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Sara woke feeling numb and wandered out of her room. She tiptoed into the living room and found Grissom asleep on the couch. Her mind held no thought and she felt no anger as she moved to stand in front of him.

Silently she sat down next to him, curled her legs up under her and leaned her head on his shoulder. Her eyes fluttered shut as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.

He woke up half an hour later, he was confused by the warmth next to him until he opened his eyes and saw Sara tucked neatly at his side. He wondered when she moved there and then wondered why. He forgot about it and relished in the feel of her heat and soft weight.

With his free hand he traced the outline of her face. He knew he wouldn't normally be so bold but this case, the situation made him do it. Besides any chance he could touch her without gloves he was going for.

His eyes narrowed when he saw Sara's mouth twitch. He smiled when he thought she might talk in her sleep. She moaned, not the soft pleasant kind but a more strangled fear induced sound.

A nightmare, he thought, he was about to wake her but the phone rang. He tried to pick it up before she woke but he was one ring too late. She corrected herself on the couch, she reddened slightly and she lowered her head avoiding his eyes as he answered the phone.

"Grissom."

"Gil, it's Catherine." The familiar voice said through the phone.

"What have you got?" he asked.

"Another box for Sara. He left it on the doorstep. Thought I'd call and tell you."

"The note; what does it say?"

At those words Sara raised her head. He knew he now had her full attention.

"Warrick's just opening the box now." Grissom heard the pop of broken tape, the crinkle of plastic and Catherine's sharp intake of air. He heard Warrick say 'here' as he handed Catherine the note.

"What is it?" he asked impatiently.

"It's the other hand. God." There was a long pause. "This guy is crazy."

"I know. The note, Cath. Read the note." He stood up and found a pen in a mug on the corner on the counter in the kitchen, he glanced around to find a piece of paper and Sara handed him her note book. She listened in as Grissom waited.

"It's just numbers. I don't know what it says." Catherine said.

"Give me the numbers. Sara can translate." He didn't want Sara to get this note; he didn't want her to know about the second hand, he didn't want her to suffer anymore. Catherine read the numbers and Grissom wrote them down.

Sara assigned the letter to the numbers and when they were finished she read it back so Catherine could hear what it said.

"'YOU NEVER LEAVE WORK EARLY SARA, WAS IT MY GIFT? ARE YOU ANGRY? IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH, I KNOW SO HERE'S THE OTHER. FORGIVE ME.'" She crumpled her translation when she realise what 'the other' was.

Catherine whistled and Grissom sighed.

"Any leads on the OCD?" he watched Sara's shoulders slump.

"Nick's out with Brass. There are about nine doctors that deal with OCD's; we're hoping one of those docs treated our guy."

He nodded.

"Anything else?"

"Yeah, three of the six unknown prints match from Rick to Sara's place. Definitely our guy's prints. No hits on AFIS though…"

"Okay…"

"I'll call you back when Warrick and I finish processing Sara's mail and or when Nick calls me back." She hung up.

He turned to Sara. She didn't wait for him to elaborate on his conversation with Catherine. She held up the crumpled paper in her clenched hand.

"I hate this Grissom! Rick did nothing to deserve this." She didn't know where the new tears came from; she thought she cried them all out before. "If he's still alive, we're not moving fast enough. Why won't you let me go?" she sobbed hard, the shuddering bringing her to her knees. "This is all my fault." She sounded so broken.

He came around the counter and knelt down, his arms outstretched and he felt his own tears. He vaguely remembered the last time he cried, a long time ago, he was sure it had to do with his mother. As he looked at Sara, he was glad she was the only other person that could make him cry.

"I can't let you go because…because I can't lose you, because," he steadied his voice, cleared his throat, "Because I love you." He spoke those words into the crown of her head.

She looked him in the eyes, hurt and confusion clear in her eyes. He said them again.

"I love you."

Sara closed her eyes tightly, squeezing out what felt like tones of warm salty tears. She shook her head and opened her eyes. The air stung but his hurt expression hurt more. "Am I too late?" he asked, terrified.

She shook her head again and she watched years melt off of Grissom's face. She couldn't find the words to voice the joy, anger and frustration she was feeling at that moment. She backed up as he moved closer.

"Don't." she spoke, her words were harsh and cutting to Grissom and he frowned. "You will let an innocent man die because you love me?"

"Yes. I don't care about anything else. I brought you here out of purely selfish reasons. I'm sorry if it hurts you because I love you too much to let you put yourself in danger."

She stood up and turned away from him as he still kneeled on the floor. She couldn't look at him with his baby blue eyes pleading with her. She needed to think, she needed to get away from him. She bolted so fast that Grissom didn't have the chance to think before the door slammed closed behind her.

TBC…

Up next...Where did Sara go?