Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Rating: Low T
Spoilers: Brief Mentions of Scuba Doobie-Doo & Nesting Dolls
Timeline: After Burn out (Season 7, Episode 6)
Warnings: Implied Adult Behavior
Main Parings: GSR
Minor Parings: None
Other Characters: None

Chapter 4: In this together

Once shift had ended, Sara went in search for Grissom, knowing how bad the case was for him, but she didn't realize how bad it was for him physically, until she had gotten a text message from him right as she got to his office, which had been closed and the lights were off. 'Really bad Migraine, in Jim's office.'

She frowned, not liking that he was in pain, then continued to his office so she could get his pills just in case he needed them.

After getting his medication from his desk drawer, she headed towards PD so she could get to Jim's office, and once she was there, seeing the door and blinds closed, she cracked the door just enough for her to slip through, then after closing the door, making the office once again as dark as it can be before she whispered. "Griss, I'm here."

Lying on the couch and with his arm over his eyes, despite the room being completely dark, Grissom replied softly, almost painfully, causing Sara's heart to break for him. "Sara."

She walked towards him, until she was close enough to kneel down next to the couch and cup his cheek, whispering again. "I'm here babe. Did you take some of your medication?"

"Yes, hasn't kicked in yet though."

She moved her hand from his cheek to his hair so she could run her fingers through it, hoping it was soothing him. She had been through some of his migraines before, more so now that they were a couple, but none of them that she had seen ever been this bad, so with the combination of the case and this horrible migraine, it was no wonder why he was so short with everybody.

"Alright, we'll just stay here until you're able to get up."

"We?"

She smiled. "Yes 'we', I'm not going anywhere."

"Ok."

Time slowly moved forward, and eventually, Grissom sighed, and Sara asked. "Are you ready to see if we can get you home?"

"Yes, but I don't know if I can drive."

"It's ok, we'll take my vehicle and leave yours here." Before he could speak, she does. "And if anybody asks, we'll just tell them you were dealing with a migraine and you got a ride, which is the truth."

"Ok."

A few more moments later Sara removes her fingers from his hair and started to stand up while he removed his arm from his eyes and slowly sat up, feeling a little dizzy so they waited until he was able to stand, which she helped him when he was.

Once he was settled, he started following her to the door, where they stopped before she looked at him with sympathy, even though they couldn't really see one another since the room was still dark. "I'm sorry babe. I know this isn't going to make you feel any better."

He sighed again with a short nod. "Nope, but we don't have any other choice, now do we?"

She smirked. "Unless we tell the officers to turn out all the lights in the station."

He chuckled lightly but with a grimace at the end before smirking. "And do you got special powers that I don't know about to make it dark outside for the moment?" She shook her head with that sympathy look again, and he places his hand on her shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze, having a feeling that's exactly what she did. "It's ok, let's just get me home."

She places her hand on top of his that was still on her shoulder and whispers. "You got it. Do you need anything from your office?"

After he whispered 'no', she removed her hand from his while he removed his hand from her shoulder before she placed her hand on the doorknob so she could open the door before they made their way down the hall and the exit of the building as quickly as they could.

When they finally made it to and in her vehicle and he was buckled, he instantly closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the headrest with a sigh as she started her vehicle. Then she looked out the windows to make sure no one was around before taking his hand into hers, smiling when she felt a squeeze.

She held his hand a moment longer before releasing it so she could drive them home safely.

Once they arrived at their new apartment's parking lot, she stopped her vehicle, got out, walked quickly to the passenger side and opened the door to help Grissom out, and once he was, which he was squinting, she closed the door. And unlike when they were in the parking lot at work, she took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders and spoke in a comforting tone. "If you have to close your eyes, go ahead, I'll be your eyes."

He sighed as he closed his eyes again. "Thank you, honey."

"No need to thank me, let's get you inside."

"Yes, please."

A second later, Sara led them towards the entrance of the building, then turned to the right where the elevators were and stepped in.

When the elevators had stopped on the correct floor, they stepped out of it and headed towards their apartment before she unlocked the door when she could then they stepped in.

As she closed the door, she asked softly. "Do you want the couch or bed?"

He took a breath, still feeling the pain, but it wasn't as intense as it was, before replying. "I'll just take the couch, it's closer."

"Ok."

After helping him towards the couch, he sits down, then she kneels down and takes his shoes off before helping him lay down.

