A/N: Again, sorry about the delay! Everything should be back on track for regular updates for the foreseeable future.

Thanks for reading, reviewing, and, most of all, for your patience. We hope you enjoy this chapter.

I don't own CSI. Some inspiration and dialogue are taken from episode 408, "After the Show."

November 2015

Grissom draws a deep breath as he approaches the imposing building. He shakes his head as he stares up at the edifice. No one will ever be able to make him understand why a home for children should look so intimidating.

He enters the main doors, and is greeted by a woman who is obviously forcing herself to be cheerful.

"Good morning," she says. "How can I help you?"

"Good morning," Grissom replies. "I have an appointment with Ms. Sullivan."

The woman at the desk consults her calendar. "Gil Grissom?"

"Yes."

She nods. "Have a seat. I'll let Ms. Sullivan know you're here."

Grissom sits down in the waiting area. He glances at the magazines on the table next to him with the eyes of a CSI, noting the odd collection of titles. Business, pop culture and children's magazines dominate the small surface. Something for everyone …

"Gil! Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Jean," Grissom says warmly, standing up to meet her. "It's good to see you."

"You, too," she says, reaching out to shake his hand. "How's Sara?"

"Fine," Grissom replies.

"And your little one?"

"She's doing great. She's in kindergarten this year."

Jean smiles fondly. "Hard to believe."

"I know."

"Well, you certainly didn't make an appointment just to update me on your family," Jean said. "Come on. We can talk in my office."

November 2003

Sara stood in the observation room while Grissom called Catherine. When he rejoined her, Brass was still futilely trying to get DelHomme to talk.

"She's on her way," Grissom said.

Sara nodded without looking at him. She hated that it bothered her, but she was truly upset by his immediate reaction to DelHomme's request for "the pretty one." Logically, she knew that Grissom had seen the way their suspect had watched Catherine before. She knew that Grissom was already aware of the … attraction DelHomme felt for Catherine. Yet, somehow, the fact that the first thing Grissom said to her was that "the pretty one" was Catherine made her angry.

Grissom could sense Sara's mood, but didn't know what had her so upset. He knew she was annoyed about not being able to finish the interrogation – Sara never handed off a case without a fight – but, the anger pouring off her was unusual.

He sighed. It was like they were right back to where they were during the rush case – Sara was angry, but barely willing to look at him, let alone talk to him about it. And, once again, it was as though her anger was directly connected to his management, and to her desire for special treatment as his girlfriend.

He wanted to make things right between them. He wanted to be able to be both her supervisor and her significant other. He wanted to go back to the happy place they had been in only weeks earlier. But … he had no idea how to make that happen. The only thing he knew with any certainty was that he could not fix their incredibly complex relationship without her help. And, even though she still refused to look at him, he had to try.

"Sara …"

Something in the tone of his voice caught her attention; she turned to face him. "Yeah?"

"I think we need to –"

"Hey."

Catherine came into the observation room, closing the door behind her. Completely oblivious to what she had interrupted, she inclined her head toward the double mirror.

"Has Brass had any luck?"

Grissom held Sara's eyes for a moment, then looked away, clearing his throat. "No," he said. "I think … you may be the only one who can get through to this one."

Catherine nodded. "I'm on it." She looked into Grissom's eyes. "Thanks for trusting me with this."

Grissom shrugged slightly. "What can I do? He won't talk for anyone else. Just … be careful, okay?"

She smiled slightly. "I always am."

"We'll be watching."

Sara made a strangled sound in the back of her throat. Catherine, already on her way out of the observation room, didn't notice. Grissom, who had heard her, turned to face his colleague.

"What's wrong?"

Anger boiled up inside of Sara. "Don't worry about me. Worry about Catherine."

"Sara …"

"No, Grissom," she said. "I mean it. Just … watch the interview."

Grissom looked at her, but she refused to meet his eyes again. Sighing, he finally turned back to their window into the interrogation.

It was going to be a long night.

November 2015

During his time as a CSI, Grissom knew Jean Sullivan as a social worker who would often rescue children from horrible circumstances. He had a great deal of professional respect for her, and was not at all surprised when she took the position as the head of the children's home.

