TWO WEEKS LATER

Catherine had had enough.

She had kept her promise to Sara and not gone to Ecklie, but she and the boys were beyond exhausted. The four of them had been working on a double homicide and two arson cases for over a week now. She had even pulled Hodges into the field, kicking, and screaming, but the lab technician had been incredibly helpful for two shifts before scurrying back to his natural habitat.

Ecklie was still pouring over the cases Sara and Gil had worked on together over the course of their hidden romance and pulling one or two members of the team into his office every other day to grill them. It was a huge waste of their time, and as far as Catherine could see, the man was just stalling – not wanting to admit defeat.

The night shift desperately needed Sara back, even though Catherine was well aware it would only be for about four months due to the extended maternity leave Sara would need to take. The bigger question was whether or not Gil would return to the lab, and no one knew the answer to that as he still had two months left on his medical leave. Catherine was worried about him, about both of them, but she had to have more help on the nightshift. She had to have Sara back.

It was time to go over Ecklie's head.

"Catherine! This is a pleasant surprise-"

"I'm not interrupting-?"

McKeen shook his head and came around his desk to shake her hand. "I'm sorry I haven't made it over to the lab to check on all of you since Gil's abduction. How's the team doing – and how is Gil?"

Catherine sat down in one of the chairs and McKeen perched on the edge of his desk, listening intently as she filled him in about Gil's shoulder surgery and the extended healing time he now required as a result.

"That's too bad – I hope he's not going stir crazy sitting around his house – I know I would be."

"I'm sure he's keeping himself busy," Catherine waved away his words. "I'm actually here to talk about – Sir, you haven't spoken to Ecklie lately?"

"No, I've been out of town for over a week – conference in DC – just got back the day before yesterday – why?"

"Well-"

McKeen sighed as he got up and shut his office door, before resuming his seat. "You can speak freely here, Ms. Willows, without any fear of reprisal. What's Conrad done now?"

"You are aware it's against department policy for two members of the same team to be romantically involved?"

"Yes, I am."

"Well, normally I wouldn't be the one to tell my co-workers business, but as co-supervisor of the night shift, and since Ecklie's decision has directly affected my ability to-"

"Catherine."

She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes looking into McKeen's steely gaze. "Sir?"

"Stop beating the bush and tell me what's happened – and what you need from me."

Conrad threw his pen down on his desk and pinched the bridge of his nose. The case files he had been pouring over for weeks showed no evidence of impropriety in personal behavior. Gil's notes about Sara were professional in tone and there was no differentiation between what he wrote about her and his other agents. Conrad had even pulled case files from four years ago, when Catherine claimed they weren't personally involved, to see if the tenor of Gil's notes about Sara had changed over time.

They hadn't.

If anything, the more recent ones were a bit more critical, as if Gil knew a supervisor's eye would be looking over them and he wanted no written evidence of partiality to be found.

The next step was to talk to Grissom – and it should have been done more than a week ago, but Conrad had been putting it off. He knew Gil was still in quite a bit of physical pain from his shoulder surgery and he'd heard the scuttlebutt that the man was also in therapy from the emotional trauma of the abduction. Conrad wasn't heartless, he didn't want to add more stress to Gil's life – but rules were rules, and he needed to get-

His thoughts were interrupted by the slamming of his office door.

"What the hell?" He flew to his feet as he met the eyes of his supervisor and boss, Sheriff McKeen.

"You took the words right out of my mouth, Conrad – what the hell is going on around here?" McKeen barked as he stepped further into the office.

"Sir – I – I didn't know you were back in town."

"Clearly."

"I was going to call you – debrief you on the Grissom situation – but something tells me you already know-"

"Catherine Willows stopped by my office this afternoon and filled me in – something you-" he pointed a finger at Conrad, "could have done with a phone call."

"I handled it-"

McKeen snorted. "Really? Suspending Sara Sidle for a month-"

"With pay!"

"She should never have been suspended in the first place!"

Conrad's mouth fell open. "Sir – we have rules – policies about dating members of the same team –"

"They're married, Conrad."

