I Do Not Own CSI

"I can't believe you're leaving already," Laura said to her daughter.

"We'll see each other soon, promise." Sara hugged her mother as she, Gil, Eli and Hank stood at the front door, bags packed and ready to go back to Vegas.

"We'll send you some photos, too. Sara's going to have to go to the doctor soon anyway."

"I can't believe I'm going to have a grandbaby!"

"Believe it, but it's still cooking in here. Only four and a half months down, I still have five more to go."

"We just might have to plan a trip to Vegas ourselves," Peter said as he gave Gil a friendly handshake.

"I'm sure we could have some fun in the city of sin." Laura smiled as she watched Joanna approach Sara.

"You have my e-mail, right?" Joanna asked.

"I do, and you have mine as well, and my phone number. Call whenever you want," Sara said, hugging the girl.

"I will. You know, I'm starting to like this whole sister deal."

"Me, too," Sara whispered as they parted.

"You be good, Eli. Take care of your mommy and daddy, okay," Laura asked, bending down to Eli's level and smiling as she spoke.

"I'm a big boy!"

"You sure are, and such a brave one, too."

"Eli, can you give Laura a hug goodbye," Sara asked as Eli smiled and wrapped his little arms around Laura's neck, placing a kiss on her cheek, too.

"Oh, melt my heart!" Laura smiled as the sound of a car horn echoed through the room.

"That's our cab, we have to go," Gil said as Sara and Laura embraced one more time.

"Call, as soon as you get home."

"I will, bye everyone." Sara took Eli's hand and Hank's leash as Gil led them out the door, his own hands full with luggage. They waved again before they stepped into the cab.

"Ready for home?" Gil asked.

"I'm ready to see our family again."

"Okay, they're gone. Grab your things, we have a plane to catch, too," Laura ordered to Peter and Joanna.

"We're not on the same flight, are we?"

"No, we're flying Delta not American Airlines but our flight is an hour later. So come on, let's get a move on."

"So, they get in today?" Greg asked, bouncing in his seat.

"Yes Greg. I'm going to pick them up at the airport after shift," Nick reminded Greg.

"Can I come?"

"You'll see them tomorrow, Greg, at the party."

"I know. I just want to see them today. I miss Sara."

"Let them have a day to get back into the swing of things here; get some stuff sorted out and get Eli settled in at the townhouse. You don't want to bombard them with too much at once."

"Catherine?" Ray asked as they all sat in the break room.

"Yeah"

"They do know it's a party? Not just a little get together, right?"

"Well…."

"Welcome back to the lights of Las Vegas," Gil said as he, Sara and Eli made their way through the airport.

"Nick's coming, right?"

"That's what he said when I called him. He's excited to see you and Eli again," Gil smiled, rubbing a hand over Sara's belly.

"Where Hank?" Eli asked.

"We have to go get him. Why don't we leave Daddy here to get the bags and we'll get Hank," Sara said. She pecked her husband on the lips before taking Eli's hand and leading him to the other side of the airport.

"Grissom! Grissom!" Nick yelled, twenty minutes later as he saw the man looking curiously around the airport.

"Griss!" Nick yelled again, waving his hands, finally getting Grissom's attention. They both smiled as they made eye contact with each other.

"Hey, Nick."

"Griss. Man, it's nice to have you back."

"It's good to be back."

"Where are Sara and Eli?"

"That's who I was looking for. They went to go get Hank and now I can't find them."

"I'm sure they're here somewhere. Here, give me one of those," Nick said, taking a suitcase from Grissom's hands. They both stood checking the vicinity for Sara, Eli and Hank.

The sight of paramedics running through with a gurney made them both slightly panic.

"Sara," Gil whispered, already hustling through the crowds. Nick was right behind him until they came to a large group surrounding someone on the ground.

"Sara," Gil called, trying to get a look.

"Eli!"

"Daddy!" Nick and Gil turned to the sound of Eli's voice.

"Sara," Gil breathed, letting the air in his lungs go as he and Nick made their way over to Sara, Eli and now Hank.

"Hey, are you okay?" Sara asked, cupping Gil's cheek.

"I am now. Where were you?"

"There was actually a line. Then we got caught behind a throng of people. What's going on over there?"

"Not sure," Gil said as he watched Nick bend down to Eli's level.

"ICK!"

"Hey, buddy! Did you have fun on your trip?"

"Yeah, we pay at da bech."

"I bet that was a lot of fun."

"Uh huh," Eli said as Nick wrapped the little boy in a hug, lifting him up in his arms.

"Sara, you're looking more and more beautiful every day."

"Ever the sweet talker, it's good to see you, too," Sara said, hugging the Texan.

"I was just telling Griss how good it is to have you back home."

"It feels good to finally be home again."

"Well then, come on. I'll drive you back to the townhouse."

"Catherine came over a few days ago and gave the place a good cleaning. We all pitched in and bought you some groceries, and Doc's wife made a whole bunch of casseroles for you, too. They're all in the freezer," Nick told them as Gil, Sara, Eli and Hank slowly entered the townhouse once again.

"It feels different," Sara mumbled, watching as Hank eagerly started sniffing around, making sure this was still his same home.

"You sure every bug that was in the house was found?" Gil asked as Sara and Eli walked down the steps.

"Positive. Greg and Archie went through this place with a fine tooth comb. There is nothing in this house that will pose any type of threat," Nick assured them as he watch Grissom who was watching Sara.

"You'll be okay," Nick assured.

"I know. It's just going to take some time. I think that because we're finally home, everything that's happened is finally starting to sink in a little bit more.

"If you need anything…"

"I'll call. Thanks Nicky"

"You're welcome. I'm going to head out and catch some sleep before shift tonight. You know the plans for tomorrow?"

"Rampart at seven, I know, we'll be there."

"Good. Bye, Sara, bye, Eli," Nick waved.

"Bye, Nicky." Sara waved back as she watched him leave.

"You okay?"

"We'll talk later, once Eli is in bed," Sara told him, taking a deep breath.

"Want to go to the park for a bit?" Gil asked.

"The same park that…," Sara asked, remembering what happened the last time they went to the park in Vegas.

"We could go to the other one with the big dog park, let Hank and Eli run wild for a bit."

"Okay"

"He got it!" Eli laughed as he watched Hank jump in the air, catching the Frisbee Gil had thrown.

"Adain! Adain!" Eli clapped as Hank happily dropped the Frisbee at Gil's feet.

"Why don't you throw this," Sara said, handing Eli a tennis ball. She laughed slightly as he threw the ball, not far, but far enough for Hank to chase.

"He like it!" Eli laughed, grabbing the ball and running, Hank on his heels, leaving Sara and Gil to watch close. They laughed as Hank snatched the ball from Eli's little hand, eliciting a new chase between boy and dog.

"He's happy," Gil smiled.

"He is," Sara agreed.

"Ok, let's talk," Gil said softly. He curled himself up behind Sara's back later that night.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't think I can stay here."

"Where?"

"This house. I don't feel…it doesn't feel like a home anymore, it feels violated."

"I know, it's not as warm as it was before."

"Can we start looking for something else? The sooner we move the better."

"We can immediately. We're going to have to find something bigger once this little one comes along. We don't have the room in this house."

"They're all going to lose it tomorrow."

"I think we should bring a camera to record their expressions," Gil suggested, making Sara laugh.

"We'll be okay, Sara, I promise."

TBC

Well there back in Vegas, yay, time for them to start getting back into the swing of things, but not before a little party . That's next so stay tuned!

Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, please keep them coming!

Katie