Gil looked around the kitchen, before glancing at Lizzie. "Where's your mother?"
Lizzie glanced over at him, from where she was eating her breakfast. "Throwing up."
Gil frowned. "Okay. Can you make sure that Max and Jamie eat properly? I'm going to go make sure she's alright."
Lizzie nodded. "Sure."
He knocked on the door to their bathroom. "Cath?"
"I'm fine. Just getting ready."
Gil sighed and opened the door, finding his wife slumped next to the toilet.
"Cath…"
"I'm fine."
Gil sat down on the floor beside her, holding her in his arms. "Don't lie to me."
She rested her head against his shoulder. "I don't know if I can go in there today and let him go."
He laced his fingers with her. "We don't know that we'll have to do that, Cath. And…if we do…Matt is going to need us all there."
She snuggled closer to him, as his free hand rubbed her back. "I'm scared, Gil."
"I know, Cath. Me too." He kissed her forehead. "But we have to be strong for the kids. Later, I promise, if we need to, we can break down together. But we have our beautiful kids sitting downstairs scared out of their mind."
Catherine nodded. "Kay."
"Want some help?"
She nodded again and they stood up together, indulging in a long hug.
Max was unusually solemn that morning. He had turned into Matthew's shadow, and literally followed the boy everywhere.
Catherine watched with concerned eyes, until Jamie rested a hand on her shoulder.
"It's going to be okay, mom. No matter what happens, I promise to take care of Max."
Catherine took him in her arms, hugging him tight. "I know it'll be okay." She kissed his forehead. "You're a great kid."
"Mom?" Lizzie appeared in the room, Lindsey behind her. "We're ready to go."
Catherine looked up. "Where are the boys?"
"In Matt's room. Dad is up there with them."
"Guys?"
Matt looked up from where he was closing his cupboard door. "Yeah, Dad?"
"We have to go."
The boy nodded. "Okay. Come on, Max."
"This sucks," Max said, getting off the bed. "Sara Sidle sucks. And if that judge rules her way, he sucks too."
Gil nodded as he followed the boys down. "I couldn't agree more."
Max handed Jamie the note. "Just do it."
"This is wrong," Jamie said, accepting the piece of paper. "Very wrong."
"Hey, I can't go near her. But you can."
Jamie rolled his eyes and, making sure his parents were occupied, darted over to Sara Sidle, pushed the note on her desk and darted back.
Sara arched an eyebrow, opening the note.
Ms. Sidle.
You suck.
Sincerely
Max Grissom.
Her eyes widened and she showed Mr. Andrews. He groaned.
"It'll all be over soon. And if this judge has any sense, he'll give Matt to you. Never mind about that little monster."
Sara looked over at Max, who made a face at her. She frowned and turned back to the front.
"All rise for Judge Capeside."
Everyone in the courtroom rose. When they sat down, Gil nudged his wife. "Look behind you."
Catherine turned around and almost burst into tears. Lining the rows behind them were all their friends and family. Warrick, Nick and Greg had brought their wives. Lindsey's boyfriend (who Gil preferred to believe didn't exist) had come. Jim Brass and Albert Robbins were there.
Lindsey, Lizzie and Jamie sat stoically. When Max caught her looking at them, he formed the "aok" sign with his fingers and then blew her a kiss.
She grinned and turned back to the front.
Judge Capeside looked down on everyone. "This has been a very harrowing case, for all parties involved and myself. A lot of this case has been separate parties taking potshots at each other." He sighed. "A lot of information has been unnecessary. At the end of the day, the only question to be answered is, where should Matthew Grissom live?" He turned to Andrews and Sara. "Ms. Sidle. You are obviously making an effort to change your life. Your actions ten years ago are questionable. However, you have come back for your son, and have fought very hard for him. You are working through the AA program in order to reestablish yourself. You have a job and a home. For that you are to be commended." He turned back to the Grissom family. "Dr. Grissom, you rose to the occasion on the discovery that you had a son. You welcomed him into your family, and you made a home for him. Mrs. Grissom, you looked past the fact that biologically Matthew was not your son, and you took him into your home, your family and loved him as your own child." He sat back. "For the first five years of his life, Matthew was in a home with his biological mother, who cared for him to the best of her ability. At some point, things changed and Ms. Sidle returned to Vegas. If we take Mr. Andrews point of view, she returned to introduce Matthew to Dr. Grissom. If we take what seems the more popular point of view, she returned for Dr. Grissom. The fact remains, that at some point on this trip, Ms. Sidle disappeared, leaving Matthew in a hotel room by himself. Mrs. Grissom arrived, took him home, and he has been integrated into the Grissom family ever since." He turned back to Andrews and Sara. "To me, it does not matter how many children the Grissom have. Their sexual activities are their business. They are not for this courtroom, or for this case. Nor do I care how often either party wrote letters to the child at camp." He sat back again. "For all I've heard in this court, the main thing I was looking for, is what is best for Matthew. I don't care about former relationships, who was in love with who, or who tried to sabotage who. I have heard testimony from each of the Grissom children, who to me, sound perfectly normal and well-adjusted. I have heard testimony from Dr and Mrs. Grissom, who seem a happy couple very much in love. I have heard testimony from Ms. Sidle, who sounds like she has many regrets." He sighed. "Finally, I heard testimony from Matthew. Who, believe it or not, helped me make my final decision." He turned to Sara. "You have shown me no reason to give Matthew to you, nor any inclination of wanting him." Judge Capeside sat forward. "In the matter of Sidle V Grissom, I find in favor of the Grissom family, and order that full custody of Matthew Grissom be award to his father, Gil Grissom and stepmother, Catherine Grissom. I further order that Ms. Sidle receive family counseling, and that in 6 months, a review of her visitation rights be discuss. For now, her visitation rights are void."
Max jumped out of his seat. "YES!!!!!" He pointed a finger up at the judge. "You're the MAN!"
The judge hid a smirk, before banging his gavel down. "Adjourned."
Catherine took a deep breath, turning to Gil. She had tears in her eyes. "He's ours."
"MOM! DAD!" Matt launched himself over the top of the gate that divided them and threw himself into Catherine's arms.
Catherine held him tight against her, tears falling freely. "I've got you."
Gil kissed the boy on the top of the head. "You're coming home now. No one can take you away from us ever again."
"Let me at him!" Max cried, scrabbling over and propelling himself into his brother. "You're mine! All mine!"
As the kids went to see their brother, Gil turned to his wife, rubbing her arms.
"It's all going to be okay now."
Catherine leaned up and pressed a kiss to his lips. "I know." She rested against him. "I love you."
"I love you too sweetheart," Gil murmured, his arms tight around her body. "I love you very much."
THE END