A/N: Basically I'm rambling in this chapter because I'm not happy with the ending anymore. Open for suggestions. Don't own CSI and all that. All errors are mine!

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Chapter Fourteen

CSI Lab…

Sara returned to Las Vegas anxious, paranoid and a nervous wreck. It had been difficult to enjoy her time with the children when she spent the remainder of the weekend waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Like watching a train wreck. It was terrible and you wish you could stop it but there was nothing to do but watch in morbid fascination. That was her life.

Honestly, that had been her life close to nine years now and she was sick of it. The charade, which had taken its toll on her physical and emotional well being, had to end soon or there would be nothing left.

She knew where that conversation with Grissom the other night was going. In a moment of weakness she admitted to him, actually twice now, that there had never been another man in her life. It was the truth. Grissom was her first and only lover and she wanted so badly for him to know and understand that.

However, her finding another man had been the reason she gave for leaving him high and dry those years ago. As much as she wanted to clarify the situation, to tell the truth, his bond with the children, though strong, was still very new and fragile as were their own personal relationship. While Sara was certain that Grissom would never walk away from the twins, it was her own heart she was hesitant to risk.

Deprived of adult affection for so long, a sort of self inflected penance, Sara basked in every smile, every touch, every moment spent alone with Grissom. The reality was she needed him more than he needed her and that scared her immensely. There was no way she could live any semblance of a normal life, seeing the man she loved beyond reason, everyday and not have him a part of it intimately.

It was only a matter of time now. Grissom was very near discovery. When he approached her for answers this time, she would not lie - if Catherine did not tell him first. Apparently, her co-worker, Sara learned from a friend at her bank the moment she set foot back in town, was investigating her. She hadn't seen that one coming.

She needed to speak with Carvello and eventually needed to face the fact that the jig was up. Grissom had already forgiven her so much, she wasn't sure he could weather more lies. Sara's only hope was that when the dust settled, she would still be able to salvage some type of relationship with the father of her children.

Grissom's Office…

He was angry. Sara had lied to him again. It was the second time she told him that there had been no one else but had she forgotten that she ran off and left him for a younger man? He sure as hell hadn't.

But, why lie? Why even bring it up at all? It didn't change anything. He still very much wanted Sara and the twins in his life. It made him wonder what else she was hiding. And there was definitely something else.

The woman completely panicked when he questioned her about the 'Dear John' letter. Grissom was certain the look of terror on her face had little to do with the children discovering them in their birthday suits. The investigator in him was desperate to find the answers but the weary part of him wanted to leave well enough alone and go on as if all was right in the world. Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss. He was willing to move past her betrayal; after all, she came back and gave him the two most beautiful children in the world. Not to mention that she claimed she still loved him. But how in the world could they build a relationship when she kept opening old wounds and continued to lie to him?

The Locker Room…

"Obviously, your plan worked out well." Catherine did not want to gloat but she couldn't help it. It didn't take a CSI to know that all had not gone well during Sara and Grissom's weekend getaway.

"Don't start, Catherine. You have no idea what's going on between them."

"I know that there have been less than ten words spoken between them since they got back from California."

"Maybe-."

Whatever Warrick was going to say was interrupted when Sara walked into the room, pissed.

"Catherine, may I have a word with you?"

Warrick knew what was up the minute Sara barged in with fire in her eyes. Catherine was busted and he didn't want any part of it. "You girls play nice."

Catherine turned to face the younger woman with a forceful smile. "What can I do for you, Sara?"

"Is there something I can do for you, Catherine? After all, you are the one illegally prying into my financial records because I seriously doubt any judge would sign that warrant. Don't bother denying it." Sara waved off any possible defense. "I conducted my own investigation. My personal business is private. It's none of your damned business."

"What did you expect, Sara? You are the biggest mystery in town and I am an investigator. I won't apologize for looking out for my best friend." She added with a shrug.

"Is that what we're calling it these days? Here I was thinking that you were just being a Class A territorial super bitch."

