Jamie sat in front of Kermit, staring at the frog. "I don't know about this, Kermit. I'm awful scared. But I can't tell Mom and Dad, because Mom is really scared too, and Dad is looking after her. And everyone else is really nervous about their turns. Ms Dole said I didn't have anything to be nervous about cause she showed me the judges chair and stuff. But what if I get something wrong? What if we lose Matt and it's all my fault?"
Catherine and Gil stood at the top of the stairs. Catherine felt tears trickling down her face.
Gil placed a gentle kiss to her cheek. "You go get the monster ready. I'll go talk to him."
Catherine nodded and headed upstairs to get Max ready for the day. Gil walked downstairs, sitting beside his son.
"Hi, Jamie."
"Hi, Dad."
"Nervous?"
"A little."
"Me too."
Jamie's little eyes widened and he gazed up at his father. "You're nervous?"
Gil nodded. "Sure I am. But just keep it between you and me. I don't want to upset anyone."
Jamie nodded. "Me neither. That's why I don't say anything."
"I understand that. But since we both feel the same way, maybe we can talk about it to each other."
Jamie got off the stool and hugged his father tight. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Jamie," Gil said, hugging his son tight.
"James Warrick Grissom. I'm ten," Jamie said, his hand resting on his pocket.
Catherine narrowed her eyes. "Gil," she murmured.
"Hmm?"
"You don't think he brought anything…living…with him, do you?"
Gil's eyes widened as he looked at his son. "I hope not."
"It must be nice having a lot of brothers," Andrews commented.
Jamie blinked. "I only have two. That's not a lot. It's a couple."
Catherine smirked.
Andrews chuckled briefly. "Of course. So, you like having a couple of brothers?"
Jamie nodded. "Sure."
"Tell me about your brothers?"
"Matt is my older brother. He's cool and we do stuff together sometimes. Max is my younger brother. He's fun."
"What kind of things do you do with your brothers?"
Jamie shrugged. "Stuff. We watch TV, play sport, video games. Just guy stuff."
"So, how long have you known that your mom wasn't Matt's biological mother?"
Jamie shrugged. "I don't know. I just know."
Andrews folded his arms. "And how long have you known Ms Sidle was his biological mother?"
Jamie looked at his parents then back at Andrews. "I…not till she wanted to take Matt away."
"Your parents didn't tell you earlier? Weren't you curious?"
"No." He folded his arms.
"If he does have something in his pocket, we're going to find out soon enough," Gil murmured, noting that the pocket was moving slightly.
"Oh god," Catherine groaned. "This is not going to end well."
"James, tell me about your mother."
Jamie looked at his mother and then back at Andrews. "What about her?"
"Well, tell me about her. Is she a good mom?"
Jamie scowled. "The best."
"Do you do things with her?"
"Yeah."
"Like what?"
"We play games and she reads to me and helps me with homework. She comes and sees everything I do."
"You're lucky."
"She's the best mom in the whole world."
"Does she do things like that for your other brothers and sisters?"
"Sure. She's always there when we need her."
"What about your dad?"
"What about him?"
"Tell me about him."
"Like what?"
"Well, what kind of things do you do in your spare time with him?"
"We hang out in the bug museum."
Andrews arched an eyebrow. "Bug museum?"
Jamie nodded. "My dad's an ent'mologist. He studies bugs. We have to keep 'em downstairs, cause Mom and Lizzie don't like bugs."
"Jamie, do you blow things up?"
Jamie narrowed his eyes. "Not on purpose."
"But you do occasionally blow things up?"
Jamie looked confused. "Only if a chemical reacts badly to another one."
Catherine and Gil could see where this was going, and were both worried.
"Your parents let you mix chemicals?"
"Sure. But only in a controlled environment."
"That's very comforting. So this couple that has been holding onto Ms Sidles son for ten years allow their ten year old to play with combustible chemicals." Andrews walked closer to Jamie, who shrunk back in his seat. "Did you know that your mother blew up an entire forensics lab?"
"OBJECTION!" Lindsey Dole cried, jumping up.
"KERMIT!" Jamie cried, watching helplessly as his frog jumped out of his pocket. He glared at Andrews as he leapt from his seat. "You scared him!"
"Jamie," Catherine said, going for her son.
Sara widened her eyes as the frog made its way towards her. Jamie scrabbled across the floor, trying to catch his frog.
Gil also went for the frog, Catherine following behind him.
"I've got him," Jamie said triumphantly, putting the frog back in his pocket.
Gil knelt down in front of his son. "What on earth did you bring Kermit for?"
"I was scared. Kermit said he'd keep me company," Jamie explained.
Gil smiled slightly and pulled his son in for a hug. "It's okay now. It'll be okay."
Catherine stood aside, letting the two boys have their hug. When they broke apart, Jamie looked up at her.
"Mom?"
Catherine smiled at him. "Mhm?"
"Did you really blow up a forensics lab?"Catherine looked sad but nodded. "A long time ago, honey."
"Was it an accident?"
Catherine nodded. "Yes."
"Did you apologise?"
Catherine nodded again.
"Okay," Jamie replied. "Can we get something to eat now? Kermit and I are hungry."
Catherine smiled at him. "Sure."
Max looked at his brother. "Cool trick with the frog!"
Jamie rolled his eyes. "It wasn't a trick. Mr. Andrew's scared Kermit."
Max shrugged and went back to his lunch. Then he turned his gaze to his parents. "Masdnsudbd aohash?"
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Gil reminded him.
Max made a big show of swallowing. "Wanna hear what I'm going to say?"
Catherine looked up. "You're going to answer the questions that the lawyers ask truthfully."
Max rolled his eyes. "That too."
"You remember everything that Ms Dole taught you?" Gil asked him.
Max nodded. "Yep."
"You can borrow Kermit if you want," Jamie suggested.
"Warrick is coming to pick you up, and both you and Kermit home," Catherine said firmly.
"I heard my name," Warrick said, poking his head around the door.
"Uncle WARRICK!" the two boys cried, rushing over to hug him.
"Hey guys," Warrick smiled, hugging the two boys close. He looked over their heads at Catherine and Gil. "How are you guys going?""We're getting there," Gil said, squeezing Catherine's hand. "Thanks so much for taking Jamie."
"No problem. We'll hang out, maybe grab a DVD or something. What do you say?"
Jamie nodded. "Sure!"
"Don't forget you're grounded, young man," Gil reminded him.
Jamie sighed.
"What did you do?" Warrick asked the boy.
"He blew up the microwave," Max added helpfully.
"Wow. Cool, how'd you do that?" Warrick asked. When he caught the looks that Gil and Catherine were sending him, he sobered. "Um…I mean, bad move."
"Is Kermit secure?" Gil asked, glancing at Jamie's pocket.
The boy nodded. "I'll keep my hand there the whole time. And when I get home I'll put him back in his house."
"Good boy."
Catherine hugged her son. "Be good for Uncle Warrick, okay?"
Jamie nodded. "I will."
After saying goodbye to his parents, Jamie left with Warrick.
"I guess it's my turn next, right?" Max asked, sitting back down at the table.
Gil sat down. "I guess so. How are you feeling?"
"I'm gonna be great!" Max said. "She's not gonna have a chance to get at Matt after this!"
Over the top of his son's head, Gil gazed over at his wife. She smiled at him sadly.
Gil reached over and took her hand, squeezing it gently.