After speaking with Nick about his conversation with Sara about Jake, Grissom contacted Jean to request an appointment. If anyone can help him make this decision, it is she.

"Now," Jean says as they sit down in her office, "how can I help you?"

"You recently took in a teenager named Jake Tanner, I believe?"

"Oh, Jake," Jean sighs. "Yes, he's here. That poor kid has been through so much."

"What can you tell me about him?"

Jean frowns slightly. "Gil, you're not back at CSI, are you?"

"No." Grissom shifts in his seat. "The truth is, Jean, Sara was assigned to Jake's parents' case. She met him at the crime scene, and really felt like she connected with him. After Melinda told her that he hadn't been placed with a family …" He shrugs helplessly. "She wants us to take him as a foster."

Jean's eyebrows shoot up. "I didn't know you and Sara had any interest in becoming foster parents."

"It's not something we've discussed before now," Grissom acknowledges. "Like I said, she feels connected with this particular child."

Jean studies him appraisingly. "But, you're not convinced."

"No," Grissom admits with a slight shake of his head.

"Well, I can tell you quite honestly that Jake is a good-hearted kid who has been handed a raw deal," Jean says. "He has a very tough shell, but, I think it can be cracked. I think that if you can get beyond his tough guy persona, you'll find a really great kid."

"And, is that something you think someone like me could do?"

Jean studies him again. "Yes," she says at last. "You and Sara are both excellent judges of character. You've both learned to work with people, to bring them to their breaking point, but not to push beyond it. And, you're both experienced parents. Between the two of you, I think you could do Jake a lot of good."

"You're not just saying this so I'll take a foster child, right?" Grissom is only half-joking.

"No," Jean says, "I'm saying this so you'll take this foster child. I'm saying this because I think you can make a difference in his life."

Grissom falls silent, considering her words.

"Tell you what," Jean says, "I'll let you meet him. That way, you can talk to him for a bit before you make up your mind."

Grissom nods. "Okay. But, before we do that, is there any way I can just observe him? I'd like to see the person he is when he doesn't realize anyone is watching."

Jean nods. "That can be arranged."

November 2003

"We're wasting time."

Nick looked at Sara and reluctantly nodded his agreement. "It does look that way."

"I don't know why –"

"Because it's all we've got," Nick interrupted."DelHomme told Catherine we could find Julie's body here. We've got to search it."

"DelHomme wanted to be with Catherine!" Sara exclaimed. "He probably thinks of this as a romantic walk in the desert!"

"Sara, it's all we've got," Nick said again, emphasizing each word individually. "When we get a lead, we follow it. It's our job."

Sara shook her head and looked away. "It's just …"

"Our job," Nick repeated quietly. "Come on. Let's try over this way."

Sighing, Sara followed Nick toward a rock formation that had not yet been searched for Julie Waters' body. Walking around in the desert sun on a wild goose chase was not her idea of a good use of her time, but, as Nick had just repeatedly pointed out, it was her job.

They were still searching as the sun set. From what Sara could see, Catherine had been unable to get any further information out of DelHomme, who insisted that she be by his side at all times. Frustration and anger oozed out of Sara as she stood alone beside a cluster of bushes.

Grissom saw Sara standing alone, clearly taking a break from their tireless search for Julie. He watched her from a distance for a moment, wondering what she was thinking, and if she was still angry with him for letting Catherine take over the interrogation. He stood by his decision; Catherine had at least gotten them a general location of the girl's body, which was more than Brass and Sara had managed.

Grissom sighed. He needed to talk to her – to find out what she was thinking. He approached her, stopping while he was still nearly a yard away. He wanted to give her some space.

"Hey," he said.

Sara barely looked at him. "What are we doing?" she asked. "Is this logical? We have suspects picking their criminalists now."

Ah. So, she's still upset about that. He chose his words carefully, knowing that he had to be all business with her. He couldn't say anything that would suggest that his decision to let Catherine work with the suspect was related to anything other than the good of the team and the investigation.

