Author: Moggie
Status: Complete
Summary: [GSR] Friends online
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

- Chapter 1/6 (SARA)
- ‘First Morning’

Sara is sitting at home and relaxing with a nice cup of tea, bag of crisps and a chat room online.

"Not many people talking today." She mused aloud as she tapped away at the keyboard.

CompWiz: Hey Pete, how are your kids?

Peter: Let’s just say I’m glad they’re at school

CompWiz: That bad huh?

Cat103: You don’t have kids do you Wiz?

CompWiz: lol ;-)
CompWiz: Nope

Peter: Why not?

CompWiz: Don’t really have the time

Cat103: First things first, have you found the right one

CompWiz: You mean by right one, a man?

Peter: lol

Cat103: Shut up Pete. I’m serious. Oh course man!

CompWiz: In that case, yes and no

- TreeFrog joined the conversation -

TreeFrog: uh oh! Wiz you got yourself in a jam again? :-)

Sara gaped at the inclination and before she could reply the others jumped in with their greetings.

Peter: Hey TreeFrog

Cat103: Froggy dude, where you been?

TreeFrog: Hey. Working just got home. So Wiz?

CompWiz: Funny Frog and no, well not really

TreeFrog: You have or you haven’t

Cat103: Can’t have it both ways girl

CompWiz: Course you can

Peter: I gotta go people. I need to get some shopping and pick up the kids. See you tomorrow

Well that makes one less person to ask questions. Sara smiled.

Cat103: Sure, see ya

TreeFrog: Don’t let those kids bully you

CompWiz: lol

Peter: You lot are so dead. Next time you turn your PC’s on I’ll be there

CompWiz: You get in this system and you’ll meet the wraff of this gal

Peter: Ooh Miss Wiz, One day we’ll have to have a battle over who knows computers better, you or me

TreeFrog: I am so putting my money on Wiz

Cat103: Me too

Peter: lol. Bye peps :-)

- Peter left the conversation -
- SpiderSci joined the conversation -

"Where the hell have you been. God…" Sara grinned. "I’ve been waiting for you." She said typing away.

CompWiz: And here’s me thinking you weren’t coming. Busy at work?

SpiderSci: I was and good morning to you too Wiz. How was your night?

CompWiz: Same here, busy

Cat103: Hey spider, where you been the past 4 mornings?

SpiderSci: If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me

TreeFrog: You’re in law enforcement, of course we wouldn’t believe you

"Ooh, do not gang up on him, I’m in law enforcement too." Sitting up straight she tried to defend her chat room buddy.

CompWiz: Hey, speak for yourself

TreeFrog: lol

TreeFrog: Sorry forgot. I better go. Need sleep. My shift starts in 6 hours. Later

Cat103: Sleep, sounds good. See you all too

- TreeFrog left the conversation -
- Peter left the conversation -

SpiderSci: What did I say?

CompWiz: lol

SpiderSci: What you been doing Wiz, still working on the new computer programme?

CompWiz: I think I’ve finally found out how to use the blasted thing, but there are still some kinks in my system I need to sort out first

SpiderSci: Need some help?

"Ha." Sara started to laugh. "Make me laugh, jeez."

CompWiz: Nope

SpiderSci: Why won’t you let me help, just this once. I know you’re afraid I might solve the problem before you, but you don’t know that

Nodding her head she quickly typed her reply.

CompWiz: Yes I do
CompWiz: I remember when we first met online and you said that you were a pro, even better than a pro at puzzles, which is weird

SpiderSci: Thanks. Weird in what way?

CompWiz: lol

Sara looked down at her desk and sighed at the thought of ‘him’. Turning back to the keyboard she explained, but decided not to give too much away.

CompWiz: I know someone who adores puzzles and if I tried to solve just one I’d probably be ignored or scowled at. Let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty

SpiderSci: I’m sure they wouldn’t be that bad just because you tried to help

CompWiz: You don’t know him and you probably wouldn’t want to

SpiderSci: Sounds like an ass

CompWiz: Well said!
CompWiz: lol

SpiderSci: You going?

CompWiz: Why’d you ask that?

SpiderSci: It’s getting late and this is about the time you log off

CompWiz: Now you mention it, I’m sorry but I have to go. My bed beckons me

SpiderSci: lol
SpiderSci: I’ll talk to you tomorrow

CompWiz: Don’t be late

SpiderSci: I won’t. Bye

CompWiz: Bye

- SpiderSci left the conversation -
- CompWiz left the conversation -

Stretching from head to toe Sara winced as her neck and back muscles crunched. She stood after turning her PC off and yawned. Padding her way to her bedroom she pulled the scrunchy from her hair and crawled into bed.

Grissom had been online for about an hour when TreeFrog decided to start asking about why he didn’t take time to do exciting stuff.

TreeFrog: What do you mean you’ve never seen it. How could you not?

SpiderSci: Work

Cat103: Such a bad excuse. You have to make time to relax you know?

SpiderSci: I do

TreeFrog: Yeah and how much would that down time involve watching a movie or going out?