As she slid her arm from his shoulders, he takes her hand and whispers again. "Thanks."

She kneeled down again and cupped his clean-shaven cheek and spoke softly. "Like I said, no need to thank me. I'm here for you always. Do you need anything?"

"Not at the moment, I'm just going to try and get some rest."

"Ok. Love you."

"Love you too."

She moves up so she could kiss his forehead then stood up, and after one more look at him, she moved towards the kitchen, which she would have to go down a few stairs to get there, so she could make some tea.

Once it was done, she poured some in a coffee mug before moving back up to the living room and sitting down next to the couch, watching him sleep as her mind took her back to the first time he helped her through her first major nightmare that she had since they became a couple.

Flashback

(Three weeks after they became official)

Sleeping in Grissom's arms these last three weeks have been the best sleeps of her life, even though sleeping in his arms hadn't taken all of her nightmares away, they hadn't been as intense or very often. But one night that all changed in the intense department.

It wasn't a particularly gruesome case, or even close to a top five worst cases she's worked, but it still bothered her, like they all did, and it stuck with her.

After arriving to her apartment, which Grissom wasn't that far behind her and she welcomed him with a small smile and kiss.

They pull back and he asked while cupping her cheek. "You doing ok?"

She nodded with a sigh. "Yeah. I'm going to go take a shower, make yourself at home."

He nodded, then asked. "You want anything to eat?"

"Uh, maybe just some eggs and hash browns."

He nodded one more time. "You got it."

They kiss one more time then, Sara pulled back and headed for her bedroom to get her sleeping clothes before heading towards the bathroom so she could take her shower.

By the time she got out of the shower, had put on her clothes and had walked out of the bathroom, breakfast was ready and on the coffee table.

She smiled as she placed her hand on the small of his back and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, it looks and smells amazing."

He turned his head with a smile. "Thanks, honey." He then asked in concern. "Are you ok?"

She nodded as she cupped his cheek. "Yeah. I guess it was just one of those shifts. I love my job, but I just wish..."

She trialed off, and he turned around so he could face her as he continued softly. "I know honey, me too."

He then brings her in his arms and held her, which she held on to him right back.

After they pulled back, he kissed her forehead before asking with a smile. "Shall we?"

She nodded with a smile in return. "We shall."

"Then after you."

He helps her sit down on the floor before he sits down next to her so they could start to eat their breakfast.

When they were done with their food, Sara told Grissom she'll do the dishes while he took a shower if he wanted it, which he did after going to his vehicle to grab his go bag.

Once his shower was done, he stepped out of the bathroom in sweatpants and a t-shirt, seeing Sara already in bed but awake. They smile at one another as he walked towards the bed then when he was close enough, she lifted the blankets up for him, and after he crawled in and got comfortable, he immediately wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "Sleep tight, honey."

She yawned and snuggled into his arms. "You too, babe."

It wasn't long until they fell asleep.

But it was only a few hours later when Sara started crying and thrashing in her sleep, her movements and crying sound waking Grissom up almost instantly, then he frowned as he placed his hand on her shoulder and spoke loud enough to hopefully wake her. "Honey, it's a nightmare, you're safe...Honey wake up for me, please."

A few moments later she opens her eyes while sitting up and screaming. "No!" Before she started breathing hard, her chest heaving.

A moment later, she hears Grissom's soft voice. "Honey?"

She turned her head to look at him with tears in her eyes. "Griss."

He cleared his throat a second later and asked in a soft voice again. "Is it alright if I hold you now?"

She nodded with a small smile. "That's always welcome."

He smiles in return as he moves in bed so he was sitting up with his back against his pillows and held out his arms, then she moves in bed so she was closer to him and laid in his arms before she moved her hand up to his heart, feeling it race, so she asked. "Are you ok?"

He took a calming breath before he whispered while running his hand up and down her arm. "I should be asking you that."

"I guess I scared us both."

Continuing with his hand up and down, he replied. "It's never been this intense before."

She smiled slightly as she moved her thumb up and down on his shirt covered chest. "I guess sleeping in your arms was a good sign." She then sighed again. "At least for awhile. I'm sor..."

He cuts her off with a firm yet comforting tone while his hand continued to move up and down. "I don't want to hear that you're sorry, you have nothing to be sorry about. Nightmares happen, you can't control when you get them or how intense they are."

