Sincere thanks to those who so kindly left feedback on the last chapter - this next part is for you.

In the end, nothing more was said that evening. Though Sofia hurried back upstairs to talk to Sara, her plan was thwarted when she found their friend asleep, buried cosily under a pile of blankets. Sofia hovered for a moment, watching her breathe, but in the end had to concede defeat. It was evident she was down for the count, and that they would not see her again before morning.

"We'll grab her first thing," Catherine said, having paused beside her. "Take her for a walk."

Sofia nodded. "Somewhere quiet – where he can't hear her scream."

"Or where she can't kill him," Catherine added.

They paused, possibilities looming, but Catherine seemed then to recover herself.

"Well we can't know yet," she said hopefully. "It may be a false alarm."

"Let's pray you're right."

Sofia could not think of anything they needed less than a baby – another gun battle or even the plague would have been preferable. Their problems were real enough without adding a child into the mix.

"We should leave her to rest," Catherine said.

Sofia nodded, and took the door handle. Morning seemed too far away.

XXX

In the hour before dawn, Sara lay awake, watching the moonlight play on the room. It was her favourite time of night, when there was just enough light to see, but when the world was silent and still. A bird was audible on some far horizon, but other than that, the only thing that moved was Grissom.

The white sheets reflected the moonlight as he shifted position, taking her lips again. The covers were down to his waist, his naked form visible, and she revelled in the feel of him as he embraced her. There was an almost classical beauty to Grissom these days – his muscles so well-toned thanks to their hours of daily exercise and absence of junk food that she had never enjoyed touching him more. His appetite for her had also increased, and now she reaped the benefits of his newfound good health.

"I'm glad you're feeling better," he said. "I was worried."

She kissed away his worry, her hand trailing down his back, tracing his muscles with her fingers. She stopped when she reached his behind – even that felt firmer now, everything about him was just so irresistibly desirable.

"I'm fine," she said softly. "I'm sorry if I scared you."

"You scared everyone," he admonished. "Warrick even started speculating whether you had your period."

Typical, Sara thought. If there was something wrong with a woman, the men immediately put it down to her time of month or unstable hormones. She threaded her hand through Grissom's hair as he kissed his way to her clavicle.

"You know perfectly well I don't."

"I know," he admitted, a smile evident in his voice. "I told him that."

"Good."

All thought was suspended as his lips reached her breast, kissing and teasing his way up to her nipple. Her eyes closed involuntarily as he took it in his mouth, her head arching slightly back into the pillow.

"Oh –"

She let out a slow breath, her hand clutching at his shoulder as his tongue flicked at her nipple.

"Something you like?" he teased.

Sara struggled to muster her wit.

"If you don't know by now, you never will."

His tongue left her, replaced by his hand, his thumb grazing the nipple as his lips moved ever downward. He kissed the underside of her breast, tracing the curve, and then proceeded down to her navel. His hands held her waist, fingers splayed possessively on her hip.

"Oh, I think I know," he said. "And I think I know something else you'd like even more."

He reached the waistband of her panties, his fingers simultaneously tracing their way up her inner thigh, his touch electrifying and tantalising on her skin. She craved it, and parted her legs in anticipation, but he stalled her with a hand on her thigh.

"In a minute," he teased. "There's something we need to take care of first."

He pressed one last kiss to her abdomen, and then moved, reaching for her underwear. Sara moved quickly to help him, and when he tugged them down her legs she kicked them off, sending them flying in a tailspin off the end of the bed.

He raised an eyebrow, admiring the shot. "In a hurry?"

She smiled. "You mean you're not?"

She let her eyes dip to his erection, visible in the moonlight. It was large and hard, and more than ready to take her at a whim, but he hesitated, his eyes drifting up and down her naked body. She was on full display for him now, and she saw from the lust in his eyes that he liked it. He always did.

"Something you like?" she teased.

He smiled, lowering himself toward her. "If you don't know by now, you never will."

Passion erupted, and soon Sara could not even keep track of his hands. They were all over her – on her breasts, backside and thighs – kneading and squeezing hungrily. He kissed her hard, her head thrown back into the pillow, and then readjusted his position to roll on top of her. She instinctively spread her legs, inviting him in, but then he paused, his hand darting out to yank open the top drawer of the bed-stand.

She heard a rustle as he dug, and then a hurried tear. She waited, catching her breath, while he rolled on the condom, but it was then, in that split second in which he got himself ready, that the contents of their previous conversation began to filter through into her brain. She frowned. Warrick had said … what?

He nudged at her entrance, gently entering, and Sara finally clicked.

She froze; panic seizing her, surging throughout her body.

No, she thought. No, no, no…

"Stop," she gasped. "Stop right now."

XXX

"What's wrong?"

He withdrew quickly, looking worried, eyes searching her face to check if he had hurt her. But Sara ignored him, and scrambled to the edge of the bed, her feet dangling on the carpet. Her chest heaved as she struggled to get air which had vacated the room.

"Sara –"

He sounded scared, lost even, and the mattress dipped as he hurried toward her. He put a protective arm around her waist, sitting there naked with her, but Sara barely felt his touch.

"I can't breathe," she said, gasping for air. "I can't –"

"Stay calm," he said quickly. "Whatever it is, it's okay. Take a deep breath."

Sara tried, but there didn't seem to be any air available.

"I can't, I –"

"You're having a panic attack. Just stay calm, take a deep breath. I'm right here."

His voice was firm now, firm like a medic. She tried to obey it, tried to trust him, but the tightness in her chest, in her lungs, remained.

Shit, she thought. Shit, shit, shit …

"Gil, I –"

Her head spun, faint and dizzy, and as if reading this Grissom added, "If you feel faint, put your head down between your knees. Take slow deep breaths."

