A/N: Takes place directly after "Grave Danger."

Summary: My thoughts on how Grissom and Sara might have started their relationship...

Disclaimer: CSI belongs to CBS and no one else... I'm just renting the characters :-)

Note: This is my first fanfic EVAR! Any feedback would be greatly appreciated...

Sara falls Grissom's arms easily when he pulls her close. He's lightheaded for a moment and realizes that they've never been this close to each other. She rests her head in the crook of his neck and cries softly. His scientific mind makes rapid lists of all of the sensory details: her eyelashes tickling his neck, the almost unnoticeable scent of the shampoo in her hair, her fingertips pressing into his back, the narrowness of her waist as he holds her closer. He will relish all of these later.

But now he's more interested in her, in what she needs from him. He holds her there for a few minutes until the tears subside. He feels her body start to tense up as she comes back to herself, comes to grips with where she is and who she's with.

"Gris…" she says hoarsely. She leans back into his arms so she can look him in the eyes. Something in them makes her pause, but then she continues, "Gris, you can let go of me now." Her tone is sardonic and she leans away from him, going back to her usual technique of evasion.

Tonight, of all nights, he won't let her. He holds her firmly, his eyes intense and unwavering. "Sara, tell me what's going on with you." It's not a question, but that doesn't mean she'll give in.

She's still trying to escape him, trying to run away from how she let him in a moment ago. She looks away, but he tightens his grip on her waist, causing her to reestablish eye contact. He wonders why it's such a battle with them, just getting her to talk to him. She probably feels the same way about me, he muses.

"I'm fine, really…" she begins lamely. Another tear falls down her face and she's done for. Her composure breaks and she talks through her sobs. "It's just too much, I think… when did this job get so damn dangerous? After that night in the insane asylum… and now Nick almost dying…"

"I know," he says, his voice full of compassion that he never knew he had. "It's a lot to process, if you'll pardon the pun." He smiles kindly at her and is rewarded with a small laugh in response. Her smile, with all of its lightness and charm, disarms him completely.

He's never been much of a risk taker, especially when it comes to matters of the heart, but tonight is different somehow. She let him see her weak side and he let her know it was okay to have one. It feels as though something inside him is rising from the dead. All of the attraction, the longing, the passion he sublimated for so long, rises up inside him and his mouth goes dry when he realizes how much he wants her now.

Tension mounts between them and she reacts to his change in mood. Her eyes fill with confusion even as his fill with purpose. But this kind of thing requires delicacy, especially with a relationship as loaded as theirs. Slowly, he thinks. Go slowly.

Gil moves one of his hands from around her waist and gently brushes her tears away with his thumb. She's entranced by his touch, her breaths shallow and nervous. No time for hesitation, not now. He leans in and presses his lips to hers in the sweetest of kisses. She breathes in hard in surprise, too shocked to kiss back. So he kisses her again, a little firmer this time, and she's ready for it. The chasteness of their kissing melts away and their lips meet, part, and meet again in a dizzying and intensifying dance.

Overcome by his emotions, Gil breaks away from her lips, moving his mouth down her neck in slow, luxurious kisses. She moans softly and her hands grip his upper arms. This is it, he thinks, this is what I wanted… with her… I love her.

Instead of fleeing from this terrifying revelation, Gil finds her lips again and kisses harder, willing his love for her to communicate itself through his mouth and tongue that delightedly snakes in and out of her mouth. She responds with equal enthusiasm and he can't remember when he's been so aroused… or so happy.

But even Gil Grissom's luck runs out sometimes. A car door slams at the other end of the parking lot. Startled, Sara pulls away and the spell is broken. She can't even meet his eyes as she mumbles a farewell and piles into her car. His precious gift of speech suddenly lost to him, he can only watch her go.

Will update as soon as I can. Thanks for all the great replies! They keep me motivated. :-)