A/N: Please make sure to read CH 26 before continuing on here. I think something may be up with the FF site... For this story, each chapter has been getting an average for 400 views with 4 to 10 comments each. However, for CH 26, it only received 3 views and 1 comment in two days. :O

I hope everyone is still enjoying this story! Reviews/comments are always appreciated and encouraging. Thanks!

May 2007

Sara sat upright in bed stirring a cup of yogurt in her hand. Godzilla played out on the screen. Her eyes bounced between the movie and Grissom's boyish grin lighting up his excited face.

"I can't believe you've never seen Godzilla."

She shrugged, "Greg's also always getting on my case with never having seen some of the classics." She paused and smiled, "Hard to believe that someone can watch this and believe it's real."

"It was well produced for its time." He quipped back.

"I mean our lizard group." She was referring to the case they were in the middle of working. The case was still ongoing but the two decided to head home for a few hours and take a break. They had each already worked a double the night before.

"I always feel bad for the monster."

"Then you better turn it off before they use the oxygen destroyer on him." He smiled back at her and stood, whistling for Hank to join him. Sara put down her yogurt and reached for the remote to turn off the movie. As she did, she saw a piece of paper sticking out from Grissom's Shakespeare Sonnet Collectors Bind. She pulled it out of the book to reveal her name scrawled across it along with the beginning of the lab's address.

She readjusted herself to sit up a bit and took a better look at the envelope in her hands. She looked toward the bedroom door to see he wasn't in sight and hesitantly decided to open it.

He had dated the letter at the time of writing it and she quickly realized this was written while he was away on sabbatical. She decided to read on.

Sara,

I don't know why I find it so difficult to express my feelings to you. Even though we're far apart, I can see you as vividly as if you were here with me. I said I'll miss you, and I do. As Shakespeare more ably wrote my sentiment in Sonnet #47...

"Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took, And each doth good turns now onto the other: When that mine eye is famish'd for a look, Or heart in love with sighs himself doth smother. With my love's picture then my eye doth feast. And to the painted banquet bids by heart; Another time mine eye is my heart's guest. And in his thoughts of love doth share a part: So either by thy picture or my love, Thyself away art resent still with me; For thou not farther than my thoughts canst move. And I am still within them and they with thee; Or, if they sleep, thy picture in my sight. Awakes my heart to heart's and eye's delight."

I anxiously await to return to you, to our home together.

Amanter, Gil

Sara looked up toward the door once more. Her heat beating fast as she thumbed over the words on the page.

Amanter she searched the corners of her mind to remember what this word was. Lovingly, she realized. It was the latin word for lovingly.

The two had shared this life together comfortably for roughly two years now. Neither had taken the time or effort to express what that meant to the other. She had simply been happy to enjoy his company, to build the life they now had. She though she knew how he felt about her, but seeing it written here in his own words created a new dimension.

She quickly put the letter back in the envelope and slid it back into the book.

Later that night, after the case was closed and they returned home, Sara stood in the Kitchen cleaning up the dishes from their dinner.

Grissom had gone to change into more comfortable clothing. He made the bed and took Godzilla out of the DVD player. He then noticed the book on the night stand, realizing he had left it there two days ago when he had had the night off alone. He opened the book to find Sara's letter slipped in between the pages of Sonnet #25 and #26. His heart stopped for a moment, she had read the letter.

Then a small smile formed on his lips. If he were to be honest with himself, he'd realize that he'd left the book out on purpose, in hopes that she might read it. He walked out to the kitchen and came up from behind her as she finished off the last of the dishes, pressing his body against hers. He rested his chin on her shoulder and kissed her neck.

She leaned into his touch as he continued to trail kisses along her neck. He pushed the strap of her tank top and bra away to kiss her shoulders. She turned to him,

"What's gotten into you?" She smiled. She slipped off her dish gloves and turned in his embrace to face him, effectively pinning herself between his pressing body and the cold sink. He brought both his hands to either side of her face and dipped his head to take her lips into his. Kissing her passionately.

"I meant it." He finally spoke when he pulled his head back just far enough to look into her eyes. Her questioning look caused him to continue, "I saw you read the letter..."

She smiled, "Why didn't you send it?"

"For the same reason I can never find those words to say to you in person." He let out a small sigh, "I wish I could."

She shook her head and gently kissed his lips, "You don't have to," She smiled, "We're on the same page."

The next few nights were tough. Working shift after shift. She was glad they shared that moment together because it had been days since they'd been alone like that now. The memory of that night helped her cope with missing him.

Catherine walked up to the scene to see Lady Heather on a stretcher. She approached Brass,

"Like a bad penny, some people just keep showing up."