He guided her down with a hand, and Sara rested her head on her knees, closing her eyes. She did not know what was happening; all her thoughts were tangled like a ball of wool that had been attacked by a kitten.

"Are you taking deep breaths?"

Sara tried to take one; his arm was firm around her waist, holding her.

"Keep taking them, don't hyperventilate."

She kept her eyes closed, obeying him.

"That's better. Just stay calm, you're perfectly safe here with me."

Sara tried to rest, and passed several moments just sitting there, being held by him. They were both still naked, and his arm around her back was pleasant and comforting, his loving presence soothing.

After a few moments passed she took another deep breath, and lifted her head a little.

"Feel better?" he queried.

Sara nodded – she did a little. She tried to think straight. She was in trouble, but for once, he could not help her. Grissom knew nothing about periods and pregnancy – his experience with her cycle thus far extended only to gentlemanly acceptance when she turned down sex – and she couldn't scare him unless she was sure. She would be a fool to make a scene without first getting the evidence. There was only one person who knew anything about it, who could give her advice, and that was –

"Catherine," she said, taking another deep breath. "I need to speak to Catherine."

If he was surprised he didn't show it – perhaps he already had it in mind to summon her in her capacity as team nurse. Either way, she was grateful that he did not question her.

"All right," he said. "I'm going to cross the hall and get her, you just stay right here. Take deep breaths and stay calm."

She nodded. He quickly removed the condom he still wore, dropping it onto the matching wrapper on the bedside table, and then picked up his underwear from the carpet.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I'll be right back."

XXX

She heard him cross the hall, the silent wooden house echoing and amplifying every noise. The door creaked as he entered Catherine and Sofia's bedroom, and then there were quiet footsteps as he crossed to Catherine's bed. There were murmurs as they spoke, but then more footsteps as they returned.

"She had a panic attack," he said, quietly explaining the situation out in the hall. "I think it was a flashback to her assault – she clammed up, said she couldn't breathe. She was terrified."

"She explain why?"

"No – but her actions spoke volumes. And she wants to speak with you."

"All right – let's go."

Footsteps approached, and Sara realised too late that she was still naked. She glanced around for a shirt, but there was none within reach, and when they entered the room she was still bare.

Grissom didn't hesitate – passing her a look of pity he picked up a blanket from the end of the bed – one they had kicked down earlier in their passion – and folded it, moving to wrap it around her.

"Stay warm," he said. "You're still trembling."

He sat back down with her, holding her again, but Sara's attention was on Catherine. She was dressed in her lingerie, coupled with a large men's shirt which hung open and loose, but she looked every part the CSI as her gaze took in the condom on the dresser and underwear on the floor, and she gave the slightest nod to herself before she crouched down in front of Sara, blue eyes honing in on her.

"You okay?" she asked.

Sara tried to nod, at the same time trying to hold down a rising sense of writhing embarrassment.

"I'm okay," she replied. "I think I just freaked out – I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise," Grissom said, still holding her. "You did nothing wrong. It's okay."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about," Catherine said, reaching for her wrist. Her fingers clamped in, checking her pulse. "How's your breathing? You feel any tightness in your chest?"

"Some," Sara said, taking another deep breath to stifle it. "It's loosening up."

"You should rest a few minutes," Grissom said. "Just take it easy."

Sara nodded, but it was easier said than done. She looked down into Catherine's eyes, and knew she had to tell her, but had no idea how to begin.

Thankfully, at that moment, Catherine took control.

"Look, why don't you give us a minute," Catherine said to him. "I need to talk with her alone."

"Of course." He gave Sara's back one last rub and stood. "I'll be downstairs if you need me."

He threw her a wink and departed, closing the door behind him. Catherine took up his position on the bed, her arm slipping around Sara's shoulders.

"You don't have to say anything," she said. "Take a few minutes if you need them."

"I'm okay," Sara replied. "Like I said, I think I just freaked out – embarrassing but not fatal."

She tried to smile, wanting to make light of it, but Catherine was not fooled.

"You want to walk me through what happened?" She nodded to the discarded condom. "I know you were having sex."

"We were just … getting down to it, when –"

"When it happened," Catherine provided. She rubbed her back. "What triggered it?"

"I just thought of something," Sara admitted. "And then I couldn't go on."

She sighed, fingers on her temple. It seemed so stupid now, the worst possible timing. She hated to think what Grissom thought of it all, thought of her, but at least he had been understanding. She was grateful for that much.

"What did you think of?" Catherine prompted. "Was it the assault? Or something else?"

"It wasn't the assault," Sara said honestly. "Grissom just assumed it was because of the timing. I was actually thinking of something else that he said earlier, about why I was sick yesterday."

She let the thought hang, her next words hitching in the back of her throat. She was not sure, now that the moment had come, if she had the nerve to face it. She wondered if it was at all possible that she was being paranoid, that she had made a big scene for no reason.

Catherine was silent, but when Sara looked sideways to her she saw she was watching her carefully. Her expression was indecipherable.

"Is there something you need to tell me?" she asked quietly.

Sara took a deep breath; her hands shook, but she plunged in.

"Catherine … when did you realise you were pregnant with Lindsey?"

A short chapter, but I enjoyed this one. I love it when Grissom is so sweet and understanding. I'm actually starting to comprehend how long I think this story is going to be, and it's a little scary. There's so much to cover and I wish I had more time to write it all. I'd love to hear what people think - please leave your thoughts.

Merry Christmas to everyone, and especially to those who've been so kind to me. I really appreciate it and wish you all the best for 2013. Hope to see you still reading well into the new year! ;)