Title: Something for the Rest of Us
Summary: Set after Nesting Dolls, AU. Sara wants to do something about her life after her suspension and makes a decision that will change many people's lives. Will Grissom do something about it?
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: I've been writing this story for some months now, and I simply couldn't let it go.
Hope you enjoy your reading!
Prologue
San Francisco, 1996.
"I mean it, Sara, you should get out more. You're always working, studying. Let me tell you this: you're not seventy. You are twenty-four years old. You should… I don't know, get a boyfriend or something."
Sara was cautiously preparing a salad while her company was making some delicious food she wasn't allowed to touch until it was lunch time. It was a dreadful Sunday – a boring and rainy day – and she rolled her eyes as Henry started his weekly speech about how she should have some fun. She didn't get it, really – it wasn't like Henry Daniels went out a lot, either. He just said the same things over and over every time she had problems in the Coroner's office she had been working.
"Otherwise, I'll have to sleep with you or do your laundry." He continued and she laughed.
"Nice to see you care so much, and sleeping with me would be such a sacrifice!"
"Hey, darling, you're gorgeous. But you and I… We're on the same team here." He winked. "I'm just saying that you should find someone, marry and have a family. It would suit you, you know? I can just see it. You, a loving husband, a little boy and a little girl, and a boxer running in the garden of your big, pretty house. And neighbors who you actually know."
"Perfect scenario."
"Not at all. Somehow, I can see your cooking skills haven't improved."
She threw a piece of cabbage at him.
"Hey, I can cook! I just… don't try it very often. Anyway…" She continued, now becoming serious. "Sounds like the perfect place, Henry. But it's never going to happen."
"Why's that? Come on, Sar, I kind of understand why you would be opposed to marriage, but kids? No kids in the future? Who is going to take care of you when you're old?"
She laughed.
"Yeah, I guess I can accept a child. Only when I'm ready, obviously. If I can't find the man, then, no kid."
"You shouldn't give up on the idea of having kids just because you might not be able to find the right guy. There are other options, you know?" He said, and Sara fought the urge to laugh; she couldn't believe they were actually talking about children. "You remember Aunt Julia. She had everything: the house, the dog, the lifestyle. Except she didn't have the guy. But now there she is, with that little troublemaker she insists on calling 'her angel'."
"Yeah. Right. I don't think I'd be comfortable to go search for a sperm donor. It's so… weird. I don't know. I want to be able to tell my children who their father is, at least." Sara said, absentmindedly.
Henry startle her as he stopped his cooking and turned to look at her.
"Let's make a deal, then. In… I don't know, eight or nine years from now we'll see if we're on any relationships or something. If we're still as hopeless as we are now, we'll have a child together!" Henry said enthusiastically.
"Together? Have you lost your mind? No offense, but you're gay and I see you as my brother and I am…"
"Socially retarded, I know. What a kid, huh? Come on, Sar, my parents would love it. They gave up on the idea of me giving them grandchildren years ago. Plus, they love you. Any children you have would be like a grandchild to them. And I may love you a little bit. But just a tiny one."
"You're a pain in the ass. You know that, right?"
"Yeah, but you'll miss me when I'm gone."
He winked at her once more before resuming his task, joking around like they always did.
Three years later.
Sara sat in the comfortable chair in Richard Daniels' office. She waited patiently for the lawyer to come, probably because she dreaded hearing what he would say.
So much had changed over the course of the last month that she barely registered anything. She had shed enough tears and knew it would be useless to cry. The fact that she couldn't cry anymore didn't mean she was any less sad. It just meant she was beginning to know how to deal with the situation.
Nearly a month ago, Henry Daniels died on a car accident.
She kept her life going, knowing that Henry wouldn't have liked it if she did otherwise. But she missed him deeply – he had been her best friend, the most important person in her life, for nearly twelve years. And now he was gone.
She checked her watch briefly. She had places to be and people to see. But why didn't she want to leave this office?
Truth was, she wanted to see Richard. He and Henry were so much alike – so Richard was the serious one, but she thought of him as a brother as well. He was family – even if they weren't blood-related, the Daniels' men were her family.
She looked out the window and admired the view. It was beautiful day. Just like the day Henry died.
