A/N: Aww, I'm so glad that everyone seemed to like the last chapter! That was a tough one to write, because Sara-angst makes me sad! (I had to go and write a fluff fic afterward, just to make myself feel better). But odeepblue, thanks for reading! You're always so quick to respond, and it makes me happy! WitchxHunterxRobin, thank you for your in-character comment! I struggle with writing for some of the characters, so I'm glad that you think I'm doing okay with it! The Lovely Desdemona, I have a camp-fire conversation all planned out in my head, and it was going to go in this chapter, but it no longer fit in… the team-building shall continue, though (oh, and I love all of your comments… not just the suggestions!). Cherrydrops, dark-girl-faith-sidle, anneruhland, and Lennexa, thank you so much for your comments! I love getting feedback, that is for sure. The Swedhis alias fan, I've thought about writing a children's book before, but not a CSI one. I'm not good enough for that one… but thanks for the vote of confidence… it definitely made my day!
I hope everyone enjoys 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: Success!
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Low Ropes Course
Warrick squinted up at the spider web, his hands on his hips. "Alright, Sara. If you really want to try this again, we'll try it again," he kindly told her, turning around to glance at his colleagues. As his gaze fell upon Greg, he nodded. "Little help, man?" he asked, as he squatted down on his haunches, studying the obstacle before him. Carefully crawling toward the larger of the two bottom holes, Warrick slid both of his hands through the gap, waiting for Greg to once again pick up his legs, effectively allowing him to crawl the rest of the way through the web without touching any of the sides or the bottom. Piece of cake, he nodded to himself.
After Warrick was safely on the other side, Catherine sighed. "So… I guess I should go next?" she asked the team, facing Greg, Nick, and Grissom. I can't say that I'm really thrilled about doing this for a second time, but… that's okay. I'll be fine.
Nick smiled, standing just behind her. "Yup. Ready, guys?"
Greg and Grissom both nodded yes, positioning themselves around Catherine.
"On the count of three. One, two, three," Nick counted, before grabbing a hold of Catherine's legs, while Greg grabbed her shoulders, and Grissom supported her back. Nice and easy, he thought to himself.
"Don't drop me, boys," Catherine warned them, as she felt herself slightly tilting in Nick's grasp. Please don't let me fall!
"You're fine, Catherine," Nick immediately assured her. "We're not going to let you fall… promise," he added, as the three men moved Catherine's body closer to the edge of the side hole. Why does everyone keep thinking that I'm going to hurt them? I'm not…
"Her legs need to come up a little bit, Nick," Warrick instructed him from the other side of the spider web. "She's almost touching the bottom of the hole." And we're not doing this for a third time, man. I hope not, anyhow!
Nick nodded his understanding, as he slid his hands further down Catherine's legs, gently lifting her up. "Doing okay, Catherine?"
"Uh-huh," Catherine called out, her eyes closed, and her arms crossed across her chest.
I don't want it to be my turn, Sara mused, preoccupied with her own thoughts, and not really paying attention to Catherine. I really don't want to go!
Nice job with the teamwork, Grissom thought to himself, glancing around at his CSIs. I'm proud of all of you, he added, as he helped Nick and Warrick continue to move Catherine through the spider web. Although Sara, you do seem a little bit preoccupied, he mused, catching a glimpse of her nervous expression.
"Okay, Cath," Warrick spoke up. "Your feet are almost through the hole, so I'm going to grab you. Try not to move a muscle," he added.
Catherine nodded, taking a deep breath. Although she was not about to panic, she still felt a little bit uncomfortable with everyone's hands touching her. This is awkward; very awkward, she mused.
"Gotcha," he informed her, as his fingers closed around her ankles, sliding underneath her legs, so that he could help safely pull her through. "Alright, Nicky, a little bit higher," Warrick again instructed him, as he continued to pull Catherine through the rope course. "And Cath, it's okay to bend your legs now, just don't swing them backward," he told her, as he moved his hands up to her hips, trying to more firmly support her.
"Almost through, Catherine," Greg spoke up, as he released her shoulders, and let Nick hand her the rest of the way through the spider web to Warrick. Hot damn, we're on a roll!
"And done," Warrick grinned, carefully setting her down on the ground just beside him.
