With the ice pack held tightly to her face Sara set out in search for Grissom, to her annoyance she couldn't find him anywhere. Sighing Sara admitted defeat thinking he must have gone out somewhere she thought to herself. Curling up on the lounge, she felt the tears she had been holding back pouring down her face. She had no idea what had just happened. Did Grissom really believe she would cheat on him, after everything they went through to simply be together, did he truly believe she would throw it away? Sara cried for a long time, and when her tears stopped coming she realised Grissom still hadn't come back. It had been three hours since he'd left, and Sara wanted so badly to see him, to know he was ok, know they were ok.

Sara picked up her mobile phone and dialled Grissom, she managed to hold back the tears as she heard his voice message. Slamming the phone shut Sara decided to go look for him, she knew the longer she left him to be, the worse whatever was coming would be. Sara grabbed her keys and wallet and headed out the door.

The first place Sara looked was the museum, Grissom often came here when he had bad days and even though he'd been away the staff still knew him. After inquiring at the front counter Sara established that he wasn't there, sighing she exited the building. Vegas was a big town, she didn't know where she should start.

Sara searched all the places she knew Grissom would hang out, dinners, cafes, gardens, she even drive out to their favourite spot in the dessert and still she didn't find him. Sara began to feel anxious, she had no idea where he was but she needed to see him, to hold him and with every minute that passed, the fear that he would be gone forever slowly ate away at her.

Sara began to head home, she out of places to search. Suddenly, she remembered a place Grissom had gone once before, Sara and him had fought, it was their first big fight she hadn't wanted him to go on sabbatical and harsh words were exchanged, he left the house and he'd been gone for ages. When Sara finally tracked him down in this dingy little bar on the edge of town, she found him inside drinking away memories of that argument.

As she pulled up in front of that same bar, Sara prayed her was inside. She pulled open the doors and glanced around, for the early afternoon, there were a lot of people already drinking. In the back corner of the bar huddle in a booth Sara found him, he had a bottle of scotch and a glass in font of him, he looked like he was daring the bottle to win him over so he would be numb to pain.

Sara slid in into the chair across from him, she slowly took the bottle from his hands and replaced in with her own hands.

'Gil, what are you doing here?' Sara asked softly to him

Grissom looked up at the sound of her voice, but cringed and quickly looked away when he saw the mark he left on her face.

'Sara, you shouldn't have come after me, just leave' Grissom said without looking at her

'Why Gil, why should I leave, you have to believe me, nothing happened between me and Greg' Sara could feel her voice trembling

This time Grissom looked up meeting her stare

'I know Sara, I just, I just over reacted i suppose, but that's not why you shouldn't be here, I, I' Grissom began to stutter 'I did something I promised you i would never do'

Grissom reached up and touched Sara's face where his fist had connected. Sara watched as tear slid down his face. She lifted her hand to his face a wiped them away. She felt her heart breaking to see him in so much pain.

'Gil, it was an accident, I know that you weren't aiming for me , I got in the way, it's ok really' Sara tried her best to reassure him but Grissom was having none of her logic

'it doesn't matter Sara, after everything you told me about your childhood, about your father, I swore I would never ever hurt you, I was supposed to be the one protecting you, instead you need protecting from me.' Grissom couldn't look at her face anymore and his eyes dropped to the table in front of him

Sara watched him with pity; she wished she could make him understand. Sara got up and moved to the side Grissom was sitting on, she cupped his head with her hands.

