DISCLAIMERS: I stillown them and still wish I did.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews, they really brightened up my day and everytime I got stuck, they helped get me going again. Thank you.

Italicized words represent the translation of signs used in American Sign Language since ASL doesn't use the same grammar as spoken English. If it is Italized and in quotes than its someone speaking as they sign.

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Grissom put his palm on the small of her back guiding her from the office to the SUV while gripping Amy's tiny hand in his. The strength and warmth of his touch spread a tingling comforting through her. There was something incredibly sweet about him helping buckle Amy into her car seat, taking her car keys and then walking her around to the passenger's side. After making sure Sara was also buckled in he got in on the driver's side.

He started the vehicle, but they were all silent on the drive to the zoo. Amy was in the back playing with her Leap Frog, Griss was focused on the road, so Sara rested her forehead against the cool glass of the passenger side window and tried to marshal her thoughts and feelings.

She told herself it had just felt easier to let Grissom take charge, then try and muster the energy to make any more decisions, but that wasn't the whole truth. She liked that he was showing a protective concern for her and her child it was a delightful change from the cold professional she worked with.

Sara ignored the feminist side that reminded her that she shouldn't like that he had taken charge. That she was a capable woman and it was insensitive for him to just be doing things without asking. The romantic side was hoping it would last, that maybe he'd decided he also deserved a life outside the lab and would act on the physical attraction.

Her heart did little flip-flops at the thought and tears misted her eyes. So she closed her eyes, she released a deep breath and was surprised at how easily the tension seemed to seep away just from knowing Grissom was there and would take care of her and Amy.

Independent and self-reliant more by circumstance than nature, she'd learned as a small child not to trust or depend on anyone but herself. Only since coming to Las Vegas had she finally found people to count on, to trust and love. She wasn't exactly sure how Grissom had managed to wiggle through walls that had kept the rest of the world at a distance, but he'd done it and gained a deeper level of trust and feeling than anyone else ever had. The chink he'd opened in her walls had let the others in. That thought used to scare her, but it didn't any more, something else that had changed since Vegas and Amy.

Motherhood was something Sara hadn't planned for, because she never expected to become attached to the child like this. She just always figured she wasn't the mothering type. That she wasn't good with kids, but Amy had proved her wrong. At first she'd tried to rationalize her feelings. After more than ten years as a CSI she knew that she got attached and emotionally involved with cases and victims. Except with Amy it was more than just empathizing with the trauma which was in many ways similar to her own.

Her obsession this time hadn't been the case or getting justice for the victims because the ultimate justice had already been served. Instead she'd found her mind turning to what would happen to Amy and her brother. She'd started to obsess about the kids. Wondering if they had any family or if they'd be turned over to Child Services. So when the chance came up for her to take Amy, she'd taken it. Making the decision without analyzing it, just following her heart and acting on instinct. Her connection to the little girl had been unexpected almost like love at first sight.

There were aspects of Amy's past that frustrated and scared Sara. Amy's original family had hurt her for years. They'd let her condition deteriorate until she was nearly deaf and faced a lifetime of irreversible hearing loss. Sara wasn't sure where that ranked compared to the other terrible things they'd done to such a sweet, beautiful little girl, but it was one of the things she planned to make better.

She loved Amy and the idea of someone or something hurting her was physically painful. So as the Doctors and Psychologists exposed each new emotional and physical wound Sara vowed to help Amy over them. Some how slaying each of the monsters that haunted the nightmares and repairing the emotional and physical damage Which is why she'd gone to Dr. Roth who was supposed to be one of the best in her field. The appointment had gone better than Sara had expected. Since the initial diagnosis she'd been preparing for the worst, but the prognosis was better then she had hoped. Not that it mattered to her whether the little girl could hear or not. Sara just needed to know she'd tried to do what was best for Amy and maybe undo some of the damage.

Grissom was reflected in the cool glass and she smiled. It was his revelation that had given her more peace of mind than anything that Dr. Roth said. It had surprised her to learn about his hearing loss and successful surgery, but it hadn't shocked her. Maybe on some level she'd seen all the evidence pointing towards his hearing problems. Looking back she wondered if she'd subconsciously made adjustments to help him cope. Maybe that was why she had been able to make the changes to accommodate Amy's disability so easily. Either way Sara was grateful that Dr. Roth had saved his hearing, that he was here and that the surgeon hoped to do the same for her little girl.

The events in the doctor's office had left her emotionally exhausted, but Sara felt safe relinquishing control to him, allowing herself to drift into a light sleep. Grissom turned off the ignition. He glanced at Amy in the rear view mirror, smiling at the sight of her dark head bent over a hand held video game. Sara had assured him it was more educational than the games the boys they worked with played. Glancing at the other brunette who was still leaning against the window, he noticed her deep breathing and hated to wake her up, but he knew she wouldn't break her promise to Amy no matter how tired she was.

Since Amy was occupied he took the time to let Sara sleep, she looked better than she had in ages. The dark purple circles under her eyes, the disturbing paleness and the perpetual frown that had become so familiar were gone. He could tell she was exhausted, wondering how she slept now. She'd insisted he take a nap after work, but had she taken her own advice? Amy was just visible in his peripheral vision. Knowing Sara's focus and dedication he doubted Sara had. Amy finished her game.