"Well, we all want the same thing, Sara," he finally said. "Catherine may have a way in. It could be helpful."

"So, this looks helpful to you," Sara said with only a note of question in her voice.

"It's more than we had before," Grissom said.

"Is it?" Sara asked skeptically. "Before, Nick and I were going over evidence. Before, Brass was interrogating DelHomme. Now, we're all out in the middle of the desert with no body, no evidence, and the rest of the case at a stand-still."

"Enough."

Sara's head snapped up. He hadn't raised his voice, but his tone cut through her.

"This isn't about you or Nick or Catherine," Grissom said. "It's about solving a case. It's about choosing the path most likely to yield results. If you don't like the path I've chosen, Sara, that's fine. I welcome debate. However, you need to base your argument on something other than hurt feelings." He looked at her as though he had never seen her before. "Be a professional about this."

Grissom walked away, leaving Sara standing alone. She shivered, and rubbed her hands up and down her arms. She had a feeling the sudden chill had far less to do with the increasing cold that followed the sunset than it did with what Grissom had said.

"Hey."

Sara looked up as Nick approached her. "Hey," she replied.

"What's up with Grissom?"

"He thinks I'm being unprofessional."

"What are you talking about?" Nick asked with a frown.

"He thinks I'm just upset because he let Catherine take the case. That's not it at all! I just think this is a waste of time. If we were still in the lab, you and I could still be going over all the evidence we took from Julie's –"

"Whoa, wait," Nick interrupted. "Who said it's Catherine's case?"

"Wait, what?"

"I said, who said it's Catherine's case?" Nick repeated. "Sar, this is our case. We were the ones who initially started investigating Julie's disappearance. Just because the suspect has a crush on Catherine doesn't mean it's her case all of a sudden."

"You're right," Sara said, brightening. "Grissom never said he was handing off the case to her. Just the interrogation."

"Exactly," Nick said. "Come on. We've got to clear this up with him."

Sara nodded. "Let's go find him."

November 2015

Jean takes Grissom to the dining room, where the children are having lunch.

"That's Jake over there," she says, indicating a young teenager who was sitting by himself.

"He's alone," Grissom says, stating the obvious.

"He hasn't been here long yet," Jean says. "The kids are always wary of newcomers. They learn very quickly that it's better not to get attached when you don't know how long anyone will be here."

Grissom nods, thinking that it's a very bleak outlook for such young ones to have. He has a sudden vision of the thirteen-year-old Sara learning the same lesson, and feels his heart break for the girl she must have been. She has such a big heart … I can't believe living like that didn't break her. She's so strong …

As they watch, a younger boy approaches Jake. He looks to be about eight years old, and very scared.

"Zach," Jean murmurs, nodding in the younger boy's direction. "He just came to us today."

"Hi," Zach says. "Can I sit here?"

"Whatever," Jake replies, moving his bag from the chair next to him so that Zach can sit down.

They eat in silence for a moment. Jake looks bored, but at ease, while Zach is nearly shaking.

"What's your name?" Jake finally asks.

"Zach."

"Are you new?"

Zach nods.

"I'm Jake," Jake offers.

"How long have you … been here?"

"About a week."

"Where are your parents?"

"Dead."

"Oh." Zach looks down at his chicken fingers. "Mine, too."

"What happened to him?" Grissom asks without looking away from the two boys.

"Absentee father, mother killed in a car crash," Jean says. "An aunt is coming for him, but she lives in Denver, so she can't make it until tomorrow. He's just here for the night."

Grissom nods.

"It sucks," Jake says to Zach.

Zach nods. "My aunt is coming for me," he says. "Is your aunt coming for you?"

Jake shakes his head. "I don't have any aunts."

"Oh. Who's coming for you, then?"

Jake shrugs. "No one, I guess."

Zach's eyes grow round. "So … you mean … Are you going to live here forever?"

Jake looks down at the hands that have clenched in his lap. "Yeah," he says. "I guess I am."

Grissom finally tears his eyes from the boys to look at Jean. "I want to talk to him."

She nods. "As soon as they finish lunch, I'll arrange it."

