I'm sorry this chapter has taken so long to materialise. It is so hot here in London that it has been hard to concentrate and any time on the computer has seemed like a waste of the beautiful weather! Only a week of school left but already I am going into overdrive with this story because I go to Vietnam for a month in two weeks andI hope to get it finished by then. I can't guarantee it, however, I'm afraid!

Em x

"Could you please outline your movements last night, Dr Grissom?"

"Are you asking me for an alibi?"

"If you could just answer the question."

"Oh, no, of course. You want to know if mine and Sara's stories match up."

"You were working the night shift last night, we understand?"

"I was supposed to be."

"Supposed to be?"

"I left at around 8 o'clock to go to Adam Sidle's house."

Captain Palmer did not appear to have been expecting this. "Adam Sidle's house?"

"Yes." Grissom managed to derive some pleasure from having this police captain hanging on his every word. "Adam Sidle's house."

"Would you mind telling me why?"

"Because I knew Sara was there. I also knew she had been upset and I was worried she might do something she would regret."

"Like kill Adam?"

Grissom looked up incredulously. "If I had meant that, Captain," he replied. "I would have said that. All I wanted to do was let her know that we were here if she needed anyone to talk to."

"We?"

"Me and everyone else at the lab. We're not just colleagues, we're friends."

"And is Sara a friend you regularly spend the night with?"

Captain Palmer's forthright attitude rattled Grissom but he refused to let it show. "You're getting a little ahead of yourself there, officer," he stated pointedly. "I thought you wanted to know my movements." He waited a moment before continuing. "I must have left Adam's at about 9 o'clock. I drove over to Sara's apartment and entered between 9.30 and 10pm. I was there all night and I still was there when you came and forced Sara to come with you this morning."

"No one forced Sara to do anything."

"Of course. I'm sorry." Grissom smiled, ostensibly the model of politeness. "Can I go now?"

"We may need you to make an official statement, Dr Grissom."

"I'd be happy to."

"This is going to come out, you know. I assume no one was aware that you are in a relationship with Miss Sidle."

"We're not in a relationship," Grissom replied immediately, and then wondered why he was being so defensive.

"So it was casual sex, was it?" Captain Palmer immediately asked, accusatorily. "Taking advantage of a 'friend' in need?"

Now Grissom could not keep hold of his disgust. "Is this relevant, Captain Palmer?" he spat.

The Captain smiled shrewdly. "We'll be in touch should we need to take that statement," he said calmly. "Thank you for your time."

I.I.I.I.I

"You're free to go for now," Captain Palmer informed Sara upon re-entering the room. "But we will probably be in contact again soon."

"Oh, thank God," Sara murmured under her breath, but she attempted to keep her relief a secret from the Captain. "You've realised how ridiculous this all is, then?"

"Dr Grissom supports you alibi."

"Because it's the truth."

"According to the two of you – what a surprise."

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing."

"No, Captain Palmer. If you have something to say, please do."

"Do you make a habit of sleeping with your supervisor?"

Sara could not deny she was slightly taken aback by his candour. "Is this any of your business?"

"You told me to say what I had to say."

Sara stared at him and nodded curtly. "I did."

"People will have to be informed."

"I'm sure they will."

"I'm sorry but I can't keep this to myself."

"You're anything but sorry."

"Don't be like that, Sara."

"Like what?" Sara could not believe what she was hearing. "Can I go?"

"Of course."

Sara stood up and made her way to the door. Captain Palmer reached out to open the door but Sara pushed past him and did it herself. "I'm fine, thank you."

I.I.I.I.I

Sara marched as quickly as possible down the corridor and into the main waiting area of the police station. People were bustling about and she was relieved to find that no one batted an eyelid at her, despite her angry exit. She was just pulling the door open, revelling in the burst of fresh air that hit her as though she had not seen the outside world for years, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun round indignantly, expecting to see Captain Palmer or one of his equally condescending colleagues. "Don't even-" she began. But instead she found herself face to face with Grissom.

"They let you out," he murmured, unsure what else to say.

"It looks that way." Sara could not stand the awkwardness between them. "But I'm not sure how long for."

"Let me give you a lift home."

"I'm fine."

"Sara, you live miles from here."

"I do know how to use a bus."

"I don't doubt that, but seeing as Catherine's car is parked just outside."

"Catherine's car?" Sara's heart sunk, just as she had been beginning to envisage a proper conversation between her and Grissom.

"Did I hear my name?" Catherine approached Grissom from behind, with a friendly smile on her face that seemed strangely out of place in this anything but friendly environment. "Are we ready to go?" Neither Grissom nor Sara replied and Catherine decided not to probe. "Follow me," she instructed. "I'm just parked around the corner."

I.I.I.I.I

"Thanks for the lift," Sara said to Catherine, genuinely grateful. "I'll see you at work tonight."

"You don't have to-" Catherine argued, but Sara immediately silenced her.

"I'm no good sitting at home."

Catherine smiled. "It's up to you."

Grissom, who had travelled in the back of the car silently, decided to speak up. "I'll see you to the door," he announced to Sara.

"I don't need-" Sara began, but one look at Grissom made her realise her arguments were futile. She climbed out of the car.

Once the door had shut behind her, Grissom turned to Catherine. "You go. I'll see you later."

I.I.I.I.I

"Tea?"

"Sara-"

"There's nothing wrong with civilities, Grissom," Sara interrupted defensively as she put the kettle on. "I'm making myself one, so-"

Grissom sighed resignedly. "I'm fine, thank you."

Sara seemed to have a sudden change of heart. She turned face on and met Grissom's stare. "It's up to you."

"About the tea?"

"About this."

"This?"

"Us."

"Ah."

Sara let her gaze drop and moved through to the living room. "Come and sit down."

"Thanks." All of a sudden Grissom did not want this conversation to happen. He dawdled for a moment and then purposefully followed Sara and took a seat on the sofa, slightly distanced from Sara in the armchair.

"I don't-" Sara began, as Grissom simultaneously started speaking. "You first," she insisted.

"No, you."

There was a moment of awkward silence and then Sara took a deep breath. "I don't want it to be like this, Grissom."

"Call me Gil, Sara. Grissom sounds so – clinical, after – this."

"Gil. I don't want it to be like this, Gil."

"Like what?"

"Awkward. We shared something and…" she faltered, unsure of what to say next. "And it meant something. To me, at least."

"It did to be too, but-" The minute the word had slipped out of his mouth, Grissom regretted it.

"But what?"

"Nothing."

"No, go on." There was some animosity in Sara's voice. "What is it that you regret?"

"I didn't mean it like that. All I meant was – I wish it hadn't happened like this."

Sara immediately took up a defensive position, crossing her arms across her chest. "You mean, when I was drunk?"

"Well, yes."

"What, do you think I didn't know what I was doing?"

"No, I-"

"You think I can't remember it? You think I was far gone that it can't have meant anything?"

"I didn't mean that. But you have to admit that it wasn't ideal. I mean, you were mourning the death of your Mom. And now your brother's dead."

"And that means I'm insecure and unable to enter into a meaningful relationship?"

Grissom looked taken aback. "Is that what this is?" He remembered his firm denial to Captain Palmer earlier.

"I thought so, until a few moments ago. Now I'm not so sure. Evidently you don't want it to be."

"I didn't say that."

"No, but you've made it quite clear." Sara stood up in one fluid movement. "I'm going to have that cup of tea. I think you had better go, Grissom."

"Gil."

"You can see yourself out. Grissom."