Auld Acquaintance 3
PhDelicious

Disclaimer: still hasn't changed

Gil Grissom collapsed into his desk chair, exhausted. It wasn't just that he hadn't slept in over 36 hours, or that he had been on his feet since shift began almost 7 hours earlier, though that was part of it. This exhaustion was a more emotional exhaustion, the kind of exhaustion which reminds you that holding someone while they cry is almost as much work as the crying itself.

He had been readying himself for bed when his tired brain made the connection between Melissa Lang of San Francisco, who's driver's license photo had look vaguely familiar, and Mel, the spunky young CSI who'd worked with Sara years ago. He still wasn't entirely sure what had prompted him to redressed himself and head over to Sara's place. By the time he'd comforted her, taken her to the hospital, helped her bring Mel home, and convinced her to take the night off, Grissom had had less than an hour to go back to his townhouse, shower, change, and get to work.

The stack of assignments had been big enough that, since both Nick and Sara were off, each CSI had soloed on at least 2 cases. Luckily for them, many of the crimes seemed to be routine enough not to require much follow up. Grissom had been the first to return from his initial assignments, which was how he had ended up with a third case, a liquor store robbery. It may have just been his mindset, but the case had reminded him of the first case he'd work with Sara, back in San Francisco.

CSICSICSI

"Gil, are you sure you want to do this? Aren't you supposed to be taking a vacation of sorts?"

"For the last time Sara, I'm sure. My lectures are memorized. I've already finished reading all the journals I brought; and doing tourist stuff alone is no fun."

"But that doesn't mean you have to come in to work with me tonight. Just because I couldn't take the evening off to go touring with you…what did you originally plan to do between lectures?"

But it was too late for her to win the argument; after all, they were already in her car driving from his hotel to the lab.

"Besides, it's be good for me to get an inside look at how other labs are run. After all, I have to know how to stay ahead of the game."

She'd rolled her eyes at him and ushered him into the building. He'd been introduced to her supervisor, gotten permission to shadow her, and then met the rest of the shift at assignments, where Sara and Mel were assigned a robbery at a convenience store in a seedy part of town.

The small storefront was covered in gang paint, inside cases were smashed and shelves overturned. Someone had put up quite a struggle, Grissom decided after a quick glance around the place. It was a weird feeling, looking over a crime scene without needing to document what he saw or listen as the cop explained that the store manager, who had been found severely beaten, was now on his way to the hospital.

Used to working quietly and alone, it amused Grissom that Sara and Mel continued their conversation from the car as they processed the scene, occasionally interjecting work related comments.

"I wonder if this guy had serious munchies or something. The entire chips section is cleared out." Sara photographed the empty shelves in front of her.

"Well I guess that could explain why Ben & Jerry have disappeared." Mel gestured to the glass cold case which had been smashed in and raided. "So, Bob and I are going to have dinner tomorrow. He wants to take me to a big fancy restaurant."

"Mel, you said yes didn't you?" Grissom was surprised that Sara didn't sound happier for her friend.

"Yeah, I didn't have the heart to tell him that I hate eating big meals right when I get up. I really need to stop trying to date guys who work during the day. They just don't get it."

Mel's cell phone rang.

"Hello? Unhuh, unhuh, okay." She stepped out of the store, and had a quick conversation with the officer guarding the scene before popping back inside. "That was Gary. There was another robbery a few blocks away. Jason's going to take me over. He thinks you'll be safe enough here, as long as Gil's with you, but he's going to call dispatch and have them send another cop by just in case."

"Okay. If I don't see you back at lab I'll try to make sure I'm home in time to help you pick out your date outfit," called Sara from where she was crouched examining the shelves she'd photographed earlier.

"Nice meeting you again Gil."

Grissom watched, amused as Mel bounced out of the crime scene and over to the cop's car. Mel waved as the car pulled away and he turned back to Sara, moving so that he could keep an eye on her and the front door. After a few minutes of silence Sara spoke.

"Are you just going to stand there and stare or would you like to help?"

"I'm rather enjoying the view at the moment."

Sara looked back at him over her shoulder and rolled her eyes.

"Actually, I don't have any supplies with me and I wouldn't want to mess up your pattern. Besides, if I collect anything then I could be subpoenaed if the case ever goes to trial."

"And that would be a bad thing?" she asked still looking up at him.

He allowed the flash of attraction that being near her caused to wash over him as he considered her question. But he must have thought for too long because she was talking again.

"Come on, I can get this done faster if I have some help."

With a last glance out the front windows to make sure there was no one hovering by the crime tape, Grissom approached Sara. He crouched down beside her and peered over her shoulder to see what had held her attention for so long. There were several small brown stains on the shelves.

He reached into her kit and passed a swab over her shoulder.

"Thanks," she said without looking at him. She swabbed the wettest looking spot on the top shelf. She studied the other spots as she closed up the swab. "I don't think that…"

Grissom nudged Sara with the small plastic bag and chisel he was holding. Sara turned to look.

"Oh." She turned further putting herself eye to eye with him at very close range. Their eyes locked as Sara wrapped her hand around the tools he held. What he saw in her eyes was a reflection of his own need, an amplification of the ache of pleasure he felt on contact. Neither spoke, but messages tumbled through the space between them. The connection they formed in that moment was one that would take a lifetime to break.

"Hello? Sidle you in here?"

As quickly as it had come the moment was gone; the two CSIs jerked away from each other at the sound of the intruder's voice. Grissom felt strangely empty when Sara pulled back even further and rose to call out to the cop.

"Hey Wilson, I'm over here." Sara's reply sounded falsely happy and slightly guilty to Grissom's ears and he wondered if maybe there was competition. Then he chided himself for thinking, for even a moment, that there wouldn't be competition for Sara Sidle and rose to meet the opposition head on. He almost laughed in relief when he saw the short, portly, grey-haired man standing near the store's entrance. Wilson in turn eyed Grissom carefully.

"And you are?"

"Gil Grissom, Las Vegas Crime Lab. I'm in town giving a series of lecture on various aspects of entomology and how it relates to forensic investigation." Grissom crossed the store to shake Wilson's hand.

"Entomology? Oh, you're the bugman Sara was so excited to go see. Welcome to San Francisco. Hope Sara here isn't imposing on your vacation."

"Not at all. I was growing very tired of spending all my time in my hotel room twiddling my thumbs."

Wilson let out a hearty laugh. "Another workaholic…what is it with you science types?" He rolled his eyes and shrugged. "I'll let you get back to what you're doing. Just wanted to let Sara know I was here."

"Thanks Wilson. Can we please get back to work now Grissom? I'd like to get out of here sometime tonight." The slight pout in her voice put a smile on Grissom's face as he moved back over to where she stood. She thrust a pair of gloves, a brush, and a tin of fingerprint powder at him. "Make yourself useful."

"Sure thing boss," he teased as he headed towards the cold-cases where Mel had last been working.

They'd finished processing the scene in almost complete silence, slowly working towards each other and finishing the area by the cash register together, mutely handing each other equipment almost before the other realized what they needed.

CSICSICSI

Grissom ran his hands over his face and rubbed tiredly at his eyes, glancing at the clock. He huffed in surprise, startled to realize that he'd been lost in memories for over thirty minutes. His mind returned to Sara and Mel, wondering what they were up to now. Probably sleeping, or catching up, he decided. He thought briefly about dropping by Sara's apartment to make sure everything was all right, but realized that he would probably not be welcome in either scenario. Promising himself he'd call after he'd gotten a few hours of sleep and he was feeling more human, Grissom packed up and headed home, fifteen minutes before the end of shift.

TBC...