AN: Thanks for the wonderful reviews. Here are some tender moments between them, I hope I did ok, I am a little nervous about this chapter. some information I barrowed but I did put my own spin on it. Now here you go.

Chapter 7-Bonding

He knew he was going to regret this answer because the more he knew about her the more he would be falling in love with her.

He answered anyways. "nothing is wrong with just talking" He sighed again knowing he was defeated so he says. "so were was I?"

Sara smiled happy that she got her way.

He smiled back, he just couldn't help it, her smile was contagious.

Sara speaks a few seconds later. "you were just about to tell me about your college days but before you do, can you tell me what I should call you because I think with our new status of relationship, I don't think Mr. Grissom would work anymore."

He raises and eyebrow and said. "Relationship?"

She nodded and said. "you know from student/teacher to friends."

She could tell that he just got embarrassed right there but didn't say anything. Grissom nods and then after a minute said. "well my mother would call me Gil unless I was in trouble then it would be Gilbert. My col.." He had to stop because Sara started to laugh, he raised his eyebrow again and said. "why are you laughing?"

When she finally calmed down a bit she said. "sorry but I don't think I could ever see you as getting in trouble you don't seem like the trouble type of kid."

He shook his head and said. "ok not in trouble per-se, but when I was so into my bugs or experiments and if she had to call me more than three times then it would be Gilbert, can I go on?" Sara put her hand up to her mouth to stop from laughing again thinking of a young Grissom playing with his experiments and bugs and complaining when he had to stop what he was doing for what ever reason.

When she put her hand back on her lap he continued. "as I was saying, my colleagues call me Dr. Grissom."

Sara thinks about all those names and she said. "what about your friends?"

He shrugs and said. "well the few that I have call me Griss or Grissom."

She smiles at that last one, with out the 'Mr.' in front of his name and it sounded right so she nods and said. "ok, so how does me calling you Grissom sound?"

"That sounds fine."

"ok, so continue your life story Grissom."

Grissom takes a breath and continues, he told her that he went to UCLA and got his PhD in Entomology. He is one of the 15 experts in that subject in the U. S. Sara was surprised at that and continued to listen to him speak, he told her that at age 22 he was the youngest coroner in the history of L. A County, he spent some time in Minnesota before he ended up in Vegas 3 years ago.

And then he finished. "….And so one minute I am a full time CSI and the next I get a call to come here and teach for the remainder of the school year and there you have it."

He takes a drink from his water and puts it back on the table, looks at Sara and she was looking back at him."wow, you have done so much but I do have a few questions."

He smiles and says."why I am I not surprised." She gives him a little glare, he smirks a little then says. "ok ask away?"

She cleared his throat and said. "you didn't really mention your mother and what little information you gave me, you seem pretty close to her."

He nods and said. "she and I are very close and for the longest time it felt like she was my only friend." He looked down a little ashamed and Sara felt bad, so she leaned forward puts her hand on his hand. He looked up into her eyes and she asked. "why don't you tell me about her? She's an important person in your life I would like to know about her."

Grissom nodded and Sara took her hand off of his and leaned back once again and after a breath he told her that his mom was a major part on why he likes books and poetry, he told her that his mother is into art and owned an art gallery and the big thing he didn't want to tell her but did was that She was deaf and it's hereditary. After he told her that part he was waiting for her to say something mean and walk out like some people did in the past but Sara did none of that instead she asked. "why didn't you want to tell me that?"

He shrugs and said. "I don't know, in the past if I told a women about me and if they're still around after I tell them about the bugs and experiments. They seem to can't handle the fact that my mom is deaf and that I could inherit the disability."

"well then they are stupid because if they let that one thing determine on if they like you or not then they aren't worth your time, so really they did you a favor." He smiles and thinks he just fell for her more, she didn't judge him or run away.

"you really think that?"

Sara nodded and said. "yeah I do and that brings me to my second question, you didn't mention any women in your life, so are there or were there?" Sara still holding her water she looks at Grissom waiting for his answer.

Grissom is just sitting there thinking about that question it was a very personal one and something he was embarrassed about. He never really dated in his teens and when he tried to tell some one that he liked them he would get called a freak and that was the end of that. And if by some chance they actually got to the out part, it more then likely ended before the dinner was even served, mostly because of his commitment to his job and there wasn't a second date after that.

Sara saw the look in Grissom's eyes and saw the trepidation in them and said concerned. "If you don't want to tell me it's ok. I just want you to know that you can trust me with what ever you say, I won't judge you."

Grissom really looks into Sara's eyes and he can tell she is telling him the truth and he figures since she didn't run out after he told her his childhood hobbies and about his mother then she might as well know about this.

Usually he would keep this to himself but he was finding it easy to talk to her and it made him want to tell her anything, she asked so he shook his head and said. "it's ok I can tell you." Sara nodded and waited.

After a minute he talked again. "To answer your first question I am not dating anyone."

Sara's heart swelled and thinks. 'good I don't have to be jealous.' then she tuned in for the rest of his speech. "And really there hasn't been any one for a while now, they usually don't last a second date." Before he could continue Sara gasped and he said. "what is it?"