Conrad took a step back in surprise. "That doesn't matter-"

"Oh, the hell it does! You might have had a leg to stand on if you'd discovered their relationship a year ago when they were merely living together. But that ship has sailed. Gil and Sara are married now – and she's pregnant with his child. Do you have any idea the negative publicity this lab, this city will suffer if either one of them goes to the press about this? Now, I want you to go over to their house and apologize. Tell Sara that we desperately need her back on the night shift as soon as possible and Gil too, when he's healed up-"

"But I haven't finished my investigation yet-"

"Conrad-" McKeen took a step closer, so that the other man could see the heat in his eyes. "Listen closely: there never was any investigation into Gil Grissom's professional conduct. This lab gave Sara some extra time off, with pay, to be with her husband, as he healed from his ordeal in the desert. That is our official statement, and you will memorize it and repeat it to the press if necessary. Otherwise, I will launch an investigation of my own into your professional conduct. Am I making myself clear?"

Conrad swallowed hard. "Crystal."

"How have you been sleeping?"

Gil's eyes rested on one of the paintings above Dr. Cynthia's desk. It was a desert scene, with rocks in the distance, and a blooming cactus in the foreground. Cyn followed his gaze and watched his facial expression for a moment before speaking again.

"Does that painting upset you?"

Gil was startled and his eyes came back to rest on her. "What?"

"You seem to look at that painting quite often during our sessions – does it bother you – remind you of something?"

"Such as?"

"You tell me."

He blew out his breath noisily. "Why do you answer my questions with a question of your own?"

"Kind of my job."

"It's irritating."

Cyn smiled. "Most of my patients share your sentiment. So, the painting?"

"It reminds me of one that used to hang in my mother's gallery when I was young – after my father died, I spent more time there with her. This painting," he nodded at it, "it reminds me of one I used to sit and stare at for hours. Growing up so close to the ocean, I was fascinated by a landscape so barren, so full of sand without water."

"Do you miss the ocean?"

He shrugged. "I've lived the longest in Vegas – I never thought I'd stay here so long – but I guess I put down roots, made a family."

"That surprises you?"

"A bit." He nodded. "All through school, I was what you'd call a 'ghost'- a loner, the kid no one noticed or interacted with – and it didn't really bother me. I was the oddball kid who performed autopsies on roadkill and was fascinated by dissection of animals. Mom was so afraid that I was going to be a mortician when I graduated from college but then I found a mentor in Dr. Philip Gerard and my love of criminalistics was born. When he left California for Minnesota, I followed him and started working in a crime lab in Minneapolis."

Gil fell silent as the memories of the past overwhelmed him.

"How long were you in Minnesota?" Cyn eventually broke into his thoughts.

"Seven years. Dr. Gerard and I – we had a falling out and I left. Bounced around the Midwest for a few years, then I went back East and got a second degree in entomology. While in school, I read that a dry, arid climate was a great place to study insect life, so I came to Vegas – and here I am, all these years later."

"But you met Sara in San Francisco, correct?"

He smiled. "Yes. Over the years, I've done several seminars on criminalistics and forensics, and how entomology can be useful in the solving of crimes. I met Sara at one of those seminars in Frisco."

"And you were attracted to her from the start?"

Gil narrowed his eyes. "Don't you already know all this from Sara?"

"We're here to talk about you."

He leaned back, one hand reaching back to scratch his head. "Yes, I was attracted to Sara from the beginning. She was bright, eager to learn, and didn't fall asleep during my lectures. Those were three points in her favor-"

"And you thought she was beautiful."

"Yes, she's beautiful," he whispered. "Sara made me feel things that I'd never felt before – or since – with any woman. And that terrified me."

"Does it still?"

"To a certain extent, yes. To realize that someone has that kind of power over you – to know that she could walk away and leave –"

"Is that what you're afraid of – that Sara will leave you?"

"It used to be. For a long time, it was that fear of abandonment that kept me from letting her get close to me."

"What changed?"

He sighed. "I guess I did – when Sara took the first step and kissed me the first time, I realized that I wanted her more than I wanted to hold onto my fear."

"So? What's different now?"

He frowned. "I don't understand."

Dr. Cyn leaned forward. "Gil, you told me during our first session that you've changed – that you're not the man you were before Natalie kidnapped you and stuck you under that car."

"I'm not-"

"Well, I'm going to put it to you that you're also not the same man you were before you started this relationship with Sara, true?"

He gave a small nod.