"Sara, I apologize for keeping you waiting. You do know how traffic is in this city." Richard Daniels said, giving her a hug. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing good. How about you, Richard? How's Monica?" Sara said as Richard took his seat in front of her.
"It's hard, Sara, and you probably know it better than we do. But we'll move on. We have to. We know he wouldn't have wanted otherwise." He started to look for something in his suitcase. "Dad mentioned you've been visiting a lot. That's great, Sara. I can only thank you. After what happened to Mom, and now Henry… We're all he has left. We need to hold onto that."
"I don't mind. You know how I've always had a soft spot for old Ted. He keeps me distracted. Last week he let me come to his poker night with him. But I'm afraid he won basically everything." Sara said, trying to keep the mood light, but she knew she would have to ask why she had been called to Richard's office – if he simply wanted to catch up, he would have invited her to have a nice dinner with him and Monica, since he knew they were good friends. If he called her to request a meeting in his office, things were serious. "How's the company going?"
"Never better. Everything's great. Which brings us to why you're here." He said as he grabbed a piece of paper from his suitcase and smiled at her. "Henry did an extra will. Yeah, I know, weird," Richard said as Sara frowned slightly, "leave it to Henry to do things unconventionally. I wasn't the one to do it, unlike the other one – there's nothing wrong with the other, though. He just had a few unknown belongings, and he wanted you to have them."
Sara nodded slightly, not wanting to look into Richard's eyes. Henry already left her so much – the apartment, his things, money – and she had been his insurance beneficiary. What could possibly have been left behind?
"Henry never was one to leave things on their own. He probably would have done an inventory with all his books and clothes if you hadn't stopped him." Sara said at last, and Richard smiled.
"True enough. But here's the thing, Sara: this is a very… unusual thing. That's why he probably had it done with another lawyer, and not me." The man said, apparently choosing his words carefully, which made Sara nervous. "Did you know Henry had been doing some research on genetics lately?"
"Yeah, he… He mentioned something, a while ago. But he didn't say he was involved with anything other than studies."
"That's what surprised me. Anyway, he was working on a few projects, and he donated his own sperm for the research, which" he paused to read the document in his hands, "hasn't been used yet. And he wanted you to decide what to do with his sperm. As weird as it sounds, the truth is that his sperm is now yours, Sara."
Sara looked at him blankly. She couldn't believe it – Henry donate his sperm to a research, but he wanted her to keep it. It was all between the lines.
Damn it. Not even in death Henry wants me to be alone. He basically wants me to have his child in case her life does not go as planned. What was it that he called? Plan B.
She shook her head slightly, smiling as tears began to form in her eyes. No, she wouldn't cry. Henry would probably be laughing at her if he saw her reaction to the news.
"You don't need to keep this, Sara. No one, besides you, me and the lawyer who signed the document, knows about this. You also don't need to decide what to do with the material now. You can either keep the material frozen and untouched, for your personal use, or you can donate it back to the research." Richard said. "You can just call me to say what you decide to do, and…"
"I'll keep it." She said, interrupting the lawyer. He looked at her, a bit surprised by her sudden decision. "I want to keep it. What do I have to sign?"
"Okay, then. You'll just have to sign some forms. We can keep it under good care on our foundation – it's there right now. Or you can pass the benefit to your own lawyer, it's up to you." Richard Daniels said.
"No, you can keep it there. Besides, you're my lawyer, Richard. Don't play dumb." Sara said, still a bit shaken over the news.
They engaged a comfortable conversation while Sara signed the forms, both trying to avoid the main topic in their minds. Just as Sara got up to leave, after promising to visit Richard and Monica the next day, he approached her.
"Sara, I know you were closer to my brother than we are, but I see you as the sister I never had. I know you. Please don't act impulsively over this material- live your life, try to be happy. And when you think you're ready for this, please take more time. It's an important decision, and the sperm won't vanish." He said, smiling. "But, in case you're sure you want to do this… I'd want to know. Any child you have will be a part of the family, it doesn't matter if we're from the same blood or not. But still… I'd want to know."
"You will, Richard. You'd be the first to know. I promise."
A/N (2): So, was this too bad? Should I give it up or continue? I have lots of material to post, but I'm not sure you'll be interested on reading more. Please tell me what you think, and maybe I'll post another chapter soon :) Thanks for reading anyway!