The Last Punch

He knew that wouldn't work.

With a lab full of cases to be worked on, the last thing they all needed was a 1-week self-defense training class. He read the memo (why did he do it?) again, and saw that Ecklie had written MANDATORY TRAINING in capital letters. Not only that, but the words were in bold and underlined. If the printer was in color, it'd certainly be in red as well.

Although he enjoyed a good boxing match, he wasn't a violent man. He didn't even carry a gun. As a kid, he never hit anyone. He was never involved in a bar fight. He couldn't even scream, he hated loud voices in general. He was a self-controlled man.

He signed and took off his glasses, remembering this wasn't about him. It was mandatory training. Sometimes he wished forensics were something totally separated from law enforcement. But as it was impossible to be, so let it be.

DAY 01

Apparently he was the only one distressed about the training program. Most of his team were indifferent, like Sara and Greg. Some were excited, like Warrick and Nick. And some were just tired, but aware it was necessary for them, like Catherine. Some other people were invited, but their presence wasn't mandatory, since they rarely were in the field. But, to his surprise, the list hung on the wall near the tatami was full of names he knew well.

For God's sake.

The room had a huge mirror that occupied the whole wall. So, even with them seated after bowing to the instructor, he could see all faces. And they all could see him. So far, no big deal. But it didn't wait to come up, as the instructor took the list and started to make the call, so he could meet everyone.

"Gilbert Grissom", the instructor, with his grave voice, called out his name. He almost rolled his eyes being called like that in front of everyone. Was he at school again?

"Here", he answered simply.

"Say you're the supervisor from the night shift, is that right?", he asked while marking something on paper.

"Yes", he said with a nod.

After some other names were called, it finally happened.

"Sara Sidle", he called.

Raising her hand, Sara also responded with "Here". But contrary to him, the instructor looked at her.

"Crime Scene Investigator, right? Have you trained anything before?", he asked.

Gil raised his eyebrows. The only name left in that list was Warrick's and he hasn't asked this to anyone. It was obvious that Sara noticed it as well, because she froze for a moment.

"Uh… Well, I like to run, and I practiced some sports in the past", she told him - and Gil noticed she hid the fact she had self-defense classes in San Francisco. Interesting.

"Yes, yes, you look like someone who likes to go training. Let's see how the week goes... Uh, Warrick Brown?"

Gil felt a pang in his heart and stomach he couldn't explain, but the time for some thinking was left for after, because the instructor - whose name was Gabriel - made them all run around the tatami. Luckily, everyone was tired enough to do just… enough. Sara, the runner in the team, noticing them all almost walking, slowed down her pace. Even though it was still better than anyone, it was far from what she could reach. They all seated again to know the first exercise they'd get to practice and, to his horror, Gabriel called Sara to help him demonstrate it.

The exercise consisted of knowing how to dodge and punch. The basics of boxing. The instructor showed how to do the basics of fighting, how to close your fists and which part of your hand to hit with. With Sara in front of him, he simulated a punch and taught her how to dodge and return it. The first demonstration was slow and quite educational. In the second, the speed used was greater, but Sara dodged and returned it with ease, which made Gabriel say "very good!" excitedly. In the third, the speed maintained, but he was closer to her. Gil closed his own fists instinctively, but Sara defended herself calmly.

After the demonstration, Gabriel divided the class into pairs, trying to mix men and women as much as possible. However, since only Sara, Catherine and a few others were representing the women's team, many pairs were all men. In the first round, he and Greg were paired up. If he had never fought before, Greg definitely had no idea what a punch was. It was noticeable how unbalanced he was in the basic fighting style, which Sara had done in front of everyone with such ease. The young CSI's fists were thin and did not seem to be closed firmly. They practiced doing the movements demonstrated without rushing or force, while on the other side of the mat it was possible to hear the air coming out of Warrick and Nick's mouths, who seemed to be simulating a boxing match in the ring.

Gabriel asked everyone to switch partners. Catherine and Nick formed one pair. Greg and Sara formed another. He stayed with Warrick. The training with Warrick was more precise, more disciplined, but not half as strong as what was happening between him and Nick. Gil knew that Warrick also trained, so up until that point, the class was uneventful. Gil looked at the reflection in the mirror and saw Sara and Greg.

She certainly realized that her friend was not a natural fighter, and saw that she was adjusting Greg's fighting skills, just as she taught him how to close his fists correctly. Greg said something that he couldn't make out, Sara smiled shyly, and they continued to train in a disciplined and calm manner, just as he himself was doing.

