Hello readers, here's chapter four of this slow-moving story. I've battled writer's block, and I have emerged the champion! Hope to get another chapter out this weekend, with the right motivation.

This chapter is extremely fluffy. Enjoy it while it lasts, that's all I can say.

Jenny

Forgive Chapter Four:

"I don't know why I'm so upset." Sara murmured into Greg's shirt, "I hadn't seen my mother in years. She ruined my life. I should be relieved that it's finally over."

Greg pulled back, looking down into her eyes, "You always love your parents. No matter how horrid they are, no matter who they are or what they've done, you still love them. You've lost the person who gave you life, you're supposed to feel sad."

"Jaysen isn't crying like a baby, he's taking care of what needs to be done. He's been out there, buying a casket, arranging a funeral service, getting her gravesite ready...and for the last three days, all I've done is stay in here with you and cry. I'm still a failure to her, even though she's gone." Sara said softly, pulling away from Greg and flopping down against her pillow, "It's disgusting. I never thought I'd cry like this when she died. I didn't even cry like this when my father died."

"It's a different circumstance, Sara." Greg said soothingly, "You're feeling guilty because you hadn't been to see her since you were a kid, you're depressed because your last parent just died. You've had to face your brother whom you haven't seen in years. It's very overwhelming."

Sara shook her head, "I've handled worse without falling apart."

"Maybe that's because you had no one to hold you together while you fell apart." Greg suggested quietly, "Face it, how many men's shoulders have you cried on?"

Sara gave a small laugh, "There was Jaysen's, when we were real young. There was Grissom, although there weren't any shoulders involved. And now there's you. Three?"

"It's a lot easier to be honest with yourself when you know someone's on your side." Greg offered, rolling onto his side to face her, "And while you're strong, independent, and stubborn, you have to admit it's nice to let go of control for awhile."

Sara shrugged, her cheeks turning pink, "I guess so."

"Do you know what you need?"

"What?" Sara asked, a smile on her lips as she watched Greg's serious face break into a grin. "Please tell me, Mister know-it-all."

Greg laughed, pulling her into a sitting position, "You need food. You've remained cooped up in this room for days, you need some fresh air, some sunlight, and a good, heart meal full of comfort foods."

"I'm not hungry." Sara replied, although the growling of her stomach told a different story. She smiled, rolling her eyes as he raised his eyebrows, "Okay, I'm a little hungry."

Greg stood, slipping on his shoes and grabbing his keys, "I know a great restaurant right outside of town. You'll love it. And after that, we'll go for a walk along the coast."

"What if I want to stay here and wallow in self-pity and misery?" Sara asked, picking her sandals up off the floor, "Then what do you suggest?"

Greg smiled mischievously, "Don't think you're getting off the hook that easy. If you insist on staying in this drab hotel room, I'll order in pizza and we can play cards." He watched as she slid on her sandals, and walked to the dresser, checking her appearance in the mirror, "Although it looks like you'll take me up on my offer."

"I suppose you'll want to drive." Sara replied, picking up her brush and running it through her hair. "Can you keep it safe?"

"I made it through a nine hour drive to get here, didn't I? You don't trust me for a half hour trip?" Greg asked, rolling his eyes. "Don't be difficult, try to relax."

With only a moment of hesitation, Sara followed Greg out of the hotel room, slipping her room key into her pocket before shutting the door.

--

Sara took a bite of her salad, running her feet through the sand, "I love the ocean."

"Me too." Greg replied, "When I lived in New York, we would take the subway down to Brooklyn and enjoy the summer on the beach. The beaches there weren't nearly as nice as they are here, but it was still a lot of fun."

Sara smiled, watching the waves crash along the shore, "I grew up on the beach, Jaysen and I were always in the sand or in the water, any reason to stay out of our parents way. Looking at how pale my skin is now, you'd never believe I used to have a year-long tan."

"I can believe it." Greg replied, "Growing up, I was torn between wanting to stay inside and read or play with my science set--I was a total geek--and wanting to run outside with my sister, Nicole, and play. There's nothing like the roar of the ocean to take all of your stress away.

Sara nodded, tracing the letter "S" with her toes, "Thank you for being here for me."

"Where else would I be? You can't go through this alone, and no offence, but you and your brother are polar opposites." Greg replied, taking her hand into his own, "You're my best friend. I'd die for you."

Squeezing his hand, Sara said with a soft, sad smile, "Hopefully you won't have to." She finished her salad, taking a sip of water before asking, "What are we going to do after we're done here? Still up for a walk on the beach?"

"Of course I am." Greg replied, retrieving two twenties from his wallet and leaving them on the table as he helped Sara to her feet, "Shoes?"

"I'll carry them" Sara responded, wiggling her toes into the sand, "There's nothing like the warm sand between your toes," She motioned towards the sky, "It's going to be getting dark soon."

Greg nodded, watching the pink and orange sky, "It's okay, I know my way back." He joked, "I love sunset, everything just seems to calm down."

"Unless you're back in Vegas." Sara retorted, "I'm not sure if I want to go back."

Greg stopped walking, dropping her hand, "You aren't coming back?"

"I don't know. Now that Mom's gone, I don't feel the same." Sara replied, sorrow evident in her voice, "I don't know what I want. I feel so lost."

Greg wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close, "Give it some time to process before making any rash decisions. I'd miss you like crazy if you didn't come home."

"What makes your home a home, anyway?" Sara replied, staring out into the sea, "I grew up in California, I lived in Boston for 4 years, I've been in Vegas for 6. What makes it a home?"

Greg rubbed her arm with his hand as she shivered slightly, "The people who love you, the people who you love. The people who would go crazy if they couldn't see you every day and experience the severity of the 'Sidle Mood Swing'."

"So, you've named it now?" Sara asked, a soft smile on her lips, "I don't know if I fit in anywhere. It took me so long to become a part of the group in the lab...how do you know if you belong there, or if you've just been there so long that you think you belong?"

Greg stopped, staring into Sara's sad face as he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, "Believe me, you belong. The guys went nuts when they found out you left."

"It was just a change, that doesn't mean anything." Sara replied, "I'd be upset if Bobby left ballistics, but that doesn't mean I'd invite him to Christmas dinner. Any change is hard to accept at first."

Greg took her hand into his own, "You don't need to make any major changes right now. Take a few weeks to think about it, and be sure it's what you really want."

"Look at the sunset over the ocean, how can you not want this?" Sara asked, "Why on Earth would I want to leave this to go back to the over-glamorized cesspool we live in? When is it ever this calm in Vegas?"

Greg smiled softly, squeezing her hand, "And what will you do if you move here? Get a job as a CSI? You've done that already, you know there are just as many murderers and rapists here as there are at home. You won't get to stroll along the beach, you'll be retrieving bodies from the ocean. You'll be doing the exact same thing you're doing at home, except you won't have any friends by your side."

"You really want me to stay, don't you?" Sara asked, stopping and turning to look at Greg, "Why does it mean this much to you?"

Greg took a deep breath, his hands trembling as he blurted out, "Because I love you Sara!"

TBC