"Sara! Sara! Sara!" Kieran jumped on the bed and hugged Sara.
"Hey rookie." She pressed the boy in her arms.
"He annoyed me the whole morning, we had no other choice than coming here." Sofia smiled. She had planed to visit Sara anyway.
"The rookie tells the detective what to do, interesting. And you, Pat? You had to come with them because you need an officer by your side?"
"CSI?"
"Yes, you'll use your brain and become a CSI, that is a very good idea."
"I won't start this argument with you again that a detective has a brain too and uses it."
"Not? What a pity."
"Tell me how long will you stay here."
"Another night." Sara's good mood was gone within a second. She had tried to argue, had threaten, begged, tried to make a deal and whatever came to her mind but her doctor had told her she had to stay another night in hospital. If she was alright tomorrow she could go home but had to stay in bed and rest.
"He won? Wow."
"He said he'd call Ecklie and tell him not to let me come back to work until he hadn't finish a lot of tests to find out why I have these break downs. Blackmailing. Very mean blackmailing. I hate your cousin."
"He tries to keep you alive."
"He destroys my life."
"I don't think so. See to bright side of it, you have some visitor."
"Yes." Sara stroke Kieran's back. The boy refused to let go of her.
"We can use the balcony if you want."
"Yes! I hate this room, let's go out. And if nobody pays attention I'll leave with you."
"Forget it." Sofia got Kieran in her arms.
"Sara!"
"Sara needs to dress so we can go out with her."
"Give me a second and you can come back on my arm, Kieran." Sara put on a jumper and slipped in her shoes. With Kieran on her arm and Sofia with Pat on her arm they went to the balcony and found a bench in the sun.
"Want a coffee?" Sofia asked.
"Absolutely."
"I'll get us one."
"Boys tell me, what happened on the ranch? How are the horses?"
"Good."
"I'll get pony." Pat smiled.
"You'll get a pony? That sounds good. When?"
"Birthday."
"I bet you're anxious to have birthday soon."
"Yes."
"First Christmas."
"Yes, of course first Christmas. But that will be another three months."
"So long."
"Time will fly."
"Lucky is big."
"Is he? I'm glad my foal grows. You know maybe you can ride him later, Kieran."
"Really?"
"Is he still black?"
"Dark brown."
"If you would also take a brown horse you can ride Lucky. He is a mustang, you wanted a mustang."
"And me?" Patrick asked.
"You'll get your pony and when you're older we'll find a horse for you. First a pony."
"Are you making animal plans with my kids?" Sofia gave Sara a coffee and put two mugs with chocolate milk on the bench for the boys. She had some cookie for all of them too. The vending machine was probably better than the cookie they sold in the shop. They looked like they were longer in this building than Sara was.
"I offered Kieran Lucky if that's okay with you. It will take another five years until he needs a horse…"
"Make it seven."
"Or so. And if he wants and you're fine with that he can have Lucky. Not black but a mustang."
"He's your horse, Sara."
"No, your name is in the paper. "
"I never signed them, he's still yours. But yes, if Kieran wants he can ride him. Until then Lucky is old enough to be a riding horse. I had the saddle on Fortuna and she's fine with it. She's a fast learner."
"Of course she is, she is a smart horse."
"Not like her owner who doesn't learn."
"I'll ignore that."
"Ignoring the truth doesn't change it."
"You're lucky the kids are around, detective."
"Is that so, investigator?"
"Yes. Did you visit the guys?"
"Sure. I had to tell Greg off for not taking care of you. He said you don't listen when he tells you to work less hours. Somehow it wasn't that difficult to believe him."
"Not? Well maybe he didn't try hard enough."
"I guess you're too stubborn."
"Life is a challenge and so am I."
"Oh yes. Lucky for you I like challenges."
"You're a smart and strong woman, of course you do."
"Don't start sucking up."
"I won't."
"Did you make a decision how long you'll stay."
"Another three nights. We've been away for one week by then."
"Really time to go back."
"Yes. They need my help even if I'd like to stay longer to make sure you're alright."
"I'll be fine, don't worry."
"I do worry, Sara." Sofia took Sara's hand. She worried a lot about her friend. She worried that Sara would have a fourth break down because she worked too much. Knowing that her friend had asked for a divorce, she knew Sara would bury herself in work so that she didn't have to think about Grissom and herself. As soon as the brunette was back on duty there would be double shifts, no days off and another break down. She had no idea how to stop that. Should she talk to Cath? Or Ecklie that they stopped Sara from working so much? She didn't want to involve them but she had no other idea so far how to make sure there won't be another phone call of her cousin in a month. The blonde needed a very good idea how to solve that problem.
"You forgot something!"
"Huh?" Sofia was confused. What kind of greeting was that? She wanted to bring Sara home after she was allowed to leave the hospital under the condition to stay in bed and rest. To make that sure Sofia would stay with her. The blonde knew, if she left Sara alone, the brunette was back in the lab tonight and there would be double shifts instead of rest.
"My babies."
"They're on the road with their grandmother…and the captain."
"Uh-huh…captain? Is there somebody else who doesn't like the grand in front of certain words?"
"The grand is alright, great-grand is too much."
"A family problem."
"We have ranks, we can use them."
"How long do you want to use them?"
"Another ten to fifteen years."
"Kieran isn't a rookie anymore when he joins the police academy?"
"If he ever joins it he'll be a rookie again and work for another rank."
"I'll get him in the lab."
"A lab rat?"
"With crazy hair."
"You want a baby Greg, you make a baby with Greg!" Sofia stabbed Sara with her index finger and smiled.
"I use your rookie, more fun for me."
"Maybe I should leave you here."
"I'll call a cab."
Sofia rolled her eyes and smirked. "Come on, I bring you home before my cousin changes his mind."
"He isn't here, has the morning off. He told me he doesn't want to see me anymore as a patient."
"He's right. You've been enough in hospital."
"I didn't want to be here."
"Stop treating your body so bad and you can stay away."
"That's my plan." Sara followed Sofia to her car. Because the blonde and the boys flew to Las Vegas, they had the car of Sofia's father.
"Do you remember where I live?"
"You have the concussion not me."
"I had."
"We're not sure about that."
"No headache, no blurry eyes, I'm fine. Yes I will stay in bed or on the couch today like I promised."
"You better do."
"If I would be as bitchy as you always call me I'd snap at you right now. Mind your own business, don't treat me like a child, don't you dare to tell me what to do and what not to do. I am not bitchy I won't say that."
"Close your eyes and relax I'll drive you home."
"I knew you appreciate that." Sara grinned.
Sofia's left corner of her mouth moved up a bit. Sara was fine. Or at least well enough to go home. No doubt the brunette had shocked her when she got the call that she was in hospital and without conscious for two days. No wonder Sofia had immediately packed her stuff, took the boys and left to Vegas. Somehow she knew Grissom won't appear and Sara needed somebody to be there. Greg was there as much as it was possible for him. Losing Sara on the team forced him to work more and have less time for her.