Chapter 13 (Changes for the future)

A/N: This is the last part of Flight. I'm so happy that this story found so many readers, since it was the first CSI story I wrote and therefore it is very dear to me. Thank you. Since this is the end, let me know if you liked it as whole.
A big thanks to Amy and ITB. Also a big hug to a very good friend who encouraged me to publish this story.
And now: Enjoy.

xxxxx

Arriving at the break room, they saw that everyone was still there and that Brass had joined them. Grissom had contemplated calling him, but had then decided that he would pay him a visit to talk about his new status in private. Now, he wouldn't have to make that trip.

He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "I have an announcement to make."

All eyes were now trained on him. He suddenly felt very uncomfortable under his CSIs' scrutiny. Well, they were no longer his CSIs, he reminded himself. Except for Sara, but that was another matter.

He focused on her, her presence giving him the strength to go on. "As of today, I am no longer your supervisor, Catherine is. And this time it is official," he rushed out.

Instead of feeling a bit of a twinge in his heart, he felt considerably lighter and his confidence that he had made the right decision grew.

The others – all but Catherine and Sara – were shocked. They had fought so hard over the last two weeks to keep his job. They were now clearly disappointed.

"But Grissom, they can't do that." Nick spoke up, ready to jump in for his role model again, but Grissom stopped him.

"It was my decision to step down." That shut everyone up. They hadn't reckoned with that.

"There are various reasons. Mostly it is about my health. That's not to say I'm ill. I've been under too much stress and my migraines were getting worse as a result. And that was only one part of it. I just can't do it anymore." It was a big admission for Grissom, showing weakness, and he was struggling.

Sara wished she could take his hand and give him strength, but for now her mere presence had to be enough.

"I will be the senior CSI and help Catherine with the paperwork. And there is something else."

Sara and Catherine had big smiles on their faces, knowing what was coming.

"Greg?" The young lab tech looked up startled. He was not sure if it was a good thing to have Grissom's attention directed solely on him. He sat up straighter in his seat.

"Greg, I believe now is the time for you to decide whether you want to keep being the brilliant lab tech that you are or... whether you were serious about exploring the wide world."

At first Greg didn't seem to understand what he had been offered, but then the idea developed in his head. "You mean..."

Warrick, Nick and Brass now wore similar smiles as the two women. Greg was still to shocked to do more than imitate a fish.

"I'm supposed to start training CSIs. And, congratulations Greg, you've been picked out to be the first guinea pig. That is if you want."

Suddenly there was a loud thump and everyone looked at the place Greg had just vacated. But the young man was now sitting on the floor grinning like mad.

"Well, I guess that means you're interested." Grissom commented dryly while the others started laughing. Maybe changes were really not so bad.

As the others helped Greg up, Grissom leaned into Sara and whispered, "Will you have breakfast with me?"

The end