She shook her head and said. "I never thought that you were that kind of man." She never thought he was this one night stand man.

He looks at her confused for a second then got her meaning and shook his head and this time he did a bold move and put a hand on her hand and said. "no it wasn't like that, I mean the reason sometimes it didn't last a second date was because, one like I said a minute ago they didn't like what they heard about me or I would get a call into work that's what I meant, I am not like what you just thought."

Deep down Sara already knew that and she said. "I'm sorry Grissom."

"It's ok." and that's when he realized he still had his hand on her hand and he was going to take if off, but after she puts her bottled water back on the coffee table, she puts her free hand on top of his, he looks at the hands then looks at Sara and she speaks again. "I don't mean only about the comment I also meant about the women, they were very stupid." She smiles and squeezes his hand and takes the one that was on top of his off and he finally releases the other hand and said. "thanks again Sara."

"you're welcome, so what about the smart ones that did stay after the second date what happened with those?"

He shrugs his shoulders and said. "I didn't feel the connection, that spark, you know the one were you can just look at the person and can already tell that you were meant to be all along."

They look at each other and it was the same feeling they had when they first met and they both felt it but kept it to themselves, Sara nodded and said. "yeah I know that spark."

Grissom nods and looks away and thinks. 'yeah she probably felt it with...' he stopped before his thoughts went to that name, his incomplete thoughts were interrupted with her speaking again. "so you never really felt that spark?"

Grissom turns his head to her so fast and he so desperately wanted to say 'yes I felt it with you' but he couldn't and he wouldn't so instead of answering the question, Sara speaks a second later. "Forget I asked that. Ok?" She changed her mind on hearing his answer because if he didn't have that spark with her it would hurt and if he did and rejected her it would hurt worse it was better left unsaid at this moment.

Grissom just nodded and looked away again he was happy that he didn't get to answer because he didn't want to lie and tell her no, even if he felt that was the right thing to do now

Finally the subject was changed by Sara asking her next question. "ok my final question what brought you teaching in a class room when you sounded like a successful CSI?"

He smiles and turns back to look at her and said. "That's easy, Al is a friend of mine and he called for a favor, he was in a jam and needed help so I agreed to teach but I am not completely out of the CSI work I help with the big cases and it's not like I am quitting and teaching full time this is only until the end of the school year."

Sara nodded and said. "well Grissom I am very impressed you have done a lot, helped a lot of victims and helped out your friend, I am sure some of it wasn't what you would tell people but thank you, knowing that you trust me enough to tell me means more than you can possible know." it almost looked like she was going to cry but she didn't.

He nodded and said in the most caring voice. "I do trust you and talking to you has been very easy and you are the only person who knows about all of this stuff. Your right not a lot of people know the whole me."

Sara just got the biggest smile that could light up the room and said. "well that makes me feel very special."

He smiles back and a little of his feelings for her slipped. "good because you really are." they look at each other intently again and finally he looked away and could slap himself for saying that, he cleared his throat and said. "so anyways, what about you?"

She gets comfortable on the couch again, takes a breath and tells him about her or at least some of the good parts, she told him that she was born in Tomalas bay California, told him that unfortunate circumstances led her to being in foster care at the age of nine and a few months after being put in a home that wasn't good to her, the Sanders came to California to adopt a child and she was placed with them and haven't looked back since. She told him what her plans for the future was, then takes a breath and said. "and there you have it." He looks at her and nodded and Sara continues. "I know there is a gap that I didn't tell you about but rig.."

He cuts her off. "If or when you want to tell me, you can, it will be ok."

She nodded and then yawned, she covered it up and said excuse me.

Grissom spoke after seeing that display. "I should take you home." she nodded had her head, Grissom gets up and said. "I'll be right back." As he was walking away she lays her head on the pillow that was on the couch and closes her eyes all that talking, listening and Sharing had really exhausted her.

He goes to the laundry room where the washer and dryer was, grabbed her clothes and walks back to the living room then to the couch but when he got there he saw her laying down with her eyes closed.

He couldn't help but smile down at her, she looked so cute sleeping on his couch still in his sweat shirt and sweat pants when he got out of his thoughts he sighed he had to taker her home, he bends down and whispered. "Sara?"

She mumbles back "hmm?" She was on the brink of sleep, he smiles again and continued.

"you need to get up so I can take you home." She shook her head no like she was a little kid and snuggled further into the pillow,
he chuckled a little and said. "ok I will let you sleep a little but later I have to take you home." She smiles knowing she won again or was already in a nice dream.

He shakes his head and smiles back then stands back up and puts her clothes on the coffee table, goes to the closet and pulls out a blanket, then he walks back over to her, puts the blanket over her and brought it all the way up to her chin.