SpiderSci: Ok, you got me, but I am busy. My job demands a lot of my time

- Peter joined the conversation -
- CompWiz joined the conversation -

"Now look who’s late." Smiling he waited, but when they both started talking his smile disappeared.

Peter: Women!

CompWiz: Men!

Cat103: Uh oh!

TreeFrog: I concur!

SpiderSci: Should I even bother asking!?

"This may not be good." He frowned.

Peter: Doesn’t matter what I do they never listen

CompWiz: Doesn’t matter what I do they never listen

TreeFrog: One at a time. Jeez!

Cat103: Your telling me. Chill out you two!

Peter: Sorry

CompWiz: Sorry

SpiderSci: lol

TreeFrog: I know, it’s not everyday they agree with something

CompWiz: Shut up

Peter: Shut up

SpiderSci: Ok. Who’s first

CompWiz: Not turning psychologist on us are you spider?

Peter: lol

Cat103: lol

SpiderSci: lol
SpiderSci: No, just thought I might be able to help and with a shrink in the room
SpiderSci: I think we can solve this double dilemma

TreeFrog: I’m sure we can

Peter: Me first then. My wife just took the kids

"Oh, this should be interesting." Grissom watched the screen intently.

Cat103: No way!

Peter: Yes and she seems to want time apart, but no divorce

SpiderSci: You’ve obviously talked about it

Peter: We have, but I just don’t understand

TreeFrog: Have you had any kind of argument or misunderstanding lately?

Peter: Not that I can recollect

CompWiz: What happened with the kids at school Pete?

Peter: Sometimes it freaks me out when you ask questions like that

CompWiz: Sorry

Peter: It’s ok, actually it was to do with one of the kids. They were expelled and my wife blames my bad influence on them

Cat103: Ouch!

Peter: You’re telling me

TreeFrog: Are you going to sit around and wait

SpiderSci: Yeah, you think she’ll come back? You did say she just wanted some time apart

Peter: She says so. I hope so. Argh!!!! Look, I’m gonna go

Cat103: Don’t let it get to you too much

Cat103: When my husband and I had time apart it worked and we were married 7 years before he died

Peter: Thanks Cat. Bye

- Peter left the conversation -

Cat103: Poor guy.

TreeFrog: I’m sure everything will be fine

SpiderSci: Hey Wiz?

CompWiz: Yup?

SpiderSci: What was your problem?

CompWiz: No problem

"Come on Wiz." Grissom shifted in his chair. "Talk to me."

Cat103: Yeah sure!

CompWiz: It was nothing. Compared to Pete’s it’s not worth mentioning

TreeFrog: You sure?

CompWiz: Yeah.
CompWiz: What have you lot been chatting about? I saw something about movies

"Great. Change the subject. I didn’t think you as a quitter Wiz." Looking at the screen he quietly thought that it might be because of everyone else around. Maybe she’ll talk to me later.

Cat103: Spider thinks he doesn’t have time to watch a movie

"Don’t pick on me." He grinned.

SpiderSci: I told you I’m always too busy

TreeFrog: Busy with a women maybe?

SpiderSci: No

TreeFrog: I bet it is

Cat103: I’m with Frog. Come on Spider you can tell us

SpiderSci: I told you it wasn’t a woman…

Without realising it he added a few more full stops. He intended on denying it again, but that would be prolonging the inevitable, partly because it was a woman. He’d spend as much time as possible with her, but last night just was not a good night.

Cat103: Really? So what else were you going to add there?

TreeFrog: It’s a girl guaranteed

Frowning at the topic of conversation he opted for a cry for help.

SpiderSci: Wiz, help me out here

TreeFrog: You don’t like talking about yourself much do you Spider?

Cat103: I bet he’s real shy

SpiderSci: Am not and no I don’t like sharing my personal information with others

Cat103: You mean us.

SpiderSci: No. I don’t tell anyone about anything, too complicated
SpiderSci: Not speaking makes life that bit easier in my line of work

CompWiz: That sounds more like my ‘line of work’

TreeFrog: Well, look who decided to wake up
TreeFrog: lol

CompWiz: Sorry, needed a coffee fix

Cat103: You drink way too much of that stuff.
Cat103: Ever since I’ve known you all I got was ‘hold on, need more coffee’
Cat103: lol

TreeFrog: lol
TreeFrog: Partially true, but sounds about right. Coffee nut

CompWiz: Well excuse me for trying to keep awake long enough to comprehend your entire chat room dribble
CompWiz: lol

SpiderSci: I think she’s had a bit ‘too’ much coffee this morning

TreeFrog: That or something is on her mind. How about it Wiz? You wanna share?

CompWiz: Not really

Cat103: Sorry peps, I gotta run. My postman wants me to sign some parcels. Check ya later

- Cat103 left the conversation -

SpiderSci: She sounds like me on a bad day

Grissom laughed and he tapped away at his small laptop keyboard and after pressing enter he reached over for a digestive biscuit from the tin that sat next to him. Munching on one he concentrated on what they were saying.

