A/N: Before I thank people, let me just say that this is not one of my typical "The Retreat" chapters. Most of it is a flashback, and… I hope that you still enjoy it! Now, GSRbaby, thank you for your review! So you've burned shish-kabobs before, eh? I hate when I accidentally forget about something that has been cooking! Csialltheway, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the next chapter! odeepblue, glad you enjoyed the chapter (well, the ending, anyhow!). A part of me hates the "Who's on First" routine, so I can understand! It just cracked me up, though, and I had to use it! Cherrydrops, here's your song! wraiths-angel, hope you enjoy this chapter! sanderswife, thank you for the compliment. It makes me happy to know that people are enjoying this!

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Disclaimer: I do not own any part of CSI or its characters. That honor goes to the good folks over at CBS.

Title: Interlude: Oops!

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Around the Campfire

After the remaining shish-kabobs were rescued and consumed for dinner, Nick glanced around the fire, yawning. "I'm… tired…" he mumbled to the team, staring into the fire.

"Well… it's late…" Grissom informed him. "So… I can understand that. Would you guys like to put the rest of our talk on hold until tomorrow morning at breakfast…? And then do our team building activity in the afternoon…?" he asked.

"Boy, would I ever…" Warrick sighed. "I'm kinda beat, myself…"

Catherine just blinked, as a small yawn escaped through her lips.

Grissom simply nodded. "Okay, then," he told the group, removing his arm from around Sara's shoulders, and standing up. "Tomorrow is going to be another… busy and draining day, so make sure that you get some rest…"

"What are we going to be doing, besides talking, Grissom?" Greg asked, as he stood up and stretched. "More rappelling?"

"No…" Grissom told him with a grin. "Something better…"

Nick frowned. "Something… better than rappelling…? 'Better' how…?" he cautiously asked.

"Yeah…" Warrick chimed in. "Are we talking 'better' in the sense that it is more challenging than rappelling…? Or 'better' in the sense that it is more fun…?"

"Both!" Grissom enthusiastically replied.

Catherine groaned. "Are we… skydiving into the water…?" she wanted to know.

Grissom shook his head no, raising an eyebrow.

"Are we… going horseback riding…?" Sara guessed.

Grissom again shook his head no.

"Are we… playing a rousing game of beach volleyball, with the young ladies from the campfire next door…?" Greg questioned his supervisor, trying to hold back his grin.

Grissom again shook his head no, chuckling. "We're going to do a ropes course…" he explained, as he gathered some of the garbage from around the fire, tossing it into the garbage can.

"What… uh… what does that entail…?" Sara quietly asked, remembering her experience from last year's rappelling activity. She was afraid of heights, and… everyone knew it. That, coupled with the memory of getting stuck on the mountain during last year's "team-building" activity, made her feel very uncomfortable about doing anything that might involve mountains, ropes, or climbing.

Grissom smiled. "We will be completing a ropes course which incorporates both the ground and the trees, where we will all have to help each other get to the end of the activity…"

"You didn't say… in the trees, right…?" Catherine frowned. "Because… I just know that you didn't…"

"I… believe that I did…" Grissom slowly replied, raising his eyebrow. "It'll be fun, I promise… and we'll all work together as a team, too… no one gets left behind…"

"Right…" Nick mumbled, a bit uncertainly. "No one gets left behind…" he repeated.

"Well…if I'll be climbing trees tomorrow," Warrick sighed, "I need to get some rest…" he added, as he walked off to his tent.

"Yeah… me, too…" Nick added. "Goodnight, everyone!" he smiled, as he followed Warrick into the tent.

"I have to admit, Grissom… I'm a little bit nervous about this…" Catherine muttered, as she picked up her garbage, and threw it out.

"It'll be fine, Catherine, I promise you…" Grissom reassured her.

"I know…" she sighed, ducking into her and Sara's tent.

"Well… I suppose that I should get to sleep, too…" Greg mumbled. If I move quickly enough, maybe I can fall asleep before the snoring begins… he sighed.

Sara, still on her log, stared into the fire.