Catherine nodded, rearranging her shirt, and staring through the barrier at Sara, Greg, Nick, and Grissom. "So… who's up next…?"
"I am," Sara whispered, clearing her throat, and walking toward the spider web. "I am," she repeated, as if trying to convince herself of that fact.
"I've get her shoulders," Nick mumbled, refusing to go anywhere near Sara's legs or hips again.
"I'll take her legs," Greg shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me."
"You sure about this, Sara?" Grissom quietly asked her.
Sara simply nodded yes, taking a deep, steadying breath. "You're not going to hurt me. I know that," she whispered, before glancing toward the trees, attempting to calm herself down a little bit more.
"We're not going to hurt you, you're right about that," Grissom told her. "Okay, guys. Count of three. One, two, three," he quickly announced, as Greg grabbed her feet, Nick grabbed her shoulders, and he himself held her hips up.
"Doing okay, Sara?" Catherine asked, carefully watching the other woman's face for any signs of unease.
"Y-yes," Sara replied, swallowing her fear. "I'm okay." I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay, she thought to herself, frowning, as she felt a few drops of sweat form on her forehead.
You're okay, Sara; you're okay, Sara; you're okay, Sara, Nick chanted to himself, his fingers barely holding her up.
"Alright, girl," Warrick called out, as he stepped up to the spider web. "Catherine and I are going to grab your feet in about thirty seconds," he informed her, watching as Greg, Nick, and Grissom struggled to slowly move her toward the hole.
This would be so much easier if we just went a little bit faster, Greg scowled. Although I understand that we can't; she's scared, and she needs time to process what we're doing.
"Okay, Warrick," Sara mumbled. "I'm okay," she told him. Closing her eyes, and again swallowing, Sara took another deep, calming breath. She could feel everyone's hands on her, and she knew that they were trying to be gentle with her; especially Nick. You're going to drop me, though, she wanted to tell him. "Nick?" she whispered.
"…What?" he nervously asked her. Am I hurting you? Am I holding you too hard, or in the wrong place?
"You have to hold me more tightly. Please?" she almost begged him.
"…What?" he asked, confusion written all over his face.
"You're… you're going to drop me, Nick. You're not really holding onto me. Please? Hold me more tightly?" she pleaded with him.
Warrick quickly glanced over at Nick, noticing that his fingers were barely touching Sara's shoulders. She was right; if something happened to Greg or Grissom, she would tumble to the ground. C'mon, man, you can do it. Get over your fear of hurting her, and just hold her!
Nick nodded, as his fingers imperceptibly tightened around her shoulders.
Sara frowned. "Please, Nick. I'm okay. You're not going to hurt me… but I don't want to fall! Tighter?" I can understand your hesitation, but… I don't want to fall!
Greg glanced at Nick, frowning. Just hold her, will you? he wanted to yell at his friend. She said she's fine, so just do it!
"It's okay, Nicky," Catherine assured him. 'She's fine. But we need your help," she tried to encourage the younger man. "We're a team, remember?"
Grissom turned to look at Nick, making eye contact with him. Flashing him a slight nod, he glanced at Nick's hands, waiting to see what he would do.
"Right," Nick frowned. "Okay." I'm not going to hurt you, Sara. I promise. Please don't scream at me! Wrapping his hands more firmly around her shoulders, he cringed, waiting for the shrieking to begin.
But the shrieking never began.
"Okay, Sara," Greg spoke up. "Your legs are now directly in front of the spider web, and we're going to begin pushing you through it. Try not to move, okay?" he calmly asked her.
Sara again swallowed, nodding. I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay.
"Greg," Catherine got his attention. "Her feet are going to touch the rope again. Lift her legs up higher, if you can." Sara's not going to like this, Catherine thought to herself.
Greg nervously nodded, as he glanced at Sara. "Uh, Sara?" he hesitated. "I have to move my hands to your, uh, you know," he frowned. "So that I can lift you up higher."
I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay, she closed her eyes, tuning him out.
"Sara?" Greg cautiously tried again. "Okay? Did you hear me? Can I?"
I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay… wait, what did he just say? Where does he have to put his hands? My ass? I'm okay, it's just Greg, I'm okay, it's just Greg. "Okay," she finally squeaked out, swallowing. "Go ahead," she told him, her voice barely audible to her own ears over the sound of her blood rushing through her veins.
