Title: Last Chance - Chapter 18

Disclaimer: What do you think? Do you honestly think I own them? Then you're a fool. Cause I don't. Don't sue me.

Authors' note: This chapter is really short. I mean really really . . . It could be longer, it could be better . . . it could be a lot of things. But it's not. It just is. At any rate I hope you like it. And I really hope you review if you do. Once again, I don't have a beta . . . so all mistakes are mine. Thanks for reading!

Grissom walked into the diner and spotted Sara sitting at a booth. He touched her shoulder as he walked up behind her.

"Hey Griss." She turned her head and smiled up at him.

"Good Morning Sara." He sat down across from her. "What time did you get up?"

"A little after seven. I didn't want to wake you."

"It's ok. I got your note."

Sara flushed a deep red. "Obviously. You're here aren't you?"

Grissom decided she looked good with a blush. "How did you know I was gonna eat an apple?"

Sara chuckled. "Scientific deduction."

"Really, how's that?"

"It was morning . . . people eat in the morning, even you. You're not the kind to go snooping for food, and the apples were in plain sight. I took a stab in the dark that you'd grab one of them . . . "

"Well, your aim was true - and the core is safely in the trash."

That elicited another smile from Sara. "I talked to Brass and Warrick this morning."

"What did they have to say?" The waitress showed up then to take their order.

"Oh, just that we got our bad guy. Confession or no confession. DNA - Fibers - Blood - The works . . . "

"Great!"

"And Brass wants us to sit in on a meeting with the Fina's lawyer at three this afternoon."

"What for?"

"Dunno, Brass was being kind of vague . . . and um, speaking of Jim . . . this might sound paranoid . . . " she smiled sheepishly. "He doesn't know you slept at my house last night does he?"

That made Grissom choke on his water. "What?"

"Well, both he and Warrick said some things this morning. I thought maybe you . . . " she trailed off.

"Sara, as much as I would like to go yell it from the rooftops . . . " Sara blushed again. "It's nobody's business but ours. Besides, when would I have told anyone? It's not like I planned this when I took you home last night."

"Then, uh, it must just be my imagination." She shrugged. "Not that it really matters, you'll only be my boss for another twelve days."

He was wondering when she'd bring that up. "Listen Sara, I can talk to Ecklie . . . get your resignation thrown out. I want you to stay. And not just because the lab needs you, you're one of our best CSI's . . . but because I need you. I finally have you in my life, Sara, and I don't want to lose you."

"Grissom . . . I've told you. I can't do it anymore. It's to hard. Please understand - I need something else. A job that makes me happy, instead of just paying the bills."

Grissom's heart felt like it had stopped. "You're still leaving?"

"I don't know Griss . . . I have to get out of the lab. I know that much. I am quitting." She smiled at him. "Besides, sleeping with your boss is highly unprofessional. But I'm not sure about leaving Vegas. I still have a lot to think about. And there's something I want to look into before I make up my mind."

Their food arrived then and Grissom took a bite. He set down his fork and chewed thoughtfully as Sara pushed hers around her plate. Here he was - making her feel miserable again. He was acting like a child. "Ok Sara . . . I'll support you. No matter what you decide to do. Or where you decide to go." He reached out and took her hand. "Always, Anytime, Anywhere, Any reason . . . " he repeated his words from the night before.

Sara looked up at him with a small smile on her lips. "Thank-you . . . "

"No Sara . . . thank you. For letting me love you."

To Be Continued . . . .