Introduction: This story takes place after Dead Doll and before A La Cart. Sara has been found after being kidnapped and is on the mend at home. Unfortunately we didn't get to see Grissom take care of Sara out of the lab, so this is my take on the gap between the two episodes. Obviously, I do not own these characters, this is just for fun. Enjoy.

Also - this starts out pretty smutty…so if that's not you…well, this was your warning.

—CHAPTER ONE—

The soft glow of the candle was the only light filling the room. It flickered as the whirling of the ceiling fan pushed it around. The air was filled with heavy breathing and soft moans. His hands were held firmly on her backside pulling her into each of his demanding thrusts. Her hands were grasping the headboard so tightly behind his head, the whites of her knuckles were pressing through her skin. She threw her head back as her hips fell forcefully onto his, causing their skin to clap beneath her. His eyes watched her perky breasts as they bounced in front of him, his lips desperate to have them.

She loved how he filled her. Every thrust a pleasure since her body had expanded to accept him for all he was. Their relationship still a secret to almost all in the lab, made for very erotic encounters through the office. Both doing their best to keep their hands and eyes to themselves. Stealing the occasion pat or kiss, the risk amplified their desire to new limits when they were finally behind closed doors. Behind doors where all the risk was gone and they belonged to each to do as they wished. Grissom had been somewhat timid at first. Still afraid to allow his physical being to be as trusting as his emotional self with Sara. Until she found the Kama Sutra book lost amongst his bookshelf. He remembered when she questioned him about it. He gave her some line about being a reader of many interests. Ever since that point, their bedroom adventures had been anything but boring.

His toes flexed and his legs tensed as he tried to will his body to slow down. Leaning forward he wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her close to him as he nuzzled his face into her chest. He could feel her body resist his notion to slow down. Her hips continued to rock until he began to kiss her neck slowly. She let go of the headboard and ran her hands through the curls of his hair. They looked into each other's eyes and smiled. Sara could get lost in the deep blue swirls that were overtaking his eyes. His eyes shifted from hers to her lips as he licked his own and his teeth bit into his bottom lip.

"Oh I see…" she whispered and loosened the grip of her legs she had of his hips. He cupped her side and rolled with her, placing her back gently to the sheets he had just been sitting on. He sat on his knees and lowered himself into her. His hands firmly on the inside of her thighs, pulling her to him. She rolled her head to the side as she felt him enter her again somehow feeling larger than he had just a minute ago. She reached behind her head to grab the pillow and he quickly leaned forward placing her wrists between his fingers, pinning her to the pillow. Her eyes flared open as she watched his go darker as he began to thrust into her. The beads of sweat starting to glisten along the sides of his face. Her eyes ran across the muscles of his arms. The small flicker of light showcasing the muscles that she never would have assumed laid beneath his sleeves all those years. He loved to watch her face as she laid there pleasured beneath the weight of his body. Each groan that left her lips drove him harder to titillate her.

"What are you staring at?" Sara asked him as she opened her sleepy eyes and found Grissom fixated on her as she laid on the couch. Grissom snapped his focus from her hips to her eyes and pulled his hand away from his face. He pulled up his knee. He offered a boyish grin, caught in the act. Caught thinking of the last time he held her in his arms. Sara was still on the mend from her run in with Natalie and had been staying with Grissom for the past few days. He had taken the days off to be with her, having her stay with him to keep a closer eye. Occasionally Grissom would take the trip to her place to pick up belongings or other things she needed.

"I was just thinking about you."

Sara nods suspiciously and looks to the bulge he so poorly tried to hide behind his crossed leg.

"I take it a good memory then?" She tries to add a smile, but she can feel it pull across the road rash on her face and it stings. She squints her eyes and lays her head back down. She could only assume he was thinking about the other night. They had just wrapped up the case with Kessler and emotions were running high. She was mad at him, and he was being a coward unable to explain himself through the complications of their history. But the anger and frustrations had been put to good use for both of them. That was the last time they had been intimate. Everyone had been working doubles trying to track down Natalie, there wasn't time for anything else. Since they left the hospital, he'd been trying. Trying to give her space and help her heal. His touches were gentle and loving with no demand for reciprocation. But from afar, she could see the desire burning deep within his eyes. He tried too hard to hide it. Afraid to be seen as the guy thinking about sex at a time like this. But she couldn't really blame him. She wasn't sure if it was the pain meds clouding her judgement or the acute awareness of how well he pleasured her. Her mind was often adrift in the memory of him railing her in bed back at her apartment that night.

