a/n: So I think I got my groove back! Special thanks to Willowaus as usual for the beta read.

Chapter 5: Sudden Revelations

Grissom stood, his heart breaking for the woman he loved. The radio line was open. Her raw emotions floated through the air.

"I'm sorry."

Grissom wanted to yell at her, it wasn't her fault.

"You should leave me."

Slowly nodding, he couldn't help but agree with the weakened voice. He needed her in the safety of his presence. Every moment she spent in the rubble was another moment closer to disaster.

"As long as you're breathing. I'm staying."

He heard that tone of voice before, and he had yet to find a technique to combat that level of stubbornness. His fear for her suddenly gave way to utter respect for her devotion. Looking at Greg, he saw the same admiration mirrored in his eyes.

"We were going to hit the strip tonight."

"Matt told me. He wanted me to go."

Unconsciously he looked at the younger man still hovering over the entrance. He couldn't help but think Matt Mackenzie was more Sara's type. Young, fearless, funny, and attractive. All things Grissom felt he lacked.

"I think he had ulterior motives. I don't think he knows you're spoken for."

Grissom continued to stare at the source of his jealousy when Matt suddenly turned and looked straight into his eyes. He knew. Did Sara tell him, or was it that obvious. Subconscious he looked at Greg, who also cast him a knowing look.

"Derek, I don't want to say good bye."

They could all hear that she was crying openly now. It had to be close to the end. The surgeon still hadn't arrived. Silence swept over the crowd.

"Sara Sidle never does what she doesn't want to do. This time though, I think I win."

Letting a chuckle slip through his throat, Grissom knew from personal experience that statement was true. It was part of the reason he loved her…he loved her. In the back of his mind he wondered if he did. He knew he loved her as a friend and confidante, but wasn't ready to say the words to her for fear of ruining the tenuous relationship that took them ten years to grow.

"…Good bye, Sara."

The officer's last words shook him from his thoughts. He held his breath. He didn't know Foster well, but law enforcement carried an intrinsic camaraderie.

"Derek, I'm sorry."

"Me too Sara," he whispered; his heart breaking for her.

"Good bye."

Her voice was barely audible, but they all knew he was gone.

Taking a step forward, Grissom felt the wind pick up drastically. 'Not now,' he thought. Any other night he would be grateful for the drastic shift that happened often.

"Grissom," a faint hint of alarm was evident in Greg's voice.

Glancing behind him, the older CSI's eyes narrowed.

Sanders nodded toward what was left of the roof.

They watched as it tilted dangerously back and forth.

Acting instantly, Gil grabbed a radio from the hands of one of the firemen. "Sara, you need to get out of there now!" he proclaimed.

--/--

Sara lay there for several moments, unable to let go of her friend's hand. She couldn't believe she failed him.

It felt wrong to leave him, but she knew a body recovery could wait until all safety measures were taken.

A rumble rattled the ground beneath her, followed by a crackle on her radio.

"Sara, you need to get out of there now!"

She tasted a bitterness in her throat, and her pulse quickened. She tried pushing the quick talk button on her headset, but it beeped angrily in her ear. Disgusted she pulled away, and grabbed the radio. "What's wrong?"

"Sara the wind's picked up out here. It looks like the roof is ready to collapse in on you!"

His fear was transferred to her, and she spun around as quickly as her tight quarters would allow. Looking back once more, she watch dirt fall down on her friend's still form.

--/--

"What's taking her so long?" Grissom wondered aloud.

No one spoke for fear of providing the wrong answer to the troubled man.

Another gust of wind rippled through the crime scene. Grissom stared at the unstable rubble, daring it to move.

"Come on Sara," he demanded under his breath, willing her to appear.

He suddenly felt he was going to be blown off his feet as wind blew around him. The force was enough to finally destroy the tenuous stability. The last remnant of the roof disappeared in a cloud of dust.

Grissom felt like he had been punched in the stomach. "No," he refused to believe the truth of the situation. Pushing the button on the radio, his hand shook as he brought it up to his mouth. "Sara talk to me," he pleaded.

Greg looked at his boss, needing reassurance. He appeared to have aged in a matter of minutes. Pulling out his cell phone he dialed the lab again. After half a ring, he heard Nick's voice. "You need to get down here now," he told him. No further explanation was needed.

Static popped from the radio, and the entire situation seemed unreal. Greg looked around him. The fire team had converged on the opening, a younger man he didn't know appeared to be suiting up to go in after Sara, and Grissom continued to stand clutching the only life line they had had with her.

--/--

Nick hung up the phone, his hands shaking as the rush of adrenaline coursed through him.

Warrick saw the fear. "What happened?"

"We need to go down there," he told him, unable to provide any further explanation.

"Sara?" the question was rhetorical, but he hoped that assessment was wrong.

"Where's Catherine?" he asked grabbing his keys, and heading for the door.

"She's out at the B&E, we'll call her on the way," Warrick told him.

