Gil Grissom walked through the door of his townhouse after taking Hank for a walk to hear the sound of soft rock playing in the background. It was indicative of Sara being there because the radio always was playing if they weren't sleeping or working. Unhooking Hank's collar, Grissom let him go get water from his bowl while the entomologist made his way to the office only to find it empty. A peak into the bedroom made him pause as he saw Sara packing a suitcase. She wasn't packing it for herself but for him since he'd be gone for a week teaching students about body recovery at the body farm in Grand Junction, Colorado. Colorado Mesa University had extended an offer to him and he found himself excited at the opportunity to teach students again, even if only for a week.

"I didn't realize you were going with me." He spoke playfully and Sara looked up as she returned from the bathroom.

Sara smiled as she put his toiletry bag in the suitcase. "Five pairs of pants, six shirts, six undershirts, socks, underwear, two pairs of pajama pants, and toiletries." She looked up at him, "I don't think I missed anything. I figured I could do this and let you pack your carry-on by yourself."

"You didn't need to pack for me." Grissom made his way over to the bed where she stood.

"Yeah, I kind of did." Sara used her hand to push back hair that had fallen in her face as she had bent over to close the suitcase. "My need to control the situation just bubbled over. I know it's only for a week but I uh, I wish I could come with you."

Pulling her towards himself, Grissom invited Sara into a hug and she took the chance. "I wish you could too."

"You're going to enjoy yourself." Sara stated as their hug ended. "I'm a little envious because I love the body farm and you get to spend a whole week teaching students about recovering bodies from scenes. It's kind of unfair."

Grissom chuckled softly, more so under his breath than out loud. "Next time. I'll make it a point to wear Catherine down to allow you the time off."

Sitting in her hotel room eating cold pizza, left over from the group's lunch, Sara was watching a really bad criminal drama. It was bad but she found it entertaining enough she was invested. The sound of her phone ringing made Sara grab her phone to look at the small screen to see it was her favorite person. Stopping the movie was not possible so she just put the sound of mute.

"Hello Gilbert." Her words were playful as she put the phone to her ear.

"How are you my Dear?"

Sara leaned back against the headboard. "Tired. I'm trying to help with his case but I'm having to redirect Nick a lot. He thinks the little girl is still alive but the evidence it pointing to her being dead. I think I finally understand what you and Catherine have been putting up with when I get headstrong about a certain point of view."

Grissom chuckled. "Exhausting, isn't it?"

"How did you do it, Gil? How did you put up with me and my attitude?"

"I reminded myself that you're passionate because you care. That you'd follow the evidence even if your emotions were miles ahead of the facts."

Sara shook her head, "I hope she's alive, I do. I just, I don't want Nick suffering or doubting himself if she's dead. I wish you were here because you'd know what to say to him."

"I wish I was there also. I miss you."

"How's the class?"

"All are forensic students but not all of them have a strong stomach. I've had two spew their stomachs in trash cans. Other than that, they've been eager to get out into the field. I've had to remind them that only once a case is known, can you be prepared to recover the body."

Sara smiled as he spoke. "I guess times have changed. When I took that class at Berkeley, the students didn't want to get out into the field. Now they do apparently."

"Honey, when you took this class, half the methods we use today in forensics didn't exist."

"Wow, way to call us both old there." It was stated with a laugh, Sara was unable to keep a straight face. "Just remember that when you entered this field, most of forensics had no such thing as a digitalized program. It was all grunt work."

"You're tired. You get this way when you haven't had much sleep." Grissom spoke to her softly, "I need sleep also. Day two of mock cases and hopefully no lost stomachs."

Reaching for the remote, Sara turned off the television. "I love you."

As he always did, he gave her a quote that was his way of saying 'I love you' to her. "'How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.'"

"Who said that?"

"A.A. Milne. He wrote Winnie-the-Pooh."

Gil Grissom looked at his students as they sat in the lecture hall, all looking bored as they took the test that he insisted was mandatory before heading out to FIRS, Forensic Investigation Research Station. Time was nearly up but he was going to give them every last second. The test was only ten questions and extremely easy if they'd studied. Eventually the time was up and the timer went off, causing everyone to stand with their test and walk to the front.

"Thank you." He spoke the words to each of the fifteen students as they handed him the papers.

