Chapter 10- Unexpected visitors

She was the last person he expected to see when he answered the door. It had been more then three years since he had last seen her and not a word since then.

"Hello, Ellie."

"Hi Dad." She was thinner now, and her blond hair was dyed an unnatural looking black color. Her skin was pale, as if was never exposed to natural light and he hated to think about what she was doing that kept her out of the sun.

"What are you doing here?" It was out before he could stop himself, but he had to know.

"Gee, it's nice to see you too." Her arms were crossed in front of her.

"That's not how I meant it. I'm just a bit surprised. Last time you were in town, you didn't exactly seek me out." Last time she had been in town her greeting had been a wad of spit on his badge.

"Whatever. And for your information, I'm here to see Hailey. She called me yesterday, and I wanted to make sure she's okay. Didn't sound great on the phone."

For the first time, Brass noticed the duffel bag at her feet.

"I didn't know the two of you talked." As far as he knew, Ellie didn't keep in touch with any family member. Not her mom and certainly not him.

"No big surprise there. There's a lot about me you don't know."

Three minutes and the accusations start. They were right on par.

"So, can I come in, or you gonna make me stay out here?" She picked up her bag, and without waiting for his answer walked into the house. Brass was left holding the door, starring out at the empty street. He closed it with exaggerated care, giving himself an extra few moments to gain some semblance of composure before facing his daughter. He was spared any more awkward attempts at conversation when Hailey entered the room.

"Ellie!" She was across the room in seconds, and now stood wrapped in the arms of her cousin. There was a smile on her face, the first one Jim had seen since this whole ordeal began.

"Hey, brat," Ellie greeted Hailey once the hug ended. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. So much."

"Love the hair, by the way," Ellie noted as she brushed her hand through the maraschino cherry red locks.

"Wish I could say the same for your hair. Black is not your color, El." They were always honest with each other, had been since the beginning.

Ellie threw back her head and laughed a deep, true sound.

"Still a smart ass. Glad to see you haven't changed." It was a relief to hear the sassy intonation in her voice. Ellie had left her L.A. apartment within an hour of her cousin's phone call, spending the night on a bus to get to Vegas as soon as she could. Hailey's voice on the phone had sounded almost fragile, and that was not a word she was use to using to describe

her. Ellie was worried enough that she was willing to face her dad, to be able to check on Hailey.

Brass watched the two girls as Ellie pulled Hailey into the kitchen, claiming that she was 'starving' after her trip. Someone who didn't know any better would think that they were sisters, both in the way they looked and acted. He forgot, most of the time that they weren't even biologically related. He let himself forget, he admitted. Despite everything, Ellie was his daughter; DNA be damned.

He followed them into the kitchen, stopping just outside the doorway to observe the scene before him. Ellie had pulled a rubber band out from somewhere, and her long hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She had already pilfered the fridge, as evidenced by the selection of meat and cheese that lay on the counter next to a loaf of bread and a bottle of mustard.

"Watcha craving, brat? Turkey or ham?" Ellie reached for the bread, laying it out on the counter and looking inquiringly at her cousin.

"I'm not really hungry. Think I'll stick with the juice."

It wasn't until that moment that Brass realized that he had yet to see Hailey eat anything. She didn't eat at the hospital, and only drank coffee at the lab. When they had arrived home she had claimed exhaustion and headed straight for bed. He was about to point this out when Ellie

interceded, unknowingly speaking for him.

"I didn't ask if you were hungry. I am, and I don't feel like eating alone. So what'll it be?" She purposely made herself sound vexed, sensing that it was a better method of getting Hailey to eat.

"Turkey, I guess."

Brass waited until Ellie made the sandwich and Hailey began to eat before interrupting.

"I'm going to the lab for a while. Will you guys be okay alone?" As much as he wanted to stay with Hailey, he felt that he needed to be helping to work Lindsey's case. Ellie's surprise visit meant he could leave for a while without feeling guilty, or insisting that Hailey come with him.

"Don't worry. We'll just get drunk, then I'll sell the brat to some wandering Gypsies before stealing anything of value you have." Ellie glared at Brass, her snide comment hard and biting. If their relationship was better, he might have been able to joke with her, reminding her of the time that she had tried to sell her baby cousin; she was trying to earn money for a pair of skates, and decided that two year old Hailey was worth about five dollars. As it was, he let the comment slide.

"You'll call, if you find out anything?" Hailey put down the sandwich and turned to her uncle, a pleading look in her eyes.

"The moment I know anything, I promise."

II

Catherine woke with a start, hitting her head on the wall as she rolled to her side. She groaned, forcing herself to open her eyes. Shit. She had fallen asleep on Lindsey's bed. The glowing red numbers of the clock radio on the bedside table informed her that she had lost five hours. Hours that she could have been doing something, anything, to help find her daughter. Valuable time, lost.

The doorbell rang, long and insistently, and Catherine realized that the sound was probably what had awoken her. She made her way out of the bedroom, giving it one last look before she turned and walked to the front door. Desperately, she hoped that whoever it was had news about Lindsey. If it's Avon, they won't need blush to color their cheeks when I'm through

talking to them.

He was the last person she expected, though in retrospect she wasn't really surprised.

"Hello, Sam."

"How are you holding up?" He looked her over carefully, but didn't attempt to touch her. Catherine shrugged, unable to find the words to expresses her emotions.

"I brought some information I thought might help." He handed her a manila envelope. Resigned, he took a step back and started to move towards the limo waiting in the driveway.

"I miss you." Catherine's statement stopped him in mid step. He turned, surprise evident on his face.

"I didn't know that."

"I'm still angry and confused, when I think of everything you've done and lied about. Right now, though, I miss the man who used to take me out to dinner for my birthday and tuck me into bed on nights when he was too tired to drive home.'" She was leaning against the door frame, arms wrapped around herself. Sam took a few steps forward.

"I am that man, Mugs. A little tarnished, maybe, but still him."

"I don't know if I can believe that. Too much has happened in the past few years. Right now, though, I don't care. Can we push it all aside, deal with it later? For now, can we go back to being Sam and his best girl?" As much as she hated the things the man before her had done, she still loved him. He was the father she never had, except that it turned out that he really was her father. She needed him, right now, to be that man again.

"As much or as little as you need, Catherine. I'm here."

"How about we start with a ride to the lab, so I can take these in?" She held up the envelope in her hand.

"Certainly." He wrapped one of his arms around her shoulder, kissing the top of her head before leading her to the black limo.

II

"Grissom, I think I have something." Sara walked into the AV lab, where Warrick and Grissom were still going through surveillance tapes. They had been working nonstop all night, none of them willing to take a break. Grissom turned from the screen at the sound of Sara's voice. After hours of tape showing nothing useful, he needed some good news.

"I finally got hold of someone at Belhurtz, Jenkins and Smyth." Grissom raised his eyebrow, recognizing the name as being that of the law firm whose business card was found at the scene. He waited in silence for Sara to continue.

"I had them look up some relevant names to see if anyone in our case is a client of theirs, or involved in any case they're working. Catherine's name didn't come up, and neither did Brass's. On a hunch I had them run a couple of other names, and one set off bells and whistles. Sam Braun has the firm on retainer." There was a glow of triumph in her eyes. She had figured out a piece of the puzzle.

"Good job, Sara. Let's have him come in."

"He's already here." Catherine stood in the doorway, the man in question beside her.

To be continued...