To all my great reviewers- thank you so much! But before you request a sequel, let me finish the story first! I've still got a few chapters to pull out, but school is over so they might be coming up quickly! Good luck to everyone else that's suffering through exams!

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"A brief candle; both ends burning
An endless mile; a bus wheel turning
A friend to share the lonesome times
A handshake and a sip of wine
So say it loud and let it ring
We are all a part of everything
The future, present and the past
Fly on proud bird
You're free at last."

Charlie Daniels

Sara awoke to a ringing phone. Momentarily questioning why she was on the floor, she began to remember joining Sadie and Greg in the make shift fort after she got home from work. Scurrying to pick up the phone before the caller hung up, Sara was out of breath.

"Sidle," Sara exhaled into the phone.

"Hello, Ms. Sidle, this is Rene from DCFS, I was calling about the message you left me."

"Oh, yeah, I was hoping to speak to you when we brought Sadie in this morning." Sara replied.

"Yes, that would be good, but I was just calling to tell you that I am transferring Sadie's case to another caseworker. When you come by this morning, you'll want to speak to Elizabeth Donah. She's been a caseworker for years out in California, but recently moved to the area to be near her son and granddaughter. Please bring Sadie by around eleven. I'm sure there will be many questions for both parties." With that Rene said good-bye and hung up. Sara understood the woman was busy but this seemed much like a brush off. Realizing there was only two hours before she had to bring Sadie to DCFS she began to wake both Sadie and Greg. Looking down at Sadie, Sara suddenly realized that this might be the last two hours she spends with the child. Brushing the little girl's forehead, the child slowly began to wake up. With a smile the little girl sat up and gave Sara a hug. Sara didn't want to ever have to let go. Feeling the motion around him, Greg woke up. He looked at Sara and Sadie and smiled.

"Good morning, my two princesses." Greg said. He thought he'd get hit by Sara for the comment, but realized that Sara was still holding on to Sadie and was reluctant to let go. Then it came to him, Greg realized what today was. Today could be their last day with Sadie. He joined the embrace and they all let go when they hear Sadie giggle.

"You guys are squishing me!" They all laughed. Sadie helped Sara make breakfast while Greg disassembled the fort. Joining them at the table when breakfast was done, they all ate in relative silence. When Sadie had finished she ran into the living room and began to color.

"I see she wore you out." Sara stated.

"Hey, I was more than happy to sleep in our fort." Greg smiled. "Especially when someone else joined us." Sara hadn't been sure last night if Greg would even notice, but she now knew he did.

"I couldn't let you guys have all the fun." Sara replied.

"So who called this morning?" Greg was curious but had a good idea who it was.

"DCFS, they said they received my message and we'd talk about it when I brought Sadie in. Oh, and they're transferring the case to another social worker. Elizabeth Donah. Funny, the name sounds strangely familiar." Sara said.

"Maybe you worked with her on a case?" Greg asked.

"I don't think so, they said she just transferred here from California." Sara shrugged.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Greg asked. Sara just nodded; she knew she was going to need him there, especially if Sadie wasn't going to be able to stay with her. "I'm here for you no matter what." Greg said giving Sara's shoulder a squeeze. He bent down and whispered into her ear, "Hakuna Matata." And was pleased it brought a smile to her face.

"You know, I never got to see the end of that movie." Sara replied, as her grin got bigger.

"I think we can arrange to see it again." Greg said with a elusive smirk.

An hour and a half later, Sara was helping Sadie pack her new belongings into the backpack that Sara had bought for her. Sara explained to Sadie where they were going, and Sadie became frightened.

"But you said I could stay with you forever." Sadie exclaimed with tears welling in her eyes.

"Yes I did, and trust me, I want you to, but we've got to go to DCFS and show them that you're ok. It's kind of like a check in." Sara tried to explain, she hoped it was that and nothing more. "No matter what happens, I will fight for you to stay with me, I promise." Sara added as she swept the little girl into a hug.

The drive to DCFS was quiet, for everyone was lost in their own world. Pulling into the first available parking spot, Sara parked the car and helped Sadie out of her booster seat. Feeling the need to protect Sadie, Sara carried the little girl on her hip, as Greg gathered the backpack. Walking into DCFS reminded Sara of walking into the hospital just a few days ago, only this time, she wanted to stay as close a possible to the little girl. Through the flurry of activity, they made their way to the front desk. The receptionist who was clearly overworked looked up when Sara coughed to get her attention.

