I Do Not Own CSI


"So, you knew my mother?"

"A little bit, we met a few months ago."

"At her art gallery?'

"No, here, actually. I um, I asked her to meet me."

"Okay…"

"I was actually looking for Arthur Grissom, but found out he died in the 60's."

"Yeah, I was 9 years old. Why were you looking for my dad?"

"Because he's my father." As that was said, the air in Gil's lungs left.

"What? Your father? I don't…what?" Gil said, confused.

"I was born in August 1950. My mom was Helen Warsaw."

"And you know for sure that my father is also your father?"

"When I was little, I never really thought about who my biological father was. My mom and I moved away to the other side of California and later she married my 'dad'. When I was a teenager I was always curious. Not because I wasn't happy with my dad or anything, but just wanting to know if I looked like him. I never wanted any contact, I was just curious.

When I asked my mom why I had never met him, she told me that he didn't know I existed. I was pretty mad at my mom after that, I didn't talk to her for a week until she finally sat me down and explained why."

"So, why," Gil asked, still trying to digest that he had a sister.

"She said that the relationship with my father was just a fling, that they were each other's firsts.

By the time she figured out she was pregnant with me, our dad was already in a relationship with your mom and she didn't want to get in the way of their love. She thought about telling him, but after watching your mom and dad for a week, she knew she couldn't. She knew Arthur was in love with Marie. After that, she finally told my grandmother about being pregnant. My grandmother was furious; my mom was too young, and not married. So she sent my mom away to a place for pregnant women. My mom ran away from there a month later, and by the time she was in her 6th month of pregnancy she had met my dad. He helped her get through everything, and was there when I was born. She never thought about telling Arthur again, because I had a dad, not the biological one, but a dad."

"Wow, that's um, wow. So why come looking now?"

"Curiosity was part of it. I'm 54 years old and didn't know if I had another sibling out there somewhere. I have one other sibling, but I wanted to know." Ava paused and took a deep breath.

"And because, my son he's sick."

When Gil stayed quiet and just raised an eyebrow, she continued.

"He's 18, and he's been diagnosed with Leukemia. He's been sick for the past five months and we finally know why. He needs a transplant, and no one on my side or my husband's side matches. He's on the national bone marrow transplant list, but if something doesn't come up soon…" Ava let Gil fill in the blanks.

"You want to see if I match?" She gave a small nod with her head hung low, trying to cover the sob that was trying to escape.

"Did my mom know, know that my father had another child?"

"Yeah, I told her the first time we met. She was a mix of emotions for a few weeks before she called me and asked to meet again. When we met for a second time, she showed me pictures of Arthur, and of you. She was very proud of you and everything you did." Saying this, she got a soft smile and a nod from Gil.

"Later on, we did finally get a DNA test done, with one of the hairbrushes you kept here."

"Why, why didn't you or my mom tell me before?"

"We were going to. She had planned to tell you, but she was afraid of how you would react. She didn't want you to be disappointed in your father."

"I wouldn't have been…."

"I know, Gil. I think she did, too. But I also think your mom was afraid to lose you. But when I talked to her last week, she had finally set a date to tell you. She said she called you about something important."

"That was what she wanted to talk to me about when she called last week? I just kind of blew it off," Gil spoke softly, shaking his head.

Knowing it was time for a slight subject change, Ava spoke.

"Do you have any children, Gil? The brunette, is she your wife?"

"No kids, and the brunette, that's Sara. I would love for her to one day become my wife," Gil said, not knowing that Sara stood on the other side of the patio door, out of sight.

"How come she's not?"

"We've only been together for a little over a month."

And you know she's the one?"

"I've known she's the one for a long time; since I've first met her six years ago. I've just, well to put it simply, had my head in my ass too long."

"But you pulled it out," Ava said, matching the smile of her brother.

"Yes, he did," Sara said coming into view with a smile on her face, coming to sit beside Gil.

"Why aren't you at the beach?"

"I was; we were having fun there, too. But once I realized that we had been there over an hour and you still hadn't come, I got worried. I decided to check on you."

"How long you been hiding behind the door?"

"I wasn't hiding, just didn't want to interrupt; only a few minutes." Sara said with a smile as she turned to look at Ava.

"Well, you know me now. And you are?" Sara asked with a smile as she reached out her hand to Ava.

"Ava Campbell."

"She's my half sister, Sara."

"You have a sibling? I thought…you never said anything about a sibling."

"I never knew until today. My father is her father."

"Wow"

"Yeah, wow"

"Well, since you're ok, I'll give you two some more time."

"No, Sara, please stay. I should probably be going anyway."

"Ava?"

"Yeah, Gil?"

"Do you want to come over for dinner? You could bring your son and your husband. I would really like to meet them."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, you can meet my family, too. Plus, I would like to meet the person I could help save."

"You mean…"

"If I can help, if it means donating marrow to save his life, of course I would."

The hug that was wrapped around Gil surprised him, but was soon reciprocated.

"Thank you, Gil."

"You're welcome," Gil spoke as they separated, Ava wiping her eyes.

"What time is dinner?"

"Seven ok? We can order in."

"Sounds good, I'll see you then," Ava said as she walked out the door.

"What was that all about?" Sara asked with a soft smile as Gil closed the door.

"Well, I'll start from the beginning….."

TBC


So now you know who the mystery woman is!

Thanks for all the reviews, i loved reading your guesses as to who the mystery woman was. It didn't even cross my mind that people would think it was GIl's bioloigical mother, lol

Leave a word, let me know what you think

Katie