--/--

Sara tensed as her teeth rattled, and her world began to crumble before her eyes. In that instant she decided that the world was not fair. She was finally happy, in love, and she just risked her life to comfort her friend as he died. Now she was about to be crushed, and the man she loved was going have to watch her fate helplessly.

Searching blindly for her radio, she wanted to at least say the words she had been afraid to say knowingly they could very well scare him off. Even if he couldn't return the sentiment, she wanted to at least let him know she loved him.

After several seconds of not finding the radio, she cried in frustration, and pulled herself forward, ignoring the pain splintering throughout her body. She had to get out. She had to make sure Grissom knew.

As suddenly as everything started, a calm fell on her. For a moment she thought she had passed out and was dreaming.

She could hear noise directly in front of her. "Grissom!" she shouted knowing he would be close.

"Sara, hang on, we're coming," she heard Matt yell.

--/--

Grissom heard her muffled cry for him, but was too stunned to believe he wasn't hallucinating. Anger welled up within him for letting someone else encourage her. Surging forward, he began helping the rescue team move debris out of the way.

"Grissom!" Greg yelled, trying to get his attention. "You need gloves," he explained, pulling him back.

"NO!" a guttural yell ripped through the older man as he pushed Greg off of him. Not feeling the cuts on his hand, he continued to clear the way.

--/--

Sara heard the scream, and instinctually shrunk back from its intensity. She feared Grissom had been injured in the collapse.

Never in her recollection had she heard that level of pain escape him.

Fresh air began wafting down to her, and she knew they were getting close. "Help," she choked out, and began coughing. The dust was once again filling her lungs, as they cleared the path.

Closing her eyes, she waited for freedom to come to her. She was unable to move forward.

Minutes later she felt someone touching her face. Opening her eyes, she blinked rapidly, trying to focus her blurred vision. Despite the dust in her eyes, she knew his touch. It was like a childhood memory of the smell of spring. "Grissom," she said, reaching for his hand.

"I'm right here, you're almost out," he promised her, content to let the others finish the task. He thought as long as he was touching her, she would be safe.

Matt pulled up on a splintered piece of wood eliciting a painful cry from Sara. "Stop! Everyone stop! She's hurt," he yelled, knowing if the removed the wrong thing from the pile they could very well kill her.

"Sara what is it? What hurts?" Gil asked her.

Squeezing her eyes tightly together, she tried to concentrate. Her whole body hurt, but most of it was a dull pain. "My hip. I think something is stuck in the bone," she explained as calmly as she could.

--/--

Nick and Warrick parked hastily, and Catherine followed shortly after. They all ran toward the activity. Hearing a myriad of shouts, their fear increased.

"The surgeon's here!"

"They found her!"

"She's pinned!"

"She's conscious!"

Nearing the wreckage they spotted Greg. Unable to do anything but stare at the organized chaos, the flanked their colleague.

Grissom was kneeling in the middle of the chaos, holding Sara's hand. She was barely visible. The dirt that caked her caused her to blend in with the mess. Tears dripped down, clearing a small line of dust along her cheek.

Tenderly wiping the tears away, Gil smeared the grime. He shifted slightly, allowing her head to rest in his lap. They couldn't hear his voice, but they saw Sara react to whatever he said. Her eyes flew open, and she focused on his face.

--/--

The pain reminded Sara of a buzzing that went unnoticed until someone pointed it out, and then no matter what was done, the buzzing was all that could be heard.

Each time something shifted, the pain intensified. Tears escape her eyes despite her resolve to stay strong.

She felt Grissom brush them away.

"We're going to cut some of the wood away. If you feel any pain, tell us, and we'll stop immediately," the fire chief was explaining. After a moment of silence, he decided to take another approach, and directed his attention to the older CSI. "Sir. We need to make sure whatever has impaled her doesn't move."

Gil glanced up, and nodded. "Sara, open your eyes." Still not getting a response, he moved to cradle her head, leaning down, he spoke in hushed tones. "Sara, honey I love you. You need to look at me."

Shocked at his confession, Sara suddenly opened her eyes, and looked into his. He loved her. He said it.

"Sara, they're going to move some things. If you feel anything tell me, and they'll stop," he told her.

She nodded, still speechless.

"Ok," he said to her then looked up, and repeated himself to the fire crew. "Ok. She's ready."

Taking a moment to assess her other injuries, Grissom noted every scratch. Her skin was cold, and he knew shock wasn't too far behind. "You're doing great," he encouraged her, trying to keep her with him.

"I love you too," she finally spoke.

Until that point he hadn't cared that she had not returned his sentiment. Considering it, he still didn't care. He cared that she loved him, but her response or lack of response didn't change a thing for him. Leaning it, he kissed her tenderly, uncaring of those around him.

TBC…

Disclaimer: For anyone reading "Every Step She Takes" by em j I wanted to say there is a very very vague similarity (Sara stuck/pinned, w/ Grissom there to comfort her) that did not occur to me until I finished this chapter. I emailed her to make sure she knew I outlined this before I read her fic. I in no way intended to copy her idea.