AN: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far, I appreciate it.
The cases were all open and shut; the gang spent their last hour and a half back at the lab. Within thirty minutes of their arrival back at the lab Brass, dressed in a red suit with a white beard, arrived
"Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas, Everyone!" The man exclaimed in a merry voice, receiving a round of laughter from the crew.
"Has everyone been good this year?" the man questioned with a twinkle in his eyes.
Greg got a goofy grin across his face and leapt onto 'Santa's' lap. "I have, Santa!"
"Oomph! Greg, if you don't get off of me now you won't be getting your present."
The youngest CSI squeaked a girlish squeak and jumped off of Brass' lap. "Sorry," he responded sheepishly, before being awarded with a tidily wrapped present. Once unwrapped, he saw that it was a whoopee cushion. "Sweet!" He exclaimed!
Nick was given his present next. His was a new game for his x-box. To Warrick 'Santa' gave two tickets to Hawaii for him and his wife, seeing as they never got their honeymoon.
Catherine was next, and was given a mini manicure and pedicure set, as well as a gift from the lap to Lindsey. Finally, only Gil and Sara were left, and their mighty leader would be left until last.
"Miss Sidle, have you been a good girl this year?"
"Yes, Santa, I've been very good," she noted as she stood, letting her light frame carry her towards Brass.
The jolly man handed her an envelope, which resulted in a quirked brow from the woman. She then shrugged her shoulders and opened the envelope. "Wow, this had to be Catherine's idea," she said, eyeing the CSI in question, and then the contents, an all expenses paid spa visit.
Catherine simply smiled at Sara as the younger woman sat back down in her seat, next to Gil.
Their supervisor was so busy watching Sara that he didn't even hear Brass calling him, until Sara gently jabbed him in the side.
"Earth to Grissom, Santa's calling," the brunette stated, smirking ever so slightly.
He nodded and retrieved his own envelope from Brass. He waited until he was seated to open it and then, only after several long moments of eyeing the item, did he finally open it. He then turned his eyes towards Catherine, suspiciously.
"Did you get a two for one deal, Willows?" he asked as Sara peered of his shoulder. He could tell she was smirking without looking.
"Who says that was my doing?"
"That tell all smirk of yours, Cath," he responded, receiving curious looks from the other men in the room.
"What did yah get, Boss Man?" Greg enquired.
"Grissom just rolled his eyes at this, refusing to answer, therefore, Sara spoke up for him.
"An all expenses paid spa visit."
"Isn't that what you got, Sar?" the lab rat questioned, receiving a nod from the woman.
"That would be why he asked the question."
Greg 'ahhed' slightly as he sipped at his specialty coffee.
Catherine stood at that moment. "Okay, folks, shift's over, and I'm going home to my daughter."
"Wish her a Merry Christmas from us, Cath," Grissom said as he looked over his crew. "Go home guys, have a Merry Christmas. I'll see you all after the holidays," he stated, dismissing them.
Sara was the last to exit the room, only to be stopped just outside the doorway by her supervisor.
"Sara… you want to get breakfast… or something?" he hesitated, trying to make eye contact with her.
Sara tried not to, but it was useless avoiding his tense blue orbs.
"I… uh… sure," she said in a quiet tone. "I just need to grab my coat…"
"Me too," Grissom responded and walked with her to the locker room. Secretly he didn't want to giver her the opportunity to second guess her answer.
"We can take the Denali, f that's okay with you. I'll drive you back here to get your SUV," he offered, she nodded.
She knew he had an alterior motive, but she really didn't care right now.
The pair walked out to the parking garage, where they walked to stall fourty and Grissom's black SUV. He opened the passengers door for her, closing it once she was in. He then proceeded to walk around and get in on the driver side.
He wasn't really sure where to go for breakfast, but after a little consideration he thought a home cooked meal would do her good. The man turned the vehicle onto his street.
"Griss, where are we going?"
"I thought I'd make us some omelet's, if that's okay with you?" he offered, sending a quick glance towards her before pulling into his driveway.
"You know I'm a…"
"Vegetarian. Hence, vegetarian omelet's," he responded before climbing out of the vehicle.
Sara was already out before he had reached her side. Instead he stepped up beside her and placed his hand on the small of her back, an unusual move on his part. For the second time that day he felt a shiver run up her spine.
He was momentarily amazed that he could do that to her, until he brushed it off as the cold of winter getting to her. He carried on, at this point, unlocking the door to his condo, he ushered her inside and helped her out of her coat, which he hung in the closet beside his.
"Make yourself at home, Sar…" he stopped when he saw her standing in the middle of his living room, looking around. He suppressed a smile before heading into the kitchen to make the promised breakfast
Once breakfast was finished he took it out to her. He then offered her something to drink, she opted for water, so did Griss.
The next few minutes passed in silence, outside of the noise their forks made.
"Why did you do this?"
"Do what, Sara?"
"Invite me for breakfast?"
"Because I care, and I know you probably haven't eaten in several days. And I know you, Sara, at least I hope I do," he gave, casting a most furtive glance her way.
Sara said nothing, she didn't dare. She feared that her voice would give her away. Instead she finished her breakfast and sipped at her water.
"Thanks for breakfast, Grissom, but I should probably go. Shower, maybe sleep…" she shrugged.
Gil sighed, this hadn't gone the way he'd hoped it would. "If you promise to sleep, Sara… promise."
"I promise, Gil, I promise. I'll go home and sleep."
Grissom nodded. "Alright, let's go pick up the Tahoe," he responded, taking their dishes away while Sara put her shoes on. He then helped her with her coat before pulling his own shoes and coat on. That done he lead her out to the Denali, locking the door behind him.
He did just as he said he would and drove her to her SUV. Once there he gave her a hug goodbye, holding onto her longer than was probably necessary.
"I'll see you this evening, Sara. Be careful, and sleep, please," he gently pleaded, before watching her drive off, and heading home himself.
AN: Small warning about the next chapter, it needs a bit of warning, there's a smidgen of angst with a happy ending, well, sort of happy. Just remember, it's not the last chapter!