Enough!

Chapter 2: Repercussions

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Still feeling a bit weak in the knees, Sara kept a grin plastered to her face as Grissom helped her to her feet.

"Uh, Griss?" He raised a brow.

"Yes?"

"As much as I'd love to... ummm.... go to your place... it's 11:05. We can't just leave." He smiled at her and nodded.

"You're right of course." He sighed dramatically. "It's going to be a long 8 hours. But I think we'll manage." He winked. "To be continued?" Sara's face lit up again.

"You bet your ass to be continued." He chuckled at her and placed a quick kiss on her lips.

"Watch your language young lady."

"Yes boss." Sara turned to leave the office. Grissom watched as the grin she wore fell quickly from her face. He frowned when her expression changed completely to... panic? What the--- Grissom turned and felt his face instantly turn crimson. There, standing in the hallway with expressions that could only be described as "shit-eating-grins" stood Catherine, Warrick, Nick, and Greg. Grissom swore softly under his breath. The odds that those four would be in the hallway at the same time were staggering... let alone being there to witness... well... what they'd undoubtedly just witnessed. Sara mumbled something that sounded like "I'll talk to you later" as she lowered her head and opened the door to walk briskly down the hall towards the break room. Greg peeled off quickly after her closely followed by Nick and then Warrick. Catherine stood in the hall...still wearing a shit-eating-grin. Grissom cleared his throat, allowing his supervisor face to take over again.

"Something I can help you with Catherine?" He called out. She shook her head, still smiling.

"Nope." With that, she turned and walked away... no doubt heading to the break room. Grissom moved behind his desk and sat down. He snatched his reading glasses off the desk and twirled them between his fingers. Well, he thought as he put on his glasses, this is going to be an interesting evening. With that, he did the one thing he thought might take his mind off Sara... he tackled the mound of paperwork.

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"Guys... guys this isn't funny... guys I'm serious! GUYS!" Catherine walked into the break room just in time to see Nick, Warrick, and Greg back Sara into a corner. Sara noticed Catherine and shot her a pleading look. Help me. Catherine chuckled.

"All right guys break it up. Let the poor girl breathe." Nick laughed at that.

"Yeah she does look a little oxygen deprived after the last few minutes doesn't she?" Warrick slapped Nick playfully on the back of the head but was unable to hide the smile on his face. Catherine sat down in front of her locker glancing over at Sara who still stood rooted to her spot in the corner.

"Sara really... we're happy for you. You know that right?" Even Greg nodded at that.

"I don't know how Grissom held out this long without jumping your bones anyway."

"Greg!" Catherine shrieked. "Honestly..." She shook her head in disgust. Sara cleared her throat.

"Did anyone one else see?" Nick shrugged, Warrick shrugged, Greg shrugged... Catherine looked thoughtful before she spoke.
"I don't know Sara... I mean... we only walked by on... umm... well the part where you were already on the floor. But the lab's a busy place... anyone could have seen you two in there." Sara turned red and groaned.

"Great... just great." Nick put a comforting hand on Sara's shoulder.

"It'll all work out Sara. Don't worry about it. Just keep your lips to yourself when you're at the lab from now on OK?" She laughed and slugged him on the shoulder.

"I'll try."

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The night shift progressed as normal at the crime lab. Luckily things were relatively slow that night allowing Grissom to get caught up on the mound of paperwork at his desk. Sara and Greg were processing a DB found drowned in a public swimming pool. Grissom actually suspected it was accidental, but he'd leave Sara and Greg to figure out the details. Forgetting how long it took to process paperwork, Grissom was surprised when he glanced at this watch to see it was already 6:00 a.m. Good. Shifts almost over. The next few hours are going to be... interesting. Before his brain could take a rather R-rated turn his thoughts were interrupted by a rather irate Conrad Ecklie storming into his office.

"Grissom! My office... NOW." He stormed out as quickly as he had stormed in. Grissom took his glasses off slowly. Here come the fireworks. Setting his glasses on his desk, Grissom got up and walked to Conrad Ecklie's office. Knocking on Ecklie's door he was promptly waved in with an annoyed look.

"Close the door Gil." Grissom shut the door and sat down in front of Ecklie's desk. "I trust you know why you're here Gil?" Grissom nodded.

"Sara." Ecklie looked a bit miffed at the simple statement.

"CSI Sidle yes. Several individuals have approached me this morning saying they saw you and CSI Sidle engaged in a rather stunning display of emotion in the middle of your office. Care to explain?" Grissom thought this would be a difficult conversation to have with someone he disliked as much as he disliked Conrad Ecklie. To Grissom's surprise, the words came out easily.
"Have you ever been so in love that you couldn't breathe Conrad? Ever wanted to chuck it all and just run off with her forever?" Ecklie for his part, looked a bit like a bloated fish at the revelation Grissom had just laid out before him. He waited for Grissom to continue, but Grissom simply waited for Ecklie to respond. Clearing his throat, Ecklie finally did.

"That's not what this conversation is about Gil---" Grissom cut him off with his soft interjection.

"--Yes Conrad... That's exactly what this is about." Grissom sighed, pleased that it appeared Ecklie was actually going to listen to his explanation before he lost his job. "Conrad... I don't feel that I owe you an explanation for what happened nor do I feel like giving you a blue print of my feelings for Sara. But I do want you to know two things. What happened in my office was the result of five years in pent up emotions. Hell it was five years of stupidity on my part. It had not happened previously, and it will not happen again while Sara and I are in our place of business. I hope you can understand that Conrad." Ecklie's response came instantly.
"I can." Now it was Grissom's turn to impersonate a bloated fish. He opened his mouth several times in an attempt to speak, but found only small sputtering sounds left his throat. Ecklie smirked. And for a change, it wasn't an evil one... just an honest to god smirk of amusement. "Gil I know our past hasn't exactly been... well let's avoid the sugar coating and just say we don't like either other." Gil couldn't prevent a bubble of laughter from sneaking out at that comment. Ecklie continued. "And I am upset that you and Sidle couldn't keep your personal lives out of the office." He paused. "But... I do know what it's like to lose control Gil. I really do." He sighed. "You've put me in a tough situation though Gil." Grissom nodded.

"For that I do apologize." Grissom said quietly. Ecklie nodded.

"Don't let it happen again OK?" Was Ecklie's response. Grissom's eyes damn near fell out of his head.

"That's it?" Grissom asked. Ecklie nodded.

"That's it Gil. Just remember this... there's going to be a lot of talk in those hallways about you and Sidle. My job isn't to defend the two of you. You're going to have to deal with the repercussions of this incident... not me. Understood?" Grissom nodded, unable to prevent a small smile from forming on his lips.

"I don't care what people say. The only thing worse would be not having Sara in my life." Ecklie nodded as Grissom stood and shook his hand. He turned to leave the office but stopped short and turned back to Ecklie. "Conrad?" Ecklie looked up from his desk. "Thank you."