To all my faithful reviewers, sorry for the absence, class work was calling, but I'm back now, plus the chapter is longer than usual, and all the questions you guys have been asking me, will eventually be answered. Thanks so much again for all your amazing reviews! Please keep up with it!
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"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle."
Thich Nhat Hanh
The whole drive back to her apartment, Sara was ruminating over what Catherine and the guys had done. She was furious, yet, partially relieved knowing at least she wouldn't be forced to tell them, like she had been with Grissom. Pulling into the driveway, Sara looked into the back seat to see Sadie sound asleep in her booster seat. After parking the car, Sara carefully unbuckled the child and carried her to Sara's apartment. She laid Sadie down on the bed before tucking her in for a nap. The peaceful silence that had fallen over the apartment gave Sara space to think. Come hell or high water, she was going to keep Sadie, but now she needed to know how. Sara figured, if Catherine and the guys were able to find out about her past via the internet, Sara would certainly be able to find the resources that would tell her how she could keep Sadie.
After mulling over the computer for well over an hour, Sara had found very little information. Frustrated and at the end of her rope, Sara wasn't sure where else to turn. She heard her phone ring and ran to grab it.
"Sidle."
"Hey Sara, it's Greg, how are things going?" Greg asked innocently.
"They're… um… well things aren't going well, and I owe you an apology." Sara mumbled.
"An apology for what? You haven't done anything wrong." Greg was confused
"Well, let's just say, that I miss judged you, and I'm sorry."
"Sara, I'm confused, can you tell me what's going on?" Greg asked.
"Well, it's probably best I not do it over the phone. I was about to make dinner, would you like to come over and join us and maybe we could talk." Sara asked.
"I'd love to, I'll be over in a little bit." Greg replied, he could tell something was going on, but wasn't sure what exactly. He had just called to see how Sara was doing, especially after what she had told him this morning, but had secretly hoped he would be spending dinner with Sara and Sadie. Greg figured something must have happened with Catherine earlier to warrant such a strange reaction from Sara. He gathered a few movies for Sadie and headed over to Sara's.
When Greg arrived, he found Sara in the kitchen making dinner and Sadie sitting at the coffee table coloring. Greg thought for a moment how nice this would be to come home to on a regular basis.
"So, are you Ms. Domestic or what?" Greg asked teasing Sara.
"Yeah, that's me, born and bread to be a housewife." Sara replied sarcastically.
"So I brought over some more movies so that you have a change from 'Finding Nemo'." Greg said as he held up a plastic bag.
"That's great, why don't you put those in the living room. It's still going to be a little while before dinner's ready." Sara replied. Greg put the movies in the living room near Sadie. She looked up and greeted Greg with a hug. Greg smiled and went to join Sara at the table. Sara had grabbed two sodas and handed one to Greg as he sat down.
"So you wanna tell me what's going on?" Greg bluntly asked. Sara stared at the floor for a moment before replying.
"You remember what I told you this morning." She said slowly.
"Yes, I do." Greg simply stated as he put his hand over Sara's hand, which had been lying on the table. Sara looked up slowly and Greg gave her hand a squeeze.
"I went over to Catherine's, so Lindsey could practice baby-sitting. We sat out on the porch with coffee chatting." Sara paused. "She asked about what I was going to do with Sadie, and I said that I didn't want her going to a group home." Sara swallowed. "Then she said, 'like you'? She knew, Greg, she knew." Sara slowly looked up at Greg to see him watching her contently. "I'm sorry Greg, I just assumed you told her. I thought maybe you had called her or something. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to distrust you, but I didn't think there was any other way that she could have found out." Sara stated.
"I didn't call her or tell her anything Sara. I wouldn't do that, you can trust me." Greg tried to quickly respond before Sara cut him off.
"I know Greg, but I just didn't know what to think. Then Catherine told me how she found out. You know how she found out? She searched the National Crime Database and the internet. Not only did she go behind my back, she also employed Nick and Warrick to help her. Yeah, they found out, and she couldn't keep her damn mouth shut." Sara was getting more and more agitated. Greg was worried and squeezed Sara's hand trying to help her calm down.
"She told you this?" Greg asked about Catherine.
"Yeah, she did. I didn't know how to react. I got pissed, real pissed. Sadie came outside and attached herself to me, so I picked her up and we left."
"Did Catherine explain or apologize?" Greg asked.
"Yeah, she tried to, but I didn't want to hear it. I thought we were becoming friends, and then she does this? And I thought Nick and Warrick were my friends too, and they helped her." Sara said slowly becoming defeated.