"Hey, at least I'm up front about who I am. You on the other hand, have got Grissom so snowed. He doesn't know if he's coming or going these days. And if you think I'm going to sit back and watch you railroad Grissom again you've got another thing coming, Sister!"

Sara sighed out loud, the new disappointment weighing her down. She didn't want to fight with Catherine. "Everyone's been so …supportive - even you. Are they all in on this? Where you all pretending to be my friend and going around behind my back?"

"No." Catherine studied her co -worker for several minutes. She thinks I found something. Now she regretted ending her investigation so soon at Warrick's urging. There really was something to find. "Look, I'll give you the opportunity to tell him everything."

"Why are you doing this?" She was tired and this conversation was going no where. "What's in it for you?"

"Oh please. That 'poor me' routine doesn't work on me. Come clean to him now and go quietly."

"You think that making me leave will be good for Gil? You want to separate him from his family?"

"I'm sure there can be a reasonable legal solution with the children."

"What?"

"I'll help him get through it. He won't be alone."

"What are you talking about? He won't be alone because I don't plan on going anywhere!" Why would this woman think that she could push her out of Grissom's life? Why would Catherine think that she would allow it? "You…make this seem like some type of competition. Like he has to choose…" A thought suddenly occurred to Sara. "Are…you in love with Gil?"

Catherine eyes grew wide in disbelief. "What? I - what are you talking about?" For the first time in many years, she was completely at a loss for words.

"Oh my God. You are in love with him." Sara concluded sadly.

"I didn't say that!"

"You didn't have to." Sara took a minute to sort her thoughts. "Catherine, you and I are not…this is not a competition. Grissom and I love each other- we always have. While it may not seem perfect in your eyes, it works for us." She watched the woman struggle for words.

"I'm just looking out for Gil. He deserves better-"

"Stop it." Waving away the blonde's words. "I won't say anything to him about this. There's even a way that we can co-exist, a way that you can remain a part Gil's life -as a friend. Nothing more."

She had enough to worry about. The last thing she wanted was to deal with Catherine's bullshit on top of everything else. Sara took several steps forward, invading Catherine's personal space. "I don't know what you think you know about me but I'm done playing games. From one mother to another, there is nothing on this entire earth that I believe in more than my family. I won't let anyone destroy it - not even you."

"Seems like you've done a good job all by yourself."

"I won't tell you again, Catherine. Stay out of my personal business. What goes on between me and Gil is none of your concern." She took a step back and headed for the door.

"Tell him Sara. Tell him now, or I will."

Brass Home…

"You'll have to excuse the mess..." The Captain made an insincere effort to straighten his living room. "It's not often that I have company - especially uninvited."

Grissom shrugged off his friend's rudeness. "I was in the area."

"Bullshit. I live twenty miles from that uppity neighborhood you call home. Have a seat."

Grissom moved the laundry basket full of clean clothes from, the recliner and took a seat."

"What's on your mind?"

"Sara."

Brass snorted. "In that case, I better crack open a fresh bottle of Scotch."

"So let me get this straight." Brass leaned forward almost an hour later. "The only woman you have ever loved tracked you down and moved here to Vegas along with your twin genius spawns. You forgive her for stepping out on you and failing to mention that she had your babies. You two pick up where you left off. Please -" He raised a hand to stop Grissom's protest. "I've known you too long to not know when you're getting some action. How am I doing?"

"Well, I didn't appreciate the 'spawn' part but you're pretty much on target."

"So, what's the problem again?"

"She lied to me." He stated simply.

"I'm not psychic. You wanna to elaborate?"

"She's said on more than one occasion that she hasn't…been with another man."

"You may have to take her word on that." Brass shifted in his seat. Scotch couldn't even smooth the way to make the conversation any more comfortable.

"Jim, she left me for a younger guy. She was seeing someone else."

"Doesn't mean that she slept with him."

"Then why leave?"

"Maybe, she thought he was something special but it didn't work out? Maybe she found out she had a few buns in the oven and gave him the boot."

Both men pondered the last words spoken.

"Or," Grissom sat up suddenly. "Or, maybe there was never another man."

"Then why leave?" Brass parroted his friend's earlier question.

"Interesting question."