It had been ages since Candi had seen her father and she was very nervous. She had learned from her stepfather that he worked in Las Vegas as a Crime Scene Investigator. He had done the same job back in New York. After her relationship with him depreciated when her mother died, she came out west to find her real father. Walking the streets of Vegas was scary business but she didn't worry. One way or another she would meet her father tonight. When she arrived at the Crime Lab, the receptionist looked up to her and smiled.
"How can I help you?" she asked kindly. Candi took in a deep breath and placed her hands ont eh desk.
"I'm here to see my father," she replied. The lady stared at her.
"And who might that be?" Candi swallowed.
"Gil Grissom. I'm here to see him," she repeated. The lady's eyes went wide.
"Grissom?" she repeated, before shaking her head. "Yes yes…" She glanced to the computer screen at her side. "He isn't in right now, but you can wait in his office and I'll send him right in when he gets here." She looked to the man in the seat next to her. "Rob, would you escort this young lady to Grissom's office?" The tall man nodded and rose to his feet. Candi followed him and once they reached the office, he motioned her in.
At first she was uncomfortable, but soon made herself at home. This would be interesting. She hadn't come out here looking for a replacement, she came out here to see her father. She was angry at him. He walked out of her life twenty years ago and now she wanted to know why. Leaning back in her chair, she placed her feet on his desk and waited.
Stumped, Grissom sighed as he entered the Crime Lab. He couldn't believe there was no where to go from here. All the evidence pointed to Lucas Harper, but they still couldn't convict him. What he wanted to do now was go to his office and look over the case file. Maybe there was something he'd missed. He found that highly unlikely, but possible. As he passed the reception, the secretary called to him.
"Grissom!" she called quietly. He turned his head to her and she motioned him over. Greg and Nick stopped in their tracks behind him. "A girl was here for you." He stared at her.
"And? Where is she?" he asked as he adjusted his glasses. "What did she want?"
"I sent her to wait in your office, she claimed to be your daughter." Behind him, Greg dropped the forensics kit and Nick dropped the box of clothes he was carrying.
"Daughter?" Grissom said curiously. Suddenly he remembered. "Shit," he muttered. Without a word to Greg and Nick, he headed down the hall.
"Daughter?" Nick repeated. After picking up his mess, he followed Grissom, Greg not far behind.
When he reached his office, Grissom carefully entered to find a tall, dark haired girl seated behind his desk. He was shocked to find she did resemble the young girl he'd left behind twenty years ago.
"Candice?" he said in shock as he slowly approached the desk. She swung around in the chair with a smirk on her face.
"Dad," she said smugly. He stared at her. She did look an awful lot like her mother. Again, he heard Greg drop the forensics took kit.
"Candi?" he blurted. She looked to him and her face brightened.
"Greg!" she exclaimed. "You never mentioned you worked for my father." He stared at her.
"You never mentioned Grissom was your father," he told her. She rose to her feet and walked over to him.
"I guess you're right," she shrugged, then looked back to Grissom. "It's been a while," she said hostilely. He shook his head.
"I'm really sorry about that," he told her. "But work took precedence over everything back then," he said apologetically.
"Yah, and you never even contacted me. I had to learn from my stepfather that you were still alive and well. He's a CSI too you know. In New York." She walked over to the desk and took a seat in it. "You didn't even try to contact us after you left. How could you? Do you know that mom was killed in 9/11?" There was sorrow in her voice. He suddenly felt really guilty.
"She was?" he said, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.
"Yah," she replied. "That's why I came out here," she said sharply. "So I could make you feel guilty in person."
"I am truly sorry," he glanced back to Nick and Greg. "Could you leave us for a moment?" he asked. Greg and Nick groaned and exited the office.
Grissom couldn't believe this. He finally gets to see his daughter after twenty years and she only came to tell him what a jerk he was.
"I suppose you're right," he told her as he walked over to his desk. "After your mother and I split, I became so wrapped up in my work nothing mattered anymore. I am very sorry though and if I could take back every moment that I missed, I would." She sneered and glared at him.
"Save it for someone who cares," she muttered. "I just thought I'd let you know I'm doing ok without you." Heading for the door, he stopped her.
"Don't do this," he said softly. "I really care about you and I wanna know everything that I missed." She took in a deep breath and sorrow clouded her face.
"You're right," she murmured. "It has been a long time and I have missed you; but I don't know you." He felt his heart break, but managed a faint smile.
"All the more reason to stay and catch up."
Nick stared at Greg as they exited Grissom's office. He couldn't believe any of this was happening. Not only did Grissom have a daughter, but she was dating Greg. How could he not know about this? It all seemed to weird to him. Greg seemed a little shocked himself.
"Hey bud, you gonna be OK?" he asked. Greg took in a deep breath.
"How could I have not known who she was? I've been dating her for three months. She moved here in September and it's January. I mean I knew about her mother and her stepfather. But how come she never told me about Grissom?" Nick shook his head.
"It never came up?" his response was more of a question. Greg groaned.
"I'm in for it. Grissom's gonna shoot me for sure." Nick shrugged.
"I'm not so sure. She didn't seem so happy, I don't think they're very close." Greg sighed.
"I guess you're right, but still…"
Nick changed the subject as they entered the lab. Putting the box of clothes on the table, he grinned.
"You ready to spend the rest of the night processing?"
