When exactly do fans think Grissom and Sara....

That is a very good question... I never personally bought into the idea of them as a couple... I know I was shown them as a couple....

Sara always struck me as a needy, Father figure, father complex type person.... that she hooked up with Gil is sort of sick in a manner of looking at it... had she hooked up with Warrick or Nick... both strong male figures... not as weird...
but given her abusive background to hook up with Gil... creepy....

but that doesn't answer your question.... I've wondered if it was after she got picked up drunk, DUI, and hand to then submit to additional evaluation if that is when it happened....

it's been too many years since I've sat down and watched the show from start to skipping the fish years finish.....

I think there was always something between them . In episode where they were investigating a hockey player death , they were both sitting , looking at ice skating ring and Grissom said something about beauty , and Sara said something like " since when do you pay attention to beauty " or " think about beauty " and he answered " since I met you "

IMO, "Committed" was when Grissom decided he would literally commit--they became a couple. They were already seeing each other -- remember the episode when the woman was caught in a fire and Sara said it was a good place to make out? (Spark of Life) Yeah, who took her up there to star gaze? Grissom, IMO.

I've always thought it was "Nesting Dolls" that actually put them together--maybe not an official 'date' but doing things together. Grissom got smart and knew he needed to do something. Bloodlines had been the previous season final and Sara was at a low point. It seemed he became a bit kinder to Sara.

In season 6, "Bite Me" they were definitely a couple.

Thanks all for your input. It's rather hard to distinguish the different tones of their relationship. I agree with the statement that they've always had a relationship of some sort. I do think "committed" and " grave danger " changed grissoms approach to whatever relationship they had. I have rewatched seasons 1-5 and am on episode 2 od season 6 right now. It seems that either they dated a really long time, like from " committed" or after " grave danger" and just took a really long time to actually become intimate. Or they flirted more and eventually got together sometime around the middle of season 6 . I will pay very close attention to the episode " bite me " to see if I can pick up on anything else. The only thing I am absolutely convinced about is that they were making out at least 3 episodes before " time of your death" in season 6. And sometime before " time of your death" they actually were intamite for the first time. The look he gave Sara at the end was proof enough.

Sometime in the earlier episodes of season 4, Sara asks Grissom out and Grissom says he "doesn't know what to do about this". Then in S04E12 when that nurse who looks like Sara dies, Grissom realizes that he has feelings for Sara too and he's scared. In the interview room, he talks to the suspect about how they're both middle aged men who have dedicated all their lives to their work. And one day they come across a young, beautiful woman who could love them. He says he chose his work over the woman, presumably talking about rejecting Sara's advances. He looks torn up about that decision as Sara watches from behind the two-way mirror. At some point between that and Nick's kidnapping, Grissom must've decided Sara was worth the risk. And I'm glad he did. They're one of my favourite on-screen couples.

...