AN: A little something that popped into my head after the brief exchange between Sara and Wendy in this episode

Disclaimer: I don't own anything relating to CSI

Lab Rats

"Hey, Wendy said something earlier, which got me thinking…"

Grissom looks up from the journal he's reading. "About what?"

"She asked if the miniature killer was keeping you up at night," Sara elaborates. While she waits for a response, she lifts the cover on her side of the bed and slides in, getting settled against the headboard and reaching for the book on her bedside table.

"We work nights," he eventually replies.

She rolls her eyes. "You know what I mean."

She can tell by the slight upturn of his mouth that he was going for mildly annoying her. "I do know what you mean. Where did she get that from?"

"Hodges. I know, I know. I disregarded it at first too, because I know you wouldn't confide in him or anything, but… just because he doesn't actually know, doesn't mean he's wrong."

Grissom's quiet for a long moment and she turns her attention to the book while he considers.

"I guess you could say it's been… on my mind," he finally says two pages later.

Sara marks her place and closes the book again.

"Well, it's an open case involving a serial killer, I would be more surprised if it wasn't on your mind," she notes lightly. "But is that all it is?"

He sighs as he puts the journal aside to give her, and the conversation, his full attention. "Maybe not," he admits. "I guess… Ernie Dell killing himself made it… personal."

"That wasn't your fault."

He smiles at her immediate assurance. "I know. So, to answer your initial question – it's on my mind more than it probably should be, but no, it's not keeping me up. Which you should know."

It's true, of course. If he was tossing and turning, or even getting up in the middle of their 'night', she would undoubtedly wake up – she's the lighter sleeper of the two of them, while Grissom can basically sleep through an earthquake.

"OK. I just wanted to… check in, I guess," she offers with a sheepish smile.

"Which I appreciate," he assures her.

"So, I don't need to help you relax enough you can sleep?" she asks innocently, biting back a smile at the way his eyes darken immediately.e

"Not really," he replies.

"How about… distract you?"

"I never say no to that…"