A/N: This chapter was so much fun to write. Once I got going on it, I had the best time. I just love it, and I'm so excited for you to read it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
I don't own CSI, The Wizard of Oz or The Simpsons.
The Parting
Sara was practically giddy when she bounced back into her apartment. Mary was shocked to see her so animated.
"Where the hell have you been?" she greeted her. "Even you never spend this long chatting up your teacher after class."
"He took me out for coffee!" Sara exclaimed.
Mary shot up from her position lying on the couch. She looked at Sara with wide eyes. "He what?"
"They closed the building, but he said that we weren't done talking, and we went out for coffee!"
"What happened?"
Sara bounced down next to Mary on the couch, sitting on her own knees. "We talked about forensics."
Mary rolled her eyes. "How romantic."
"Then, I thanked him for spending so much time helping me, and he said that he wanted to teach me."
"I'll just bet he wants to teach you," Mary said with a knowing smile. "How is he in anatomy?"
Sara giggled. "How did I know you'd say something like that?"
Mary shrugged. "What can I say? I'm predictable." She grinned. "What happened then?"
"He asked me about myself … about why I went into science."
"And you said?"
"I told him about my high school physics teacher, and how much he helped me. I said …" She trailed off frowning slightly. "I think I said something about seeing the beauty in science."
Mary rolled her eyes again. "Sara Sidle, you are such a geek."
"You're going to give me an ego problem if you keep up these compliments, you know."
Mary shook her head. "So, keep going. What happened then?"
"He just … looked at me for a minute."
"Looked at you how?"
Sara's eyes took on a shine. "I don't even know how to describe it. It was like he had never seen me before, or never even seen anyone like me. It was as if … I were someone really special."
Mary grabbed her hands. "You are someone really special."
"You know, everyone says that," Sara said, her giddiness melting into seriousness. "Starting with preschool, all kids are told is that they're special and talented, and that as long as they do their best, everything will be fine. I've never believed it. I've never thought that you should think that you're special just because someone says you are. It's like believing in monsters or fairies or princesses." She paused. "But, Mary, honestly, when he looked at me like that … I felt like it could be true."
"Like what could be true?"
Sara's cheeks flushed. "When I was a little girl, my mother always used to tell me that I was her princess. I believed her, too, for the longest time."
"How did you find out that you weren't?" Mary smiled.
Sara shrugged, not yet ready to share the dark secrets of her past with anyone – not even her best friend. "I guess we all learn that we aren't princesses at some point."
"True."
"But, Mary," she said quietly, her eyes beginning to shine again, "when he looked at me like that, it was like I was a little girl again, listening to my mother telling me that I was a princess. He made me feel so special, so …"
Mary's eyes took on a shine, too. "Did you say anything?"
"Are you kidding?" Sara exclaimed. "Nothing intelligent, at any rate. I …" Her voice trailed off and her cheeks burned red. "I asked him if he was okay. Can you believe that?"
Mary groaned. "Oh, Sara. What made you say that?"
"I don't know!" Sara cried. "I didn't know what to do, he looked so odd …"
Mary shook her head. "All right. We'll need to work on your game a little. What happened then?"
"He said that he was fine, but he needed to get home."
Mary shook her head. "Damn coward."
"Wait, I'm not done!"
"Okay, keep going, then."
"He got our check … and …"
"Ate it?" Mary asked, rolling her eyes.
"What?"
"Get on with your story! Stop building suspense!"
Sara laughed. "He paid for my coffee!"
"What?" Mary exclaimed. "Sara, that pretty much makes this a date! What did he say when he paid?"
"That I don't have much money, and I didn't need to waste it on coffee with an old man like him."
"What did you say?"
"That he's not an old man … and that I'd buy him a coffee once I graduate and have a real job."
"And he said …?"
Her eyes sparkled. "He said he'd look forward to it!"
Mary squealed. "Sara! This is fantastic! He's totally into you!"
"Do you really think so?"
"Definitely!"
Sara sighed and fell back against the pillows piled up on the end of the couch. "I don't know what to do, Mar."
"What is there to know?"
"How should I act during my next class?"
"The same way you have been," Mary said firmly. "He likes you for you, Sara. Why change who you are?" She paused. "And, seriously, if he didn't like you for you, what point would there be in pursuing him?"
"I guess you're right."
"I know I am," Mary said confidently. She squealed again. "So, when do I get to meet him?"
Sara grabbed a pillow from behind her and hit Mary with it. "Leave me alone."
"It was just a question!"
"You'll meet him … when we're engaged."
"Oh, that's kind."
"Hey, I need a maid of honor!"
