Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or any of its characters.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews to loose-canon-with-a-gun, ObessedTWFan, Tripp3235 and JustAnnie.

Chapter 3: Cherishing

Standing in front of the house, Greg glanced around, but could not see Sara anywhere.

He was worried although he was aware that it was irrational.

He looked at his sister. "I'll search for her behind the house. She's probably just looking around."

Kristine nodded. "Yeah."

She could see his worry, realizing how deeply the incident at the scene had affected Greg, as he was so overanxious for Sara, and decided to wait and let the both of them talk alone.

When Greg was making his way around the house slowly, he felt the impatience to get rid of the plaster on his leg especially strongly.

He turned around the corner at the back of the house and saw Sara standing there.

She had her arms crossed and was staring ahead, apparently lost in thought.

"Hey, don't run away from me. You know, I can't keep up with you right now."

Sara started slightly and turned her head to him. She put on a smile.

"You okay?" Greg asked.

"Yeah, sure."

"You…," he stopped. '…gave me a fright' or '…made me worry' was what he actually had wanted to say, but in time he kicked himself inwardly, deciding it was not really a good idea to tell her about his irrational fears, knowing that he was behaving ridiculously. After all Sara could go wherever she wanted and she should be able to do so without him worrying every time.

Sara apparently did not notice his hesitation or that he had stopped in the middle of the sentence.

"I just needed some time alone," she explained simply, although Greg had not asked.

He raised his eyebrows.

"Maybe I'm a little overwhelmed after all." She looked at him from the side, smiling.

"My family-," Greg started to say quickly.

"Greg, it's alright. Your family is very nice and it has nothing to do with them. It's me, not your family. I'm the reason why I feel so…"

Greg looked at her benignly. "What?"

"Overwhelmed." Sara smiled a joyless smile.

'Yeah,' Greg thought, sure that this was not what she actually had wanted to say.

He kissed her briefly, and Sara closed her eyes.

"You know, I'll go back inside. Come when you want, okay?" Greg suggested and Sara nodded.

Greg hoppled back around the house and met his sister who was waiting for him there.

"Is Sara okay?" she asked.

Greg nodded, slightly surprised. "How did you know…?"

"I thought so," she smiled. "Give her a break."

Greg looked at her with a questioning expression, but Kristine shoved him gently in the direction of the front door.

They made their way back inside and Kristine added, explaining herself, "She doesn't seem so sociable. Quite in contrast to you."

She watched him from the side.

Greg smiled. "We add to each other."

Kristine stopped and looked at him seriously.

"You looked rather worried some minutes ago."

"It's ridiculous," Greg replied quickly, rubbing his forehead. So his sister had noticed. He hoped Sara had not.

"Well, it's maybe a little exaggerated, but it's not ridiculous, after all…"

She patted him on the shoulder. "Have you talked about it with Sara?"

Greg chuckled despite himself. "No, I can't tell her." He shook his head.

"Why not?"

Greg knew no answer to this question and Kristine decided to leave it at that and to better make sure Greg enjoyed his visit.

She took his arm, pulling him into the direction of the living room. "Let's go in. Grandma can't wait to fill you."

Greg grimaced, remembering several occasions that proved her right.

They entered the room and their grandfather Olaf called him, "Greg, come, sit down and tell us about the wild life in Vegas," and Greg laughed again.

"Where have you left your girlfriend?" Greg's grandfather asked a little while later.

"Sara, her name is Sara," Greg replied a little grumpy, without actually answering the question. "I'm sure she doesn't want to be only known as 'my girlfriend'"

"She has a mind of her own, hasn't she?" his grandmother asked smiling.

"Yeah, for sure," Greg grinned and at this moment Sara entered the living room and shut the door quietly behind her.

She smiled when she was coming up to them and Greg looked at her, a slightly questioning expression on his face, asking silently if she really felt like smiling. Sara winked at him confirming and sat down next to him on the couch and Greg laid his arm around her waist.

"What a pretty couple you are," blurted Greg's grandfather merrily.

Everybody looked at him and Greg's grandmother sighed. "Olaf can never keep his mouth shut." She winked, smiling, "But he's right."

Sara pursed her lips, amused, looking at Greg. "Well, Greg comes right after him."

"Hey, that's not true," Greg protested, causing general cheeriness.

Sara made a thoughtful expression. "Let's think about the drive here… Did you talk eighty or ninety per cent of the time?"

"Well, you had to drive, so I was there for the amusement," Greg smirked.

"So, Greggo's there for Sara's amusement," came again a remark from Greg's grandfather and Greg grimaced, looking at Sara who was only grinning back at him.

Greg was sitting with his back against the wall on the bed in his old room.

It was early at night and they had switched out the light, so the room was filled with almost complete darkness, only a little shine of light was coming from outside through the windows.

They both were silent and there could not be heard any other sounds in the house either.

Sara was kneeling over Greg, who could not see much more of her than her silhouette, but he knew and could feel that she was wearing only a very light nightdress.

He laid his arms around her back.

When he was stroking her side gently, he could feel the scar on her waist that her injury had left.

He smiled sadly, touching the spot softly. "It's kinda a sign for my fear."

Sara slung her arms around his back. "You don't have to be afraid," she assured him quietly.

Greg stroked her hair. He felt a lump in his throat at the though of ever losing her.

"I was afraid and I'm still," he admitted, feeling that it was the right moment to tell her.

Sara lowered her head until she was on Greg's eyelevel and approached him until their faces were only inches apart. "I was there that night and I'm with you here and now."

She kissed him and smiled encouragingly. "And I'll show you that. So don't be afraid anymore, okay?"

Greg smiled faintly, nodded slightly and drew her close to him.

TBC