'Gil Grissom, you listen to me, I know you, and I know that you did not do this on purpose, you have always protected me, and I know you always will. If I thought for one minute you did this to me on purpose you wouldn't see me for dust. I know the person you are inside, under all your pretences, and I know this eating you up, but I promise you, you are nothing like my father. Gil do you hear me, nothing'

Sara could now feel her own tears on her face

She stayed there, as she waited for Grissom to understand what she had just said

Grissom looked into her eyes, he saw her soul and his reflected in them, he couldn't imagine life without her, but he had hurt her, even if she forgave him, he didn't think he could forgive himself

'Sara, I love you, more than anything, but look what loving you did to you, I was so full of jealousy i wanted to hurt Greg, instead I did the one thing i never dreamed of' Grissom tried to pull away from Sara gaze but she held on tight

'Gil, please, listen to me, it's ok, I promise you, I know why you were trying to hit Greg, and honestly it makes me happy the you care so much, baby just please try and let this go, I'm fine, there'll be no lasting damage. Please'

Sara was practically begging Grissom, as she lent in and gently kissed his lips. She felt him relaxing in her hands, she moved her hands away from his face and wrapped the around his neck. She pulled away slightly, staying close enough that she could whisper to him

'Come on, let's go home'

She could see the tears still in Grissom's eyes.

'Gil I love you,' she leant in and kissed him again.

Sara stood up and grabbed Grissom hands, pulling him toward her of the chair. Grissom followed obligingly, he still felt sick about what he had done, and he was drunk enough that movement was hard. Sara put her hands around his waist and lead him out to the door. Once they were both in the car Grissom turned to Sara and spoke

'Why?' was all he asked?

Sara turned to him, slightly puzzled by his question

'Why what baby?' she asked as she turned to look at him

Grissom sighed

'Why do you love me?' was Grissom response

It was Sara's turn to sigh, she shifted in her seat so her whole body was facing him, she took his hand into hers

'Gil, your my best friend, you've been there for me when I thought my whole world would end, you make me feel special, you make me happy, you chase away my nightmares, you make me feel safe, you make me feel loved' Sara kissed his hand when she finished speaking

Grissom gave her a small smile

'Did i tell you I love you Sara?'

Sara smiled and lent in and kissed him

'Everyday' she whispered softly

As Sara and Grissom drove home, Sara kept noticing Grissom looking her over at her. They were about halfway home when Sara finally had enough of it

'Ok Gil, baby, stop it' she said sounding agitated

'Stop what?' Grissom asked innocently

'Looking at me every two seconds, it's freaking me out'

Grissom turned away from her and stared out the window

'Sorry' he mumbled

Five minutes later however he had started it up again. Sara just smiled to herself and continued to drive.

Later that evening, Grissom and Sara were sitting at the breakfast bar in their kitchen eating. They were sitting in silence, neither one really sure what to say. It had been an emotional day for them and they were at the point of exhaustion. As Sara ate, the pain in her face started to come back, she had managed to ignore it, but now, it was burning. She put down her fork and went over to the fridge to get more ice. She wrapped it up in towel and pressed it to her face. She lent her head against the fridge door, trying to fight of the pain.

It took Grissom a few moments to notice what she was doing, and when he saw her against the fridge his heart raced and stomach churned

'Sara, are you on?' Grissom asked, but he kept his distance from her

Sara looked over at him and smiled

'Yes, Gil I'm fine, I just need some panadol or something for the pain'

Grissom took off and was at Sara's side in a flash, with panadol and a glass of water.

He handed them both to her a watched her swallow them. He was once again fighting back tears. Seeing his sadness again Sara moved away from the fridge and leant into Grissoms body, she felt him put his arms around her tight, and as always Sara felt safe

'See baby' Sara said looking up at him.

'You still make me feel safe, don't be sad anymore'

Grissom rubbed her back before placing a kiss on the top her head.

'God Sara, I don't know what I did to deserve you'
Sara looked up at him, every day she didn't think she could love him more and every day she was surprised to find she did.
'You loved me, that's all' she smiled, she felt him press his lips against hers she closed her eyes

Grissom took Sara by the hand and lead her into the bedroom; he kissed her gently on the cheek where a bruise had started to form. He moved gently over her lips and down her neck, slowly pulling her shirt down over her shoulders. Sara pulled his head up so she could look into his eyes, before she gently pulled him on the bed with her.