Teens and Tribulations

Disclaimer: Do you really think if I owned CSI or CBS for that matter I would sharing a one bedroom apartment in Canyon, Texas with 2 dogs and a cat. I think not.

Rating: T++

Summary: Grissom and Sara try to move ahead with their newfound relationship, but a teen and his little sister find their way into the hearts of our beloved CSI's

Shout outs: Hey thanks to thegreatbluespoon. She thought of the title and is there to give me the often needed virtual "slap on the back of the head" when I need it. And also Just Thinking, what would I do without you?

Chapter 1

Grissom sat nervously behind his desk. He had sent the rest of the team out on assignment, but kept one in reserve so he could work with Sara.

She was late. He knew the real reason but had only revealed to the others that she had mentioned something about a doctor's appointment. Well, he only partially lied. He sat clicking a pen when she knocked at his door.

"Are you waiting on me?"

"I figured you could work with me. So?"

"So... what?"

"What did the doctor say?"

She slipped in and took a seat. With a heavy sigh she answered.

"I'm totally fine. Nothing to indicate any problems of any kind."

"Maybe it's me."

"She did suggest that you also get a check up."

"I'll make an appointment for tomorrow. In the mean time we have a case."

He waived the slip in the air.

"Ready." he asked.

"Aren't I always?"

He smiled and they headed out.

Brass greeted them as they walked away from the Denali.

"Hey, DB's inside. We have the suspect in custody already. He confessed, even called 911 himself."

"I'm confused." Grissom stated.

"Maybe you had better talk to him."

Brass led them over to where a young man stood next to a police cruiser in hand cuffs. Grissom had him pegged at no older than sixteen.

"What's your name?"

"Jason Miller, sir." His eyes remained focused on his shoes.

Sara began to put on her gloves to collect evidence off of the young man.

"How old are you Jason?"

"Thirteen."

Grissom and Sara looked at each other. She bent down to collect the blood evidence off of his shoes.

"Jason, look at me." Grissom waited until the boy lifted his head. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"I told him to leave her alone."

"Leave who alone?"

"My sister. Well half sister. She's lived with us for a few months now. Our mother died and she came to live with me and my dad when she was three. He never liked her, and I would see the way he would look at her, or the way he would touch her."

Sara stiffened up. She knew exactly where this was going. Grissom also had that bad feeling creeping up in his gut.

"Like I said, I told him to leave her alone, but he didn't listen. I didn't stop him the first time, and I couldn't let him get away with it again."

Grissom continued with his questions. "Jason, how old is your sister?"

"She's five."

Sara bagged the evidence and stood to face Jason.

"Oh my God."

"What?" Grissom and Sara asked at the same time.

"You look just like my aunt."

"Who's your aunt?" Grissom curtly asked.

"Oh, she died a few years ago. Her name was Debbie. She was my mom's sister."

"Debbie Marlin?" Grissom continued.

"Yeah. How do you know her?"

Sara quickly answered, "We investigated her murder. Jason where is your sister?"

"I think she's inside, hiding."

"Thank you Jason." Grissom was as polite as could be with the boy.

Grissom took Sara by the elbow and walked back to Brass. But Sara couldn't help herself. "What are the odds that we run into a relative of Debbie Marlin?"

Brass over heard and spun around to face them. "What, are you kidding?"

"I'm afraid not. He said his sister is still inside. Have you found her?" Grissom asked.

"No, my guys are still looking for her."

"Well we are going to start processing inside. Keep him here for now will you.?" Grissom motioned to Jason.

"Sure."

Grissom and Sara entered the small two story house with their flashlights illuminating the way.

"I'll take upstairs." Sara said as she headed to the stair case.

Grissom didn't verbally answer. Only with a short nod did she continue her journey. He headed into the kitchen following the bloody foot prints. Grissom looked over the body. A middle aged man lay face down on the linoleum, and a large blood pool had formed around his torso. Grissom concluded that he bled out from the single gunshot through the abdomen.

He took several pictures of the body and room. A small hand gun lay on the table. Grissom bagged it and headed back outside.

"Jason, I want to do a test on your clothes ok?"

"Uh, sure."

"Officer would you un-cuff him please?"

"What's that?" Jason pointed to the small spray bottle that Grissom was holding.

"It's Sodium Rhodizonate. It will tell me if you fired a gun recently."

"I already told you I shot him."

"I know. We just need to confirm your account."

Grissom sprayed the solution over the front of Jason's clothes and instantly it revealed the GSR.

"I need your sweatshirt."

Jason pulled it off and handed it to Grissom. The officer placed the cuffs back on him as Grissom bagged the shirt.

"Thank you."

Grissom headed back inside and nearly ran into Sara. She spoke in a hushed tone.

"I found her."

"Where?"

She motioned for him to follow as he called Brass to send for an ambulance.

Sara led him in to what appeared to be Jason's room. Grissom stopped and stared in amazement at the sight before him.

"What's wrong? Don't tell me your room looked like this when you were a kid?"

"I wish." he continued to gawk at his surroundings forgetting all about the little girl.

Jason's room was completely dark, lit only by black lights. Shelves lined two walls entirely, one wall held a long table next to a desk and computer, and on that table were several microscopes. Grissom noticed one was on, illuminating the slide it was holding and he walked over to peek at its contents. He then moved to observe the items lining the shelves. Several craniums from small animals were floating in their specimen jars. Others contained smaller animals like mice and snakes. Grissom was in total awe at the entire room.

"Hellooo. Earth to Grissom, come in Grissom."

"Sorry. Got caught up in the moment."

"I have eyes. She's in here."

He moved next to Sara and looked into the large closet with his flashlight.

"She is?"

"Look harder."

Grissom pursed his lips and noticed the small splice in the sheetrock lining the back of the closet. He smiled and looked up at Sara.

"A crawl space?"

"A panic room. I think he built it for her."

"Well he certainly has the know how." he motioned to the room.

"How should we get her out?"

"Well, you do look like Debbie Marlin, and if she saw her aunt before she died..."

"You think she will come to me."

"I know she will. Just humor me ok."

They both found the small hidden latch and opened the compartment. Sara stuck her head in and found the young brunette huddled up in the far corner, shaking with fear.

"Hey, it's ok. I'm here to help you. Your brother is outside waiting for you."

Her voice was quiet and soothing. Soon after more convincing the little girl inched her way to Sara. Once out of the confined space, the girl had her arms around her neck and buried her face in Sara's shoulder. She lifted the girl in to her arms and stood.

Grissom escorted them down to the waiting ambulance.

"I'm going with her."

"Sara..."

"No. I'm going with her. It's not a request Grissom."

"Sara, she'll be fine. Put her down and let's finish processing."

She looked at him as if her eyes were lasers. Brass moved away, he had seen that look on women before and knew better than to argue. Poor Grissom did not.

"I'm taking her to the hospital. I'll process her there."

"And child protective services will take her from there."

"Yeah."

"I don't like the tone in your voice. I mean it Sara. You're already too close on this one. Don't make me pull rank."

"Fine, pull rank, take me off the case, I don't care, but I'm staying with her."

She reached forward and slammed the back of the ambulance and it drove off. Grissom watched until the tail lights were out of site before Brass approached him. He laid a hand on Grissom's shoulder.

"One of these days you will figure out that you can't argue with a woman, especially that woman." His hand pointed in the direction the ambulance had gone.

Grissom turned and raised an eyebrow at Brass.

"Let's go back to work."

TBC

Please let me know what you think so far. I'm curious as to what you think of it so far. Chapter 2 is not far behind.