I skipped 6x14 because it originally was told from the killer's point of view so I didn't deem it part of my story.

Sara knocked on Grissom's office door to see him signing reports, especially since Ecklie had wanted them done by the end of shift. He looked up and waved her in, all while reading the file he had in hand. Sara held out to-go container and he accepted it as she sat down. Closing the file, he set the container down and picked up the fork that laid sitting in the container. That night, lunch was raspberry walnut salad and they split an egg salad sandwich.

"Did you and Nick get anywhere at the hospital?" He asked before taking a bite of the sandwich.

"Yeah, our suspect turned into a victim." Sara poked her fork into the salad. "He's now a victim. Branded as number 18, one less than our lady in the desert. His eye is gone and the doctor thinks he's been lobotomized."

Setting his lunch container down, Grissom stood and turned to one of his many rows of books and grabbed one. "Lobotomies were originally a cure for what we know today as psychiatric or neurologic conditions. One of the most famous was J.F.K.'s sister, Rosemary Kennedy." Sitting down, he opened a book to a specific page and handed it to Sara. "They grew out of favor as psychiatry took hold. Eventually they were categorized as inhumane and ineffective."

Sara took the book and looked at the pages as he sat down and started eating again. "Just the idea of a needle going through my eye into my brain, makes me repulsed." She turned a page, "I'd rather the drugs."

"They didn't have some of those at the time and if someone was suffering, they might have reach for the only thing available to end it."

Reading as she ate, Sara glanced up to see Grissom working on his report. He continued to eat as he worked, something she had gotten him in the habit of doing since they started dating. It had started with making a food run and recently it was homemade food as she was determined to save money and eat healthier. It was starting to be commonplace for them to eat together in his office unless he was out and then she'd eat with the boys.

Once she was finished and looked up to see him finished, Sara stood up. "I'll leave you to your lobotomy research, I'm going to go check with Wendy to see if the eye is a match for Captain Jack." She accepted the container he held out with a smile. "Don't have too much fun."

"I only have fun with you my Dear."

Only ten minutes later Sara was on the way to let him know that the eye did match their second victim. As she neared the office, she heard Brass say it was Lady Heather's daughter who was their original victim. Sara turned back the way she came but instead of going to the breakroom or Catherine's lab, she headed to the locker room. Sitting down, the brunette thought back to one of the early days of her relationship with Grissom.

Sara sat on her couch watching as Grissom sat next to her in the chair. It seemed like a reverse of when they sat weeks before as she spilled her darkest secret. Listening to him talk about his ex-girlfriends, as few as there were, was difficult but she imagined it was hard for him to listen to her regarding hers.

"So, we were working with your ex when we called Dr. Miller in multiple time afterwards?" Sara asked and seeing him nod, continued. "I seem to remember you were scarce those cases and now I know why."

Grissom sat back, "it was never really going anywhere. I let the job take on more of an importance. I suspect I was scared of getting involved with someone."

"Why?"

"Fear." He glanced at her.

Sara nodded, "what did you have to fear? She was interested in you, accomplished, knew your job."

"That was looking for a relationship to avoid the one I wanted." He stated, "I'm just now starting to realize I'd wanted a relationship with you all along."

Her lips quirked into a smile. "Well, you're not alone. For a while, you were my best friend and then you became my boss, and everything fell apart. The love never stopped existing but it became muted. Silent. Unrequited."

"I know and you never deserved that, Sara."

"I'd have rather loved you as a friend and co-worker than have left and never loved you." Sara told him softly. "Sometime, the easiest thing is the hardest. Leaving wasn't an option because I'd loved you so long Gil Grissom that not loving you would have destroyed me."

He chuckled under his breath for a second before asking her a question. "How'd you put up with me?"

"How'd you put up with me?" Sara countered, "worry? Love? Acceptance? Anger? Or all of the above?"

"Touché."

She repositioned her legs by removing them from the edge of the coffee table till she sat cross-legged. "There are rumors but I want the truth, no matter what it is." Looking him straight in the eye, "Lady Heather, what's the truth?"

