GRISSOM VS. THE DOMINATRIX

CHAPTER TEN

At the beginning of the next shift, the team caught a break on the case at the Rampart. In the hallway, Sara approached Grissom.

"Hey. You, um, seem to have this case in hand. Okay if I work on that one–the two, rather–from Tuesday?"

"Sure," he said warmly, grateful to have her meet his eyes without reproach.

"And borrow Greg?" Sara added.

"Good idea."

She turned to go.

"Oh, and Sara?"

"Yeah?" Her head turned.

"I don't tell you enough. But, uh, you do good work. Great work."

She flashed him a smile and it did his sore heart good. "Thanks."

"And Greg...would still be a lab rat, not a promising CSI, if it weren't for you."

A full grin. "I'll tell him that. See you...later?"

Grissom returned her smile shyly. "Keep me posted, Sara. If you need any help..."

"I'll ask. Thanks." Walking away, she turned back to look and pursed her lips in that adorable way at his pleased expression.

His good mood lasted until he returned to his office. And found Lady Heather waiting for him.

Grissom groaned inwardly. What are YOU doing here?

"Heather. This is a...surprise. What can I do for you?"

"Gil, I need your help. My daughter Zoe is missing and I'm worried for her safety."

Heather continued, explaining about the therapist who had seduced the young Harvard student, gotten her pregnant, and that the last time they had spoken Zoe said she was dropping out of school to have the baby. Grissom tried to be sympathetic and ease her out the door simultaneously.

"I don't know what I can do, Heather. This is a case for the police, the Missing Persons Unit. You should talk to Captain Brass..."

"Captain Brass despises me."

"Nevertheless, a CSI in Las Vegas is in no position to locate a student in Massachusetts, you understand," he pleaded.

Sara breezed in, looking at a folder in her hands. Oh God no.

"Gris? Did you see this...?" She looked up and stopped. "Oh! I didn't know you had..."

Her eyes narrowed, examining this visitor as if she was a murder weapon, "...company." The last word had an overtone of disdain.

Lady Heather was looking Sara over as well. Grissom looked from one to the other, at a loss.

Heather stepped forward and extended her hand. "Heather Kessler. Are you Sara Sidle?"

Sara shook hands limply, looking confused. "I am. Heather...Lady Heather?"

"That's right."

Sara squared her shoulders. If she'd had hackles, they would be up. "And you know my name because...?"

"Because Gil," she waved a manicured hand in his direction, "told me a great deal about you."

Sara settled in a chair and glared at Grissom. "Did he now. Share?"

"Sara...Heather..." he stuttered awkwardly.

"We've met." Sara's tone was no-nonsense.

"This isn't the time or the place," he began desperately.

"Oh, I think it is both, wouldn't you say, Heather?" The women exchanged a look. Heather crossed the room and closed and locked the door, then returned to stand behind Sara. Both of them looked at Grissom expectantly.

Grissom couldn't have spoken if he tried. His mouth was parched. He looked over his desk and grabbed a mug half-filled with cold coffee and swallowed it, his mind racing.

When he met Heather's eyes again, she spoke. "Have you told her?" Grissom shook his head.

"Told me what?"

"Have you done...or said...anything...that we talked about?"

"She knows...I went to see you..." He extended his scarred wrists and glared at Heather.

"Does she know what you did...what we did...there?"

"Heather. No. Please!"

"When were you planning to tell her?"

"I'm sitting right here," Sara said, annoyed. She fixed Grissom with a cold stare. "Tell me. Now."

Grissom sank into his chair and rubbed his beard. Sara was at eye level and Heather looked at him steadily, lined up over Sara's head.

"Speak now or forever hold your peace, Grissom," Heather told him. He felt pinned like one of his mounted butterflies.

What the hell. Here goes nothing. "I did go to see Heather, Sara. I did so...because...I wanted, no, needed, to talk about you...about us."

"What about...us?" Her tone was less harsh.

"About how badly I've treated you. How I've...led you on...and how I've hurt you, Sara."

The atmosphere in the room softened slightly. Heather gave him an encouraging nod.

Sara gazed at him. "You did tell me that." She looked up at Heather. "He did."

"Good. And?"

"And that...I care about you Sara. I care about you a great deal," Grissom said in a rush, suddenly letting go. "I always have." The last was almost a whisper. Sara's eyes were wide. He extended his hand, palm up, across the desk. Wonder of wonders, Sara took it and linked their fingers together.

"I care about you too, Gris," she said softly.

He nodded and looked up at her shyly. Her hand was warm, the skin soft.

"Why couldn't you tell me...before now?"

"I don't know. Maybe because of Heather? Maybe because...because you terrify me."

A short huff of surprise. "Me?"

"You do. I can't seem to find the words before you..."

"Before I leave?" He nodded. "Why now?"

"I can't take it anymore. I'm tired of...fighting my feelings. Hating myself. The guilt, the effort to push you away, it's too much." He stood up and walked around his desk, still holding Sara's hand. "Heather? Would you excuse us? I'll...talk to you later, about that other matter."

Heather gave him a satisfied smirk and went to the door.

"Oh, and Lady Heather?" She looked back over her shoulder, eyebrows raised. "Um. Thank you."

THE END

A/N: As always, I have enjoyed your reviews, kind readers. Hope you send more. And tell me if you want the Epilogue I have in my head? Thank you. Really. ILoveJorja