Unexpected tears came into her eyes as she heard his comforting and understanding tone, the first man she's ever been with who was that understanding. "I know that, but I don't want to keep waking you up, disrupting your sleep as well."

He then asked with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. "And how exactly are we going to do that, sleep in separate beds?"

She sighed. "I don't know, may..."

He cuts her off again this time lifting her chin up so they could look into her eyes before cupping her cheek. "I don't know about you, but once we started sleeping together I've had the best 'nights' of sleep in my life, especially since I've became a CSI, so sleeping in separate beds, unless you really do want to or need to at times, is not an option."

She nodded with tears in her eyes. "Me too, Griss. And I agree, so what is your solution?"

He gives her a reassuring smile. "We just take them as they come." He moved his thumb up and down her cheek as he continued with the comfort still there and love. "You are not fighting these nightmares alone anymore. I'm here for however you need and want me, we are in this together, now, alright?"

She nodded as he continued to wipe her tears away. "Ok. I love you, thank you for being here for me."

"I love you too, and anytime."

She moved up so they could share a few kisses, and after pulling back, he kissed her forehead before asking as he pulled back. "Now, do you need anything before you try and fall back asleep?"

Shy nodded with a shy smile. "Yeah, when they are this bad, I usually have some hot chocolate."

He nodded with a smile. "And do you have any?"

"I think so."

He kissed her forehead before pulling back again. "Coming right up, then."

Before she could even protest, he was already moving out of the bed, and all she did was smile as she laid back down, this time on his pillow until he came back, wondering how she got lucky with this wonderful man. She knew he was pretty special the night she told him about her childhood and all he did was hold her hand and was just there for her. But this first major nightmare was probably the biggest test, not one she purposely conducted or would have wanted to have, but one nonetheless, and he passed with flying colors.

End of flashback

By the time Sara came back to the present, she was at the sink washing her coffee mug, when she felt Grissom's arms wrap around her waist from behind.

She smiled warmly as she asked softly, just in case he was still feeling any pain. "How was your rest?"

He sighed as he kissed her temple. "Very much needed, thanks for being here for me."

Remembering what he had said after her first intense nightmare, Sara smiled as she turned around in his arms and cupped his cheek, speaking with comfort and love in her eyes while cupping his cheek. "You don't have to fight these migraines alone, we are in this together, remember?"

He sighed with a nod. "Yeah."

She then looked a little worried as she ran her thumb up and down his cheek. "Although I must say, while this had been one of the worst migraines of yours I have seen since we've been together, you've been getting a lot of these the last month. In fact, since..."

She trailed off, and he nodded in agreement. "Since those miniatures started popping up."

She nodded before asking after biting her lip, not wanting to overstep but was very concerned for him. "And are you sure it's only the miniatures that's getting to you? That it's not something else?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"I don't know, maybe us, or our move to this new apartment."

He shook his head as he moved his hand to cup her cheek with a reassuring look and smile. "It's not us or the move, I really believe you're the reason my migraines hadn't been that bad, for awhile I might add. Today was just one of those bad days that we all get every once in awhile."

She nodded in understanding before taking his hand from her cheek. "I get that, really I do, but if there was more to it, you would tell me, right? Because you know you can tell me anything, no matter what it is."

He nodded with a reassuring smile as he squeezed her hand. "I know that honey, and really I'm ok."

Believing his word, she nodded. "Ok. I just want you to be alright." She then removed her hand from his and wrapped her arms around his neck with a smirk, but there was also a seriousness in her eyes. "I want to keep you around for a long time."

"Good to know."

They lean towards one another and started kissing, but before he could deepen it, she pulled back, resulting in him giving her a little pout, causing her to chuckle lightly while thinking how cute he looked, before cupping his cheek again. "You are just getting over a really bad migraine, are you sure you are up to finishing what you are about to start?"

He smiled as he started walking, slowly pushing her backwards until her backside was against the counter, then cupped her cheek as he whispered. "How about I prove it to you." Before she could speak, he kissed her then deepened it a second later, and she wasn't denying him for one second.

When he pulled back and started kissing her neck, with her eyes closed while running hand up and down his back, she smiled as she replied. "You know what this reminds me of?"

He smiled against her neck, and after one more kiss, he pulls back, causing her to open her eyes as he replied. "Our first night here."

Their eyes got passionate as their minds took them back to the first night they shared in their new living space.

