Title: The new beginning

Spoilers: A bit of The Hunger artist, Play with fire, Inside the box.

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. I wrote this just for fun.

Summary: Grissom's figured out what to do about "this". (G/S)

I'd like to thank Ina for doing beta for me. Your comment and guidance mean so much to me. (

Chapter 3

Sara was caught up with her case longer than she had expected. She had paged him to tell him that she would be late. When she finished, she went to find Grissom. He was sitting on the couch in the break room. His head was rested on the back of the couch with his eyes closed. Sara quietly walked up to him and sat beside him. He hadn't noticed that there was someone sitting beside him. His head was throbbing and it was quite difficult to breathe.

Sara touched him lightly on his arm. "Gil."

He hadn't moved.

Sara tried again. "Honey, it's time to go home." This time she shook him gently.

Grissom opened his eyes slowly. 'The light in this room is too bright.' He groaned.

Sara reached out her hand to touch his face. It was hot.

"Griss, you have a fever!" Sara panicked.

"You didn't need to shout. It's just a cold."

Sara ignored him and helped him getting up.

"Can you walk to the car by yourself? Or you want me to help you." She asked with concern.

"I'm fine." He swayed slightly as he rose up from the couch. Sara instantly grabbed his arms keeping him from falling to the floor.

"See! I told you. You are not fine." She told him, holding his arm.

Grissom hadn't said anything or moved since he got up from the couch.

"Gil, what's the matter?" She asked softly.

"I'm dizzy that's all. I think we'd better go." He said so softly that she could barely hear him. He slowly walked out of the room.

"I'm going to get our coats and your briefcase. I'll meet you by the car. Are you going to be alright walking to the car by yourself?" She followed him closely.

"I'll manage. See you at the car." He waved and left for the car.

It was still raining. She saw him leaned against the side of her car waiting for her. He looked pale and seemed to be in pain. She walked hurriedly towards him.

"Why are you standing in the rain? You're sick and this is not going to help."

He ignored her comment. "How are you going to explain it to them?" He pointed at some lab techs and officers who stared directly at them.

"Explain what?" Sara asked confused by his question. She put his briefcase at the back of the car and handed him his coat. "Put it on. You're shivering."

"They might think that I'm going home with you." He took his coat from her and put it on.

"How can they possibly think that? I mean there're many other reasons that can explain why you are in my car." She opened the door and held it open for him to climb in.

"Now, get in the car and no more arguing. Please." Sara pleaded him.

He sighed and got in the car. Sara closed the door and walked to the driver's side. While she was driving, she constantly glanced at him. He was sitting slumped in the passenger's seat with his head leaning on the window of the car. It hurt to see him like this. 'This is what love is. You share everything even pain.' She reached out her hand to hold his. He turned to her and smiled weakly before he closed his eyes again to hide his pain.

They had arrived 30 minutes later. Sara looked over at Grissom. He had his eyes closed tightly, unaware that they had arrived. She touched his forehead to feel his temperature and she didn't need the thermometer to tell her that he had high fever because he was hot. He stirred at her touch but didn't open his eyes. Sara shook him lightly and waited till he did.

"We're here. Let's go." She smiled at him when he opened his eyes slowly.

He remained silent. She walked up to him and put his arm on her shoulder to help him get into the house. He walked unsteadily into his house. Before she could get him to his bed, he finally broke the silence.

"Sara, I don't feel good." He said grumpily.

"I know that. That's why I took you home."

"No, I think I'm going to throw up."

With that, she quickly took him to his bathroom and it seemed that she made it in time because when they reached it, he couldn't hold it any longer. She rubbed his back up and down trying to ease his pain. When he was done, she took him to bed. She changed his clothes and pulled a blanket on him.

"I'll be right back." She whispered.

She came back with a little piece of cloth and a bowl of warm water. She used it to wipe the sweat out of his face. She toweled his body as well. When she had finished, she walked out of the room to get his medicine and water. Sara shook him lightly. "Take this." He opened his eyes and took it without protesting. He was too tired to do that. After a few seconds, he dozed off.

