AN: Thanks for the reviews. Here is the next chapter.


Chapter 9: A Suspicious Turn

3 days later

Before they knew it the rest of their family time was coming to an end, and it was time to take Grissom to the airport.

After an emotional goodbye scene between father and the kids, Bailey took her sibling's hands and walked them away from their parents so they could have a few minutes alone.

Grissom looked at his kids over Sara's shoulder, and even though he was holding onto his emotions pretty well, Sara could see him letting them out once they parted, which if she hadn't had the kids with her, she probably would be too. But she knew she had be strong for them.

She took a breath as she cupped his cheek, making him look into her eyes before both of them were showing everything they needed to know once they were connected. "Have a safe flight, and let me know when you land."

He gave her a little smile as he placed his hand top of hers. "Of course." He took a breath as he took her hand off his cheek, then after kissing her palm, he spoke softly. "I love you and I'll miss you."

She stepped closer to him, whispering. "I love you and I'll miss you too."

Their lips touched next, and it became passionate, which was the most passionate kiss they had ever shared in public. But at this point they didn't care because this kiss had to last them until they saw one another again, and besides the long months wait until he's back for good, they didn't know when that would be.

After the last peck was made, he pulled back breathlessly before placing his lips on her forehead while closing his eyes as they held one another.

When the last call for boarding was made, he took one more breath and did another light kiss to her forehead before pulling back to look into her eyes again. He then gave her a little smile as he whispered. "I'll see you later."

Sara swallowed the emotion before nodding with a small smile of her own. "Yeah, you will."

One more kiss later, he finally pulled back, and after grabbing his carry-on bag from the airport floor, he signed 'Love you' to his family, which they all signed it back with smiles. Then after one more smile between Sara and Grissom, he turned and walked away while everybody's hearts became heavy with every step he took toward the plane.

The family walked out of the airport not long after, and once they were in the vehicle ready to go, Sara drove to the UNLV campus to drop off Bailey since she didn't feel like driving today.

After stopping the vehicle on campus, Sara looked over at her oldest daughter with a smile. "So, do I need to call Crystal to watch the twins tonight, or..."

When they had moved back to Vegas, Sara got in touch with the twin's old sitter, and she told them any time they needed her, she'll be there. But, so far with Bailey old enough to help even more than before, and was willing to do it, they hadn't needed her very much.

Bailey cuts her off. "I'll be home." As Sara nodded with a smile, Bailey looked toward the backseat, and smiled at her siblings. "I love you guys, be good for mom today, ok?"

The twins smiled before speaking at the same time. "We will." Then they looked at each other and started laughing, making Sara and Bailey laugh.

When they calmed down, Bailey looked at her mother again. "Thanks for the ride."

Sara gave her another nod and smile. "Anytime, sweetie, enjoy your day."

After Bailey nodded, and another round of love yous were said, she finally got out with her brown shoulder bag and books.

Sara watched her walked away for a few seconds before laughing caught her attention from her opened window, so she looked toward the parking lot and saw Tom Richardson talking and laughing with another woman, who was average height and build with curly brown hair.

She didn't know what the nature of her daughter and his relationship was, and it wasn't like she was seeing him and this other woman making out or anything, so she didn't think much of it what she was seeing at the time.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Arthur ask from the backseat. "Park now, momma?"

Sara smiled as she nodded. "Alright, I'm going."

She had promised the twins that she would take them to the park, so it would distract them from the sadness of saying bye to their father today.

They shouted 'yeah' as Sara started to drive again with the smile still on her face, happy to make her kids happy despite watching the key member of their family leave today. She was just glad this situation wasn't forever.


Later that night

Even after working as a CSI for over 10 years now she should never be surprised where a case could lead her to. But it somehow did when she ended up standing in front of Tom Richardson's apartment later that night.

It wasn't the physical evidence that brought her here, she didn't have proof that it was even him. But it was the fact that tonight's victim, which had the same MO but the first UNLV student,
as the on-going case that's been bugging her since she first got it, was the same woman she had seen with him earlier that day.

Now she knew that didn't automatically make him the killer, but she did see him with her, and it was her job to ask questions, so she took a breath before knocking on his door.

A few seconds later the door opened, and the 20 year old came into her view with his hair a little damp, indicating he had taken a shower recently. He was also shirtless with sweatpants on, showing off his slim, but athletic build, and he had a polite smile on his face the moment he saw her. "Hello Mrs. Grissom. This is a surprise, what can I do for you?"

Seeing the CSI vest on, he had a feeling this was more in a professional capacity than a personal one.

"I would like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind?" After he nodded, she pulled out an ID photo from the file she was holding before asking him while she handed the picture to him. "Do you know this woman?"

After he took the picture from her hands, Sara watched him intently, not wanting to miss any wrong move just incase she caught him in a lie.

He immediately nodded as he looked into her eyes. "Yes, this is Melissa Crane. I have one class with her. In fact, we are in a study group together." As he handed the picture back to her, he asked in a concerned tone, which Sara wasn't sure if it was sincere or acting, either way it was good. "Why, is she..."

