Second Chapter for the episode - thanks and enjoy

Episode 7.18 Empty Eyes: Post final scene

Grissom lead Sara out of the building, he had his hand around her back trying to support her. He knew his was taking a big risk, after all they were trying to keep 'them' a secret. But at that moment he didn't care, he would have given up everything to know Sara would be alright. She had lost perspective on this case, they both knew it, but Grissom couldn't really blame her, after all Sara had watched someone die in her hands, most people couldn't cope with that, and Grissom knew that these thing affected Sara more than most. As he reached the car, he was grateful no one had been around, he wasn't ready for them to be exposed just yet. Grissom opened the door for Sara and watched her get in. Her expression was vacant, and he wondered what she was thinking. Before he shut the door he lent in and kissed her cheek softly.

Sara closed her eyes as Grissom kissed her cheek. She felt tears behind her eyes again, and she fought to keep them back. In the last ten minutes Sara had truly realised that Grissom loved her more than his job. While it didn't seem like much to most people, Sara knew this small show of affection at work would have felt like the biggest risk to Grissom. And Sara was grateful, she hadn't meant to let herself get so involved in this case, usually it was only the DV cases that left her feeling exposed and fragile. But this case was different on so many levels, not only was it horrific, but someone had died in her arms, Cami, she could recall the young girls voice as if she were speaking now. She had wanted so badly to save her, she had willed it with every part of her body, but she couldn't stop the inevitable. Sara had never been so focused on catching a murderer before, but she had lost perspective and she knew it. She had sat in the ambulance telling a killer the same words she had spoken to Cami and he survived, at first Sara thought that this was sign of redemption, but when she discovered he was the killer, something else came over her. She couldn't explain, it not even to Grissom, but whatever it was, she felt it deep inside her, all the bad memories of her past, all her fears and insecurities were bubbling, trying to push their way back to the surface. Sara breathed in heavily as they drove, she was tired of fighting these monsters, tired of working so hard to keep them back, for them to resurface in a heartbeat.

When they arrived home Grissom walked to other side of the car and open the door for her. Holding his hand out to her, Sara took it as she step out of the car. Before they moved to go inside, Grissom wrapped his arms around Sara. Sara couldn't hold back any more, and Grissom felt her body shaking under his arms from her heavy sobs.

"Hey" Grissom whispered softly in her ear.

"Everything is going to be ok."

Sara shook her head, right now she didn't believe it, and she couldn't see an end to her constant battles.

"I told him he would be ok" Sara said still sobbing heavily.

"I know Sara, we all lose perspective sometimes, we're all human after all, if we didn't feel something then that's when we should worry."

Sara sobbed and looked up at Grissom. Grissom gently wiped the tears away from her face.

"I know what you're saying Gil, but I'm tired of fighting, I think I've come so far and something like this case kicks me in the gut and I feel like I'm right back where I started."

Grissom looked at her, he could see how upset she was, and he was worried about her.

"Sara, you have come so far and maybe this makes you feel like your back where you started but when I look at you I can see the change, even now, you would have reacted much differently a year and half ago."

He lent down so his forehead rested against hers.

"I won't let you walk down that path again, I'll be right here with you pulling you back every time you start to drift, I promise, you deserve so much more than that dark place,"

Sara gave a small smile, it was one of the sweetest things that Grissom had ever said to her.

Sara breathed in deeply trying to regain control, she moved to she could wrap her arms around Grissoms waist and rested her head on his chest. This is how she felt safest and right now that's all she wanted to be.

Grissom kissed the top of her head.

"We should go inside honey" he said to her.

Sara nodded in agreement

"Are you hungry?" Grissom asked her as he grabbed all their belongings from the car.

Sara looked at Grissom, he saw she looked exhausted.

"Not really" Sara replied. "I think I'm going to go straight to bed. But you eat if you're hungry."

Grissom took Sara's hand as they walked towards the apartment. They walked in comfortable silence. When they reached the apartment Sara headed straight for the bedroom, Grissom followed, closely behind him was Hank.

Sara turned to Grissom.

"You don't need to come to bed now if you're hungry" She reached up to kiss him as she spoke.

"I know I don't have to but I want to" he replied.

Sara and Grissom hopped into bed, Sara fitted herself against Grissoms body. She was secretly glad Grissom was there, she knew she would have trouble sleeping, but somehow his presence kept her nightmares at bay. Sara felt Hanks warm body at the end of the bed and she gave a small smile. It was moments like this that Sara was truly thankful for.