A couple weeks had passed since he made his decision. Each passing day grew his mixed emotions. He was so overjoyed with the idea of reuniting with her. He found himself daydreaming of it often. But he was also growing sentimental and nostalgic. As he processed scenes with Nick or Greg or Catherine, he reminded himself that these were the last moments like this. Whether they knew that or not.

And he'd told no one yet about his plans. He couldn't bring himself to tell them.

But he'd told Ecklie and the two had worked through a succession plan. What he would need to have completed before his departure. They worked together to compile a list of potential CSI level 1 hires. Filed the required paperwork to promote Catherine to supervisor. He even began to take things home from his office little by little.

Sara had gotten him in touch with the research facility in Costa Rica, and he'd easily secured himself a position on the team. He made his flight arrangements. He'd even told his mother his plans.

"These people who come to Vegas, some want to be rich and famous. And then there's the people that are from here. And we know that the odds are always in favor of the house. It's what built this town." Catherine glanced over at Grissom as they walked together down the bustling strip after wrapping a case. "You didn't come here to be famous, did you?" She joked.

"I came to play cards." He replied easily.

"No, for real."

"I did." He defended. "I came to play cards. I needed the money. I thought I was in love with this girl in college. But I kept getting into debt buying cadavers and fetal pigs. There was no money left for the girl. Science took the pot. And after I left the lab in Minnesota, Vegas just felt like a good enough place to play cards and earn cash."

"Well, maybe it just wasn't the right girl." Catherine offered with a knowing smirk. While she never really guessed that Grissom and Sara were together, once she found it, it became too obvious how perfect they were for each other.

Grissom shrugged, "Plus, poker allowed me to be a loner and still make money."

"When's the last time you played?"

"I can't remember." He lied. He had played just earlier that evening with the old sheriff in an attempt to get him to talk about the case they were looking into. But before that, his last game had been two weeks before he and Sara got together. "You know, most people view risk as a bad thing. But in Vegas it's a good thing." He thought about the risk he took when he went to Sara's apartment that night after Nick was rescued. He thought about the risk he was about to make, leaving his whole life here behind him.

"See!" Catherine spoke happily, silver lining coating her voice, "Paid for your pigs, made roots, friends, family—well a work family anyway." She quickly amended. She didn't mean to add injury by highlighting that the real family he had made left him.

"Yeah." He spoke a bit absently, "Maybe it's time to up the ante."

Catherine kept her poker face as she glanced back up at Grissom. A slight smile started to jerk at the corners of her mouth. The time was coming, she realized. And she wondered if he realized he was going to leave, or if it hadn't really hit him yet. She knew this day would come, she just hoped that he was going after her.


December 2008

Grissom picked up the assignment slips from his desk and began to walk out his office door. Looking down at the crossword puzzle in his hand, he had just one word left to fill in. He looked at it for a moment longer. Sialid. A type of insect family, he concluded. Which filled in the remaining words of "Solute and Held." He sighed and threw the crossword in the trash without filling in the last letters.

"Riley. Suspicious 425 remains at the city dump." Grissom spoke as he briskly walked into the break room where the team was waiting.

"Awesome! Trash run for the low man on the totem pole."

"I promise not to abuse my power over you." Greg smirked. It reminded Grissom of how Greg and Sara would tease each other.

"For our new CSI level 3, 40A uncovered stolen vehicle at McCareen." Grissom placed the slip in front of greg, "Nick. 402 possible arson at the Burger Giant."

"Well, there goes the night. Why don't we all meet up for coffee after work. Level 3 over here is buying." Nick nodded toward Greg.

"I'll take care of breakfast." Catherine spoke up and walked toward Grissom. She knew what was coming—not that Grissom had told her like he should have. But she knew. She could read the conflicting emotions bubbling up in him. She watched the emotional weight shedding from his shoulders little by little over the last few days. And she'd seen him in Ecklie's office, sitting. Something he would do under very few circumstances.

