A/N - So this is the last chapter in this story. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. And for all you sequal lovers out there, there is not going to be one. I feel like I have tied the entire thing together neatly and that there is not need for the story to contiue. But I am writing a new story, the first chapter I plan to post in the next half hour or so. So keep an eye out and remeber to read and reveiw!! Thanks for all the support guys!!!!!

Chapter Twelve – Deadlines

It took Sara the length of Laura's pregnancy before she was on her feet completely again. She could not help the feeling of happiness as she took the wheel chair back to the hospital. Every time that she gained back more independence, she felt like screaming it to the world. She went back to her normal food habits once the chemo had stopped and her appetite returned. She was able to go out alone and actually help with the shopping. She also was able to consider life without Laura and Geoff there all the time. Laura was getting bigger and bigger with each passing day and she was able to do less and less. Geoff's focus, as it should, shifted from Sara to his pregnant wife and rather then feeling forgotten and neglected, she felt like she was part of the entire process. She knew something was going on when the phone calls started coming in and Geoff made it more obvious by always beating her to the phone every time. The pair of them kept going out to places that Sara knew nothing about. If she put her mind do it, she could have solved the problem but she decided to wait until they were ready to tell her. So some months after all the mystery started, Geoff and Laura took her for a drive. It only took ten minutes to get there but Sara was still a little too weak to walk long distances. Geoff pulled her out of the car, smiling proudly at the small, pretty house that was nestled between two slightly larger ones. It even had the white picket fence that used to be so big in the fifties.

"Do you like it?"

"It's cute. Does it have a backyard?"

"Yup, we brought it yesterday"

"It's beautiful. It suits you and Laura nicely."

"We thought so. It's not too far from your house either, we is something we wanted. Someone has to keep an eye on you"

Sara pulled Geoff into a hug, kissing his cheek.

"Congratulations, I'm so happy for you. Where's Laura?"

Geoff frowned when he realized that Laura had never gotten out of the car with them.

"Laura, honey are you ok?"

Laura was sitting quite and pale in the front seat, her hands clutched at her sides.

"Lu?"

"I think I need to get to the hospital"

"Why, what's wrong?"

"I think my waters just broke."

For the first time in a long time, the flurry of activity that ensued had nothing to do with Sara. Laura was rushed into one of the hospital waiting rooms, Geoff with her. Sara was forced to sit into the waiting room, twiddling her thumbs through the hours. She made a quick call to Grissom to tell him what was going on. The baby was a month early but if you went by the way that Laura had been growing, both Laura and the baby should both be fine. Sara tried to sit still for the next few hours but ended up pacing the hall, just as Geoff should be doing. When Geoff reappeared some time later, the front of his scrubs was covered in blood, Sara rushed to his side.

"What's going on, is she ok?"

"I don't know. She started to lose a lot of blood and they kicked me out of the room. I don't know if she's ok"

"What about the baby?"

"It's not even out yet. She has some serious internal damage. No one picked it up during hr examination"

"She'll be ok Geoff"
Geoff gripped her hand tightly, his eyes wide with fear.

"I can't lose her Sara. I can't lose her."

Sara pulled him into a hug, trying her best to remain calm. She didn't want to say that losing Laura would kill them both. They sat side by side in silence as the seconds turned to minutes then into hours. Eventually, by the time that both she and Geoff were ready to leap from their skins, a doctor appeared from one of the side rooms.

"Mr. Davidson?"

Geoff leapt from the seat, tears starting down his face.

"Is she ok? Is the baby ok?"

The doctor smiled widely at him, nodding as Geoff grabbed Sara in a big hug.

"They're both fine. You have a daughter."

Geoff let out the same cry that he had when he had found out that Laura was pregnant in the first place.

"I have a daughter. Oh my God, I'm a father."

"I'm so happy for you Geoff."

Geoff took Sara's hand and they walked into the delivery room, where Laura was on the bed, looking exhausted. There was still a bit of blood on the floor and Sara's stomach turned as she looked at the blood soaked rags that had been piled in the corner. She did not want to know just how close she ad come to losing her best friend. Geoff looked around the room, frowning at one of the nurses.