Once again, Gabriel asked to switch partners, and Gil saw that, instinctively, Sara moved to Nick's side, but Gabriel put his hand on her shoulder and pointed in his direction. He froze, his heart sinking. They weren't exactly throwing punches at each other, but still... It was strange to be in this situation with Sara. He cleared his throat and nodded as she positioned herself in front of him. When Gabriel announced that they could start training, Gil decided that he would keep the same pace he was doing with Greg. Not that he didn't think Sara couldn't defend herself, but he didn't want to risk hitting her. Sara, even understanding the pace Gil had set for the training, remained disciplined: aiming her punch at his face firmly, but far enough away so that she wouldn't risk hitting him.

Gabriel approached, putting his hand on each of their shoulders, but looking at him.

"Training like this, you're hurting Sara. You think you're helping, but you're not. If you train like this, she'll train like this, and on the streets I guarantee it won't be like this", everyone in the room seemed to have stopped to watch the situation.

Gil was furious, and before he could open his mouth, Gabriel turned to Sara, saying: "Stand in front of me", and that's what she did.

Gabriel looked at him again and said: "First: don't stand so far away from her. Are you scared of her? Then, do the movement as if you were really going to hit her mouth and nose, like this".

And, just like it had happened at the beginning of the class, using Sara as a demonstration, Gabriel did the punching movement, while Sara dodged and punched back. Gil wanted to tell him that it wasn't a problem of understanding, but he didn't want to draw more attention than had already happened. This was the first class, there were still four to go. So he remained silent.

When Gabriel had moved far enough away, Sara, already positioned closer to him, with her fists clenched and her defenses raised, said to Gil: "don't pay attention to what he said."

And he only replied what he could at that moment:

"I don't."

DAY 02

To his absolute horror, when he arrived for the second class, Sara was already there. Even from a distance, he could see the sweat running down her temple. Gabriel, wearing a glove on each hand, shouted movements and Sara hit with speed, precision and pressure. At all times he heard Gabriel's deep voice saying things like "good!", "very good!", "that's it, keep up the pace".

Gil was not at all happy with the situation, even though Sara had a smile on her face.

Sara mumbled something to Gabriel, who nodded, and she walked past Gil, saying "good morning" and going into the women's bathroom. Gabriel asked everyone to get comfortable on the mat, and Gil didn't hesitate to go to his usual place, at the end, almost glued to the wall. It wasn't long before Sara returned, wearing another blouse and with her face washed.

"Since you're already up, Sidle, come be my partner again in the demonstration", Gabriel said, and once again Gil felt uncomfortable.

And the discomfort was not relieved at all when he heard the day's training: grabbing from behind, from the front and from the sides. Gil swallowed hard when Gabriel asked Sara to grab him from behind. And, gentle as always, Sara grabbed him in the requested position, but without any brutality. Gabriel laughed and said that she was not supposed to hug him. She was supposed to grab him as if she were going to throw him to the ground. She joined him in laughing and asked if he was sure about that. He said yes.

Even though she was tall, Sara was very thin, looking fragile to anyone who saw her. But, with Gabriel's back to her, she moved far away on the mat to pick up speed, ran across the short space and grabbed the instructor, closing her arms tightly around his body. Gil felt his stomach churn when Gabriel said "now we're talking, Sidle".

At least I call her Sara, Gil thought.

Even with her arms tightly closed around Gabriel's body, the instructor managed to make the necessary counterattacks to get out of the situation. This time, the instructor chose the pairs: Sara with Nick, Warrick with Catherine, and Greg with Grissom.

"This way, you'll understand that, even with different body structures, if you use the right technique, you can get through," Gabriel explained.

In the second round, Sara was paired with Warrick, Grissom with Catherine, and Greg with Nick. In the third round, Gabriel looked around before forming the pairs and Gil swallowed hard. He wasn't sure how he felt about being paired with Sara.

The previous training had been much lighter and without direct physical contact, and he already felt uncomfortable simulating blows against Sara. He couldn't imagine the discomfort of having to grab her tightly. On the other hand, he would rather have him do the exercise than any other man, except for the guys on his own team.

It was with some relief that Sara ended up forming a pair with Greg, Nick with Catherine and Warrick with him. It was impossible to deny that the training was proving useful, unlike many mandatory training sessions that lead no one anywhere, and most end up using the time to draw on paper.

Grissom was almost forgetting the strange feelings he was feeling towards Sara, when Warrick pointed with his head to where Sara and Greg were, and murmured: "Gabriel seems to have a strange fixation on Sara, don't you think?".

