"Relax, it's O.K. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here. Don't worry," I said, and she loosened her grasp just enough to let me slide my hand up to her forehead. It almost hurt my hand when it touched her forehead. But soon there was a voice from the door.

"Hey. I heard a scream," Catherine said," What's going on?"

"Catherine!" Sara said through tears, and she went over to hug her, telling her about how she died, and how happy she was that she wasn't dead.

I was so happy with Catherine right then. She didn't look judgmental or anything. She just held her close and comforted her. But when she looked at me over Sara's shoulder, I saw a very questioning look.

"She has a fever I think," I mouthed, placing my hand on Sara's back, "and I think she had a nightmare. She said something about everyone dying."

Catherine made an "O" shape with her mouth and continued comforting the visibly shaken Sara.

"Listen Sara," Catherine said, "Grissom and I are going to take you home." I looked at her incredulously. I'm taking her home?

Sara tried to stop her, telling her that she would be fine by herself, but Catherine pushed her into my arms.

"I'll go tell the guys that you too are leaving and that I'm going to come back in a little while to be supervisor. You," she said, pointing a perfectly manicured nail at me," are going to take her out to the truck and wait for me there."

And with that she left, leaving us to just follow her instructions to avoid the wrath of a very pissed off Catherine. I escorted her out to the truck to wait for Catherine. Sara seemed to be dozing off while waited and I took the time to look at her. She is beautiful, but she seems helpless. She was lightly sweating, and her body seemed so thin and… fragile. Fragile, never a word I would think to use for Sara, but it was true. She seemed very fragile.

Finally Catherine came, climbed into the driver's seat, and started driving to Sara's apartment.

Once we arrived, Sara climbed out sleepily and Catherine and I followed. My hand took up what seemed like a natural residence on her back as we went to the door to her apartment complex. But once we went in, she moved to go up the stairs, even though there were numerous elevators. Catherine grabbed her wrist and guided us over to the vacant elevators. Sara started to oppose, but Catherine was a woman on a mission, giving neither of us much in the way of a choice.

We soon were in Sara's apartment. Catherine said, "Sara, you get in the tub and get some sleep. Just get better, O.K.?" Sara nodded and went inside.

"And you are going to stay her and watch her."

"But… I don't know what to do!"

"Jesus, she is sick Gil, just take care of her. Take her temperature, make her something to eat. Make sure she sleeps, that kind of stuff. And if I see either of you in work before she gets better, heads will roll."

And with that not-so-empty threat, she left, leaving me to fend for myself.

So I went in and did what she told me to do. I cooked her some vegetable soup for when she came out of the shower.

I hardly noticed the water turning off and Sara coming out of the back hallway. But when I did notice, I was floored. She looked beautiful, with wet, curling hair, and a pair of pajama pants and a tank top. She stood next to me and asked, "How can I help."

"Just sit down. It'll be ready in a minute."

"You know, you don't have to stay. If you leave, I'll tell Catherine that it is my fault that you left and that I kicked you out."

"Well, if I'm not being kicked out, I would like to stay. I wanna make sure you are o.k."

"O.K." she replied, and started setting the table, completely not heeding my instructions to just sit.

Soon the soup was done and eaten.

"If you don't mind, can I take your temperature? It seemed like you had a high temperature back at the lab. I just wanted to know if you still had one."

"Don't own a thermometer."

"What?"

"I don't own a thermometer, because if I do get sick, I still won't stop whatever I planned on doing anyway, so what is the point."

"Then the next thing on the schedule is sleep."

"I want to ask you something, but if you get mad at me, I'm blaming it completely on the illness."

"What do you want to ask?"

"Do you remember the Kay Shelton case?"

"Yes, I'll never forget that one."

"Do you remember my offer?"

"Yes," I said, know exactly where this one was going, and liking it.

"Well?"

"Please tell me you are asking me to sleep with you."

With this blatant statement, she just blushed and nodded. She looked like the cat that swallowed the canary.

"God I love you."

She looked up at me, pure shock on her face. My face must have reflected hers, because I was definitely shocked. But she said something that allayed all fears.

"I love you too."

And after that we went to bed. Together. And after that experience, being able to hold a sleeping Sara in my arms, I never planned on going to sleep alone again.