Genre: Romance, Hurt/Comfort
Rating: T
Spoilers: Only if you don't know what happened to Brass
Timeline: After Way to go (Season 6 Episode 24)
Warnings: Implied Adult Behavior, A few questionable words
Main Parings: GSR
Minor Parings: None
Other Characters: Brass & Warrick (Mention only)

Chapter 3: Love you

After leaving the hospital once they made sure Brass was going to be ok, Sara and Grissom headed home in their own vehicles, and once they made it there and had parked in their driveway at the townhouse, they got out and headed for the front door, then after it was unlocked, he let Sara walk in first before he followed her in.

The door had barely shut when she had turned around and threw her arms around him in a tight hug, and he took a breath while holding her tight to him, both knowing how close they once again came to losing someone close to them.

When he felt her shaking, he ran his hand up and down her back in a soothing way while replying softly. "He's ok, Sara. He's going to be ok."

She nodded as she pulled back from his arms so she could look into his eyes. "I love you. I truly, deeply love you, I need you to know that, especially after the day we had."

He moved to cup her cheek and run his thumb up and down it as he whispered in return. "I do know that, honey, and I love you too, so much."

Then wordlessly, she moved her hand to take his and led him to the bedroom, and when they got there and in their bed, while their time together was filled with passion and desire, like always, there was also a need for comfort there, letting one another know they were still there, alive and well.

Hours later, while watching her sleep, Grissom's heart was racing at how much he loved this amazing woman, and even though he's been saying those words to her for almost a year now, he'll never get tired of it. He then smiled as his thoughts took him back to the night he finally got to say them out loud.

Flashback

Almost a year ago

It had been a week since they declared themselves as an official couple, and while it's been great, amazing even, Grissom knew it would be even better if he finally got to say those words he's been wanting to say since he showed up at her apartment 'that' night, which he understood why she wanted him to wait. it had been a very emotional night and she didn't want things said or done in haste, just in case he got scared and pushed her away again when things settled down more.

But even after a week, he still felt the same as he always had and he wasn't going to run away from her or this feeling, he was all in, he made that decision the night he went to her apartment. He just needed to get those words out, and he had a perfect plan on doing it too, a home-cooked, candlelight dinner just for two before next shift.

However, like most things in life, plans have of a way of changing, but when he said those words for the first time he was shocked on where they were.

Him, Sara and Warrick were at a crime scene one night, and while Warrick was in another part of the house, Sara and Grissom were in the main area and she was giving him her theory on what could have happened.

A few moments later, when Sara hadn't heard Grissom say anything, she turned her head to look at him, and he was looking at her like he was in total and complete awe of her, which the look wasn't really new to her, but she could also sense something else behind those blue eyes she was drowning in, then she saw him walk closer to her.

When he became a little too close, at least while they were at a crime scene where anybody could walk in and see that they didn't have the appropriate space between a supervisor and subordinate, she cleared her throat. "Griss…."

He then cuts her off, his voice full of emotion. "I hope you know how amazing you are, not only as a CSI but a woman as well, and I had a plan on telling you this later, but I can't wait any longer." Before Sara could speak, he continued after taking a deep breath. "I truly, deeply love you. I can't remember a time when I wasn't in love with you."

There was a pause while tears started showing up in her eyes, and as Sara started to speak, Grissom's phone goes off, which made Grissom take a step back, the noise startling him.

He then cleared his throat to get out any emotion from his voice before answering his phone. "Grissom."

After a few words with Warrick, Grissom hung up, told Sara he was going to see Warrick in the other room and started walking away, now shocked at himself that he just said that at a crime scene, a place where he was supposed to be completely professional.

He mentally shook his head and got his concentration back on the case.

Throughout the rest of shift, while what he said to Sara was felt between them, especially moments when they were alone, they both focused on the case, so any conversations they had was about the case.

When shift was done, Sara left right away with barley a goodbye, causing Grissom the mentally scold himself for blurting out his feelings in the middle of their crime scene and probably making her feel uncomfortable.

But he couldn't dwell on that too long because he had to finish paperwork, and after a few hours, he was finishing up when he gets a text message from Sara.

'Hey if you don't mind, can come over to my place when you are done?'

He smiled a little, thankful she was still talking to him, as he responded. 'Ok, I'll be there shortly. Want me to bring something to eat?'

A second later she texts back. 'It's ok, got it covered.'

