Disclaimer: I do not own any expect Sully, Diane, and Josh. I once again live up to my pen name and put a lot of twists in this story. I will be posting every 24-48hrs and definitely not on thursday. I know everyone will be busy watching the premiere!!

I LOVE REVIEWS!! PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!!

The Push(6-16-07)

One evening, a man entered the crime lab through the front door. He was older; maybe around sixty with a large frame shielded by a dark blue polo. He had deep blue eyes and curly hair that was now almost completely white. He strode confidently up to the receptionist desk and smiled at Judy. She thought he looked familiar.

"Excuse me darlin', I'm looking for Gil Grissom. Is he available?" A trio of investigators happened to be walking by just as the mystery man started talking. The female of the group stopped in her tracks and the two men with her walked a few more steps before realizing they had lost their companion.

"I'm sorry sir; he's still out in the field. Would you like to leave him a message?" Judy moved to get her note pad.

"Would you mind callin' him darlin'? It's very important. I came a long way to speak with him." Judy was picking up the phone when someone else spoke.

"Sully?" All eyes were now on the brunette. When the man saw her, he broke out into a giant smile that she couldn't help but return. He rushed over and lifted her in the air while hugging her. Nick and Warrick stood there in shock. They couldn't remember the last time Sara had smiled that genuinely. They were thrown off even more by what the man said next.

"Sweets, how are you?" This time Nick and Warrick exchanged an amused glance. They were definitely going to interrogate her later.

"It's Sara these days. I'm fine. How are you?"

"I'm getting by. Sour didn't tell me you were here." He sounded very confused.

"This is my seventh year here." She quickly glanced at their audience.

"So, has he…" Sully started to ask but was interrupted.

"Hungry? Great! Let's go to lunch. My treat." Sully got the hint and remained silent as she guided him out to her car. Sara only paused to tell her coworkers she would be back later. They nodded and Sully linked her arm through his on the way out.

Sara took Sully to a local diner. It wasn't the usual one that he CSI's usually went to, but it was nearby. After placing their orders, Sara started the questions.

"So what brings you to Vegas?"

"A few things. Why aren't you family yet?"

"It's … private." Sara evaded and looked down at the table.

"Have you talked to him about it? Are you together?"

"No, we aren't anymore. Ever since I moved here, it's like the past never happened."

"He's an idiot. You two had something amazing. You were both so full of life." He told her.

"Not anymore. He's changed. I've changed." Sara was speaking remorsefully and still focused her gaze on the table.

"His letters don't convey that anything is different; other than him not telling us you were here too." Sara finally looked up.

"He's very private. Extremely introverted except when questioning a suspect; he plays it cool then. The team goes out for breakfast now and again. I don't remember the last time he joined us." Sara informed him. Sully was shocked.

"Maybe it's good that I came. You want me to smack him around a bit?" He joked and Sara smiled a little.

"Just don't leave visible marks. He works with very observant people." She teased back.

"You have changed." He commented on her earlier statement.

"I know."

"You're not happy. There's very little spark in your eyes." He grabbed hold of her hand.

"Little is better than none, right?"

"Not for you." He scolded and continued.

"You used to be so full of life. When Gil introduced us the first time, I thought, 'nothing is going to stop that girl'."

"Nothing has." Sara retorted.

"True, but you've lost yourself along the way."

"No I haven't. I know who I want to be. I just…didn't he tell you what happened al those years ago?" Sara wasn't sure why she changed to an even more unpleasant subject. Sully was placing too much blame on Grissom and she felt the need to stop it.

"No. What happened?"

"I can't tell you. It's not all his fault, so don't go heaping all of the blame on him."

"Ok. Did he chase you to try and reconcile?" Sara was holding back tears as she remembered the reason for the split. She shook her head.

"Then I will kick his ass for that. How does he treat you now?" Sully was very concerned for Sara. She wasn't acting anything like the girl he once knew.

"It depends on the day. He's never mean, he just doesn't realize how easily he can hurt me. He's my Achilles heel."

"You're his too." He told her. She scoffed.