"Are you okay, Sara…?" Grissom quietly asked, sitting back down beside her again.

"I… don't like heights very much…" she whispered, looking up at him for a split second, before returning her gaze to the fire.

"I know that you don't…" Grissom replied, tightly wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "But… we're all going to be there for you… for each other," he amended.

"Okay…" Sara sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. Then after a moment, she bit her lip. "Do you remember our first date…?" she quietly asked him, holding back a chuckle.

"I sure do…" he smiled, gently brushing his fingers against her arm.

"I… didn't think that you'd call me, actually…" she admitted.

"Really…?" Grissom asked, stunned. "I told that you that I would…" he trailed off.

"I know, but… I figured that you just got all caught up in the emotions of the retreat, and that you weren't really serious about going out to lunch or dinner with me…"

"Well… I almost didn't call you, as a matter of fact…" Grissom frowned, leaning his head against hers.

"What…? Why…?" Sara asked, feeling herself relax in his warm and comforting embrace.

"I… was nervous…" he admitted.

I was, too, Sara thought with a smile. "Oh… well, your nerves never really went away, I don't think…" she grinned.

"What…? What do you mean…? I wasn't nervous during dinner…"

"Oh, really…?" Sara laughed. "You could have fooled me…"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Sara Sidle…" Grissom laughed, as he gently held her in his arms.

"Uh-huh…" she trailed off, closing her eyes, and thinking about that life-altering first date.

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The Date, one year prior

It was a Saturday afternoon, and Grissom anxiously stared at his phone. I… I said that I'd call her, he thought to himself, frowning. But… what if she says no? She wouldn't, though, would she? After the countless times that she's asked me out…? But, I suppose there's always that chance that she might have something else to do… right? he asked himself, as he poised his hand over the phone. Just do it, Grissom… call. You can do it. Just pick up the phone, and dial the seven numbers that will connect you to Sara…

In her own home, Sara sighed, staring at the wall in front of her. Why… Why hasn't he called me yet…?Sara thought to herself. Did he… change his mind…? He must have…she sighed, glancing down at her cell phone. Well… I should have known… why would he want to go out with me…? Just because he said that he did, doesn't necessarily mean that he actually wants to…

Grissom stood up, letting out a very nervous chuckle. Okay… I'm going to do it… really, I am… he frowned, as he picked up his cell phone, once again staring at it. Here…we… go… he swallowed, dialing her phone number, and waiting for her to answer. For a moment, Grissom fought the urge to immediately hang up.

Damn it, Grissom! Just call!Sara wanted to scream, almost ready to call him herself. And then her cell phone started to trill. Cautiously picking it up, she closed her eyes, almost afraid to glance at the caller ID. What if it's him…? she nervously thought to herself. Wait a minute, what if it's NOT him…? she immediately added. Taking a deep breath, Sara stared down at the display screen, her eyes widening at what she saw: "GRISSOM, GILBERT." It's him! It's really him! Breathe, Sara. You have to breathe she told herself, before lifting the phone to her ear, and shakily answering it. "Hi…"

"Hi, Sara…" Grissom greeted her. "It's… me," he added. Nice job… way to show your intelligence! Have you ever heard of caller ID? Of COURSE she knows that it's you!

"Hi…" Sara repeated, letting a small smile form on her lips.

"So… how are you doing…? How's… the weather?" 'How's the weather?' Are you kidding me? Way to be creative!

Sara laughed. "I'm doing well, and… the weather is a bit cloudy, actually…" she trailed off. "Can I… help you with something…?" 'Can I help you with something?' Excellent comeback, Sara!

"Well… I was wondering if, well, you know…" Grissom hesitated.

"Yes…?"

"If you, you know, wanted to…" he tried again.

Just say it, Grissom. You can do it… Sara thought to herself, biting her lip.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go grab some lunch…? I know a small place off of the Strip… it's rather quiet…"

Sara swallowed, trying to take a deep breath. "Okay…" she quietly told him.

"Really…?"