"Where is my daughter?"

The nurse smiled at Geoff, her hand on his arm.

"She's just getting cleaned up and weighed. She'll be back soon."

Geoff smiled back at the nurse and approached Laura's side, his hand finding hers. She opened her eyes, giving him a tired smile.

"We have a daughter."

"I know baby. I am so proud of you. You did so well."

"Where is she Geoff?"

"Just getting fixed up. The needed to clean her and make sure that her weight is ok then she'll be back."

"She's so beautiful Geoff. She has your eyes."

"I doubt it; she properly looks like her mom."

Laura smiled again, her eyes drifting closed. Sara gave her friend a quick kiss on the cheek before grabbing one of the wet clothes on the side table and wiping Laura's forehead. She fussed over Laura the same way her friend had fussed over her, making sure that she was warm and comfortable. A little while later, another nurse wheeled in a crib, pushing it towards Geoff.

"Baby Davidson has arrived. She's the perfect weight and length even though she was a little early."

Geoff and Sara both examined the little bundle in the crib. She looked like a little bald monkey. Her face was still lined from the birth but Laura had been right, she was beautiful, all soft, sweet smelling skin. Even though she was wearing a little pink bonnet, you could see the dark hair poking it out from beneath the material, soft and feathery.

"Did you guys get around to thinking of any names?"

"A few but I'll wait until she's a little more rested before we try to give this little princess a title."

Sara stroked the baby on the cheek one last time before she made a move out of the room.

"I'm going to call Grissom, tell him the news ok?"

"Ok. I'm going to sit here and watch my girl's for a little longer."

Sara smiled at him before she left the room. She made a quick call to Grissom before going and taking a seat back in the waiting room. She was happy for them, she really was, but her life was going to change again and over the last few months, she had developed a firm hatred for the changes that dominated her life.

Grissom was a little late in arriving. He had been at work and had out his phone on vibrate, wanting to avoid any calls from Ecklie. When it had gone off, he didn't even glance at it. It was only an hour or so later that he had realized that Sara had called and he had decoded that he would not go to the hospital, he figured that the first child always took longer then most. So he was surprised when the phone went off again and she announced that a little girl had been safely delivered. He had to wait for a little while until he had to go to the hospital, he had to wait for a quiet bit in the shift before he could slip out. He quickly located Laura's room and found Geoff and Sara both sitting around her bed, their new daughter against her mother's chest.

"So this is the new little Davidson?"

"This is her. Do you want to hold her?"

"If you don't mind"

Geoff took the baby gently from Laura and placed her in Grissom's arms. Sara gave him a gentle smile as she watched him with the bay. He looked completely cute and uncomfortable.

"So have you named this little one yet?"

"Ladies and gentleman may I introduce Riley Helena Davidson."

"Pretty name"

"It took us long enough to come up with so I hope that is serves her well."

"It's a good strong name, she'll be fine."

They stayed a little while longer before Sara and Grissom both excused themselves, leaving the happy family alone.

"I cannot believe that they have a baby now. It's hard to believe that Laura is married and has a baby."

"Weird feeling then?"

"Yup. They're moving out soon. They brought a new house yesterday."

"How do you feel about it?"

"It's good for all of us. There is no way that I would be able to live in a house with a baby"

"When are they moving out?"

"I have no idea. Her waters broke before I could ask."

"Do you need a ride home?"

"If that's ok"

"It would be my pleasure."

He opened the door for her, closing it after her. They drove to her place in silence and Sara only spoke when they were outside her house.

"Do you want to come up for coffee?"

"I thought you weren't allowed to drink coffee?"

"You can though."

Grissom followed her upstairs and settled himself at the dining room table, watching Sara as she made him a coffee and herself a tea. It was so good to see her out and about again, moving on her own without needing anyone to help her anymore.

"Here we go"

She placed the mug in front of him before taking a seat beside him.