Grissom smiled and raised his eyebrows. Most of his memories of Sara were good memories. Especially recently when he considered more of their time in his place or hers. Their relationship feeling more real as they began to explore the domestic complexities of each other. Finding that sweet balancing act of life at home and work…work. A tug in his chest sparked the image of Sara laying lifeless in the sand. He could feel the heat rising in his body like it did the day in the desert. He winced and stood up quickly.

"I'll make us some tea."

Sara nodded her head and scooter herself with one arm until she was seated upright and leaned lethargically against the back of the couch. She looked through her phone clearing old messages.

"When did Catherine call?"

"She called last night…you spoke with her."

"I did?"

"Yeah. You uh…told her she made great meatloaf and she should bring some by."

"But I don't…and she doesn't really…"

Grissom chuckled as he poured the tea.

"Yeah…she figured you had just taken your meds."

"Oh… OH! Good god, what else did I say?"

Sara suddenly very aware of her own wandering thoughts.

"Well, after you told her you were thinking of getting a fish for your apartment and naming it Greg, I figured I'd take the call."

Grissom scrunched his nose, attempting to stifle the smile that was so eager to run across his face. Sara grimaced and rubbed her face in her hands. Grissom leaned forward and gently set the mugs of tea on the coffee table in front of the couch. When he looked to Sara, she was rubbing the side of her neck where the strap of her brace laid. Her skin was too soft to deal with the rough scratchy material of the hospital-grade sling she'd been given. It pained him to see her in it. A visual reminder of the physical hurt his love had brought her. His mind a battlefield scattered with the insecurities of his feelings.

If you would have just left her alone, she wouldn't have been targeted.

That would have hurt her more.

Maybe, but not physically.

You don't know that.

This isn't your fault.

Yes it is.

"Here, let me help."

He grabbed the lotion off the table and nudged Sara to scoot forward on the edge of the couch. Grissom lifted his leg onto the couch behind her and slid down to cup her body with his. He carefully pulled the velcro from the strap and pulled off the sling. She was wearing one of his button up flannels. They were loose and easy to get on for her. And he didn't mind seeing her around his townhouse with them on either. He reached around to her front and undid the buttons of her shirt slowly, pulling it off her shoulders to rest down her back and into the crease of her arms.

Grissom put the lotion in his hand and rubbed it together to help it not feel as cold before he brought his hands to her neck and across her shoulders. Sara tilted her head from side to side as his hands stretched across her. As Grissom continued to run lotion down her back he found his hand creeping along her sides to touch the side of her breast. His lips nipped along the right side of her neck line. Sara leaned her head back into him and could feel the heat from his body mix with hers.

"I miss you, Sara."

The words barely left his lips in a whisper. His eyes were closed and he was lost in her intoxicating scent. She rested her cheek against him.

"I miss you too Gil….you know…we could…try."

Grissom squeezed his eyes and swallowed hard, disappointed with himself. He wanted her, more than anything. But there was too much of him that was worried about whether or not she was really ready. He gave her one last gentle kiss and pulled her shirt back up to cover her back. He wrapped his arms around her again to button them back up. Sara looked down and admired his hands as he delicately worked the buttons without even looking. He'd gotten better at it. He shifted in his seat to pull himself up from sitting behind her, pulling Sara's gaze with him. She watched him stand, wanting a response, but only got a half-cocked smile as he handed her the cup of tea he had made.

Sara pursed her lips and looked down at her shirt. She noticed the top three buttons hadn't been fastened. Grissom grabbed his tea and sat next to her.

"You missed a few." she said noting the buttons.

Grissom looked at her and grinned as he softly shook his head. His eyes darting from hers to her breasts and back.

"No I didn't."