A/N: A new chapter! Covering an episode everyone will remember...thanks for reading!

Gil Grissom's Romance

Chapter 31

The drive was little more than a blur as Grissom left Heather Kessler's house and set off for his own. He could make the drive without conscious direction but now his actions, his behavior, of the previous twenty-four hours was causing an aching pain in his chest. His night with Heather, a crisis, preventing a tragedy, attempting to make a life worth living, had caused pain, had upset the one person he loved as no other.

Jerome Kesslerhad easily been found; surprisingly, he had agreed to Grissom's request to meet with Heather. Grissom had left the three at Heather's and as he drove away, realization cracked across his brain.

Sara knew none of this. Earlier, he had seen sadness set in a deeply determined face. At times, emotional, Sara was tough; he almost smiled thinking about her. She was strong, resilient—words he had used to describe Heather.

Arranging his thoughts into some semblance of explaining his actions, he turned into the driveway behind the condo building. Before opening the garage door, a brown blur in the adjacent park caught his eye.

And if Hank was in the park so was Sara.

Leaving his vehicle outside, he got out, walking to the gate, all the while searching the area for Sara. For the first time today, he noticed the clean-edge of the air signaling a breath of spring was coming.

It was habit that took him through the gate and onto the path through the park that condo owners used for a common area. It had become a favorite place for providing exercise for Hank. His weary mind grappled with finding Sara among the scrubby grasses and the small trees; she should not be difficult to find.

He would admit he had been foolish to exclude Sara; he had been surprised to find her with Heather when he had gotten to the hospital. And then Heather's situation, which had been serious, turned into a psychological life-threatening mystery.

When he reached where the paths crossed, he turned slowly, did not see or hear the dog; surely, he could not have missed her. Softly, he whistled, knowing Hank would recognize the sound and, within seconds, he heard the dog. By the time Hank reached him, Grissom was kneeling so he could pet the dog as well as get a grip on his collar. Before he could stand, he heard the sound of scattered gravel—Sara—the thought of her made his body warm, then suddenly cool.

His foot stepped backward but the urge to see her turned his body in the direction of the sound of footsteps.

A breeze stirred the branches of the small trees he was near. The sound of limb against limb seemed to echo his own emotions and the sudden flurry of birds taking flight startled him enough to cause Hank to leap from his grasp, running in the direction of those footsteps he'd heard.

He followed the dog but quickly realized both woman and dog were nowhere to be seen. Irritated, he stopped walking to listen and heard a rustling sound and a murmuring voice a few yards away. He kept to the path and where a small bridge crossed a rocky dry stream bed, he saw a flash of color disappear underneath the bridge. He waited and a few seconds later, the color became a shirt and arms and a head of dark hair.

Grissom knew the moment she saw him because he could feel the hesitation in her eyes. He noticed a tennis ball in her hand—the reason for her going under the bridge, he thought.

The dog wagged his tail, bounced a few times, and ran up the slope to Grissom. Sara took another course, using rocks at the bridge as climbing stones to gain the path which gave him a minute to get near her.

"Hey," he spoke first as he reached out his hand to help her climb.

"Hey to you," she answered.

Her voice was cool but he could hear the pain; her eyes were withdrawn, not looking at him. He knew she had been crying. He wasn't sure at what point he had messed up—the hospital, staying overnight with Heather, or—or his forgetfulness in letting her know where he was. And right now, he didn't care; he would be humble, offer an apology, whatever it took to have a smile return to her face.

Before he could say anything, she threw the ball and the dog ran after it. She followed the dog and Grissom followed her. His fingers came together; a nervous habit, so he dropped his hands to his side.

"I'm sorry, Sara."

Hank returned with the ball, dropped it at Sara's feet so she had to stop walking. Picking up the ball, she tossed it again.

Grissom touched her arm, softly saying, "Please, Sara. Look at me."

For a long moment, she did not look at him. He watched a fast swipe of fingers across her cheek. His hand tightened on her arm. Slowly, she turned her face toward his.

"I'm sorry, Sara. I—I should have…" He was uncertain what to do. Or where to begin an apology. "I knew something was going on with Heather. Not just a—a client gone bad."

Hank returned with the ball; this time dropped at Grissom's feet. He stooped to get the ball but instead of throwing it, he rolled it along the path in the direction of a bench. Then he gently placed a hand on Sara's back and waved in Hank's direction.

Sara folded her arms across her body and walked with him. Before they got to the bench, the dog had taken a cue and flopped down in front of the bench; the ball between his front paws.

Stopping at the bench, he said, "Can we talk?" When he heard a sigh, he added, "Here, outside." He shrugged when she looked at him. "I just want to be in the sun with you—and talk."

She sat down on the edge of the bench. He sat beside her, placing his hand on her back. At least she did not move away, he thought.

"After I saw Heather in the hospital, I knew something wasn't right."

A snort—Sara actually snorted and then said, "I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone refer to Lady Heather as 'right', Gil."

His hand moved in circles. Ignoring her words, he said, "She checked out of the hospital and I found her at her home. She—she was getting ready to return to Oakley's Old West Town—again."

Sara pivoted her face to his. "She was going back?"

He nodded. "Jack Oakley paid Heather nearly a million dollars—to let him kill her. And she meant to let him do it." He felt Sara's muscles relax underneath his hand. "She didn't come out and tell me this in the first few minutes after I arrived. She—she enjoys this—this ritual with me."

Sara's eyebrows lifted but she said nothing.

"It's nothing like that," he smirked before continuing, "She and I have tea."

"Tea?" Sara's voice bordered on sarcasm but a smile played around her mouth.

He waved his hand in dismissal. "She brings out this ornate teapot and cups and we talk about—about things and drink tea and eat bites of food."

"Why was she going back to Oakley's?"

"She wanted to provide for her granddaughter."

Sara leaned back. He let his arm slip around her shoulders and continued. "Heather had tried to get custody of her granddaughter. Vernon Porter found the little girl but before he could get the baby to Heather, the state notified both Heather and Heather's ex-husband about Alison."

"Heather has an ex-husband?"

"Yes. Jerome Kessler—they weren't married long. He did not know about Zoe so when he got the notification about Alison, he went to court for custody—and got it. That sent Heather into a downward spiral—sold her business and when that wasn't enough, she sold herself to Oakley."

"Did she tell you all of this during tea?"

Grissom's mouth twisted in a smirk. "No, not all of it. It took hours—she was out of her mind at times—finally admitted what she had done and calmed down. She said that Oakley would come to her if she didn't go to him and he did—Brass got there and took him into custody. Jerome, who is a considerate and kind man, agreed to meet with Heather, let her see the little girl."

Sara's hand moved from her lap to touch his thigh. "It was good of you to help her." She took a deep breath before saying, "Everyone in the lab thinks you slept with her. Or something else."

"I didn't. I—I love you, Sara. No one else."

A/N: No, we did not answer all your questions about this episode. But there was a reasonable answer to 'why Grissom spent the night'! Thank you for reading-we look forward to your comments!