'Alright, see you soon.'

'Ok.'

He signed his name on the last of his paperwork, grabbed his phone and gathered the rest of his items before he left his office then the lab so he could head to Sara's place, feeling more nervous than he was earlier when he confessed his love for her.

After arriving at her apartment, he made it to the second floor, stopped in front of her door, took a breath and knocked.

A moment later the door opened, and Sara came into view, but she didn't open the door all the way and she was about to speak but he did first. "I want to apologize for what I said at our crime scene."

She then asked softly, like she was scared of his answer. "So, you regret it?"

He immediately shook his head with a smile as he reached his hand to cup her cheek, almost causing her to close her eyes at his touch, a touch she had missed all shift. "I don't regret anything, except the location I said them in, especially for the first time." He then sighed as he finished. "Although, if you want to get truly technical, I do regret something. I regret not telling you years ago."

Now with tears in her eyes, she moved her hand to his that was still on her cheek, took his hand off and slipped her fingers through his before speaking with emotion. "I believe that if you hadn't blurted out how you felt at our crime scene, this is probably the type of scene you would have wanted."

Grissom gives her a curious look while she stepped back and opened the door wider so he could step into her apartment, and when he did, he sees a candle in the middle of the coffee table with some eggs, hash browns and toast on two plates.

When he looked at her, she spoke again. "I know it isn't much, but since my cooking skills are unfortunately limited, I…."

He cuts her off with a reassuring smile. "It's ok, this is perfect."

As he took a step towards the table, she tugged on his hand to stop him, which caused him to look at her again with a question in his eyes, and she spoke again with more emotion. "I love you too, and I can't remember a time when I wasn't in love with you." Grissom just about gasped at finally hearing those words from her for the first time, she then smirked with tears still in her eyes. "But the next time you want to declare your love for me, don't pick a crime scene unless you want our relationship revealed in a big way, because I'll have you know it took a lot of restraint to stay neutral all shift. Why do you think I practically ran out the door the moment I could?"

He chuckled with a nod. "You got it." He then became more serious as he took a step towards her and cupped her cheek again with his free hand. "I really do love you and I'm sorry for waiting all of this time to tell you how I really feel."

She stepped closer to him, whispering. "We are here now, that's what matters, and I love you too."

Their lips touched a moment later, and with this being their first kiss since those three special words were finally revealed to one another, they put a lot into it.

When they finally pulled back, they placed their foreheads together and closed their eyes, trying to get their breathing back to normal, and when it was, they pulled back, smiled at one another, their eyes were bright and filled with love as they headed towards the coffee table to enjoy their meal.

End of Flashback

Grissom does a small sigh as he continued to watch her sleep while coming back the present.

Since he said those three special words that day, he makes sure he says them to her any chance he got because he told himself he'll never hold back on what he's feeling towards her ever again.

He leaned down and kissed her temple, whispering against it. "I love you."

A second later he hears a sleepy voiced Sara. "I love you too."

He pulled back with s smile. "I'll never get tired of hearing that."

She now smiled sleepily with her eye now open. "And I'll never get tired of saying it."

He moved his hand to cup her cheek, whispering with emotion. "Me neither."

He then leaned down so they could share a kiss, which lead to a few more, and after he pulled back, he kissed her forehead softly and whispered again. "Why don't we try to get a little more sleep."

She nodded in agreement as she snuggled into his arms once he was comfortable again. He kissed her head before they closed their eyes and slowly fell back to sleep.

Next Evening

After the next shift ended, they went, in separate vehicles, to the hospital to see Brass before heading home, where they had a light breakfast before going to sleep.

When they woke up hours later, they relaxed while doing a crossword puzzle for a few hours, then while Grissom prepped and started dinner, Sara took a shower. Once she was done, it was Grissom's turn in the shower while she kept an eye the food so it wouldn't burn. Then after his shower and the food was done cooking, they both set the table, Grissom then added a lit candle and set in the middle of the table while Sara got the wine.

They sit down a few moments later and Grissom lifts his glass up with a smile. "To our first year as a couple."

She smiled as she clinked her glass with his. "And to many more."

He just smiled, but Sara could see it in his eyes that's what he wanted as well, and that was all she needed.

Eating and doing the dishes afterwards was done in mostly silence, but they couldn't stop smiling and looking at one another.

