AN: Happy New Year! I hope you all had a safe one. Thanks for the reviews, and the continued support, here is the next chapter. Warning: Suggestive adult behavior.

Chapter 40: A Special Request

Three Years later

October 22, 2016

With a case file in hand, Sara stops in front of Neal's closed office door and knocks.

A second later she hears a 'come in', so she opens the door and walks into the room with a smile. "My case is done."

Neal gives her a small smile while holding out his hand, and after Sara hands him the file, she really looked at him, feeling something was off, so she asked. "What's up? You look like you got something on your mind."

This time he sighed as he placed the file down on his desk. "When do you think your time as a CSI is really done? I mean it won't matter how long you do this job or how many criminals you put away, there is always going to be crime."

Sara now looked at Neal a little shocked, so she sits down and spoke again. "This doesn't sound like you, I thought the higher ups would have to take your badge before you just gave it up."

He gives her another small smile. "Honestly, for a long time I did too, but lately I've been thinking it's my time to call it a career, at least as a CSI." Before Sara could speak, he continued with a bigger smile. "Think of it this way, with me gone, this seat would finally be yours."

Sara chuckled softly at first before asking in a serious tone. "You didn't think I was waiting for your job, did you?" Now before he could speak, she spoke again in a sincere tone. "Because I honestly would rather still have you here than your job."

He could tell she really meant that, and he gave her another smile. "I know you meant that, and that's very kind of you, but I hope you're not saying it because you don't think you are ready for this position." Once again before Sara could speak, he continued. "Because you are, I've seen how you trained the rookies through the years, you're a true leader, and I have every faith in you."

Sara knew he meant his words as well. "Thanks Neal."

"You're welcome, and I meant every word."

"I know you did." There was a slight pause before she spoke again. "But you haven't decided yet, have you?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "Are you kidding me? If I go home and tell my wife I quit my job without talking to her first, I might be sleeping on the couch for weeks." Sara chuckled with a nod, before he spoke again. "Like I said, I'm still in the thinking phase."

"Well, you think for as long as you need to, and I'll support your decision no matter what it is."

"Thank you, Sara, you've always had my back."

She gives him a friendly smile. "We are partners, that's what we are supposed to do, besides you've always had mine." She then smirked. "Even in the beginning, when I would annoy you with all my questions."

They both chuckled for a few minutes before he asked. "So, enough of this work talk, you guys still having a get-together for the game tonight?"

With a win tonight, the Chicago Cubs make it to the World Series for the first time in multiple decades, which is also the closest they've been in Grissom's lifetime. The sad thing about it though was that they were playing the Los Angeles Dodgers, his father's and Daniel's team, so Grissom would be lying if he said he wasn't a little torn.

Sara replied with a small chuckle. "Of course, this is the game of the century for him, so he wants to share it with the people close to him. Until of course the Cubs win the World Series, then that would be the game of the century for him."

He chuckled with a nod. "Believe me, as a fellow long time Cubs fan, I feel his pain. Although, I'm sure he feels it a little deeper, having played for them for 18 years and never getting as close as they are now."

She nodded with another smile. "So, we should expect you at the house tonight then?"

His smile gets wider. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

She chuckled as she stood up from the chair she had been sitting on. "Alight, I'll see you later."

After one more nod and smile from Neal, Sara turned and headed for the door then walked out of the office, shutting the door behind her.

Later that evening

"Man, I can't believe I am not there watching the game with you tonight, it's the game of the century, at least until they win the World Series."

Grace, now a Junior at UCLA, was in her college dorm room talking to her father, but he had it on speaker, so she heard her mother laugh since that's what she had said earlier to Neal.

She couldn't be there because she had an early study group session tomorrow.

Grissom does a little sigh before replying. "I know butterfly, I wish we can share the moment together."

Grace, who also has had a nice baseball college career so far, smiled on her end. "It's ok daddy, we'll have one when they win the World Series, because I am not missing that moment with you. I don't care if I have to ask some of my classmates to take notes for me for my classes."

"I hope it happens."

With confidence, his daughter replied. "It will, keep the faith, daddy." Grissom just smiled and Grace continued after clearing her throat. "I should let you go so you can set up your get-together. Love you dad, mom and tell Jackson and Olivia I love them too."

Both parents replied together. "Love you too." Then Grissom spoke alone. "We will, have a good night and be safe if you are going out."

She wasn't sure yet if she was going out to watch the game with some of her teammates, which most was rooting for the Dodgers, or if she was going to stay in the dorm and watch it.

"I will dad, goodnight to you and mom, and go Cubs!"

Grissom chuckled before saying 'Go Cubs' then after the group said bye, father and daughter hung up.

Grissom sets his phone on the end table by the couch and looked at Sara, who gave him a warm smile and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry babe, I know how much you wish you can watch the game with your favorite person."

Grissom smiled as he cupped her cheek. "Well, dear, there is technically a four-way tie for my favorite person." Sara smiled a little wider, knowing her husband was talking about their little family, as he continued. "And we know the other two has little to no interest in the sport."

No matter how much Grissom tried, he never could get Jackson into baseball, at least to the same level of his older sister. He would watch the occasional game here and there and knew the basics of the sport, but that was about it, which was why he was next door hanging out with his best friend tonight, well really the whole weekend.

Sara does a little sigh after he said that. "Sorry about that too."

Grissom shook his head with another smile. "I'm not. We both agreed that we wouldn't force our children to like something just because we do. I wouldn't trade him or Olivia for anything. Besides, Jackson may not be following in my footsteps, but I believe he's following in yours."