CompWiz: Oh funny!

TreeFrog: OK, let’s not get into an argument over spilt processor chips shall we?
TreeFrog: What’s wrong Wiz? Man trouble again?

SpiderSci: Hang on, when did that happen? Man? What man?

Wiz has found someone? Why didn’t she tell me?

TreeFrog: She seems to be a little confused in that department Spider

CompWiz: CONFUSED is an understatement. He’s annoying, quiet, cryptic, human puzzle, a coward…

TreeFrog: Ok, lets start with why you say ‘coward’. Spider you taking this in?

SpiderSci: Reel away

"Don’t have to ask me twice." Grissom gave his full attention to the information Wiz was about to share.

CompWiz: Fine, but I did say I didn’t want to talk about this

TreeFrog: It’s ok just start from the beginning. Why a coward?

CompWiz: He’s scared.
CompWiz: I can see that, but if you don’t do something how the hell are you going to know if it’s really what you ‘don’t’ want? Men are absolute pains in the ass, the lot of em

TreeFrog: Still don’t see how you say he’s a coward

CompWiz: I’ve known him for years, even longer and he’s never made one move.
CompWiz: Either he’s scared to, a coward, not interested or any of the above.
CompWiz: I just don’t get it, although I do think he’s interested, but…

She doesn’t let much slip. She seems too much like me. Man trouble huh? Wonder what he’s really like to get her into such a state most mornings.

SpiderSci: But what?

CompWiz: I’m even more afraid that he’ll say no if I ask him

TreeFrog: Sounds like love

CompWiz: Don’t scare me like that. It’s not very shrink of you

TreeFrog: Sorry

SpiderSci: What are you going to do?

TreeFrog: I think she should ask him and deal with the consequences later. Live and never regret

CompWiz: It’s difficult

TreeFrog: It always is. So you gonna try?

CompWiz: I suppose

TreeFrog: Well, I hope it goes ok and don’t forget to tell me about it. See ya

CompWiz: I will

SpiderSci: Sleep well

TreeFrog: Bye

- TreeFrog left the conversation -

CompWiz: Why does life have to be so complicated?

SpiderSci: You’re asking me?

CompWiz: You have an answer?

SpiderSci: Ask me again when I figure it out myself

CompWiz: You’re on

After a few minutes of nothing he started typing as he sat and stifled a large demanding yawn.

SpiderSci: I better go

CompWiz: Oh ok

SpiderSci: You don’t want to sleep?

CompWiz: Not very tired

SpiderSci: All that coffee

CompWiz: Probably

SpiderSci: Have you tried tea before going to bed?

CompWiz: I have

SpiderSci: Herbal?

CompWiz: Now you mention it, no. I might try it

SpiderSci: I got a suggestion before go bed. Take a long bath and relax. You might find out your tired afterwards. It’s what I sometimes do

CompWiz: Thanks, I think I’ll try it

SpiderSci: Night

CompWiz: Yep, Sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite

SpiderSci: Good one. I’ll speak to you tomorrow

CompWiz: Tomorrow. Bye

- SpiderSci left the conversation -
- CompWiz left the conversation -

Grissom sat back in his chair and rolled his neck releasing the tension a little. Switching his laptop off he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and headed for his comfortable bed that was screaming out for him.

CompWiz: Well, I see everyone is busy
CompWiz: Hello
CompWiz: Wake up people
CompWiz: LALALALALALALA
CompWiz: lol
CompWiz: ‘I’m all alone.’
CompWiz: lol

- SpiderSci joined the conversation -

SpiderSci: Can’t be that bad?

Sara grinned. Now she has him all to herself.

CompWiz: I am all alone

SpiderSci: Not with me here you’re not

CompWiz: Aww so sweet

SpiderSci: I try

Drinking her herbal tea she smiled. Reaching for her keyboard she hummed to herself.

CompWiz: I’m taking your advice you know

SpiderSci: Really? And that would be either, don’t talk to strangers, home before it gets too light, drink herbal tea, bath and relax before bed?

"Such a smart ass."

CompWiz: Herbal tea one. You are so full of yourself

SpiderSci: Am not

CompWiz: Are too

SpiderSci: Don’t start with me

CompWiz: What? Afraid you’ll lose

SpiderSci: lol

SpiderSci: You’d be pinned to the ground before you knew it

"Oh really? I feel a hint of sexual innuendo in that Spidy." Sara giggled.

CompWiz: If you were the one pinning, I’d have no objection

"Hmmm." A few minutes past and Sara’s face dropped. Did she misunderstand?

SpiderSci: I was thinking

"He’s going to change the subject." She shrugged.

CompWiz: About?

SpiderSci: You

A smile took up residence on her entire face.

CompWiz: Me?

SpiderSci: Yep

CompWiz: Why?

SpiderSci: I was thinking that we’ve been chatting for three years and we’ve never met

CompWiz: And?

SpiderSci: And… I think we should perhaps, you know?

CompWiz: You mean meet?

