Summary: After graduating from her first four years at UCLA, Katie wanted to get a head start on her CSI career, but it could have ended before it began, why is that?

Genre: Family, Hurt/Comfort
Rating: Low T
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Mention of death (CSI Case)
Main Parings: GSR
Minor Parings: William/Bella, Isabella/Jason
Other Characters: Katie, Lindsey, Malcolm, Implied other OC's

Chapter 37: Katie's First day

Mid July, 2035

18 year old Katie Grissom woke up to her alarm clock, and after turning it off, she laid there in bed for a few minutes, a smile growing on her face while she gets out of bed and changes for the day because today was the first day she'll be working as a CSI.

Even though she graduated, she still wanted to go back to college in the fall and get a higher degree, but before any of that was coming, she wanted to get her feet 'wet' at the lab, to prepare herself a little for when she does end up working as a CSI full time.

Once she was changed, she headed downstairs, where she greeted her parents in the kitchen, which Grissom was just finishing the pancakes when she walked into the room.

Sara smiled at her daughter as she asked. "You ready for your first day?"

Katie nodded as she sat down at her spot at the table. "Yeah, I am."

Grissom finished the first set of pancakes, placed them on a plate and walked towards the table before handing them towards his daughter, which she chuckled when she saw they were animal shaped and looked at her father with a curious look, causing Grissom to smile while replying. "Hey, these have always been made on special occasions, especially during first days of school, so who says you can't have them on your first day of work?"

Katie looked at Sara, and she smirked. "What do you think your father made me on my first day as supervisor?"

Katie chuckled. "Really?"

Sara nodded with a smile. "It's just best to humor him."

Grissom mumbled. "You two know I'm standing right here, right? And I can hear everything you say."

The women chuckled before Katie finally took the plate from her father with love in her eyes. "Thank you, daddy."

He nodded as he turned to finish up. "You're welcome, ladybug."

After pouring syrup on her food, she dug right in, at least to make her comfortable, it was after all her first day and she didn't think it was a good idea to go on a full stomach.

Once breakfast was over, Sara and Katie kissed their husband/father goodbye before the two women walked out of the house so Sara could drive them to the lab, and when they got there, Sara parks and they get out before walking towards the entrance of the building.

They walked in when they were at the entrance, where they were greeted by the long time receptionist before heading towards the locker room so Katie can drop off her things, then they headed towards the supply room so Sara could show Katie how to pack her CSI case.

When they were done with that, they headed to and walked in the break-room, where most of the team was already in there, and Sara and Katie smiled at them all before Sara spoke. "Good morning everybody, I know all of you know my youngest daughter, and today she'll be joining us to get her first real look at what a CSI does ."

They all greeted her warmly, and while the younger Grissom went to go sit down at the table, Sara mentioned she'll be right back before heading towards her office so she could drop off her things, returning and sitting down in the chair next to her daughter just as Lindsey walked in, she then greeted everybody with a smile. "Hi and good morning everybody. And nice to see you here Katie."

Katie nodded with a smile before Lindsey started handing out the cases, and when she got to Sara and Katie, she handed the assignment to Katie, which after she got it and looked at, already knowing the lingo on what she was reading, she spoke without thinking. "Excuse me, but a 'trash' run?"

The other CSIs, not named Lindsey, Malcolm and Sara, looked at Katie in shock for questioning Lindsey's assignment order, momentarily forgetting this was her first day, and Sara spoke softly after clearing her throat. "Katie, the first thing about being a CSI is that no case is insignificant, they all matter, no matter what you have to do."

Katie feeling embarrassed for speaking like that, which normally she wouldn't, it's just something came over her, and nodded, then she looked at Lindsey. "I'm sorry, I just felt that my mom is past 'trash' runs and I didn't want her to be tied down because of me."

Lindsey shook her head with a smile. "I get it." She then cleared her throat and continued. "It's just that your mother and I talked about this, and she felt that maybe we should ease your way in."

But Katie shook her head. "But I don't want to be eased in. I'm going to be doing the hard stuff eventually, so why not start now, rip that 'band-aid' right off."

Lindsey looked at Sara, telling her it's up to her, before Sara looked at her daughter a moment later. "You sure?"

Katie nodded, determined. "Yes."

Sara then looked at Lindsey and gave her a nod of approval, but now Lindsey felt there was a problem because she didn't like taking a case away from a CSI once she's given the order, unless she completely had to, so she looked around the table, silently asking if anyone would be wiling trade without her actually asking, and that's when Malcolm nodded with a smile as he held out his assignment sheet to the younger woman. "You know what, I like your attitude, and I completely agree with you, so here, for one time only I'll be willing to trade you, if you're really sure that's what you want."