"And the 419 in Green Valley." Catherine took the last slip out of his hands. "Looks like the king gets to sit on the bench for now."

Grissom stood in the threshold tentatively.

"Is that it?" Catherine asked, trying to give him a little push. She knew this wasn't easy for him.

"No. I, uh, I know this has been a tough year, for all of us. And I've been thinking, I mean more than usual. And I've made a decision. I'm going to leave CSI." He took a deep breath, hearing his own words echo through his ears, watching the surprised faces. "Catherine, will become the new supervisor so you'll be in good hands. While I'm clearing my case load, Ecklie is preparing a list of candidates for a new Level 1 hire. So you won't be short handed." He paused looking down at his nervous hands for a moment, tapping the fingertips of opposite hands together. "I uh…" He wasn't sure what else to add. Saved by the bell, his phone buzzed and upon inspecting the message he looked up and added, "And I guess I just came off the bench. 419 in Mr. Charleston… okay?"

His face betrayed him. His eyes full on uncertainty, brows flickering with conflicting emotion. He ducked his head to avoid further gaze and turned on his heels to leave the break room.

The team just stared blankly at one another. And then, almost in unison, they all turned to Greg.

"What?" He asked bewildered.

"How long have you know?" Nick asked with certainty.

Greg shrugged. "A week."

"What?" Riley asked glancing between the three of them. "What am I missing?"

Nick took slight pity on Riley for being so out of the loop. "Greg seems to still have access to Sara somehow." He turned back toward Greg, "Email?"

Greg nodded in confirmation. The two had become pen pals since her second departure. Every few months they'd write keep the other apprised of their life. And Sara's latest email came in last week.

Greggo,

I arrived in Costa Rica earlier this month leaving the Sea Shepherd behind as it sailed off to it's next port further south. I think I'll miss being off at sea. I've grown so accustomed to expansive blue and sway of the waves. It's rather refreshing, actually. But, I'm getting my land legs back and staying behind in Costa Rica. I've joined a research facility here with the goal of studying and cataloging various parts of the expansively diverse biosphere. Specifically, insect and smaller critters. I know. Trust me. I know. I'm rolling my eyes at myself enough for the two of us. But it's really fascinating work.

To answer a question from your previous letter, yes. I did finally go scuba diving. And you were right, it was amazing. Have you gone diving near the Galapagos? Your dive off the the coast of South Africa sounds unrivaled though. I didn't see a single shark, and I'm quite alright with that.

Since arriving, I've been working in the main facility in San José for the last three weeks. It's been nice to utilize my scientific mind for anything but death. And then, next week, we'll trek up the Irazú Volcano and set up a field research operation.

The rest of the crew will be focusing on White-Headed Capuchin Monkey and Scarlet Macaw. And of course, we'll be focusing on the dark larva cricket and a specific species of the beetle, Neocerambyx Gigas. I'm not sure if he's really joining the research outfit to see me or the beetles. Either way, I'm filled with excitement.

Do you remember how you used to blast that ear shredding rock through your DNA lab. It's amazing how the years change things, hu? Could you imagine telling me back then that this is what I would be doing? I was so hungry to solve each case, I couldn't see anything else. I hope it's still like that for you, or maybe a healthier version of it.

I came across an article about an unsolved case you worked a couple with some S&M ties, found at that truck stop. Despite trying to flip that switch off in my mind, it is activated so readily. My first blush is that the S&M angle has nothing to do with their murders. Have you focused on the nine and ten postpartum stab wounds? I can't shake the feeling that it had similarities to the Dick & Jane killer. I know—he's still in jail. Maybe its a bad copycat gone wrong. Couldn't finish the job?

I'm sure you have all exhausted this already. Like I said, old habits die hard.

Maybe by the time you read this, the case will be solved.

Chat soon, Greggo.

-Sara

"A week." Greg finally confirmed. "I think she was under the impression that he'd told us all already."

Catherine laughed, "Has she been away from him for that long." Skeptical that Sara would assume Grissom had communicated anything until long after he should, if ever.

