February 2002
Sara had retracted her request for leave of absence—for the time being she noted. The plant had worked to keep her in Vegas, at least long enough for Grissom to try and make up for his behavior.
"10 minutes un-sportsman like conduct."
"Boys will be boys."
"Yeah. Sounds like these boys went to a fight and a hockey game broke out."
"You just don't like sports."
"That's not true. I've been a baseball fan my whole life."
"Baseball?" Her tone surprised. "Well that figures... all those stats."
His rebuttal, "It's a beautiful game."
"Since when are you interested in beauty." Knowing the man next to her had only show an interest in empirical science—beauty of which would be too subjective.
"Since I met you."
"So we'll start at the opposite goal..." His voice drowned out. He was doing this a lot lately, pushing off these small almost too discrete to detect compliments or gestures of kindness her way and then just as quickly moving on before she could respond. They worked the rest of the case together in comfortable proximity. She recognized that he was trying to be a better supervisor and friend, and so she returned his efforts with patience.
"Grissom."
"Grissom, It's Dave Crow in San Fran."
Grissom sat up right in his chair. He hadn't spoken to Crow in well over a year. "What can I do for you?"
"After Sara gave back her department issued phone I realized I don't have a number for her. I need to speak with her. Can you have her call me? Its urgent."
"Yeah. I'll-Uh. I'll go find her now, I think she's in layout."
"Thanks—." The line ended and Grissom hung up the phone. He stood and traced the halls to find Sara who was no longer in layout, but was now talking to Greg in DNA. The two were laughing jokingly together as he entered. Greg slapping the smile off his face and turning serious in Grissom's presence.
"Sara." She turned to see him.
"Hey, so Greg got us the DNA results from the epithelials on the sheets—"
"Can I speak to you outside." He cut her off. His tone danced between serious and concerned which ignited instant worry in Sara. She followed him out of the DNA lab. He stood in close proximity to her as he spoke softly.
"I just got off the phone with Dave Crow. He needs you to call him back, he said its urgent."
"Oh. Thats strange." Sara's brows furrowed with worry.
"He said something about how you haven't updated you new contact information..." Grissom watched as realization flooded through her eyes. She quickly left Grissom to seek a quiet, private place to call Dave back.
"Crow."
"Dave, its me." She spoke in a small voice. "Is everything okay?"
"So, your mother's facility called the lab looking for you. I'm guessing you didn't update your employment and contact information with them?"
Sara's eyes shut hard. How could she forget to do that. Worse yet, had it really been two years since she'd paid her mother a visit? She sighed heavily. She was well aware that running away from memories of her childhood were one of the reasons she justified herself moving to Vegas, but this wasn't running away—it was negligent.
"Is she okay?"
"She's fine. She had an episode that caused her to be put on new medication but that's all they would tell me."
"I'm sorry you were brought into this. I'll call them now to update that information."
"Nonsense, Sara. It's fine. I'm just glad it was nothing too serious." He paused. "How are you? It's been a while."
"It has, and I'm sorry for that too—"
"Stop apologizing, Sara. I know you've been busy... You sound good."
"I am." She smiled against the phone. "You sound good too."
They exchanged a few pleasantries before hanging up the phone. All she could think of now is that she hoped Grissom wouldn't ask questions. Just as she exited the layout room she had ducked into the take the call, she bumped into Grissom.
"Sorry about that. So—Like I was saying, Greg came back with DNA results on—"
"I know, he filled me in." He cut her off. "Everything okay?"
"Oh yeah, yeah." She brushed off the question, "Just a personal matter."
"Right." Grissom was always curious of this special relationship she and her former supervisor shared. Personal matter. He realized he knew few personal details about her at all.
October 2002
Sara had been in Vegas for two full years now. It was finally starting to feel like home. She had a great working relationship with Nick and Warrick, and she and Catherine seemed to be butting heads less and less. Greg was one of her favorite co-workers though. He helped her loosen up and not take everything so seriously, something she really needed in her life.
She and Grissom had continued to work on their professional relationship but it became increasingly clear to her that she needed to move on from any romantic inclinations she had for him. She had this feeling, deep down, that he felt the same way for her, but in the end that meant nothing if he didn't want to act on it. When Hank Pedigrew came along, she saw him as the perfect distraction.
Their relationship looked platonic at first. Movie and dinner dates, flirting at crime scenes. She knew she could never love him, but they were having fun. Something she hadn't had in a long time. She thought back to Doug Wilson. She had recently found out that he had gotten married. Doug—who she had only been out with on a few occasions—ended up being a great friend to Sara. She was happy for him, truly.
The case on hand this shift was a particularly intense one, the prime suspect being movie star Tom Havaford. At this moment, she and Grissom stood side by side in a layout room, discussing the blood spatter on the sheets when they suddenly felt a presence with them. Grissom turned around to see his one time mentor.
"Sorry, Gil. Just doing my job."
"Sara, this is Dr. Gerard. Anything you say to him will be considered testimony."
"Then hopefully," The older gentleman interjected, "You'll say I'm better looking than I appear on TV." Sara smiled politely.
He continued on, discussing the case. Questions directed primarily at Sara.
"I just got photos from the DA of the Victim's bra." Gerard passed the folder to Grissom.
"Well we already know the bra was moved. Sara filed a supplemental report to that effect."
"I know. I just wished she'd...mention her relationship with the EMT who moved the bra."
Sara froze. Her body felt stiff and rigid. While other team member had known about Hank, she had been careful not to talk about it around Grissom. A childish attempt to preserve Grissom's view of her, she supposed, just incase he ever came around to the idea of seeking out something romantic with her.
"Relationship?"
"A Hank Petigrew. We just finished interviewing him. He says he thanked her for letting him move the bra back."
"He was just um, being polite—"
"Doc—" Grissom cut her off before should could say anything incriminating. "Why don't we go chat in my office." Gerard nodded and turned to exit the layout room. Grissom followed, looking back at Sara briefly. He looked disappointed, sad almost and it stung through her core.
The case had been put to rest just an hour or so ago. The team, feeling defeated and battered sprung back to bring it home. Grissom sat behind his desk now, signing off on the last of the evidence files.
"So..." He looked up to see her in the doorway. "Thats Dr. Gerard?"
"It is."
"You were right, you know." He looked up at her quizzically, "It would have been a waste of time to sit in on that lecture." He was still unsure what she was talking about. "At the conference, in San Fransisco. When you gave me your own entomology lecture instead." She pursed her lips. He stood and grabbed his jacket.
"You have an incredible memory." He said flicking off the office lights and walking toward her. "And Sara, you're allowed to have a personal life. Don't feel like you can't see him again because of this."
Sara shifted awkwardly and nodded before they parted ways to go home.
"Sara!" Just as she was making her way to her car, she turned around to see Catherine jetting toward her.
"What are you doing now?"
Confused, "Heading home."
"Come grab a drink with me. Just one."
Sara smiled and reluctantly agreed, "Alright."