Disclaimer: I don't own the main characters

Summary: What if Sara and Grissom didn't meet at the forensic conference, resulting in Grissom making a life altering decision. How will they meet then? And if they do, are they still destined to be together? Please read and Find out. Slightly AU. Pre-Series. More details inside.

AN: Hi everybody, this one is a little different for me, but I thought I would give it a try, and I hope you will too. Getting to where you want them to end up will take time and patience, so I hope you are there through their ups and downs.

AN #2: The time-line of the series is slightly altered in this story, and you'll see why when you continue to read.

Title: Different Path Taken
Genre: Romance, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Family, Tragedy
Rating: T
Spoilers: Subtle References to multiple episodes
Time-line: Per-CSI, Slightly Altered Time line
Warnings: Suggestive/Implied adult behavior, a little language, triggering themes, Minor Character death
Main Parings: GSR (Eventually)
Minor Parings: Grissom/OC, Sara/OC (Very Minor), Grillows Friendship
Other Characters: Nick, Warrick, Catherine, OC's, Greg (Mention only)

Chapter 1: Just missing one another

After Grissom signed his name on the case file he just completed and took his glasses off, he closed the file and started tiding up his desk, then he grabbed one of his entomology books that he had out and stood up from his desk chair before walking toward his bookshelf that was on the left side of the room, and as he was putting it in place, there was a knock on his office door.

He turned around while saying. "Come in."

Catherine Willows, one of his colleagues the last 8 years, opened the door and smiled. "Hey, can I have a paper clip?"

He smiled with a nod before pointing to his desk. "Yeah, top right drawer."

She nodded her thanks before walking in the office that had shelves full of his experiments, something that she had to get use to seeing, and even a pet spider.

A lot of people would consider him very odd, and at first she would be part of that particular crowd, but after knowing him the last 8 years, they formed a close friendship. In fact, she considered him her best friend, which was why she was a little shocked when she opened the right top drawer, just as Grissom exclaimed. "Wait, Cath!"

She lifted the ring box out of the drawer and raised an eyebrow at him. "Something you would like to share?"

He smiled shyly at her as he walked back to his desk, then he sighed as he grabbed the ring box before stuttering. "Well, I uh.."

He trails off as he shook his head, not sure what to say, making Catherine smile at him before she asked. "I wasn't sure if you were even thinking about proposing, you sure you're ready?"

He sighed again as he looked at her. "I think so, I mean Annie and I have been dating for awhile now, and it's the next logical step, right?"

Annie Snyder was his age, and had met Grissom 5 years ago when he was investigating a crime and the victim was an employee at her Veterinarian clinic, and once the case was closed, they went out for drinks and found out they had a lot in common and just continued to see one another ever since.

"You love her, don't you?"

"Of course I do, I still wouldn't be with her if I didn't." Then he seemed unsure again. "Or at least I think I do."

Catherine chuckled as she commented. "You seem pretty unsure."

He then frowned a little. "It's also the biggest step of my life."

This time Catherine sighed as she walked up to him, then she placed her hand on his shoulder and spoke softly. "And you are allowed to question things like this before you make that move, but before you put a ring one her finger, make sure it feels right to you." Grissom nodded in understanding as Catherine finished. "So, while you are in San Francisco this weekend, I suggest you think about what you truly want, make sure she's really the one you want to spend the rest of your life with."

He was going to be the main speaker and presenter at a forensic conference, something he was looking forward to the moment he was asked to do it.

Grissom slowly smiled with a nod. "Yeah, this trip will give me time to clear my head and really think things through." She pats him on the shoulder with a nod.

As she turned to walk back to the desk so she could grab the papers she came into the room with, Grissom asked. "So, you still need a ride home?"

She placed the paper clip in place with a nod before looking at him. "Yeah, and why don't you stay for breakfast? Lindsey would be happy to see you."

Grissom smiled with his eyes sparkling, he really loved that little girl. "Alright, I'll meet you in the parking lot in five minutes."

After Catherine nodded, she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Once the door clicked shut, Grissom looked down at the ring box in his hand and sighed, what he told Catherine was the truth, and he thought the decision was made for him when he bought the ring. But once again he was unsure, so maybe going to San Francisco will help him decide once and for all if he was making the right choice.

He mentally shook his head, then after grabbing his glasses from the top of his desk, briefcase on the floor next to his desk and jacket from his office chair, he turned out the lamp and the overhead light before walking out of his office, closing and locking the door behind him.

2 days later

"Sara, I'm sorry but I'm going to need you at the lab today."

Sara Sidle frowned while holding her phone up to her ear. "But Sir..."

He cuts her off. "I know I said you can go to the Forensic Conference this weekend, but a priority case just hit my desk and I need the best here. I'm really sorry, Sara, but my word is final."