Mary laughed. "I'll be your MOH … but only if I get to meet him before you have a ring on your finger."
Sara grinned. "Deal."
Grissom put his briefcase down next to his desk and kicked off his shoes. He wanted nothing more than to go to bed, but found himself too keyed up to even try. He couldn't stop thinking about Sara, and her thirst for knowledge.
Knowing that he needed to at least make an attempt at sleep, he went to his bedroom to change into his pajamas. As he pulled his shirt over his head, his eyes fell on the collection of books lining the small bookcase the university had provided. Even from across the room, he could see several titles that might interest Sara. He would have to remember to take them to class on Tuesday.
He had never had a student react to his lectures the way she had, and he had certainly never had a student seek so much outside reading on his or her own. He had never had a student who spent so much time working through the points that he made during class. In sort, he had never inspired anyone the way she was inspired.
He was thrilled with her response to his classes, but he didn't know how to handle it. He wanted desperately to suggest that she consider a career in law enforcement, but held back. He had already brought enough of himself into her life. He didn't want to push her into anything.
He made his way from the bedroom into the bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, an image of her smile floated through his mind. Parents were always so quick to fix imperfections in their children's appearance; he wasn't sure what had made hers decide to allow the slight gap between her front teeth remain. Regardless of the reason, he was glad that she had it. It was unique, it was attractive …
He shook his head and put his toothbrush away with slightly more force than was necessary. Trying to think of something else – anything else – he returned to his bedroom and climbed into bed.
The idea of having romantic feelings for Sara pushed against the back of his mind, but he firmly turned it away. She was a student. She was brilliant and talented, she made him think and feel like few others had, and she was sweet and pretty, but she was a student. He had to remember that in his dealings with her.
Closing his eyes, he finally drifted off to sleep.
"I'm nervous."
Mary shook her head. "You've been to class before. You've talked to him before. You have nothing to be nervous about."
"I know, but I'm still nervous."
"That's just stupid," Mary said. She paused, an evil smile crossing her face. "Tell you what. If you're so determined to be nervous, I'll give you something to be nervous about."
"Oh, I don't like the sound of this …"
"As well you shouldn't," Mary grinned. "I'm going to give you a task for tonight."
"Who are you, the Great and Terrible Oz? Will I get to go home to Kansas if I complete my task?"
Mary laughed. "Sure. But since when do you call Kansas home?"
"Since you turned me into Dorothy Gale," Sara laughed. "All right, woman behind the curtain, what is my task?"
"You need to find out some personal information about Grissom."
"What?" Sara exclaimed. "What sort of personal information are you looking for?"
Mary shrugged. "I'm not picky. It just has to be something that you don't already know."
Sara made a face. "You're evil."
Mary laughed. "And now you have a valid reason to be nervous."
Grissom did manage to remember to take the books to the next class. As he had anticipated, Sara stayed after class to talk to him. He smiled as he bid Tony farewell, and went to retrieve the books from his briefcase.
"I brought you something," he told her.
"What?" she asked, an excited smile spreading across her face.
"Some books I thought might interest you," he said, handing them over. "These are from my personal library."
"Thank you," she said, taking the books as though they were treasures. "I'll be very careful with them – I'll have them back to you as soon as possible – this means so much to me –"
"Sara," he said, holding up a hand to stop her, "stop babbling. I know you're grateful, and I know you'll take good care of them. And don't worry about when you give them back to me. Take your time, and learn all you can."
"I will," she promised. 'Thank you so much, Dr. Grissom."
"You're welcome." He smiled at her. "Now, let's get to the questions you've brought with you tonight."
They talked about the lecture points for quite some time. As their conversation wound down, Sara drew her courage together, and quoted Grissom.
"May I ask you a question?"
He smiled. "You've been doing so since we met."
"Yes, but this would be a bit more … personal."
Grissom expertly masked the emotions that were running through him. "All right," he said a bit cautiously.
"What made you decide to teach this seminar?"
Grissom frowned.
"I mean, you've talked so much about how much you love your job, I just didn't understand why you'd want to leave it to teach – especially so far from home."
Grissom worked to keep up with her speech – Sara could speak extremely quickly when she wanted to.
"Will you please tell me?" she asked quietly.
He smiled. "Of course. I wanted to teach this seminar to share my love of my job with others. I love to teach and … to help others find the beauty in the details, if you will. That's why I chose to do this." He paused. "You mentioned being far from home … I'm not, really."
She nodded. "I suppose Vegas isn't that far away, when you think about it."
"Well, that's true, but it's not exactly what I meant," Grissom said. "I'm actually from California."
