Disclaimer: I don't own csi but I really wish I did :)

What Does It Take?

In A Daze

Grissom watched as Nick and Catherine looked at him in shock.

"Grissom?" "Gil?" They asked in surprise. They looked almost the same as they had a few years ago. Catherine still had the motherly air around her, Nick looked as emotional as he always had.

As socially awkward as ever, he stayed silent. He didn't bother to pay attention to them much, all his thoughts were on Sara. She was next door, being held hostage. How could they even think? Then again, he pondered, they're not married to one of the hostages. They're not in love with Sara.

Finally Jim decided to speak, staying hushed.

"I called him. Actually Catherine, I thought you would have." He said, and her eyes flew to the floor, obviously embarrassed.

"But how did you get here?" Nick asked, changing the subject. "It takes forever to get from Paris to Vegas." And there he went, not missing a detail. He never did.

"I was in New York. Giving a lecture at Columbia University. When Jim called me, I got on the first flight available." He explained, watching the realization form on the others faces.

Ray seemed out of place in this all, but Grissom could see, being the insightful man he was, that he was a part of the team now. Maybe as much as Grissom himself had been.

Catherine's eyes moved up and met his, apologetic. He tried to look reassuring, but probably ended up seeming curious.

"Gil, I... I'm sorry. That I didn't call you. I didn't even think about it. I was so worried... I'm sorry..." She said, stuttering. Gil felt bad for her, she was his best friend and somehow, having her apologize like that... it seemed odd.

"Catherine," He said, interrupting. "It's okay. I just want Sara safe. And Greg too." He added, realizing how odd it felt not to have the goofy man in the room.

She nodded, and he raised his eyebrow. It was a subconscious thing by now, a habit. But Catherine had always teased him about it, calling him the Spock of the crime lab.

"What exactly is the situation though?" He asked, still worried for Sara. She was his everything, his world, his life... everything.

"Well, 911 got a silent call from Greg's phone," Ray began, and Grissom noticed that he really cared as much as the rest of them did. It was nice knowing that. "So we stationed outside the hotel. They were being held hostage. I think the man panicked because we were calling Sara's phone, so he let her have one phone call to shut us up. She called me, and tried to explain without him catching on."

Why had Sara called Ray? Had they become close? Gil didn't know why he cared, but he did. Why not Cath or Nick? But in his heart he knew the answer. They wouldn't have fully listened, or stayed calm for long enough.

"From what we know, the man caught them by surprise, Greg wasn't carrying but the attacker's got Sara's gun. It's been a long time, but they're not hurt." Nick said, the emotion thick in his voice.

Gil didn't know why, but Nicky had gotten progressively more emotional over the years. He'd called him on it, all those years ago, telling him it wouldn't help his work. But maybe he was wrong. Nick was an incredible CSI, even with his emotions driving him.

Grissom nodded simply. The emotion and tension that followed was in-ignorable.

They stood in silence for a few more minutes before the laptop on the table crackled. He knew what it was, a sound amplifier.

He made a fierce eye contact with Catherine as they heard a voice. It was obviously the attacker's, and it was a harsh yell.

"I told you to stop that!"

There was a brief silence before they heard stumbles and footsteps. Grissom looked at Jim, but knew they couldn't risk it.

"No you don't!" The man screamed, louder than before. They all knew what was coming next. The only reason they didn't move, was because they hoped maybe, just maybe, fate wouldn't succeed. But it did.

A shot rocketed through the air and his heart shattered. No! Sara! She couldn't be dead!

The team had all ran in a daze behind Brass, right to where SWAT was bursting out the door. Before they could get anywhere, another shot was fired.

What did it mean? That he was now shooting the other CSI? Or that he had missed? Gil hoped with all his heart that he had.

They were now running out the door, and only seconds had passed. His heart was pounding, his mind racing and his body acting on auto pilot.

