Thank you to EVERYONE who commented 3 ILU 4 it!

Chapter 25- Lost

Nick's head snapped up. "What? Why?"

Alyssa shrugged lightly, "I just think…that… I'm alright now… Maybe it's time for me to…you know… be on my own for a bit."

"On your own," He echoed.

"Yes that is what I said." She blinked.

"Like by your self?"

"Yes. Nick. Am I not speaking English?" She shook her head confused.

"Oh you're speaking it loud and clear." He folded his arms.

"Ok, alright." She sat back and began to nibble on her nail.

"But tonight?" he asked finally breaking the silence.

"Yea, I mean it's my night off before I start up full time again tomorrow, I can get stuff done." She said placing her hands on the table. "You'll be working anyways." She shrugged.

Nick nodded slowly. "Fine," He gave a heavy sigh and stood up.

Alyssa narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Don't fine me." She crossed her arms.

He turned, "If you want to go home instead of stay with me, then fine. I'll leave the key under the mat and you can grab your stuff." And with that he turned and left the break room.

"What the Hell?" She stood up quickly as he was leaving. "You ARE 5 aren't you!" She called out after him and fell back down into the chair, stubbing her knee on the desk.

"Fuuh!" She groaned.

Sara followed Grissom to his office and waited as he closed the door. She watched him point to the seat across from his desk. "Take a seat." He gestured and took the one opposite Sara's.

Sara sat and folded her hands gently on her lap and waited.

Grissom pulled off his glasses, "How was your trip." He asked politely.

Sara in turn shrugged, "Relaxing I guess, quiet, boring…." She listed.

Grissom nodded, "Why'd you leave?" he blurted out.

Looking a little taken back Sara opened her mouth, "It was happening so fast, it took us almost 6 years to get to this point and there was no leading up to it. I got in an accident and all of a sudden, I'm getting this… this attention from you that I thought you'd never give me, ever." She said softly. "I was confused."

Grissom stopped swirling his glasses in his hand. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't realize…"

"I know you didn't and I know you didn't mean for it to look the way it did, and I forgive you. Grissom…. I'm ready for whatever you want… only if you're ready, and you need to be confident and sure that this is what you want." She said leaning forward, placing one of her hands on his knee. "No one wants to get hurt."

"Would you like to go to dinner?" Grissom asked snaking his hand over hers.

Sara smirked, "That's a nice start, and I'd love too. We can go before your shift tonight if you'd like. I've still got tonight off right?"

Grissom nodded. "That sounds good. I'll come by and grab you at 5." He said standing.

Following suit Sara stood as well but stepped forward placing a gentle kiss on Grissom's cheek. "See you later." She blushed and walked out of the room.

Grissom touched his cheek. Yea this is what I want.

Alyssa sat in the break room, arms folded across her chest and clearly miffed as Sara pranced it.

"Hey how'd it go?" Alyssa asked lightly turning towards her friend.

"Great."

"Great? That's all… I set this up and I get great." Alyssa gave a heavy sigh.

"You alright?"

"Peachy, you wanna leave?"

Sara nodded.

"Alright but we gotta make a pit stop before I drop you home…"

Alyssa pulled into the driveway and noted the absence of Nick's car. "Good," she whispered.

"Isn't this Nick's house?" Sara asked slightly confused.

"Yea Just gotta grab my stuff. You coming?" Alyssa turned to Sara and opened her door.

Sara nodded, not sure what to make of this, and got out of the car.

Alyssa pulled her spare from her pocket and slipped it into the lock, secretly hoping his car was in the driveway. She didn't like the way they had left things earlier, it was leaving her un-settled and uneasy. Stepping in, she pulled the key from the lock and shut the door behind her and Sara. Alyssa pulled over her shoes, as did Sara, who then followed her down the hallway and into the spare room.

Being the neat packer she was, everything was pretty much ready to go after 20 minutes of the two working side by side and fast.

Alyssa piled everything into the hallway and looked at the clock, "He should be home any minute."

"Does he know you're leaving?"

Alyssa nodded.

"He wasn't happy was he?"

No answer.

"Thought so,"

Alyssa sighed and walked into the kitchen and checked the sink. She piled the remaining dished from the morning's breakfast into the dishwasher and started it. He should at least have clean dishes. After tidying up the rest of the kitchen and scribbling something on paper, she walked towards Sara who was leaning against the wall.

"Alright," She sighed, "Let's go."

Sara nodded, pushed off the wall and grabbed a bag, Alyssa taking the other. "Go through the Garage." Alyssa stated. Sara turned and opened the side door and stepped out. Alyssa reached passed her and pressed the button to open the Garage door. Stepping back into the house, she pulled out a letter and stuffed the key in it, placing it on the small table the door. She locked the front door and walked out the side door; taking one last look she shut it.

TBC...

Nick gets the note...What will it say? What is his reaction? It will bring together 2 more CSIs