"You were afraid back then, and you're afraid now. Back then, you were afraid of getting hurt and being left alone. What is today's fear?"

"I don't know."

"Tell me about the nightmares."

"We've already been over and over this!" Gil shouted as he got to his feet and began to pace. "I'm in the desert-"

"Under the car?"

"No-"

"Interesting."

"What- why? Why is that interesting?"

"Later. Go on."

"Well, sometimes I hear singing and sometimes I don't. But I'm always looking for Sara."

"Why?"

"Because – because – she's supposed to be with me – and the baby – babies are supposed to be there too."

"Hmm, then what happens?"

"Natalie appears, holding a bundle-"

"You mean your baby?"

"No! It's not a baby – I never see the face – but I think it's my baby – she says it's my baby – and when I reach for it – it dissolves into sand as I scream for Sara-" Gil runs a hand through his hair and closes his eyes, trying to catch his breath, and calm his racing heart.

"And Natalie says-"

"'You're going to die out here.'"

"Is that the last thing she said to you?"

"No, I couldn't hear anything she said over the forklift motor. All I could see was her eyes and then her boots as she walked away-"

"So why do you think she says-"

"Because I thought it! Over and over and over again as I lay under that car, and when I was wandering in the desert under the hot sun, with my shoulder out in excruciating pain – I thought 'I'm going to die out here and never see Sara or my child grow up'. Just like- " Gil swallowed hard as his eyes widened with realization. "Just like my father."

Dr. Cyn nodded. "Now we're getting somewhere."

"You're awfully quiet over there. Did today's session with Cynthia tire you out?"

Gil raised his head from the car window and turned to look at Sara in the driver's seat. She was dressed in her jogging shorts and sports bra, having thrown on a light jacket to cover up for modesty's sake to pick him up after his appointment. Her hair was soaked with sweat, swept back into a high ponytail, short strands escaping and curling at the base of her neck. He wanted to reach over and play with them, but he knew better than to distract her while she was driving.

"It was a good session – I'm making progress."

"Ah, she's really delving into your psyche, is she?" Sara grinned.

He cleared his throat. "Sara – I think it's time for you to go back to work."

"What?" she frowned at him. "Okay number one, I'm on suspension so it's not my call when I go back and number two, you're still having nightmares. I don't want to leave you alone yet-"

"I'm going to call Conrad when we get home. There's no reason for you to be suspended when it was my actions-"

"Our actions, Gilbert. It takes two people to be in a relationship the last time I checked. I didn't make these babies all by myself."

He continued as if she hadn't spoken. "And we're still sleeping during the daytime, just like we did when we were working nights – so I'll be awake when you're working, and we can go to bed when you get home."

Sara blew a loud breath out between her lips. "I can see you've been giving this some serious thought. Were you going to talk to me about it before calling Ecklie?"

He reached over and caressed her cheek. "I just did."

She shook her head but said nothing more as she turned the corner onto their street.

"Well, speak of the devil-"

Gil squinted in the bright late afternoon sunlight. "Is that Ecklie's car?"

"Yup – and he's sitting in it, right on our front doorstep."

"Wonder what he wants-"

Sara pressed the button on the garage remote and slowed as the door began to open. "Only one way to find out. I'll slip inside and change while you go roll out the welcome mat, husband."

He leaned over the center console and brushed her cheek with his lips. "Don't be too long, wife, or I'll come looking for you."

"We got another call out-"

"Come on, Catherine!" Nick whined from his seat at the end of the table. "We're working on two open cases – we don't have anyone to spare to work a third!"

"We don't have a choice, Nicky. There's been a B&E at an art gallery over on Ankeny – now, I'll go so you boys can stay here and-"

"No way," Warrick interrupted. "We have a new rule, remember? No one goes solo – not since Grissom's abduction."

Catherine shrugged. "Fine, I'll take Hodges."

Greg snorted. "Don't you remember? David threatened to chain himself to his lab table the next time you came calling for his help in the field."

The redhead threw up her hands. "Well, can one of you give me few hours tonight?"

Greg, Nick, and Warrick all stumbled over excuses as Gil and Sara slipped into the staff lounge unobserved. They watched the bickering before them in silent amusement and then Gil leaned over to whisper in Sara's ear, "Nice to see that some things never change."

She smiled at him before stepping forward. "Can I be of some assistance tonight?"

