A Christmas Miracle

Summary: Trust is all it takes. People make mistakes. The CSI team find that receiving is a lot easier than giving. Especially when it comes to love and trust.

A./N: Oh I do love a bit of angst. This fic in particular runs rampant with it. It does end well however. So enjoy this slightly belated Christmas fic!

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

I'm on my own
A million miles away
Temptation all around
It won't be long
So please be strong
Cos I'm holding on for you

Trust is all it takes
But people make mistakes
Cos we are only human
Lets face it
My struggle through the day
Pretending that I'm okay
I make believe that you're here
Beside me

Liberty X-Holding on for you

Christmas.

Sara snorted as she steered her car into the LVPD department car park with aggravation. She wanted to beat the crap out of the jerk that had invented Christmas; unfortunately she didn't know who that might be so she would settle for just beating the crap out of Greg; whose great idea it had been in the first place for the semi-nightshift to all exchange gifts instead of the usual Secret Santa idea. She was just grateful that she was only buying for her immediate CSI 'family'. She stalked out of her car and despite the several layers she was wearing, her bulky hat and chunky scarf she could still feel the effects of what was being described by meteorologists as Las Vegas' coldest winter in years. Still in a foul mood she stomped into the CSI HQ to clock in at the reception when she met up with Warrick and Nick who were arguing over a football match.

"Hey there Sair. You know…. it's getting colder out there you should wrap up warmer" snickered Nick.

Sara glowered at him "better to be safe than sorry"

Warrick smirked and peered carefully at Sara then glanced over at Nick.

"How do we even know if it isSara under there?"

Sara elbowed them both and shed some of her layers, draping them over her left arm. Then she made her way outfit. On their way they bumped into Catherine and Eva who had both donned novelty Santa Claus hats, Eva had even gone as far as reindeer shaped earrings.

"Hey guys," grinned Eva

"Hey" smiled Catherine.

"What's with you girls today?" chuckled Nick

Warrick nodded "do you not own mirrors"

"Come on guys. Where's your sense of festive cheer?" said a voice coming from the break room. The small group turned to find they were facing Grissom who was dressed in his usual black garb save for the novelty Santa Claus hat atop his head like a crown. The team burst out laughing and entered the break room with Grissom.

"They got you too!" tittered Warrick at Grissom, he shook his head in disbelief and made his way over to the coffee machine.

"A wise man once said-bah humbug" nodded Grissom. Then without any explanation for his random anecdote he disappeared into his office.

The rest of the team sat down around the break room just as Greg came in, hauling a large brown postage bag. He carefully placed the bag on the middle of the break room table.

"What'cha got in the bag Greggo?" asked Catherine curiously she put down the Cosmopolitan magazine she had started reading and walked over to the break room table for closer inspection.

Greg shrugged "I don't know. I just got told to send these to the break room" he eyed the bag carefully trying to gauge from its shape what could be inside.

"Well open it then" nodded Eva, Greg opened the bag and a few gift boxes flowed out of it.

"Whoa" he muttered in surprise. Eva was already picking up one of the boxes.

"Hey wait!" exclaimed Nick "you can't just open them, how do you know they are for us?"

Eva and Sara exchanged knowing glances.

"Amateur" smirked Sara she reached over for the gift Eva was holding and gestured heavily at the label for Nick to see.

"Read the label, duh. Geez how did you ever get this job?" she grinned. Nick crossed his arms and tried to look offended.

Warrick raised his hands up in the air defensively "I want no part of this drama" he returned to the thick tome on blood-splatter he had been reading.

Catherine smirked "spoil sport. Come on Eva who are the gifts for?"

Eva read one out loud "ooh! This one's for St. Nick over there. Quite a small package you've got" she added mischievously and handed him a small silver wrapped box.

Nick laughed, "Wouldn't you like to know" he retorted.

Greg peered into the bag "looks like all these gifts are for us, even some for Grissom in here".

Warrick gave up the pretence of not caring and walked over to the table. "Any in there for me?" he asked hopefully.

Eva shrugged "I thought you said you wanted 'no part of this drama'" she grinned at him and he smiled knowingly then reached for the gifts addressed to him. Eva looked around at the room of CSI's.

"Do you guys realise that what with all these swing-shift, mid-shift, night shift… all kinds of shitty shifts, we haven't been in the same room for more than five minutes?

The CSI's all nodded appreciatively. Catherine spoke up wistfully.

"Damn I've missed hanging out with all of you guys"

This comment received a chorus of "awws" from the team.

Greg chuckled "Aww! I've missed you too Cath! Now enough with the cheese! Give me my gifts!"

Several minutes later the CSI team all were piled high with gifts each form various friends around the CSI HQ. Sara however was the only one who appeared glum.

"'Sup Sara?" asked Warrick.

Sara sighed grouchily "look at all these gifts! Urgh!"

Nick chuckled "anyone would think that was a bad thing"

Sara rolled her eyes condescendingly "it is! I mean this is just another hundred people to add to my shopping list. God I'm already broke"

Greg smiled smugly "I start shopping in January, every month I buy at least three gifts and it all adds up sooner or later"

"I like a man who plans ahead" nodded Grissom from the doorway. He smiled briefly at the CSI's then quickly turned serious. "As you all know, this is turning out to be the windiest and coldest winter Nevada has seen in almost fifteen years"

"Thank you for the weather report" interjected Greg, but luckily only Catherine heard him.

Grissom continued on grimly, his cheerful hat belying his sombre tone. "Okay guys we've just had a hostage situation at the Tangiers. I need all hands on deck for this. We have…at least three fatalities already"