When Grissom walked into his house on Saturday just before nine am after a quick trip to the grocery store on his way home from work he found three of his daughters sitting at the kitchen table making a new batch of red creeper.

"Hey guys," he greeted them, bending down to kiss Kaia on the top of her head.

"What's up dad?' asked the youngster.

"We thought we'd get started on your order," added Sophie.

"We're making extra this time," put in Sydney.

"Thanks," he smiled, hugging Sophie around the shoulders. "Where's your mom?"

"Right here," said Sara, walking in with her cell phone in hand. "I talked to Greg; they're all carpooling. He said they'd be here about ten, after they shower and clean up. He thinks you're going to back out since you refused to ride with them."

"Shows what he knows," he snorted, before reaching for his wife. He kissed Sara and put an arm around her waist. "Where's my little ladybug?"

"Still asleep," replied Sara. "I'd grab a shower before she wakes up if I were you."

"Yes ma-am," saluted Grissom, walking out the room.

"If you three make as much mess as you did last time I'll skin the lot of you," threatened Sara with a grin, walking over to the table to inspect their work. Kaia laughed and smiled up at her.

"Do you want us to stop?" she asked.

"Not at all," replied Sara, running her fingers through Kaia's hair. "Have you three eaten anything?" they shook their heads and Sara walked over to the counter to make coffee and start the food preparations. Leah walked in minutes later to help her, eyes still partially closed with sleep, despite the fact that she was already showered and dressed. Sara handed her mother-in-law a cup of coffee, then clapped a hand to her mouth and whirled, throwing up in the sink.

'You ok?' asked Leah, a sympathetic look on her face.

'Yeah,' replied Sara, rinsing the taste from her mouth and washing the sink.

'Why don't you go get a shower?' signed Leah sympathetically. 'I'll work on the food.'

'Thanks,' grimaced Sara, making her exit.

"Remind me never to have kids," muttered Kaia, screwing her face up in horror. Sydney and Sophie laughed at her.

...

In her bedroom Sara found Grissom sitting on the edge of the bed reading an article in a forensic journal.

"I thought you were supposed to be showering," said Sara, closing the door behind her and walking over to him. She extracted the journal from his hands and tossed it across the bed, then climbed into his lap.

"I was waiting for you," he murmured in her ear, before pressing a kiss against her neck, gazing his tongue playfully over the skin there. She grinned at him, and got up, towing him into the bathroom. While the shower heated she brushed her teeth, getting rid of the last taste of vomit. Grissom copied her movements, watching as she undressed and fetched clean towels. Putting his toothbrush away he opened the shower door; "You're showing more, you know," he whispered to her as he folded her into his arms, pulling them both under the warm water. "Not a lot, but I can definitely tell," he breathed into her ear and he brushed her sopping hair back from her face. Sara ran her hands lovingly over her stomach, caressing the gentle swell that had appeared over the last week.

"Well that would be your fault," she answered, kissing him.

"Yeah," he grinned, "it would be, wouldn't it?" he kissed her back, his tongue pushing into her mouth as his hands slid up and down her body, teasing and arousing her. Sara groaned and let her own hands venture over his body. Gasping, he lifted her up and pressed her back against the shower wall; she wrapped her legs around his waist and leaned forward into his kiss as their bodies joined, furiously, passionately, intent on their goal.

"I love you," he told her when they slid apart and he put her down on her feet.

"I love you too," she grinned, "but one of us is getting fixed sometime soon." Grissom laughed and began to wash his hair. As they got out and dried off Sara yawned.

"Didn't you sleep at all?" asked Grissom.

"What kind of question is that?" grumbled Sara. "You don't break a habit of eight years in a few days. As interesting as this is going to be, I am going straight to bed when they leave." Smiling to himself Grissom kissed her forehead as he walked past her into the closet, smothering a yawn of his own.

"What did you do while I was at work?" he asked, pulling on some socks.

"I was up with Syd most of the night," she replied trying to reach a sweater on the shelf above her head. Grissom frowned as he lifted it down for her. "She couldn't sleep," sighed Sara, "she had a lot of pain in her leg and when she did fall asleep she had a nightmare. So we just hung out on the bed with Isis and Ghost, playing cards, talking and looking at pictures." Dressed, Grissom gathered up the materials to redress Sara's wounds and waited for her to sit of the bed so he could get to work.

"Is she alright?" he asked, concern etched into his features as he gently applied antiseptic on her neck and covered it with gauze.