"She's a friend and only a friend. As you said, our friendship broke down, so when another intelligent woman was able to hold a stimulating, interesting conversation, I befriended her. All we've done is talk. The lab just took the rumors and ran with them."

"What did you talk about?"

"Her profession. Mine. The news and society, she had an interest in psychology and how it plays a part in a person's actions." Sighing, he glanced at her after having looked down for a while. "She saw right through me, my avoidance of talking about my life. Heather accused me of closing myself off on purpose and asked who I both avoided and desired."

Sara looked to the side before looking back at him. "Did you tell her my name?"

"In a way, I gave the meaning of your name but with so many names, I doubt she'd figure it out."

"What did you say?"

He smirked, "I called you 'my princess' but that's all I said."

"And am I?"

"My princess?" Watching her nod, he smiled. "You always have been. Just more wild and badass then damsel in distress."

Sara smiled then looked down at her hands. "So, do you talk to her often?"

"Not for a while. I guess like with you, it slowly fell away." He stated, "I do know one thing though. I never wanted you two to meet. Not because I fear how you'd react to each other but because she'd read right through our relationship. Everything you and I share, would be exposed to the world."

"I doubt we will." Sara moved on the couch and patted the space she'd just vacated. "Come sit with me."

He stood and moved to sit beside her on the couch, placing an arm around Sara as she curled into his side. Glancing down, he noticed Sara closing her eyes. "Now that I have you, I doubt I'd let you go."

"Mutual." She stated as she opened her eyes. "I love you."

"'I have found the one who my soul loves.'" He quoted and saw her grin.

"Song of Solomon 3:4. The first quote you told me. It's my favorite"

Rubbing her back over her shoulder blade as he leaned over to kiss her crown. "I know."

Getting up from the locker room, Sara headed to the front desk. Judy was working and she smiled when she saw Sara.

"Hey Sara, messages?"

"No, actually." Sara put her hands on the counter. "Did we have cases come in the last two hours?"

Judy looked behind her and picked up two papers. "Two." She handed them to Sara and the brunette looked at each.

"I'm going to take this 419. Thanks, Judy." She handed the remaining case to Judy.

"Of course Sara."

Heading straight to Catherine's office, Sara knocked on the door. Catherine waved her in and then pointed to the file in her hand. "So, did you know that…"

"I'd like to take this 419." Sara cut her off and held up the case info sheet. "Look, Brass or Gil are five seconds from walking in here and telling you that the victim is Lady Heather's daughter."

Catherine's mouth dropped a faction. "As in…"

"Dominatrix, Gil's friend, lover according to the crime lab rumor mill." Sara stated, "which by the way, never happened."

"Well that clears up some questions I've had regarding the woman." Catherine stated, "alright, take the 419 but if Grissom asks…"

Sara smiled, "he won't."

"And how do you know that?"

The brunette shrugged. "I know my boyfriend."

Gil Grissom found himself in thought as he walked from the crime lab to the parking garage. His phone rang and he answered it seeing it was Sara.

"Hey, Catherine mentioned you took a 419 in Henderson."

"Yeah, once I heard who the victim was. Anyways, do you still have your Castner atlas at work or is at home in the office?"

Grissom chuckled, "exotic insect instead of common?"

"I think so and your Gullan textbook is no help." Noise let him know she was in his office going through books.

"Second bookshelf, about of a quarter down the row on the third shelf."

Seconds later, Sara responded. "Thank you."

"Of course, let me know what you find."

"Don't worry, I've already taken dozens of images and plan to show you before it goes into evidence." She sounded happy so he smiled.

"Thank you for stepping back. I just don't want to feel exposed."

Sara sighed, "Gil, you don't have to thank me. We've spoken at length about her and you and the facts and rumors. Are you headed home?"

"That's the idea. You coming home soon?"

"Once I identify this bug then I'll be home. What do you want for breakfast? I can pick something up on my way or we could cook."

Grissom hit the elevator button to the garage's elevator. "Why don't I surprise you. Just let me know when you're on your way home."

"Will do. I love you."

"'I love you and that's the beginning and end of everything.'" He told her.

"F. Scott Fitzgerald. I think you've said that one before."