Sara does a small sigh and nodded, even though he couldn't see her, then replied softly. "Ok, I'll be there in ten minutes."

"Alright, see you then."

After placing her phone on the end table and her shoulder bag on her couch, she turned around and headed toward her room so she could change while pulling her hair out of the pony tail she had.

Always eager to learn new things about forensics, she was looking forward to going to the conference, especially when she heard that Dr. Gilbert Grissom was going to be there.
And while she had never met him personally, she's heard some wonderful things about him, which there were others that said he was a dull speaker, but she would have liked to find that out herself.

She sighed and thought as she finished dressing. 'I guess not this time, maybe I'll meet him someday.'

She mentally shook her head from those thoughts before walking back into the living room and grabbing her things, then walked to the door and out of the apartment, shutting and locking it in the process.

8 Hours later

"Thanks for the update, guys."

Sara nodded, along with her colleague, Logan Peace, whom she's worked with the last three years, which he was her age, around 6'0 with medium length brown hair, brown eyes, and a muscular build.

"We'll continue to keep you informed, sir."

After their boss, Pat Dyson, who was 15 yeas older than them, around 6'2, bald, slim build with hazel eyes, nodded, Sara and Logan used the right side entrance to walk out of the office as someone knocked on the front entrance.

"Come in."

When the door opened, Pat stood up and smiled while holding out his hand. "Well, look at this, it's Dr. Gilbert Grissom."

Grissom chuckled as he walked into the room. "Hi Pat, I think we've known each other long enough for you not to be so formal."

Him and Pat were college classmates at UCLA before Grissom went to Chicago to get his PhD in entomology. They had kept in touch through the years by phone calls, text messages and emails, talking about their experiences to one another.

Pat chuckled and nodded as he sat down in his chair after they had released hands. "So, how was the first day of the conference? One of my people was a little disappointed she couldn't go, but a priority case came and my hands were tied."

"It was great." Then Grissom nodded in understanding about the case stuff. "It happens."

"Yeah." He cleared his throat before asking. "So, how about meeting up for a drink later?"

Grissom nodded again with a smile. "I would like that, let me know when and where, and I'll meet you there."

"You got it."

5 minutes later

While Sara and Logan were in the break room talking about the case, one of their colleagues, Jade Mathews, who was 5'6, slim build, had curly brown hair and blue eyes, opened the door quickly and started to speak with excitement and really fast, so Sara held up her hand with a smile. "Whoa there, what's going on? What's got you so excited?"

She nodded as she took a breath, then she started over. "You won't believe who I just saw walking out of the lab?"

Sara asked with a raised eyebrow. "Who?"

She smiled bigger before answering. "Dr. Gilbert Grissom."

Sara's eyes got wide as her heart raced. "Really?"

"Yeah, and he looks just as amazing as you've heard." She sighed again before continuing. "Well, I mean for an older guy, that is, but still."

Jade still had a smile on her face as she walked toward the counter, and as Logan started smirking about telling her long time boyfriend about this amazing sight she had just witnessed, Sara took a breath as she looked down at the open file, feeling like she missed out on something, but couldn't place what it was.

Before her thoughts could continue Jade asked. "Sara, you ok?"

Sara shook off what she was feeling and gave her a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine, let's just continue with the case."

Her colleagues nodded before the three of them got their concentration back on the case, but deep down Sara couldn't help but continue to have that empty/missing feeling.

2 days later

When Grissom got off the plane when it landed back in Vegas, he walked to exit of the building, and instead of seeing Annie waiting for him by the vehicles, he sees Catherine there.

They smile at each other, and once he was close enough, she spoke as he walked to the passenger side. "I hope you aren't too disappointed to see me, Annie called and said a little girl came in with her injured cat at the last minute, and she would've felt bad if she turned her back on them."

Grissom waved it off as he placed his bags in the back seat before getting into the passenger seat. "It's fine."

They closed their doors, and after she put her seat belt on, she turned the key to start the SVU before asking while driving. "So, did your time away help clear some of those cobwebs?"

Grissom nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, it did. I love her Catherine, she understands me like no one I ever met, yes even more than you." She smirked as he continued. "And where else am I going to find someone like that? Why look for something else when I have a great woman already."

Catherine nodded in agreement on that last part because she agreed that Annie was a wonderful woman, and really she just wanted to see her best friend happy, which if she did that for him, who was she to say anything, so she cleared her throat before replying. "Well, it sounds like you got everything straightened out. Just know that I want you to be happy, and if she's the one to do that for you, then I say go for it."

"Thank you Catherine, that really means a lot to me."

As Catherine nodded, Grissom turned his head to look out the passenger side window, feeling something he couldn't describe, what he said was true, he did love her and he really believed that, but why did a part of him feel this way?

AN: Oh, they just missed one another. Interested in seeing where this is going? Please Review. GSR4ever!