RATING: M - Mature (for later chapter)
PAIRINGS: GSR
SPOILERS: Post Ep for "Gum Drops" through "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" (specifically relating to events in "Secrets & Flies")
SUMMARY: What was it that made Grissom finally see the light? Could it really have been so simple?
A/N: This one was born from a repeat viewing of "Secrets & Flies" and having something of an epiphany about what might have been the catalyst for the relationship starting. I also blame being sequestered from my laptop as I traveled to Atlanta for a convention. If I couldn't work on my angst-monster, I had to write something. ;)
ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Once again, my trusty beta has enthusiastically supported the writing process... Personally though, I think she's ready to scalp me for getting her hooked on writing, too. :D
REVIEWS: Reviews are the way I know if people are enjoying the work or not. So, if you leave one, THANKS! And if not, I hope you found at least a little something to brighten your day, and thanks for taking the time to read.
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Chapter 1
Most people at the crime lab eat at the greasy spoon across the street from the building, but after basically becoming a vegetarian, Sara rarely chose to dine there anymore. Instead, she had found a quaint little place a few blocks away that served the standard breakfast fare without using any animal products (it was the closest to vegan she was likely to ever become with her need of dairy on a regular basis). The couple that ran the place were fellow Northern California transplants, like herself, and they were always happy to see her. However, they were more pleased with the fact that she seemed to rarely eat alone anymore. In recent months, she had begun sharing her breakfast spot with someone else, and it was a welcome change for everyone concerned.
The first time Candace and Mark asked her about the new man in her life Sara blushed and then told them that he was not new, nor was he technically in her life. When they both gave her a disbelieving smirk she tried to explain that they were merely colleagues decompressing from their shift. Though she dropped the matter at the time, Candace always managed to make a pointed remark here and there about the man each time they ate together. "Sure looks like more than work to me… Not sure I'd be able to resist that myself… I sure don't look at my dishwasher like that… Do you need two boxes, or just one?.. He picks up the check an awful lot for someone 'not technically' in your life."
One day, when Sara had simply reached her limit she shot back with, "Look, we've been friends for years, but we had a falling out a while back and after nearly two years of barely tolerating each other, I'm just glad to have my friend back. So, please don't push it anymore." Sara had not meant to be so short with Candace, but she truly was afraid the woman would make her breakfast companion uncomfortable. And she really had missed her friendship with Grissom during that awful period in both of their lives. Something was better than nothing at all, in her eyes.
As she sat alone at the table by the window sipping her tea, Sara thought about the first time she had brought him to The Breakfast Garden. It was the day after they had found Nick buried in that coffin, and she had found Grissom still holding vigil at the scene. Jim Brass had called her and asked if she could try to drag him away. She told him that she might not be the best choice, but Jim had asked her to try anyway. Despite her apprehension, she never could refuse the grizzled detective, and so she made her way to the site.
She had found him sifting through the dirt, collecting insects and trying to find anything that would help him close the case. In her mind, the case was closed, but there seemed to be something driving him onward, and no one had been willing to confront him about it. Sara thought that her history of confronting the man, consequences be damned, was probably why Brass had asked her to step up to the plate on this one. In the end, he had been right, because Sara had been the one to jar him from his single-minded quest in self-destruction.
When she had dragged him away from the scene with a gentle pull on his arm, she instantly saw that something had broken in the man. She was not sure what that something was, be it pride or arrogance or even his spirit, but seeing him reduced to such a state had nearly broken her heart.
Finding that he had not eaten in more than a day, she stopped at her favorite spot on the way to drive him home. She had ordered for the both of them while he was in the restroom washing up. After he shuffled back out to the table they ate in silence and when it was done, she had driven him home.
As he had slipped out of her car, he kept his gaze away from her and left with one parting remark, "Thank you, Sara… For everything."
Since that gray and dreary day things had finally turned the corner in their relationship, and the breakfasts quickly became a comfortable habit. At first, it was once a week. Then, it was whenever they had a rough case. And then finally, it seemed to have become their daily ritual.
Today was one of those rare exceptions because she had just gotten back from a tough case out in Lincoln County with Nick and Grissom was away teaching a class at the body farm. As she sat there sipping her tea and staring blindly out the window, Sara tried to reconcile her thoughts about the case, but more importantly about how the case had affected her partner and friend.
Nick had become deeply involved with the case and she had worried about his state of mind more than once during their investigation. She was most concerned about his violent outburst during the interrogation of one of their teen suspects.
Before she had a chance to delve too much further into her thoughts, Sara's attention was diverted by something blocking the sun from the window and then the sound of a knuckle wrapping on the glass. Regaining her focus once again, she looked up to make out the offending party, only to find a pleasantly smirking Gil Grissom on the other side of the glass.
She acknowledged his presence with a shy smile and motioned for him to come inside. As he disappeared from sight she self-consciously checked to make sure she was presentable, and then went to rise from her seat to greet her boss.
He reached the table at nearly a trot and casually placed a hand upon her shoulder to stop her from rising. "Don't get up… I didn't want to disturb, I was just following a hunch." He quickly took the seat opposite her and placed the napkin in his lap. "I stopped by the lab on my way in and Warrick told me I should get with you about your case. Said you were both worried about Nick… And I took the chance you'd be here sorting it all out."
Just then, Candace came to the table with a steaming cup of coffee and Grissom regarded her with a friendly smile. "The usual, Dr. Grissom?"
"Yes, that would be nice, thank you…" That was when he suddenly remembered his manners and stumbled through the question, "Ah… I'm sorry… Sara, do you mind if I join you?"
Sara smiled with only the right side of her mouth and nodded, "Of course." She looked up at the woman and added, "Go ahead and get me the usual, too… Looks like I'm eating after all."
Grissom gave her a worried look and asked, "You weren't eating?"
"Nah…" Sara shrugged it off as inconsequential, "It's been a rough few days and I was just trying to relax with some tea before heading home to crash."
Grissom suddenly became very unsure of his actions and began to apologize, "I'm sorry… I should leave and just let you get some rest. I just thou-" He was about to stand and motioned to Candace when Sara cautiously placed her slender hand upon his tense forearm.
"It's okay… Really." Sara's eyes softened as their eyes met and he returned to his seat as she added, "I could use a sounding board on this one."
They ate… They talked… She shared her concerns about Nick, and he promised to keep a closer eye on him… The routine was back.