It wasn't that long ago I saw my dad working at 4 am at the cheapest show in Vegas, the death of another nobody in the city of outside one of the glitzier casinos on The Strip. I was just another of those vultures to the them, he didn't even know I was there, it didn't really matter to me at the time but I knew beyond a doubt that my mother wouldn't have told him that I had run away from that uptight supposedly perfect for college entrance school that she had sent me to without his consent or knowledge. I knew that I didn't want to be working at the place I had just started for the rest on my life for less than the minimum wage and measly tips. This was my life then, it had turned into two things, work during the day and school at night. I thought maybe my being here in Vegas near my dad will help get my life together and get to know myself away from my authoritarian but absent close to one hundred percent of the time mother.

"Kate, one of your tables has figured out what they want," Anna told me; she's my sort of mentor here at the diner. I may have only been working here for a month but I already know that if I don't get my butt into gear soon I'll be living on the street and not in the pitiful excuse for an apartment that I've had the supposed privilege to rent, which is not exactly legal given my current age but it's the best I can do at the moment.

"Thanks Anna" I said to her as I left the kitchen grabbing up my pen and order pad. Oh my god! It's my dad and two of his CSI's, Sara and Greg if I remembered correctly from that case about a week ago, some high profile murder/suicide of two celebrities at Treasure Island, I mean these people were at the top of their game adoring public picture perfect marriage, well it was picture perfect before she offs him then herself. But I digress, Greg's a bit of spunk actually but that may be me being seventeen talking. Okay calm down breathe those deep yoga breaths you've been practicing, you can do this. I'm shaking as I clear my throat before I walk over to their table.

"Hi my name's Kate and I'll be your waitress today, what would you like?" he blinked owlishly like he was seeing someone he thought long gone. I smiled my best smile. The one my mother said came straight from my father my 'Grissom-smirl' her explanation was that he and I were the only two people in the world she knew who could smile and smirk simultaneously, and make it look good.

"Pancakes, short stack," Greg ordered as he eyed the menu

"Cream or Ice-cream?"

"Both?" he asked questionably like a little boy not sure whether he was allowed to or not

"Sure," I smiled at his bashful expression

"Syrup?"

"Maple," he said with conviction as I nod for him to continue

"Chocolate milkshake,"

"Surely done," I replied as I turn to my dad and Sara sitting next to each other close but not quite, I wonder to myself if its because they were still on company time and there was rule a rule about supervisors and employees or if either of them couldn't figure out how to make a relationship work because of a whole series of reasons, not the least of which is my dad's obvious lack of people and relationship skills if my mother was exaggerating or not.

"Strawberry pancakes, black coffee," Sara said shortly as I nodded and wrote it down I noticed my dad looking at me like I was something that should be seen underneath a microscope.

"And for you sir?" I asked trying to keep the trepidation out of my voice because I don't know whether or not he has recognised me at all.

"Flat white and an explanation," he said as I saw red creeping up his neck, but felt relief that he knew who I was well I hope he does.

"Flat white right, explanation well Audrey doesn't care about me," I could hear the crack in my voice and I guess he does to judging by his facial expression. I hightailed it back to the kitchen as I felt the tears that were swimming in front of my eyes make their way down my face as I felt angry at myself for letting go so quickly that day, that isn't like me at all usually I can hold it in until I'm alone or at least in the bathroom away from the prying eyes of my co-workers.

I sniffle a bit as I put up the order and glance back at the table and see my dad get up and come toward me.

"Hello Katie," he smiles a little and shuffles his feet

"Hey dad," I smile as I sniff and look into his eyes for just a second and see uncertainty and something else that I can't name.

"I can't imagine Audrey not telling me that you're actually in Vegas," he states puzzled I nearly roll my eyes at his naivety, maybe I don't know him as much as I thought I did

"Audrey doesn't know I'm in Vegas, I ran away dad, you know that place," I nearly spit out the name in disgust as he just nods like he knows everything I'm about to say.

"I do know, I…I never wanted to send you there, you were to smart for those…people," he searches for a word that means something nicer I guess but doesn't come up with any, who would've known the man who can quote people like he's channelling them lost for a word, I smile as he shuffles his feet a bit more

"Dad, I know things between you and mum aren't well there at all so you don't know what she has become she's an sensationalist calculating bitch," I explain and he looks restrained but also taken aback.

"Why do see her like that?"

"Because she is like that, you haven't seen her in eleven years and I have for that duration, she changed dad so very much from where she was with you when she threw you out of our lives, to now when she just doesn't think of anyone or anything that doesn't pertain to her or her agenda and that includes me running from that… that place," I shrug my shoulders and half smile as I wipe my face quickly and he gives me one of those half hugs and I hug him right back.

"Do you want to, uh have dinner and talk about what we can do?" he asks me like a frightened schoolboy

"Dinner?" I ask incredulous as he smiles like I do

"Yeah, to talk about what we're going to do about you living in Vegas whether or not you are going to go back to school and things like that,"

"Dad," I say exasperated

"What?"

"I have already qualified for early graduation so I took it, I'm at Western LVU doing my pre-requisites for the BA in Science that I want to get into, I haven't gotten a reply back but I wouldn't have since I ran the week before the acceptance letters would have arrived,"

"Well what about where you live?"

"What do you mean where do I live, I live in an apartment," I tell him without telling him the whole truth

"And you're not telling me the whole truth Kate," he said sternly

"I do live in apartment but it just isn't the best of places, reputable and all that,"

"I figured, you can live with me you know, since I know you're in Vegas and everything that has gone on with your mother doesn't change the fact that you are my child," he sounded surprised as he finished his monologue

"Are you sure?" I ask suspiciously

"Yes of course I am sure," he said with conviction

"Okay but only if you're sure,"

"I am very sure, just…" he trailed off

"It doesn't matter I mean I already have a place to live and I'm fine there," I shrug off as he looks confused

"No, no I need to clean out my spare room which will now be your room since the bugs live in there I need to put them in the basement I don't use,"

"Oh, now I feel really…"

"No problem," he smiles as he writes out his address and phone number on a napkin

"Thankyou," I say sincerely as I take it from him

"Two weeks, the bugs will be out of the room and new carpets will be laid and new paint will be dry and all that,"

"You sure?"

"Yeah, give in your notice and start pack up," he nods as he turns back to his table I call after him, "Two weeks?"

"Two weeks," he confirmed over his shoulder as he walks back toward the CSI's table.