Chapter 18
(A/N: Concern has been expressed about this being a GSR fic with no GSR. I find their path to each other, and the removal of the blocks between them infinitely interesting. I enjoy exploring their reasons and excuses. I make no promises about how long this story will be, the only promise I make is that, in the end the GSR will prevail (sort of blowing my ending here huh?). I appreciate those of you who are enjoying the exploration with me, for those of you who think I've drawn it out too long or given them too much away from one another, I'm sorry, but maybe this isn't the story for you. There are loads of wonderful stories that flesh out a relationship between the pair that might better suit your tastes. I hope that you'll stick with this one as well, but if you choose not to, no hard feelings. Follow what stirs your imagination, as I follow what stirs mine. Thank you to all who have made it this far, hope I live up to the faith you've invested. )
"Catherine and Greg, you're still chasing down tire patterns from the missing person case out on Darling Ranch Road right?" Grissom had his team assembled at the beginning of the shift. Greg looked at Cat, who nodded that Grissom was correct. "Warrick, Nick, I'd like you to head out to this home invasion, call me if you need extra help." The supervisor handed Nick the paperwork he would need.
Sara stood with her hands in her back pockets, relaxed and interested, waiting. As the others left he took off his glasses and told her, "You're with me, I need fresh eyes on the Rastively case." He started down the hall in the direction of the temporary evidence lock up and she followed close behind.
He checked out the sheets and blankets from the case and together they spread them over the analytical table. Anyone watching would liken the motions to a couple making a bed. Each took an opposite side; Sara had a magnifying glass, Grissom the ALS. For nearly 15 minutes they worked in silence and then he casually brought up something she hadn't even remembered.
"I'm sorry I didn't call you last night. How are you feeling?"
He didn't look at her. She stole a glance at him when she tucked her hair behind an ear. Her mouth twisted into a sideways smile. "I'm fine, I told you I was. I just needed to eat."
"I got sidetracked, but I really did mean to call."
"Unnecessary. I had a veggie wrap and went back to work. No big deal."
"Good."
They returned to companionable silence.
She left the sheet and went to the blanket, picking small bits of missed trace with forceps and placing them in bindles. Her back was to him when she drew a deep breath and began, "Gris? I uh…I wanted to say thank you, for uh…everything."
He stopped working, straightened his back to full standing position and listened, but did not turn to face her. It was clear from the waver in her voice she had something to say that was difficult.
"You've been really supportive through some…tough times, but mostly I wanted to say thank you for turning me down when I…" she drew another deep breath, "when I asked you to dinner."
He was winded. He didn't expect that and his mind reeled with what it could mean. The overwhelming disappointment of her releasing her feelings for him surprised him most.
"It would have been really bad timing, I'm sorry that I kept putting you in that position instead of just letting things be what they were. I appreciate you staying open to being my friend when I didn't know how to stop asking you for more."
Now he did turn to face her, "I am your friend Sara. Is everything okay?"
She smiled, it was genuine and he thought he saw hope in it. "I'm on my way. Really. Y'know at first I thought the therapy stuff was gonna be crap, but it's helping. I'm not suddenly fixed, but I feel for the first time that I can see how feeling normal could happen."
He touched her arm, "I'm really happy to hear that Sara. If there's anything I can do…"
"I'm the only one who can do it, but thanks." She hugged him quickly and sniffed a little before turning back to the task at hand.
He returned to the sheet and then frowned. "Hey, you never told me what you were doing here earlier today."
"Nothing that requires overtime pay." She smiled at her response. No over talk, no explaining her every thought and motivation. Progress, Sidle, she thought, progress.