"Uh-huh… what time…? And… are you picking me up? Or…?" she trailed off.

"Or… what?" Grissom asked. Oh! Idiot! Of course you're picking her up! "Oh!" he said, trying to calm his nerves. "Right… I'll pick you up… is an hour from now okay…?" he asked.

"Sure," Sara shrugged. "I'll be ready…"

"Okay… bye…" Grissom mumbled, hanging up the phone, and letting out a loud sigh. "Well, that went… well… kind of…"

Sara hung up, softly laughing. "I think he's more nervous than I am…" she chuckled. "Actually… maybe not…" she frowned.

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Around the Campfire

In Grissom's arms, Sara started to laugh aloud.

"What's… so funny?" he asked her, pulling back from her for a moment, so that he could better study her face.

"I was just thinking about how nervous you were!" she grinned, marveling at the fact that he no longer seemed all that nervous around her... nor did she, around him. Now, everything seemed so natural… so… comfortable. Their words were no longer strained, and they could carry on a conversation with one another, without their nerves taking over. The tone of their relationship had definitely changed… for the better.

"I was not nervous!" he repeated, once again pulling her close.

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The Date, one year prior

Approximately twenty-three minutes later, Sara stood at the window of her apartment, glancing down at the parking lot below. "It's not too early to be waiting for him, right…?" she mumbled to herself, smiling from ear-to-ear. "I mean… he could be here at any moment, even though he said an hour… right…?"

At his apartment, Grissom rummaged through his closet, trying to find something appropriate to wear. "Comfortable… and yet my own style…" he mused, eventually pulling out a button-down shirt, and a nice pair of pants. "Well… I'm comfortable…" he quietly mumbled, studying his chosen outfit. "And hopefully she'll like this…" he added, as he grabbed his wallet and keys, and headed toward the door. Staring at the clock in the hallway, he frowned, when he noticed the time. "It's only been… nineteen minutes…" he sighed. "It's… too early to go pick her up…" he added, although moments later, he started to smile. Dashing to the door, he grinned, as he briskly walked out to his car, and got in. "Traffic… you never know what kind of traffic there will be on the way to her place…" he rationed. "I should just leave now… to be safe, of course! I'd hate to make her wait for me…"

Two minutes later, Sara's smile brightened even more, as she saw Grissom's car pull into the parking lot. Walking to her door, and pushing it open, she closed and locked it behind her, before nearly flying out to the parking lot. "Hi!" she cheerfully greeted him, as she saw him get out of his car.

"Uh… hi…" Grissom shyly replied. "I'm… sorry that I'm so early, but… I thought that there might be traffic…" he explained, as he waited for her to get closer to the car. Do I… open the car door for her…? he then asked himself. It's a first date… and I don't know what to do! he cringed, as his eyebrows furrowed.

Sara looked over at Grissom, confused. Why is he frowning…? Do I have a stain on my shirt…? she asked herself, subtly looking down, and carefully studying her clothing. No… no stain… it must be something else… she trailed off, as she neared his car, and immediately got inside. "So… are you… ready…?" she nervously asked Grissom.

"Of course… right…" he replied, getting in, and putting the car into gear. "I think you'll like this place, Sara… it's a small diner, out of the way…" and away from prying eyes, too. We can just… talk there…

"That sounds wonderful to me," Sara flashed him a small smile. "And it will give us the chance to talk, without… fear of… well… people staring at us…" she trailed off. So in other words, you're embarrassed to be seen with him…? Smooth… real smooth.

"I was just thinking the same thing!" Grissom grinned, starting to relax. "Not that I don't want to be seen with you," he quickly clarified. "But… we won't have to worry about anyone interrupting us or our conversation…"

Sara just returned his smile, attempting to relax. Staring out the window, she tried to come up with something to say… to end the awkwardness of silence. "So… work was good this week…" she eventually commented.

"It was," Grissom agreed. "But… can we… not talk about work…?"

