DISCLAIMER:Don't own it... No money made... Just for fun and enjoyment.

SUMMARY: Sequel to Displacement. The CSI team and their recently hired coroner Stephanie are back to work solving cases, sharing companionship and generally making their way through the dire world of criminal investigation with humor and friendship... This one will show the development of the relationship between Grissom and Sara and there should be some other surprises down the road as well. Romance/Drama/Angst/Mature Situations

RATING: M for Mature - I'm starting this one out at "M", since we won't be waiting quite so long for the smut this time out ;) Also, there is a sprinkling of language throughout the story.

A/N: Wow... I thought that by now I'd have gotten at least one threat of bodily harm ;) But don't worry, at least one of my betas is seriously considering maiming (death isn't an option, because they still want me to cook for parties). LOL

REVIEWS: I am always looking for ways to improve my writing, and your reviews let me know if I am hitting my mark. Thank you in advance for the time you take to read & review this story.


Chapter 34

Sara closed the phone and stared down at her hands. She felt completely numb. In the time it took for a phone call to be made, their lives were about to be shattered into a million little shards. She struggled with what she was going to do. No, not what… Just, how?… How do you tell the man you love that-… No!

She refused to let herself even think such a thing. If they were going to make it through this thing, then she knew she would have to stay strong. Stay strong for Gil… Stay strong for Thomas… Stay strong for Warrick… She had to stay strong.

Sara sucked in a long breath and set her shoulders. She knew what had to be done, and she was going to bear that weight. She was going to be that strength.

When she reached the bedroom door, she looked in and saw that Gil had already turned down her side of the bed. He was sitting up in bed, their bed, under the covers, as he finished off the last pages of his pulp novel. She was glad that he felt comfortable enough with her to share his guilty pleasures, and she was grateful their weekend had been happy and full and peaceful. She had worried that the revelation of such a painful part of his life would have destroyed him, but she had been delighted in his recovery and they had spent the weekend reveling in the peace he found. As she took her first step into the bedroom, she knew that peace had been shattered.

"Hey, you don't have to go in, do you?" His smile nearly broke her resolve. She had grown used to his comfortable smiles, and she would miss them.

"No." She walked over to the dresser and she opened one of the lower drawers to retrieve of pair of drawstring pants. Comfort was going to be important in their next endeavor.

When he noticed what she was doing he put his book down on the nightstand and leaned forward. "Sara… What's going on?"

She did not turn around. Instead, she leaned down and stepped into her pants. When she pulled them up, she said, "Can you get dressed?"

He was about to ask another question, but it died on his lips, and instead he pushed back his covers and said, "I can… Can you tell me why?" She did not dare to look into his eyes yet, because she knew the worry had already landed there.

"Get dressed first." She opened another drawer and pulled out one of her many, long sleeved, fitted, tie-dye shirts. Comfort was going to be important in their next endeavor.

She heard the springs in the bed shift as he rose from the bed and padded over to the closet. "Where are we going?"

"Just dress comfortably, please." Comfort was going to be important in their next endeavor.

"Okay…" She could hear the hangars slide over the rod in the closet as he made his choice.

She reached into his shirt drawer and took out one of his long sleeved golf shirts. She held it in her hands and took another deep breath. She handed him the shirt from behind her as she felt him approaching her at the dresser. She felt his fingers graze over her own as he took the shirt from her hand. "Loafers or sneakers?" She asked as she braced herself on the dresser, just above his sock drawer.

He pressed a hand against the small of her back and spoke softly, "I've already got my shoes on."

She turned away from him and went to the closet to dig out a pair of those funky sport sandals that always made Gil laugh. They were comfortable and she needed that. Comfort was going to be important in their next endeavor. "Don't forget your phone and your wallet." She walked away from him and out into the hallway.

It was a few moments before she would hear his feet walking across the stone tile to the living area where she stood. She knew that the moment she told him what was happening, he would be a complete mess. She knew that he would not be able to do even the simplest task, so she had to choke back everything to insure they would be able to make it to the hospital. And so, she waited. She forced down her pain. She forced down her worry. She forced down her fear. The only thing she could do was to take care for the man she loved more than life itself.

Sara went to the hall closet and took out their jackets. She also removed the small duffle bag she kept stashed there for emergencies. It had a fleece throw blanket, a small travel pillow, a few peanut butter granola bars, an old sweatshirt, and a couple pairs of wool socks. She had another bag, filled with the same things in the trunk of her car. Sara was as much of a boy scout as Gil, sometimes, but she knew that the contents of the bag would help them to be more comfortable at the hospital. Comfort was going to be important in their next endeavor.

She was so caught up in maintaining her calm that she missed the sounds of his feet on the stone tile, as he came to stand directly behind her. He put a hand on her shoulder and she tensed; not because she was frightened, but because she feared she might fall apart with the contact. He reached over her and took the bag as she pulled it down from the shelf in the closet. "Here, let me get that."

Forcing herself to relax her shoulders, she blew out a breath and said, "Thanks." She closed her eyes for a split second and prepared for the worst. Jim would be there any moment and she had to break the news before he got there.

"So, when are you planning to tell me what's going on?" As she turned into his words, their eyes met and she could actually feel the worry pouring from those azure pools.

She took his hand and led him over to the stools at the breakfast bar. He took the cue and braced himself on the closest one, but he never let go of her hand. She took hold of his hand with both of hers and held it up to her chest. "Gil… Jim is going to be here in any minute."

With her words and her gestures, his face began to contort into a scowl of pain and his eyes filled with tears. She knew that he had taken her cues perfectly. He knew her well enough to know that she was preparing him for something heavy. And the moment she had spoken Jim's name, his jaw had clinched tightly. "No… Not-…" His words were spoken through clinched teeth, and he choked on each syllable. "Who?"

She pulled him close to her, held him in her arms and waited until he was settled there before she brought her head down beside his ear and whispered the name into his ear.

No matter how much they claimed to be prepared for the realities of their professions (the inherent dangers that everyone around them faced), they were never ready for it when it was thrust upon them.

She held him tightly, stroking his back as the sobs wracked through his body while they waited for Jim to arrive. He desperately needed her comfort as they waited. Comfort was going to be important in their next endeavor.