Nick squeezed his eyes tightly shut, trying to breathe. Don't get scared, he wanted to tell her. But don't let go, either, he screamed at himself, as he realized that he almost let go of her… again.
Greg very carefully slid his hands up Sara's legs, resting them on her behind, as he lifted her up and through the hole. See? Not gonna hurt you, Sara. I promised, and I never lie! Well, I rarely lie, anyhow.
"Now Catherine and I are going to grab you," Warrick warned her, as he gently placed his hands around her feet, tugging on them. "Stay still, and Catherine and I will pull you through," he advised her.
"Okay," Sara softly answered him.
"Sara?" Grissom quietly asked.
"Wh-what?" she whispered, trying to stay with them all, and not to begin thinking about the past.
"What's going through your mind right now?"
Sara bit her lip, trying to concentrate on the sound of Grissom's voice. "That I'm okay, and that no one is going to hurt me, and that Nick isn't holding me tightly enough," she swallowed.
Nick's head snapped up when he heard his name. "Sorry," he mumbled, grabbing her shoulders more tightly again, surprised when he thought that he felt her body relax against his touch. Maybe holding her more securely is making her feel more comfortable? he questioned himself. "You're, uh, you're doing well, Sara," he finally spoke up.
"Yes, you are, Sara," Catherine agreed with Nick, as Warrick brought her legs slightly down, so that she could also reach them. "You're almost there. Just a little bit further."
"'Kay…" Sara whispered, her eyes still screwed tightly shut.
"You're more than half-way through, Sara," Greg smiled. You're going to make it this time, me thinks!
"Hey, girl?" Warrick hesitantly asked, clearing his throat. "I'm going to wrap my arms around your lower body, okay? You're so far through the hole right now, that Catherine and I need to further support your body, in order to make sure that you don't get hurt."
Sara nodded, swallowing again. It's just Warrick, he's not going to hurt you. It's just Warrick, he's not going to hurt you.
"Here I go, Sara," Warrick again warned her, as he gently wrapped his arms around her lower body. I've got you, girl, and I'm not going to let anything hurt you.
"Keep breathing, Sara," Grissom calmly told her, when he noticed her body slightly stiffen. And then glancing at Nick, he resisted the urge to tell him the same thing; Nick's face was ashen, and he looked incredibly nervous.
Finally releasing Sara's body, both Greg and Grissom stood back, allowing Nick to continue pushing her the rest of the way through the hole toward Warrick and Catherine's waiting arms.
"Cath, grab her shoulders," Warrick mumbled, the moment that her shoulders crested the obstacle.
It's just Warrick and Catherine, you're okay. They're not going to hurt you, you're okay.
Moments later, a very shaky Sara was standing on firm ground, trying to catch her breath.
"You okay, girl?" Warrick asked her, holding a tentative hand out toward her arm in order to try to steady her.
Sara swallowed, looking up at him and Catherine. "I'm okay," she told them, as she very hesitantly leaned against Warrick for support. "I'm okay," she repeated to herself, closing her eyes, as she felt Warrick gently wrap his arms around her body.
Warrick uneasily looked over at Grissom, who simply nodded at him. "That's okay," his supervisor mouthed to him. Because she has to learn that we're all here for her. Not just me.
"Nice job, Sara," Catherine smiled at her, giving her shoulder a gentle pat. "I—no, we—knew that you could do it."
Sara nodded her thanks, just letting Warrick hold her.
"Awesome job, Sara," Greg confirmed, before turning around to look at Nick. "And that goes double for you."
Me? I didn't do anything, Nick frowned, slightly confused.
I'm proud of you, Sara, Grissom wanted to tell her. I really am. You're such a strong woman, and I am such a lucky man to have you in my life.
Nick tried not to chuckle, as he took a deep, calming breath. "She's okay. We're all okay, except… hey!" Everyone turned to look at Nick. "We're not done yet, guys. Grissom, Greg, and I still have to go," he reminded everyone.
Warrick released Sara, glancing over at his colleague. "Well alright then, let's finish this, man!"
And they did, with no other major issues. The rope was never touched, and the criminalists finished their activity twenty minutes later.
