A/N: Here's the next one. It's my autumn holiday now, so I won't be back until Friday. Enjoy reading!!!!

Thanks for the reviews (again that egoboost !!! ;-) )

Chapter 23

Weeks passed without any more incidents between Catherine and me. She tried to talk to me about what happened that night but I just couldn't, so I avoided the topic as much as I could. In the end she just stopped trying. Something I was very thankful for. Our relationship didn't change really, at first we were a bit awkward around each other, but luckily we got over it.

But the one-night-stand wasn't that great for my mood, from time to time I felt awful and I took it out on anyone who was in the neighborhood. One of those unlucky ones was Grissom, he was only trying to help me out with some evidence I couldn't figure out. He wasn't on this case, but he knew that when we had a slow night I would work on some old evidence that wasn't finished yet. Tonight was a slow night and I'm sitting in my lab with the evidence spread across the lay-out table. Actually I'm not really getting any work done, Catherine was wearing this sexy blouse and since I have seen her I can't stop thinking about it. Knowing all to well what's hidden beneath it.

"Hi, I thought I would find you here." Grissom's voice startles me.

"Yeah I am trying to figure out something…"

I hoped he was just going to step out again, but of course he had other plans. "Maybe I could have a look, you never know wh…"

"Oh you're still here." I say rather harsh not giving him a chance to finish.

He frowns wondering why I'm being rude when he's only trying to help. He's visibly contemplating something, which simply pisses me off. I just want to be alone! Is that so hard to understand?! He opens his mouth, he finally found something to say but I'm not interested.

"Grissom, I don't want your help. I am capable enough to do this on my own."

Again he remains silent, reflecting on something to say and trying to figure out what makes me act this way. "Just say something! Could you act like a normal human being for just this once!" it comes out a lot louder and harsher than it sounded in my head.

Grissom's expression changes from caring to annoyed. "Okay, maybe you don't know this but I am still your boss. What's the matter with you?" his voice is gentle not matching his facial expression at all.

"I'm sorry…" I offer. "Gris, I didn't mean… I … I'm sorry, I really am."

"It's okay, Sara. Forget it, but what's wrong with you? I noticed a change in your behavior since the case with Ha.. with the Checkerbox, did something happen?" I am stunned, Grissom noticed a change in me…

"It's okay to say his name, you know." I give him a small smile. "Well yeah, he was trying to cheat on his girlfriend with me."

"Oh…" I don't know what surprises him more, the fact that I told him this or the fact that Hank did this to me. "I'm sorry Sara."

"Don't apologize for something you didn't do. He's a jerk. But he's not the reason for my behavior. It's … it's complicated." I don't like to talk about my feelings, but I have to admit that it actually feels good. But Grissom doesn't seem to be the right person to discuss them with.

He clearly thinks otherwise "You want to have breakfast after shift, then we can talk. Don't even try to come up with an excuse, it's a disciplinary action for earlier. Like I said, I'm still your boss." He smiles widely and leaves my lab.

Great, breakfast with Grissom to talk about my feelings. Well, he is a great friend and he's the only one, except Greg, I can talk about everything with including myself. Only 4 hours to go…

Shift is over, I walk towards the locker room to change into something new and clean. I'm a bit nervous about my breakfast 'date' with Grissom and I secretly hope he won't show up because some big case interferes. The locker room door opens and someone steps inside.

"Thought I might find you here, all set?" Well, he's not working a case…

"Yeah." I try to smile reassuringly, but fail majestically.

Twenty minutes later we arrive at one of Grissom's favorite diners. I cut off the engine and sigh deeply, here we go…

We sit at a table and order something to eat. The waitress brings us a hot cup of coffee, thank god I could really use one… Grissom hasn't said a word since we left the lab, which only results in making me even more nervous. It's like he's thinking about a really good question to ask, it only makes me feel like a suspect waiting to be interrogated.

"So…what happened to this nice, hardworking woman I love to work with…" he smiles at me.

I sigh and sip my coffee before answering "You're sure you want to know?"

He only nods encouragingly, as if that would ease my nerves. But I start anyway, I tell him everything about my 'relationship' with Hank, like I expected he was also surprised when he found out I didn't really have a relationship with him. He was also pleased because, just like Catherine, he had a bad feeling about Hank too. Great friends I have, why didn't they say something… I can't really blame them I wouldn't have listened anyway.

For a moment I want to tell him everything about Catherine and my feelings for her, our friendship, the one night stand… but I'm too afraid for his reaction. He's still our boss, maybe he thinks my feelings could interfere with my work, judging by my behavior lately he might even be right. So I decide against it. I tell him that she was there for me and about our 'dates' after shift and he is glad to hear I confided in someone.

I change the subject to forensics because I'm done talking about myself and I know Grissom won't object to discussing something work related instead. My plan worked, we finished our meal having a comfortable discussion about the latest findings. I try to stifle a yawn, off course Grissom notices.

"You're tired, maybe we should go home and catch some sleep."

"Good idea."

We say goodbye and drive home.

Thanks for reading!!! Oh, before I forget, Happy Halloween :-)