"Yes nine years." He repeated, her laughter continuing. "You had a pony tail" he remembered fondly, speaking softly.

Her laughter softened as he continued.

"You had a lot of questions about anthropology for some reason."

"well-" she smirked, "I was trying to rack up the nerve to ask you to dinner." after a bit of a pause continued, "do you remember- walking in the park that night- the last night of the conference?"

"Of course." his voice was soft and steady, "I wanted so badly to invite you back to my hotel," he admitted, his voice seemed to hint that he was a little ashamed of the fact.

"oh?"

"Yes. But I had never acted out of lust before, and the prospect of doing so scared me. Especially given the fact that I would be leaving the next day."

"I see." was all she contributed.

"Well..." he encouraged.

"well what?"

"Would you have come with me?"

"Right before you made your excuses to leave, I was about to invite you back to my apartment." she said matter-of-factly.

"Hm." He unzipped his jacket and hung it up before walking back to her. They walked down the stairs and to the bedroom where they both got changed and ready for bed.

"You know," he broke the silence, "we'll have to go see Ecklie together, clarify why we had different stories."

Her laugh was soft and sweet, "I suppose we do."

They slid into bed together, she rested her broken arm on his abdomen. He turned his head to her, just looking at her.

"Yes Dr. Grissom?" she spoke in a low seductive voice.

"Nothing." he said innocently.

She propped herself up on her good arm and hovered over him before leaning down and kissing him deeply. He responded and she intensified it. Swinging a leg over his waist she straddled him, pressing her body to his, he moaned in response.

Sometimes it amazed her just how much he turned her on, and how hearing a simple moan, feeling the heat of his body against hers, sent her over the edge.

His hands encircled her waist, his fingertips lifting the bottom of her shirt up over her head and right arm, and then carefully over her left arm and cast. He loved the feel of her bare skin on his fingertips. Her fingers ran their way down to his boxers' waist band, where she slipped her fingers in, just enough to tease him. He wrapped his hands around her hips and flipped her over so he was hovering her, leaning down and taking her lips hungrily. He grabbed her body up, sliding his hands between her back and the sheets underneath.

He heard her deep intake of breath and smiled against her lips. And then heard her whimper of a cry. He leaned back on his knees and looked down at her, realizing that her deep intake of breath wasn't from pleasure, but rather from pain. Her hands were on her ribs, and tears were involuntarily streaming down her checks.

He began to panic and she saw this in his eyes, "no no," she managed to get out, "I'm fine. really.... ahh." "I'm fine."

"What happened? what did i do? are you alright" he got off of her and sat beside her,

"ahh... yeah- its just my ribs." she looked up at him sadly, "I guess im still fragile." she admitted.

"Sara." he said sternly, "If you're not physically ready for this then we don't have to do this. I'm most concerned that you have a full recovery."

"But i want to. . . " She began to cry softly.

"It's okay," he said as he held her against him, "It's okay."

He knew how much it hurt her that she was physically restrained from 'pleasing' him, and how she hated so much to be victimized. But until she was fully recovered he refused to let her 'wants' over take her need for recovery.

TBC....