"Well, I'd say give it sometime. Maybe she did it because she was worried about you. You're not the most open person, and maybe she was, I don't know, scared for you or something." Greg tried to remain calm.
"I told her I needed some time, but I don't know what to do." Sara stood up and headed towards the kitchen. Greg followed her, and took her into a hug when they reached the kitchen. Sara just stood, feeling the comfort of Greg's strength. Slowly she felt the loss of contact when the oven began to ding. Pulling out the lasagna and setting it on the counter to cool, Sara turned to Greg and said.
"I want to keep Sadie, I want her to be here 'forever'."
"I know, I promised I'd help you, and I will, have you found out any information that would help you so far?" Greg said with a smile.
"I tried the internet, but I didn't find a whole lot of information. It was frustrating." Sara said.
"Have you tried talking to a lawyer?" Greg suggested.
"And where would I find one, not only is it Sunday, it's also Memorial Day weekend." Sara whined.
Greg looked at her with a smile. "I think I could find one." Sara looked at him confused but listened while he continued. "My sister's a lawyer. She lives in Ash Springs, which is about two hours away. She works mostly with juvenile delinquents, but I'm sure she'd be more than willing to help you." Sara just stared at Greg in shock. "I didn't want to call and ask her before I talked to you but if you want we can call her and get her help." Sara thought for a minuet before replying.
"Thank you." She hugged Greg again. After they had finished dinner they called Greg's sister. She was more than pleased to help, and invited them to visit her tonight. Sara was unsure about traveling that far to meet someone she didn't know, and discuss a subject she was totally unsure about. Greg offered.
"Why don't I call in sick."
"Grissom would never let you get away with that, with me on 'vacation', and Sofia being incompetent, they need someone in there." Sara retorted.
"Sofia's not incompetent, you just don't like her." Greg teased. "Maybe I could get someone to cover for me. I'm sure Catherine, Nick, or Warrick would cover for me if they knew why. Sara they owe you to say the least." Greg responded.
"You really think they would go for that? I mean it is kind of last minuet." Sara replied concerned.
"It's the least they can do, after what they have done. I'm not saying this makes things equal, but they are probably feeling guilty at the least, and they'll do it."
"Ok, I guess, but I don't really want to be the one to call." Sara said.
"No problem, I'll call, get covered and then the three of us will take a road trip to visit my sister." Greg said excitedly.
"Willows," Catherine said as she picked up the phone. The night had been relatively busy, so she had not gotten a chance to sit and relax. She was looking forward to going home and sleeping off some of her guilt from what had happened with Sara.
"Oh, no fun, I was expecting something more. Are you always so boring when you pick up the phone?" Greg teased Catherine.
"No, I'm just not immature. So what's up Greggo?" Catherine asked. She wondered if Sara had told him what had happened earlier. She figured Sara had, her and Greg had been getting very close lately.
"Well here's the thing. I'm at Sara's, and we would like to take a trip to visit my sister who is a lawyer so that she can explain what would be involved if Sara chose to seek custody of Sadie." Greg replied matter-of-factly. "I was curious to see if you, or Nick, or Warrick could cover my shift tonight."
"Seek custody? As in Sara's trying to keep Sadie?" Catherine asked excitedly.
"Well, yeah, that's what she's thinking so far. I think it would be good for both of them." Greg replied.
"I think that would be great. I'll get somebody to cover, don't worry about it. Let us know if you guys need some more time or whatever. I'll talk to Grissom, but I certainly don't think he'd mind working with some of his old graveyard shift again." Catherine replied.
"That'd be great. Thanks a lot."
"No problem, hey and would you tell Sara we're sorry. I know she said she needed some time, but we are all really sorry, and if she needs anything, just give us a call, ok?"
"No problems Cath, I'm sure she'll be ok. I'll talk to you guys later!" Greg replied as he hung up the phone. Greg looked at Sara with a big smile on his face and yelled out.
"ROAD TRIP!"
Sara just laughed. She gathered her stuff, and got Sadie ready for their 'road trip'. At Greg's suggestion, Sara brought her financial portfolio, contact information and other items that would show Sara's competency in caring for a child. They wanted to be prepared, because they knew Greg's sister would be completely honest with them. They packed up the car and headed to Ash Springs.
Two hours in the car is a little tiring in it's self, but two hours in a car with a 5-year-old, was a whole new experience for both Sara and Greg. Three bathroom stops, two for Sadie, and one for Greg, and what seemed like a hundred different songs sung, completely out of key, they finally arrived. Greeting them was the spitting image of Greg. Funky hair, rocker t-shirt, and loud. Sara wondered how this woman could ever be a lawyer.