Flashback

Three months ago

August, 2006

After they agreed to move, it did take them a little time to find the right place, but they wouldn't and didn't give up, which it all paid off when finally they found exactly what they were looking for and felt right to them. Once it was move in ready, they hired movers since they couldn't exactly ask for the team's help.

When shift was done that morning, they had breakfast, finished packing what was left to pack in the townhouse before taking a nap.

A few hours later, Sara wakes up and finds herself in bed alone, so she lifts her body up and speaks loudly. "Griss?"

A second later she hears from the bathroom. "Yeah, just a minute." She smiled as she laid down back on her pillow.

A few more minutes later, the bathroom door opened and when Grissom came in view, Sara gasped while lifting her head up in shock and wide-eyes. "Griss, what did you do?"

He looked at her shyly as he ran a hand down his now clean-shaven face. "What, do you not like it?"

She moved so she was now sitting up in bed and she shook her head. "No, it's not that. It's just been years since I've seen you without a beard, it's just a shock."

Now feeling a little unsure of what he did, he asked softly. "Are you sure?"

Sara smiled as she held out her hand. "Come here, babe."

He moved closer to the bed, sat down on the side of it so he was close to her, then she moved her hand to cup his cheek, feeling a smoothness she hadn't felt since that night years ago when she brushed 'chalk' off his cheek, causing her to smile shyly at that thought.

He raised an eyebrow looking at her look. "What?"

She shook her head with another smile. "I was just thinking about the last time I touched your cheek without a beard."

He then sighed as he placed his hand on top of hers that was still on his cheek. "That was a different time of our lives."

"True, but that didn't mean I didn't find you as sexy as hell."

Grissom looked shy again as he whispered. "Sara."

She chuckled. "It's true, and it brought me back to when I first saw you, my clean-shaven, blue-eyed, bugman." Her eyes started to get dark with passion as she whispered while moving closer to him. "So, beard or no beard, to me you are sexy no matter what."

Their lips touched a second later but before they could get anywhere, there was a knock on the door, causing them to sigh against one another's lips before Grissom pulled back. "That's got to be the movers, so it looks like a rain check."

She nodded with a smile. "You better believe it, bugman."

He gave her a smile at the nickname, then after sharing a soft kiss, he gets up and heads out of the bedroom while she got up from the bed so she could change clothes.

Later that night

Once the movers had moved all of their things into the apartment and had left, Sara and Grissom decided they would only unpack the essentials for right now and ordered Chinese food for dinner, then after dinner, Sara started cleaning the dishes when Grissom walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear. "Are we ready to cash in that rain check?"

She smiled as she dried her hands, then turned around in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I don't know, are we?"

He whispered. "More than ready."

When their lips touched, it got passionate pretty quickly, and when they needed air, he moved his lips to her neck, then she smiled as she ran her hand up and down his back before she spoke. "You know there is a positive I didn't think about with your new look."

He whispered against her skin. "And what is that?"

After another moment, trying not to get lost in the feeling of his lips against her skin, she finally spoke. "I won't have to try and find ways to hide my neck because of your beard."

He pulls back almost instantly and looked at her a little shyly. "I'm sorry, honey."

She shook her head with a smile. "Don't be, it's been totally worth the odd or wired looks at times."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, but it will be nice to take a break from that."

He started to smile while she brings his lips back to hers to continue what they started, which lead them to their new bedroom.

End of Flashback

By the time their minds got back to the present, they were already kissing and making their way to the bedroom.

Sometime later

While cuddled up in each other's arms in their bed, she asks while running her thumb up and down his bare chest. "You still doing ok?"

"Perfect, honey." He then kissed her head and asked. "So, it's been three months since we've been in this apartment, you still enjoying it?"

She nodded with a smile. "Yes." After making the sure the sheet was against her, she moved so she could look down at him and replied with love and happiness in her eyes. "I know I've said this before, but thank you for agreeing to the move."

He moved his hand to cup her cheek with a smile. "And I believe I said this before too, you don't need to thank me, but you're welcome. I love you, and I just want you to be..."

She cuts him off as she leaned down. "Happy, which I am." They kiss softly before she pulls back and whispered. "And I love you too."

They kiss one more time, then she pulls back again so she can lay her head back down on his chest, so they could enjoy a little more time in bed before they had to get ready for dinner and work.

AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. More to come when I can get to it, thanks for your patience for this story. Hope you are all safe out there.