"It's good to see you back to yourself again"

"I'm getting there. It's taking a while to get the hair back though"

Grissom reached over and ran his hand over the inch or so of hair that now covered her skull. It kind of felt like touching a hedgehog.

"You suit your hair short. I like it on you"

"You are a little biased though"

"True."

Grissom gave her a smile and took her hand in his.

"I've been doing some thinking"

"Did it hurt?"

"Ha-ha, really amusing Sidle"

"I thought so. So what have you been thinking about?"

"Us."

"And what conclusion have you come too?"

"I wanted to know if when you are all better and Laura and Geoff have gone, if you would be interested in going out on a date"

"A real date?"

"A real date. Are you interested?"

Sara leaned forward and pressed her lips against his, her hand running through his hair. When she pulled back Grissom was frowning at her slightly.

"Was that a yes?"

Sara nodded before she settled herself on his lap.

"A wise person once told me that actions spoke louder then words."

"Smart guy"

She smiled at him and leaned in for another kiss. The expectation for there to be something between them was there but it faded to a faint hum. She wanted this but she was glad that he said that it would be when she was ready not before.

Three weeks after Riley was born, Geoff and Laura moved out of Sara's apartment. Grissom had managed to get the entire team in on the moving process, which was handy; it made the moving go that much faster and that much smoother. Sara mainly stayed on the side lines with Laura and Riley, watching as the boys, Catherine and Alex moved the things from the truck and into their new little house. Things had changed more then she ever thought that they would. She had been given a clean bill of health and was officially in remission from the cancer. For the next four years she would need to have regular monthly checks to ensure that the cancer had not returned but Sara could handle that, after all the chemo, regular checks were not a problem. She exchanged a quick smile with Grissom as he walked past her, a large box in his arms. Geoff kept stopping to kiss Riley and Laura, still high on the idea of being a dad for the first time. She had seen the way he looked at his daughter, as if he was trying to figure out how he had made such a pretty little girl. He had taken to fatherhood surprisingly well but she would always see him as the party animal he once was.

"So how are things with Grissom?"

Laura smiled at her, knowing what the answer would be before she even started to speak. It had been a long time since she had seen Sara this happy.

"There going fine."

"Have you slept with him yet?"

"Laura Davidson! Are you expecting me to kiss and tell?"

"No I am expecting you to shag and tell. Have you or have you not shagged the great professor?"

"I have not. There is a reason for it though"

"And that would be?"

"We are taking it slow. He also seems to think that he's going to hurt me."

"But you're fine."

"I know but try telling him that"

Laura laughed and kissed the top of Riley's head, breathing in her sweet baby scent.

"He's protective of you and I like him for it. It's high time you had more people like that in your life Sidle."

"I already have more then enough. The entire team protects each other. There's no need for me to have any more bodyguards."

"Grissom's the best one though."

"I know. He seems to think that I cannot look after myself."

"Sometimes you can't and that's when you need people like us to make sure that you are safe."

"Yes mom"

"Stop being cheeky and take your god daughter while I go and make sure that these men haven't put any holes in my nice new walls."

Sara took Riley and rested the baby against her chest. Grissom moved to come and stand behind her, sweat beaded on his forehead.

"How are you?"

"Happy"

"That's what I like to hear."

Sara rested her head on Grissom's shoulder and he kissed her gently. He wrapped his arms around her and Riley, pulling them close.

"So are you happy Grissom?"

"I have you, you're healthy and happy. Nothing would make me happier right at this moment."

"Good. Did you know that Catherine and Warrick have finally gotten it together?"

Grissom's face was the epitome of shocked as he tore his eyes from Sara's and looked at Catherine and Warrick. The pair were talking intimately, their heads close together.

"Well I never."

Sara started to laugh as she looked at the shock on his face and then the realization that took over when he started to put the puzzle together.

"God Grissom, you really are hopeless!"

He tickled her lightly in the ribs and she tried to keep her grip on Riley as she tried to slip away from his gently fingers.

"Stop it Grissom!"

He pulled her back into a breathless kiss and she felt her knees go weak. Her world had finally turned back to the way it was meant to be and for once, Sara was going to enjoy the view.