Jackson loved math, science and anything that deals with forensics, he would watch crime shows all day if you let him.

Sara nodded with one more smile. "You're probably right on that one."

And while Olivia had a little more interest in the sport than her brother, she was more into the art world, and she was currently across the street, enjoying a night with her friend too.

They share a little kiss, and after pulling back, they agreed to get the snacks ready and for him to change into his jersey, something he wears every important game.

A few hours later

Even though the Cubs took an early lead, and kept the Dodgers from scoring any runs, Grissom was practically on the edge of his seat the whole game.

Then when that final out came, there could have been a tie on who cheered louder, him or Neal, and while Daniel was a little bummed about his Dodgers losing, he was happy for the other guys, especially for Grissom.

After saying goodbye to their guests and shutting the front door, Sara and Grissom grabbed the empty snack bowls and headed to the kitchen to clean up, and while they were finishing up, Sara spoke, thinking about what Neal and her were talking about in his office earlier that day. "You know Neal brought up a good point towards the end of shift today."

While drying his hands with a hand towel, he raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what is that?"

She sighed as she closed the dishwasher. "With a job like ours, when no matter how long you work at it and how many criminals you put away, how do you know when to call it a career, knowing there is always going to be criminals out there?"

He placed the towel on the counter and walked up to her, asking softly. "Wait, are you…"

She cuts him off with a head shake. "Me? No." She gave him a smile/smirk. "Honestly, it feels I'm just getting started."

He smiled as he cupped her cheek before asking. "So, he is?"

"He's thinking about it."

He nodded in understanding, asking softly again. "And how do you feel about that?"

"Well, on one hand, the team will be losing a good leader."

Before she could continue, he spoke with love in his eyes. "But they'll gain an even better one, no offense to Neal of course."

Sara shyly smiled before continuing. "But on the other hand, if he feels it's his time to call it a career, then I support him 100%"

"And I believe you just answered your own question, it's something you just feel. When you feel like you've done all that you can, it's time to trust those who you taught to carry on where you leave off."

She nodded in agreement after thinking about it for a moment, then with a sigh, she spoke softly. "I just wish I can get them all off the streets before my time is up at the lab."

He smiled as he ran a thumb up and down her cheek for comfort. "I know you do, honey, and I also know you will do your best to getting as many as you can, no matter how much longer you are in the lab."

An unexpected tear went down her cheek, which he wiped it away, as she spoke again. "And if I never said it before, thank you for supporting my career, I know it can't be easy at times."

He smiled with his blue eyes sparkling. "No, it's not, but I always will, just like you've supported both of my careers."

She smiled in return as she moved her hand up to cup his bearded cheek. "Always, as long as you are happy."

His smile grew. "I couldn't be happier, especially tonight."

Her smile grew as she slid her hand down so she could grab his hand, then spoke as she led him out of the kitchen, shutting off the lights as they walked out of the room. "Speaking of tonight, we have the house to ourselves and something to celebrate."

Walking towards the stairs, once again shutting lights off, this time in the living room, he asked with another raised eyebrow and smirk. "Oh? And what kind of celebration did you have in mind?"

Now walking up the stairs, leading her husband towards their bedroom, Sara smiled. "It's best that I show you."

Two Days later

The Grissom family was sitting at the kitchen table, eating their breakfast when a phone rings, not really thinking about it since it was pretty much a habit at this point, Sara goes to answer her phone, but then she looked at her husband and shook her head with a smile/smirk. "For once it isn't mine bugging us during breakfast."

Jackson snickered while Grissom smiled, grabbing his phone and gave it a look, not recognizing the number itself, but knowing the area code was Chicago, so he answered without much delay. "Hello?" There was a pause before Grissom's face lit up with a smile as he replied. "Wow, what an honor sir, yes I'll get back to you as soon as possible with my answer, yes sir, thank you, you have a good day too, bye."

As he hung up his phone, Sara asked with curiosity. "What was that about?"

He sets his phone down back on the table and cleared his throat before speaking and signing, so Olivia could be part of the discussion. "That was one of the owners from the Chicago Cubs and he asked me if I would like to throw the first pitch before the start of game 5 in the World Series, if there is a of course a Game 5."

Sara's eyes went wide with excitement for her husband. "Wow, really?" He nodded, and before he could speak, she continued. "Well then call him back right now and say you'll do it."

Grissom started to smile again. "Really?"

Sara chuckled with a nod. "Yes, really, this is an opportunity you can't miss. In fact, I don't think any of us should, let's make it a whole family ordeal, let's all go."

Grissom was starting to feel the excitement as he looked at the kids. "Well, what do you guys say? I know it's not really your..."

Jackson cuts his father off with a smile. "I think I can make an exception this time, this is a big deal for you, even though you're not the one playing in the game, I would like to be there to support you."

Olivia nodded with a smile, signing. 'Me too, daddy.'

Grissom looked at his wife, her smile still beaming for him, so he nodded with a smile. "Well, I guess we are going to Chicago if there is a game 5."

They all cheered before Grissom stood up with his phone. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to make a few phone calls."

Sara smirked as her husband walked towards the door. "And I bet one of those phone calls is to Grace."

He turned around and smirked. "Hey, you said it yourself, let's make it a family ordeal, and it wouldn't be a whole family ordeal without her."

"You got that right and tell her it wouldn't be the same without her."

"I will."

As Grissom walked out of the room, Sara does a small sigh, hoping there was a game 5 so her husband can enjoy this amazing opportunity, and while she knew he wished he could enjoy that 'big stage' longer than one pitch, he'll enjoy every moment to the fullest.

AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. More to come, but we are in the final stretch.