I based the Zoo information on the Bronx Zoo in NY, as I do not know much about the Zoo's in Vegas. Thank to you those who are reading this.. Please Read and Review!!
Sara woke with a Start realizing she was to meet Molly in one hour. Although this mentoring program was taking away some of her sleeping time, she hadn't looked forward to anything in quite a long time. Sara showered, grabbed a travel mug of coffee and headed off to meet her.
When she arrived at the center, Molly was already waiting for her. Molly was quietly sitting on a bench next to a woman. As Sara approached her eyes connected with Molly.
"Sara! Sara! Sara!" Molly's excitement couldn't be mistaken, however the woman seated next to Molly had a different expression on her face."Hello, I'm Miranda, Molly's Mother. I wanted to meet you as Molly hasn't stopped talking about you all week"
Sara was almost lost for words, not expecting to meet anyone except Molly today. Sara looked carefully at the woman; she looked normal not that Sara would have expected differently. Sara did see a familiar sorrow in the woman's eye, one of tiredness, grief, and a longing to make her child happy. "It is nice to meet you Molly is great and I'm happy be able to spend time with her."
The two women exchanged a quick smile while Miranda looked over at Molly to tell her to have a good time.
"I will Mom, see you later."
"Molly, can you give Sara and I a minute to talk?"
Molly went back to sit on the bench, while the two women talked closer to the door. "Sara, I'm not sure how much you know about our family, but Molly's father is currently in jail for Spousal Abuse. Because of our lovely system, he pleaded to lesser charges and is up for parole soon. Please be very careful and make sure no one tries to talk to Molly. I'm not sure what she exactly remembers, but the last thing Rich said to me was that I would pay, and he would get Molly. He is in jail in Ohio, and hopefully will not find us. I signed Molly up for this program to let her do some "happy things". Outside going to Hawaii with my sister and her family, I have to work so much we really do not get out at all"
Exhaling, Sara carefully rubbed her hand on Miranda's arm. "I promise I will not let anything happen to her." Sara pulled a business card out and handed it to the woman letting her know that she would help in any way possible. Closing her eyes hoping that Molly didn't remember anything that happened between her Mom and Dad, she wouldn't want the girl growing up having nightmares as she herself has had most of her life.
The two women exchanged a quick smile while Miranda looked over at Molly to tell her to have a good time.
"I will Mommy, see you later."
Sara and Molly arrived at the Zoo around Noon; the sun was warm, but not over bearing like it had been in past days. It was amazing to Sara how comfortable she felt with Molly, she never was really comfortable with kids at all, let alone mushy. If 4 months ago someone would have told her that she would taking her days off, not working, and go to the Zoo while holding hands with a 6 year-old she would have laughed out loud. Do you have a diversion Sara? You need to find one. She could clearly remember Grissom's words to her during the Pamela Adler case. Even at present, the cases were as grim, but having something to look forward to each weekend kept her mind clear of her ever-present nightmares.
Things were going great at the Zoo, they already saw the Monkey's, Tigers and Elephants and decided to have lunch before going to visit the Butterfly house. Molly couldn't wait to see the butterflies they were her favorite. Sitting down eating lunch, Molly told Sara about school and what she did that week. Sara decided to see how much Molly remembered about her Father, she wanted to make sure she knew what ever he did wasn't her fault.
"Molly, what do your remember about your Dad?" Sara's words trailed off, as she was now even more apprehensive in asking her these questions.
"He was great, he played with me, he has big brown eye's." Molly's eyes were bright when she spoke of him. Hardly what she expected given what Miranda had just told her about. It is better if Molly didn't remember.
"Molly, do you remember your Mom and Dad fighting?" Sara knew she shouldn't be prodding, but her curiosity got the better of her.
Looking down, Molly's mood changed. "Yeah, they fought a lot, Mommy said she was bad and Dad had to punish her. She told me never to be bad and it wouldn't happen to me. Mommy made me hiding space in my closet for when he started yelling. I had a pillow and blanket in there, and a special dolly."
Bastard. No one should go through that. Miranda actually thought it was her fault, Sara hoped she was getting some help."Molly, he can't hurt either one of you now, you know that, right?"
"Yeah, how come Mommy doesn't know where he is, is he mad at me?"