With Malcolm being second in command, he pretty much gets the best cases there was, so Katie knew it was going to be a 'good one', and she smiled with a nod as they switched assignments. "Thank you, Malcolm."

After Malcolm waved it off, Lindsey spoke again. "Alright, be safe and good luck out there, you are all dismissed." As they all stood up from their seats, Lindsey looked at Katie. "Katie, can you come to my office for a minute?"

Katie tried to hide her worry while she nodded, but then after Lindsey nodded in return and walked out of the room, Katie looked at her mother, showing the worry in her eyes, which Sara reassured her with a smile of her own, knowing there were two things she still needed to receive before she could leave the lab, and Lindsey was the one that was going to give them to her. "It's ok, I'll meet out in the parking lot."

Trusting her mother, the younger girl nodded while handing the assignment sheet to her before heading towards Lindsey's office, and once she got there, Lindsey was just sitting down at her desk.

She walked fully in the room as she spoke in apologetic tone. "I really am sorry, Lindsey, it won't happen again."

Lindsey chuckled with a smile. "Relax Katie, that's not why I asked you to come in here." As Katie took a breath and tried to relax, Lindsey continued with a small smirk. "You may look more like your father, and have that quietness like him, but I have a feeling there is a lot of your mother in you that's more than likely going to be showing up more than you realize while doing this job."

Since being a CSI with Sara, Lindsey saw new sides of her that she had never seen while growing up.

Katie chuckled, then raised an eyebrow as she replied. "I'll take that as a compliment, I guess?"

Lindsey chuckled again with a nod. "And you should because it was, and believe me, I like your fire." Katie smiled with pride, then Lindsey cleared her throat and started speaking while opening the top drawer from her desk. "Now, it's time to become an official CSI." She pulled out a badge and gun with a holster and sets it on her desk in front of Katie.

Katie looked down at the two items, picked up her badge first, and opened it up to see a picture that they had taken a week ago and her CSI information, then after closing it she picked up her gun, which her gun score wasn't that great but it was high enough for her to carry one. Besides, practice makes perfect after all, and she was obviously determined to get there eventually.

As she was looking her gun, she asked Lindsey softly. "Have you ever shot someone?"

Not wanting to scare the younger woman, but wanted to be truthful, Lindsey nodded. "A couple of times." When Katie just nodded, Lindsey continued, trying to reassure her. "I know things are, and will get even more overwhelming as your day continues, but I have a feeling at the end of the day you'll be ok."

She took a breath and asked with a small smile. "What makes you so sure?"

Lindsey didn't even hesitate. "Well for one, where you came from/who your parents are, two, you were a five year old third grader, which meant you were also a 14 year old college student, and three, fell in love and eventually worked your way out of a broken heart, if those things alone don't scream a strong person, heck a strong woman, then I don't know what does."

Katie's smile got a little wider, thankful she was hearing this from some one other than her parents or siblings, not that she wouldn't believe them if they said the exact same thing, but it was nice hearing it from someone she knew, but wasn't that close with.

"Thank you Lindsey."

"You're welcome, and know that just because you are a strong woman, doesn't mean you can't break down every once in awhile. My office is always open to you, whether you want to use it for crying, screaming, need a moment to take a breath or two, or just sit in silence to think. Whatever you need, just ask, I always have your back, never forget that."

Katie nodded one more time. "I won't, thanks again."

After one more nod from Lindsey, Katie turned around and walk out of the room, ready to start her first case.

Once Katie met her mom out in the parking lot, Sara drove them to the crime scene, which was in one of the nicer neighborhoods, and after parking the vehicle across the street from their crime scene, Sara looked at her daughter and started to give her as much comfort as she could, knowing this was the first time she'll see a real life dead body.

When she was done, and after a moment of silence, Katie nodded. "Ok, I'm ready."

Sara gave her a nod before they get out of the vehicle, then they walked towards the back to get their cases, and Sara had also grabbed a backpack for additional supplies just in case before they headed towards their crime scene.

They were met at the CSI tape by the long time detective, Damian, where they greeted one another before he shed more light on the case, then when they made it to the front door, they stopped and Sara nodded with a smile. "Thank you detective." Damian nodded before Sara looked at her daughter, and after one more nod from her, the pair walked into the house, where they saw a mess but no body in the living or dinning room.

Taking their time going through the main rooms, they eventually made to the bedrooms, and while this house did have kids in it, they were thankfully with other family members when the burglary/murder occurred, so they didn't get to the dead bodies till they reached the end of the hall, and while it wasn't the worst Sara had seen by a long shot, it still looked pretty gruesome for a 'first timer', so she could only imagine what was going through her daughter's head, causing her to keep an eye on her, which for a few moments, Katie was being strong, but then in a flash it looked like she was going to be sick, so Sara spoke with urgency. "Honey, go outside and as far from the house as you can get, you don't want to contaminate the scene."

