A/N: Sorry its been a while since I updated. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Please Read and Review!!

Chapter Eleven

The New Year brought an onslaught of crimes in Vegas. As the Team dealt with double shifts and mounds of evidence in a string of robberies, Sara and Grissom were finding it ever increasingly difficult to spend any "alone" time together. Sara found herself spending many days sleeping alone in her apartment since Gil was working odd hours to deal with some administrative issues on top of all the other normal shift issues.

Grissom sat at the table waiting for everyone to stumble in for assignments. Nick sat down with a cup of coffee next to Sara and Catherine as Greg shuffled in and plopped into a chair.

"Hey, Gris? Think we'll have to pull another double?" Warrick asked as he entered the room.

"Well, it seems that the crime wave has settled down, but I do have a couple things." He stood up and walked around the table.

"Nick and Greg, I got another B&E for you. Doesn't look related to our other cases." He handed the slip to Nick. "Warrick, Cath, I got a stolen vehicle being towed in. Print and process that, then finish up with any results you get back from your last case." Catherine tugged the slip out of his hand and groaned.

"Sara, you and I are taking a little road trip. Got a robbery about 30 miles outside Vegas that seems related to the string of robberies we've been having. They might be widening their range."

"Great." Sara gave a half smile and headed to the locker room, smiling to herself. Finally! At least they would have a little alone time on the drive. She opened her locker and pulled out her vest and kit, humming to herself.

"Someone sure seems to be in a good mood today." Warrick commented as he opened his locker. "I thought you'd be in a huff having to drive so far. And with Grissom!"

"Well, I'm just happy to get out of Vegas. Even if it is for a few hours. And with Grissom." She grinned at him.

"Yeah. I hear ya!" He shut his locker. "Well, try to not have too much fun. I better go meet Catherine before she gets too angry. SHE is NOT in a good mood today."

Sara smiled at him. "Well, good luck with that!"

"Hey! You ready?" Grissom stood at the door of the locker room, kit in hand.

"Yeah." Sara waved goodbye to Warrick and followed Grissom out to his SUV and climbed into the passenger side.

"What? No demands for driving?" Gil teased as he started the engine.

"I get to drive on the way back." She stated, pursing her lips.

"Oh." Gil pulled out of the lab parking lot and sighed.

Sara looked over at Gil's profile and smiled sweetly. He needed a haircut. His beard was in need of a trim as well. She reached over and ran her hand along his cheek, stroking his beard. Gil leaned into her hand and quickly kissed her palm.

"What?" He was smiling at her.

"Just thinking you could use a trim."

"I can, huh?" He laughed. "Getting too scruffy for you?"

"No. Just an observation."

Gil reached over and placed his hand on her thigh. Sara covered his hand with her own and laced her fingers with his. They smiled at each other, just enjoying the moment of togetherness. Sara was soon finding it hard to keep her eyes open. Her slight snoring had Gil glancing over at her and he chuckled to himself. They really had been working hard.

"Hey! Sleepyhead. We're here!" Gil patted Sara on her leg to waken her.

"Wow. That was faster than I thought."

"Yeah. Let's go!" Grissom hopped out of the SUV and grabbed his kit.

Several hours later, they finished printing, swabbing and collecting all the evidence and found themselves once again headed to Vegas. They drove in near silence, holding hands, just enjoying the drive. Before they realized it, the sun was starting to show itself above the horizon and they were pulling back into the lab parking lot.

"Well, that was entirely too short of a trip." Sara took the key out of the ignition. When she went to exit the vehicle, Gil stopped her by placing his hand on her forearm.

"Sara...I'm so sorry we haven't been able to, uh, be together lately. I miss you, you know."

Sara gently smiled. "I know."

"Well, we better get this in there so we can get home at a decent hour for a change."

"Yeah" Sara sat silent for a moment. She looked over at Gil, staring into his eyes. "Sooo...coming over later?"

Gil smiled at her and shook his head in the affirmative. "I thought you'd never ask."

The Forensic Conference was a week away. Grissom sat studying the itinerary and going over where he had to be and when for the conference when Ecklie appeared at his door.

"Hey, Gil. I need to speak with you about the Forensic Conference."

"Have a seat, Conrad."

He sat down in a chair across Grissom's desk and smiled a sickly sweet syrupy smile at him. This can't be good! Grissom raised an eyebrow in question. "So, what's up?"

"Well, Gil. It seems that Applegate from Swing isn't going to be making it to the conference. He's going to be undergoing surgery tomorrow on his knee. He was injured when he fell at a scene yesterday."

"I am sorry to hear that, Conrad."

"Well, now we have one spot open for someone at the conference. Someone who can take over Applegate's spot on the discussion panel."

Gil shuffled through his papers, finding the one that described the session. He smiled, knowing who would be the perfect one to take his place.

"Materials analysis? Well, Conrad, I know you have issue with her, but Sara would be the best one to take that."

"Yes, Gil. I am aware of her background and areas of specialty. I'm just concerned that she and Catherine will have issue with one another. Are you prepared to handle that if something should stir them up?"

