Thanks so much for your reviews, and your input on the wording :D. Really want to update again tomorrow, so fingers crossed I can get an hour to sit down and do so. Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen

His hand held hers tightly, his thumb stroking the back of her hand reassuringly. Her head rested on his shoulder, her eyes were closed, as if she could open them and not be here anymore. The silence among them was filled with tension as the taxi drove them through the evening streets of San Francisco, Grissom's travel bag at his feet.

They'd spent the whole day in their hotel room, ordering room service, going over case files, watching mindless TV, and making love. It had been perfect, but soon the clock reached 10pm and Grissom had begun to pack his bag to leave. Sara had offered to go to the airport with him, and he'd agreed. She didn't want to watch him board the plane back to Vegas, she didn't want him to leave at all, but she didn't want him to leave her alone in their room at the hotel, she wanted to say goodbye properly.

Sara opened her eyes as the taxi pulled into the airport's taxi rank and Grissom paid the driver before he and Sara exited the vehicle. Grissom checked his watch, "I've got fifteen minutes until boarding."

He and Sara made their way into the airport's building, over to check in. Sara stayed silent as Grissom had his ticket checked with the woman at the desk, and then they headed over to a quiet corner of the check-in lounge. Grissom placed his bag down on the ground and took both of Sara's hands with his.

"I don't want to go, honey." He looked utterly saddened by the situation they were in.

"The lab needs you." She replied, surprising herself that she was convincing him to go, but she hated to see him upset.

"I need you."

Sara engulfed Grissom in a tight hug; she could feel a lump in her throat, tears pricking her eyes. She felt lost at the thought of him leaving her again. He rubbed her back softly, her breathing ragged as she tried to calm herself.

"I'm coming back as soon as I can." He whispered.

Pulling away from the hug, Sara kissed his lips tenderly. "Please do."

The tannoy announced that Grissom's flight was due to board in five minutes.

"Keep writing." He spoke.

"I will. I promise." Sara kissed him again.

Grissom bent down to pick up his bag, "I better go before my flight leaves without me."

Sara wished it would, that it had already left without him, and he'd have to stay just one more night with her, it felt like he'd only just gotten to San Francisco and he was leaving again. She nodded, fighting the lump in her throat that threatened sobs.

"Goodbye my Sara." Grissom kissed her cheek and made his way over to the boarding area, where he joined the queue of people, before disappearing onto the plane.

Sara brought her hand up to her mouth, letting out a deep sob, hot tears finally falling down her face. She watched through the glass of the airport building as the plane took off. Her body ached for him, from her heart to her skin. She must have stayed at the window for twenty minutes, hoping somehow that he hadn't really boarded the plane, that he'd stayed behind, or that the plane would come back, but it didn't.

Wiping her face dry with her hands, she left the airport and into the night. Wrapping her arms around herself, Sara wished she'd brought a coat along with her, wearing only her polka-dot dress and a pair of sandals. She knew the way back to her apartment from the airport; it was at least four miles away, but she didn't mind the walk. Sara hoped in the time it took her to walk home, she could calm herself down, the last thing she needed was her housemate making comments about her tear-stained face.

The streets were quiet, people stood in doorways of bars smoking or in small groups around cinemas or restaurants. She tried to stick to the main streets, but could feel herself tiring at the walk, she was worn down emotionally, her shoes were beginning to rub at her feet, and her skin so cold it was starting to become sore. She kept her arms wrapped around herself, trying not to make eye contact with people she passed; she started to feel more and more vulnerable.

She was nearly home, but not near enough - Sara began to ran home, not stopping until she reached her front door, unlocking it and making her way quickly up the stairs to her bedroom. Once inside, Sara locked her bedroom door and sat down on her bed, her breath uneven from running, she slipped off her sandals which had now caused her heels to bleed, and placed a plaster on each heel before pulling her dress from her body and climbing under the covers. She laid in her bed, in the darkness, a slight shiver running down her body. She missed his warm body against hers, his hands holding her close, his gentle kisses on her bare skin, how he whispered sweet-nothings things in her ear.

As tired as Sara felt, she couldn't sleep. She watched her clock tick from 11pm to 1am, before getting out of bed, pulling an oversized t-shirt over her body and heading into the kitchen. Sara poured herself a glass of water from the kitchen tap, sipping it slowly. Her housemate had just gone to bed, empty packets of food sat on the surfaces, and a few bottles of Sara's beer. Sara finished her glass of water and headed back into her bedroom. Sitting at her desk, she flicked on her lamp, grabbed a pen and paper and started a letter to Grissom.

Gil,
I've lived in San Francisco all my life, and yet without you here, it feels so lonely and strange. Seeing you leave at the airport to go back to Vegas was so hard, I don't know how I let you go. I hope your flight was alright, no screaming children this time?
I so much enjoyed my time with you over the past two days, I can only hope you'll come visit again really soon. My life is so much brighter when I share it with you, when we're together, things don't seem so bad.
Hopefully I'll hear from the San Francisco lab soon, another day in the supermarket is now hanging over me, and I can't sleep. I think my body needs you next to it in order for me to sleep. Can I get you on prescription?
Please write soon,
Yours,
Sara xx

Sara folded the paper and placed it in an envelope, licking the seal and pressing it shut, before pulling a psychology book from her shelf and beginning to read.