November 2003

Nick and Sara stood off to the side, watching as Grissom and Catherine put DelHomme in the police cruiser that would take him back to jail. As soon as the car drove away, the four CSIs joined together. Sara and Nick had the same look in their eyes – a look that told Grissom that they were in this together, and that they were not in the mood to back down from whatever plan they intended to reveal. He studied them warily, not entirely sure he wanted to hear what they had to say.

"All right, at least we can hold on to him for awhile," Catherine said.

"Well, the public defender may have him out on bail by tomorrow morning," Grissom said.

"Meanwhile, we still haven't found anything," Nick said. "Now, did anyone stop to think that this guy might just be nuts?"

"Well, until we find the body, he is all the evidence we've got," Catherine said.

"We don't even know if he did it," Sara said, pointing out what no one else was willing to admit. For all their interrogations, neither she nor Brass nor even Catherine had been able to get him to use Julie Waters' name.

"Oh, I've got a good feeling about this," Catherine said.

"So does the suspect," Sara shot back. "The only reason that we're out here today on this wild goose chase is because he wanted to hang out with you. It's … weird."

"Believe me, I'd rather follow the evidence," Catherine said. "But, if it takes having the evidence follow me –"

"The original missing person's call was mine and Sara's," Nick said in strong, measured tones, looking straight at Grissom.

Ah. So, that's what they want. That explains the look in their eyes.

"I'm the senior CSI here," Catherine said, anger edging into her voice.

"Uh, I'm the senior CSI here," Grissom said, hoping to end a fight before it could begin.

"You want it?" Catherine asked.

Grissom gave her a look. She was not playing her hand as he had expected she would.

"Hold on now," Nick said. "This is a career case, Grissom. You know Sara and I both put in for a promotion. If we work this, we're on departmental radar."

"I've got the most high-profile cases under my belt," Catherine argued. "I think that the Sheriff would rest easier knowing that I was heading it up."

"It's a big department," Sara said. "There's a lot of room at the top."

"We wouldn't ask for it if we couldn't do it." Nick spoke directly to Grissom, knowing that the final decision rested with him. Arguing with Catherine would get them nowhere.

Sara followed Nick's lead and looked from Catherine to Grissom. He was looking down, considering all they had laid before him. Sara knew he would side with her and Nick. She knew he would give them the case. How could he not? He knew how important it was to them – to her. She was certain that she meant enough to him that he would do this for her.

Now I know how a teacher must feel. Grissom had never seen his team fight over a case like this, which spoke to how important it was to each of them. There were so many factors to consider, and not nearly enough time … he hated making big decisions so quickly …

Sara and Nick were right. It was a career case. If he let them have it, and they were successful, it would catapult them ahead. But … are they ready for it?

Catherine was right, too. She had worked plenty of high-profile cases. And, she would, as always have the support of her team. And, in a case like this, where the suspect was already willing to open up to her … sort of … it made sense to let her continue.

Sara is going to be so angry. She'll think I should let her have it.

With that thought, his decision was made. He couldn't let Sara's emotions dictate his decisions. Work at work, personal on their own time. They had agreed to let their relationship stay away from work, and, if he let her take this case, he was bringing his personal feelings into the lab.

He raised his head and looked at Sara.

As Sara held his gaze, her certainty that Grissom would let her and Nick finish what they had started melted away. Anger took its place, followed by a sudden hatred. In that moment, she hated everything. She hated that Grissom was her supervisor. She hated that she had agreed to go out with him at all, let alone to date him. Above all, she hated the fact that she knew him so well that she knew, without being told, that he was giving the case to Catherine. The look in his eyes was all she needed.

"Fine," she spat out, turning away from him.

Grissom looked at Nick, holding his eyes as disappointment flooded Nick's face. He turned to follow Sara to the car.

Catherine looked at Grissom, knowing that he wasn't entirely pleased with his decision. She studied him for a moment.

"You going to have my back?"

"I always have your back," Grissom replied.

Catherine nodded, knowing it to be true. "He wanted me? He's got me."