Sara sat beside him for a while before heading to the bathroom to take a shower. When she went back to the bedroom, she noticed that he was restless. He was sweating and looked really uncomfortable. She sat down on the bed beside him and took a piece of cloth that she had brought earlier to wipe the sweat off his face. It was painful for her to see him like this. She climbed on the bed and lay down next to him. She rubbed his arm trying to soothe him. He seemed more relaxed by her touch. After a few minutes, she fell asleep.

Sara woke up after six hours of sleep. She turned on her side and reached out only to find an empty bed. 'Where's Grissom?' She got up and walked toward the noise that was coming from the living room.

He was coughing very badly. Though he tried to keep the noise down as much as possible, it was becoming more difficult to do so.

"Gil?" Sara asked, approaching the dark room. She reached out to switch on the light.

"What're you doing sitting in the dark?" She sat on the couch.

He tried to clear his throat. "Nothing."

"You should be in bed, Gil." She said worriedly.

"I didn't want to disturb you and I couldn't sleep." He started to cough again.

"You didn't have to do that. You're sick. How long have you been coughing like that?" She moved closer to him.

"I don't know. A few hours, I guess." He answered tiredly.

Sara looked at the clock and saw that it was already 3 o'clock. The shift would start in a few hours and she didn't want to go to work with him being like this.

"Let's go to bed. I'll fix you something to eat." She pointed toward his room.

He groaned at that. "I'm not hungry."

"Come on, you have to eat something. When was the last time you put food in your mouth?" She couldn't believe that she was the one telling him this and not the other way around.

He shook his head. "I can't Sara. I don't want to throw up again."

She ignored him and took him to the bedroom. Then she took another shower and headed to the kitchen. Before she could bring the soup to him, he slowly walked out of his room.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm getting ready for work." He answered as a matter of fact.

"Are you out of your mind? How could you possibly go to work like this?" She said angrily.

"Go back to bed now!" She ordered him.

He was apparently shocked. He had never seen her like this before. For only a moment, she reminded him of his mother. He had no choice but to go back to his bedroom. She didn't mean to be so mean to him. But she knew that she had to do this to help him get better. 'Who's he kidding? Going to work like this.' She followed him into the room. She found him half sitting on the bed with his back leaned against bed board waiting for her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. I'm worried about you and it seems to me that you are not aware of the fact that you are really sick." She held his hand and squeezed it a little.

He looked up and nodded slightly. "I know."

He looked at the soup that she had been holding since she went into the room. "Do I really have to eat this?" He asked bitterly.

"Yes, you do." She lifted spoon toward his mouth.

He opened his mouth slowly. He tried to swallow it. When he had finished, she lifted another to him. After a few spoons, he raised his hand to tell her that he had enough.

"Come on, Gil. Have some more."

He shook his head. "I'm sorry I can't. This is the best I can do."

She smiled sadly. "Now, get some rest." She pulled a blanket up to him.

"Aren't you going to work?" He asked.

"With you being like this, I don't think I should go." She looked at him.

"You should go to work. We've already short of one person today." He pointed at himself.

Before she could protest, he held his hand in front of her face.

"I'm fine, Sara. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." He tried to reassure her.

"O.K. I'll go but I'll call to check up on you. Get some rest." She kissed his forehead. She looked at him with concern on her face before she left the room.

"Where's Griss?" Warrick asked.

"He called me and said that he's not feeling well." Sara told them trying to avoid their gazes.

"You mean he's not coming in tonight?" Warrick asked again.

Sara nodded. At that moment Catherine walked into the room.

"You guys might have heard that Grissom is not coming, so I'm in charge tonight. You and Nick have the robbery case." She handed Sara the file.

"Warrick, you're with me."

Before Catherine left, she asked. "Sara?"

"Yeah?"

"What's the matter with him? Is he alright? It's unusual for him to take a night off even if he's sick." She was curious and concerned.

"He said that he has a cold. Other than that you should call him and ask him yourself." She didn't look up when she told Catherine.

"Maybe I should call him. See you later." She waved at them.

Nick looked over at Sara. 'Why would Grissom call Sara instead of Catherine?' He wondered but decided to keep his mouth shut because he had to work with her tonight. Upsetting her would be the last thing he wanted to do.