"Wow, Greggy-pooh, I haven't seen you in a while!" Greg's sister ran and gave him a hug. "Oh excuse me, how rude, I'm Jewleigh, Greg's sister, you must be Sara, and this one must be Sadie." Sadie clung to Sara, not sure of the new adult.
"Nice to meet you," Sara held out her hand.
"It's nice to finally meet you, I've heard so much about you, you know how Greggy-pooh can never keep his mouth shut." Jewleigh said, both Sara and Greg turned shades of pink. Greg was already red from having his sister call him 'Greggy-pooh' in front of Sara, but now she had to mention that he talked about her, Greg just wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
"Why do you call him 'Greggy-pooh'?" Sadie piped up. Sara and Jewleigh laughed. Greg turned even redder.
"I call him that because he's my baby brother. And even though he's a grown up, he still acts like a baby sometimes." Jewleigh laughed.
"Can I call him that?" Sadie asked. Jewleigh and Sara broke into fits of hysterical laughter. As embarrassed as Greg was, he couldn't help but laugh too. When the adults had calmed down, Sara replied.
"Why don't you just call him Greg for now?"
Jewleigh ushered them into the house and offered them drinks. They sat in a large living room as they began to discuss what the possibilities for Sadie's future were. They told Jewleigh about the case, what had happened so far, and what the expected out come for the wife was. Jewleigh was pleased with the information that Sara had brought. When they began to discuss Sara's childhood, Sara became hesitant. Sara just simply stated.
"I was in the system." Jewleigh understood what she meant. Jewleigh mentioned that Sara coming out of the system to become such a successful person would greatly increase the chances of gaining custody. However, Jewleigh was concerned about if Sara would have enough space for a child and how she would be able to get a sitter for overnights since Sara worked the graveyard shift. Overall it went well. Jewleigh believed that the chances for Sara gaining full custody of the child, if there were no other relatives, were very good. She also managed to show Sara a few baby pictures of Greg, keeping his face red for most of the night. Sadie had long since fallen asleep in Sara's lap.
"You know, she looks just like you." Jewleigh said.
"That's what everyone has said." Sara replied. Greg got up to use the rest room and as soon as he was gone, Jewleigh asked Sara.
"So
are you and my brother together?"
"Uhhh, he's… he's
just a really good friend." Sara stuttered.
"I just wanted to know because it seems like he's talked about you for years. And now that you're his mentor, he's even more taken by you. I know he's a bit of a punk, but he's a good kid. Well, I guess, an adult. But you are defiantly the first woman he had brought to visit me. Usually his girls are here one week and gone the next, a bit flighty, but I heard about you for a long time. Don't worry good things." Jewleigh tried to reassure Sara, Jewleigh could tell Sara was becoming more and more embarrassed as Jewleigh kept talking. Jewleigh like this woman, she obviously had the heart to open up her home to a child at the last minuet, and is willing to fight to protect the child. There was something else about the woman that drew Jewleigh to her. It seemed that there was something that linked Sara to the little girl. It was some sort of survivor kinship. What had ever happened to put Sara into the system as a child must have been brutal. But Jewleigh could also see the strength that Sara possessed. If Greg let this woman get away she was going to be very disappointed.
"I trust him." Sara said slowly. "And I don't trust a lot of people." Jewleigh nodded; unfortunately Greg came walking into the room at this point. It was obvious whom they had been talking about. Sara's face turned bright red and she felt guilty that she had been talking about Greg.
"Were you two talking about me?" Greg asked.
"But of course." Jewleigh replied. "I was just telling Sara about the Halloween that you wanted to dress up as a ballerina, tutu and all." Greg's face went red and Sara's jaw dropped.
"Do you have pictures of this?" Sara asked excitedly.
"Some where, I'll have to find them. But I can bring them next time we meet." Jewleigh said with a huge grin on her face. Greg knew she was going to be the death of him. Embarrassing and it would eventually be, it was bound to come out sometime. Greg and Sara realized how late it was getting and they knew they still had a two hour drive home. It looked like Sadie was out for the night, so they packed up their stuff and headed out to the car. Sara thanked Jewleigh for all her help numerous times and made plans to meet again once Sara had talked to DCFS. Greg was happy the marathon embarrassment session had come to a close. They got into the car and began the long drive back to Sara's apartment.
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