A/N: So, last chapter. Only the epilogue left. Italics in this chapter indicate Grissom thinking back to the events in the first part of episode 7x11 ("Leaving Las Vegas"). And while the angst kind of continues in this chapter, it also gets a wee bit sappy, for which I apologize in advance. Usual disclaimer applies...please read and review!

Chapter 9

"Son I am not everything
You thought that I would be
But every story I have told is part of me
Son I leave you now
But you have so much more to do
And every story I have told is part of you"

Telling Catherine was the easiest. Grissom was surprised by that, but then again, Catherine had been focused on something else entirely at the time. And Grissom knew that once Catherine got her mind set on something, it was difficult to dredge it off-track, even with the bombshell that he had dropped.

Catherine's eyes were surprised by the news, but Grissom had expected that. There was a calculating look in her eyes at the same time, and he knew that she was rapidly thinking. "When are you leaving?" she asked.

"Tomorrow night," he responded, still watching her face.

The look in her eyes hardened into fiery determination. "I'll be back before then." Her mind was made up, and she turned to leave. Suddenly, she stopped and looked back at him. "How long have you known about this?"

The question hadn't been sharp, or even accusatory, but it still burned in Grissom's conscience. It was just one more reminder that he should've told them, should've told all of them.

There were so many things he needed to say, had avoided saying for so long. One of those things was to Warrick.

"Whether you know it or note, you're the rock of my team. Catherine's going to be in charge for awhile while I'm gone. Be there for her like you've been there for me and we'll all be fine."

Warrick seemed slightly taken aback by this, but he seemed pleased as well. "Thanks. It means a lot. You know I got you covered."

Grissom knew that Warrick did have him covered, and that relieved him, just enough to alleviate a fraction of the guilt that still seemed to hound him.

Telling Greg, of course, didn't need to happen, since he already knew. Instead, Grissom went to talk to him about his civil case. He knew that Greg needed help with that, however he might stolidly deny it.

The tension was thick enough to be cut with a knife. Grissom stood awkwardly next to Greg while Greg poured himself a cup of coffee."Hey, how's it going with your civil case?" asked Grissom cautiously, well aware that the events of that one night were not yet forgotten.

Greg finished pouring his cup of coffee. "LVPD said they'll provide me with an attorney."

That simple statement summed up how little Greg knew about what he had gotten himself into. Grissom's forehead furrowed. "Get your own counsel, Greg. That's your right."

Raising one eyebrow, Greg glanced at him, eyes dark. "Well, are you gonna give me a raise? Because otherwise I can't afford that."

Something twisted in Grissom's gut, a feeling torn between amusement and relief. At least Greg's naivety was still intact. "Call the PPACE, talk to your union rep." Grissom spoke with the calm authority of one who had dealt with this before. "This was an on-duty incident. They'll provide you with an attorney."

Now Greg's brow wrinkled in confusion. "How's the union lawyer going to be any different?"

Grissom's mouth twisted in slightly bitter amusement. "The department's only interest is the department. They'll throw you under the bus to protect themselves. When's your deposition?"

Greg's eyes darkened. "Three weeks from today."

Grissom looked at him seriously, trying to convey the entire sense of how much faith he had in Greg with only one glance. "Stick to whatever you put in the report. Don't waiver, be consistent. Everything's gonna be fine."

Whether he was referring to the deposition or their relationship, Grissom still didn't know.

It was late in the day, the day that Grissom was leaving. He had survived saying good-bye to everyone, including the incredibly awkward good-bye to Nick, who couldn't seem to believe that Grissom was indeed coming back. Now there was only one final good-bye left, and it was probably going to be the hardest good-bye of all.

He paused in the doorway, eyes lingering on her as she got ready for work. "Hey," he said softly.

Sara looked up at him, her eyes dark. She didn't respond, simply watching him. He cleared his throat softly and continued. "My cab is here."

He could see the gears working in her mind, trying to conjure up the right thing to say. In the next instant, he swore he could see her deflate. "So you're going."

There was quiet, reluctant acceptance in her voice, the gentle weariness of someone who had wrestled with the right thing to do and finally just given up. She had yet to come back to Grissom's place since that night, and though Grissom had an undeniable urge to make things right he didn't know how. Instead, he answered with a noncommittal, "Yeah."

Sara still watched him, face and eyes emotionless. "I'll see you when you get back."

She turned back to her locker, grabbing her ID badge and putting it on. Grissom watched her sadly, the crushing weight of the whole situation falling on him in that moment. He knew it was hopeless to try and atone for anything he had done, however he had hurt her. There was no penance that could be earned.

He took one step towards her, trying to keep his expression as calm as possible, so as to not reveal the emotionally turmoil he was really in. She looked over at him, and his eyes searched hers, begging her to understand, to forgive. "I'll miss you," he said quietly, and he knew he would. He already missed her, and he hadn't even gone yet.

Sara nodded once, eyes still not showing anything. Grissom just stood there a moment more, watching her, and then he turned away to leave. His heart grew heavier with each step he took toward the door. Somehow, he just knew that he had left something undone, that he hadn't accomplished something that he desperately needed to before he left.

Stepping outside, he took a deep breath of the cool night air. He started down the steps toward the cab waiting by the curb, but a voice called him back. "Grissom!"

Grissom turned back, eyes questioning. "Greg?"

Greg stood in the door of the crime lab, his own expression tentative. "Grissom," he repeated, taking a step towards him. "I, uh, I…" he started nervously.

Raising one eyebrow, Grissom frowned at him. Greg was more nervous than Grissom had ever seen him before. "Spit it out, Greg," he said calmly. "My cab is waiting."

Greg swallowed hard. "I, uh…I wanted to say good-bye, Griss. We never really said good-bye, before, at…at my apartment."

"Well, good-bye, then," said Grissom lightly, trying to interject some levity into the situation.

A frown flitted across Greg's face, and he nodded jerkily. "Right. Good-bye." He turned to go back to the crime lab, then stopped. "Look, Grissom," he said softly, so that Grissom had to strain to hear him. "Look, I may not understand why you did everything you did, but what I wanted to say was…" He paused, and turned around to face Grissom, unshed tears glinting in his eyes. "I wanted to say that I forgive you. I…I'm still angry, and upset, but…" He trailed off, unable to finish because of the tears that were coursing down his face.

Tears were clogging Grissom's throat as well, and all he could manage was a croaked, "Greg."

He opened his arms and Greg practically ran into them, crying into his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," whispered Grissom, stroking Greg's hair. It felt so right, so perfect, in that one moment. It felt like how Grissom always imagined having a son would feel like.

Greg pulled away a minute later, roughly wiping the tears off his cheeks. He cleared his throat loudly. "You'd, um, you'd better get going," he whispered hoarsely. "You don't want to be late for your flight."

"Oh, right," said Grissom, dazedly. He'd almost forgotten about it. "Right. My flight."

He reached out and gripped Greg's arm. "Good-bye, Greg," he said softly, sincerely.

Greg half-smiled. "Good-bye, Dad." Then he turned, heading back up the steps into the crime lab, back to work, back to his life, back to everything Grissom was leaving.

"Good-bye, my son," whispered Grissom, eyes shining with tears again. "I will return to you. I promise."