Chapter 3 A/N: Thanks to Anne – you rule girl! Thanks for beta-ing our fic and all of your funny comments! Also big thanks to all the faithful reviewers and our Dutch Diva – MAR !!!

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"Jim? Jim?" Catherine hurried her way over to the homicide detective, Alexis and Reese closely following. He was talking to a long, slim brunette holding a clipboard. Brass turned around. "Catherine, ah, there they are." He smiled at the two girls.

"I'm Sophia Lancetti from Child's Services." The brunette extended a hand and Catherine briefly shook it. "Willows."

Catherine knew they had to discuss the situation, without Alexis and Reese, so she asked Brass to take them to the break-room. Both girls acted nervous when they were told to go with Brass.

"It's alright, he won't bite." Catherine smiled at them reassuringly.

Reese glanced at Grissom, who nodded in return.

"Come on, you two, let's see if we can get you something to snack!" Brass said, and led them to the break room.

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When Grissom walked back to his office, Greg caught up with him. "Hey Grissom," he started, "I was wondering how that hotel shooting case was coming along?"

"Not bad, as far as I know. Warrick and Sara are working it, you know?" Grissom responded and Greg nodded.

The older man looked past the eager lab tech to the break room where he saw Catherine talking to Jim Brass and a woman he didn't know.

"Earth to Gil Grissom...?" Greg tried to get his attention again, waving a hand in front of his face.

"Yeah, what is it?" Grissom snapped back to reality again.

"I was wondering if there was anything I could do on this case." Greg asked him. "Besides the usual stuff, that is."

"Um...no...at least not right now." He gazed at Catherine and Jim again, and wondered who that woman was and what they were talking about. Could they be discussing the case without him?

"Those the two girls you and Catherine found at the crime scene?" Greg wondered out loud.

"Yes, that's them." Grissom said, distractedly.

"I heard about them. I mean, the whole Lab knows their story." Greg suddenly said, with a soft sympathetic sigh. "Sara told me you guys didn't put them on your lists of suspects because there's no reason to believe that they're...anyway, I was like 'duh'!!! I mean, it must be horrible to witness your parent's murder. They're kinda alone now, aren't they?" He rambled on. "I mean, I heard that they have no family that you guys you know about, right?"

Grissom nodded. "We actually hardly know anything about the kids; Catherine is kind of protective of them...and well... Studies have showed that it's best to protect traumatised witnesses, especially children, from long interrogations. Because of the trauma, they can be very susceptible to suggestion."

"Right. Well, can't blame Cath for being protective of them. "Greg said, looking at the small group in the break room. Grissom gave him a strange look. "I mean, they've got no one left. No wonder they try to find some stability with you two." Greg sighed. "So, which one crawled out of the closet?" he asked Grissom.

"The taller one," he pointed at Reese.

Suddenly Reese looked up and saw the two men standing in the hallway. She weakly waved at Grissom. When he didn't wave back, she tried to catch his attention again, and waved at him once more.

"Uh, Griss?" Greg said, "I think she's waving at you. First time today I've seen that one smile. Or even move."

And then realisation hit the grey supervisor.

"Yeah, I know, you're right." Grissom waved back at Reese and he smiled at her. Reese whispered something at her sister and Alexis also waved at him.

"Well..." Greg said, also smiling at the two kids. "I'd better get back to work. All work, no play, right?"

"Of course." Grissom nodded. "Oh, and Greg?

Greg turned around. "Yup?"

"Thanks."

Greg was stunned, to say the least. "Um.....You're welcome, but tell me what I did so I can do it again."

"This conversation." Grissom smiled and walked off to Catherine who was now talking to the woman by herself.

"Sure, anytime, Boss-man." Greg had no idea what Grissom had meant, but was still proud of himself. He marched back to the DNA-Lab again, this time with a spring in his step.

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When Jim and the kids left, Lancetti cleared her throat.

"Well.." Catherine started. "I'm sure Captain Brass already explained to you that you can't just take these kids and put them...God knows where. They're possible eye-witnesses to a double murder. We have to protect them."

"I know that," the brunette started. "I was called in to make sure that Alexis and Reese would be protected." She looked around. "Not just against the perpetrators. Against anyone."

Catherine shook her head. "Anyone being...who? The police-force? CSI? Do you honestly think we're just going to use them for their statements and then get rid off them or something? Is that what you're trying to imply here? Look here, I'm going to forget you ever tried. "

"Mrs Willows-"

"Ms."

"Ms. Willows," Lancetti started again. "This is my last call for the day. Alexis and Reese don't have a family, we don't even know their names....it's going to be difficult enough finding them a home as it is. Now, if you're not willing to cooperate...."

"I'm being cooperative, I'm being as cooperative as any human being can possibly be! You know what? I'll take care of them. You can't put them in a shelter or something like that. I'm a mother myself; I can keep them with me for a few days."

Lancetti glanced around nervously. "Miss Willows, it's against policy to-"

"The youngest one trusts me, they'll open up eventually. But for now, they're scared, they're alone. They've been through God knows what. They need to be somewhere safe."

