose not, no," she wasn't sure where to go with this conversation.

She watched as Grissom checked his watch and scanned the area around him, wondering what was going on in his reclusive mind. Finally he looked back at her with one of those tilted Grissom looks, "Do you have anywhere to be today?"

"Um, no, not particularly. Just home...sleep...stare at my ceiling, the usual," she shrugged.

"Good, then there's someplace I want to bring you. Get in." He pointed to the car as he walked around to the driver's side.

Sara cocked an eye, giving him an odd look. He just smiled and finally she gave up trying to understand, stepping into the car with a shrug. Once they were strapped in he took off, heading in the opposite direction of the lab.

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Next chapter ETA: Saturday, November 19