Katie nodded, stood up since she had been kneeling down to her case to get her gloves, ran from the room and out of the house. Sara opened the backpack she had with her and grabbed one of the water bottles she had packed, just in case for this moment, then walked out of the room and out of the house, ignoring the looks she was getting from the police officers.

When she saw her daughter out in the front yard, Damian was with her trying to reassure her, and Sara smiled at him when she was near them. "Thanks again, Damian."

He nodded with a smile and stepped away while Sara placed her hand on the small of her daughter's back and hands her the water. "Here, to wash out your mouth."

Katie took it with a nod and did just that, and once she was finished, she said a small thank you, like she was embarrassed at what happened, which Sara was about to say something, but Katie just cleared her throat and said she was ready to go back in there before walking towards the front door again, causing Sara to smile, liking her determination, but worried for her too.

(Hours later, Lunch time)

Before they knew it, lunch time came around, but not feeling that hungry, Katie settled on something light from the vending machine and sat down at the table, where she was alone for several minutes before Sara stepped into the room, and seeing that her daughter was alone, she walked up to the table and sat down.

It was silent for several minutes before Sara finally spoke after clearing her throat. "You know I puked the first time I saw a dead body."

Katie looked at her mother and shook her head slightly. "Mom, you don't have..."

But Sara cuts her off as she leaned forward and placed her hand on her daughter's hand. "It's true. As CSIs we see things that no one should ever see, we also see the worst side of people that I wish never existed, so there is no shame on what happened to you earlier, you have nothing to be embarrassed about."

Katie couldn't help but smile slightly, which was the first smile since before they arrived at the crime scene. "And it looked like you were prepared."

Sara nodded with a smile. "As CSIs we also need to be prepared for anything."

Katie lost the smile and sighed as she asked. "What has kept you going all this time?"

Before Sara could respond to her daughter's question, her phone buzzed, so she leaned back in her chair and took it from her pocket her to see a message, then she looked at her daughter with a smile. "We have a break in the case."

Katie looked surprised. "Already?"

Sara nodded as she get up from her seat. "Sometimes it can happen just like that, so you ready for more crime solving?"

Katie nodded while she stood up from her chair, tossed what she hadn't finished in the trash before mother and daughter headed for the DNA lab.

Towards the end of shift, Sara and Katie had caught their suspect and was put away, then not long after, the family member who was watching the kids, who turned out to be an older sister to the female victim, came to the lab with tearful thank yous and hugs, and as she walked away, Sara spoke softly as they watched her walk out of the lab. "You asked me earlier what has kept me from continuing this job. It's moments like that, we may not be able to bring the dead back to life, but most of the times we are able to give the victim's families some type of closure that they need to move on, and while it's not much, I feel glad when I get to do that for them, that I'm doing something that helps other people." She then looked at her daughter and continued, knowing she really struggled today. "And while I would love for you to continue to do this job, and have that same type of feeling, I'll understand completely if it's not for you after all."

Katie just nodded before walking towards the office she shared with the other lower ranked CSIs, and once Sara could no longer see her daughter, she pulled her phone out of her pocket, hit speed dial number 1 and placed it up to her ear as she headed towards her office, smiling when she heard his all too familiar greeting, even though he knew who was calling him, but she still loved to hear it, which was why he still did it.

"Grissom."

"Hi babe, I need to talk to you about something."

30 minutes later

After Lindsey officially dismissed the team, her, Malcolm, and Sara went back to their offices while Katie and the remaining three CSIs were sitting in the break-room, and while she did contribute in their small talk a little, she was in her own world, contemplating if she was actually in the right career.

Her moment was interrupted when she saw her father step in the door way of the break-room, which she was both confused and shocked when she did.

"Dadd..." She stopped herself before finishing that and just went with the tradition 'Dad?' with the others in the room.

Grissom smiled as he asked. "You done for the day?" After she nodded, he continued. "Then come on, get your things, I want to take you somewhere."

She grabbed her shoulder bag as she stood up with now only confusion on her face. "Where are we going?"

As they walked down the hall, he responded. "You'll know when we get there."

Once they got into the vehicle, Katie was pulling out her phone, and Grissom asked. "What are you doing?"

"I think I should call mom to let her..."

He cuts her off as he started the vehicle. "You won't need to."

She turned her head to look at her father with a raised eyebrow. "And why wouldn't I?" She then saw a shy look on her father's face, and she gets wide-eyes. "Because she called you, which means you know what happened."