"Are you?" she asked excitedly. "So am I! What part?"
"I grew up around Venice Beach," he said, smiling. "You?"
"I'm from outside San Francisco."
"Do you miss it? San Francisco?"
"A bit," she said cautiously. She didn't want this to become a discussion about her childhood. "Do you miss Venice?"
"A bit," he echoed. "I miss my mother more than the area. I love living in Vegas."
"I've never thought of it as a residential area," Sara admitted. "I've always thought of it as a vacation destination."
"You're not alone in that," he said. "But, if no one lived there, it wouldn't be a vacation destination – it would be a desert."
"True enough," she smiled.
The janitor appeared in the doorway. "Hello," he said.
Grissom smiled at Sara. "I suppose that it's time to say good night."
"Yeah," she agreed, standing up. "Thanks for all your help, Dr. Grissom."
"You're welcome," he smiled. "I'll see you on Thursday."
"See you then."
Sara left the room feeling elated. She could hardly wait to tell Mary that she had completed her task.
After the initial question and answer session, Grissom and Sara found themselves sharing more of their lives every time they met after class. During the next two weeks, Grissom learned that Sara had nursed the childhood dream of being a ballerina, but that her parents had denied the lessons, wanting their daughter to avoid choosing a gender-based profession.
"Did you point out that there are plenty of male ballerinas?"
She rolled her eyes. "I won't even tell you what my father said to that remark."
Sara learned that Grissom had minored in English literature in undergrad, and sometimes wished he had pursued a second degree in British literature – not because he wanted to change professions, but because he wanted to study the subject.
"I've found a good balance, though," he said.
"Oh?"
He nodded. "I quote Shakespeare to my colleagues all the time." He smiled. "I think it makes them crazy, but that does add to the fun."
They discovered that they were both only children, that they both believed in public education as opposed to private, they both watched The Simpsons, and they both voted democrat. Neither had ever been married, neither liked talk shows, and neither had been popular in high school. While Grissom had been his college best friend's best man, Sara had never been in a wedding – she had only ever even attended one. Grissom loved classical music, Sara loved classic rock and top 40 songs.
As she talked with him, laughed with him and shared stories with him, Sara found herself falling harder and harder for Grissom. And, although he would never admit it – not even to himself – Grissom was falling for her, too.
Both found themselves dreading the end of the seminar.
The last day of the seminar finally arrived. Sara felt completely miserable as she dressed to go to class.
"Oh, cheer up," Mary said, sitting on Sara's bed, watching her sort through her clothes for the perfect top. "It's not the end of the world."
"It's been six weeks, Mar," Sara said. "If he wanted to ask me out, he's had six weeks to do it." She sighed. "We were so sure that he was into me. What happened?"
"Guys are dumb," Mary said. "Look, Sara, if we're honest, this is probably for the best. I know that unrequited love sucks, but it was doomed from the beginning. I mean, the man lives in Vegas and you go to school here! Do you really think that he'd leave his job to come and live here with you?"
"No," Sara admitted rather reluctantly.
"Probably not," Mary agreed. "And, there is no way I'd let you drop out of school before finishing your degree to go chase after some man. My own mother, who wants me married off, would kill me if I tried something like that!"
"Yeah, I doubt my mom would be thrilled," Sara said, knowing that they were the right words to use, even if she doubted that her mother would much care what she did.
"So, this is for the best," Mary concluded. "You'll have a lovely class tonight, you'll stay after to say good bye to him, then we'll all go back to our normal lives. If nothing else, you've learned something about forensics and found a potential new career path. Oh, and there is the fact that we've all learned that you can still be attracted to men."
Sara laughed. "As opposed to being attracted to women? You know that I'm straight."
"Attracted to anyone, then," Mary said. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I'm still trying to get over the fact that you turned down Tom."
"Oh, that reminds me – he asked for your number."
"What?" Mary shrieked, jumping off the bed. "When?"
"At our lab this morning."
"And you're just telling me now?'
Sara shrugged. "I forgot. I gave it to him … although, since it's my number, he already had it. I think he was feeling out the situation to see if I thought you'd go out with him."
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God," Mary exclaimed, dancing on the spot like a little girl. "Sara! This is the most exciting news ever!"
Sara laughed. "I'm so glad you're taking this calmly."
Mary threw a pillow at her. "Can't you let me be excited?"
"Of course," Sara grinned, putting the pillow back on the bed.
Mary grabbed the pillow and hugged it to her chest. "Oh, our children will have his green eyes …"
Sara raised an eyebrow. "Remember what you just said. No quitting school to get married."