"Did you call Grissom?"

Brass sighed, he had not. He knew he should have. Besides the history Gil shared with Heather, he had also been next on the dispatch sheet. But Brass couldn't bring himself to do it. At the very least it would cause tension between he and Sara. Brass wanted to protect them, even though his efforts, he knew, would be fruitless when it came to Heather's powers.

"No."

And Catherine noted the sad look Brass had accompanied with his one syllable response.

"I'll call in Sara for help."

"Oh. You sure? I think Greg's available." Brass tried hard to mask his concern.

"No, he's on lone out to Days." She pulled out her phone and texted Sara the address.

A little while later Sara arrived, kit in hand, and joined Catherine in the western theme park. They processed the criem scene together.

"I'm assuming that they don't actually serve alcohol here. Must have brought their own. Single malt."

"It's an rich man's sport."

"How much do you think a night like this would cost?" Sara mused out loud.

"Heather once told me she clears 20 grand a week. And that was before Lady Heather .com...Where's Grissom tonight?"

"Following up on the DHS records from Dell's foster kids."

Catherine sighed, "Have you seen that miniature he's making of the office? It really freaky."

"Yeah..."

But Sara's mind was elsewhere. She had only briefly crossed paths with Heather on a previous investigation. She was curious about her. While Grissom never out right told her, she had heard the chatter through the halls. Speculative on whether he had spent the night with her.

"What is she like?" She asked hesitantly, not sure if she really wanted the answer.

"Beautiful. Smart. Intense. Charming." Catherine looked up, "The only woman I've ever seen rattle Grissom."

Sara could feel her stomach drop as Catherine continued on.

"I mean—he kind of liked that Forensic Anthropologist, Terry Miller. Remember her?"

"Yeah." Sara's voice was small as she tried to distract herself by bagging evidence.

"But, she wasn't enough of a challenge for him. Heather, on the other hand... uninhibited and can beat him at mental chess? They had chemistry, and he is a scientist." Catherine walked over to Sara, "I have no proof, and I know he'd never tell me... but I'm certain they spent the night together."

Sara could feel the blood rush to her face. Feeling hot and uncomfortable suddenly. She regretted opening this can of worms.

"Wonder which one wore the chaps."

"Lots of coins and toothpicks. They don't sweep much." She desperately tried to resteer the conversation.

"I mean, more power to him really. To find somebody outside of work? Cause you start fishing from the company pier and you're asking for trouble."

Sara hadn't been confronted with this much personal talk about Grissom in a very long time. She didn't know what to say or how to act to mask her true knowledge of his intimate life. Furthermore, Catherine's sentiment was troubling. She could feel her heart beating faster and faster, praying that the conversation would end.

"My fantasy does not include costumes, or pain. And certainly not sawdust. You?"

Help.

"They took her to desert palms. I should probably get over there to process her."

"I'll do it." Sara quickly volunteered. Her heart was telling her to stop, that she was going to get heart, but her mind was too curious. She needed to know this woman that clearly had a hold over Grissom.

Sara left to make her way to the hospital and Catherine whipped out her phone.

"Grissom."

"Hey."

"Catherine."

"It's Lady Heather, she's been hurt... they took her to Desert Palms."

"I'm on my way." Catherine could hear the sense of urgency in his voice, confirming everything she'd just said to Sara moments earlier.

Brass stood in Heather's room and asked her some questions about the case.

"I need a name."

"Mr. Oakly. I have his number but not on me. You'll have to look him up."

A knock on the door had Brass turn his head to see Sara entering.

"Hi. I'm with the crime lab, Sara Sidle."

"Sara..." Brass eyes her curiously. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to collect your clothes and trace evidence from your body." She directed the answer to Heather.

Sara took in Brass' uncomfortable domineer. He avoided eye contact with her. And suddenly, Sara realized it must be true. Because Brass was the only one who knew about her relationship with Grissom. If he was this uncomfortable having Sara and Heather in the same room... She sighed internally, not knowing what this really meant for her and Grissom now.

Brass stormed off, having been agitated by Heather's responses that he deemed were wasting his time.

"I don't respond well to men who judge me strictly on my profession."

"I get the same thing... Law Enforcement." Sara offered. "May I move your hair?"

Heather nodded and Sara began to snap away photos. "Grissom." Her soft voice spoke as she opened her eyes to see him standing in the doorway.

He looked between Sara and Heather and suddenly felt very ashamed.

"I'll be.. done in a minute." Sara said to Grissom before turning back to take more photos of Heather. The look on his face at the sight of the two in the same room was not lost on either of them.