"Shall we?" He gestured toward the door.

They were on their way back to the lab after they went to the suspect's house. Nick looked at his passenger. She hadn't said anything since they left. Nick also noticed that Sara had been agitated since the start of the shift. 'Something is definitely bothering her. She's here but her mind is somewhere else.'

"Sara, are you hungry?" Nick asked.

Sara frowned and shook her head. She was not hungry. All she thought about was Grissom. She was worried about him. It had been almost eight hours since she left the house. She had called him twice but he hadn't answered.

"Come on. I'm hungry. We can stop by anyplace you want, to get something to eat." He tried to distract her. It seemed to him that it might work because she turned to look at him.

It took her a moment to register his words. She could go and see how he's doing but she had to tell Nick about her and Grissom. 'It's important. He'll understand.'

"Yes. That's a good idea. We should stop by someplace."

Nick was surprised that Sara agreed with him too easily but he tried to ignore it.

"Where do you want to go?"

She smiled and he felt something was up on her mind. His instinct was correct. He was even more shocked when she told him where she wanted to go.

He was in front of the door of Grissom's house. He looked over at Sara who took a key chain out of her pocket. She unlocked the door.

"Sara, since when do you have Grissom's key?" Nick asked confused.

"I think I should tell you something before we get inside." She turned to Nick.

"You have to promise me not to tell anyone what I'm going to tell you and what you are about to see."

Nick held his hand up in the air. "I promise"

Sara sighed. "I've been seeing Griss for almost six months now and it's the best thing that has ever happened in my life. We are in love, Nick." She was surprised by her own words. She had never told anyone before and it was easier than she had thought it would be.

Nick was surprised but he had expected something like this happening to them eventually. He was really happy for the both of them.

"I'm glad that you are happy, Sara. You guys deserve it." Nick hugged her tightly.

She returned his hug. "Thank you. I'm so relieved that I finally told someone."

"Oh, that explains why you have been glowing lately." Nick winked at her.

Sara was blushing by his comment. "Let's get inside."

Nick followed her and closed the door behind him.

"I'm going to check up on him. I'll be right back." She left to the bedroom.

She heard that he was coughing. "Honey, are you awake?" Sara asked, approaching the bed.

He was still asleep but he was restless. Sara shook him lightly. He groaned and opened his eyes slowly.

"Sara?" He asked, confused by her presence.

"Yes, I am. Who did you think it was? Were you expecting someone else, Mr. Grissom?" She teased him.

He chuckled at that. "No. I didn't expect someone else and it's Dr. Grissom."

"What time is it? Are you off?" He asked, tried to get up.

"No, I'm not off. I just stopped by to check up on you and I brought Nick with me. Before you say anything, it was necessary. I didn't know how I could possibly get away from work and come to see you. Nick was there and I trust him."

"Good. I trust you, Sara. If you think it's good then it's good." He smiled at her.

"Is it you or the flu talking?" She helped him getting up.

"I think it's a little bit of both." He walked slowly with her helping him.

"Hey, Nick."

Nick turned. "Hi, Griss. How do you feel?"

Grissom sat down on the couch. "I've had better days." He smiled sadly and started coughing again. Nick looked over at him.

"See, I told you. I think you should go and see a doctor."

"Are you kidding? I don't think so. I feel better now." He said defensively.

Sara turned to him. "Honey, it's cold out here. I think you should go back to bed."

He nodded.

"Bye, Nick. Thanks for taking Sara here." He gave Nick a small smile.

"It's okay boss. Get well soon." He looked at the new couple. 'They are perfect together. I'm so happy for them.' A smile lit up on his face.

When Sara returned, Nick told her that she didn't have to go back to work. He said he got it under control.

"You should be with him. He needs you. I'll tell Catherine that you didn't feel well and I dropped you off at home."

"Nick, are you sure? You don't have to do this."

"I want to Sara and I can handle the case myself." He waved at her and left the house.

Sara was grateful that Nick did this for both of them. She went back to the bedroom. She leaned to kiss his cheek. She sat down next to him and held his hand before she fell asleep.

TBC.