SpiderSci: Yeah, don’t you think that we should meet? I mean, we don’t have to. I love talking to you and I’ve come to enjoy and anticipate when I get to talk to you again.

Sara’s breath caught in her throat. Yeah they’ve talked for three years, but they never once talked about what they did, work was a silent rule never to be mentioned, apart from Frog. We agreed it was a good idea to have a shrink who was an online friend. She always helped us out of tight situations and each person knew more about the other than the rest. Sometimes there’d only be one person online and at other times they’d all be there. It was a chat room that was never used and it was amazing that no one had even discovered the room in all that time, but it was an odd time that we all got home from work or other things we did.

Watching and reading the words again she frowned. What if they didn’t like each other once they met? What if they lived too far from each other? Shaking her head she tapped the keys.

CompWiz: Me too

A few more minutes drifted by.

SpiderSci: I think we should meet

Nodding Sara leaned her elbows on the desk and sighed.

CompWiz: I’m having doubts

SpiderSci: Oh.

CompWiz: No. It’s not like that. I really want to meet you. It’s just…

SpiderSci: We might not like what we see?

CompWiz: Yeah. It’s stupid and petty, but I don’t want to lose my friend

SpiderSci: I know how you feel

CompWiz: You have no idea how much help you’ve been over the years and when I first found you. lol. That sounds like a romance novel sorry

SpiderSci: No. I understand

CompWiz: I want to meet you, but what if we do like what we see? We might live too far away from each other

SpiderSci: I live in Vegas

Sara gasped.

CompWiz: No way! Me too!

SpiderSci: lol
SpiderSci: See, we’re probably right around the corner

CompWiz: True. But doesn’t that scare you? We may have met. We never said who we were. You know? We know each other by nicknames not our real names

SpiderSci: I think we shouldn’t tell each other that. We can meet and surprise ourselves

CompWiz: How long have you been thinking about this?

SpiderSci: A few weeks

CompWiz: Oh. Why so long?

SpiderSci: I was a little dubious

CompWiz: I see

Waiting a second Sara grinned.

CompWiz: When and where?

SpiderSci: How about tomorrow morning say 7?

CompWiz: At the park?

SpiderSci: Yeah

CompWiz: Ok

SpiderSci: Ok

Silence filled the chat room as no one knew what else to say.

CompWiz: I better get some sleep

SpiderSci: Alright. Oh wait!

CompWiz: Yeah?

SpiderSci: How will we recognise each other?

CompWiz: Erm. You know the bench by the East Side of the park? The one in front of the lake?

SpiderSci: I do

CompWiz: I’ll be there

SpiderSci: See you then

CompWiz: Yes. Night Spid

SpiderSci: Night Wiz

- CompWiz left the conversation -
- SpiderSci left the conversation -

- Chapter 4/6 (NONE)
- ‘Fourth Morning’

Sara was restless at work and it wasn’t gone unnoticed. Catherine and Nick had asked her if there was anything wrong and she told them no. Her brain was concerned. What if she just destroyed an online friendship that she knew she couldn’t live without. He was so nice to her and she called him her friend, probably one of her best friends. All though they’d never met it felt like they new each other. They always talked about the little things. Never about work and never much about their personal lives. She knew he liked insects and other animals. She guessed at some point that he was a doctor maybe even a vet. He was older than she was, but he was too shy to admit anything else. The others teased them about having online sex once and that made him shy away from talking too much off the topic of what the others would bring up.

Grissom was quiet as usual. He stayed in his office all night, not noticing the other person in the lab who had something else on her mind. Other than when a case came in he would sit there staring at his computer.

What if he did the wrong thing? What if she was someone he knew? What if she isn’t what he expected? They’d talked about the normal outside appearances, she had long brown hair, tall and aged in her early 30’s, never anything deep. He mentioned he was a little older and he liked anything to do with animals and insects.

"Hey." Sara said quietly as she stood in his doorway.

He looked up distractedly. "You going?"

"I’ve finished my report, it’s at the front desk. Warrick’s not around so he hasn’t signed it yet." She rattled off leaning against the doorframe.

"Ok. Did you page him?" He asked putting his paperwork away.

Nodding she stood and zipped up her jacket. "I did. I’m going. See you next shift."

He stood and gave a small wave as she walked down the corridor. "Bye Sara." He shouted. She turned and waved.

Sitting in the park she shifted around on the bench. The ducks quacked as the children and parents fed them at the lakeside. Looking down at her watch she sighed. Maybe he wasn’t coming. Maybe he had to work or maybe he changed his mind. Maybe he saw her and turned around. Sara sighed again and pulled her coat tighter around her at the chill she felt go up her spine. Although it was a nice morning she couldn’t help feel that he wouldn’t show.

"Don’t you usually go home after shift?" She heard his voice and froze.

"Not always." She said not turning to him.

"Are you meeting someone?" He asked sitting down.

Sara looked at him briefly before turning back to the water. "Why?"

"No reason." He looked out over the water then back at her again. "Why are you here?"

