Chapter 7

Tanya, Catherine's baby sitter opened the door with Molly crying and clutching her ear. Tanya sighed in relief. "Poor thing is getting more uncomfortable. I tried the heat pad, but the damn thing won't help."

Sara smiled in sympathy and took Molly. "Hey sweetie." She held her close and turned to Grissom. "You want to try the heat pad. Usually works better with you."

Grissom nodded and followed Sara into the kitchen. Lindsey was watching a movie in the living room. Tanya sat next to Lindsey and let the two CSI's take care of Molly. Sara heated the pad, while Grissom leaned against a counter and held Molly close to his chest. Molly had one fist in her mouth and her other fist covering her ear. Sara turned as Grissom leaned down and kissed Molly's cheek. "Maybe we should take her with us."

Sara watched as he turned soft blues eyes on her and she chuckled lightly. "You're the boss, but Ecklie and Mobley might not be for the idea of a child at CSI. I'm not sure I want her to see what we do at such a young age. It could scare her."

"How about for an hour or two? Show Warrick and Nick how much of great aunt you really are." He suggested with a smirk.

She looked down at Molly and held the heat pad to her ear. She stood with her chest leaning against his arm as she kissed Molly's head. Sara brushed her hair back softly and nodded. "I suppose, but if we get told off by the boss. I'm blaming you." She poked him in the chest and grinned as he chuckled.

"Deal." He held Molly with one hand while the other came up to caress Sara's cheek. She smiled and leaned over Molly to kiss his lips before picking up Molly's bag and explaining to Tanya what was going on.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Catherine and Nick were already in the break room when Grissom walked in with Molly. She had her cheek on his shoulder as she continued to suck on her fist. Molly's eyes closed every now and then, but would open when a new sound found it's way to her ears. Grissom smiled at Catherine and watched as Nick examined the sight before him. Sara wondered in with the heat pad and handed it to Grissom as he sat down on the couch. Sara curled up next to Grissom as Molly slowly drifted into sleep with the heat pad doing it's job along with the antibiotics and Grissom gently rubbing her back.

"What happened with Tanya?" Catherine asked, not minding in the least that Molly was here.

Sara shrugged. "Molly's ear is still hurting and the heat pad wasn't working so we decided to bring her in. Grissom's the heat pad genius though. Molly's out like a light when he's holding her." She grinned.

Catherine nodded and sat down on the opposite couch with Nick. "She's tiny Sara." Nick smiled as he looked over the small body.

"She's nearly 8 months, but all the Sidle's were skinny. I'm trying to put some weight on her, but she burns it quicker than I do." Sara gently stroked the now sleeping baby's head.

Grissom adjusted the heat pad and applied it lightly back against Molly's ear. "Now that's a cute picture." Sara grinned at Warrick as he sat next to Nick. "She's adorable."

"It's a shame the poor tykes got an ear infection." Catherine sighed. "Lindsey's clingy when she's ill."

Sara nodded in understanding. "Molly's the same, but she'll just lie on the mat and watch you. She's very conscious of the things around her and interested in everything that has a binder and over 200 pages of written forensic material in it." Sara kissed Molly's head as she lifted her into her arms and left the room.

"Where's she going?" Nick asked following Sara with his eyes as she walked down the corridor.

Grissom pulled out his glasses and put them on. "To my office. Molly's car seat is there. She's staying a few hours, then we'll take her home."

Warrick and Nick looked at Catherine with huge grins and mouthed together 'we'. They snickered and left to get on with casework.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sara pushed herself up on the break room unit with a groan. "Dead end. You would have thought student's to be a little messier with a crime scene."

Grissom nodded in agreement as he helped himself to a coffee. He stirred it and watched Sara's fingers tap the unit top. He abandoned his coffee and stopped her hand from tapping out Morse code. He moved in front of her and took her hands in his as he found her eyes. Sara smiled softly and squeezed her fingers around his. She leaned forward to capture his lips in a slow and gentle kiss that both had been waiting for since they began getting closer to one another. Sharing the same bed on a few occasions with clothes on, touching each other and getting into personal space deliberately; it was bound to happen and if Molly didn't want to get up in the morning, then the kiss would have most likely turned into something more.

His hands released hers as he ran his fingers lightly up her legs to her lower back where he held her tightly to him. Sara's thighs pressed either side of his hips and her hands wrapped around his neck. The kiss wasn't rushed, it was passionate, but relishing every second was what both had wanted to do for so long.

