disclaimer -- they aint mine.
a/n: hey guys! heres a new fic. more serious then the last, for sure. i'm kind of trying my hand at these ones. this might be a little angsty at first, but itll be like a rollercoaster type thing...up down, up, down... hopfully you'll like it!
Grissom stared after the ambulance as it roared down the dirt road between rows and rows of nursery trees. He was tired; emotionally, physically, mentally. This had been one of the longest days of his entire life. He almost lost a friend, nearly got blown up (twice) and he'd been working for nearly 30 hours straight.
"I want my guys back."
He stood beside Ecklie, Brass, Greg and Sara, watching as Nick Stokes was rushed to hospital after an utterly scary terrifyingly close call. Warrick and Catherine had gone with him to Desert Palms..
Ecklie was feeling awkward as always around the nightshift crew. Not knowing what else to do, he walked off in direction of the sheriff's cruiser. Brass made to follow reluctantly, knowing that his duties as the detective on case weren't yet over.
"Well…" He said, sighing. "He's safe now, thanks to you guys. Good job." He patted Gil on the back before making his way after Ecklie.
Greg, obviously weary and traumatized by the horrifying experience they had all just had, rubbed his face with his hands. Grissom knew what he was thinking. Years of watching, listening observing, and analyzing had its benefits. He could often read people like books.
'Greg…Go home. You're tired. You've done enough. It's…its over."
Greg just nodded. Walking away, he turned over his shoulder. "I'm glad…" He started, his voice coming out a little squeaky with emotion. "…I'm glad we got him back. Good job guys." And with that, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving Grissom with one of the seldom few people he couldn't read like a book.
Grissom and Sara stood side by side, staring into the black abyss of the Nevada landscape. They said nothing for a few moments, simply going over what had just happened. Looking around, Grissom realized that no one was around anymore. It was just him, Sara, and that gaping hole in the ground where Nick had been buried alive.
That hole could have been Nick's grave…
"Griss," Sara started, still staring off into the distance, lost in thoughts, "It was a good thing you kept your head on. No one else could have thought of a way to get him out without being blown up…I couldn't…"
His mouth twitched a little before he said anything, "I…I almost lost it. I have no idea what made me think of using the backhoe…"
Sara was a little shocked at Grissom's open display of emotion. Then again, she was trying hard to deal with hers too.
"What…what if, Grissom? What if you hadn't thought to use the backhoe? What if--"
Grissom interrupted her.
"Sara--"
"No, Griss. What if we hadn't have found him--" She turned to him, eyes watering a little.
"Sara, don't talk like that. We found him, it's done. And he'll be just fine. Nick's a tough guy. And I saw that tonight. I'm not worried about him…" Grissom said, speaking only words of truth.
Nick's a tough guy, soft on the inside with a good head on his shoulders…
"But to be honest; I'm more concerned about you." He said softly, turning to her, "Are you okay? Honestly. Tell me the truth." He asked, putting a hand on her arm. She blinked away the tears of emotion that had been burning in the back of her eyes all night, threatening to fall.
"So all of a sudden you care how I am? Grissom, Nick almost died today. You almost died today! I should be the least of your worries," Sara said sharply. Grissom squeezed her arm gently.
"Sara, hey…what do you mean, all of a sudden? I always care how you are. Nick is okay, I'm okay. I just want to be sure that you're okay too."
Sara, to be honest was on the verge of a breakdown. She was angry, tired, stressed, and she didn't want pity.
"Grissom, you've only ever cared because it was your responsibility. You only show any amount of compassion when something terribly wrong happens. You don't care unless you need to!" Sara shouted, trying to wrench her arm from his grasp. He just grabbed her other arm as well, willing her not to leave so upset.
"No! You're wrong Sara! I care about you! I care about you, damnit!" Grissom yelled back, his voice full of emotion. He felt her stop struggling, his words grabbing her attention. Grissom breathed out, his shoulders sagging a little, releasing his grip on her arms.
"Sara…I really do care. I…I care about you. Just…I'm not the greatest with people, okay? I want to make sure you're okay. And I need your cooperation to do that," Grissom said quietly. Sara, swiping a small tear from her cheek before Grissom could see it.
"I seriously don't know anymore. Grissom…I'm confused, and I'm scared. That could have been any one of us in that situation, for god's sake." Sara managed to choke out. She tried her hardest to sound strong, but her attempt came out feebler than she would have wanted.
Damn. Yet another breakdown in front of Grissom.
"Look. I know you're tired, I'm tired. But please come with me Sara. I don't want to leave you alone like this. You're obviously upset," Grissom said, pleading for her to come with him.
The thought of Sara crying alone in her empty apartment was too much for Grissom. He did care about her. More than he often let show. He wasn't opening up to a relationship, but he was looking for at least friendship. Their relationship had been rocky the past while, and it tore them both up to see it.
"No, Grissom really, I'll be okay. You don't need to…" Sara said. She was really upset now. She was tired, confused and stressed to the max. And that was taking its toll on her. She couldn't hold in the tiny sob that came out of her throat. Or the tear that slipped down her pale cheek, blazing a trail where the salty liquid washed away the layer of dust placed there from the explosion.
This didn't go unnoticed by Grissom. He saw the moonlight reflected off of the single perfect tear making its way down her face. Before he could think his hand was there to catch the tear before it made its way to the ground. His thumb wiped it away and he caressed her cheek for a moment.
Then came another tear, slipping between Grissom's calloused but soft fingers. Grissom felt a pang from deep inside of his stomach. He hated to see her so upset.
"Sara, come here," he said, opening his other arms to her. Tentatively, but in need of comfort and consolement, she slipped her body into his arms. He held her tight, his hand slowly making circles on her back while her tears made salty spots on his shirt.
God it feels good to hold her…
"Shh, shh. Sara its okay," he cooed to her. Sara felt so much better in his arms. Although she felt like she was three again, she needed that kind of fatherly comfort right now. And Grissom was the one to give it. He pulled away slightly, holding her arms.
"Honey…come with me, please?" He asked. She backhanded her wet cheeks and offered a nod. Together, they made their way to the Denali, Grissom's hand in its rightful place on her back.
a/n: please review! ideas welcome! new chap will be up tomorrow! thanks