Grissom nodded. "Just … be careful with Sara and Nick."

"I have a feeling they won't want to work this one anymore."

"Don't shut them out completely. They're right; it was their case in the beginning."

"If you want them to work it –"

"I want this team to work it," Grissom interrupted. "We're a team, Catherine. You know that."

She nodded. "Yeah."

Being a team seemed to be the furthest thing from anyone's mind as the case continued. Catherine called upon Greg to help her, while Sara and Nick appeared to be in their own world, investigating something completely different.

Grissom did not understand how everything could have gone so wrong, so quickly.

It's me and Sara. We're what's changed, and it's made everything else change, too.

For some reason, the words of Jackpot's Lieutenant Alan Brooks came back to him again and again. In speaking of change, the man had merely said, "It's a bitch."

Grissom had always known that to be true. Now, though, he was finding that it was impossible.

He sighed and ran his hands over his face. Maybe … maybe it was time to let things go back to the way they had been. Maybe it was time to remove the changes.

It wasn't what he wanted. He was certain that it wasn't what Sara wanted, either. However, it seemed like the only solution to bring their team back. It would remove the tension between them, would remove his desire to please her with the decisions he made and her sense of entitlement as his girlfriend. It was the best option.

But, oh, how he would miss their "personal" time together.

November 2015

"Jake?"

Jake looks up from the magazine he is reading as Jean and Grissom enter his bedroom. "Hi," he says, wariness already finding its way into his eyes.

"This is Dr. Grissom," Jean says. "He'd like to take to you for a few minutes."

"Doctor?" Jake repeats. "I'm not sick."

"I'm not that kind of doctor," Grissom replies. "I teach at UNLV."

"Oh," Jake says. "A professor."

"That's right."

"Why do you want to talk to me? I'm not in college yet."

"I believe you met my wife," Grissom says. "Her name is Sara."

"Sara Grissom? I don't think so."

Grissom smiles. It has never bothered him that Sara did not legally take his name, and he knows that she often refers to herself using both last names and will respond to being called "Mrs. Grissom" quite easily. However …

"She may have just introduced herself as Sara, or as Sara Sidle – she doesn't usually use Grissom at work."

"Sara Sidle …" Jake's face turns stormy. "I met her," he says, his voice tight. "That night."

Grissom nods. "That's what she said."

"What else did she say?"

"She's worried about you," Grissom says honestly. "She wants to know that you're okay."

"Why isn't she here, then?"

"She's in court today."

"Oh." Something flashes in Jake's eyes. "Is it about my parents?"

"No, this is an older case. One from almost a year ago, I believe."

"What happened? Was someone else killed?"

Grissom glances at Jean, who nods. "Yes," he says.

"Well, I hope she has fun talking about dead people."

Grissom frowns slightly. "That is her job."

"Yeah, she told me." He looks at Grissom for a moment. "Well, you've seen me. You can tell her that I have plenty of food here, and a nice bed. I'm sure she'll feel better."

Grissom nods, realizing that pushing this child to talk more is going to be painful for both of them. "I'll let her know."

Grissom and Jean leave the room and walk down the hall in silence.

"Well?" Jean says after they turn the corner.

"I need some more time to think," Grissom replies.

"Not that I want to influence you," Jean says with a smile, "but, he does seem to like Sara. I've never heard him talk about anyone the entire time he's been here, even when we've tried to bring people up for him to discuss."

Grissom nods. "Well, like I said, she likes him, too."

"Gil … I really think you should do this."

He smiles slightly. "So I've heard."

November 2003

Sara and Nick took pride in the fact that their connection between Julie's disappearance and the day shift discovery of another girl's body helped to find Julie's remains. Greg, who was working with Catherine, also helped in finding her. It was, as Grissom had hoped, a true team effort.

Once she and her things had been found, Catherine and Sara discovered blood on her stockings that DelHomme's account of events left out. Catherine went out to buy a new pair of the same stockings, then she and Sara conducted an experiment to see how the blood would have gotten from her injured ear to her feet.

"Sixty-five dollars?" Sara said in disbelief, staring at the packaging. "Oof."