"Oh, Sara. That was like, his girlfriend? Right?" Riley darted her eyes amongst them.

"Yeah… his girlfriend." Nick laughed.

"They were engaged." Catherine added.

"What?" Nick perked up in surprise. "You both knew?" He looked between Catherine and Greg. "When?"

"Before she left the first time." Greg spoke and stood. "I'm just glad he's actually going. It's been torture waiting for him to come out with it."

Catherine, "It's the right time." She nodded in agreement, "So she knows he's coming?"

"Seems that way. She's expecting him later this week."

"Was she like really pretty, or something?" Riley joked to lighten the mood. She still wasn't very skilled at reading her team members, especially when it came to the dynamic they shared before her arrival.


"Catherine..." His voice was soft and slightly aprehensive, "I, uh, I know I surprised you earlier. You know, with—"

"I knew." She interjected with a small smile. "I knew before you knew." She looked into her friends eyes and smiled a bit more, feeling relief for him. "Where are you going?"

He smiled and after a long moment, looked up to catch her gaze, silently.

"You're really going after her?" She asked with such wistful hope. So proud of this once misanthrope loner who was too preocupied to form even the most innocuous relationships, let alone such a helplessly romantic one.

"She's in Costa Rica. There's this research lab there..."

"I'm happy for you, Gil." She smiled his way, feeling the warmth of her own words. "It's the right move."

He glanced back up at her with a small smile. Greg rushed into the doorway, taking Grissom and Catherine out of their thoughts.

"Guys." He said with slight breathless enthusiasm, "Did I hear your DB at Mt. Charleston might be tied to the Dick and Jane killer?"

"That's what it's looking like." Grissom confirmed, peering over his reading glasses.

"Sara called it." He spat out as he walked toward them pulling the photos out of the folder he was holding. Grissom's features were twice as perplexed as Catherine's.

"These are photos from that case from weeks ago... the S&M couple." Grissom looked up at him through furrowed brows.

"Exactly. Look how many postmortem stab wounds there are. Nine."

Realization swept over him. It did fit in many ways. He wondered if he hadn't been so distracted during that case, if he would have made the connection. If he'd been able to focus on the details instead of replaying her video in his mind over and over and over again.

"What do you mean, Sara called it?" Grissom asked as he finished reexamining the photographs.

"Oh. She emailed me a week ago and mentioned she'd seen an article about the case. She was providing her first blush. Said she didn't think their S&M lifestyle had anything to do with their murders. And that she wondered if we focused on the postmortem stab wounds. That it reminded her of the Dick & Jane killer."

"Boy do I miss her brain." Catherine chimed in. "Great call. Let's pull up all the evidence associated with this case again and look at it with fresh eyes. Can you pull everything up in layout room three?"

"You got it." Greg turned and walked out of the room as quickly as he had entered it.

The shift turned into a double, and then a triple. He felt the need to see this case through. He couldn't leave half way. He owed it to the team, the city, and frankly, himself, to create closure on this. So he rebooked his airfare for a few days later to give him more time.

"On your way to the airport?" Her voice filled his ears once the phone had stopped ringing.

"Not exactly." He spoke hesitantly.

"You uh, you changed your mind?" He could hear how deflated she became instantly.

"No. No." Grissom quickly replied before she could think it for too long. "No, I'm still coming. I just, I need to finish this case."

"Okay." She breathed a sigh of relief.

"I might not get there until after you hike up to the satellite station."

"Oh... yeah, okay. So, uh, another month then? I don't think there'd be a way for you to join us after we've set out. It's incredibly remote."

"I see..."

"It's okay." She quickly soothed, "It's fine. Really. I—" She heard his phone ringing in the background, "Is that your office line?"

"It is." He sighed sadly.

"It's okay Gil. I'll see you when you get here."

"Sara..."

"Yeah?"

There was a long pause, his office line still ringing off the hook. "I can't wait to see you."

She smiled into the phone before whispering, "I love you too, Gil." and hanging up.