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Episode 7.16 Monster in a Box - After Watching the Dell Foster Kids Video

Sara and Grissom had stayed back to watch the tape of the Dell Foster Kids. They had thought they would achieve something by watching it, maybe the children's names would be spoken. They were not so lucky however. Sara was worried about Grissom, she thought that the break would have done him good, but now that the miniature killer had struck again, Grissom felt responsible. Sara could see it his face. At home he spent hours working on his own model, trying to get inside the head of the killer, but Sara knew all too well the consequence of obsessiveness, the darkness would eventually swallow him and Sara was scared of that.
Looking at Grissom she gently placed her hand over his,

"Let's go home" Sara said gently.

Grissom nodded in acknowledgement as he stood.

They walked together through the halls of the lab and out to the car park in silence. Reaching their cars Grissom finally spoke.

"I'll meet you at home?" It was more of a statement then a question, they were only bringing separate cars, so that their relationship was kept hidden.

Sara nodded.

"Yeah, I'll stop and grab something to eat on the way for us" She leaned in a squeezed his hand. It was moments like these that Sara wished their relationship wasn't hidden, she just wanted to hug him, but they couldn't risk it. They knew they it was only a matter of time, but they wanted it to last as long as possible.

When Sara walked through the door an hour later, Grissom was in his office, building his model, she put the food down on the coffee table and walk over to him. She lent down and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Hey" She said quietly "Dinners here."

Grissom turned to face, planting a quick kiss on her lips.

"Thanks" He said, "just give me a second and I'll join you"

A few minuted later, Sara and Grissom were sitting on the lounge, the tv was playing in the background but neither of them were really paying attention. Sara was sitting pressed up against Grissom who had one arm around her, using the other to eat with.

Sara waited awhile until she finally asked Grissom about the officer in the apartment.

"Gil, are you feeling ok after today's case"

Grissom hugged her tighter. Sara knew by now that this was a safety thing for Grissom, he would always hug her tight when he was upset or scared. She knew something was bothering him now.

"I think I will be Sara, but it's just hard to comprehend. That miniature had been sitting in my office for weeks, we had all the time in the world to stop the killer, but instead I went away and that officer is dead because I didn't figure it out in time. And Ernie Dell, he was covering for someone, he was pushed to kill himself for that person, I just can't seem to make sense of this killer"

Sara turned to face him,

"Gil, you can't blame yourself, you haven't done anything wrong. No one was to know that the killer would leave the package for you to find, everyone thought the case was over, no one was looking for another one. If you continue to blame yourself, it will just eat at you, and it's hard to come back from something like that. Sometimes the darkness holds to tight. But you need to let it go before it's too late. None of this is on you"

Grissom smiled, but Sara saw a tear fall from his eye, she brushed it away gently.

"Hey" She said to him "It's going to be ok, we'll get you through this you'll see, and everything will be ok."

Grissom lent down so his forehead was resting on Sara's.

"Have I ever told you how lucky I am to have you?" He said smiling at her.

"All the time" Sara replied smiling back, "I promise, no matter what happens with this case, I'll be right by your side"

Grissom kissed Sara, it was filled with passion and love. He wanted her to know that she meant everything to him, and that she has always been what's kept him going through the hardest times.