"But surely you understand-" When Lancetti caught Catherine's angry and determined expressions, she started to mutter, "..but you're by yourself. And you already have a child-"

"-She won't be by herself." Grissom interjected as he walked over to them.

Catherine spun around. "Gil?" Where the hell did he come from? What was with the change of attitude? Oh, bless that man for making no sense at all.

"I'll be there." He told Lancetti. "She's an excellent mother, who doesn't need any help. But if it will make you feel better, I'll be there."

Lancetti sighed, and rubbed her forehead. "Look," she began and Catherine already knew what was coming. "I don't usually do this, but given this extraordinary situation, I will make an exception."

Catherine was very surprised but also relieved.

"But," Lancetti continued, "this is only a temporarily solution. We'll check in daily and I assume the two of you are no longer working this case?"

"Not actively, no. It'd be conflict of interest," Grissom answered.

"Alright then. As soon as we find out who they are, we'll start looking for their family, so I'm sure they won't be with you for long. Well....... I'll go start making some calls." The brunette sighed.

"Really? That's great!" Catherine said enthusiastically.

"And there's one other thing." Lancetti turned to Grissom. "I've heard that the oldest girl is kind of turning to you. "She glanced at Catherine, who nodded in confirmation. "I understand that you're also the one that found her."

"That's true and I am fully aware of that. I will be there as much as humanly possible," he told her.

"Ok, then we agree on that, now I've you'll excuse me" Lancetti got up and gathered her things. "We'll keep in contact daily."

Cath nodded. "That's ok, it'll work out".

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Reese and Alexis had watched everything and wondered where they had to go now.

"I want to stay with Catherine. She's sweet to us. She smiles a lot and she has pretty hair," Alexis said to her sister.

"Have you forgotten what happened? I just... don't know, Lexi," Reese shrugged stubbornly. "I don't know."

She saw Grissom walking up to Catherine and the other woman.

"What's going to happen to us?" Alexis asked.

"I don't know," Reese shook her head sadly and looked at Grissom. He saw Reese look at him and smiled at her reassuringly.

"Lexi?"

"Hm?"

"Mr Grissom. He looks ....smart. I think...maybe, everything will be better now."

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Lancetti gestured at her phone and excused herself, disappearing in one of the hallways.

Catherine couldn't suppress the smile on her face as she watched the woman leave.

"What are you smiling about?" Grissom asked, equally amused, but unsure what about.

"I'm just....grateful."

He frowned. "For what exactly?"

"That underneath all your tough-acts, infamous haiku's, slightly disturbing collection of bugs and bottled animals....you're still kinda..... soft." She grinned. "But really, thanks for backing me up."

Grissom shook his head. "Anyone would have done this."

She cocked an eyebrow. "So, what's the plan?"

"The plan?"

"Yeah. This is a partnership, Gil. We'll need to divide our tasks. Figure out an approach."

"Approach?"

"Are you just gonna echo every last word I say, or are you that confused?"

"Confused." He smirked, blue eyes sparkling.

"Reese is not opening up. She already seems so serious for such a little girl. And by approach I mean, how are we going to get the truth out of them? Starting with their last name, ending with what the hell happened in that hotel room."

"I have no idea. You're the one that's good with kids." He paused, and then added. "Children are all foreigners."

She rolled her eyes. "To you."

"To me......"He agreed. "And R.W. Emerson."

Catherine shook her head, but before she could respond Lancetti returned, waving her phone. "I had to pull some strings,... 10 actually, but I've got an 'ok' on this temporary solution thing."

"Good," Catherine nodded. "Let's go tell Alexis and Reese."

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Catherine opened the door to the break room and saw the girls sitting in a corner. Lancetti was right behind her. Brass greeted them, and then left the room.

"This is it," Reese whispered. "They're gonna take us away from each other. I just know it. This is what happens if you start to tell people stuff. I told you so."

"No!" Alexis' lower lip began to tremble. "I don't want to leave, I want to stay with you."

"Girls?"

They looked up at Catherine, who took a chair and sat down next to them. "I want to ask you something." Tears welled up in Alexis' eyes.

"Would you like to stay with me and my daughter for a while?"

"Your daughter?" Reese asked softly, frowning a little.

"Yes, Lindsey would love it..."

"I would like to." Alexis said shyly and immediately looked at the floor, when she saw the other woman, standing behind Catherine, looking at her.

Catherine noticed that children were both anxiously staring at Lancetti.

"Oh my mistake." she turned around. "Reese, Alexis, I'd like you to meet Ms. Lancetti from ACS . She has agreed that you can both come stay with me for a couple of days."

"Provided-" The slim brunette interrupted. "-you give us your last name."

Alexis spun around and stared at her older sister, her eyes pleading for her permission.

Reese looked from Catherine and Lancetti, to the trembling Alexis next to her. She nodded slowly. "Reese and Alexis Byrne."

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