A/N: The new revised Grissom, post-One to Go, the sensitive, perceptive and thoughtful Grissom we all love to read and write and fantasize about wouldn't have left the last scene at that. He would NOT have let Sara leave the room without clearing the air and making sure she was okay. The show owes us some GSR. This long-distance crap is getting old and me frustrated.
This scene takes place directly after where the last chapter left off, so before Sara's confession to Julian. I'm still trying to make sense of that little bombshell... Anyway, I hope you like this. Let me know and I'll write another chapter.
Grissom ran a tired hand over his face. Shit. Now who's being an ass? he thought, jumping to his feet and out of the layout room. "Sara?" he called after her. "Sara, wait!" Sara was already half-way down the corridor when he caught up with her. "Wait," he repeated quietly, earnestly, his hand on her shoulder stopping her flight.
Sara slowed to a reluctant stop outside the Trace lab but didn't turn toward him. He could see her shoulders rise and fall rapidly with each fraught breath, the tendons on her neck working with the effort it took her to keep her composure. He could imagine the tears stinging the back of her eyes she was fighting to keep in as her heart slowly shattered into pieces over her heartache and frustrations about the case and Nick's insensitive handling of Mrs Santiago and her illness.
She kept her back to him as he stepped closer until he stood a breath away from her and he could feel the barely contained anger seep out of her every pores. He sighed, dipping his head until his forehead pressed slightly against the side of her head, and closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said into her ear. He clenched his fingers, his hands restlessly twitching by his side longing to reach out to her. "I didn't mean it the way it came out; I know how strongly you feel about that case and about proving Mrs Santiago's innocence. I don't want you to think that I'm taking Nick's side or that I don't respect your opinion and judgement." He paused, letting his words sink before adding softly, apologetically, "The evidence we got doesn't sustain either scenario, that's all."
Sara blinked quickly but didn't speak. She didn't say a word lest her emotion got the better of her. She just lifted a small shoulder, nodding in acquiescence of his words. I know, her demeanour told him. I just can't deal with this right now. She seemed a little calmer though, as if his words had had the soothing effect he was after, her breaths not hitching as much. She nodded her head again, and without a word or a look made to leave.
She's hurting. She needs you. Be there for her. Now. He licked his lips and looked up and down the corridor briefly. It was empty. With no more hesitation he placed gentle hands on her shoulders, stopping her before slowly turning her round. She was looking down to the floor and he dipped his head, smiling. "Sara, please," he said, using a finger to tip her chin up, making eye contact. His smile widened hesitantly. "It's me now Gil, not Grissom. And certainly not Nick."
His eyes shone with deep love and certainty and reading the truth of his words in them Sara nodded her head again, her lips thinning into a small smile. I know and I'm sorry, her warm chocolate eyes said. He was smiling broadly now and not caring whether they were being watched or not, he pulled her toward him, his arms wrapping around her in a tight hug, one hand stroking gently up and down her spine. His gesture was one of comfort and support.
Sara pushed herself off him, pulling away from his embrace. "I'm sorry," she said. "I know you mean well but I can't do this here, now."
I know this is not the place, his eyes told her, but I don't care. I'm here for you, here and now. Nodding, Grissom dropped his hands by his side and watched as she turned away.
She seemed to think better of it and suddenly whipped her body back round toward him. "I'm okay," she said in a whisper, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "and I appreciate your concern." Her gaze veered off to a point above his shoulder her expression darkening slightly, and Grissom turned, catching sight of Hodges watching them through the plate glass, giving him a stern look that startled the tech back to his work.
When he turned back toward his wife, she was walking away. "Sara," he called in a warm, loving tone that seemed to say all at once, We talked about this. No more hiding what we feel. I love you, causing her to pause in her tracks and turn toward him, expectant.
He smiled and shrugged. "I'll be around if you need…" he shrugged again, "you know, if you need anything." Me, he wanted to say. Instead, he tried to convey all his feelings in his smile.
She sighed and looked down, reaching for his hand, entwining her fingers through his. She made eye contact again, a small smile playing round the edges of her mouth. "I'm going to be okay," she said at last, with more conviction. She reached up with her free hand and stroked his face tenderly, holding his gaze and wordlessly telling him that she appreciated his support but that really she would be fine. "I've got you; you're here with me."
Grissom smiled back, nodding. "Okay." Then he thought better of it, squeezing her hand warmly and saying quickly, "Actually no. I'm due for a break and so are you. Let's go get a cup of Greg's coffee."
"I can't," she said in a sigh.
His brow arched. "Sara, ten minutes," he said with mock-sternness. "Ten minutes with your husband."
She opened her mouth to say 'No' but it came out as a sigh. "Later maybe. Now, I want to go to PD. Be there for Mrs Santiago. Nick doesn't understand. He doesn't get that she's sick, that her mental illness makes her act differently from the rest of us. He doesn't get that that doesn't make her a murderer."
Grissom nodded his understanding. "You want me to come with you?"
She shook her head briskly.
"Sure?"
She flashed him a bright, loving smile.
"Okay," he said, "Let me know when you get back. I'll take you out for breakfast."
Hodges chose this moment to rasp his knuckles against the plate-glass. Grissom turned an irritated frown toward the tech who nodded earnestly, pointing at him, before sighing and turning back to Sara. He played with her fingers for a moment before reluctantly letting go. "It seems I'm needed anyway. I see you later."
She reached up and kissed him softly on the cheek. "Thank you."
He pursed his face knowingly, his expression amused as he glanced at a gawping Hodges from the corner of his eye. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Sara lifted a mild shoulder. "Give him something to fantasize about. He's been like a love-sick puppy ever since Wendy left."
Grissom chuckled. "Harsh, but fair." He glanced quickly at Hodges. "Maybe I ought to share some of my insight with him and save him a lot of…time," he settled for eventually.
Sara smiled and raised her hand in a small wave as she took a few steps backwards.
He waved back and turned, headed to Hodges' lab. "Oh, and Sara?" he called over his shoulder, waiting until she acknowledged him to carry on. "For the record, Nick was being an ass." He shrugged. "I just…couldn't tell him."
Sara let out the familiar giggle that warmed his heart every single time. "Once upon a time you would have," she retorted merrily.
He conceded the point with a nod. "I'm not the boss anymore. He is."
"That didn't stop me telling him…or you for that matter when you were the boss."
Grissom's brow furrowed with surprise. "You never called me an ass!" he exclaimed.
Hodges gave out a loud snort which he promptly tried to cover up with a cough.
"Didn't I?" Sara said, laughing. She winked, making a left turn and disappearing toward the locker room. "Oh, and don't forget breakfast!" she called back loudly.
"Can I come?" Hodges asked, causing Grissom to jump out of his skin.
Grissom turned round and found Hodges leaning against his lab door jamb staring wistfully at Sara's retreating form. His wide grin morphed into a puzzled purse of the face. "Come where?"
"To breakfast, with you and Sara," Hodges said as if it were the most natural thing for him to say and do. He shook himself out of his trance and refocused his pensive smile on Grissom. "To be honest, Gil," he went on, undeterred by his old boss's stunned expression, "I could do with a little advice – of the womanly kind if you know what I mean."