Sara sighed. "I’m meeting someone."

"Who?" He didn’t know why he was asking, but he couldn’t help himself.

She turned towards him. "Why do you want to know? And why are you here? I didn’t think the park was your thing. Don’t you have a bug to analyse?" Sara looked down and let out the breath she didn’t realise she was holding. "I’m sorry. I’m just tired and… nervous."

"Nervous? Why?" Grissom faced her.

Glancing at the path both sides she frowned. "Just… Nervous… No reason…" She looked at her watch and rubbed her face. "I’m going home."

For some reason he didn’t want her to go just yet. "No Sara, wait."

Sitting back on the bench she folded her arms over her chest. "Why?

"Look, I know I’ve been avoiding you lately, but I’d rather not loose our friendship due to some stupid misunderstanding." His voice was quiet as he spoke directly at the lake.

Sara watched him and frowned once more. "What misunderstanding? You accused me of seeing someone when I’m not. Anyway, it’s got nothing to do with you." Standing she put her hands in her pockets. "I still want to be friends, always have and I always will be, but I have to live my life Griss and you being here now may have just halted that life from moving on." She knew she wasn’t making much sense, but in a way she was.

Grissom looked at his watch and let out a groan. "I knew this was going to ruin everything." He muttered.

Sara looked down at him. "You meeting someo…" She tailed off when realisation hit her.

Not really hearing her, he stood and started walking away. "I’ll see you next shift Sara. I’m sorry for being an inconvenience in your ‘life’. He said half-heartedly.

Sitting down before she fell down she buried her head in her hands. "Oh god." Grissom kept walking away until he remembered he left his briefcase beside the bench. He turned back and saw Sara sitting there hunched over. Sitting down again he coughed to let his presence know. "I know you’re their Grissom. It’s not that hard you know." She said quietly making him flinch.

"Not hard?" He asked confused.

She wiped her tired eyes and looked at him. "I’ve known you for nearly ten years before work and another three working with you and talking to you." Watching his face she could tell he didn’t get the hint, which made her sigh heavily. "For someone who’s so smart and…" She smiled a little. "Sweet. I would have thought you’d have figured it out before I did."

Grissom stared at her with a puzzled expression. He blinked a few times and shook his head. Reaching over for his briefcase he stood. "Erm… I gotta go seeing as my friend isn’t turning up."

As he started to walk away she start talking. "You know? If I told Frog and Pete that you were so dense in person I’d probably get twenty questions on how I’d know that, although I think Cat would defiantly know how." Sara got up and started for the exit of the park.

While she was speaking Grissom had stopped dead in his tracks. Not daring to turn around at first and when he did, she was gone.

Cat103: She’s coming round the mountain when comes, she’s coming round the mountain when comes…lalalalalalalala

Peter: Someone got laid last night

Cat103: lol
Cat103: So r-i-g-h-t! :-}

Peter: And who was this person?

Cat103: The parcel man, whom else? No really, A nice fella with dark brown hair and muscles

Peter: lol

Peter: The builder?

Cat103: How’d you guess?

Peter: You are so predictable :-)

Cat103: I am not :-)

Peter: Are too :-P

Cat103: Am not (:-(

- CompWiz joined the conversation -

Peter: Are too

CompWiz: Who got laid? I see something about a builder and something about being predictable. Wouldn’t be you Cat would it?

Cat103: Oh great, what is this, pick on the medical student session?

CompWiz: lol

Peter: lol

- SpiderSci joined the conversation -

Sara looked at the monitor and cringed along with a frown.

CompWiz: Hey guys, I’m sorry to come and go, but I’m tired. See ya

Cat103: I didn’t say a thing

Peter: Me neither

Cat103: Hey Spider, you know what’s up with Wiz?

Sara watched for a few minutes then logged out.

- CompWiz left the conversation -

She turned her computer off and decided that sleep was what she needed right know and that’s what she was giving into.

Twenty minutes later, her doorbell rang.

Stirring from sleep, she kicked back her covers and groaned at the intruder. Without checking the peephole first, she yanked open the door. "What?"

Silence dragged on the minute she saw who it was and groaned again as she held her head with one hand. She had a bad headache and knew she wasn’t going to stand and listen to him stuttering a sentence. It would make her even angrier.

"Grissom! What?" She demanded, although she knew being angry wasn’t going to help them.

He closed his eyes briefly and took a step towards her. "Can I come in?" He looked up at her and waited for an answer. When she opened the door wider she waved him towards the couch while she went to find a sweater to wear.

"What do you want?" She asked as she pulled out two bottles of water from her fridge.

"To talk to you." He said, taking the offered bottle from her.

"About?" She had a good idea, but he was unpredictable at times.

"Sara, would you please sit down."

She did, but in an armchair opposite him.

He sighed and set the bottle on the table. "I’m sorry about yesterday. About ignoring you all today…"

"More like avoiding." Sara said into her bottled water as she gulped half of it down.

He continued, trying to ignore her tone. "I should have known when I first saw you sitting on the bench… I’m sorry I was so distant with you."