"Uh… okay…" Sara mumbled, staring at the ground, and anxiously drumming her fingers on her knee. But I don't know what else to talk about! After a moment, though, a small smile appeared on her lips. "Did you get a chance to see the butterfly exhibit?" she suddenly asked him, turning her head to glance at him.

Grissom grinned. "I did… the Monarchs were beautiful… and very peaceful…"

"They sure were," Sara replied, thankful for the fact that they had finally reached the diner. Getting out, she waited for Grissom to come around the car, before heading into the establishment. "And very colorful, too…" she added, as they walked inside.

"Good afternoon!" Tammy, the hostess, greeted them, grabbing two menus from the tray, and leading them further into the diner.

"Good afternoon, Tammy," Grissom replied, as he took a seat in the booth, glancing over at Sara. When the waitress was gone, he breathed a sigh of relief. "So…" he trailed off.

"Hmm…?" Sara asked, studying the menu.

"…What do you think you're going to have…?"

"A tuna melt…" Sara immediately replied. Although… that might make my breath smell. But… does it really matter if my breath smells…?It's not like I'm going to be close enough to him for him to smell my breath… I don't think… she thought to herself, blushing.

"That sounds…good…" Grissom told her, curiously taking note of her blush. "I… think that I'll have the same thing…"

Good… then he won't notice the smell of my breath… just in case! Sara though to herself, grinning. "Okay…" she simply said, setting her menu down.

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Around the Campfire

With her head resting on Grissom's shoulder, Sara gave a contented sigh.

"Yes…?" he smiled, gently brushing his fingers against her arm.

"I'm happy!" Sara smiled.

"Well, I'm glad…" Grissom told her. "I am, too…"

All of a sudden, a loud noise came from Grissom's tent.

"What… what's going on…?" Sara asked, staring toward the middle tent.

"I don't know," Grissom shrugged, quizzically glancing at the same tent.

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Nick and Warrick's Tent

"Did you say something, man?" Nick asked Warrick with a yawn, turning to look at him.

"No… I thought you did…" he trailed off, glancing at Nick.

"Uh… no…" Nick mumbled. "It must have been someone else…" he frowned, nearly jumping, as he heard singing coming from the tent next door.

"Oh I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts. There they are all standing in a row. Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head. Give them a twist a flick of the wrist. That's what the showman said…" Greg loudly sang.

"What's, uh… what's he doing…?" Nick whispered to Warrick.

"Uh… singing…?"

"But… about coconuts…?" he laughed, covering his head with his pillow.

"Yo, Greg!" Warrick shouted. "Go to bed, man!" he laughed.

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Grissom and Greg's Tent

Greg quietly slept, a smile on his face, as he dreamt about the Lion King. "Oh I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts. There they are all standing in a row. Big ones, small ones, Some as big as your head. Give them a twist a flick of the wrist. That's what the showman said…" he started to sing, really getting into the music.

"Yo, Greg!" he then heard. "Go to bed, man!" Warrick told him.

"Huh…?" Greg asked, sitting up, and trying to wipe the sleep out of his eyes. "What's going on…?" he asked, frowning, before laying back down. "Can't a guy get some sleep around here…?" he grumbled, before once again closing his eyes.

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Around the Campfire

"Yo, Greg!" Warrick shouted. "Go to bed, man!" he added.

Sara laughed, looking up at Grissom.

"Huh…?" she then heard Greg. "What's… going on…? Can't a guy get some sleep around here…?" he grumbled.

Sara just laughed harder. "Boys will be boys…" she shrugged.

Smiling, Grissom glanced down at her. "Do you remember the mess that you made at lunch that day…? One year ago…?"

"No, because I didn't make a mess!" Sara protested. "Try again!"

"According to my memory, you sure did!" Grissom laughed.

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The Date, one year prior

When their food arrived fifteen minutes later, Grissom and Sara were still discussing the butterfly exhibit. They both agreed that the butterflies were gorgeous, and that they had to take a trip to see them... together. Just the two of them.

Picking up her tuna melt, Sara gingerly took a bite. "Not bad…" she commented, looking up, and glancing over at Grissom.

