Hey guys! I do not own anything or anyone from CSI. I do own Stephanie Foster, Mary Larson, and Detective Matthew Anderson though. ^_^ I'm always open to suggestions/criticism. =D

Chapter Four

"Getting A Little Too Attached"

Steph held little Mary to her as officers rushed towards the backyard. She was glad that this little girl had been unharmed. She just kept rubbing her shoulders and whispering that everything would be all right. No one was ever going to hurt her. Steph was going to make sure of that. She looked up as Brass ran over to them. The little girl wouldn't take her face out of Steph's shoulders. Brass looked to Steph.

"She seems all right," Steph said looking at the man.

"That's good." He turned to the officers. "Well, guys. You can get back to your jobs. Thank you for your assistance."

As the officers started to leave, Steph held Mary close to her. She saw Nick, Warrick, and Greg standing near the back door. Nick looked as relieved as she did that this little girl was safe. Steph looked up as an officer walked over to her.

"Let me give her a ride to the hospital. Child services are going to come pick her up there in a couple of hours."

The officer held out her arms as if she was going to take little Mary from Stephanie. The little girl held on tighter to Steph, who in turn just looked at the woman.

"It's all right. I can take her. Nick, Warrick, and Greg have the scene covered."

The officer just gave Steph a knowing smile. Stephanie walked towards the three male CSIs on the way to her car.

"You guys got it covered right? Cuz I just said you did so I can take Mary here to the hospital."

Nick nodded. "We got it covered Peanut. Go take care of her."

Stephanie smiled at the three men before she headed to her car.

Steph pulled up to the hospital and lifted Mary up out of the back of the car. She held Mary to her as she walked up to the front desk. She looked at the older woman behind the desk and explained why she was there. The older woman gave Steph a small smile and directed her towards a room. They didn't wait long for a doctor because one was there almost instantly. The little girl was checked over and nothing seemed to be physically wrong. Once the doctor left, Steph sat down on the edge of the bed and Mary grabbed on to her. Steph held her close and looked up at the door as it opened once more.

"I'm Detective Matthew Anderson. Captain Brass sent me here to sit with the girl until child services got here."

Stephanie looked up at the man that she had bumped into at the bar last night. She now understood why he looked so familiar.

"Detective I'm-"

"Call me Matt," he said giving her a slight smile.

"Matt. I'm Stephanie Foster, CSI Level 2. And this-" she motioned to the little girl, "is Mary Larson."

Matt walked over to the bed and squatted down so that he would be eye level with the little girl.

"Hi Mary. My name's Matt. Listen, why don't you come with me and we'll go get you a candy bar or something. You have to be hungry."

Mary just clutched onto Stephanie tighter causing the CSI to hold onto the little girl tighter.

"Actually, if it's all right with you, I think I'm going to stay with her. Maybe take her back to the lab since we are going to have to wait a while."

At least at the lab she could find a way to amuse the little girl. She still had crayons in the desk from the last time the Lindsey had visited. Maybe it would help Mary open up. The detective just nodded.

"Brass said that you might say that."

Stephanie couldn't help but smile. Of course Jim knew she would act like this. He was probably one of the only officers that she'd ever worked with that she'd actually talked to outside of work.

"He also said child services is already expecting to pick the girl up there so you're free to go if you want."

About an hour later, Stephanie and Mary sat in the office the CSI shared with Archie. The two were coloring and drawing pictures. Mary still hadn't said anything, but she seemed to be enjoying herself as she drew on the plain white computer paper. Steph wondered if the little girl would ever talk, but figured as long as she was doing something that she would be okay. Stephanie looked up as she heard a knock. She gave Nick a slight smile.

"Hey Nicky."

"Hey. So Greggo is running the DNA and Warrick is at the station talking to someone who had a grudge against the vic-."

"Um Nick-" Stephanie motioned to the little girl that must have been hidden behind her.

Nick closed his mouth and walked over to the desk. He looked down at the drawing that the little girl had done.

"Hey there Mary. My name's Nick. And that is a very pretty picture."

He gave the young girl the charming smile that Stephanie was so used to seeing. The little girl actually smiled back at the Texan.

"Would you like to draw too?"

Those were the first words that little Mary Larson had said since Stephanie found her.

"Why sure. That is if Steph here doesn't mind."

Stephanie just smiled and handed Nick a piece of paper. She hoped maybe Mary would open up a bit now.