So, you've watched a couple of episodes of CSI here and there, and are wondering what the deal is with the bugman and the tall brunette? Here's a summary:

Grissom and Sara met when he was giving a forensics seminar in San Francisco. Sara was his student (his "star pupil", as she once said). Presumably, this happened a few years before the show's start. Episode "Cool Change", and the couple's 7-year love story on the show started when Grissom turned around to welcome her, with a big smile on his face.






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Episode 1X02: "Cool Change" (Sara arrives in Vegas.)

Although the couple flirted extensively in Seasons 1 and 2, the course of their love did not always run smooth. It was suggested by the writers and William Petersen that Grissom was scared of opening himself to a relationship with Sara, but also did not want her to slip away from him. When she decided to move on with Hank Peddigrew, (whom Sara dated in Season 3), tension resulted in their relationship. Sara and Grissom realized the potential of their attraction interfering in their work in the episode Invisible Evidence where their chemistry took hold and Grissom lost himself in the moment... until Sara reminded him of her pending promotion, and he suddenly understood where he had almost gone with her - in the lab.











Grissom and Sara get lost in an unintentionally intimate moment.

Finally, the Season 4 episode Butterflied let the viewers in on Grissom's true feelings towards Sara. When faced with a murder victim who looked very much like Sara, he got unhealthily invested in the case, to the point of hallucinating about Sara, and confessed to the murder suspect (Dr. Lurie) that he could not take the risk of getting into a relationship with someone young and beautiful (seems to be a running theme in his personality arc). Sara heard Grissom's confession about his feelings for her.












Sara watches as Grissom confesses his feelings and his reasoning about why they cannot be together.

The angsty Season 4, where the couple's relationship was strained, and it was alluded that Sara had a drinking problem, ended with Bloodlines where Sara was stopped for a DUI and Grissom came to her aid, holding her hand and offering to take her home.












Grissom comes to the police department to take Sara home.

The potential DUI marked some kind of a truce and an improvement in their personal relationship, and in Season 5, we saw Sara coming to terms with her feelings for Grissom but letting go of any expectations, which is evident in the episode Snakes. Grissom realized that he needed to be stopped by his insecurities and fear, as well as by Sara backing off (in the Snakes scene, Grissom looks as if he is about to ask her out and says "let's...", but is cut off mid-sentence by Sara, who thinks he shouldn't feel the need to).

After Sara's trouble at work with Catherine and Ecklie, Grissom visited Sara's apartment, and Sara opened up to him about her past (Sara was raised in an environment of domestic abuse, and her mother ended up killing her father, after which she was put in foster care). This was a very emotional scene, and Grissom seemed on the verge of tears while Sara was crying. Grissom comforted her (with another hand-hold), in addition to standing up for her and not letting her get fired by Ecklie. Grissom told Ecklie he "needed her."







Grissom & Sara in her apartment. The hand-hold.

The rest of Season 5 saw some 3rd characters potentially interfering with the relationship: Sofia Curtis (on Grissom's side) and Greg Sanders (on Sara's side). However, these potential threats did not materialize. In the episode Committed (5x21), Grissom was devastated as he watched Sara almost getting her throat slit by a mental patient. Their relationship, starting from that episode and all throughout Season 6, became smooth and light-hearted, with most of the angst and problems gone.

















Aside from several curiously flirty or inexplicable moments, there were no big "GSR" scenes in Season 6, until the episode Time of Your Death (6X22), where Grissom and Sara engaged in some heavy eye contact and exchanged significant looks.

Two episodes later, the couple were revealed to be in a romantic relationship, through a scene in Sara's bedroom at the end of 6X24 (Way to Go). This episode made GSR "canon", and was celebrated by millions of fans who had been patiently waiting for this since the start of the show. The question of exactly when Grissom and Sara got together is yet unanswered.

Likely part of the effect that it had on us GSR fanatics was another one of those hinting attempts on expressing their love.













As Season 7 continues, we get bits and pieces into Grissom and Sara's relationship, and their love for each other. It is significant, however, that the couple hasn't shared a kiss on screen. Seeing the couple display some on-screen physical intimacy has now become the new thing to look forward to and patiently wait for by fans of "the GSR" (the Grissom-Sara-Romance).

Moments in Season 7:

Season premiere: 7x01 Built to Kill, Part 1: Grissom brings Sara a Veggie Burger. Warrick asks "What about me?" Grissom responds with: "I didn't know you were here, so I'm sorry". Grissom and Sara share a flirty look, and Sara smiles as he leaves the room.

Sara and Grissom almost had the feeling that Ecklie new about their relationship in 7x02, Built to Kill, Part 2: when Ecklie asks Sara: "Sara, this is your case too. What do you think?" She replies with "I.. I agree with Grissom." Ecklie rolls his eyes and says, "Of course you do". Which caused the two to look at each other and Sara mouths the word "No".

7x03, Sara reminds Grissom of the first time they met and what she originally thought of him in the episode Toe Tags. As she said, "You can't rely on your first blush." In his words: First impressions are crucial, but as the evidence changes, so must the theory. Ever the poet.

7x04, Coming in behind her, Grissom takes a long moment to admire Sara's backside before declaring his presence and flirting with her in Fannysmackin'.

7x05, Double-Cross has the two lovebirds talking about religion. Sara believes God was created as somebody to blame all their problems on. Grissom leaves the room, and returns. Sara asks if she offended him as a Catholic. He replies with "No, dear".



7x06, Burn Out: has a testy Grissom that got angry at Greg for having his music loud. Sara turns to him and says "I was the one who turned the music on". Grissom quickly changes the subject. Greg leaves, and Sara says "He's under a lot of stress, you could be a little nicer to him".

7x08, Happenstance: has Sara telling Grissom that she won't wait up for him. They could possibly have been in Grissom's condo, or are living together.

7x10, Loco Motives: has Sara teasing Grissom when she sees the title "Mannleigh Chickens." He asks "What about it?" She replies, "I'll let you know" and walks out of the room. (Omage to how Grissom always walks away without giving an explanation in cases).

7x11, Leaving Las Vegas: had a strike to the heart of GSR fans when Grissom left for sabbatical, but not before telling Sara good-bye who seemed to have been teary-eyed, and telling her that he will miss her.

7x13, Redrum: we see Sara holding a delivery box. She goes into the locker room and opens it. We see a cocoon from Grissom. No letter, Sara seemed to be a bit disappointed.