2

Sara was home, already changed into her sweats and sitting in front of her computer. What exactly was she going to do for nine weeks? Most people would kill for nine weeks off with pay. But those people had spouses or at least boyfriends and girlfriends to spend the time with. She didn't even have many friends to do anything with. Ever since Hank, she hadn't thought much about dating. Well…she thought about dating Grissom, but that was nothing new.

Grissom…just another of her struggles in life. He liked to ride roller coasters, and her was her roller coaster. Their whole relationship was like one big roller coaster. In college, they were up. He moved to Vegas, and they were down. Then she got the call from him to come to Vegas to do an internal investigation for him. That call shocked her, but not nearly as much as when he asked her to stay. Was he finally starting to need her? So, for a while, it was a level ride. Then there was the subtle flirting, and back up they went. But still, when she asked him to dinner, all she got was a big fat no and another ride down.

And now, they had nine weeks off, together, and she would probably never even see him. They could be spending time getting to really know each other. They'd be away from the lab. No one would be there to see anything. There would be no jeopardy to their jobs. Just two people, having a nice time together. Maybe she'd call him.

So she wouldn't lose her nerve, she stood straight up and walked to the phone. But, mid-dial, someone knocked on her door. It just wasn't meant to be.

A second knock at the door startled her back to reality. She walked to the door and gasped out loud when she saw Grissom's face through her peephole. She opened the door, "Well, you never come here for anything good."

"Hello to you also, Sara."

"Sorry."

"I was just coming by to see if you were okay."

"Wanna come in?"

"I…sure I guess that would be fine."

Sara rolled her eyes as he walked past her. Deciding to keep up her nerve up, she continued, "I was just about to call you, actually."

"You were?"

"Yeah. Do you want something to drink?"

"I won't be staying long."

"Of course you won't. Well…drinking doesn't require a long visit."

"Fine, I would love some juice if you have any."

Sara chuckled. "Orange, tomato or grapefruit?"

"Grapefruit."

"Why don't you have a seat in the living room?"

Sara walked into the kitchen and Grissom walked into what Sara called her living room. He'd been in her apartment before. And she was right; it was always for a bad reason. The first time was to bring her home after her 'almost' DUI and the second was for her 'almost' firing. This is the first time, though, that he actually looked around. Her apartment had one very big living space. She had divided it nicely into a living room area and a den. There were bookcases filled with books of every kind. The computer was on a small desk. He walked to the desk and saw that she had 'Google' up, but nothing was typed in the search area. He walked from there over to her living room. She had a television with various other electronics hooked to it. A love seat and a matching chair, two end tables and a coffee table completed her living room. Looking around, he saw no photographs on the walls, only a few pieces of art. He sat down and noticed the entomology textbook he'd given her one Christmas sitting on the coffee table. He picked it up and stared at it.

Sara walked into the living room and smiled when she saw Grissom sitting in the chair, not the loveseat. As far away as possible form human contact.

"I read that in the morning when I come home from work. Here's your juice."

"I figured you would have read it already."

"I have."

"So…you're reading it again?"

"No."

"But you said you'd already read it."

"But to say I am reading it again, it would imply that I stopped reading it, which I haven't. When I get to the end, I start over. Therefore, I am not reading it again, just…still."

"Why?"

"Because I like it."

"Oh…", changing the subject, he put the book down, "So, you were just about to call me?"

"Yes, I was."

"For what?"

"Well, I was going to ask you if you wanted to do something."

"Something?"

"Yeah. You know, something…together."

"Oh."

"So?"

With a confused look, he asked, "So…what?"

"Would you like to do something…together?"

"Um…I…I don't think that would be a good idea, Sara."

"Look, it took a lot of nerve for me to ask you again. You turn me down every time I ask you to do…anything. You had to struggle just to walk in my door. I get the whole 'you don't know what to do about this'. That's fine! I'm not asking you to know everything, Grissom. I'm not asking you to commit yourself to me. Hell, I'm not even asking for a real date. All I'm asking is to spend some time with you. We both have nine weeks off…together. What is wrong with two friends spending time together?"

"Well…"

"Nothing, Grissom! There's nothing wrong with it."

"Sara…why dos this mean so much to you?"

Without saying a word, Sara stood, walked into her bedroom and came back holding a picture that she shoved in front of him. He took the picture as she hovered over him. After taking his glasses out of his pocket, he studied the photo. It was of Sara sitting on a rock. The ocean was behind her and there was sand at her feet.

After a few moments, she spoke, "Do you know what that is?"

"A picture of you."

"It's the only picture I have in my apartment."

"I did notice that, yes."

"Do you know how sad that is, Grissom? The only picture I have in my whole apartment is a picture of me…alone."

"I only have a picture of my mother."

"Do you know why I chose that picture?"

He looked up at her then, "Because you like it the best? It reminds you of San Francisco."

"No, Grissom!" Sara crouched down in front of him. "No! I chose that picture because of who took it."

"Oh!"

"God, Grissom! You're clueless! YOU! YOU! You took the damn picture Grissom."

He studied the picture for a few moments longer. "The day I bumped into you at the beach."

"Yes! Do you remember that day?"

"Yes, actually I do. I was there giving a two-day lecture. I was taking a walk, and you were taking pictures of the sunrise. I saw you and, after we walked a little ways down the beach, you commented about how beautiful the sky and the ocean were. I told you I'd take your picture. Then we walked up to a nearby café and had breakfast. Then I walked you back to your car. You brought me a copy of one of the pictures you took of the sunrise to the next seminar you attended. It's hanging in my apartment."

She let him reflect on that for a few silent moments, "What was bad about that day?"

With a slight hesitation, "Nothing."

"See!"

"I know, Sara. But things are different now."

Sara stood, "Why?"

"Because now we work together."

"So!"

"Sara, be rational! Two people working together, and having…a relationship, is not…rational!"

"I believe the last time you were here, you told me I shouldn't rationalize so much."

"Well, in this case, you should."

"Grissom! You know what, never mind!" She snatched the picture from his hands and went back into her bedroom. She fell onto her bed in tears then she heard the door to her apartment open and shut.