Sara told Catherine everything she could think of, how she had had the meeting with Dr. Mac where she had told him that it wouldn't be happening but thanking him for all his help and support. How when she had realised she was late she had driven to the nearest three pharmacies and purchased one of every brand of pregnancy test they had in each one. She told her everything except the precise details of that night (which Catherine wouldn't want to know anyway) and of the next morning (which Sara still didn't want to think about.)

As Sara started running out of things to say she began to ask Catherine what she had missed at work, and what the others had said about her going and what they had guessed at. "So whats been happening while I've been gone anyway?"

"Well, Greg's trying to convince himself that you took the time off to star in a porn film, and is hoping that you'll give him a free copy when you get back, which his girlfriend dumped him for. Nick keeps telling Greg to mind his own business, but has been polite enough not to try and guess, at least aloud, what you've been up to, and he's gained a new girlfriend. Hodges made some insensitive comment to Grissom about you going away due to an affair with a colleague gone bad, and that personally he thought it was Warrick."

Sara still laughing from Greg's version found the idea of her and Warrick together amusing, but could only manage a smile at it. As all her laughter had stopped as soon as Catherine had mentioned Grissom. "How is he?" She asked quietly. Catherine seeing how much this was worrying her and tried to make light of the situation by trying to make her laugh. "Who, Hodges? I almost had to pull Grissom away so that he didn't punch him. But he did manage to cut his hand, with what I don't know. But he only needed a few stitches."

Catherine smiled as it worked and Sara began giggling again. "How've you been anyway?" Sara managed to ask when her giggling had subsided to only the occasional chuckle. Catherine tried to dodge the question, and only answered evasively. "Oh you know, the usual. Nothing much new has happened to me."

"Catherine I may be pregnant, and I know that can turn some women to blubbering emotional wrecks, but you've got no such luck with me. I'm not going to notice you not answering my question. What's been happening, and why did you only mention Warrick in passing earlier?" As Sara had suspected at the mention of her evasion of Warrick she turned slowly pink. "Come on Cath, I 'fessed up. Now it's your turn."

"We went out for dinner."

"Cath that's great. Did it go well?"

"Yeah, I'm seeing him again tomorrow night."

"Good." Sara said decisively before adding "Just don't get yourself into the same situation as me. I don't think Grissom could cope with two emotional, hormonal women who insist on working almost up to their due date. That might be a little too much for him."

Catherine laughed but then continued talking but quietly and seriously. "He's missed you, you know? He's been a wreck worrying about you. Coming in early, leaving late, not stopping working while he's there. You need to talk to him when you get back. He really does love you, and it will kill him if he think's he's hurt you."

Sara's head which when she had started talking had drooped shot up when Catherine had said that he loved her. "Do you think he'll forgive me Cath? I didn't mean to hurt him. I just didn't know what to do."

"You dozy sheep, 'course he'll forgive you. He'd forgive you if you blew up the lab and left him in a wheel-chair." The relaxed and happier attitude back Sara quickly quipped "Dozy sheep? That the best you can do?" and threw a cushion at her.

Then laughing and throwing cushions at each other they continued teasing each other, both happy to be off the subject of guys.

Eventually they both collapsed back into the chairs, tired but still laughing. Sara gained enough breath to start speaking again. "God, I haven't done anything like that since I was about 15. I'd forgotten how tired it made you."

"And how much fun it is." Catherine agreed before both looked at each other and burst out laughing again. "God we're as bad as teenagers." Catherine managed to wheeze out. Sara recovered slightly more started gathering her last few items left and putting them into the already packed suitcase. Looking at Catherine still collapsed in the chair. "Come on, I need to check out now so we might as well head back." Catherine sighed at the prospect of moving but stood up and followed Sara out of the room.

After she had checked out, they both drove their own cars back to Sara's apartment. Pulling up outside both climbed out, Catherine spoke first.

"You gonna be alright from here? I really need to go get some sleep before shift." Sara nodded and hugged the older woman. As Catherine climbed back into her car, Sara grabbed her suitcase out of the boot of her car and headed inside her apartment.

Sighing she began unpacking her things and either putting them away or to the wash, knowing that if she left it then it wouldn't get done for a while. After that was sorted she went and got a drink of water. 'No more coffee for me for a while. Unless in very special circumstances. I can't survive 9 months without coffee. That reminds me I need to go buy some fruit, and some juice and whatever else I'm meant to eat lots of during pregnancy. First thing after shift tonight. Now, I need to sleep otherwise I'll never make it through the night.'

Sara went into her bedroom. Happy to be back at home. She grabbed an old T-shirt and some pyjama bottoms out of a drawer and changed into them. Heading back into the living room to turn off the lights she heard a quiet tapping on the door. Opening it she saw an exhausted and defeated Grissom stood in the door. She still felt anxious about talking to him, not knowing how to tell him, all thoughts of sending him away however disappeared from her mind as he looked up at her.

His eyes had been dead, she could tell that they hadn't shown anything for days, he was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion and was looking pained. His eyes however previously dead, lit up instantly when he saw her and she smiled lightly. Feeling the breath catching in her chest. She forced herself to breathe normally again, she couldn't believe that just seeing him still took her breath away. "Come in" she whispered still breathless.

Grissom came in and virtually collapsed onto the couch. Sara came and sat next to him in the chair next to him. "Hey Sara. Just thought I'd bob in, you know, say hi? So ... hi."

"Grissom you look exhausted. I'm fine, but I also need to sleep. How about we catch up at work tonight?"

"How can we catch up at work? You're still on leave. You're not coming in until tomorrow night."

"What?! Why won't you let me come back to work tonight?"

"Sorry Sara. Official guidelines state that if there has been a period of leave for an undetermined length of time. They can come back anytime within 3 months but they need to give a 24-hour warning. After 3 months we need a 48-hour warning. You didn't give 24-hour notice. Anyway like you said you need to rest. I'll come and see you tomorrow, when you've got back into the usual swing. You look tired, I shouldn't have come this soon after you got back. I'll let you catch up on sleep and see you tomorrow."

He stood up to leave and Sara stood up with him. They both walked to the door and Sara opened it and stood back to allow Grissom to pass. After he had gone past her he stopped and turned to face her.

"I'm glad to see you're OK Sara. Now go get some sleep, you look tired." He gently held one of her cheeks in his hand as he lightly rubbed under her eye's with his thumb. Leaning forward he kissed her slowly but gently. Pulling back he whispered. "See you tomorrow. Sleep well dear."

And with that he walked away to his car, and drove back home. Now knowing that she had arrived OK able to sleep, which he hadn't been able to before.

Sara slowly shut the door and leant against it. Shaking her head slightly she placed a hand on her stomach, muttering aloud, "You know sweetie, your dad sure knows how to say hi. And how to make him stay in my thoughts all night." Lightly touching her cheek where his hand had been moments before she walked back into the living room, turned off the lights and went to bed. Only to have dreams of her night with Grissom and the promise the kiss had held that it would happen again at some point.