"I think so," smiled Sara, trying to reassure him, "she's much happier," she added, holding out her arm for him.

"And you?" he asked, checking the stitches.

"I'm ok," she said softly, "really, I am. I feel much better," she added when he looked into her eyes. "With the exception of the sickness," she grumbled as her stomach lurched. Clenching her teeth she fought the nausea, and won. Sighing with relief she lay back on the bed while Grissom wrapped her arm.

"I'm sorry," he murmured to her, putting the supplies aside and lying down next to her, resting on his side so he could look at her. He took her hand in his and kissed her fingertips. "Is there anything I can do to make it better?"

"That is why I love you," she grinned, lifting herself up on an elbow and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. He kissed her back and lay back on the bed, pulling her into his chest and wrapping his arms around her for a hug.

"What needs to be done?" he asked.

"Just the food, and mom already started. I'll help her finish if you get Kati up and dressed. She had a bath last night," Sara yawned again before continuing, "that's about it though." She snuggled against Grissom's chest for a few moments before sitting up with a sigh.

"Let's go," said Grissom, combing his hair with his fingers as he got up and hunted for his slippers. He gave his wife a soft kiss before going to wake his ladybug. Hank had beat him to it; the dog and little girl were both sitting on the bed playing with the ever present plastic bugs. Shaking his head at their standard morning routine, Grissom ousted the dog, sending him back downstairs where he belonged and plucked Kati off the bed, carrying her into the bathroom. Kati babbled on about an ant colony as Grissom struggled to get her dressed; he suppressed a smile at her one track mind.

...

Catherine sat in the passenger seat of Nick's truck as they waited for Warrick. Lindsey and Greg were behind them, talking softly.

"Hey," said Warrick, jumping in and slamming the door.

"Let's go," said Catherine, clapping her hands together once.

"Geez Cath, anyone would think you were in a hurry or something," teased Nick.

"Don't tell me you haven't wondered about Sara's home," retorted the blonde.

"Greg are you sure Grissom said he would meet us there?" asked Warrick.

"Yeah," was the reply. "Hey, where are the directions?"

"Here," said Lindsey, tossing the paper over her mother's shoulder so she could navigate.

"How far does she live?" asked Nick, after Catherine read out the instructions.

"Apparently on the other side of town," said Warrick. They fell silent watching the scenery as they drove out of town and away from the strip.

"Are you sure this is right?' asked Nick as he pulled onto a road that was little more than dirt, with houses spaced few and far between, on large plots of land.

"That's what it says," answered Catherine, puzzled.

"I thought she lived in an apartment," said Warrick, leaning forward.

"Guess not anymore," replied Nick, turning into the last driveway. This one was long and curving, the house was set back from the road, behind a stand of desert plants and trees.

"Hey," said Greg suddenly, "isn't this one of those natural oasis areas?"

"Looks like it," said Catherine. Nick drove around the trees, bringing the house into full view. "Wow," whispered Catherine. The two story house was large and homey looking, with a fenced in garden to the left, in which a large dog chased a gopher. The drive widened, revealing a cluster of vehicles and behind them the rest of the property.

"Griss is already here," said Warrick, pointing to Grissom's car parked next to two Corolla's belonging to the twins; Sophie's bright red and Sydney's dark blue. There were three other cars; Sara's Prius, the Tahoe and Leah's Nissan Altima.

"Who all is coming?" asked Nick, staring at the cars.

"No idea," said Lindsey, "but Brass is right behind us." Nick parked and they got out, meeting Brass and his passenger, Doc, by the front door. Doc rang the bell. There was a crash and a yell from behind the dark wooden double doors. One door swung open, revealing Leah Grissom who nodded and smiled a greeting before waving them in. She was leading them into the kitchen when they heard Sara yell out.

"Kati get back here now. How many times do you have to be told? Henri is not allowed out of the basement!" A small giggle from behind caused the team to turn around quickly. Kati stood staring up at them, smiling innocently and holding the tarantula in her hands.

"Hi," she giggled, holding up her prize. "This is Henwri."

'Kati,' signed Leah, 'put the spider away NOW.'

'Fine,' replied the girl, scowling. She turned and ran back down the hall. Leah led the others into the kitchen, where Sydney, Sophie and Kaia were filling several jars with some of their finished product.

"Hey," they said in unison.

"Hi," replied Catherine, her eyes roaming the room. Kaia was talking to Leah and interpreting for her.