"Hi, I'm Sara Sidle, and this is Sadie Motts, we're here to see an Elizabeth Donah." The receptionist nodded and pointed to the chairs for them to wait in. A few minuets later an older woman walked into the waiting area. Sara looked at the older woman and thought she looked hauntingly familiar, but could not place the face. The older woman walked up to her and asked.

"Are you Ms. Sidle?" Sara nodded. "Than this must be Sadie." The older woman smiled at the little girl that clung to Sara. "My name is Elizabeth Donah. Dough-naw, like do-nut." The older woman replied hoping to get a smile from the little girl. Sadie just preceded to burry her head deeper into Sara's shoulder.

"Ms. Donah, My name's Sara Sidle, and this is my…" Sara paused, what was Greg? She looked at him and he looked like he didn't know either, finally Sara finished. "This is my best friend, Greg Sanders." Greg would have been willing to be anything of Sara's, and didn't expect her to say 'boyfriend' but was touched that she had said he was her best friend.

"Sara Sidle, have we met before? Your name sounds familiar, but anyways it's nice to meet the both of you, why don't you follow me to my office." Elizabeth lead the way to a cluttered office that reminded both Sara and Greg of Grissom's office, only much more paperwork and much less bugs. When they were all seated, Elizabeth began.

"Rene told me a little of how you came to take Sadie for the extended weekend. I really wanted to thank you for that, I see she has really taken well to you." Elizabeth said as she eyed the little girl sitting in Sara's lap. "Rene also told me about the message you left her. That you're interested in fostering her and possibly further. May I ask why you came to this decision?" Sara liked Elizabeth's forwardness and found it strangely comforting.

"I have grown attached to Sadie. And I don't want her to be put in a foster home, she's to young for the pain that it can cause. I've got a stable job, and am financially set and would like to create a home for Sadie." Sara said, trying to be confident. Greg put his hand over Sara's free hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. This didn't go unnoticed by Elizabeth.

"May I ask you why you are apprehensive about Sadie being in a group home?" Elizabeth asked. Sara took a deep breath before she began. She did not like talking about her past, but in the last 72 hours she had opened herself up to more people than she had in the last 20 years.

"I entered the system when I was thirteen and stayed in a group home till I left for college." Sara stated. Elizabeth starred at Sara. Elizabeth knew she knew her from somewhere, she had seen those eyes before.

"May I ask where?" Elizabeth was being formal, but she wanted to know as much as she could.

"Where as in college? Harvard." Sara didn't like showing off her education, but she knew in this instance it might help. "Or where as in group home? Bay Youth Home." Elizabeth just stared at the woman in front of her. She knew where she remembered Sara.

"Sara Marie?" Elizabeth asked. Sara was taken back, no one had called her that since…. Since she had been taken to the group home. All she could do was nod at the woman. "Sara Marie Sidle?" The woman repeated as Sara nodded. "You were…. You were my first case." Greg watched the conversation in awe; it was one thing to hear about Sara's past, it was another thing to meet some one from it. Sara just sat with her jaw open. After Elizabeth had regained some composure she continued on. "Well, to foster a child, you need to have completed the state mandated fostering class. In some cases, the child can stay with the potential foster family while the family is enrolled in the class. We have a hard time placing children over the age of five, so it is a probability that she could stay with you. However, we're going to need to take her for an evaluation and see if she is comfortable staying with you." Elizabeth rattled off.

"She can stay with me?" Sara replied. She didn't catch much of what the woman had said for Sara had still been in shock. Sensing Sara's shock, Greg tried to gather as much information as he could.

"So when will Sadie be evaluated? What do the classes entail? Would it be ok for me to accompany Sara to the classes? Will Sadie get to stay with Sara the whole time we are taking classes? When are the classes?" Greg fired off as many questions as he could think of. Elizabeth smiled; she was becoming fond of the young couple, even if the support structure was a friendship.

"We can have Sadie evaluated this afternoon, it was already scheduled to establish where the best placement would be. However, I think I may have found the right one." Elizabeth smiled at Greg and Sara. "The classes are usually at night, twice a week, and go over the general needs of foster children and how the system works. You, and anyone else is more than welcome to accompany Sara to the classes."

'She can really stay with me?" Sara asked again.