"Capital investment," Catherine said. "Our victim hadn't made it to the show yet. Her life was all about after the show. Right guy, right meal … And, after that …"

"It's a tough way to get ahead," Sara said.

Catherine glanced at her, then looked back at the stocking she was rolling. "Your father ever tell you you were pretty?" she asked.

Sara shrugged slightly. "I guess."

"He ever tell you you were smart?"

"Yeah," Sara said with confidence. Of everything her father had said to her in moments of anger or kindness, the compliments about her intelligence always stood out.

"So, it probably never occurred to you that you wouldn't be successful," Catherine explained. "If all you ever hear is that you're gorgeous, you can let everything else fall away and … leave you in a very dangerous place."

The experiment continued, but the conversation ended. The moment of sharing, however brief, was over.

Sara never forgot it.

"Hey."

Sara glanced up as Grissom came into the office where she and Nick had been working. "Hi."

He sighed as her eyes immediately returned to her work. "Sara …"

"Yeah?"

He sat down across from her. "This isn't working."

Sara's head snapped up. "What do you mean?"

"We agreed …" He cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "Can we go somewhere to talk?"

Sara nodded. "Coffee shop around the corner?"

"Perfect."

They went to the coffee shop together and each ordered a drink. They sat down together, and Sara immediately began playing with her tea cup.

"Okay," she said. "What isn't working for you?"

"This," he said, waving his hand between them. "Us."

Sara's eyes grew huge. "What do you mean?"

"Sara, we agreed when we started this that we'd keep the personal stuff out of the lab."

"I know."

"We haven't … we can't."

"What do you mean?" she asked again.

"Honey, our personal relationship is obviously affecting our work relationship. And, what affects our work relationship affects the team. So …"

Sara knew what he was going to say, but she would not say it for him. She sat in silence, willing herself not to cry while she watched him search for the right words.

"We need to end our personal relationship," he finally said, his voice just above a whisper. "We can still be colleagues, of course … friends …"

"Friends," Sara repeated, just controlling her voice. She looked away, then looked back at him. "Sure, Griss. We'll be friends."

"Sara …"

She shook her head. "You know, I think we're done here. I've got a lot of work waiting for me back at the lab."

She stood and left him alone with two mugs on the table. He watched her walk out the door. His heart was breaking, but he made no move to stop her.

It's better this way.

November 2015

"Mommy, I can't. You do it."

"It's your homework, love, not mine," Sara says patiently. "You have to do it."

Anna's face screws up. "No. I can't. It's too hard."

"Anna," Sara says, bringing her daughter's eyes up to her face. "There is absolutely no reason why you can't do this. You are a very smart girl. I know you can figure out how to add these numbers."

"Is Mommy making you think?" Grissom asks with mock shock as he enters the room.

"Daddy had better not ruin this for me," Sara says, giving him a slight smile.

"Daddy, we're doing my math homework."

"So I see," Grissom says. He looks over Anna's shoulder at the worksheet in front of her. "This is easy addition, Anna Banana. I know you can do it. You're a very smart young lady."

"That's what Mommy said, too."

"Because it's true," Sara says.

Grissom kisses Anna's head, then touches Sara's shoulder. "Can we talk?"

Sara nods. "Anna, you keep working. I'll be with Daddy in the living room if you need my help."

"Okay," Anna says, looking at the paper with renewed determination.

"What's up?" Sara asks as she joins Grissom in the living room.

"I talked to Jake," he replies.

Sara's eyes open wide. "You did what?"

"I went to the home to meet him," he says. "After talking to you and to Nick, I thought it couldn't hurt to at least meet him."

"And?" Sara just stops herself from holding her breath.

"And … I want to try this, Sara. I want us to take him."

"You mean it?" A beaming grin spreads across Sara's face.

"Not necessarily forever," Grissom cautions. "If, after a few weeks, it's not working …"

Sara nods. "Absolutely." She crosses the room to wrap her arms around her husband. "Thank you, Gil. All I wanted was a chance."

He smiles and gently kisses her. "Well, here's your chance."