"It doesn’t matter, you know." Putting the cap back on the bottle, she put it on the floor next to the chair.

He frowned at her words. "Of course it matters." He stressed, sitting forward.

"Why?" She looked at him confused. "We didn’t know who we were talking to for three years and now that we know I should have guessed you’d retreat back to what you’ve been doing with me every time we work together. Absolutely nothing." The sarcasm dripped from her words, knowing she was being spitefully when his eyes widened.

She went to stand, but was stopped.

"No!" Grissom knelt in front of her and place his hands either side, holding the arms of the chair.

She scowled at him. "Leave!"

He shook his head. "I’m sorry." He said, staring into her eyes.

"For what? Not wanting to be friends in real life and only wanting to know online…"

He stopped her mid-rant. "I didn’t know it was you. I didn’t realise I was hurting you, I wouldn’t not want to be friends, I’m sorry I even opened my big mouth."

Sara couldn’t help it, but a small smile flickered across her face and then vanished. The thought that erased the smile was of him not believing her when she told him that she wasn’t going out with anyone, not seeing anyone, but it had torn a rift between the two. She had asked a few times why he was so interested in the first place, but it just resulted in an interruption like she was never destined to hear the answer.

He saw that. "Why are you smiling?"

"I’m not." She looked past him.

"I saw a smile for a fraction of a second. What did I say to make you smile?" He asked, suddenly really curious. Thinking for a few seconds he blinked. "You like me grovelling, don’t you?" His face was serious, never letting his amusement shine through the barrier he was now struggling to hold up.

"Grissom, please leave." Her begging tone was evident.

He leaned closer. "No, I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me."

She met his eyes and realised how close they were. "Talk about what? Ok you want to talk…"

He nodded.

"I found a friend online, we decided to meet, no, he asked me..."

Grissom nodded again.

"I named the place, he said the time. I went, he didn’t show."

Grissom scanned her face as she spoke and realised that her breathing had changed. His proximity was distracting her and he couldn’t help but like what he was doing to her.

"When you turned up, I didn’t know why you were there, but when you said you were meeting a friend and…" She trailed off and closed her eyes as his cologne invading her sinuses.

"Go on." He said quietly.

"I can’t." She whispered.

He watched her as she kept her eyes closed. "Why?" He whispered in return.

She breathed deeply and moaned her answer. "You’re too close…"

His lips brushed hers lightly, shocking her briefly. He felt her hands move from her lap to hold his shirt tightly. He pushed into her, crushing his lips against hers as the kiss turned rhythmic and deep. Grissom’s hands cupped her face and pulled her to him softly. Sara’s hands wound around his neck and her fingers raked through his hair. He groaned at what she was doing to him and moaned her name. "Sara…"

She smiled against his mouth before they pulled away. Staring at each other with their faces still inches apart, Grissom took her hand and pulled her up as he stood. "Where are we going?" She asked as he pulled her towards her bedroom.

He smiled and chuckled at her misinterpretation of his actions. "Go change. We’ve got somewhere to go."

"Where?" She watched him point to her room and give her a ‘don’t argue’ look. She shrugged and went to get dressed.

Grissom didn’t say anything other than meet her at the park in one hour. She did, she sat on the bench like she did the morning before and watched the ducks swim across the lake.

"You must be Wiz?" He asked.

Sara turned and smiled, clocking onto his actions. "And you must be Spider."

He pulled a small bouquet of bright mixed flowers from behind his back and sat next to her. "These are for you."

"You shouldn’t have, they’re beautiful." She said, smelling the white and red roses.

He watched her eyes travel over the flowers and smile widely at them. "I love it when you do that." He said out of no where.

Looking at him with her smile, she asked. "Do what?"

"Smile."

She giggled and reached out to run her hand down his cheek.

He covered her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it before speaking again. "I’m sorry."

She nodded. "I know."

"I didn’t know you could ramble so much when you’re right." He grinned and flinched as she lightly punched his arm.

"What do we do from here?" Sara asked, placing the flowers on the bench beside her as she turned to face him.

He frowned and shook his head. "I don’t know for sure." Looking into her eyes he smiled. "Be with you, for starters."

Sara’s smile widened and she leaned against him as he wrapped his arms around her. "I like that idea." She said quietly.

"I still want to chat online with my friends, and be able to talk to you at work and when we…" He leaned his head against hers and sighed.

"When we see each other outside work?" She finished questioningly.

"Yes. I should have done this a long time ago, but as you once said, I was a coward." Sara tried to sit up and protest, but he held her to him tightly. "No, I deserved what you said Sara. I am a coward, but hopefully I’m not anymore, not with you here to help me overcome my fears."

Laughing lightly at the thought that crossed her mind, she turned to look up at him. "I remember you calling yourself an ass."

He growled at her for reminding him and cut off anymore speech from her with a light kiss.

Cracking his knuckles, he waited until he was logged into the chat room.

- SpiderSci joined the conversation -
- Cat103 joined the conversation -

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, he happily pushed the letters of the keyboard.

