Chapter Thirty One:

Sara storms out of Greg's hospital room, anger, and concern coursing through her veins. After following the ambulance to the hospital and staying with him whilst a member of the day shift collected evidence, she leaves him to get some rest. The promise to return before her shift with some decent food enticed him to settle and try and sleep. Standing in the elevator, the metal box slowly descending to the parking lot, she pulls her cell from her hip. A missed call from Grissom, she flips it open and calls him back.

'How is he?'

'He's ok, I guess. His face is starting to bruise… His eye is three times the size. Day shift, collected his clothing and some trace from his hair and nails. I'm just on my way back to the truck.' She shifts, side to side. The doors ping open, and she steps out into the dry Vegas air.

'You heading home?'

'Yeah. I said I would go back with some food before next shift.'

'Ok.' A pause. 'He's going to be ok Sara.' She doesn't respond, just hums down the phone. Unlocking the truck door, she climbs in, throwing her keys into the ignition. The air conditioning pumping out fast. She leans back into the seat, running a hand through her hair.

'Will you be home?'

'Yes. Can I do anything for you?'

'Can you just be you? Please?'

'Drive safe. I'll see you soon.'

'Love you.' He doesn't say it back, she knows he can't, he is in his office at the lab. It's too risky. But she knows he returns the sentiment.

45 minutes later, after swapping the truck for her own car, Sara pulls into the garage at their condo. Turning the engine off, she leans forward, forehead on the steering wheel and growls into the silent space. Heading up the steps to the front door, she doesn't have chance to put her key in the door, as Grissom pulls it open and grabs her arm pulling her in. Once the door shuts, he crushes her into a bear hug.

'Love you too.' He whispers into her hair, running his hands up and down her back. She smiles to herself and peels out of his grip. Eyes locking, he drops a hand into hers and guides her towards the bedroom. Closing the door behind them ensuring Hank is out of the way, the room is dark and quiet, only the glow from a single candle on her bedside table breaks the dark void. He unclips her cell from her hip, dropping it on the floor. Bending down he unties her shoes and helps her step out of them. Bringing his hands up to her waist, he trails back down slightly to the top of her trousers, fingering the button and zipper, pulling them down and off her legs, socks follow quickly into the pile besides them. Standing up, he brushes her hair back from her face, pulls a hair tie from his pocket and piles her hair up away from her neck into a small bun. Unbuttoning her shirt slowly, he maintains eye contact with her the entire time. Pushing the shirt from her shoulders he lets it drop, moving around her he unclips her bra and kisses her shoulder. Pushing her slightly he guides her towards the bed, where her favourite sweatshirt of his in folded on top of some flannel bottoms.

'Get dressed and get comfy. I'll bring in some snacks.' He kisses her cheek before leaving the room. She dresses quickly, inhaling the scent on his sweatshirt, even though it's her smell now too, and clambers into the bed, settling on her side but closer towards the middle. A few minutes later he enters, tray loaded with chocolate, popcorn and two glasses of red wine. Placing the tray on his bedside table, he slinks in between the sheets, picking up her glass, passing her a bowl of popcorn and settles next to her, arm draped around her shoulders.

'Thank you.'