When they moved to the living room, they settled on the couch, cuddled up to one another with soft music playing, and after a few more minutes of them not saying anything, Sara softly spoke as she took his hand. "Griss?"

He ran his thumb over the back of her hand as he whispered in return. "Yes, honey."

"I'm ready."

"For?"

She smiled shyly. "Remember when you asked me to move in with you, and you said in time if we want more space we could….."

He cuts her off with a smirk. "So, you need to have more space from me?"

She shook her head with a chuckle. "No." She took a breath before she continued after a sigh. "And really this doesn't have anything to do with space, there is still plenty here, but…."

She trailed off and looked down, so he turned his body so he could use his free hand and lift her chin up before cupping her cheek and asked in a comforting tone. "But what honey?"

She then stated to have tears in her eyes. "I mean I feel this is home." She cupped his cheek with a smile, but the tears were still in her eyes. "You made this place feel like home, but I didn't help pick this place out, you know."

He nodded in understanding with a smile. "Ok, so let's do it then. Let's find a new place together."

She smiled with her eyes now bright. "Really, just like that?"

"Yeah, it's something you really want and that's all I need to know."

She chuckled as she moved so she was now straddling his lap and cupped his cheek with a smirk. "And that's all it took, because I wanted it?"

He smiled as he cupped her cheek again. "I just want you to be happy, and I'll do anything to make you happy."

Sara raised an eyebrow. "Anything you say?"

He chuckled, seeing the look in her eyes. "Oh no, what did I just get myself into?"

She just smiled as she moved her fingers to the buttons of his shirt and started to undo then before her lips touched his skin, causing him to take a deep breath while closing his eyes, slowly getting lost in the feeling she was creating.

Her lips than traveled up to his shoulder, collarbone, neck, which he moved his head to the side to give her better access, then after a few moments of giving his neck a little attention, she moved her lips to his ear, and after giving it a kiss, she whispered with emotion. "I love you so much." Grissom moves his hand up her arm so he could cup her cheek and pull her back before she looked into his eyes as she finished. "I never knew love could feel like this, that I could feel like this towards anybody. And while I may not know what's going to happen in the future, the one thing I'm 100% sure of is that I want to be with you, only you, forever, however that looks like."

He smiled as he ran his thumb up and down her cheek. "I was thinking the same thing, honey."

She smiled as she ran her hands up his bare chest so she could wrap her arms around his neck as she leans forward again. "I always hear that great minds think alike."

He just hummed against her lips before he kissed her, which she kissed him in return, even deepening it a moment later as his hands moved down to her legs to make sure they were wrapped around his waist good, then on pure adrenaline, he moved forward, making sure he had a good hold of her before he stood up, causing her to gasp against his lips.

"Griss…"

He cuts her off as they pulled back so they could look into their eyes. "Just don't let go."

She held him tighter with her arms and legs with a smile, but there was also a seriousness in her eyes as she replied. "I never will."

Passion then filled his eyes as headed towards their bedroom.

When they made it into the room, he sets her down on the bed before their shirts came off, then her hands went to the belt of his pants, the passion getting stronger as he slid them down his legs, leaving him in nothing but his boxers.

He then leans down and whispered. "Now there seems to be a problem, Ms. Sidle, someone is a little over dressed."

She smirked as she cupped his cheek. "Then what are you going to do about it, Dr. Grissom?"

He practically growled, which Sara found that as sexy as hell, then she kissed his shy look away, moving their night, their celebration forward.

Sometime later, they share a few soft kisses, then he kisses her softly on the forehead before moving from above her to lay down next to her, where he immediately wrapped his arms around her and she moved closer to him so her head could land in his chest, hearing his heart racing.

He kissed her on the head with a contented sigh while they slipped their feet through one another.

A few moments later, when they were able to actually speak, Sara does while running her thumb up and down his chest. "So, are you really ok with my suggestion about a new place?"

He nodded with a smile as he slid his hand up and down her bare arm. "Yes, it's really ok. At this point I don't care where we live, just as long as it's together."

She smiled, her thumb still moving along his skin. "And as long as I have a say in it, like I said earlier, that will be forever."

He kissed her head again and whispered. "I love you, Sara, and this first year together is only the beginning."

She sighed in content, turned her head so she could kiss his skin and whispered softly. "Yes, it is, and I love you too."

They slowly fell asleep, hoping that their next year was even better than the last.

AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. more to come soon.