SpiderSci: I’m the cat who got the cream

Cat103: Oh really?

SpiderSci: Yup

- Peter joined the conversation -
- TreeFrog joined the conversation -

TreeFrog: How come?

Peter: What happened?

Cat103: Hey I was here first

Cat103: lol

SpiderSci: I’m just saying that I found something or should I say someone who just made my life complete

TreeFrog: I’m not sure if I should be happy or not

Peter: You getting married or something?

Cat103: Who’s the lucky lady?

SpiderSci: You should be happy, no I’m not getting married (early days) and you all know her

Grissom tilted his head at the thought and smiled.

TreeFrog: Really?

Peter: Who?

Cat103: Who?

SpiderSci: Guess?

Peter: Frog you’re the shrink. You should be able to figure out who it is

TreeFrog: Not necessarily

Cat103: Whom do we know? There’s only us lot here that we know online

SpiderSci: Oh, come on guess

This is so getting boring, come on guy’s, guess.

TreeFrog: Ok, very impatient this morning isn’t he?

SpiderSci: Yawn, you don’t know the half of it. Come on…

TreeFrog: Right, ready people?

Peter: Let’s go

Cat103: Guessing games this early should be illegal

Bursting out with laughter, he typed.

SpiderSci: Stop stalling

TreeFrog: I don’t know how to start, but has to be someone you’ve told us about obviously, but we don’t know anyone else online that isn’t here now

I can think of one person and you lot should have noticed by now.

Peter: I’m going with his imagination

Cat103: Me too

SpiderSci: Such a cop out

- CompWiz joined the conversation -

Just the woman I’ve been waiting for, the love of my life.

SpiderSci: Aha.

CompWiz: Sorry I’m late

TreeFrog: Morning Wiz

Peter: Yo Wizza

Cat103: Please tell Spider to tell us who this new woman is that’s got him so cheerful, it’s just too early

CompWiz: What have you been up to?

"ME!?" He squeaked.

SpiderSci: Nothing

TreeFrog: Yeah right

Peter: Tell her Spider

Cat103: Or we will

SpiderSci: You don’t know anything

CompWiz: I do

TreeFrog: Really?

Not yet girl, not yet. Let them squirm a little longer.

SpiderSci: Wiz!!!!!

CompWiz: What?

TreeFrog: Come on you obviously know

Peter: Of course she knows

Cat103: Yeah they’re like peas in a pod them two…

Cat103: lol

‘Well, that didn’t take long Cat.’ He smiled.

Peter: What?

CompWiz: Cat!!!!!

SpiderSci: She knows

TreeFrog: Knows what?

Peter: I’m stuck in space and no one knows I’m on paid vacation

‘No ones ignoring you mate, just playing with the puzzle pieces. It’s what we do.’

Cat103: Shut up Pete. That was so not funny

CompWiz: I wanna tell them

SpiderSci: No

CompWiz: Why?

SpiderSci: Because

TreeFrog: Because what?

Peter: This is getting annoying

Cat103: I agree

CompWiz: Please!

SpiderSci: Would you be like that if we got married?

CompWiz: Wouldn’t you like to know ;-)

SpiderSci: Before hand would help yes :-P

Another wave of laughter erupted.

TreeFrog: That is confusing

Peter: Erm…I need a paracetamol, brb

Cat103: Bring me one. I ran out last time something like this happened

CompWiz: I have something funny to tell

SpiderSci: Sara you promised

‘Oops! Now I’m in trouble.’

TreeFrog: Sara?

Peter: Sara?

Cat103: Sara?

CompWiz: Griss you pratt :-o

"Now she’s in trouble."

SpiderSci: lol :-)

TreeFrog: I think I just figured this out

Peter: I’m still in the dark though

Cat103: So slow. I got it before ya all. ;-)

Grissom raised his eyebrows in amusement.

SpiderSci: Really?

CompWiz: Really?

TreeFrog: Well, I now know why he’s so happy and how they know each others names, which I assume are your real names?

SpiderSci: Yep

CompWiz: Yes

TreeFrog: Ok, Next I have a feeling you’ve met since we spoke last?

Peter: Yeah and that was yesterday

Cat103: That was fast

‘You wouldn’t believe how wrong.’

SpiderSci: Actually no

CompWiz: All wrong

Peter: How come?

Cat103: I’m now confused

SpiderSci: We’ve known each other for years. *<:o)

CompWiz: Didn’t realise we’ve been speaking online and working with each other

TreeFrog: It never came up at work?

Peter: What work?

Cat103: You work together? At night?

SpiderSci: Yes. We work together and have for three years

TreeFrog: That’s since we all met

CompWiz: Strange isn’t it?

Peter: You got that right

Cat103: So what else?

SpiderSci: Should we tell them everything?

CompWiz: I think it would be best

TreeFrog: I wanna know

Peter: Me too

Cat103: Me three

SpiderSci: lol

CompWiz: lol

‘They sound like Nick and Warrick.’ He chuckled.

