When Sara awoke in the morning, she was surprised to find Grissom still with her and even more surprised to find her hands gripping tight to her shirt. She blinked a few times, still holding onto him. She knew him. When he woke up, he'd leave again and he'd forget everything.

He was asleep for only a few more minutes before waking up himself, surprised to see Sara awake. After all the sleep that she missed due to work and nightmares, he figured that she'd be sleeping for while, not waking up as early as she did. She was still clinging, he noted, and it broke his heart. "Morning, Sara."

Sara sighed and looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot red—she still needed sleep. "Morning, Grissom," she said as he sat up with, grabbing his glasses. She looked fearful as she let go for a second, stretching her arms before grabbing his shirt again. His expression looked some amused and then other wise pissed.

"Sara, how about be go eat something and then we need to talk, okay?" Last night, he didn't really get to say anything, and he really didn't care to—he was going to let her get what she wanted out. "If you let me go, I'll go make us breakfast and you can go shower, okay?"

"I don't think we should talk, Grissom," she said, loosening her grip and moving, now, she that she was sitting on the bed. "You said what you thought last night," she said, not hearing what he said when she was asleep. "I am just some girl, remember? We don't need to talk about anything. I am going to talk to Ecklie and then maybe resign. I can't do this anymore. I am sick of hurting."

Her words shocked him. She was going to leave him? He felt his stomach twist and he didn't say anything for a long time, just staring at her. "I didn't mean it, Sara! It just came out, I swear," he said, shaking his head. "Please, Sara, don't leave; the lab needs you." I need you.

"See, everything is about the lab! You need me because the lab needs me, that's all," she told him, his eyes showing too many emotions for him to unmask. "I can't stay here anymore, Grissom; there are too many nightmares and broken dreams. I can't, Grissom," said Sara, her voice breaking. "I have to get away."

"So take leave, Sara," he said quickly. "You have long enough; just go and clear your head and then come back. Just don't leave, please." He couldn't have her leave. But maybe that'd be better. He couldn't have her, so maybe she needed to leave. She needed to be happy. "But, we need to talk," he said.

Shaking her head, she stood, her legs shaking. "No. Brass was wrong, you know? He told me over and over again that you did love me, that I just needed to wait and give you time; I have. I have gave you more time that ever needed and everything is still the same." She shook her head. "Love hurts, and I don't want to hurt anymore," she said, fleeing to the bathroom, tears down her cheeks.

She didn't know when the hell she became so emotional. She used to be good at keeping everything in, not letting anyone know. Grissom would always find out, though, and make her sleep, make her do something. Now, everyone saw that something was up and almost everyone blamed Grissom. No one was stupid. Everyone knew how the two felt, but the two of them.

Grissom sat there for a moment, not knowing what to do. He had to talk to her and he had to make her feel okay; he had to make himself feel okay as well. He could hear her stifled cries and his heart broke again. He sighed and stood up, heading into the kitchen. He wanted to go to her. He wanted to go there and hold her, but he couldn't. Instead, he busied himself with breakfast. He was pretty surprised that she had everything needed.

Some twenty minutes or so later, breakfast was done and Sara still hadn't emerged from the bathroom and this worried him. He placed everything on plates before heading to the bathroom and knocking once, getting no answer and knocking again. After several times, he open the door to find Sara in the midst of another breakdown. He was confused, he concluded as he moved forward, taking her into his arms. "Sara, what's wrong?" he questioned as he tears came down harder. Maybe coming in here wasn't a good idea; he seemed to be the obvious problem. "Talk to me, please."

She shook her head back and forth, trying to get out of his arms again but he held her firm against him. "It hurts and you're just going to leave me again! I don't want you to leave and your going to," she said before resuming her attempts to get away from him. "I love you and you don't even care. You. Don't. Fucking. Care," she said, thinking that he needed it broken down. Why couldn't he see the problem? She knew that everyone else could.

"You're wrong," Grissom said, his voice turning cold, anger in his eyes, making her cry harder. "Dammit," he said more to himself than her. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice softer. "I do care, more than I have ever cared before, I just…I don't know who to tell you. I don't know how to put everything into words. Maybe what I feel doesn't matter because all I ever seem to do is hurt you. I am just scared, Sara. Half the things I say are a lie to you; I just don't want you to know how I really feel."

She looked up at that and quit trying to get away from his. Their faces were an inch apart but no one moved; no one found it a good idea to do anything. "What does that mean? Why are lying to me, Grissom, in the first place? Why the hell don't you just say everything that you really want to say and get it over with?" she said, letting her anger get the better of it. "I am a big girl; I can handle the truth. You don't have to act like you care about me."

"I am not lying about that, Sara Sidle! I do care about you. I care about you more than I have ever cared about anyone! I just…I don't want to hurt you and I don't know what to say. I don't know how to make everything come out right and I don't know if it is the best idea, either," he told her, wiping a tear away. "I am afraid to tell you; I am scared to let you get closer than you are now. I am scared that it'll hurt. I am afraid it will hurt more if you leave me."

"Just tell me," she managed.

He was quiet for a while. He was quit for a good five minutes, trying to get everything that he needed to say in the correct order; he didn't want to sound like a stupid idiot. "I care, Sara. I care more than I ever have before. I get jealous and hurt, but I don't know how to tell you any of it," he shook his head at her. "Sara, I think I love you."

Silence.

don't forget reviews, all right? i don't want to be a bitch, but I am going to ask for at least 5 reviews per chapter, okay? I can see how many people are reading and no one seems to say anything. just a simple 'i like it. update' works for me.

also, read Grissom1 (penny's) stories. i swear, i have to go to a meeting because of her. it's a deadly addiction.