They drove separately to the lab.

Both of them driving a little too fast, eager to be near each other again. Getting out of their respected vehicles, sending a smiling glance over the cars parked between them. Walking into the lab he held the door open for her. Careful to not touch the small of her back like he wanted to.

She turned to him and said thank you doing her best to subdue her smile. Just acknowledging the simple gesture that he held the door open for her. His smile dropped and his eyes widened. Scared…he looked scared.

"What is it?" she asked him, worried what his look meant.

"Sara, I'm so sorry. I thought I was careful."

"What are you talking about?" Confused and getting more worried.

He looked around first to make sure no one was near. He gestured to his own neck. "I uhh…I left a mark. On your neck, I can see it. Your jacket doesn't cover it all."

Sara's eyes widen. She pulled her compact mirror from her bag to check it. Slightly giggling to herself. He had marked her. That was a first and that made her warm inside.

"I uhhh…I'm pretty sure I have a scarf in my locker still." doing her best to contain her giggle. Him not finding it as amusing, but trying to contain his concern.

Sara walked to the locker room and was given a 'Hey Sara!' by Greg. Looking to Grissom as he continued his walk to the office as if he didn't hear Greg pull Sara away. He was putting every effort he could into not treating her differently. Sara realizing she'd have to do the same. They hadn't been in the building 5 minutes and yet this already felt so difficult.

Grissom walked into his office and stopped a few steps in when he saw Catherine sitting at his desk. He raised an eyebrow to her,

"Hello, Catherine."

"Gil. I know you're busy, but seriously you need to get on these reports. The under sheriff is busting my ass asking for them and I'm getting a little tired of forging your signature to make the deadlines."

He suppressed a chuckle and extended his hand out to grab the ones she was needing signed.

"That's a fine you know. Signing someone else's name."

She raised her eyebrow to him, initially unamused. She tilted her head and squinted her eyes when she realized he was attempting a joke. He hadn't joked a lot lately. Grissom pulled a pen from the inside of his jacket and quickly scanned the two files in his hand throwing down a sloppy signature. He handed the files back to Catherine and started to smile but caught himself and raised an eyebrow back instead.

"Now. Get out of my chair. Please."

Catherine stood and moved around his desk never taking her eyes off of him. Waiting for him to crack, make a face, give her a clue. But nothing. He was trying hard to stay stern, feeling her stare burning his cheeks. She wasn't going to let up.

Sara was busy in the break room fending off Greg's many questions about her random day off. Hoping she spent it doing something fun. Sara doing everything she could to control the corners of her mouth from creeping up, often pursing her lips instead.

Grissom walked into the break room where the team had gathered ready for their assignments. Sara sitting quietly with the crossword puzzle already. Smirking at the fact she knew he'd notice she took it first.

"Catherine and Warrick, you can work together on the 419. Be cautious, this isn't the first time we've been to this address. David will meet you there.

Sara, you're with me. electrocution at an art gallery opening. Nicky, I need you to wrap up your field report from your last case and then meet me and Sara at our scene."

Everyone stood up quickly to exit and get on with their shift except for Sara. Making slow work of putting her things together. Grissom watching her. Admiring her.

How is she doing it? I'm about to come undone being here with her.

"I uhh, need to grab my kit from my locker, then I'll be ready to go." he said, tapping the doorframe signaling to Sara he'd meet her shortly. He turned and walked away to the locker room.

"Ok, I'll be out front."

She was good. Acting completely normal. Doing her best to not give him any reason to not trust this process. They could do this she told herself. They could remain professional when they needed to. She knew they could. As long as they keep their relationship out of the office, it would be fine. They can spend their off time however they'd like. So that's what she'd do. No extra lingering in the layout room, his office, the break room, locker room, etc. She paused. The locker room. She slammed her papers on the desk and fluttered quickly out the door.

"Shit…his locker!" she said under her breath as she jogged down the hallway.

Grissom started to put the combo back into his locker. Now considering buying a new one or changing the date to this much more memorable date he'd hope to never forget. Thinking of maybe making a collection of his old locks. Opening his locker he leaned over to grab the kit that sat at the bottom of the space. Standing back up he saw a bent picture turned upside down resting on the top shelf. He picked it up trying to remember when he had put it there.

Flipping it over, his eyes widened immediately remembering where it was from. Sara stomped into the doorway just as his glare swung to the locker room entrance ready to protect the photo from eyes far away.

Sara grimaced and then offered a weak smile.

"You said you threw this away." he said.

"I know. Uhh. Sorry. I've had it in my locker for a while." she said slightly out of breath from her run.

Grissom looked at her waiting for the explanation as to why it was now in his.

"Yesterday when I was leaving. I wasn't sure about…well. You know. I know I told you I got rid of it, but I couldn't. And even yesterday, I couldn't. I just wanted you to remember, even if it was just one more time before you threw it away."

He held the picture up to his lips covering his smile. Knowing that she was trying to read whether or not he was legitimately mad. He flicked his head motioning for her to walk further into the room. She turned to look left and right out down the hallway to see if anyone else was near before she stepped further in. Once he had control over his face, he pulled his hand down setting the picture back into the locker. He took a few steps forward towards her, doing everything he could to remain stern.

Lips closed, he ran his tongue over the front of his teeth while he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. Sara confused and watching his eyes, his lips then his eyes again. Grissom's fingers trying to pull a small manilla evidence packet hidden in the folds behind his cards.

Sara's eyebrows furrowed. Her eyes focused on his fingers opening the packet and pulling out a single square of film.

He held it up to her delicately between his index and middle finger towards her. A smile creeping back into the right corner of his mouth.

"I kept the negative."