The small hand touched his shoulder as he turned to face her.

Time to go? She asked.

"Sara we're here." Silently he wanted to add the endearment Honey, but stopped himself as he shook her awake.

She breathed in, released the breath on a sigh and turned to face him. He thought he knew what Sara looked like waking from sleep based on his experiences at the lab. Watching this Sara wake up was a different experience altogether. "Already?" She stretched a little and smiled. He watched stunned as it reached her eyes, so they sparkled and danced. "Are you ready for this Dr. Grissom?"

"It can't be that bad."

She laughed softly. "Have you been here before?"

"I came with Catherine and Lindsey once, but that was years ago. I've heard they've added a couple new species since then, but hadn't checked it out." He pushed the button and released his seatbelt. "How about you guys?"

"It's one of Amy's favorite places so we're here a couple times a week. It's gotten so bad the birds and the goats recognize her and come running to get the feed." They both got out of the SUV, he unbuckled Amy's booster car set and helped the little girl out. Amy took his hand, then reached out and took Sara's so she walked between the adults leading them toward the entrance.

Sitting at the picnic table, sipping from a bottled water he found it hard to believe that this little 3 acre park was just 6 miles off the Strip. It seemed so much farther away from their life than that. The normal sounds he associated with Las Vegas were distant and he was enjoying the peace and serenity. Sara had distracted Amy with the task of feeding the park's birds giving him a breather and a chance to enjoy his surroundings. Grissom began to understand why Sara had insisted on a nap and why she'd asked him if he was ready for this. Within minutes of getting in the gate of the Southern Nevada Zoological and Botanical Park Amy was off and running. The park felt a dozen times its size now that Amy had dragged them around to her favorite exhibits multiple times. She'd been fascinated by the Canadian river otters, Mowar the Chinese tiger, the brother and sister lions Midas and MG.

Going to the zoo with Amy and Sara was completely different from his experience with Catherine and Lindsey. For one thing the entire time Amy was signing to him in a rush of flying hands and fingers. She had a voracious mind and now that she had someone with a greater gasp of sign language she was asking questions with a speed that was amazing. It was obvious she adored Sara, but had missed being able to really communicate.

At each exhibit she asked him to read the signs telling her about the animals. The little girl's enthusiasm rubbed off on Grissom and he found himself searching his memory for any tidbit of information he'd ever heard, read or seen about the animals. It was mentally and physically exhausting.

"Where'd you learn so much about lions, Griss?"

"Discovery Channel and Animal Planet."

"I should have known." Her laugh following him as he and Amy moved to the next exhibit.

The memory made him smile. This was the best day he'd had in a long time. He'd surprised himself in the doctor's office by telling Sara about his hearing. Over the years he'd justified not telling Sara and the team because he thought he knew how they'd respond. Her acceptance wasn't what he had expected. Watching as Amy and Sara walked back to him he considered what other areas he was making incorrect assumptions about how Sara would act or react.

"Hey Grissom I think since we've gone through the park at least twice and seen Amy's favorite exhibits probably twice that many times. We should grab some lunch, then head home, so you can get some more sleep before shift."

He nodded as he watched her sign "Amy time to eat."

Amy's face lit up and she signed back looking at Grissom. Sara smiled as she recognized the three signs. They were ones she'd seen a lot since staking her claim on the child. It was what Amy also asked for after visiting the 'zoo.' The first was for hamburger, followed quickly by the sign for chocolate shake and for the last one Amy shaped one hand into the letter 'f' and made the dipping action that was the sign for French fries.

"She wants a hamburger, French fries and chocolate shake."

Sara nodded, "I know it's what she always asks for. The Counselor thinks they might be her comfort foods."

"Must be hard." He observed remembering her reaction to the meat bullet experiment. Amy held their hands as they headed for the entrance.

"What makes you think that?"

"I remember your reaction to a certain experiment."

"That's different Grissom." She stopped walking. Amy let go of her hand so it took Grissom a couple of steps to realize what was happening. Then turned around to face her. "I was frustrated and felt disrespected because you and Catherine were shutting me out again. Do you know how frustrating it is to be assigned to a case and not be allowed to work it? If I'd known that it wasn't going to get any better I would have left. Do you know how many times in the last five years you've pulled me off cases, kept me out of the loop, or assigned me tasks that were menial? Things normally assigned to trainees, but I did them and never complained that you never switched the duties up, you kept me on the outside while the others got to be primaries or go solo. I'm the best perimeter person in the state of Nevada because that's all you'd let me do."

Amy ran back to Sara and hugged her tightly. Don't fight. She signed to Grissom. Sara breathed deeply and smiled at Amy to let her know everything was fine.

"I didn't know." Grissom was stunned. He knew that wasn't enough, but couldn't come up with a response.

Sara shrugged a little as she and Amy closed the distance. "I know. So are we getting lunch at the diner or a fast food place?"

"Diner?" He asked noticing that Amy didn't take his hand again, she blamed him for making Sara upset. Grissom wondered if anyone else thought he treated Sara badly at work. No one had said anything and that bothered him. Did that mean they knew it was unintentional or think it was acceptable? If that kind of behavior was accepted as part of having him as their supervisor it had him asking who else he'd hurt while keeping his head buried in the microscope.