Chapter 9

When Ellie arrived home from work she was surprised to find Grissom sat on her porch with James still asleep in the pram.

"What are you doing here? Where is Sara? IS she ok?" Ellie bust out not sure what to make of Grissom's sudden appearance.

"Sara has gone to bed for a bit, she's fine and I am here because I wanted to see Sara. I think that was all you asked?" Grissom and Ellie eyed each other suspiciously, all there previous meetings had been unpleasant on both sides. After several minutes Ellie cleared her throat and tried to clear the air.

"I….I'm sorry for how I was when Dad was shot, thank you for taking care of him, for not letting me make things worse." Ellie took a deep breath. "I have done a lot of things that I am not proud of but, that is behind me now. Sara has changed my life, she arrived at the centre just as I was getting clean, she met my councillor on the plane and he brought her to help out, well that's what he told her, he started counselling her without her even knowing it, but she focused all her efforts on helping me, and didn't even notice she was helping herself. She let me get to know my Dad through her eyes see that he had been a good Dad to her and that all he wanted to do was love me and finally she convinced me to let him, it's the best thing anyone could have done for me." Ellie paused and moved to stand right in front of Grissom looking straight into his face. "She like my sister she sticks my family together and if you do anything to hurt her again you will have me to deal with not to mention Dad, so watch your step." Grissom grinned up at her.

"Its funny all these years all you and Sara and Jim needed was a family and now you are one. I promise I will try my best not to hurt Sara or me again, I want her back if she will have me, I should have come after her sooner I just hope its not too late now. And Ellie I'm glad you sorted yourself out you look great, your Dad must be so proud of you."

"He is. I can't wait to see how proud of him he is when he arrives in a few weeks. What do you think he'll do?" Ellie smiled reaching down to stroke James head. "He's gorgeous isn't he, were you surprised?"

"Well that's two understatements in one," Grissom smiled down at James still sleeping soundly. "I would never have guessed that Sara was pregnant when she left, I wish I had known. It must have been hard for the first few months after last time; I wish I had been here."

"Maybe this was just the way that it was meant to be? She is happy and settled here I don't think she ever could be in Vegas. Even though you and Dad are there, it's not enough to keep her there anymore."

"I know, she can't live in Vegas even if she came back with you and James it wouldn't work would it?"

"No it wouldn't can you handle that?"

"I have too. I think I might have to make some changes in my life don't you?"

"I hope you can. Do you want some dinner? We have allsorts in the fridge, what do you fancy?" Ellie lead the way into the kitchen while Grissom wheeled the pram into the house.

Ellie busied herself in the kitchen, while Grissom sat silently at the kitchen table deep in thought. The silence was only broken when James wake. Sara appeared on the stairs almost instantly before Grissom or Ellie could even pick James out of the pram.

Ellie placed dinner on the table as Sara finished feeding James; Grissom was still sat in silence, but a contented silence it sank in that if they would let him he could get used to being here with them.