Authors Note: Thank everyone for all the great reviews! Remoob1513, there's a shout out to you in this chapter, hope I answered your question!
DISCLAIMER: I still don't own Eric Szmanda, George Eads, or Gary Dourdan!
Greg swerved the car as he whipped around to look at Sara, "A daughter?"
"Yeah, she's six years old and her name is Ryan," Sara answered, not looking Greg in the eyes.
"Wow, um… how come you never told us about her?" Greg's mind was still trying to process the new information
"I didn't want anyone to judge me,"
"We would never judge you because you have a daughter! Catherine has Lindsey, and we don't think less of her because of it,"
"Yeah, but Catherine didn't leave Lindsey with her Aunt and Uncle in a whole different state just so she could get a job, did she?" Sara sniffled
"Why couldn't you get a job in San Francisco?"
"Okay, I guess it's about time you found out… I got pregnant with Ryan because her father raped me. Nobody believed that he had raped me except my brother and his wife. Ryan's father was, well… pretty well off, if you know what I mean. Had the whole deal: wife who adored him, two kids, and the family dog. Everyone thought I was out to get money, so I was labeled as a liar. No one was willing to hire 'a liar', so I couldn't get a job. Then Grissom called. He hired me. I left Ryan with my brother and hopped the next plane to Vegas as fast as I could. If I get a day or two off of work, I go visit her." Sara finished.
Greg was momentarily speechless. He didn't realize how hard he was gritting his teeth and holding the steering wheel until his fingers began to go numb. He wanted to beat that guy's head in for doing that to Sara. He also wanted to know more, but for her sake he asked a safer question, hoping to lighten the mood,
"Why the name Ryan? Isn't that mostly a boy's name?" he asked turning to face Sara, who laughed for a second before answering,
"Technically, yes. When I was in middle school, I only had one friend. His name was Ryan. We made a pact that we would name our first kids after each other, no matter what. He got lucky and had a girl first, and then I had a girl too. He told me I didn't have to go through with it, but since he named his daughter Sara, I named mine Ryan."
"That would have sucked if he had had a boy first. Can you imagine how bad the kids at school would have teased him for having a girl's name? It would have been cruelty! At least Ryan is a cool name for a girl. She could have gotten stuck with Harry, Todd, or Bruce for that matter! It's a good thing you pick your friends wisely, Babe"
"You still want to be in a relationship after hearing this?"
"What? Of course! What would make you think I wouldn't?" Greg was shocked
"Every other guy who ever found out about Ryan always dumped me. That's why I put off telling you, I didn't want to ruin a good thing"
"I'm not like them, I promise. I will stick with you for this whole thing. You know what? I can't wait to meet her" Greg assured Sara
"Really?"
"Really."
"She's already heard about you," Sara confessed, "actually about the whole team. She's always asking when she can meet you guys."
"You talk about us with her?" Greg was shocked again
"Yeah, and buy the way, she thinks you and Nick sound cute." Sara laughed as they arrived at the airport.
After they got inside, they went up to the counter and purchased two round trip tickets to San Francisco, and one one-way ticket to Vegas. Once they were in their seats on the plane, Greg whispered to Sara,
"Are you going to admit me to the Mile High Club?" He teased
"Who told you about that?" Sara blushed
"Oh my God, I was just joking! I didn't know that about you! The germaphobe got it on in an airplane bathroom!" Greg laughed
"Shut up people will hear you!" Sara smiled as she smacked Greg's shoulder. They settled down for the rest of their flight.
A couple hours later in San Francisco
"Taxi!" Greg shouted to get a driver's attention. When the car pulled up, Sara and Greg got in the car.
"Where to?" The older cab driver asked
"The police station" Sara answered.
They sat in silence during the ride, but Greg could tell Sara was anxious. He was too, in a way. What if's kept swirling around in his mind. 'What if Ryan doesn't like me?' 'What if Sara dumps me because Ryan doesn't like me?' were a few. When they arrived at the station, Sara jumped out while Greg paid the man, then ran to catch up with Sara. They walked in together, but the moment Sara spotted Ryan, she was off.
"Ryan!" Sara called
"Mommy!"
Ryan ran up to Sara and gave her a huge hug, and they both started to cry again. Greg held back, giving them a little time. He stood there, staring at Ryan. She was a small for six, with curly, brown, shoulder length hair. She had her mother's eye's that Greg loved so much, the color of chocolate. She looked exactly like Sara, just miniature. Down to the small gap in between her front two teeth.
Sara remembered Greg was standing behind them, so she said,
"Ryan? I've got a surprise for you,"
"You do?" Ryan smiled a smile that melted Greg's heart
"Yep. Remember when you said you wanted to meet my friends? Well I brought one with me. He's a very special friend and he really wants to meet you,"
"Where is he?" Ryan was almost bouncing up and down
"Right over there," Sara pointed to Greg "How 'bout you try to figure out which of my friends he is while I go talk to the police officers, okay?"
"Okay!" Ryan bounded over to where Greg was standing "Hi, my name's Ryan! Don't tell me your name, I'm gonna try to figure it out!" Greg was amused by her joy in trying to find out his name, and also the way she talked for a six year old, but then again, this was Sara's daughter.
"Alright, I won't tell you my name unless you guess it, but it's nice to meet you Ryan. You look just like your mommy, and she is very pretty'" Greg smiled and squatted down to her level
"You must be Greg! My mommy told me you always say nice things about her. Hey, she was right, you are cute!" Ryan exclaimed as she through her arms around Greg's neck. Greg laughed,
"Thanks Kiddo" Sara came back to them just then, to the sight of the hug between Greg and Ryan. She smiled,
"Come on you two, we've got to go get some of your things so you can come back to Vegas with us," Sara said the last part to Ryan
"I get to meet all your friends? Cool!" Ryan smiled. Sara was amazed that Ryan had forgotten the events of the night so quick, but she figured it was her way of dealing with things.
Greg had hauled another taxi, and they were on their way to Sara's brother's house. When they got inside, Sara told Ryan,
"Go put some toys you want to bring with you in your backpack, then I'll come in and help you pack some clothes, okay?"
"Okay!" Ryan ran for her room.
"She seems to really like you," Sara said to Greg
"Yeah, well I really like her," Greg pulled Sara closer to him, "She said you told her you thought I was cute,"
"I do," Sara said kissing Greg
"Mommy and Greggy, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage…" Ryan smiled as she sang and Greg laughed
"Ryan…" Sara arched her eyebrow and tried to keep from laughing
"Yes mommy?" Ryan smiled
"Where'd you learn that song?"
"Billy taught it to me"
"Who's Billy" Sara asked
"A boy at school,"
"Oh. Are you packed?"
"All except my clothes," Ryan smiled "should I sing my new song to your friends? I think they'd like it," Ryan smiled bigger
"Ryan…" Sara said as she picked her up and laid her on the couch and started tickling her
"Mommy! Stop it!" was heard through giggles and laughs
"I'll stop if you promise not to sing that song to my friends," Sara smiled
"Okay, okay!" she said after Sara started to tickle her harder after she paused to think
"Good," Sara said as she let Ryan up "Greg? Can you throw some baggies of snacks into a bag along with some juice for the plane ride back while I pack Ryan's clothes?"
"Of course! Anything for my two beautiful girls!" Greg said as he turned and gave Sara a quick kiss.
"Ooooooooh……" Ryan smiled