Back at Charlotte's house
After convincing Dan I had no idea about the DNA, he apologizes and assures me the strictest confidence, although as Grissom is the primary he has to give him his findings. I gasped at that. He quickly tells me he can hold off till the start of the shift and suggests I go around to his house and confront him before shifts starts and have a chance to rectify everything. I tell him I will and say my goodbyes, he tells me to please ring him and let him know what happens. I promise I will.
I stare at the phone and think.
Back in 1985....
Mum, why don't I have a daddy? Everyone at school does except me?
She looks at me and tears form in her eyesâ€..
Charlotte, honey I've tried to tell you before but I wanted to wait till you were a little bit older.
No, tell me now.
Ok, well you do actually have a daddy darling, he just doesn't live with us. He lives in America. I went to a talk at the big girl school and a man was there, telling us a story about bugs.
Interrupting... Bugs? Cool, I love bugs.
I know you do honey, I guess that was bound to happen. Anyway I didn't pay much attention to his name. My friends called him bugman and I went along with that. Unfortunately and please don't be upset with mummy darling...
So how did he become my daddy?
Well after the talk was over I went up and talk to him, he was so handsome, (she hugs me as she says this). He and I saw each just that one night, she goes on. One thing lead to another and well the next thing I knew, He was back in America and I found out I was having you. I didn't even know his name. And of course the school where he talked was shut down a week later and no-one remembers a one hour talk on bugs. Apparently he was here for other reasons but I couldn't find them.
I'm really sorry honey, she crying now.
It's ok, I don't need a Daddy, I have you!
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I never once thought of him again after that, and I certainly didn't think I would end up working for him out of the millions of people in America
I knew I had to talk to Grissom. I began to panic, what if he doesn't believe me.. I guess I have the DNA to back me up.. What if he fires me... No he wouldn't do that, it could hurt the lab.. Oh god I close my eyes and drag myself out of bed. I decide to get ready for work and head over to his house immediately before shift.
I pull into Grissom's street, I'm taken back to noticed Sara's car out the front, I pull up stop and wait a bit. My eyes widen when I see Sara walking out of Grissom's door kissing him before she walks to her car, they wave and Grissom goes back inside. Quickly I duck down so Sara doesn't see me. I wait till the coast is clear and head to his front door.
I'm standing nervously at his front door trying to will myself to knock. When I finally do I hear a rustling and then footsteps, I disheveled looking Grissom opens the door widely obviously expecting to see someone else at his door.
He frowns when he sees that it's me and not Sara.
"Charlotte"? He quizzes "What are you doing here"? Obviously wondering how I even know where he lives.
"UM... I um" I stammer
"Yes" He eyes me
"Can I come in, I have to talk to you in private" I get out quickly.
"Um... OK" He looks skeptical
He motions for me to sit down, and I do.
He sits down next to me and looks at me with concern
"How's your hand" He asks lightly touching it. I blanch at his touch, not sure what to think anymore.
This makes him more concerned
"Charlotte, what is it"
I take a deep breath and start
"Um, Dan ran our DNA and called me at home" I begin
"OK" ??
"He found, ah, something interesting..." I go on
"Yes"?
I can't even look at him now
I just blurt it all out
"Dan discovered that our DNA matches... we have a 12 point alleles match... That means that you have to be my father" (obviously... I internally slap myself)
I look up to see his face, it's white, deathly pale. His eyes are very wide and his mouth is open but no words are coming out.
"I ...ah.... don't know what to say Charlotte, think there has to be a mistake"
I then relay my mum's story to him, the look on his face is of utter disbelief.
"Oh my god" He says dropping his head into his hands.
I'm also looking down, unable to decide what to do next.
I get the biggest surprise of my life when I feel two big arms enveloping me into a hug. A hug so tight I can't breathe.
I can't help it and I start to cry. All the emotion over the last 20 years comes to ahead. He's crying, I'm crying, we just sit there holding each other not saying anything.
I leave Grissom's apartment feeling like a new person. We decide to meet at his house again soon. I tell him I don't want anyone to know at the las about this until I can prove myself to be worthy of my position on my own before they find out I'm the bosses daughter. He agrees and bluntly blinks when I say the word daughter. I warn him that Dan will give him the results himself, but assure him he has been silenced.
Before I leave he tells me we still need to meet about the case before shift in his office.
"Ok, I'll see you then" I head straight to work and wait in the break room for him to arrive.
Forty five minutes later, before I see anyone else from shift, I follow Grissom into his office, we sit across from his desk, facing each other.
Before I let him speak, I get straight into it.
"Did the evidence collaborate his statement"? I ask
"Yes, it's cut and dry, you did a good job" He answers
"Yeah right" I say "before of after I contaminated the evidence, then got sent home early to tend to my wounds"? I roll my eyes at the memory
He has a smile on his face, but it quickly leaves.
"Charlotte, I think you always do a good job here, you work hard, you play nicely with others and the whole lab respects you".
Taken back I recover to say "Thank you Boss"!
This doesn't go unnoticed by Grissom
"All I'm saying is, good work"!
I manage a weak smile.. I ponder then say "Please don't tell me that you think I'll start expecting special treatment from you now"?
"No, of course not"! He says seriously
"Good" With that I stand to leave the room
"Charlotte" Grissom asks as he walks from behind his desk
"Yeah" I turn to look at him
"I really want to get to know you better, I don't think I have what it takes to be a father, but I'd really like to try to be friends" He says nervously
"I'd really like that too" I reply. I touch his arm, he grabs it and pulls me into a hug, kissing the top of my head
"God, I have no idea how I feel about you now" He says into my hair.
"Ah hem"
We both spin around to see Nick and Sara standing at his door, it seems doubtful they heard us.
"Yes" Grissom asks them, letting me go. I slip out of the door into the break room
"Just waiting for assignments boss" Nick replies
"I'll be right there" He shuts the door to his office.
I see Nick and Sara file into the break room, I walk over to Nick and I whisper "Are we still on for tomorrow night"?
He looks at me, slightly taken back, maybe thinking... "I guess" he says, walking away from me to get a cup of coffee.
Just then Grissom walks in with assignment slips in hand.
Nick, Sara, DB in a Hotel off the strip, call Greg if you need him, Charlotte, you're with me" He finishes talking and exits the room, before I can say anything, Nick and Sara leave without saying goodbye. I guess they're in a bad mood, that can happen in this job.
The shift ends with everyone working a few hours overtime. I'm getting my things out of my locker when I see Grissom come in.
"Good work tonight, enjoy your night off and I'll see you next shift" He smiles
"Thanks, I will, Nick is taking me out" I say absently
I turn to see a look on Grissom's face
"What" I ask
"UM, you're going out with Nick"? How long has this been going on"? He queries
"There's nothing going on, It's just a date" I reply hoping to defuse the situation
"Oh, ok, well have fun and be careful" He points at me
"Ha ha, I though you said you didn't have what it takes to be a father, it sure sounds like you can to me" I laugh
He smiles brightly and shakes his head, looking seriously for a minute. "I'd really like to try, I guess it just happens naturally" He ponders out loud
"Maybe so" I reply I place my hand on his arm and squeeze but quickly pull away as I see Sara come into the room, Grissom look at me then see Sara himself.
"Have a good night Charlotte" He finishes
"You too" I look to Sara... "See you next shift Sara" I say
"Yep" Is all I get in return. I hope Nick's mood doesn't match Sara's tonight; I'm really looking forward to it.