When he got to her face again he couldn't help but stare she looked so peaceful when she slept. A piece of hair was on her cheek and he had an instinct to move it and so ignoring what the right thing to do, he bends down again and moves his hand to her cheek and puts his fingers through the piece of hair and moved it behind her ear. Sara smile bigger with her eyes still closed in a light slumber and he whispered so small she couldn't hear him. "you are so beautiful Sara." This could be the only time he could ever get this close to her so he couldn't help but say that.

With another look he goes to his recliner, reaches for the TV remote that was on the end table by the chair, sits down and with one more look at her he turned back to the TV and turned it on and put the volume on low and watched the discovery channel, knowing he should have listened to his head but for once his heart was taking the lead at least for now.

Three hours later and Grissom had woken up by a sound he wasn't used to. He opened his eyes and from the light of the TV he looked at his watch and saw the time it read 2 AM, he didn't mean to fall asleep, he rubs his eyes then he heard the sound that woke him up in the first place, it was Sara crying and whimpering.

A confused and concerned Grissom gets up from the recliner and walks over to the couch, bends down and she was shaking and mumbling something but he couldn't make it out what she was saying, it sounded like she was having a bad dream, he puts his hand on her shoulder and said. "Sara wake up your having a bad dream." and with one more shake on her shoulder, Sara screams and sits straights up and was looking around a little confused and scared.

Grissom moves to give her a little space and said. "it's ok, you fell asleep here and were having a bad dream." Sara nodded in understanding and while she was trying to calm her racing heart Grissom continued. "Do you want to talk about it? you don't have too but it might help."

Sara looked away for a minute her dream was still affecting her, she looks back at him and said. "will you hold me?"

Grissom runs a hand through his hair and said. "Sara I …"

Sara cuts him off she knew what he was going to say, she shook her head. "Please Grissom?"

A big part of Grissom told him not to go there but his heart was telling him that she needs comfort now and she did ask. Looking into her scared and vulnerable brown eyes made his decision. He nods and replied. "ok, I'll hold you."

Sara gives him a small smile and he gets comfortable on the couch and a few seconds later Sara moves and rested her head on his chest and they both felt warm inside they never want to let this feeling go.

She had her back to the cushions and when he put his arms around her they both felt like this is where they were meant to be but kept this amazing feeling to themselves so they didn't ruin this moment, they both closed their eyes to savior it.

It was a few minutes of silence than Sara started to talk. "In order for you to get what I was dreaming about, you have to understand my childhood before I got into foster care."

He felt her tense and he tightened his hold on her as a natural reaction to protect her. He put his chin on her head and said. "you don't have to tell me."

She whispers back. "I think it will help me."

"ok, anytime you want, you can stop."

Sara shook her head took a breath and started to tell him about her abusive childhood that her father put her and her mom through, she told her every trip to the hospital and then that fateful night. "it's funny… the things you remember and the things you don't, you know. There was smell of iron in the air. Cast-off on the bedroom wall. I remember the woman who took me to foster care. I can't remember her name which is strange, because I couldn't let go of her hand."

Sara sniffled and Grissom spoke a little quietly. "well…the mind has its filters."

He holds her a little tighter and Sara sniffled again and continued. "I do remember the looks, I became the girl whose father was stabbed to death." she took a breath and said. "do you think there is a murder gene?"

He shook his head and said. "I don't believe that genes are a predictor of violent behavior."

She sniffled again and she knew her tears were coming but she stopped them long enough to finish. "you wouldn't know that in my house. The fights, the yelling, the trips to the hospital I thought that it was the way that everybody lived." She wiped a tear away and said. "When my mother killed my father I found out that it wasn't." she couldn't help it now she started to cry on his shirt.

Grissom looked like he was going to cry too, she shouldn't have gone through all that, who could hurt a beautiful person like her,
but he didn't cry, he held them in. He wanted to be strong for her and maybe a part of him still held back on showing how deep she got to him. He kisses her on the head as an instinct move, one he should have analyzed before he did it but at the moment everything that he was supposed to do went out the window, what mattered was her comfort.

She felt the kiss but didn't tense, even though she had the tears and told him the most haunting childhood story of her life this moment felt perfect to her.

He held her tighter, whispered comforting words, rubbed his hand up and down her back to calm her down and told her that she was safe now. With the sound of his voice, the mixture of emotional exhaustion and knowing she was safe in his arms she fell asleep again.

When Sara's breathing changed, Grissom moved his head without disturbing her and looked down and saw her sleeping face then moved his head back and puts his cheek on the top of her head and closed his eyes, he was drawn all the way in, she had captured his heart fully and he doesn't know if he could ever let her go now and that's what he was afraid of when he offered to take her home, but at this moment any negative thought didn't come through he just wanted to savior this feeling even if it was for one night.

He kissed her head one more time and whispered so low that not even the smallest animal could hear him. "I love you Sara."
He moved his head so that his cheek was back on the top of her head and made sure his arms were secure around her to keep her safe, protected and warm. He closed his eyes and fell asleep with the only women that he ever loved and probably always will.

AN: I hope it was alright. So the line was crossed at least emotionally. more to come so please review!

AN #2: ****I credit 'Nesting doll' episode, for her childhood story.****