"I probably have but that expresses everything I feel." The elevator door opened and he pressed the button for the third level. "I'll see you at home."

"See you then also." He hung up from the call from Sara as the doors to the elevator opened.

Sara found herself in the layout room going over her evidence when her phone rang. She pulled it from her waist and saw it was Grissom so she answered it. He'd texted her before she'd even headed home the day before that he was following a lead. She'd told him to keep her up to date and that she'd pick up Hank from the sitter. She knew he'd tell her everything once he was home. Catherine had said it was a nightmare of a case and after quick question to Mandi and Wendy, she found out it was.

"Hey, everything okay?" Sara asked as she answered the phone.

"Heather is a mess." She heard milling officers and knew he was at PD. "I'm going to wait around at PD while she gives her statement and then take her home."

Sara nodded despite him not seeing her. "Okay, well this 419 has just gone insane. I've already been to the zoo twice and I smell like an elephant enclosure so once I get done with my evidence, I'm going to head home."

"I'm sure even smelling like an elephant enclosure, you're still beautiful."

"Oh, well you'd think so. Especially given the fact that you think I'm always beautiful." She pulled a swab from beside her, the phone held between her shoulder and cheek. "Which is one of the only quirks of yours that drives me nuts." She swabbed some of the sticky substance on the victim's shirt.

He chuckled, "my dear, you'll always be beautiful to me."

"Well, Mr. Charmer," she stood up while closing the swab with her thumb, "then you don't get to contradict me anymore when I tell you the same. If I can't, then you can't."

"Very well, if that's the cost." He seemed amused. "I'll see you whenever I get home."

"I love you."

"'If I know what love is, it is because of you.'" He quoted to her and she grinned.

"Who said that?"

Grissom sound happy as he told her. "Hermann Hess, a Swiss-German Poet."

Sara left the layout room with her multiple swabs. "Oh, that's new. I haven't heard you use him before."

"You said the last time I used a repeated quote so I found someone different."

"Alright. I have to go see Trace about a dozen swabs so I'll let you go."

Sara found herself looking at the house of Lady Heather. Grissom's SUV was in the driveway behind what she assumes was the dominatrix's car. Putting her car in park, Sara looked to the passenger seat where a food container and a book about loss sat. It was the same one her therapist had her read not even six months before.

Getting out, Sara walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. She used her hand to push her hair behind her ear. Eventually the door opened and she found a brunette with dark eyes, the image from PD told her it was Heather. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying.

"Can I help you?"

Sara smiled, "hi. We haven't met yet but…"

"I don't want to be disturbed." She went to shut the door but Sara stopped her by talking.

"I'm Sara." She stated, "Grissom's Sara." The door paused and the older woman looked up at her. "You don't have to say anything but I wanted to drop this book off for you. I know you lost your daughter and I know it's not the same, but I lost my parents. My psychologist recommended it and knowing you like psychology, I knew you'd prefer it over platitudes." She held out the two items. "Plus some food. I know you may not want to cook for a while."

Accepting the items, Heather nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Just send him home when he starts mumbling, it happens when he's tired." Sara nodded and turned to leave, waving as she did.

Grissom looked up from the kitchen table where he sat with coffee when she returned. "More employees?"

Heather paused at the counter with the container in her hands. "Someone that loves you." He looked confused, "Sara, your Sara. She just dropped off food and a book on grief. You never said she was so sweet."

"Heather, I'm sorry if she overstepped."

"No, Grissom, she's more understanding than my employees." Heather opened her fridge and put the food inside. "I guess I'm surprised she's not upset. Her boyfriend at another woman's house overnight into the morning."

He smiled as he put his coffee on the table. "We've talked throughout this investigation. I talked to her when we were at PD and told her where I was headed. Plus she knows all we've ever done is talk and been friends."

"Either way," Heather sat down at the table to pick up her coffee. "She's sweet and kind. You told me a lot about her years ago but never that. I'll be okay if you want to go home. My business manager is coming over around noon. She's one of the only friends I have besides you. She'll help me get things in order so I can take a leave of absence from the business."

"I'm okay sitting with you until she comes."