A third shot. So he had missed. Oh god, Sara. Please. Please, let her be alive. And Greg. They have to be alive! His mind was going a million miles an hour as they rushed into the hall, SWAT trying to open the door. In the room, he could hear glass shattering. And a fourth shot. No.

His was beyond worried. The silence that followed, even though it was for a millisecond, was unbearable. What...if...? No. He thought.

They were survivors. And he knew they would die protecting each other. But that's what he was worried about.

XXX

Greg's head was screaming in pain. He barely registered it as the man slumped to the ground, blood pouring from his head. He noticed Sara slide down the wall, seeming likes she couldn't believe what had just happened.

He was still on his back, holding his skull when the door burst open. He was sideways, and couldn't see it properly, but didn't dare move his damaged head. He definitely had a concussion.

All of a sudden SWAT ran passed him, followed by Brass. Within seconds Catherine was above him, her hand on his forehead. She looked like she had been crying.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" She asked quickly, her finger pushing a stray lock of hair away from his face.

Being the same Greg he always had been, he replied with "I've been better."

Here eyes softened and she sighed, smirking. Greg couldn't believe it was over. It really was.

He let his eyes move to find Sara who was hugging Grissom tightly. Wait... Grissom! He was here! Greg hadn't realized how much he had missed him until now. The whole room seemed wiser with him in it.

He let his gaze settle on them for a moment, seeing how happy they looked. Sara was leaning into him, and his arms were holding her more tightly then Greg would have previously thought possible. There was a developed bruise on her cheek now, a reminder of the beginning of the ordeal.

With Catherine's help he moved to sit, then stand up slowly, ignoring the pain in his head. That could wait. She hugged him, before walking to talk to Brass. But he felt her motherly gaze on him.

All of a sudden Nick was there, pulling him into a hug, making his head hurt.

"Watch it," He muttered as Nick released him. "concussion." Greg touched his temple lightly.

"Sorry man. I'm just glad your okay." Nick said, a stressed smile on his lips.

Obviously they had been next door, with SWAT, listening to everything that had happened.

Ray walked towards him smiling. "You okay?"

"Just another day." He said, making the older man smile.

He then turned to see Grissom and Sara looking at him. He looked at them somewhat like 'what are you looking at?' but saw Sara smile.

She stepped towards him and crushed him in a hug. He wrapped his arms around her, letting his chin rest on her shoulder.

It seemed like forever before they let go. Grissom smiled at him, but they didn't need to say anything.

"Thank you." Greg said to Sara, who had just saved his life. Not like it was anything new though.

She gave him a quizzical look.

"Your thanking me? Come on Greg, take some responsibility. If you hadn't jumped him in the beginning he would have shot me in an instant. Thank you." She said, not letting him have a break

Grissom put a hand on his shoulder. "Good job Greg. I'm proud of you." He said, in the same wise, clever tone he'd always possessed.

"And of you." He said to Sara, tightening his had on her waist. She just looked in his eyes lovingly.

Brass cleared his throat and everyone looked over at him."What are we doing about the scene?"

Catherine smiled at Grissom. "Give it to day-shift."

"Ecklie's gonna be pissed." Nick stated, but Greg knew he didn't give a shit. Nobody did.

"Screw Ecklie. We've got better things to do." She said bluntly, looking at Greg and Sara. "Like getting you two to a hospital."

Sara rolled her eyes, but didn't argue. Greg didn't bother. He was way too tired, and honestly, he knew he should let her have her way.

And so they walked out of the room as a group, hands on each other's shoulders, relieved.

Somehow, as ridiculous as it may have sounded, Greg was happy. And no, before you ask, he couldn't explain why. He was just happy.

Little did he know, so was Sara, and Nick, and Catherine, and Ray, and even, surprisingly enough, Grissom.

And that, was more important than anything.

"Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."-Unknown.

Finally finished. I could have written more, but I think its better this way. You can imagine the rest of it. :) Please review, I love you guys.