Growing Up

Part 11: Seeking Solutions

Summary: A new day brings new revelations and new situations.

A/N: The updates probably will be further apart from now on, because there is some important stuff coming up. jtbwriter, I hope this helps you get over the number thing.

xxxxx

When Sara woke up this time, it was much quieter - no one jumping hastily out of the bed and no baby whimpering or crying.

Trying to stretch a bit, she felt Grissom's body still beside her, radiating warmth. She felt rested although she didn't know how much time had elapsed between Catherine's call and now.

She cracked an eye open just to see if Amelia was still in her bed. She was, but the girl was standing with a thumb in her mouth, looking straight at her. At that moment, she wished she had just kept her eyes shut. Maybe now that Amelia knew someone was awake, she would start to fuss.

That would certainly ruin the moment.

When Amelia did not move, Sara allowed herself the luxury to close her eyes again and let the warmth surrounding her flow through her body.

One moment from dropping back off to sleep, she heard a creak and some rustling. Then she felt a slight dip of the bed, which made her return fully to consciousness, but she couldn't process the facts fast enough before the weight shifted and got closer. Sara did not dare to open her eyes.

Suddenly, she felt a tiny hand touch her cheek from behind.

Amelia had really gotten out of the travel bed.

Sara opened her eyes and turned her head, staring at the little girl sitting behind her. She was sucking her thumb while patting Sara's face with the other hand.

"Oh, so now you are in a better mood," she whispered and turned around fully to face the child.

Now she could also catch a glimpse of Grissom's alarm clock, and she saw that it was seven thirty. "You are an early riser, huh?"

Of course the girl didn't answer, but she gave Sara a smile right around her thumb.

"While we are on friendly terms, I've got to tell you something."

When Grissom moaned and sought out her form in the bed, pulling her back into his arms, Sara felt foolish talking to the girl. What if Grissom heard her like that, what would he think?

However, one glance over her shoulder told her that he was still asleep.

"Little bug, I know you miss your mommy and daddy, but they can't be here right now. I'm sure that if they could, if they knew, they would come and pick you up, but they can't."

Sara couldn't tell if the sad face Amelia made was because she had understood what she had been trying to say, or if it was just because of her serious tone of voice.

"And if you really have to stay here for a while, you cannot put up that much fuss every time you have to go to bed."

For a few seconds, Amelia did nothing. Sara had known she wouldn't get a real reply, but the absolute non-reaction scared her. If only she would move.

"Da!" Amelia reached forward and patted Sara's face again, but then she looked past her.

Sara wanted to bury her face in the pillows as she realized whom this gaze was directed at. Grissom was awake.

How much had he heard?

She felt his beard prickle at her neck, and then he was planting small kisses on the same spot.

"What is she doing in our bed?" he mumbled, his face still burrowed in the crook of her neck.

"Ask her! I think she climbed out."

He smiled against her, making her shiver. "Grissom, could you stop that?"

"Why?"

Sara rolled her eyes, wondering if he was really that blind or if he was evil enough to torture her like this. It was probably a mix of both, his unconscious awareness battling with his conscious ignorance.

"Because we have an audience – a very young one at that."

She felt him look up and smile. He gave her one last kiss on the neck, making her moan, and then he pulled away.

She missed his warmth immediately, but it was better that way. "I guess we should get up and make her something to eat." Grissom threw the covers off and got out of bed. "And I think we should try to reach her parents again and maybe we can talk to her aunt, ask her what we are supposed to do."

Her mind seemed clearer now that the panic had lessened to a manageable level. "In that order?"

Sara nodded, sitting up and pulling Amelia with her. "I'll take her to the bathroom with me."

Relief was visible on Grissom's face as he vanished into the bathroom first to be able to make breakfast when Sara and Amelia were dressing. This division of duties didn't bother her. If Grissom was uncomfortable with Amelia in the bathroom, she wouldn't force him.