Grissom pulled back slightly to see her eyes. Sara smiled as he did, she slipped off the counter and for a while they just held each other in silence. Grissom brushed his cheek against her hair. "I should check on Molly." Sara whispered into his neck.

"Yeah." Grissom's smile widened when neither made any attempt to move.

Sara raised her head and kissed his cheek before pulling away from his warm and comforting embrace. "See you later." He nodded and watched her as she left the room and walked towards his office.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Entering the office quietly, Sara noticed Molly's fist by her ear, but she was still sleeping. Sara sat down in Grissom's chair and sat back to watch as her niece slept. Over the few weeks, Molly had grown. She started to crawl, which Sara managed to video record for Chris and get many pictures. Soon Molly would start to teeth and hopefully her ear infection would have cleared up before then so she's not in too much discomfort.

After 20 minutes or so watching Molly sleep, Sara dozed off herself. Grissom came looking for her after an hour and when he opened his office door, he smiled. Closing it quietly, he noticed that Molly was awake. She was sucking on her fingers as she gurgled and watched over Sara. He stroked Molly's soft hair as he gazed down at Sara. She was leaning on her hand and looked uncomfortable. She moved and woke up, her eyes opened slowly and fixed on the two that were observing her.

Sara smiled tiredly. "I hope you charged to see me napping on the job kiddies." Molly giggled as Sara sat up and leaned over her. "Your ear still hurting sweetie?" Unbuckling her and lifting Molly up as she stood, Sara looked up at Grissom's amused eyes. "What?"

He shook his head and smiled. "Nothing."

"What time is it?" She asked walking around his desk to stand in front of him.

Grissom glanced at his watch. "Few hours left. You want to take her home? The rest of the shift is fairly slow with no cases and one dead end. Warrick and the others are still in the field and said they weren't going to be back for a few more hours." He pushed her hair over her shoulder and tucked an errant strand behind her ear. "You want me to stop by later?" He asked with a small shrug.

Sara held Molly close to her chest as she nodded. Grissom smiled and took a step closer. He leaned down to kiss Molly's neck and raised his head to Sara's so his eyes were level with hers. "You can make breakfast." She whispered against his lips.

"Mmmm, ok." He pulled away and picked up Molly's car seat and bag to follow Sara out to her car.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 8

Sara got Molly settled in her play pen. She was cooing as the farmyard animals on the mobile turned silently, but in the background the sound system was playing a soft sound of lulling music. Various artists from David Grey, RE.M and U2 poured out of the speakers as Sara put her feet up on the opposite arm of the couch and closed her eyes. Every few minutes or so, she would check Molly. Although she was happy watching the mobile turn and suckling her fists. After a few minutes and Sara's eyes closed against the sunlight peering through the window, she didn't hear the door open and the person enter.

Grissom made his way into the house quietly and upon moving into the living room further, he saw that Molly was happily playing and watching the animals fly in circles and over on the couch he spotted the lovely brunette with her head pushed into a cushion and her hands folded over her stomach. She looked peaceful. Moving towards the couch, he knelt on the floor in front of her still form and leaned down to kiss her partially parted lips. She moaned softly and kissed him back. Her arms loosely wrapped around his neck and held him to her as the kissed continued. Grissom chuckled and pulled away. "Good morning sleeping beauty." He whispered kissing her again quickly before standing.

Sara stretched and moved to stand. She took his offered hand and let him pull her up. "My prince knows how to wake a woman and, cook breakfast?" She asked with a wide smile.

"Of course." He grinned and made his way to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Molly went quiet all of a sudden and Sara peered over the play pen. "Let's get you bathed while uncle Grissom makes breakfast." Molly giggled as Sara picked her up. Grissom watched over the breakfast bar partition as they disappearing into the bathroom and smiled. 'Uncle Grissom huh?'

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Grissom wiped his hands clean and walked towards the bathroom. Not seeing Sara or Molly in there, he turned towards the open bedroom door. He leaned against the doorframe and watched as Molly stared up at her aunt as she hummed a tune. Sara pushed Molly's legs through her dungaree legs and lifted her slightly to pull the buckles over her shoulders. Grissom leaned his head on the wood frame as Sara whispered to Molly and rubbed her little tummy. Molly giggled and gurgled as she brought her hand up and suckled on her fingers. Sara chuckled lightly and grabbed a towel to wipe the dribble away. A she wiped Molly's chin, Sara smiled at the discovery. "Uh oh, teeth."

Grissom chuckled and Sara's head ducked and looked up at him from her bent position. He pushed off the frame and walked up behind her. He looked down at Molly as she watched him wrap Sara up in his arms. "Teething." He whispered.