Don't get her wrong she really loves the success of her parent's marriage, but sometimes, like for this instance, she didn't like that they shared everything that went on with their kids, so she sighed as she looked out her window, causing Grissom to speak softly. "I'm sorry that you went through that, ladybug, but know that..."

She cuts him off as she looked over at him. "Are you going to tell me that you threw up after your first sight of a dead body too?"

He shook his head while stopping at a stop light before speaking softly again. "No, my first sight of a dead human body made me sad."

Katie looked confused at first, then she remembered something, and gasped. "Your father?" Grissom did a short nod while Katie started to have tears in her eyes. "Daddy, I'm sor..."

He cuts her off with a reassuring look. "It's ok." He then cleared his throat before continuing. "But that didn't mean I wasn't affected by every victim that I encountered, some I still have with me to this day."

When all Katie did was nod, Grissom continued to drive, which it was in silence, and after about 35 minutes on the road, Katie asked softly. "And how did you get past it enough to move on to the next one?"

Grissom smiled warmly as he replied. "Mostly by being with your mom, she helped me in a big way." He then cleared his throat and continued. "Another thing about being a CSI is to learn to not take the cases home with you. And believe me, I know it's difficult, both your mother and I have lost that 'battle' a few times during our careers, but it's important to at least try because carrying those with you will only drag you down."

Katie then spoke softly. "What if I don't have someone like you waiting at home for me?"

No hesitation, he responded. "Then find a different distraction, something that takes your mind off the CSI world."

Then she asked. "And what was your distraction before mom?"

Grissom smiled as he pulled into a parking lot. "Well, I had my bugs."

Katie chuckled slightly. "That was pretty much a given."

He chuckled in response before replying with a smirk. "Ok, then there were crossword puzzles." When she nodded with known smile, he nodded his head forward. "And finally, that."

Katie turned her head to see a big roller-coaster from Six flags before looking at her father. "Roller-coasters?"

Grissom nodded with a smile. "Yes, they were a major help for me before your mom, especially after the more difficult ones."

She took a breath and nodded. "So you brought me here..."

He cuts her off as he took her hand. "To see if it will help you, and know that if you need this distraction again, and you're looking for a wing man, I'm there for you, all you have to do is ask."

Katie smiled with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, daddy."

Grissom cupped his daughter's cheek as he spoke softly, lovingly. "You're very welcome, ladybug, anytime."

As he wiped her tears away, she spoke with another smile. "Well, since you drove all the way here, we might as well ride a few, we don't want this to be a wasted trip."

Grissom chuckled with a nod. "My thoughts exactly." Then as they were opening their doors, he finished. "But just so you know, any time I get to spend with you is never a waste to me, no matter if we were driving in circles."

Katie just nodded with one more smile, happy to have this time with him. She maybe 18 years old, but she still loved riding roller-coasters with her dad, and now that she knew they hold another meaning for him, she might just enjoy the coasters a little more, especially if they help her too.

When they arrived home a few hours later, the other Grissom 'kids' were there to be there for their sister, which they didn't know the details on what happened, but they knew being a CSI was a tough career choice so they just wanted to make sure she was ok, especially for her first day.

The Next morning

Sara and Grissom were sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee when Katie walked in the room, and after she poured some milk, she walked towards the kitchen table and sat down so her father was towards her left side while her mother was across from her, then she spoke softly. "I'll admit that while I knew this career choice would be hard, I didn't realize how hard it could actually be until yesterday." She took a moment, then before Sara or Grissom could speak/reassure their daughter, Katie continued with a more determined tone with a fire in her eyes that reminded Grissom on who her mother is. "That being said, I'm not giving up. I'm still determined to make this work. There are people out there who need people to speak for them, to give their families closure, and I want to be one of them." She then had tears in her eyes as she looked at her mother. "If you'll still have me, mom?"

Sara smiled with tears and pride in her eyes while moving her hand forward to take her daughter's hand. "Always."

Katie nodded with a smile before looking at her father and smirking. "And I hope you have time to schedule some roller-coaster trips in the future."

Grissom smiled as he placed his hand on top of his wife's, which was still covering their daughter's as he replied. "Like I said yesterday, anytime."

After one more nod, she whispered. "I love you, guys, thank you for supporting me, and being there for me."

Grissom squeezed their hands while replying. "We love you too, and always."

Katie may have had a rough first day, which had to be expected, but she was determined to move past it and be the best CSI she could be, just like the two people she admired and loved the most, and only hope that one day she'll have someone to come home to who will help her in a way her parents helped one another.

AN: Three more chapters to go, thanks for reading, and please review.