As everyone sat down, a hand went up from the only person on the front row, a girl in jeans and glasses. He nodded to her and she lowered her hand, speaking. "Are we going to the FIRS today, Dr. Grissom?"

"We are but that will be this evening. You need to learn that body recovery comes at all hours of the day, including after dark." Grissom turned to the PowerPoint and clicked to a screen. "For now, we're going to start on an entomological timeline for identification of time of death. Let's begin shall we."

The test and lecture finished with only ten minutes left, so Grissom took questions. The girl at the front asked two questions so he moved onto the middle few rows where a group of guys sat. One guy's hand went up, "if we're off by a single stage, could that affect a case?"

"Indeed it can. We could present a timeline that could be off by a few hours to a few days. That leaves the chance that the killer was present when alibi puts him out of town. If it's a second trial, it leaves the killer open to what we call double jeopardy. Can anyone tell me what double jeopardy is?"

A hand shot up from the girl in the fifth row. "Preventing a criminal being tried for a third time on same charges."

"Correct, however, they can be tried again on different charges. Hence, why we always try to have multiple pieces of evidence so there is always a way to try the defendant for a crime."

"How would wrapping a victim change the entomological timeline?" Grissom looked up and saw the person at the back of the class sitting with a smile on her face. The room turned to where he was looking.

Grissom waved her down and she stood. "May I present Miss Sara Sidle." Sara walked down to the front of the class. "One of my best students and a CSI Level III at the Las Vegas Crime Lab."

Sara turned to the class and gave a very short wave. "Hello."

"She's come to help during the time we're at FIRS. For now though, it's time for class to end." He stated as students started standing with their bags. "Remember that we will be meeting at FIRS at nine this evening. Come prepared for the cold and to learn."

As the students started filing out, Sara turned back to Grissom and waited by the podium while he shut off the room's computer. The brunette watched him as he moved from the computer to his briefcase. "I'm sure you're wondering how I'm here."

"Excuse me, Dr. Grissom?" They both turned to see the girl with glasses and wearing jeans. "I have a few questions regarding the lecture from yesterday. How environmental changes can affect decomposition rates."

Sara's smirk was visible as she stood close by watching the two. Grissom turned to the girl and continued the conversation. "Can your questions wait till our question and answer portion of the lecture tomorrow, Miss Taylor?"

"I guess so." She seemed hesitant but nodded in confirmation to her statement. "Have a good day Dr. Grissom, Miss Sidle."

Once the girl was halfway to the door, Grissom turned to his girlfriend and put up a finger. "I don't want to hear it."

"Oh, you're going to hear it." She laughed gently as he finished packing up his briefcase.

The hotel room was nice, Colorado Mesa University had put him up in one of the nicer ones near the university. Sara sat down on the bed as Grissom put his briefcase down on the desk, her own duffle placed by his suitcase not even five minutes before. He turned to her as she was slipping her shoes off and pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around her knees. A smile on her face as he walked over and sat on the bed beside her.

"Did Catherine give you the time off?"

Sara shrugged, "I didn't have to ask. I've maxed out so I've been sent home till Tuesday night, which is the first. I hit over 320 this month and I still have five days left."

"How did you max out overtime?"

"Lester murder, cult mass murder, bus crash, diner mass shoot out, and McBride family." She ticked each off on her finger as she spoke. "Nick is eight hours behind me."

Reaching out, Grissom caught her hand and squeezed it. "You're here now and I hope I didn't overstep by saying you'd be assisting me."

"Sounds perfect." She spoke softly. "I love being in the classroom with you. Remember the UNLV forensic students that you taught two years ago before giving them a tour of the lab. I was your assistant then and it was an experience I'll never forget." Sara's smile turned to a smirk. "The question I have is, why do you always attract girls attending your lectures? First that girl from UNLV and now this girl."

Grissom glanced at her. "There's only one girl I'm interested in and she's sitting right in front of me."

"Hmm," Sara uncurled herself and moved towards him, sliding a leg over his so she straddled his lap. "So, have you missed me as much as I've missed you?"

Placing one hand on her lower back, he pushed away her hair from where it fell across her forehead with the other. "'In case you ever foolishly forget: I am never not thinking of you.'"

"Virginia Woolf. You're always saying the sweetest things." Sara cupped his face moments before she kissed him.

Let me know what you think about this chapter. The next two episodes have them discussing things in their relationship and we see some of Sara's past.