Disclaimer: Characters contained within do not belong to me.

Author's Notes: Enjoy the new chapter! Thanks for all the great reviews, guys.


The Invisible Man

by Kristen Elizabeth


"Sara, have you chosen a godparent for your child?"

Her voice echoed down the length of the stained-glass church. "I have."

"Please have him come forward."

Jim Brass stood up and nervously adjusted his tie. He took a deep breath and joined Sara at the altar.

Sara's smile was radiant as she handed her son to the man she often considered more of a father figure than her own had been to her. Jacob's tiny face was buried in a sea of soft, white cotton. Brass pushed the cap off the baby's head as the minister cupped a handful of water from the font.

"Sara, what name have you given your child?" the minister asked.

Her eyes sought out and locked onto the man sitting in the very first row. "Jacob Gilbert Sidle."

The water was trickled over the baby's head, eliciting a whimper of surprise from him. Like he handled babies every day, Brass gently rocked him as the minister went on. "By the authority vested in me by God and His church, I baptize you Jacob Gilbert Sidle, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Brass passed the baby back to Sara, pulled a card out of his pocket and cleared his throat. "Jacob," he read out loud. "Today we welcome you. May you face all challenges that come to you as a person of integrity. May you continue to bring great joy to your mother, her friends, and to all those who come to know you. May wonder fulfill you and love surround you. May your step be steady and your arm be strong. May your heart be peaceful and your word be true." He paused, and when he went on, his voice was hoarse. "May you seek to learn, may you learn to live, and may you live to love."

The minister made the sign of the cross. "With the help of your mother and the ones she loves and cherishes, may the Lord bless and watch over you, Jacob, as the newest member of His flock."


"It was a really nice ceremony, Sara." Catherine tickled the underside of Jacob's chin. "And you did very well, sweetheart," she cooed at the baby. "No crying or screaming like a daughter of mine who shall remain nameless."

"I was worried about the water part," Grissom replied, joining them with a glass of iced tea that Sara had requested. "He absolutely hates to get his head wet at bath time."

Catherine raised her eyebrow as she sipped her own tea. "And how often are you giving him his bath these days?"

Grissom and Sara exchanged a look. "Hold on to your curiosity, Cat," Grissom said with a mysterious smile.

After she'd moved on, even more curious now, Sara swatted Grissom's arm. "What are you doing? What happened to being discreet?"

He looked around the reception room. "There's not a single person here who can't be trusted, Sara. And I, for one, am already tired of living this whole, secret life."

She wet her lips nervously. So was she. But the decision to make their private business a little more public wasn't up to her. If it was, people in Timbuktu would have known days ago that Gil Grissom loved her and wanted to be with her and Jacob.

"Really?" she asked softly.

Grissom tucked a curl behind her ear before getting to his feet. "Excuse me," he called out over the din. Their friends' chatter died down and all eyes turned to him. Clearly a little bit uncomfortable in the spotlight, Grissom stuck his hands in his pockets. "Sara wants to thank all of you for being here today to witness Jacob's baptism. So…you're probably asking yourselves why she isn't telling you this. Well, besides being notoriously shy…" This earned him a few snickers from the people who knew Sara best. "…she's not the only one who's glad you're all here."

A few seconds passed before he started talking again. "It's no secret that I'm not chatty. At least not when it comes to subjects outside of work. So forgive me if I seem a bit rusty at this." Grissom took a breath. "It's probably also no secret that there's a…connection between Sara and myself. Maybe you all have better defined it over the years, but it's taken us a long time to acknowledge it and act upon it."

"Speak for yourself," Sara reminded him in a tone so low no one else could hear it.

"Well," Grissom continued. "We finally have."

"Damn it," Greg cursed. "If he could have held out for another couple of months, I was going to make my move!"

Warrick glanced at him. "What were you waiting for?"

"Man, there's something not cool about hitting on a woman who's still breast-feeding her kid." He sighed. "I guess though…this is the way it's supposed to be. Right?"

"Yeah," Warrick agreed. "It is."

Grissom and Sara were unaware of this conversation; all they could see was surprise, acceptance, even relief on their friends' faces.

Jacob cooed just then and Sara looked down at him, thereby completely unaware of Grissom reaching into his coat pocket for something. "I'm glad you're all here," Grissom continued, "Because I want witnesses." His attention turned to the woman sitting next to him, making faces at her delighted son. "Sara Sidle."

Her head turned just in time to see him crack the little velvet box open, revealing the unmistakable gleam of a diamond. Unblinking, her gaze drifted up to Grissom's face, searching for any sign that this might be a joke.

There was nothing in his expression but hope. "'Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.' Jane Howard." His words were husky with emotion. "I need one." His eyes pleaded with her. "Will you and Jacob be mine?"

Her curiosity satisfied, Catherine gently eased Jacob out of Sara's limp arms. Not that Sara noticed. She still had yet to even blink.

She rose on shaky knees. "Gil," she whispered. "This isn't a plant."

"I know. But I don't want to act like this didn't happen tomorrow." He lifted the ring from its cushion. "I want you to marry me, Sara. For good. Forever."

"Oh god…"

Grissom's hopeful look clouded over a bit when all she did was repeat herself. "Um…please?"

Finally, Sara broke free of the trance that had settled over her upon first sight of the ring. She blinked and the tears that had been collecting on her lashes cascaded down her cheeks. "Of course I will."

Applause erupted all around them. Nick put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. Grissom seemed startled by it, as if he had forgotten that there was anyone else in the world, but Sara merely laughed through her tears. "Really, guys," she said to their friends. "What did you think I was going to say?"

She didn't hear anyone's answers. Grissom reached for her hand and slipped the platinum band onto her finger. Without waiting for him, Sara pressed her lips to his, sealing their engagement with a kiss. She was always amazed at how well they fit together.

Catherine sniffed as she lightly jostled Sara's son against her shoulder. "What a day, Jacob," she told the baby. "God and Gil Grissom are both gonna be looking out for you."


To Be Continued