Auld Acquaintance 2
PhDelicious

Disclaimer: still hasn't changed

A/N: Thanks again to Joan for reading this over and being my sounding board. And now for more Grissom and Sara, the early years...

The butterflies that had been multiplying in her stomach as they neared the hospital leapt into motion as Sara stepped into her former best friend's room. It had been more than five years since she had spoken to Mel, and that last conversation had been a huge fight. Sure they'd sent each other Christmas cards with short notes and exchanged occasional professional emails, but Sara hadn't seen Mel since she'd left San Francisco for Las Vegas.

As Sara approached the wan figure resting on the hospital bed in front of her she remembered the fight that had torn them apart.

"So when are you coming home?"

"I don't think I'm coming back Mel, not for more than a vacation anyways."

"What?"

"Gil made me an offer. He needs me here."

"So you're just going to drop your life and ask 'how high?' because he says 'jump'? Sara except for the last few days, you haven't seen him in years. He's never visited and I know you invited him more than once. Nor has he issued his own invitation until this."

"Damn it Mel! I've been talking to him on the phone practically every day and we've exchanged more emails than I can count. Why are you so upset about this? Gil wants me at his lab, the number two lab in the country! This is the job I've always wanted."

"And personally? Sara, he fascinates you, like a flame fascinates a moth."

"I know what I'm doing Mel. He may make me burn, but he's not going to burn me."

"Oh Shit! Sara, please tell me you haven't slept with the guy. This is not going to work; he's going to get skittish on you."

"He's not like that. I'm staying here in Vegas to give us a chance. It's not like there's anything or anyone to keep me in San Francisco anymore. You have Jason; you haven't needed me for a year now and I'm getting sick of constantly being the third wheel in my own apartment."

There'd been a few long moments of silence before Mel answered.

"You don't hold back, do you? I'm sorry you feel that way, that you can't just be happy for me. I hope you find what you're looking for in Vegas. But don't call to cry to me when he continues to keep you at arms length."

They'd both been right. It had been the best decision of Sara's career and the worst decision of her personal life. And neither had ever been able to admit it to the other.

"Sara?" Mel's voice was weak and unsure, empty of the self-confidence that Sara remembered and the incongruity pulled her from the past and down to the bed in front of her.

"Hey Mel," she whispered.

Mel lifted her left hand from where it rested beside Sara and reached for her. Taking the proffered hand, Sara stepped the last foot to the bed and adjusted her hand position so that Mel wouldn't have to make a sustained effort to maintain the contact. Sara brushed her free hand over Mel's forehead.

"Is this okay? I can…" Sara trailed off and half turned towards the door.

"Stay. God, Sar, I'm sorry. I was going to call, but this was completely last minute and things just got so busy."

"It's okay. I'm here now and if we're counting I should have called you years ago. Are you here alone? Where's Jason?"

Sara immediately regretted the question as Mel's expression twisted in a combination of anger and regret.

"In Mexico, on his honeymoon with his second wife, the woman he cheated on me with, if the office gossip is correct."

"Oh Mel! I'm sorry, you never said…"

"I…I was too embarrassed and I didn't want to hear about how happy you were here with Gil."

Sara started at her friend's use of Grissom's first name. It had been a long time since she'd even allowed herself to think of him as anything other than Grissom, even with everything they'd been through in the past year: her suspension, the ordeal at the mental hospital.

"Actually, you were right about that. Grissom doesn't see me that way. We never really got together."

Now Mel was confused.

"Oh. I thought that was part of the reason you chose to stay here. I mean he didn't mention it when he called, but I assumed…isn't he here with you? I thought I saw him at the window before."

"He's here. He convinced me to come. We just…I don't know Mel. I can't explain it to myself."

Sara's shoulders sagged as her earlier tears threatened to return.

"It'll be okay honey. We'll figure it out together just like we used to. Gil won't know what hit him."

Sara sniffed in a last attempt to hold back the tears.

"I missed you so much Mel. I'm so glad you're here. Well not here here, but…"

Sara laughed at her mistake and one emotional release triggered another, allowing the tears to fall. The sight of her friend's tears caused Mel's eyes to begin to water as well.

"I know," Mel mumbled through her own tears. Sara missed the small smile that crossed Mel's face moments later as she caught sight of Grissom gazing at them from the doorway. "Hey Gil, come on in."

