I Do Not Own CSI
"Sara, are you almost ready?" Gil called as he and Eli sat in the kitchen playing with dinky cars.
"I can't find anything to wear," Sara yelled back.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I can't find anything to wear; nothing fits."
Smiling, Gil went into their bedroom. His smiled got even wider when he saw Sara only clad in a bra and panty set.
"Stop ogling and help me," Sara sighed, not even turning around as she spoke.
"What about this," Gil suggested, holding up a black dress.
"A dress, isn't that a little much for a get together with the team?"
"Well, it's at the Rampart restaurant. A little black dress goes a long way."
"I guess I could wear flats with it and, oh, I have an idea. Get out and let me change, please."
"Sara, honey I've already seen you naked. In fact I've seen you…."
"I know, but I want to dress it a bit differently. Go play with Eli." Sara smirked, already pulling the black dress over her head. She sighed with relief when it still fit. The dress, having no waistline, flowed over her body and the baby bump she sported.
Opening her jewelry box, Sara pulled out a couple chains and earrings before going to her closet and finding the perfect pair of black flats to complete her outfit.
"Ok, I'm ready," Sara said. She smiled when she saw Eli and Gil playing at the kitchen counter.
"You look…"
"Beful," Eli finished, laughing as Gil tickled him.
"That's my line, bud."
"They are coming, right?" Greg asked, his leg bouncing as he sat at the large table.
"Yes Greg, they're coming. I made sure of that when I saw them yesterday," Nick answered.
"But it's six forty-five. They were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago."
"They have another person to get ready now, Greg. They can be a little late."
"How was Eli? He must be getting so big," Catherine asked.
"He is. He's looking more and more like Warrick every day."
"And they don't know that we're here?" Laura asked.
"No, or Mom and Dad," Nick informed them all, looking at Bill and Jillian.
The crowd also included Archie, Hodges, Al and David, along with most of the lab. Also in attendance were the detectives who helped with the case; Vartann and Anne Kramer, who was sitting beside a smiling Jim. Hearing movement at the entrance to the private room, they all turned toward the door.
"Hungy," Eli informed Gil and Sara. He rubbed his little tummy, mimicking Sara's movements over her own stomach.
"I know, we'll eat soon, I promise," Sara said as they approached the room. The waiter was leading them.
"Here you are. Have a good evening," the waiter said, opening the curtains to reveal the guests waiting for them.
"ICK!" Eli shouted as he made eye contact with him. He ran into Nick's open arms, laughing as Jillian and Bill tried to play tug of war with the child in Nick's arms, Jillian finally winning.
"Hey, guys," Sara said to the mostly shell shocked room. Everyone looked at her, then Gil and then her stomach.
"Can we eat yet? I'm starved. Mom?" Sara was shocked herself at seeing her mother, Peter and Joanna sitting at the far end of the table.
"Hi, honey."
"Are you pregnant?" Greg blurted.
"You're power of observation never ceases to amaze me, Greg," Gil laughed as both Greg and Catherine jumped up, embracing the two.
"You knew!" Catherine gave Nick a dirty look.
"It was about time I knew something that you didn't," Nick teased as he got up and wrapped his arms around Sara, placing a hand on her stomach.
"How's it cookin'?"
"Were getting there."
"Bill, Jillian?" Gil asked, surprised again at the people who showed up to this little party.
"Hey, Gil, Sara."
"You got bigger," Jillian said as she placed Eli on Bill's lap. She stepped up to Sara and placed a hand on her stomach, too.
"I can't believe you're pregnant?" Catherine laughed.
"We have a May baby in here, so start placing the bets," Sara laughed as she went to take a seat. Gil followed her to the table as wild conversation started around the room.
"McKeen is getting the death penalty."
"His cronies aren't going to fair much better."
"I can't believe he tried to go after a baby." All this was heard around the room, a different source every time.
"Gil, make them stop" Sara asked, whispering into her husband's ear.
"Mommy, hungy," Eli said again as the crowd hushed at hearing Eli call Sara 'Mommy'.
"Bud, you stole my line again," Gil laughed.
With dinner over, everyone started to get up and move around. Everyone wanted to talk to Sara and Gil. Some even got a small conversation with Eli who was lying tired on Gil's shoulder.
"Catherine," Gil said, rubbing Eli's back as he stood away from the crowd.
"Nick was right."
"What's that?"
"He looks more and more like Warrick."
"He's going to be three soon."
"He's quite the little boy."
"That he is."
"So you're Mommy and Daddy now?"
"We didn't tell him to call us that, he did it of his own free will."
"I don't mind, Gil. I don't think anyone here does, it was just a little surprising is all."
"You should have of been there when he said it to me the first time," Gil said as he felt Eli's body start to go limp with sleep.
"I have an idea, come here," Catherine smiled and led Gil to the corner. She laid her, Nick's, and Greg's jackets on the floor to make a little bed for Eli.
"Thanks, he gets a little heavy after awhile."
"It's so good to have you back," Greg said as he embraced Sara in another hug.
"I missed you, too, Greggo."
"It wasn't the same here without you."
"I know, I tried to write you as much as I could though."
"But you couldn't let me in on this?" Greg smiled, asking silent permission of Sara to put a hand on her stomach.
"I'm sorry, Greg. We wanted to tell, but after what happened before and the fact that we were trying to stay protected, we didn't want to risk it."
"I'm happy for you. You both deserve this."
"Thanks, Greg."
"And Eli?"
"We meet with our lawyer and child services tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully we can get the ball rolling on his adoption."
"Well, if you need anyone to vouch for you, you have everyone in this room here for you."
"We know."
"So what's with all the secrets? You couldn't let us know you'd be in town?" Gil asked, taking a seat beside Bill and Jillian.
"We weren't sure if we'd make it. Bill is still healing somewhat."
"I know how that feels," Gil sighed.
"Are you two doing okay; after everything that happened in your home?"
"We're surviving, and dealing with it," Bill said as he grabbed his wife's hand and gave it a squeeze.
"You?"
"We are, too, although Sara wants to look for a new house. Ours feels a little, not so much like home anymore."
"You need a back yard anyway, somewhere Eli can run. Have you made an appointment with child services yet?"
"We see them tomorrow."
"Would you like us to come? I'm sure having a DA and a judge there would benefit you."
"You sure?" Gil asked.
"For that little boy to have a family, yes."
"Mom?" Sara spoke as she approached her mother.
"Hi, honey. Long time, no see."
"When did you get here? We just left you in San Francisco a day and a half ago."
"I know. Catherine called and said she was throwing a little party in your honor and asked us to come. I'm glad we did, although I think Joanna has a little bit of a crush on Greg," Laura said as they both looked over to where Joanna and Greg sat, talking and laughing.
"Don't worry, Greg's a sweetheart and Joanna will be going back home with you."
"Just don't let Peter know," Laura joked.
"Boss, I mean ex-boss…Gil…Grissom," Hodges stumbled.
"You have too many names now, you know that?"
"Only to you, Hodges."
"I'm glad you're back."
"Well, I am, too."
"The lab wasn't holding up to well when you and Sara were both gone," Hodges whispered, looking down.
"But you're back, so things can go back to normal."
"Well as normal as things get at the lab," Gil said as both he and Hodges shared a small laugh.
"Congrats on the baby thing, by the way."
"Thanks, David, and to you and Wendy."
"Shh, no one knows."
"Nick does," Gil told him with a smile in his voice.
TBC
Tomorrow, we start the adoption process, Eli needs to stay with Griss and Sara!
Thanks for all the reviews yesterday, sorry if I didn't get back to everyone, I had a very late night at work! But please keep them coming!
Katie