"Yeah." Sara held his forearms to her and leaned her head back against his shoulder. "Breakfast ready?"

"Yes." His head came down to kiss her neck, but stopped when Molly started crying. "Someone's hungry."

Sara smirked. "Oh she doesn't like sharing."

Grissom snickered and let her go. "Let's find out shall we." Sara laughed and watched as Molly stopped crying when he picked her up. "She's hungry." He turned and grinned.

"Hmm. Come on then." Sara shook her head and walked behind them as they made their way top the kitchen.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After breakfast, Sara wiped Molly's face free of food and dribble. Grissom collected the dishes and started washing up. "I can do that you know. You did cook after all." Sara said looking up from Molly.

"You've got your hands full with Molly and I don't mind anyway." He turned briefly and sent her a small smile. "What are you up to today?"

Sara lifted Molly out of her highchair and held her. "Nothing much. Groceries and doctors appointment."

Grissom washed up the last dish and placed it on the draining rack. "For Molly?" He asked turning as he wiped his hands dry.

"Just a check up and I want to have her ear checked." Sara looked down at Molly and noticed the redness around her ear and cheek were fading slightly. "It looks like it's clearing up. She's not rubbing as much." Kissing her soft hair, Sara moved to sit on the couch.

Picking up his keys and cell phone, Grissom sat down on the coffee table. As he put the two items into pockets, he spoke softly. "If you tell me where, I'll go with you. I've just to go home to shower and change."

Sara nodded and rubbed Molly's back soothingly. "You don't have to," When he sighed, she continued. "But if your offering." She smiled at his amused glare. "At 2 and the address is on the pad by the phone."

Grissom leaned forward and took hold of Molly's hand. "She'll need some teething toys." He mused seeing the little girl chewing her fingers. He tapped Sara's knee as he stood and found the pad with the medical centre's address. "2pm." Sara nodded and watched as he closed the door after him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sara stood at the call of Molly's name and just as she approached the nurse, Grissom rushed through the door. "Sorry I'm late." He said coming to stop by Sara. "Traffic." Sara smiled as Molly opened her arms for him to hold her. Grissom took her and followed Sara and the nurse.

"My names Jean. I understand that Molly's your niece?" The Jean asked.

"That's right. Her mother just died and Chris her father is sorting things out at home." Sara explained brushing Molly's hair back. Grissom held Molly as she looked around the large room and tried to grab for the items on the desk.

Jean smiled and handed Molly a soft toy. "I hope everything turns out."

"I'm sure it will." Sara smiled down at Molly then turned back to Jean.

"I see that Molly has a middle ear infection?" Jean asked as she looked over the hospital notes.

Grissom nodded. "Yes. A few days now. The doctor put her on antibiotics and suggested a heat pad. Both seem to be working."

Jean stood and motioned for Grissom to sit Molly on the bed. "Let's take a look." Grissom supported Molly's back as Jean looked into her ears and continued to give her the check up as she was sitting calmly. "The ear infection is getting better. The redness should faded further if you continued the antibiotics and heat pad method. Also, teething is going to make her gums slightly swollen and her cheeks will tinge. Discomfort with her teething and the ear infection may cause more pain, but we'll give her some pain medicine and other than that, she's a healthy baby."

Sara took Molly as Jean lifted her up. "Thank you."

"Are there anything else, any question's?" Jean asked writing out a prescription.

Grissom looked from Sara back to Jean and shook his head. "Don't think so."

Jean smiled and nodded. "I hope you don't mind, but I have one." Sara smiled and held Molly as she snuggled against her aunts shoulder sleepily. "Do you have children?" At their exchange of surprised looks, Jean laughed softly. "I'm sorry. It's just, you are so good with Molly that I thought you may have children of your own. Molly's very happy and comfortable being around you both and vice versa." The nurse sat back in her chair and watched Grissom lean over to Sara and gently rub Molly's back.

"To be honest, neither of us had looked after a child before. Our jobs take up all our time." Grissom explained looking back up. "I hope you don't think we don't know what we are doing, because at first that was true, but not anymore."

Sara laughed and reached out to hold his hand. "She's not judging us Griss, just asking."

Grissom smiled and squeezed his fingers around hers. "Sorry."

Jean shook her head in understanding. "It's fine. I was just curious. If its any consolation, you'd both be very good parents and you obviously care a lot for Molly, your child or not. All baby's are gorgeous and Molly's just an example. I hope you both get to the point to have children of your own."

Grissom and Sara stood and shook hands with the nurse. "Thank you Jean."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*