Sara's heart was breaking, not sure how to proceed; she surely wasn't qualified for this type of discussion. They cleaned up lunch and the two of them headed to the butterfly reserve. She re-assured Molly that she could tell Sara anything, and that she would never hurt her.
Heading into the butterfly reserve, Molly was skipping. They arrived and went inside, Sara was taken aback when she saw all of the beautiful butterflies. Not knowing any of the technical names, Molly and Sara picked how the pretty ones. While capturing the beauty of 2 golden yellow and blue butterflies suckling on a flower, Sara felt a presence behind her.
"The blue butterflies are Blue Copper Lycaena heteronea, native of Nevada, the yellow ones are Mimosa Yellow Eurema nise".
Sara quickly turned around to be face to face with Grissom. "What are you doing here Grissom?" Sara asked quizzically of her boss.
"I often come here to relax, I love looking at all of the butterflies, it relaxes me. Once a month they have a concert Violinist, it is amazing, and today is that day. " Not saying anymore than he actually needed to, he left it at that. What he failed to tell Sara is that he overheard her and Catherine talking and he wanted to see Sara and Molly. Picturing Sara as a Mother was a fantasy he had been having all week, not that she would ever be a mother to his children, not at his age, right?
Having trouble taking her eyes off of Grissom's face, Sara was snapped back to reality by Molly pulling on her shirt. "Grissom, this is Molly, my friend. Molly, this is Gil Grissom my boss" Molly just looked up at him while maintaining a death grip on Sara's leg.
Grissom looked down at the girl and was shocked at the look of familiarity on her face. How could he ever forget that face, her golden hair, that adorable gap in her teeth? Why was she familiar to him? Before he could remember Molly spoke.
"Are you the man who threw my ball back at the beach in Hawaii? I remember asking you where your family was, and I remember you were sad, very sad."
Closing his eyes remember that fateful day of soul searching, Grissom quietly agreed with Molly. Not wanting to make eye contact with Sara, he turned and started telling them about the butterflies.
Sara was puzzled at Grissom's solemn acknowledgement. Why was he sad? She couldn't help think how amazing it is that she was now Molly's mentor, and that Molly had met Grissom so many miles away and discussed his sadness. How could he open up to a stranger, a kid no less, and not her. Although after listening to his confession to Lurie, it was becoming apparent that he was more comfortable talking to strangers than is friends.
The rest of the time at the Zoo Grissom stayed with Sara and Molly. They had a great time and Grissom told Molly all about each butterfly there. As Sara listened to Grissom's describing each intricate detail of the butterflies, Sara was swept with an admiration for Grissom the person, not just Grissom the boss. Sara looked in envy as Molly casually took Grissom's hand in hers as they walked towards the exit. It was nearing six, and Molly needed to be back to the center to meet her Mom.
When they reached Sara's car, Grissom turned to say goodbye to Sara and Molly. For the second time today, she was shocked at Grissom's behavior. She watched as Grissom knelt down next to Molly to say goodbye.
"Goodbye Molly, thank you for letting me enjoy the beauty of the butterfly reserve with you" Molly smiled at her approval.
Molly looked deep into Grissom's blue eye's, pausing momentarily before asking "Gil, did you ever find your family?"
With his infamous stoic face on, Grissom quietly said answered "No."
"Well, if you want, maybe Sara could be your big sister too. I mean you could come with us next time, if you want."
Sara and Grissom shared a look of contentment before Grissom answered "Anytime you want an escort around the zoo, you give me a call, ok?"
Sara smiled at Grissom unsure of the man she witnessed today. She wasn't quite sure what the exchange between he and Molly meant, but didn't want to further him being uncomfortable. "Thanks for the Zoological lessons Gil, I, I mean we had fun." What she really wanted to say is that today for the first time ever she realized what if felt like to be a family.
Sara and Molly hopped in the car and arrived at the center with only two minutes to spare. They were both in great moods, and walked up to the doors. Walking through Sara felt Molly grip her hand with a death grip.
Looking up, she saw what frightened the girl. Miranda stood there with a look of fear Sara easily recognized. Next to her was a man, a man who wore a cold, hard look to him.
Molly was the first to break the silence uttering almost silently, "Daddy?"
TBC