Chapter 3

The next day Gil introduced Sara to the rest of the team, Catherine excepted Sara's handshake with a little uncertainty. "Is it MISS or MRS.?" Catherine wanted to know. Sara smiled and gave a half glance in Gil's direction, "Miss."

"Then this is my lucky day," Nick said, shaking Sara's extended hand, "How about I show you the town?"

Sara smiled politely, "Thank you but I have to turn you down. I am involved with someone."

Nick apologized. "Well if he ever dumps you, you know where to find me," Greg said smiling.

"I don't see that happening," Sara said, to Greg, "But thank you for the offer."

"There is one more," Gil said, to Sara, "Warrick Brown is out with the flu. Now how about we get some work done." Everyone mumbled under their breath, took their assignments and left.

In the car Gil looked at Sara, "Why did you turn Nick down? He is a nice kid."

Sara caressed Gil's cheek, "You aren't getting rid of me that easily, Gilbert Grissom."

Gil took her hand and kissed it.

Over the next few months Gil continued to make baby steps. Sara, however, had fallen deeply in love, she would dream of the day when they would share that love.

After their third date Gil's normal kiss on the cheek was replaced by a kiss on her lips, nothing deep or demanding, but Sara swore it was the sweetest kiss she had ever taste.

By the end of Sara's second month with the team it was more then obvious that Sara only wanted Gil, more them once Catherine would tell Sara that she was wasting her time. "I have known Gil for a long time," Catherine would say, "And he just doesn't get into any kind of relationship." But Catherine's words would not discourage Sara, she was in love and if it took an eternity, Sara would wait. "I will wake up in his arms," Sara would tell herself.

Sara had frequent conversations with Henry, each one only served to reassure Sara that she was walking down the right path.

After one of their many meals at THE UN-BURGER SHOP - Sara's favorite veggie burger dinner - Gil handed Sara a picture of a beautiful redheaded green eyed lady in a ball cap and team jacket. She was standing next to a obviously much younger Gil Grissom. "Sandra," Gil said, a tear in his eye, "It was taken about a week before she was ….." Gil dropped the sentence, he just couldn't finish it. "Sandra took me to a ballgame for my birthday," he was finally about to continue.

"She is beautiful," Sara said.

Gil nodded. "She was," Gil said, with that he put the picture back in his pocket, "I need to get you home, just because I am off tomorrow you aren't." Sara smiled and followed him to the car.

The sun shown bright as Gil sat on a bench in the park, his eyes closed, deep in thought.

"Gil," a soft voice called him.

Gil opened his eyes, "Sandra?" he said, hardly able to breath, "It can't be."

A soft hand caressed his cheek, "Sara is a wonderful woman, you have to let go of the past, you have to move on."

"I can't replace you," Gil whispered, "I love you. I have from the first time I seen you."

"Oh Gil, Sara is not trying to replace me," was her soft reply, "She knows how you feel. Lock away the past in a special private place in your heart, my love, and go on with your life."

Just as Gil stood to wrap his arms around the first true love of his life as he was suddenly awaken with wet slobbery kisses from Hank, his dog. Gil shook himself to reality and sighed deeply, "I guess I have been being a fool."

Gil chuckled as the dog ran back and forth and barked. "All right fella," Gil said, as he opened the door and Hank took off for the closest tree.

Gil sat on the porch - the sun was bright and warm, the day was uncommonly clear - it took Gil no time to once again be lost deep in thought, but this time his mind was full of thoughts of Sara.

"I can't just blurt it out," he said out loud to no one, "Oh yea, I can just see that: SARA, I HAVE BEEN SUCH AN ASS, WILL YOU SLEEP WITH ME." The thought of it made him laugh. Sara had made it more then clear how she felt about him so there was no doubt in his mind what her answer would be, "But how do you ask a person to sleep with you?"

As if by magic an idea popped into his head, Gil smiled and almost jumped up heading into the house and his computer, once more he would take care of everything.

All the arrangements were made when Gil called Sara on her phone and asked her to stop by his place on her way home, there was something he needed to talk to her about.

A very curious Sara knocked on Gil's door.

"Hey," Gil said, kissing her, "Come in."

Sara followed him to the couch.

Gil took both her hands in his and looked deep into her eyes, "Sara, I can't keep you dangling on a string, you are entitled to a life."

Sara held her breath, she was determined to love him no matter what he said.

"I have thought about US a lot and .." Gil let out a sigh, "I want us to move on, together, I want to give us a shot. So, if it is all right with you I have a fascinating idea," Gil said, suddenly filled with more confidence in this decision then in almost any he had made, "I know we have both been walking around on egg shells about our relationship, I would like - if you would be up for it - for a weekend on the beach, just you and me?"

"I would love it," Sara said.

"Great," Gil said, "Everything is set."

Couldn't keep them apart any longer, hope you all will enjoy the next chapter as Sara's dream finally comes true. Trish J.