"Social services?" Nick asked, confused. "Whatever for?"
Anya's smirk grew wider-and Sara's distaste grew with it. "Robyn must come with me until we find a legal guardian for her," the dark-skinned woman explained rather snidely.
Nick's dark chocolate eyes widened in surprise. "But she's already got one," he said.
"Oh?"
"Greg Sanders here," the Texan gestured towards Greg, who was watching the whole affair with an apprehensive face. "Tell her, Greggo."
The CSI-in-question nodded. "Uh…yeah. I'm…" He looked to Sara for help.
"He's her biological father," the brunette explained.
"Ah, I see," Anya took another step into the break room, and looked around, as if she was inspecting a promising foster family's house. "So you are a compromise to the Altendorf case?"
Frowning, Nick moved protectively between the Social Service worker and his friends. "That's none of your business, ma'am."
"On the contrary, Mr…"
"Stokes."
"Mr. Stokes." Her white smile seemed permanently plastered on her face. "Nevertheless, it is my business. I'm taking Robyn with me and there is nothing you or any of your colleagues can do about it," Anya said icily.
"But he's family. She doesn't need to go to a foster family," Sara protested. Remembering how the system destroyed her and her brother after their family's demise, she hoped for Robyn's sake that the little girl would be spared. The system was no place for children, even if their parents were uncaring and unforgiving-the government was usually just as bad, if not worse.
"But he's clearly irresponsible," Anya replied smoothly. "A one-night stand with a prostitute ruined his little girl's life." The expression on the woman's face was short of condescending.
Greg's mouth tightened into a small snarl. "But she's my child," the younger man objected.
"Yet according to the law, Mr. Sanders, she's not yours until the state says so. And she belongs to the state until you're considered legal."
"But they're biological," Sara exclaimed as Robyn cowered in fright behind her and Nick.
"I'm sorry, Ms…"
"Sidle."
"Ms. Sidle. But what the law says goes. Come with me, Robyn," ordered Anya, reaching for the child, who instantly screamed bloody murder.
"No!" the blue-eyed girl wailed, running underneath the large metal table.
Crouching down to be at eye level, Anya tried to sooth the stricken girl with false words. "It's okay, Robyn. I'm taking you to a nice family for a little while until your dad can take you home," the dark-skinned woman cooed. She held out her hand.
Without any second thought, Robyn bit down on the lady's fingers, producing a loud yelp.
"Ouch! Okay, that's it. Like it or not, Robyn is to be coming with me." Picking up the thrashing girl carefully in her in her arms, Anya stormed out with the group following right behind.
"Wait! Don't take her!" Greg cried out, attracting the attention of the lab as he ran down the hallway towards the elevator.
His pleas fell deaf against the solid silvery doors as they began to slide shut. The last thing the messy-haired CSI heard before the doors closed completely was the sobs of his daughter.
"Daddy! No! I don't want to go!"