Author's Note: Hi, guys. I am coming precariously close to my scheduled hiatus (see HEADS UP, YOU GUYS on my profile) so I'm trying to step up the game and get some stuff done before I'm swept up in the latest storm RL's blown into my life. I am targeting my NCIS WIP for completion by the end of my Spring Break and to update all of my WIPs (all 9 of them) at least once.

I'll make it happen.

Disclaimer: "Honestly, it's not mine!"

"Could you go get Sara, please? Tell her that dinner will be ready in about 5 minutes…if this bloody oven will cooperate. I once called it an antiquated piece of trash and it's never forgiven me."

Smiling slightly at Kylie's grumbling, Grissom left the kitchen in search of her. Since arriving at Dr. Sidle's, he had bathed and even managed to get a little bit of sleep. For the first time in a long time, he didn't feel as if every one of his years weighed down on him. It was a good sign. A better sign was that Sara hadn't told him to leave yet.

She had even brought his hastily packed bag to him. She had refused to look at him or talk to him but she had approached him. She had even let him squeeze her free hand. Unconsciously, she had squeezed back before stiffening. Withdrawing her hand, she had hurried out of his room, nearly knocking over her niece.

Said niece had taken to him immediately and Grissom had let her take him on a tour of the house. Rebecca was vibrant and cheerful but there was the same sharp intelligence that her aunt had. It must run in the family.

Knocking lightly on her closed door, he called, "Sara, Kylie said that dinner will be ready in about five minutes. Sara?"

No answer.

After waiting another 10 seconds, he gently pulled the door open and his mouth went bone dry.

She was sprawled across the bed asleep. Her hair was shrouding her face but other than a pair of dark purple panties, she was nude. The late afternoon sun made her glow like marble and he could see every lithe muscle in her body shift as she buried her face deeper in her pillow.

Grissom didn't know whether to slam the door or to move forward, to shake her awake…to touch her.

His feet propelled him forward and before he could think (or over think), his hand was on her back. She was warm and silky soft, a light scent of gardenias and musk tantalizing his senses.

"Sara?"

"Mmph?"

"Dinner's ready. Kylie sent me to come get you. You didn't answer so I came in and found you like this. I just…you're beautiful, Sara."

"I think there's something wrong with your eyes. Give me my bra and robe." she retorted as she rose up on her forearms.

Her hair shrouded her from view and he was grateful for it. Not that he didn't want to see her breasts. Lord knew that he had wanted to see them and the rest of her glorious body for years. Now was not the time, though. They still had bridges to mend and he was determined to make her wait worth it.

It was the least he could do.

Picking up the purple cotton bra and black robe, he turned around as she covered herself up. When she said it was okay, he turned around to meet her gaze. Even in the arms of sleep, she still managed to look angrily suspicious of him, like he was a suspect in a crime but she wasn't sure just how big of a role he had played.

"I don't know what you said to Phil to get you in this house but I'm not buying it for a second. This isn't you, Grissom. The Grissom that I know wouldn't have chased after me. Something's wrong with you and I'm going to figure out what it is."

"There's nothing wrong with me, Sara. I'm perfectly healthy."

"You said that when you were losing your hearing….don't look so shocked. I had a friend at Harvard who went through what you did, I know the signs and you had all of them. I was hoping you'd say something. That you'd actually let me or the rest of us help but you didn't. You didn't say anything, proving yet again that you're incapable of trusting or loving anyone.", she said icily.

"That's not true. I love you.", he replied.

She scoffed and said, "Yeah, sure, whatever. Tell me another bedtime story."

"It's true, Sara." he insisted. "I love you. I love you and I'm going to prove it."

It was surprisingly easy to express how he felt to her. He had built it up into a big, insurmountable challenge but saying the words had only increased the lightness he felt. It felt as if a 40 pound weight had been taken off of him.

Her gaze softened for a split second before being replaced by cool indifference but it was a victory. He was getting through to her.

Sara was starting to take him seriously.

//////////////

She was hiding behind sarcasm and indifference.

She had to. If she believed him for a second, she'd break. She'd go right back to him and open herself up to be hurt by him again. Sara didn't want to feel that hurt again. He said that he loved her but did he really? Did he really love her or was this just a ploy to regain control over her?

Either way, she wasn't biting.

She concentrated mainly on eating her pasta primavera and talking with Kylie about interior decorating. She had always enjoyed designing rooms in her head but Kylie did it for a living. She admired her for turning something she loved into a career.

"Sarabellum, can I talk to you in the kitchen for a moment?"

Phil stood and walked into the kitchen before she could reply, forcing her to have to follow him. It was trick that their mother used to do. Scooting her chair back and ignoring the sky blue gaze on her, she went through the swinging door.

"What, Phil?"

"What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

He gave her a scathing look and asked, "How the hell do you expect him to make things right between you if you won't even acknowledge him? Sara, the man drove all the way out here to come get you. The least you could do is hear him out."

"I did! He's lying! He's just trying to get me to come back to the lab so he won't have to hire anyone else!", she snapped.

"You and I both know that that's bullshit, Sara! You won't listen to him because you're scared!"

"You damn right I am! Every time he does something like this, he changes for maybe a day before casting me aside like trash for his job or some other tramp that catches his eye! I told you about it all! Tell me, why should I believe him when he says that he loves me?! If he did, then he wouldn't put me through hell for almost a decade!"

She hated the way her voice was cracking but she wasn't going to let Grissom undermine her again.

She couldn't. She couldn't take the pain, anymore.

"Because you love him and we always have faith and trust in the ones we love. Sara, just…try. Throw him a bone. Give him sort of indication that it's not too late to make things right. Otherwise, he really will give up on you and then where will you be?"

Miserable as usual.