"I find that hard to believe." Sara's cell phone and the arrival of the food prevented a response from Sully. Sara smirked at the name on the caller ID before opening the phone.

"Sidle."

"Where are you?" Just like Grissom; straight to the point.

"I'm having lunch with a friend I haven't seen in years. Didn't Nick and Warrick tell you? They saw me leave."

"They told me you left with 'some guy'." Sara smiled sadly at his jealous words and lack of action.

"I did. We're having lunch and then I'll be back."

"Oh."

"Why?" Sara wanted to confirm this was a call sparked by jealousy.

"Nothing." He said quickly. She was right and for some reason that made her feel worse.

"Ok. See you later Griss."

"Bye." She hung up and found Sully staring at her with disbelief.

"You don't call him Gil anymore?"

"Nope." She answered in a matter of fact tone.

"What did he want?"

"People told him I left with 'some guy'. He was jealous and checking up on me. He won't be with me anymore, but won't let anyone else be with me either."

"He's still protective of you."

"Sometimes. Last time I tried to date, he gave me a cold shoulder for a year. I even tried to leave once."

"What did he do?"

"He told me, 'the lab needs you' and sent me a plant with card that said 'From Grissom'." Sully couldn't believe his ears.

"You stayed?"

"Obviously. Hard to believe isn't it?"

"Yes. You still love him don't you?" Sully asked a question he already knew the answer to.

"Yes. I've even hinted to him several times over the years that I'm still interested."

"I sit corrected. He's not an idiot, he's an asshole." Sara smiled warmly at Sully's assessment of what he has just been told.

"Thank you."

"If I had a beauty like you looking my way, there'd be no question. I'd make sure the world knew you were my girl."

"Again, thank you." Sara tried to hide the blush. Sully turned serious.

"Do you want me to talk to him?"

"I won't stop you. How long are you in town?"

"Just this week. Ready to head back?"

"Sure. Sourpuss should be in his office or in one of the labs."

"Will you stay with me? I can't wait to see the look on his face."

"OK." Sara moved to grab the check, but Sully beat her to it. He ignored her protests and shut her up with a wave of his hand.

"My mother raised gentlemen. I never have and I never will share a meal with a beautiful woman and not pay."

"I see you still have the charm turned on to high just like you did when we met." Sara smiled as they walked out to the car after he paid the bill.

"Thank you."

"Oh, hey, how's Diane?" Sara saw his face fall by her inquiry.

"She's sick. Cancer." Sully looked away. Sara reached out to hold his hand while she drove the short distance back to the lab.

"Sully, I'm so sorry. How bad is it?"

"It's spreading quickly. Chemo is having no effect other than to make her hair fall out."

"How long?" It was a hard question to ask because she didn't want to hear the answer. She loved Diane and had always gotten along with her.

"She only has a few months left at best. She wants to see you both. I got lucky that you were here. I was ready to travel the country looking for you." Sara had parked the car and was walking toward the building with him. She stopped to give him a long comforting hug. Silently, Sully shed a few tears into her neck. Inside, Grissom happened to be walking past the main doors and saw Sara in the embrace. He was too angry and too jealous to see that their posture was sad. He stormed to his office. Sully had broken the hug with a smile of gratitude. Sara put her hand on his face.

"You ok?"

"I am for now. Thanks for that Sweets, I needed it."

"Anything for you. You'd do the same for me." She smiled at him.

"In a heartbeat. Let's go find Sourpuss and tell him." Sara nodded and led him back to Judy's desk where she got a visitor's pass. She led him to the bathroom so he could make himself presentable again. While she waited she texted Grissom.

-Need to talk. Important. Your office 5 min-

He called her almost immediately.

"I'm quite busy at the moment and can't talk right now." She didn't have time for his stupid game and put him in his place.

"Gil, meet me in your office. It's very important."

"It must be. You used my first name."

"It is. Just be there." She hung up just as Sully was coming out. She led him straight to the office and sat in the chair next to him, holding his hand in silent support. Grissom arrived moments later to see her and her gentleman friend staring silently at the wall. It disturbed him to see their hands linked. He cleared his throat to announce his arrival.