"My name is Leah," said Kaia, indicating her grandmother. "It's nice to meet you all." A chorus of hello's echoed from around the room. "Please look me in the face when you speak to me, so I can read your lips," continued Kaia.

"Where's your mom?" asked Nick, his eyes on Kaia.

"Right here," said Sara, walking into the room, dressed in comfortable jeans, a loose, well-worn and very soft green sweatshirt and slippers. Her hair was tied up in a messy ponytail and a green and blue friendship bracelet Kaia had made in third grade was looped around her right wrist. The bandages on her left arm and neck were lighter now that her wounds were healing. Ghost was riding pillion on her shoulders.

"Hey Sara," grinned Greg, putting an arm around her carefully in a quick hug.

"How are you?" asked Doc, concerned.

"Ok," she answered slowly. "Better now that I've quit I think. I've been burning out for a while, and I have a family to take care of, you know. This latest incident just crystallized things for me." Sara walked over to Kaia and wrapped her arms around her daughter. Ghost hopped onto the table and began examining the jars.

"Are you guys making Red Creeper?" asked Warrick suddenly, noticing what the three girls were doing.

"Red what?" asked Lindsey.

"Red Creeper; its fingerprint powder," said Sydney.

"Yes, we are," added Sophie, as she screwed the cap onto a jar.

"Where did you get the recipe?" asked Greg, "Grissom guards it better than all of his other secrets combined!"

"He gave it to us," said Kaia, stacking filled jars into a box.

"Yeah right," scoffed Brass, "he would never part with it."

"Well, he did," said Sophie, matter-of-factly.

"And what? You got them to set up shop making it for you?" Catherine asked Sara.

"No, I did," said Grissom, walking into the room. He was also dressed for comfort in jeans, a sweater and slippers, and had Kati clinging to his back.

"Hey boss," nodded Nick and Warrick.

"You asked them to make Red Creeper?" demanded Catherine, confusion on her face.

"No," put in Sydney, "we volunteered to make it." Catherine put her hand to her forehead, frustrated.

"Again," added Sophie, grinning wickedly at the exasperated expression on the nosey woman's face.

"What is going on here?" Catherine cried, her voice rising several octaves.

"Hey, don't showt," said Kati, leaning around Grissom's shoulder to stare at Catherine.

"Sorry," said Cath, taken aback. Her gaze locked on Kati's eyes; exact replicas of Grissom's eyes. "What's your name?" she asked more gently. Kati stared at her for a moment.

"Kati," she answered finally. The newcomers all stared at the little girl.

"Hi Kati," said Catherine.

"Hi," replied the little girl. Kati looked back at all the new people staring at her. "Hi," she said to Greg, who was standing closest to her. "Who you?"

"My name is Greg," answered the former lab tech, an easy smile on his face.

"Hi Gweg," Kati offered her hand to Greg, her face solemn. Greg took it, suppressing a smile. "Do you like buggies?" asked Kati.

"Uh, I guess so," replied Greg, a little confused.

"Yay! I love buggies, daddy got me thwee buggies cawled Fuzz and Fizz and Buzz. They are madgar hissing woaches and they are all mine." Kati giggled; Sara, Kaia and the twins rolled their eyes.

"Down Daddy," said Kati, squirming on Grissom's back. Catherine gaped at Grissom as he lowered the little girl to the ground. Everyone stared at Kati's purple 'future entomologist' t-shirt.

"She's your daughter?" asked Catherine.

"Yes," said Grissom and Sara in unison.

"And yours too?" Catherine looked at Sara.

"She'd better be, after all the drama we went through bringing her into the world," grinned the brunette. The blonde woman's' eyes swivelled to the three girls at the table; they smiled angelically back at her.

"So dad," said Kaia, a wicked gleam in her eyes, "will this be enough Red Creeper to last you a while?" Grissom slipped an arm around Sara's waist as they laughed at the expressions on their friends faces. Giggling helplessly Syd and Soph high fived each other, struggling not to fall out of their chairs: Kaia just fixed her eyes on Catherine and let an slow, steady evil smirk of victory grace her features.

...

...

Woo Hoo, finally...

Right, now that I am technologically back up and running I have way too much to do.

1 Ethereal Emergency will get wrapped up next, in one or two more chapters.

2 Ex Animo will get updated after that.

3 Ethereal Theory will be next because I have to go fishing in all the files recovered from my late lamented laptop to find the next chunk of this story that is burried there.

Happy reading, reviews are always greatly appreciated

Got Tea?