A/N: Short one today, but laying the ground for the Grissom-goes-on-sabbatical chapters. Expect those tomorrow :)
Spoilers for episode 7x7, Post Mortem.
"Greg," I called as the sound of screeching tires faded away into the distance. "Greg! Hey!"
He was staring at a piece of paper with unwavering concentration, not even looking up at me until I was standing beside him.
"I just got served," he said in disbelief. "Suit for a wrongful death."
"You're kidding me," I said incredulously as he handed the papers to me. "Greg, this is… I don't know what this is. I'm so sorry."
He shook his head.
"I'm never going to be able to put this behind me," he muttered, taking the papers back.
"Yes, you will," I said firmly. "They're not going to win this case, and more importantly, they're not going to win you. You did nothing wrong."
"What I did was excusable, Sara," he said. "Not right. I deserve this."
"Hey," I cut in firmly, snatching the papers from him so he'd stop staring. "Where's the CSI I trained? Because I don't recognize this guy."
"He's there somewhere," he grumbled.
"Well, I want to see him again," I said. "With drinks. C'mon, I'll drive."
But Greg just stayed put, shaking his head.
"I don't think so."
I stopped short in surprise. I'd never known Greg to pass up an opportunity for drinks, especially with me. I recognized the exhaustion that reflected in his eyes and set in his shoulders, and realized he really just needed to get home and get some rest.
"Okay," I agreed. "But promise me a rain check."
"Promise."
I pulled him into a hug and let him walk away, knowing that there wasn't much I could say that he hadn't already heard or thought. As he got to his car, my phone went off from my pocket.
With Archie, it read. Meet you at home soon. G
I smiled at drove home, putting on a pot of water when I got there to make us some dinner. Twenty minutes later, Gil practically burst in the front door, his eyes more excited than I'd seen them in weeks.
"What lit a flame under you?" I teased as he kissed me.
"We got him," he replied as my eyes widened. "Well, not got him, got him, but we got him on camera. The Miniature Killer. It's only a matter of time before we track him down."
"That's great, honey," I said in relief, kissing him back. "God, that's good news."
He grinned wide and put his hands on my hips.
"I'm need to put these cases behind me," he said.
"There's a lot of that going around."
The water started bubbling over, but he twisted me back towards him.
"Kiss me again."
So I did. I didn't know what lead or what clue had broken the Miniature Killer case, but I was so thankful that it had. So I kissed him again and again. At least once this thing was finally done with, Gil might actually be happy, instead of just pretending.
Like everyone else around here.