Title: Last Chance - Chapter 13

Disclaimer: By now you should have gotten the point that as much as I want them, I do not own them. Trust me when I do, I won't have to get my jolly's by writing fanfics. ;) Not that I ever will . . . oh well. Don't sue me. Thanks!

Authors' note: Ohhh the fluff. I promise promise promise it's coming. Cause I love the fluff. I have up until chapter 15 written out. After that . . . I had to stop because the angst lover in me was coming out . . . and I didn't want this story to head in that direction. I apologize in advance if I do decide to go down that road . . . :) Please R&R and thanks to all of you that have! You still rock! Enjoy!

Sara had stopped crying and Maddie had actually fallen asleep by the time the ambulance had stopped and the back doors opened. As Sara carried the sleeping child into the hospital she felt as though she herself needed to be admitted. She was almost asleep on her feet and emotionally drained. For the first time Sara was looking forward to getting some sleep.

Though there was nothing apparently wrong with Maddie, they were going to keep her overnight for observation before sending her to the first of, Sara feared, many foster homes.

The nurse took Maddie back into a room to get her settled. She only let Sara go after she had promised, three times so it counted, that she would come back and see her after they had both gotten some sleep.

Sara waited until the nurse came back to tell her that Maddie was asleep before she left the hospital. As she stepped outside and the cool Nevada wind hit her, she realized she didn't have her car. Or her purse, wallet, or jacket. She could call a cab - but first she had to find one willing to pick her up at a hospital with no money, no coat, mascara running, red-eyed, and runny nosed. Then be willing to drop her off outside a storage container lot, he couldn't drive in, it was still a crime scene, wait there, trusting her she would be back with his money . . . "Yeah right. That'll be the day."

She started laughing until she felt sick to her stomach and the tears were rolling down her cheeks. Blame it on the stress or just being so overly tired. She didn't care. To her, this moment was funny. Apparently really funny . . . She was miles from home, no way to get back, dirty, tear streaked, tired, and getting kind of cold. Something inside her had finally just snapped and her body was so done sobbing. When the emotions finally came through, who knew they'd be in a fit of giggles?

Eventually she calmed down enough to realize she needed to get home. She couldn't spend the rest of the night hysterically laughing in the 'No Parking' area of the hospital. She sat down on the bench just outside the door. She knew one person she could call. One person who would come get her and take her home. But if she called Grissom he'd want to have that conversation. And she just didn't have the energy right then.

A hot shower, a few more tears, half the pint of ice cream in the freezer, and her bed, was all Sara could think about now. And if she thought about it anymore she would probably just collapse onto her couch, as is, when she got home.

She sighed, realizing she didn't have another option right then, and dialed Grissom's number. He took four rings to answer and she hoped she hadn't woken him.

"Grissom . . . " his voice sounded as tired as she felt.

"Hey Griss, did I wake you?"

"Sara . . . no . . . I was just . . . driving . . . aimlessly, I think."

"Am I bothering you?"

"No honey, not at all. What can I do?" She was sure the 'honey' was just because he was tired. It was like word association. I say 'tired upset friend' you say . . . 'honey'.

"Uh, I kind of need a ride."

"Oh right, your cars still at the scene."

"Can you come get me?"

"Yeah, I'm on my way."

"Hey...Griss?" She said loudly so he wouldn't hang up. Then softer. "Thanks."

"Anytime Sara . . . anytime."

"I know. I'll see you soon."

"Ok."

"Bye . . . " Hang up the phone, Sidle!

Breaking the connection, she walked back through the doors shivering from the breeze. She sat down in one of the cold, hard, plastic chairs in the waiting area, letting her mind settle exactly where it wanted to. Grissom. He was being so . . . civil. Yeah Sidle, because he knows your leaving. But that couldn't be all, could it? Yeah, you know Gil Grissom . . . it could be all.

Images from the last day or so filled her head. His smile, he was being awfully generous with it. Those eyes, never had she read so much emotion in them, granted she could be wrong about what she saw, but she didn't think so. His fingers over hers . . . his palm against her back . . . the 'accidental' contact in the elevator.

The next thing she knew she was opening her eyes and starting directly into Grissom's.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty. Trying to recharge your battery?"

She blinked a few times and ran her hand through her hair. "Nah, just enough of a jump start to get me home." She closed her eyes again briefly, relishing the feel of his touch, warm on her shoulder.

When she opened then again Grissom was still looking at her but his smile was gone. He just looked tired now. What surprised her the most was the sorrow she saw in his blue eyes. And his brow was furrowed in a look that Sara knew to be worry.

"You did good today Sara. I'm . . . " he stammered a little " . . . proud of you. But honey, if you keep pushing yourself so hard, you're going to burn out."

"Grissom . . . " She started but he interrupted her.

"Brass accidently let it slip that you got the confession. While you were supposed to be at home, in bed, asleep."

"Griss . . . Can we save the reprimand for tomorrow?"

"Sara, I'm not mad at you. Why do you always assume I'm upset with you?"

"Because Grissom, you treat me like a child. You hold me back at work. I've worked very hard to get where I am. I am good at my job. And still you treat me differently then anyone else." Sara bowed her head. Well, that's one confession off her chest.

"I don't worry about everyone else. At least not like I worry about you." She snapped her head up to find him searching the floor with his gaze. "When Nicky was taken, I was worried about him, afraid for him, just outright scared. But somewhere deep in my mind I was so glad it wasn't you. And it was horrible of me, and I felt so guilty. But Sara, had it been you . . . I would have been lost." He stopped. He still wouldn't look at her.

"No Griss, you would have found me, the same way we found Nick. Because I trust you." She reached out and touched his arm.

Why wouldn't he just look at her? "Every time I send you off on a case, I worry. Not because I don't think you're capable, because you are, I know that. But because I could still lose you. And I don't ever want to lose you."

His sudden confession brought a whole new set of tears to Sara's eyes. She opened her mouth to tell him that she understood, and the intercom over their head squawked to life, sending out a page for a Dr. Johnson to report to the ER.

Grissom stepped back from the spot he'd been standing, breaking the physical contact as well as the emotional one. "Come on Sara, I'll take you home."

Sara's heart was still pounding and her eyes were still burning.

She wanted to laugh. This place, a hospital for crying out loud, was not where she'd even imagine a moment like this.

She wanted to cry. The words he'd said had meant so much to her. But she imagined they meant more to him.

She wanted to scream. It wasn't fair that these moments were so few. It wasn't fair that they always ended before they were finished.

Instead of doing any of those things, she just stood and followed Grissom out the door.

To Be Continued . . .