Disclaimer: I do not own CSI: Crime Scene Investigation nor it's characters
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! Getting reviews was definitely the highlight of my day. Here is Chapter 2, hope you enjoy. I am hoping for more reviews – they make my day : )
At the other crime scene, Grissom, Nick, and Greg were investigating a dead body abandoned in an alley. Grissom was fighting to keep his mind on the scene in front of him, but he was losing the battle miserably. He couldn't help but keep remembering the look of disappointment when he assigned Sara to the other crime scene. That look was etched in his brain and he was now sorry that he had split them up. He wanted to eliminate distractions for a while, because lately, Sara was the only thing he could think about. However, his decision hadn't worked the way he planned - his thoughts were more on her now than they were before.
Nick and Greg were also having a hard time paying attention to the scene - however, for a completely different reason. They couldn't help but notice the far away glazed look in Grissom's eyes as he worked. Exchanging glances, they both wondered what was on Grissom's mind - Grissom rarely ever got distracted.
----------
Several hours later, after collecting all evidence at each of the crime scenes, the shift was coming to an end. With both teams now back at the lab, all evidence was safely secured, to be processed the following day. Catherine was the first to enter the break room, followed closely by Warrick and Sara. Each went to their own locker and started collecting their belongings before heading home for the day. Grabbing her coat and her purse, Catherine waved goodbye to Sara and Warrick and stepped into the hall, almost running right into Nick who was on his way in. Catching her shoulder before they both fell to the floor, Nick grinned. "In some kind of hurry or something Cath?"
"Always," Catherine said returning Nick's grin, "I wanted to catch Lindsey before she was off to school."
"Ah, well then, see you later"
Stepping into the bright sunlight, and seeing her car exactly where she left it the night before, she started walking over to it. Hearing the door behind her open once again, she turned ever so slightly to see that it was Warrick on his way out. Glancing at him as he walked towards his car in the other direction, Catherine had that familiar flutter of attraction. Catching herself staring intently at Warrick, Catherine shifted her attention back to her car. Getting in, she took one last glance over towards Warrick's car, fighting that persistent flutter in her stomach, and drove off towards home.
----------
Sara was just getting ready to leave for the day, when Grissom walked into the break room. Not quite sure if he wanted to talk to her, or was simply getting coffee, she said nothing. But as the uncomfortable silence progressed, Sara let her mind wander. She couldn't help but think about the last few weeks. She had barely heard a thing from him outside of work - and even then that was strictly work related chat. It had also been quite a while since they had even actually worked together on a case. It seemed that Grissom was deliberately assigning her different cases. She was frankly very close to giving up on him altogether. She couldn't continue to let herself become vulnerable and think she had any kind of chance, only to be shot down time and time again.
Standing there uncomfortably for what felt like hours, Sara finished collecting her belongings. She was still unsure as to what Grissom wanted, but decided that the awkwardness was closing in and she just had to get out. Fighting back the urge to burst out in uncalled for laughter at the shear awkward scene playing in front of her eyes, Sara slammed her locker door shut. A half smile played on her lips as she started walking. Deciding it would be rude to not say anything to Grissom at all, she called her goodbye over her shoulder. "Bye, Grissom, see you later!" And out into the bright sunlight she walked, shaking her head in disbelief.
----------
Standing in the now empty break room, Grissom's hung his head. He knew he had just missed an opportunity to talk to Sara - to say something, anything to her. Standing rooted to the spot, he just couldn't go after her, fully knowing that he could probably catch her before she left the lab. He had blown it and was unsure as to whether she would even give him another chance after everything he had done, or in his case - not done.