It had been about a month since the counselor had been there. They all still missed Sara, but were more open to talk about it with each other. Before the counselor had come, they had been keeping their thoughts and feelings to themselves.

Gil talked to Sara and could tell she was getting better. He could hear it in her voice. He was ready for her to come home.

The team had been in and out of the lab working their cases. Sara had managed to slip in, unnoticed. Judy, the receptionist, was the first to see her. Sara asked her to not let anyone know she was there. Judy agreed and told her that she was glad she was back. Sara went into the break room and poured herself a cup of coffee. As she sipped it slowly, she realized it must have been Greg who made it. It was his favorite kind.

Wendy, Mandy, and Archie walked in to the breakroom. At first, they didn't realize who was sitting there because they were involved in their own conversation. Archie was the first to notice. "Sara! It's so good to see you. We have missed you." He hugged her and Wendy and Mandy joined in until Sara said, "Uh guys, I need some air."

"Are you back to stay?" Archie asked.

"Yes, if you will have me."

"Of course, we will, Sara. It was just not the same without you here." Wendy replied.

"Everyone has missed you Sara. " Mandy said.

"Where is everyone?"

Hodges strolled in and said, " Hi, Sara. We have missed you around here." Archie returned to what he was about to say. "Gil and Catherine are working a possible kidnapping from a convenience store. Nick and Greg are working a traffic accident with suspicious circs. Warrick is investigating an officer involved shooting."

Just then, Warrick walked in and realized Sara was there. He grabbed her and gave her a big hug. "Sara, you are a sight for sore eyes. I am glad you are home. Does anyone else know you are here?"

"No, just Judy and those of us in here."

"Are… Are you here to stay or just visiting?"

"I am here to stay, if you will have me."

"Of course, baby girl, that is what we have all wanted. For you to come home. Do you mind if I go get everyone else? We have missed you like crazy."

"Sure, go ahead." Warrick walked out to find the rest of the team. Nick, Greg and Catherine all came and surrounded her, giving hugs. "Sara." She turned and saw Grissom standing in the door. She walked over to him. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. "I've missed you, Sara."

"Can we all go out for breakfast?" Sara said shyly. "If you don't have any plans…"

"I don't know about anybody else, but I didn't really. Anyway, I would have changed them if that meant I could visit with you." Greg replied.

"Yeah, that goes for me, too." Warrick said. "What about our favorite diner?"

"Sounds good. How about we meet there in 20 minutes?" Sara responded. Everyone agreed. "I'll try and find Brass and Doc to see if they want to come too." Catherine stated. The team walked out together. Catherine stopped everyone when they were out of earshot from Sara. "I have an idea. I know we don't want to overwhelm Sara. I don't know about the rest of you. But, I think maybe we should give her the letters the counselor had us write. Or at least, I am going to."

"That does sound like a good idea. I know this sounds corny, but I have kept mine with me. So that in a way, Sara is still a part of us." Nick stated.

"I have mine in my locker." Greg mentioned. "Me too Greggo." Warrick responded.

"If I can find Doc and Brass, I'll see if they will bring theirs too."

About half an hour later…

The whole group had arrived at the diner and the waitress was busy taking the orders. Once she was done, Sara spoke, "I have missed you guys. It's good to be home. You are my family. After we finish here, if you will humor me, come back to our house and I will tell you why I went away. I feel you have a right to know. I know that I can't change what I did, but when you hear my story, I'll think you will understand. Let me say, right now, I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt any of you."

About an hour later…

Everyone had arrived at the house she and Grissom shared. Once they were settled in the living room, Grissom sat down next to Sara. He took her hand in his and she began to speak. "Catherine, I don't know if you remember the time that I got suspended for yelling at you. Well, that night Gil came over and revealed some of my past. When I was young, I watched my father and mother fight constantly. That is why I respond the way I do on domestic violence cases. I watched my mother kill my father. I was only a child. And believe it or not, I really do take it hard when a case involves children. I have seen firsthand what effect violence can have. I was placed into the foster care system. I never felt love for most of my childhood. Nothing was ever good enough for my parents at home. In foster care, I was just another kid to take care of. That is why I would go home and have no life outside of work. I didn't feel like I was worthy. " Tears were rolling down Sara's cheeks. Most of the group sitting there had tears as well.

"Oh, Sara…"Catherine replied through her own tears.

"I know when I came to Las Vegas, I was looked at as an outsider. I just wanted to belong somewhere. Through the years of being here, I have realized what it means to love and to be loved. What a family means. It is not necessarily the ones that gave birth to you and that you share genes with. It is people who are there when you need them, people who love you no matter what your faults are, people like all of you. I want to ask your forgiveness for leaving.

"I was at a point where I realized I had to get my traumatic past settled. When I was under the car in the desert, I realized what was important to me. It's you, all of you. I couldn't keep living in fear, shame, or guilt. I was scared that my mother would come back and take all of this away from me. I was ashamed because if you found out, I thought you would treat me differently. Then, it would be like it was in the foster care system. The girl whose mother killed her father. I felt guilty for leaving, but I also felt guilty for not doing anything to stop what was going on at home when I was a child."

Catherine started to speak, "Sara, I don't know if Gil told you, but Ecklie had a counselor come in. At first, we would not talk. So, she had us write letters to you. I think we would like for you to read them, if you want."

"I think I would," Sara responded. The whole group, including Gil, gave their letters to Sara.

"I would love to stay and visit with you more but I am bushed." Nick finally said. As he stood up, he gave Sara a hug and said, "Welcome home."

Both Brass and Doc hugged Sara and told her "I am glad you are back."

"It's so good to have you back. Please don't leave again." Warrick kissed her on the forehead and walked out the door.

Greg walked up to her and gave her a hug so tight that she thought he wouldn't let go. She whispered, " I am not going anywhere. Do you want to talk some more later? Just the two of us?" He let her go and said that he would.

Catherine left with the comment, "Sara, Thank you for coming home. It just wasn't the same without you."

When everyone had gone, Grissom took Sara in his arms and just held her. "Can we go to bed?" Sara nodded her head as they walked down the hall, hand in hand.