Immediately his stomach turned again. Fortunately the alarm went off at that moment, and Gabriel dismissed the group.
Three days to go, Gil.

DAY 03

The thing about exercising is that you start looking at yourself differently.

The warm-up is the first step of the training and it's starting to grow on him. He enjoys how his muscles gain a jolt of life and power. He is capable of doing a lot of push-ups almost non-stop and discovered he could do pull-ups quite easily. From their group, only two others could, including Warrick - no surprises there - and Sara. Coming down from a round of pull-ups, he could swear he saw Sara staring at him and looking quickly away when she noticed he had noticed.

He had serious doubts about her staring at him with any physical desire at all. Especially in a room full of men way more attractive and younger than him. Right? Right?
On the other hand, when she was doing her pull-ups as disciplined as ever, his eyes seemed glued to the scene. It was almost erotic, sensual, close to a piece of art. If it was a show, it'd certainly be in slow motion, the camera close, captivating her skin, her hair, the movements of up and down, up and down, so so slowly. He tried hard to look elsewhere, but with drops of sweat falling from her face in a very sexual manner and her arms muscles stressed out, it was just impossible to.

It's just exercise. There's nothing sexual about it. You pervert. He decided to just walk away.

When Gabriel finally arrived and allowed them to be on the tatami, Grissom got his spot: almost glued to the wall. The class was full today, with familiar and unfamiliar faces, besides his team. He watched Sara walking towards him and he got a little more strained up for no specific reason.

But then Gabriel called her:
"Sidle, where are you going? You gotta know you're my partner by now!", he said laughing. But just a few joined him. No one from his team. He saw Gabriel looking briefly at him before his gaze fell on Sara.
He started talking infinitely with the class, most men were very participating, asking questions about what to do in certain situations on the street. Grissom was fighting a battle to not fall asleep. Sara looked bored as well, but stayed still in her position beside Gabriel. When someone asked about how to defend yourself from a kick, he turned to Sara and warned her: "Don't worry, I'll get you. Now, kick me on my genitals".
Sara stayed in front of him and prepared herself. When she kicked, everything happened so fast, the next thing Grissom saw was Sara almost touching the ground. Somehow, Gabriel had lifted her in the air and, true to his words, didn't let her fall full force against the floor.

Sara's shocked face was hilarious, something not unnoticed by Nick, who lifted his hand in a very false innocence and asked Gabriel to do it one more time, so he could register better.

"Let him show it to you, then, big guy", Sara answered Nick's joke quickly.

At almost the same time, other men - who Grissom didn't know -asked Gabriel if that was done so easily because Sara was light.

"Well, this move is to be done against someone you hate and offers you real danger. Be sure of something: in a situation like this, you'd lift a truck if necessary, but… Let's see who has the better chance to be hated in this group", Gabriel said and then started to scan the crowd.

He pointed at him. Grissom.

"You're the boss, right, my man?" Gabriel asked, laughing. Sara looked at Grissom and then to the ground. "Does someone like the boss? Come on now, you're gonna be my next vic—"

Sara turned to Gabriel and whispered something in his ear that he couldn't see. Whatever it was, it certainly took him off the hook.
"All right, all right, then. Forget, Grissom. I'm going to demonstrate slowly on Sara so you all know how it's done, but do not practice it, you got it?", Gabriel said.
Grissom had no idea what Gabriel did to defend himself from Sara's kick. He had no idea how he managed to, slowly, deliver Sara to the floor. All he could think of was what the hell Sara had whispered in his ear? What Sara said? She volunteered in his place? She thought he was weak? Fragile? She thought he'd have a heart attack? He felt himself blush.
Still 40 more minutes now. Still two more days to go.

DAY 04

That day he found Sara at the reception, far from the tatami. She was in her uniform, listening to music on her phones and staring at the wall in front of her. Her head moved as the rhythm flew. Grissom couldn't explain how, but he knew she wasn't in her best today. He approached her empty table.

"Can I sit here?", he watched her while she seemed to be startled by his voice, but in seconds she motioned for him to sit and took off her ear phones. He gave her a timid smile, sat down and looked at her. Her pale skin, her dark hair in a point-tail, her eyes softly looking back at him. He was speechless.

"Have you…uh…been enjoying the classes?", she asked, trying to make conversation.
He made a face. "I believe you know the answer already."

She shrugged. "I could be surprised for a change."

He lowered his voice "I don't?"
"You don't what?", she asked, miming his tone of voice.