He trails off as Sara does a short nod. "I'm afraid so."

He took a breath and shook his head, then replied. "Wow. Then you might want to get a hold of Paul Reid."

"And he is?"

"Her boyfriend."

She did notice a few pictures of a boy in Melissa's apartment, and since she had grabbed one of them, she showed Tom, which he confirmed that was him with a head nod.

Sara took a second before continuing. "I saw you with her this morning when I was dropping Bailey off. Was that the last time you saw Melissa?"

He took a moment to think for a second, then he cleared his throat and nodded. "Yeah. We walked to class together, and I hadn't seen her the rest of the day. She did say that her and Paul were celebrating their one year anniversary of their first date tonight." He paused then asked with a concern tone. "Do you think he had something to do with this?"

Sara shook her head. "I'm not sure, but I can't discuss an on-going case."

"Understand."

She nodded before asking. "Is there anybody else that you can think of that might want to hurt Melissa?"

He shook his head. "No, or at least I'm not sure. We didn't really hang out that much, except when the group got together, and walking to class a few times."

Sara nodded again before getting the names of the other group members, then she pulled a CSI card out of her pocket and handed it to him. "If you can think of anything that could be helpful, don't hesitate to call."

He did his charming smile as he took the card from her fingers. "You got it Mrs. Grissom."

After Sara nodded one more time, she bid him goodnight before turning and walking away, which she had only taken a few steps before Tom spoke again, this time saying something personal. "You know Mrs. Grissom, I hope it isn't out of line for me to say this now. But you have a very beautiful daughter."

She stopped and turned around to look at the young man, but before she could reply, he gave her another smile before finishing in a very confident tone, which to her it was almost too confident. "I guess I will be seeing you. You know, when I take your daughter out again. Have a goodnight, Mrs. Grissom." Then after one more smile, he stepped back into his apartment and closed the door.

The minute she heard the door click shut, she didn't know where it came from but a very unpleasant shiver ran down her spine and an uncomfortable feeling rested in her stomach while she took a breath and thought. 'And you Tom, just got on my radar, so you better watch yourself' Then she turned and walked away.

Now she still didn't know if he had anything to do with Melissa's, or any of the other college women's deaths, yet, and she couldn't prove it. But her gut was stirring and her instincts were in high gear after his comment, which again he could have meant that as just a nice compliment.

She just knew though that when those two things, combined with the mother instinct part of her on wanting to protect her children, she was more right than wrong on her feelings. If only she had more on him.


After interviewing Paul Reid

As Nick and Sara walked out of the integration room after talking and collecting a DNA sample from Paul Reid, Nick looked over at Sara. "What do you think?"

She doesn't hesitate. "His sadness and anger seemed very real, so I don't think he did this."

Besides, he had told them that they had to cut the evening short so nothing physical had happened after he walked her to her apartment door. But just to rule him out as a suspect, he gave them their DNA since he had nothing to hide.

Nick nodded in agreement before asking. "Do you still like Tom for it all?"

Sara needed to talk to someone on what she thought, so she talked to Nick about it.

"I don't know. I obviously don't have the proof right now, or else he would be here. But after that last thing he said to me, or the feeling I got from it, something just wasn't right." Sara sighed before continuing. "Or I could just be listening to my over protectiveness of not wanting my daughter's heart to get broken."

Nick smiled as they walked into the lab. "Most of the times those instincts are more right than any others you might have."

Sara just nodded in agreement with a smile as they walked into the DNA lab. Just like she thought earlier, either way though he was on her radar.


After shift

Sara was in the kitchen taking a sip of her coffee when Bailey walked in. "How was your shift mom?" Sara just sighed in response, and her daughter seemed to understand. "Another dead end on your on-going one?" Sara just nodded, this time her look changed to sadness as she looked down at her coffee cup while Bailey walked over to the table. Then she placed her hand on her mother's shoulder to comfort her. "You'll get him mom, I have faith in you."

After another sigh, she finally spoke as she looked up at her. "Yeah, but how many more have to loose their lives before I do?" When Bailey's look change to sympathy, Sara shook her head and gave her a little smile. "I'm sorry. It isn't your problem."

Bailey shook her head. "But it will be when I become a CSI, right? I mean I'm not going to solve every case right off the bat."

Sara sighed again as she shook her head. "Unfortunately, no matter how much you want to, you won't."

"And that just makes solving the case all the more sweeter when you do. Especially when you get to see the peace in the families faces when justice is finally served "

Sara gave her a soft smile before replying. "You are definitely a CSI at heart, honey."

Bailey sighed as she removed her hand from her mother before walking over to the coffee pot that was sitting on the counter next to the stove. "The only thing missing to join the team right now is my lack of degree and experience."

Sara watched her pull a coffee mug out of the cupboard while asking. "Do you regret your choice on taking a year off?"