Four heads swiveled in her direction and Catherine let out a squeal of surprise as Greg bounded across the room to tackle her, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around.

"Grissom!" Warrick and Nick shouted in unison, the younger men coming to shake his hand. "Are you back as well?"

Gil shook his head. "No, I just came to say hello and drop Sara off for her shift. I'm still not cleared for desk duty – doctor says it will be another month before he gives me the green light."

"How are you feeling?" Nick asked, his voice low so as not to draw attention from the others.

Gil placed a hand on Nick's shoulder and squeezed. "I'm taking one day at a time – each day is a bit better. Out of everyone, I have a feeling you might understand what I'm dealing with-"

Nick nodded. "I have some idea –"

Sara looped an arm around Grissom's waist. "What are you boys talking about?"

Nick smiled. "Just happy to see Gris back in the lab, even if he's just saying hello."

"Yeah, so, Sara," Warrick broke in. "Not that we're not happy to have you back – but how did you get out of detention early? Don't you have two weeks left?"

Sara laughed. "Well, Gil and I had an unexpected visitor this afternoon – Ecklie stopped by – and he apologized for suspending me. He said that the administrative review into Grissom's professional conduct was over – in fact he said that he wanted to put the whole thing behind us and for me to get back to work as soon as possible."

"Has hell frozen over?" Greg demanded and the group laughed.

"Maybe," Sara quipped. "But he was very quiet and unlike himself, almost as if he had been properly chastised by someone – Catherine?"

The redhead grinned. "All right, I confess. I went to see McKeen today. We're all exhausted, overworked, and two people down on the nightshift. Not to mention the fact that Gil and Sara are being punished for being married – which isn't against the rules-"

"Wait – it isn't?" Nick interrupted.

Catherine shook her head. "The plain fact of the matter is that if Conrad had found out about their relationship when they were dating, he could have had both of their jobs. But he didn't. He found out after they were married and expecting a baby. There's nothing in the lab policies about two married team members working together."

Warrick shook his head, a look of awe on his face. "I can't believe it – you found a loophole."

Catherine merely smiled as Sara left Gil's side to grab her friend in a bear hug.

"If one of these triplets is a girl, I'm so naming her after you-" she whispered in Catherine's ear.

"Sara-" Catherine gasped, overcome with emotion.

"No arguments, godmother."

Catherine pulled back to shake her head. "No arguments here."

"What's everybody doing standing around?" Ecklie demanded from the doorway. "I thought Sara was coming back to work because you were overloaded with cases, Catherine, is that not-"

"Yes, that's correct, Conrad, we were just heading out-"

He grunted. "Get to it then."

Sara made a face at his retreating back and Greg laughed. "I'm so glad you're back."

"Let's go, team," Catherine ordered. "Sara?"

"I'll meet you at the car in a few minutes."

Sara waited until everyone left before she turned and threw her arms around Gil, holding him tight.

"Sara? What is it – you're shaking."

"I just – I'm still not sure about leaving you. I know you said you'll be fine, that you're ready but – what if I'm not ready to leave you?"

"Sara," he whispered her name soothingly, lifting a hand and cupping the back of her neck. "We need to do this – you need to work, and I need to be alone for a bit – both of us need to get back to normal – to pick up the pieces of our lives. You get out there and make the city a bit safer – and I'll start working on a new project."

She laughed softly. "You have a project?"

He nodded as she pulled back to look in his eyes. "I'm going to write a book about entomology and forensics – starting with my first case as a CSI field agent –"

Sara dropped a short kiss on his lips. "That sounds amazing!"

"Really? I don't know if anyone will be interested in publishing it let alone read it-"

"Are you kidding me? You are one of the top five entomologists in the field! I wouldn't be surprised that once it's published, professors will be clamoring to use it as a textbook in their classes."

He cupped her cheek and she leaned into his palm. "You're a little biased, Dear."

Sara jumped as her phone beeped in her pants pocket. "That will be Catherine – I have to go."

Gil nodded, dropping his hand. "See you in the morning."

She swallowed. "You sure about this?"

Gil breathed a kiss against her forehead. "Yes." He stepped back and held up Sara's left hand so she could see her ring finger with her wedding band on it. "Time to start our life together with no more hiding, no more secrets."