"You need to give Sara a little more credit, Conrad. I told you we have dealt with her issues. She and Catherine have been getting along fine. Have been for quite some time. I don't see that there would be any anticipated issues to deal with."

"Well, if you think so, Gil" He smiled his fake smile again and got out of his seat. "Tell Sidle she's on for this. I'm sure she won't mind spending time with you." With that he strode out of Gil's office and disappeared around the corner.

Gil sat staring out his door in disbelief. Did Ecklie just say all that? Did he know something about he and Sara? NAH!

"Hey, Gil." Catherine grinned when she noticed he was staring off into space. "Earth to Gil Grissom!"

"What?" He jumped up a little and looked over to Catherine, who was leaning her hip on his desk and smiling at him.

"Daydreaming?" She chuckled.

"No. Yes. Well, just thinking over the conversation I had with Conrad a few moments ago."

"Oh." Catherine stood up, disappointed it wasn't something juicier.

"Actually, this effects you too. A little. Applegate is out for surgery, so Sara will be taking his place at the Forensic Conference."

"Oh."

"Yeah. She will be taking over his Discussion panel position."

"Well, I could have done that as well, Gil."

"I know, but the county already paid for another person, so Sara seemed to be the best fit."

"Uh, huh."

"And you and she seem to be getting along fine lately. No fights or incidences that I know of. So, yeah! I think it makes sense for her to go."

Catherine just smiled at him and nodded her head. Who was he trying to convince? Her or himself?

"So, uh, did you need something?"

"Yeah. I need you to check out some bugs we found on the car we processed."

"Oh, ok." Gil smiled like a kid and followed Catherine to the garage.

An hour later Grissom was examining an insect specimen under the microscope when someone gently whispered in his ear. "So, we get to go together after all."

Gil smiled and stood up and faced Sara. She was smiling that teasing crooked grin he loved so much. "Ecklie caught me in the hallway and told me I had to go to the Conference. How did you manage that?"

"Well, I have my ways, Ms. Sidle." He put his head back down to continue his examination.

Sara leaned closer, leaning into his left side to see what he was examining. She gently let her

right hand land just above his belt on his back, her left holding herself up on the counter beside the microscope. "I have my ways, too, Dr. Grissom. And I sure hope to share them with you soon." She smiled seductively at him and exited the room before he could reply. Gil let out a deep breath, trying to calm his arousal. He was still amazed how she could effect him so intensely. This was going to be one interesting Conference.

Sara walked into the break room, smiling. She poured a cup of coffee and sat down next to Warrick at the table. He looked at her suspiciously, then smiled.

"What?" She laughed.

"That!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Warrick."

"You're smiling again. Haven't seen you smile so much as this week. Things must be good with the boyfriend huh?"

Sara grinned at him. "Something like that." She sipped her coffee. "Plus, I was just informed, that I will be taking Applegate's place at the Forensic Conference next week."

"That's good news?"

"Well, it's January. Ohio has snow. I think it will be fun!"

"Yeah, just so you don't blow up at Grissom or get into it with Cath." Warrick smiled at her.

"Don't start with m! I already got the speech from Ecklie on demeanor in the workplace and out of it. It's like you all think I'm some over steamed pressure cooker ready to explode!"

Warrick just opened his mouth, but nothing came out. "I gotta go." He got up and made a quick exit. Catherine entered the room, nearly getting knocked over by the escaping Warrick.

"Where's he going in such a hurry?"

"I have no idea. Men. Who can figure them out?" Sara picked up a magazine and pretended to read it as catherine poured a cup of coffee.

"So. I hear you will be joining us in wonderful Ohio." She pulled up a seat across from Sara.

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure it will be fine." She flipped a page in the magazine. "Plus, I hope they have snow."

"Snow? UGH! That's the part that I am dreading."

"Well, I didn't grow up with it, but during college I became very fond of snowball fights and sledding and making snowmen. Plus, there's something so pure and clean about the atmosphere after a fresh snowfall."

"Well, if you say so. All I see is cold and wet."

"Well, just another way that we are different." Sara commented as she flipped through the magazine again.

"Look, Sara. I know we've had issues. And I know you and Gil have had PLENTY of issues. So, I say we all try to have a good time and if need be, stay out of each other's way."

"That is a great idea." Sara smiled at her. "I think we will be able to handle ourselves professionally and get through a few days away from the Vegas heat."

"Yeah. My friend Linda is presenting a DNA session. She used to work here and then got married and moved to Pennsylvania. So, it will be nice to see her."

"Oh, yeah. So, uh, Grissom must know her too then?" Sara hoped she wasn't being too obvious.

"Yeah." Catherine leaned across the table closer to Sara. "They even dated." She smiled and sat back.

"Really. Hmmm." Sara closed the magazine and got up. "Well, I am going to see if Hodges has my results."

Catherine sat sipping her coffee, wondering at Sara's reaction to her comment about Gil and Linda. Did Sara still have feelings for him? After all these years? Well, only one way to find out! This was DEFINITELY going to be an interesting Conference!