"Promise," Mary said. She squealed. "I'm so excited, and he hasn't even called yet!"
Sara laughed, and looked at the clock. "I have to go. Will you be all right here by yourself?"
"I think so," Mary laughed. "Listen, Sara, try to enjoy your last class. Don't get all caught up in the good byes."
"I'll try," Sara sighed. She grabbed her school bag. "I'll see you later, Mary."
"Bye, hon!"
Grissom used his last lecture to tie up all the loose ends that remained from previous classes, and to answer any questions that the students might have. Sara and Tony both asked multiple questions; somehow, he knew that they would both still wait to talk to him after class.
His star students did not disappoint. They both waited as their classmates left the room. As was their tradition, Tony spoke with Grissom first. He thanked him profusely for sharing his knowledge and for being an inspiration. Although Grissom appreciated the sentiment, he had a feeling that Tony was being a bit less than sincere. Grissom knew that Tony was a brilliant student, but he also knew that the questions he asked were more about brown-nosing a teacher than about seeking further knowledge. Even so, he was glad that Tony felt that he had gotten something out of the seminar.
When their conversation had ended and Tony had left the room, Grissom turned to Sara. She looked up at him with a bittersweet smile. Grissom was sure that her feelings were reflected in his own eyes. He was so glad that he had met her, yet was sad to leave her. This young woman was his true equal intellectually, and understood him in ways that he had never thought anyone would. How could he possibly say good bye to her?
She didn't want to say good bye any more than he did. They talked until the janitor arrived to ask them to leave. Grissom looked at her, and knew that he couldn't say the words he needed to say. He could not bid her farewell – not yet. He settled for his usual fallback option: putting off the inevitable.
"Would you like to have coffee with me?"
A beaming smile broke out across Sara's face. "I'd love to."
The cup of coffee did delay the imminent good byes. When they had finished their drinks, the waitress brought their check. Again, Sara reached for her wallet. Again, Grissom stopped her.
"I'll get it," he said.
Sara frowned. "You've already bought me coffee once," she protested.
"You're still a college student, and I'm still a working adult," he said. "I don't want to offend you, but I'm fairly sure that I have more money to spend on coffee than you do. I'll take care of it."
She smiled. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"You know, this means that I owe you two coffees."
He smiled. "When you have a job, call me. We'll get together for coffee, and I'll let you pay."
"I'd like that," she said, suddenly feeling a bit shy.
He smiled again, and rose from the booth. "Come on. I'll walk you home."
"You don't have to do that," she said automatically. Inwardly, she rejoiced at his words.
"I know. But, it's late, and I'll feel better if I know that you arrive home safely."
"Well, thank you."
"You're welcome."
They walked slowly to Sara's apartment, talking as they made their way across the campus. They walked so slowly, in fact, that she was sure it had never taken her so long to go from the coffee shop to her building. She wasn't bothered by it, though. The more time she could spend with him, the better.
At last, they arrived at her building. There was nothing more that could be done to delay the inevitable.
"Well, here we are," Sara said.
"Here we are," Grissom repeated. "Listen, Sara, I'm not very good at this, but … I've really enjoyed getting to know you. You're a brilliant woman, and I know that you'll do extremely well in whatever field you choose. I wish …"
"You wish what?" she whispered.
He smiled sadly. "It doesn't matter." He reached into his pocket. "This is my business card. It has all my work numbers – office, cell phone, pager – on the front, along with my email. I've written my home number on the back, if you'd rather get in touch with me there."
"Thank you," she said, taking the card almost reverently.
"You can thank me by keeping in touch," he said. "I … I consider you a friend, Sara, and I know enough not to let a good friend get away from me."
Unexpected tears filled her eyes. "I'll email you. I promise."
He stepped a bit closer. "Tonight?"
She nodded. "Tonight."
He smiled. "I guess this isn't really good bye, then, is it?"
"No, I guess not." She paused, then knew that she couldn't stop the words. "I'm glad you're my friend, too, Dr. Grissom," she blurted out. "You've really made a difference in my life, and … I'm really glad that I don't have to say good bye to you tonight."
He smiled wider. "Thank you, Sara." They didn't seem like the right words, but he knew the words to express his true feelings didn't exist.
"Thank you, too – for everything."
Without really meaning to, he reached up to touch her cheek. "I'll miss you," he said softly.
Fighting the urge to close her eyes, she leaned into his touch. "I'll miss you, too," she whispered.
He smiled again. "Good night, Sara."
"Good night."
She stood still, watching his retreating back as he walked away. Once he had disappeared into the darkness, the tears began to fall. She really, truly would miss him.