"Yes, but she needs to be evaluated, and I would like to talk to you for a moment privately if possible." Elizabeth added. "There's a soda machine outside," She motioned to Greg. Greg took the hint and held his had out for Sadie.

"Come on kiddo, let's get something to drink, and let these ladies talk about me. You know being so cool can be such a burden sometimes!" Greg said attempting to be serious. Sadie giggled and climbed off of Sara's lap taking his hand. After they had left Elizabeth turned to Sara.

"It's been a long time." Elizabeth said. "I'm sorry Sara, I thought I had failed you, I never found out what had happened to you. I was young and didn't know what I was doing. I'm sorry." Sara studied the woman for a long time. She remembered the woman holding her hand but that was it.

"It's ok. I'm sorry, but I don't remember much of you." Sara stated.

"You were my first case. I remember getting you from your house, you were scared and so banged up but you had the biggest brown eyes I had ever seen. You refused to go with me until you collected some of your books. Big books, books I thought we too advanced for you, but you refused to go anywhere without your books. I brought you to the group home and told you I'd be back to check on you. When I discussed your case with my supervisor, he said I was becoming too involved and pulled me from the case. I always wondered what happened to you. I felt like I had lied to you because I had promised I'd be back to check on you." Elizabeth looked at Sara to see a slight smile.

"My books were stolen my third day at the group home. But I survived. I graduated high school early to get out of the group home and went to Harvard. I ended up at Berkley and worked for San Francisco PD for a while, and then my mentor gave me the chance to work in Vegas. That's how I got here." Sara realized it was a bit of a non-answer but hoped it made the woman happy.

"Are you happy?" Elizabeth asked. Sara was surprised for a moment and replied.

"I've gone through a lot. A lot that I try not to remember, but Harvard opened doors for me. I've got an amazing job that I'm good at, and I've got friends that have proved that they're there for me. Yeah, it was a long time coming, but I am happy." Sara replied with a smile. The older woman beamed.

"I'm going to do whatever I can to help you. It's rare that someone from the system comes back to help someone else in the system, but when it happens it's usually a positive experience. I've felt so guilty for so long remembering my first case; it was the first time I felt like I failed a child. I promise I'll do whatever is in my power so that you can foster Sadie." Elizabeth replied determined. Sara smiled and asked.

"So where do we go from here?"

"Well we'll start with Sadie's evaluation. A child psychologist does it and defines what the needs of the child are. She is scheduled for this an exam this afternoon. I'll put into motion the paperwork to have her stay with you until a decision is made, however I don't think that should be a problem. You'll be able to foster her until relatives willing to take her are found or a year has passed. If after a year no relatives have been found she becomes a permanent warden of the state and may be adopted by the foster family, if you choose to do so." Elizabeth noted Sara lighten up. "You'll need to enroll yourself in the foster care classes, and we'll schedule regular home visits so I can check on the progress of Sadie."

By this time Sadie and Greg had returned. Greg noticed Sara's smile and knew things had gone well. Sadie looked at Sara then at Elizabeth and spoke up.

"Do I get to stay with Sara?"

"Well, it looks pretty good for us kiddo," Sara responded.

"You'll have to go meet someone this afternoon, but for now, it looks like you are going to be able to if that's what you want." Elizabeth responded.

"I do, I want to stay with Sara forever." Sadie eagerly replied. Elizabeth smiled at the child. She hoped that Sadie would be able to stay with Sara forever too. Elizabeth gave Sara and Greg directions to the psychologist's office and a stack of paper work to fill out. The visit with the psychologist went without a hitch. The psychologist was pleased with Sadie's attachment to Sara and Greg and said that it could be a very good healing tool. Signing the paperwork stating that the psychologist had full confidence in Sadie continuing to thrive with Sara, Greg, Sara, and Sadie all returned to DCFS. By this time, Elizabeth had completed her own paperwork, releasing Sadie into the custody of Sara and scheduled a home visit.

Despite Sara's happiness, she realized she was going to have some work to do. Her one bedroom apartment was not going to be big enough for Sadie to stay with her full time, and Sara would need to find a sitter for Sadie when Sara had to work, and there would be the issue of getting Sadie enrolled in school in the fall. Greg saw the distress creeping into Sara's expression and just stated.

"Why don't you ask Grissom for some time off. You have plenty of vacation time saved up." Sara didn't know how Greg knew what to say or do, but was so happy to have him with her. She nodded and agreed with Greg.

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