"No… it's definitely not bad…" he agreed, taking a bite of his own tuna melt. "I'm glad that you wanted to come here with me…" he added, as a piece of tuna fish fell out of his bread, landing on his shirt collar. Sara started to smile, holding back a laugh. "What…?" he asked, frowning. "What's wrong…?"

One of Sara's eyebrows rose, as she pointed to her own neck. "You, uh… you dropped a piece of tuna fish on yourself…" she informed him.

"Oh?" Grissom asked. "Really…?"

"Uh-huh," Sara grinned, grabbing an extra napkin, and reaching across the table to hand it to him.

"Thank you…" Grissom bit his lip. Well, this is certainly embarrassing… he thought to himself, reaching for the napkin.

"No problem," Sara smiled back, as she leaned a little bit closer to him… accidentally knocking her water glass over, which landed on Grissom's fork, which catapulted a ketchup-drenched French fry directly at her face, hitting her square between the eyes. "Uh…oops…" she muttered, as she immediately reached for the entire container of napkins, attempting to curtail the flow of water off of the table. "This is so…embarrassing…" she whispered to Grissom, as she stared down at her now sopping wet pants.

Grissom grinned at her, grabbing a handful of napkins from the napkin dispenser. "Are you, uh… okay…?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, as he placed the napkins on the table, trying to clean up a little bit of the mess.

"It's cold!" Sara simply laughed.

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Around the Campfire

"Okay… so… maybe I did make a mess…" Sara laughed.

"Yes, you did," Grissom agreed. "But… it was kind of cute… you were kind of cute... and I had fun…"

Sara smiled, looking up at him. "Which is why we went out the very next weekend…" she replied.

"Exactly… to the butterfly exhibit," Grissom reminisced.

"Where there was no food…" Sara added with a smile, stretching, and starting to stand up. "I think I'm going to get some sleep, though…" she told Grissom.

"That's probably a good idea…" Grissom admitted, standing up with her. "It's going to be a long day… and don't worry about the heights, okay…?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist again, and pulling her close.

"Okay, I'll try not to…"

"We won't let you fall… I won't let you fall…" he reminded her. "I promise…"

"I know that," Sara smiled, as she leaned up, and gently kissed Grissom's lips. "I trust you… goodnight…" she trailed off, pulling out of his embrace, and heading toward her tent.

"Goodnight…" Grissom replied. "See you in the morning…"

Sara nodded, as she crawled into her tent.

Moments later, Grissom ducked into his own tent.

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Catherine and Sara's Tent

"Hi, Sara…" Catherine greeted her friend and colleague.

"Uh… hi, Catherine…" Sara replied with a slight smile.

"So… did you have a good…evening…?" she grinned.

"Uh… yup!" Sara smiled. "Grissom and I were talking about our first date…"

Catherine laughed. "The date where you spilled water all over yourself, and the French fry hit you in the face?" she grinned.

"Yeah… that's the one!" Sara laughed.

"Oh… well, that's a great story…" she commented, as she closed her eyes.

"Yeah… it's a good one…" Sara agreed, as she made herself comfortable in her sleeping bag. Five minutes later, after thinking that Catherine was asleep, Sara gave another contented sigh. "And…I think… that I… love him…" she whispered to herself, finally closing her eyes.

Catherine, not yet fully asleep, just grinned. Well…good for you, Sara… good for both of you, actually. You both deserve to be happy! she thought to herself, as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

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Grissom and Greg's Tent

"Well, hello there, Grissom!" Greg chuckled, as his supervisor walked into the tent.

"Hi, Greg…" Grissom trailed off.

"So… how's Sara doing…?" he asked, winking at Grissom, and trying to hide a smile.

"She's fine, Greg… goodnight…" Grissom simply replied, crawling into his sleeping bag, and closing his eyes.

"Did you, uh… have a good talk…?" Greg pressed on.

"Goodnight, Greg!" Grissom repeated.

"Uh… goodnight…" Greg sighed. Damn! I wanted the details, he thought to himself.

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TO BE CONTINUED 