"Surprise you."

She looked deeply into his eyes, her mouth fell open just a little bit, revealing more of her lips until it morphed into a smile. She looked down to their shoes before raising her head.

"Not enough, I guess", Sara finally said.

He nodded, thinking a thousand miles per second.

"He obviously likes you, you know, in a total macho manner, but still…"
"Who does?"
"Gabriel", he said simply.

Sara stared at him.

"What if he does?", she inquired.

Grissom was taken aback even though he couldn't. After all, he was the one who started all this conversation, and now he felt a great wave of regret. Deep down, he wanted to know if the sentiment was reciprocal or if they already went on a date, if she felt they were going to marry, have two children and move to Ohio. Instead, he enjoyed playing games, which he knew Sara hated.

He was a sad man, really.

He chose to raise his eyebrows and, trying hard to fake the full force of jealousy inside him, simply answered "Nothing".

"See, still no surprises there, Grissom", Sara said looking straight into his blue eyes, totally pissed off, before getting up and going inside.

It'd be a long class.

One more day and that's it.

DAY 05

That day, Sara was late.

Sara walked into class five minutes after it started, which was rare for her. She looked a bit flustered, her cheeks faintly pink. Gabriel, paused mid-sentence and shot her a teasing grin.

"Well, well, look who finally showed up," Gabriel said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I thought you might skip the last day on us. Getting overloaded with work, huh?" His eyes flicked toward Grissom, adding, "Maybe some people are asking too much of you."

There was a murmur of laughter from the class, and Grissom, sitting off to the side, shifted uncomfortably, not entirely sure how to respond.

But Sara surprised him. She looked Gabriel straight in the eyes, her expression serious. "If that were true, he'd be the first to know," she said shortly, a bit of an edge to her voice. It was a simple comment, but the message was clear: she wasn't about to let anyone take a cheap shot at Grissom, much less let someone from outside make assumptions about her working relationship with her supervisor.

Gabriel blinked, caught off guard, and quickly masked his reaction with a forced chuckle. "Just kidding, Sidle. No harm meant." He cleared his throat and resumed the lecture.

Throughout the class, Grissom found himself casting sidelong glances at Sara. She had returned to her usual focused self, but he couldn't shake the feeling that her words hadn't just been a defense—they felt like a quiet solidarity, as if she'd drawn a line in the sand.

When the lesson wrapped up, Gabriel, clearly trying to smooth things over, invited everyone to grab a drink. Grissom hesitated, about to excuse himself, but when Sara agreed, he saw himself in the mirror agreeing to go with them.

"It's one drink," she said when she caught his eyes on her again, her tone light, as if trying to give him a nudge.

He relented, letting her steer him toward a nearby bar with the rest of the group. They ended up at a small, crowded table, the chatter filling in the silences. Grissom couldn't help noticing how Gabriel seemed to hover, his attention mostly on Sara, yet with occasional glances in Grissom's direction, as if trying to gauge his reaction.

Finally, Gabriel leaned in, laughing as he recounted a story about one of his "most difficult" students. "This guy, let me tell you," he began, "he couldn't throw a punch to save his life. Kept holding back." His eyes flicked meaningfully to Grissom, who gave a polite smile.

Without missing a beat, Sara cut in, her tone smooth. "Maybe that's a good thing, Gabriel. Not everyone needs a punch to get their point across."

Gabriel chuckled, pretending to take it in stride, but Grissom saw the faint embarrassment flicker in his eyes. Gabriel mumbled something about being misunderstood and quickly redirected the conversation.

As the night went on, the group gradually began to disperse, leaving just Grissom and Sara at the table. He looked at her, his expression soft but contained.

"Sara," he began, choosing his words carefully. "Thank you. For earlier. I know Gabriel was just… trying to have a little fun, but…"

"Yeah, his sense of humor needs some work," she replied with a small smile, shrugging. Her gaze softened as she looked at him.

Grissom nodded, feeling something shift between them—a quiet, almost imperceptible acknowledgment that things had changed. It wasn't dramatic or forced. It was just…there, like the steady hum of something familiar but deeper, something that didn't need to be spoken.

After a pause, he gestured toward her empty glass. "One more drink?"

She tilted her head, the corner of her mouth turning up in a smirk. "If you think you can keep up."

He chuckled, nodding. "For you, I'll do my best."

Grissom raised his glass with a soft smile, the weight of unspoken promises hanging in the air. He knew they'd just taken the first steps into a new phase, and maybe that was enough. For now.