Title: Sara's Secret Photograph
Rating: T: just to be on the safe side.
Characters: Sara, Grissom, Catherine, Nick, Greg, Warrick
Pairing: GSR to come
Summary: Five years ago the last photograph was sent. The last piece of evidence that even proved that she existed was sent. That she was part of Sara. Slight GSR and Snickers, but it might change…
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI, or any of the characters except characters which I made up so please don't sue!
This is my first fiction so please be gentle and smother me in reviews if you all want another chapter ;)
CHAPTER ONE
Four days ago:
"Sorry I'm late, Griss. Damn traffic was bumper to bumper," Sara said as she hurried into the break room. She failed to notice her usually noisy colleagues were painfully silent. They watched Sara, not knowing how the news Ecklie had callously delivered five minutes ago would affect her. She was such a private person. Most of them didn't even know she had a brother or any family.
Sara was oblivious to the sympathetic gazes that followed her into the room. She poured coffee into a cup, while her eyes scanned through the memos pinned on the wall. When she finally became aware to the unusual atmosphere, she glared at all of them.
"What?" she asked sharply. Sara automatically looked down at herself. "Do I have something on me because you're all staring at me like Greg put a 'kick me' poster on my back." Her small smile quickly transformed into a grim scowl as she realized the tension in the room was so strong it could have hit her in the face. She watched her friends view her with sympathy in their eyes, and then she turned to look at Grissom.
"Sara," he said. The tingling feeling Sara felt within her whenever he said her name was gone this time. "You should really sit down."
Without objecting, she pulled out the nearest chair from the table, slowly sat down, forcing her self to meet his intense gaze.
"Conrad had a phone call from Seattle," he said gently. His subtle statement did nothing but confuse Sara.
"Seattle? What does Seattle have to do with Vegas? Is there a new case? Has there been an accident there?" she asked. Her questions increased in volume and speed, which only emphasized her increasing concern.
"They tried to reach your cell, they have been trying for weeks. But, it seems the number and address they had was outdated," said Grissom.
"Why would anyone in Seattle be looking for me?" she asked. She glanced around the room, staring at the faces of her colleagues impatiently as her worry began to build. "Look what is going on here?"
"It's your brother, Sara,'' Catherine blurted, knowing she was saving Sara further frustration in the time it took Grissom to explain.
Sara was shocked into silence. "It seems there was an accident, at his work, they think he fell. It happened almost a month ago. He didn't want a funeral or so they told Conrad. But, you were mentioned in the will, Child Services has been looking for you and they finally tracked you to Vegas," said Catherine gently.
Sara's heart missed a beat. Her brother was dead. But what really stopped the blood from pumping had been the phrase, ''Child Services''.
That could only mean one thing. Carla.
She looked up; locking her eyes with Catherine's and realized Catherine was still talking.
"….your niece has been placed in a foster home. You're her only living relative."
So they didn't know. Well they did, just not everything…just the meat and not the whole happy meal. Sara began processing everything through her mind, like a film rewinding backwards. She was unaware that she had yet to verbally respond.
"Sara?" Greg's face had concern written all over.
''I…I mean…my…no, I mean…damn it! So they want me to have custody of Carla? Didn't she have any godparents?'' Sara asked weakly.
"Obviously, the decision is yours but it seems you are her only living relative and you know how DCF is when it comes to placing children with relatives, especially if it was mentioned on the will," Grissom said. His sympathy was barely noticeable as he chose the 'business-as-usual' approach instead.
"Right," said Sara. "Did they leave a contact number or details?'' Any turmoil Sara had quickly disappeared.
Grissom quietly asked Catherine to make the assignments for the shift. He escorted Sara to his office so she could have privacy to make the phone calls and arrangements she needed to make. Before she knew it she was on the phone with a social worker discussing when they could send Carla to Vegas. In less than a week, Sara's life was going to change. Nobody could predict what was going to happen when Carla Sidle entered Sara's for the first time.
Four days later…
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
'' Sara! Quit it!'' Catherine said. She was obviously not in a mood to be messed with today.
"Sorry, Cath. I guess I am a little nervous," said Sara. She stopped drumming the table with her fingers
The door into the break room swung open with a bang and Sara nearly jumped out her seat.
"Whoa, Sara, it's just me,'' Nick said. He gave her a flirtatious smirk and Sara relaxed slightly.
"I'm sorry I'm just really nervous. I haven't seen Carla since the day she was born, the last picture of her I have of her was when she was 10 years old which was five years ago, what happens if she doesn't like me?" said Sara.
''You'll be fine Sar, she will love you, trust me,'' Nick said. He spontaneously pulled Sara in for a warm embrace.
''I hope so,'' Sara replied wrapping her long arms tighter around his back, wondering what had come over him.
''Ahem,'' a not-so subtle voice interrupted their hug
Nick and Sara pulled apart as Grissom stood at the entrance. ''Oh….hi, Griss,'' said Sara. Nick was turning a bright shade of red.
Grissom walked swiftly past them to the coffee machine and tried to maintain his professional demeanor.
''So, do you know when is Carla arriving?'' Grissom asked as he poured what was left of the coffee into a cup.
''Well, I was told that after her plane arrived she would call my cell and I would meet her at baggage claim, but I think the flight must be delayed. You know how bad it is to fly at this time of the year," said Sara.
'' Sara! Our DNA matched our suspect, we nailed him!'' Greg interrupted the conversation.
It was the best news she had heard all week. "Great! I knew that bastard was guilty, go call Brass, and tell him to arrest that son of a bitch."
Sara sat down at the table beaming with delight as they finally caught the guy they'd been after for weeks. She became unaware of what was going on around until she looked up and noticed a young woman walking towards the room, wearing a visitor's tag and escorted by Warrick.
Grissom noticed the girl at the same time. He observed every move and expression. The gait of the young woman matched that of a Sara Sidle. As did the brown curly hair and fair skin complexion. However, she was incredibly skinny infact with the height only around 5'5. She wore small glasses hiding her eye color, but he noticed the faint freckles that brushed across her nose. She was probably 15 years old, the same age as Lindsey.
She now stood in the break room doorway. When she spoke everyone was surprised by how much it sounded just like Sara.
"I am looking for Sara Sidle?'' She said. Her anxiety could be sensed through her voice while her eyes scanned the room. ''I'm Carla…Carla Sidle''
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A/N
Thanks to Giwu for Beta'ing this