Thank you all for reading and reviewing, I think this is going to be the last chapter, I hope you've enjoyed the story.

Let me know if you like it/if you want more Sandle goodness!

Special thanks to Catherine : )

Counting Coffee Cups: Chapter Eight

"Sara." He said breathlessly.

Greg had to bring himself back to reality. He had to stop this from going too far; he had to stop this before he hurt Sara. Or dare he say it...she hurt him. The images of the bar tender kissing her neck and making love to her were still fresh in Greg's mind.

"Greg...look...I can't say I love you...but please...let's give this a shot." The voice coming out of Sara's mouth wasn't her own. But she meant every word she was saying. Greg had shown her kindness like no one else, not even Grissom.

"Okay." Greg kissed her back with slight resistance, letting their lips brush gently.

He'd taken her care of her when she was being strong willed, resistant, vulnerable and stupid. And there was no denying that she felt something for him. Sara was confused. She didn't know what her feelings were not any more. Not after she had been so adamant that there had been something between her and Grissom.

But as she looked up into Greg's dark eyes, she hoped that one day this feeling she had would grow into love.

xxx

They sat in the court room waiting for the jury to tell them their verdict. Greg held Sara's hand as tightly as he could, while her eyes were focused on the man that had made her teenage years a living hell.

He stood there with a sly smile on his face as he surveyed the row of women that had once been vulnerable young girls in his grasp. The look on his face made Sara feel sick and it was made worse by the way he rested his eyes on her. The memories of how he'd touched her while she lay helpless beneath his weight flooded back. The way he'd looked at hadn't changed one bit. She could tell that he was thinking about the same thing.

"Guilty." The voice echoed out through the room but still the smile on his face remained.

As he was being taken away he slowed his pace as he walked past Sara stealing one last glance are her, letting his eyes wonder to where her t-shirt dipped revealing cleavage.

"You'll have fun with this one." He hissed at Greg another sickening grin playing on his face.

A tear rolled down Sara's cheek and her throat began burning, she stood up in order to escape.

xxx

Taking a deep breath she let fresh air fill her lungs. Those memories, wouldn't ever go away, they'd float like a distant reminder of worse times, she knew this. Sara didn't need an over paid therapist to tell her this.

It was over it was time for a new start. She thought to herself.

Greg appeared next to Sara, holding her hand bag awkwardly.

"Uhm...could you take this?...It isn't really doing my manliness any favours..."

"Sure." Sara laughed through tears taking the bag into her hands. Greg stepped in front of her wiping a tear away. He cupped her face in his hands.

"No one will ever hurt you again...I promise." He whispered so that only Sara could hear.

He placed his lips on hers, kissing Sara in a way no one had ever done before, making her knees weak as she melted into Greg's arms. He felt the butterflies in his stomach awaken as the sound of their hearts beating matched.

"I love you Sara Sidle."

He whispered into her hair. Sara felt her heart skip a beat at the sound of his voice saying those words.

The noise, the people, the traffic that surrounded them didn't matter.

Because for that moment, they were both completely and utterly content.

The End