Grissom didn't speak at first as he slowly walked farther into the room. In fact, Sara thought he looked decidedly uncomfortable and unsure of himself for a man who had convinced her that this visit was a good idea. She could only hope that this change wasn't because he had overheard her conversation with Mel. As the silence lengthened, Sara's butterflies returned. She had no idea what to do next. Fortunately Mel solved her problem.

"Still not big on talking I see. Well, no worries, Sara and I have plenty of catching up to do. You just sit over there and be quiet."

Sara winced as Mel nodded to a chair in the back corner of the room, from which Grissom would be able to watch them and the door at the same time. Anyone else would have rolled their eyes at Mel's antics, but Grissom merely did as she'd suggested. Of course, Sara thought, if he'd been anyone else he would have said hello in the first place.

"So Sara, how's life in Sin City been treating you?" asked Mel, as if they hadn't already been discussing exactly that before Grissom entered the room.

"Uh, fine I suppose. It's not really much different from San Francisco. People are still people after all."

"So, no good gossip? No men in your life?"

Sara turned and flat out glared at Mel. There was no way she was going to answer that question with Grissom in the room and Mel knew it; but Mel wasn't looking at Sara, she was watching for Grissom's reaction to the question. When Sara realized this and turned to look, Grissom was studiously avoiding acknowledging their presence in the room. Sara head swung sharply back towards Mel.

"Play along," her friend mouthed, but Sara shook her head.

"Don't want to talk about it here eh? Must be a really juicy story. I guess I'll just have to wait for the details."

Sara turned bright red with mortification. "Look Mel…"

This time she was saved by the entrance of a doctor about Grissom's age.

"Melissa Lang?"

"Were you expecting someone else?"

The doctor rolled his eyes and consulted the chart in his hand, not even sparing a glance for Sara or Grissom.

"I'm Doctor Yake. According to your chart all of your tests have come back normal and I can't see anything that has been missed. Your vitals have been stable for the past few hours so normally I'd release you now, but our records show you're from San Francisco."

"Is that a problem doc?"

"Only in that you have a concussion and you shouldn't be left alone for the next few days. Normally I would simply send you home with family or a friend. I cannot allow you to simply head off to whatever hotel you've been staying at. You can stay here for the next two nights. By then you should be well enough to make the trip back to California."

"Excuse me Doctor Yake, but Mel was staying with me." The little white lie slipped from Sara's lips unbidden.

"And you are?"

"Sara Sidle, LV Crime Lab, and an old friend of Mel's." Sara took great pleasure in flashing her badge at the pretentious doctor.

"My apologies Ms Sidle, I assumed you were another out-of-towner here to ring in the New Year in true Vegas style. I'll have one of the nurses bring down all the necessary paperwork."

"Pompous windbag," muttered Mel as the doctor left the room.

"Arrogant, condescending ass," agreed Sara.

"He makes a killing as an expert witness, usually for the defense. He's very hard to trip up on the stand."

The two women stared at Grissom, amazed that he'd decided to join the conversation.

"I take it you've gone up against him a couple of times," commented Mel.

"Yes," replied Grissom. Focusing on Sara he elaborated, "He rather reminds me of Phillip."

"Swine!"

"True, but he knows his stuff. You should follow his advice Mel."

"Thanks Gil."

"I'll go get the car so we can get out of here whenever you're ready." Grissom left the room as a nurse entered bearing a full clipboard of paperwork.

Way too many signatures later, as they made their way to the hospital door, Mel asked the question Sara had been anticipating since the doctor had abandoned them.

"Are you sure this is okay? Me staying with you for the next few days? I don't want to mess with your plans or anything."

"Mel, it's fine. I wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it, and the only thing I had planned was to go to work."

"But you didn't exactly offer, you just told the doc I was already staying with you, which isn't true. You guys can just drop me off at a hotel. I'll be fine."

"Stop worrying about it Mel, and don't try to go behind my back to Grissom. You heard what he said about listening to the Doc."

"Okay, okay. As long as you're sure it's not going to be a problem." Mel sighed and raised her hands in defeat as the crossed through the hospital door and out into the bright, clear sun of a gorgeous New Year's Day.

"Good. Now, help me find Grissom."

TBC...