SpiderSci: We are forensic scientists

CompWiz: We met at a seminar over ten years ago

TreeFrog: WOW

Peter: COOL

Cat103: This is so far out

SpiderSci: We’ve been working together, but under strained circumstances

CompWiz: He’s my boss

TreeFrog: WOW

Peter: I’m going to agree. WOW

Cat103: Isn’t that wired? Talking with you boss online?

‘I didn’t think about that.’ He leaned forward and hit the keys.

SpiderSci: Sara?

CompWiz: Hey, don’t start with me and you know that answer

SpiderSci: Do not!!!!

CompWiz: I bet

‘I’ll ask you later then.’ He smiled.

TreeFrog: Ok lets put the pieces together shall we

Cat103: Ok, one: we’ve known them for three years

Peter: Two: they speak even when the rest of us are not online

TreeFrog: How do you know that?

Peter: I’m a computer hacker, remember, on my off time

Cat103: lol

TreeFrog: Anyway, three: Their in law enforcement

SpiderSci: Can we break the jigsaw please?

CompWiz: I’m getting dizzy |-{

Peter: Right…lets just say that they’ve obviously met, that’s why they know each other’s names

Peter: They say they’ve been working with each other side by side for three years, known each other for other ten years, are science geeks, are now seeing each otherPeter: … hold on… I’m not getting how this starts a relationship

Cat103: Yeah.

Cat103: Weren’t you both saying that someone that you work with was a complete idiot and that you each had your eyes on him or her, but were afraid to do anything about it?

TreeFrog: They are those people they mentioned and they have done something about it

He frowned and nodded at the screen.

SpiderSci: I was being the idiot not Sara

CompWiz: He was being him

Peter: Oh!

Grissom grinned. ‘She knows me too well sometimes.’

SpiderSci: Thanks Sara

CompWiz: No problem, but I’m not changing you for anything

‘Thanks honey.’

Cat103: That is so sweet

Peter: I don’t usually but I’m crying. This is like some romance novel :~-(

CompWiz: lol

SpiderSci: She mentioned something like that the other day

Wave after wave of laughter hit him for a few minutes before turning back to his laptop and yawning loudly.

TreeFrog: Freaky <:-O

Peter: Your telling me (:-(

SpiderSci: I’m going. I need sleep

CompWiz: Me too

TreeFrog: He he he he he he he he

Cat103: That was just not the thing to share

SpiderSci: Why?

CompWiz: They think we’re sleeping together

SpiderSci: How could we if I’m on my computer and you’re on yours?

CompWiz: Obviously they didn’t think about that

TreeFrog: Good point

Peter: Yep

Cat103: Sorry guys I need to go. I think its great that Romeo and Juliet here have finally found each other, but I have errands to run then a nap to catch. Bye love birds

TreeFrog: Yeah, see you all I’m gonna shoot off too

Peter: By people, lovers and the world, Good night

- Cat103 left the conversation -
- TreeFrog left the conversation -
- Peter left the conversation -

SpiderSci: I knew I should have said something along the lines of ‘no, stay, or even wait’ but nope

CompWiz: lol

SpiderSci: So, what you doing today? After you sleep I mean

CompWiz: Not sure

SpiderSci: Well, I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner tonight

CompWiz: I would love too

SpiderSci: Also…

CompWiz: Yes?

SpiderSci: I want to tell you something

CompWiz: And that would be?

SpiderSci: I
SpiderSci: LOVE
SpiderSci: YOU

CompWiz: Such a sweet talker

SpiderSci: I do you know

CompWiz: I know

SpiderSci: I should have told you a long time ago

CompWiz: We have all the time in the world Griss

SpiderSci: Now we do :-*

CompWiz: I want to tell you something too

SpiderSci: Really? I might not want to know

CompWiz: I want to remind you about something you once said to me online

‘Uh Oh!’

SpiderSci: I’m worried. What did I say?

CompWiz: Don’t be worried, YET. :-P
CompWiz: lol
CompWiz: If we go out tonight, what are you going to do if I start an argument?

SpiderSci: lol

‘I remember, Sara.’

SpiderSci: You would be pinned to the ground before you knew it

CompWiz: You promise?

SpiderSci: I promise. @>--->---

CompWiz: Very nice rose you have there

CompWiz: I love you

SpiderSci: I love you too

CompWiz: See you tonight

SpiderSci: You will. Pick you up at 7

CompWiz: Ok. Bye.

SpiderSci: No more coffee. You need your sleep.

CompWiz: lol

Smacking his forehead with his hand, he chuckled. ‘She won’t let me forget that slip in a hurry’

SpiderSci: I didn’t mean that the way it came out

CompWiz: I bet. I’ll be holding you to it now

‘Told you.’

SpiderSci: lol

CompWiz: Night

SpiderSci: Night

- CompWiz left the conversation -
- SpiderSci left the conversation -

Grissom packed his laptop up and moments later he fell asleep on the couch, dreaming of Sara and the night to come.

- The End.