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Campsite
After having finished the spider web challenge, all of the CSIs decided that they were emotionally drained, and that the rest of the course would have to wait until tomorrow. Max was slightly upset that everyone wanted to give up for the day, but finally acquiesced to their requests, with the understanding that tomorrow, they would try the trust fall and the zip line.
So six very tired, and very sweaty criminalists trudged back to their campsite, eating a quick dinner, before preparing to turn in for the night.
"Yo. Hold up a minute," Warrick suddenly cleared his throat, stopping everyone before they could actually enter their tents for the night. "Before everyone goes to bed, I just want to say that I am damn proud to be a part of this team. Days has nothin' on us," he added, smiling at his colleagues. "Because after today, it is clear to me that we make a damn fine family."
Nick nodded, staring at the ground. Except for the part where I almost dropped Sara—twice. But… he does have a point. "I agree," he hesitantly spoke up. "I'm glad that I made the move to Vegas, and that I met all of you."
"Group hug!" Greg announced, grinning from ear-to-ear.
Catherine chuckled. "No thanks, Greg. Maybe when we're all clean, and when we don't smell."
"Like that will ever happen in our line of work," Sara joked.
"But anyhow, good night," Warrick added, before trooping off to his tent.
"Yeah, g'night, everyone," Nick nodded goodbye.
Greg simply grinned, as he jogged over to his tent, immediately crawling inside.
"See you in a bit, Sara," Catherine softly called out, before climbing into their own tent for the evening.
"So…" Grissom trailed off, holding his arms open for Sara.
"So…" Sara repeated, eagerly walking into his embrace.
"You did well, Sara. I'm proud of you," he whispered, gently rubbing her back.
"I didn't think that I'd be able to do it," she admitted to him. "But I do trust all of you. I really do. And that helped."
"Well I'm glad that you trust us, honey," Grissom replied. "But get some sleep, okay? And I'll see you in the morning?" he asked, slightly pulling away from her.
"Okay," Sara nodded, leaning up on her tiptoes in order to give him a quick peck on the lips.
Grissom held Sara for a moment longer, before releasing her. "I love you," he very tenderly told her, flashing her a small smile.
Sara immediately froze, staring up at Grissom.
"What? What's wrong?" he asked, concern clouding his eyes.
"Wh-what did you just say?" she anxiously asked him.
"I said… 'I love you,'" he repeated his words, frowning. Do you not… do you not love me? he wanted to ask her, swallowing.
"That's the first time that you've ever told me that, Grissom," Sara whispered to him, her lips curling up into a smile.
"Well, I've thought it for awhile now," he simply told her. "So it's my mistake for not saying it any earlier," he added, still gently rubbing her back.
"I was starting to wonder what you really felt about me," Sara admitted, her eyes shining with hope and happiness.
"I'm sorry that I left you guessing for so long, honey," Grissom smiled, pulling her close to his body for another moment. "Because I definitely love you," he informed her, softly pressing his lips to hers.
"And I love you, too," she immediately replied, after slowly ending the kiss.
"But go get some sleep," he finally told her, breaking away. "Tomorrow is going to be another rough day, and I want you to be well-rested for it."
Sara nodded, as she reluctantly turned around, heading toward her tent.
Grissom watched her crawl inside, before moving toward his own tent.
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Catherine and Sara's Tent
Once inside the safety of her tent, Sara let out a deep, contented, sigh.
"Are you okay?" Catherine amusedly asked, cracking an eye open to study her friend and colleague.
"Uh-huh," Sara grinned. "Couldn't be better, actually."
"You look… happy," Catherine couldn't help but notice.
"Grissom loves me," Sara smiled from ear-to-ear, feeling her face flush.
"I could have told you that months ago, Sara," Catherine softly chuckled. "But did he finally say the words to you?"
Sara nodded, barely able to contain her enthusiasm. "He loves me," she repeated to Catherine, crawling into her sleeping bag, and scrunching down so that only her head was poking out.
"I know," Catherine laughed. "I'm happy for you."
"He really loves me," Sara again smiled, as she closed her eyes. "Someone really loves me; someone who won't ever hurt me."
Good for you two, Catherine grinned, closing her eyes. You both deserve happiness, and I'm glad that you found it in one another.
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TO BE CONTINUED