After their first encounter at the wildlife park, she had not felt quite so helpless. It was not her element, but she was getting accustomed to it.

She had watched Grissom closely when he had changed her diaper and was able to copy his movements with little additional struggle.

Yesterday, that had been one of the few things that had worked well when she had to deal with the girl on her own.

When Grissom emerged from the bathroom, he smiled at her and made his way to the kitchen. Soon she could hear the clatter of dishes and cups.

xxxxx

Twenty minutes later, Sara was proud that she and Amelia were able to leave the bathroom without any mishaps.

"Hey," she called upon entering the kitchen, making him almost drop one of the dishes as he put some pancakes on it.

"I'm an old man, don't surprise me like that."

She moved up behind him, close to his ear. "You are not old," she whispered, hoping to convince him. "I don't want to hear anything like that again. Ever."

His shoulders twitched at her sharp tone, and she hoped he would listen to her. She hated it when he talked himself down just like he hated it when she did the same to herself, so it puzzled her why he kept insisting on his flaws.

Amelia was squirming in her arms, reminding her that right now they did not have the time to talk about these things in detail.

"Should I take something with me to the table?"

Grissom had already set the couch table, relying on its low position to give Amelia the opportunity to sit on her own.

As soon as Sara had set Amelia on her feet, she was running around, investigating the kitchen area. "Keep an eye on her while I bring these pancakes out."

Grissom nodded, but soon he was concentrating on flipping some more pancakes, and Amelia was unobserved.

A loud crash of pots falling to the floor and the resulting cry of shock from the little girl led Grissom to curse out and Sara to run back around the counter. Before Grissom could even put the spatula out of his hand, Sara had picked the crying child up and cradled her close.

"Shhh…it's okay. Just some stupid pots. Shhh…" She rocked her a bit, kissing the top of her head, still murmuring some soft words of comfort.

Grissom put the pots away, closing the cupboard more firmly this time, and then stood up to stroke Amelia's back. The girl quieted down after a few more minutes of sobbing.

"Phew, that was close. I can't take that much crying. If she hadn't stopped…" Sara didn't need to finish.

Grissom remembered her state last night only too well. They did not need another crying fit. "Let's eat before all hell breaks loose again."

xxxxx

Breakfast went better than expected after the crisis in the kitchen. Amelia's face was soon covered in the little bit of blackberry jam they had put on her pancake. What they hadn't thought about were the stains. Berries of all kinds were hard to get out of clothing, but they were lucky.

Amelia had almost pressed her hand against her shirt, and only Sara's quick reaction prevented her from getting a hand-shaped stain on the shirt. After that, they knew better, and tied a towel around her. Now the girl would only smear the fruit jam on the towel and her face.

When Amelia was cleaned up again, she was playing with some toys on her blanket. Grissom and Sara took the chance to make some calls.

First they tried the number that the Knightleys had given them again, but they only got the 'not available' Sara had gotten the night before. Sara had jotted down the number of Amelia's aunt at the hospital, so they tried that next.

The woman answered and was ready to help them form a plan. She didn't have another phone number to reach the parents, but she knew where they went and passed that information on. It was a hotel in Maine. It should not be hard to figure out the number. The Aunt had not thought about it earlier because of the medication and felt a bit ashamed that she had put her niece in such a situation.

Grissom tried to reassure her and promised her to come by with Amelia that day.

It really was not that difficult to find the right number, but once they got through, they were disappointed again. The Knightleys were not in their room and by the statement of the receptionist, they would not be back until late at night, but they could leave a message. They left their number with the plea to call them immediately.

The whole situation was muddled. Now they could do nothing but wait.

They had agreed to meet the aunt later in the morning, so they still had some time.

Grissom looked over at Sara, staring off into space. Maybe now was the time to set some things right. "Sara?"

She focused back on Grissom. "Hmm?"

He led her back over to the couch and made her sit. This might take a while.

"Sara, can we talk?"

TBC