Disclaimer is back in Chapter One, but I'll reiterate that I don't own any character from the show "CSI."

I FINISHED! I'm now going to post a chapter every other day, if possible. I have a family reunion this weekend, though. (Blech.) There are four more chapters, if my counting abilities haven't completely left me. Thank you all for reading and reviewing! It means a ton to me to get so much positive feedback!

"Sweets, I don't care. No matter how sick I am, you are not slacking off and skipping school and sports practices less than three weeks into the school year! I've talked to the administration and your teachers—remember? And Meredith's talking to them now. You will go on, sweets—school is too important."

"It's not more important than you!" Jules cried dramatically. "Why don't you get that, Mom?"

Sara slipped in quietly and hoped nobody would notice her rumpled appearance and day-old clothes. Appraising the current argument, she doubted they would.

Lilly, sitting in her armchair, was paper-faced and resolute; Sara had never heard her yell like that at the girls. Jules had thrown herself down on the couch and was sobbing; Grace huddled in an armchair near the coffee table, her head in her arms. Jessie was standing tentatively on the side, her usual self-assuredness completely gone. "Afternoon, Sara." Lilly said, eyebrows raised, before turning back to face her daughters. "Now, I'm sorry, but there's nothing you're going to be able to do at the Hospice most of the time. It's just a lot of waiting, and it's not a healthy environment. Maybe—when it gets closer—" Lilly choked a little before continuing, "then you can come all day, if you want. But school will be a good outlet, and you're not going to just unequivocally make a blanket statement about how you're not going to school for several days. I am still your mother, dammit, you are not an adult." She practically yelled the last part after Jules opened her mouth to protest. Instead, she recollapsed into sobs. "God, Jules, I didn't mean to put it that way," Lilly sighed, close to tears herself.

Sara edged closer to Jessie. "When did all this happen?" she whispered.

"Dr. Ringo suggested it this morning. It's all going downhill from here, and quickly. He sort of ganged up on her—knew she'd be difficult to talk into it. He got the administrator, and Meredith, Margaret, and Sarah to all sit down and discuss it with her. They've got a room set up. She's asked me to pack."

"So—she's leaving? She's just leaving?" Sara whispered.

"Well, yeah. That's how it works." Jessie explained. "She's checking in tomorrow morning. She mentioned you had tonight off?"

"Yeah. I better call Grissom." Sara fumbled for her cell phone. "I'd better just take some indefinite leave."

"You might want to talk to Lilly first." Jessie tilted her chin in that direction. "Jules just tried to pull that."

Sara looked forward, to where all three women were sobbing quietly to themselves. Sara wondered where the hell their wonderful solidarity was. "What do you think, Sara?" Jules said plaintively.

"Excuse me?" Sara said.

"About us being allowed to do our work from the Hospice."

Sara looked down and studied her toenail polish. "Jules, I think this is one for your mother to answer. I'm standing by her decision. I think it's the right one."

Jules let out a twisted, anguished noise that was halfway between a scream and a cry—"Don't you get it? I want to be there!" Her eyes flashed to her sister, "Come on, Gracie. You can't tell me you want to be in school."

"Of course I don't." Grace practically hissed. "But if it's what Mom wants—"

"Mom!" Jules said plaintively. "You can't do this."

"Sweets, I'm sorry. I know it's the best decision. And it's the one I'm sticking to. And this talk is seriously done." She turned calmly to Jessie. "Jessie, would you mind helping me pack? Sara, could you please help also. You two should try to relax and maybe talk a little bit. I promise that we'll talk later, alright?" The girls merely nodded. Jessie and Sara helped Lilly into her room. Lilly had obviously started packing; most of her clothing was already in suitcases. "Only the personal things left," she said in a grim, but satisfied, tone. "Good thing I didn't bring much stuff for the bedroom to start with."

"Lilly," Sara started, then stopped.

"Yeah?"

"I think—and I know that you just yelled at Jules for this—that I should take time off indefinitely. Before you start," she said quickly, as Lilly opened her mouth, "I work at night, so it's not the same thing—I'd be sleeping when you might need me to talk with doctors or something. You did give me the Healthcare Power of Attorney, and there's probably going to be some decisions to make. I'd be more available for the girls. Also, I have over five months of time off saved up. It's rollover, and I just didn't take it very often."

"You're not my daughter." Lilly said simply. "It's entirely your decision."

"Well, I'm doing it." Sara knew she sounded uncertain, as if she was going against a superior's wishes.

"Thank you," Lilly said in a low voice. "I really appreciate everything you've done. It's way more than I expected."

A rush of tears flooded Sara's eyes, and she sniffled quickly to hold them back. "Thank you, Lilly."

Sara silently helped pack for the next several minutes, then called Grissom and briefly explained the situation. "If you can come in, come in," he said. "We'll make do between the three of us left. And, keep us updated, hon, okay?"

"Yeah, sure." She said bleakly, hanging up to call Nick.

He was instantly supportive. "What do you need me to do, Sar?"

"I don't know." She said. "All I know—" she looked around to make sure the girls were still upstairs. "That last night was amazing. And I won't forget it. I just need—space. I need to concentrate on other things for the next few weeks."

She could hear him nod. "Of course. Listen, do you want me to bring my truck around tomorrow morning to help move Lilly into the Hospice?"

"That would be nice." She said. "Is nine too early?"

"No. I'll see you then."

"Thank you, Nicky." She said, before hanging up. Walking back into Lilly's room, she announced, "Nick will help us move tomorrow."

"Did you sleep with him?" Lilly questioned. Sara just nodded and looked down. "He's a good man, Sara, but you don't need anyone's approval."

"Thank you, anyways," Sara murmured.

The rest of the evening passed in a blurry haze. The girls eventually came out to help pack, Jules silently obeying her mother's wishes. Food from Jack in the Box was finally ordered around eight o'clock, and then Lilly forced the girls to go do their homework. After they left, she turned to Sara and said, without looking her in the eyes, "I'm not taking the desk—it's too big. The letters are still in the drawer. Please sell this furniture, afterwards—or donate it, whatever. Please move on with your life." She turned away, and Sara could see the light glimmering on her tears.