She chuckled and shook her head before replying while pouring. "Are kidding? I got to live in Paris for a year. How many people who has that dream could actually say that?" After Sara chuckled with a nod, she continued as she looked over at her mother. "And I got spend time with my family, particularly my parents, longer than a few hours in the evening. So no, I don't regret the year I took off. I actually think I needed it as much as you guys did."

As Bailey was adding the sugar, Sara spoke again after taking and swallowing another sip of her coffee. "It was hard on you living with two CSI's, wasn't it?"

Once Bailey was done, she walked toward the table and sat down across from her mother. "It was something I definitely had to get use to, especially with how your schedules could get sometimes." At Sara's nod, Bailey smiled as she finished. "But I'm glad I did. It actually helped me realize on what I want to do with my life. Besides, I would have never asked either of you to change your jobs for me, you two were doing what you guys loved, and were meant to do."

Sara then smirked, remembering something Bailey had said when they had their first real dinner as a family. "Well, according to you, your father could have also been a chef."

Bailey snorted while taking a sip of her coffee, which made a mess, so after grabbing a napkin from the stack that was in the middle of the kitchen table, she wiped it away as she chuckled, also remembering that moment.

Then she shook her head with a sigh. "Man, so much has happened since then. It feels like another lifetime to me."

Sara looked at her daughter with love in her eyes as she replied softly. "Not to me. It feels like it just happened yesterday." Mother and daughter shared a small smile before Sara spoke again, but changing the subject. "So, how are you and Tom doing?"

"Ok I guess. It isn't like we are dating, so I only see him in passing."

Sara perked up up a little on that as she asked. "And you are ok with that?"

"Yeah. I meant what I said about liking him and all that, but I like this slow pace and not rushing into anything right now." That made Sara feel a lot better, especially after that little visit she had paid him last night, so she started to smile as she looked down at her coffee mug, which Bailey saw. "Why do you ask?"

Sara cleared her throat before looking at her again, knowing she didn't want to scare her daughter just in case she was completely wrong about him, but also wanting her to be cautious around him, she replied very casually. "I just want you to be careful with him and not rush into anything. So, I'm just glad you are choosing that route."

Bailey looked at her watch, then started laughing as she stood up from her seat. "Don't worry mom, we don't have to go through that 'talk' again." That didn't even cross Sara's mind, but that made her happy too, so her smile kind of grew a little more.

After Bailey washed her coffee mug and placed it on the towel to dry, she walked back to her mother, and kissed her cheek before saying. "I'll see you later, I have classes to get to."

"Alright, enjoy your day, honey."

"You too mom."

After one more kiss, Bailey walked out of the room, leaving her mother alone. But it wasn't very long before she heard her son from the baby monitor they still use since the house was so big and the kids were still young. So, she gets up from her seat to take care of her youngest ones, while very proud of who her oldest one was becoming.


Lunch time

While outside on the school grounds, Bailey was enjoying her lunch and book when she heard laughing a little ways from her, so on instinct she looked up and saw Tom with a small group of people that had a few men and women. Before she could go right back to her food and book, her eyes connected with his.

When she finally looked down at her book, she didn't know he had walked up to her until she heard him clear his throat before speaking. "Hi Ms. Grissom, how has your day been?"

Bailey smiled a little as she looked up at him, squinting a little because of the sun. "Its been ok, yours?"

He gave her a charming smile as he played it smooth. "Better, now that I'm talking to you."
Even though she knew it was a smooth move, she couldn't help but blush a little on that, which made him smile a little more, seeing he was finally getting to her, then asked. "And it could get a little better if you say yes."

Bailey raised an eyebrow as she asked. "And what exactly would I be saying 'yes' to?"

His eyes twinkled as he continued. "How about another date?"

Bailey paused for a second before replying. "I'll have get back to you on that one." He looked a little surprised on her rejection, and she noticed that so she felt like she had to explain. "I just want to make sure my schedule is in line with my mother's."

He paused before nodding. "I see, your siblings?"

She nodded. "Yes. With my dad back in Paris for the time being, I want to help her out as much as I can, so it's easier on her with her working."

He kneeled down and touched her arm before looking into her blue eyes, speaking in a sincere tone, hoping he was reeling her in even more. "I really admire that you want to help out your family. Your mother must be very proud of you."

Her heart skipped a little beat as she replied softly. "She is, and thank you."

He gave her another smile and nod before he stood back up. "Just let me know when you figure out your schedule."

"Ok."

After one more smile, he turned and walked away as she watched him regroup with his friends. She didn't know, but maybe she could give dating him a real shot. She mentally shook her head as that thought came to her mind, she didn't want to think about that right now, before she went back to her food and book.

And while her attention was on her own thing, Tom couldn't help but look back at her.
The moment he had met her, he had a feeling she wasn't going to be an easy catch and everything would probably have to be on her schedule, but he never liked to back down a good challenge if it was worth it, and he definitely thought she would be. Now it was just a matter of time before she contacted him, and he couldn't wait.


AN: The case breaks wide open, and a plan is hatched next chapter. Find out what happens next. Please review.