Disclaimer: I don't own CSI. That's why I work for a living.

Chapter 17

Sara sat quietly, listening to Grissom's voice. She was leaned back a little and her hands were rubbing slowly over her distended abdomen. A smile split her face. He reached out and placed his hand over hers. When she heard Nick's chuckle she laughed a little herself. Would Griss never tire of telling this story?

"I had been working late. It was the Reynolds' case. You remember. Um, well, anyway she didn't realize I was going to be that late and decided to take a bath. When I got home, she was sitting in the tub and the water was cold. She was really mad." Grissom shook his head at the memory. "I was afraid to laugh when I hauled her out of the water."

"I'm surprised the water wasn't boiling. I know how mad Sara can get." Nick's drawl couldn't hide the laughter in his voice.

"She was kind of like a wet cat." The two men burst into laughter. When Nick started making hissing noises and clawing motions they laughed even harder.

"Grissom." Sara tried to hide her own amusement when she warningly said, "I will make you pay for this."

When her body tensed, she sucked in a breath. "Breathe honey." Grissom soothed as she rode out the contraction. "Try to relax."

"Easy for you to say," Sara retorted when the pain had subsided. She smiled at her husband and softened her voice. "I'm okay. Just uncomfortable."

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"I wish you had seen the look on his face when the tech asked him if he wanted to come back too." Sara told Tina.

Warrick laughed and said, "I can imagine. Griss was probably freaked out. The thought of all those emotional women and what was happening behind those doors." He threw his head back and let out a throaty chuckle. "Man, I wish I had been there."

"What happened then?" Tina asked.

Sara smiled at the memory. "He was very interested in the whole process. You know how he can be." Sara paused and her eyes misted over. "But when he saw peanut on the screen," Sara's voice broke and she shrugged while fanning her eyes, "He cried."

"Ooooo. That is so sweet." Tina turned to face her husband whose mouth was hanging open in shock. "Are you okay Warrick?"

He didn't notice the door opening when he said, "Grissom cried?" His voice was incredulous, shock written all over his face.

"What? You don't cry?" Grissom asked, color riding high on his cheeks, as he came in carrying a bag full of Mexican take out.

"Hey bugman. I was telling them about the first ultrasound." Sara smiled at the man who came bearing food. "That smells so good. What's in the bag?"

Grissom walked over and dropped a kiss on Sara's lips. "It's nice to be back. Glad you missed me." With a smile he pulled the tray over and started setting out food. "Hey Warrick. Tina, nice to see you."

"Hey Griss. We just stopped by to keep you guys company for a while." Warrick winked at Sara. "Mama's been entertaining us."

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"Knock, knock," Brass said as he stuck his head around the door. "I have somebody here you might want to see."

He pushed open the door and motioned his companion forward. Olivia smiled at Brass when she walked past him. She rushed over to give Sara a hug. "How are you dear?"

"I'm fine. They gave me an epidural about fifteen minutes ago and I'm not feeling a whole lot." Sara grinned. "It's Gil you should be worried about."

Grissom was standing beside Sara. His face was a little pale and he eyes bloodshot. "Gil, love, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I didn't do as well with the epidural as Sara did." Grissom looked a little sheepish. He turned to Brass and said, "Not a word from you, Jim."

Brass held up his hands and assured, "I don't have anything to say. Nothing at all."

Grissom looked at his mother and said, "I don't like to see Sara hurt."

"I remember when you were born. They wouldn't let anyone in the room. Now I know why." Olivia laughed at her son's obvious embarrassment.

In an effort to deflect the attention being focused on him, Grissom said, "Hey mom, did I ever tell you about how we picked a name?" When she shook her head he continued. "We were going for the second ultrasound and were talking about finding out the baby's sex."

Sara interrupted, saying, "Grissom said we needed to talk about names. Then he started spouting the most horrendous names I have ever heard."

"They were not horrendous!" Grissom laughed, "Okay, maybe some of them were. But not all of them."

Sara choked back a giggle and said, "Astrid? Angus?"

"Both good, strong names. Names with meaning." Grissom laughed and said, "At least they aren't the name of a state or a car. Besides, what about the names you suggested?"

"What?" Sara asked. "What's wrong with Willow and Wilbur? Wilbur is even a form of Gilbert."

Olivia was laughing. Brass had taken a seat and was observing the play between the three Grissoms. He smiled as he thought about how far Gil had come in the past couple of years. Shaking his head he laughed out loud at the name Wilbur.

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Catherine rushed through the door. "Sorry, I was trying to get here before the fun started. Lindsay wanted to come back but I left her in the waiting room."

"She doesn't need to be out there by herself. Go get her." Sara was tired and the contractions were very close together. She tried to put on a smile for her friend but it came out as more of a grimace.

"Oh, don't worry. She's with the rest of the gang." Catherine dropped her purse and jacket on a chair and walked over to stand next to the bed.

Grissom looked a little puzzled, "What gang?"

"Nick, Warrick, Tina, Greg. You know – the gang." Catherine looked at Sara, "How you doing girl?"

"Everyone is still here? Why?" Grissom asked.

Catherine smiled at his confusion. "Waiting for peanut to make his appearance."

"I've been better. I'm at nine. The nurse should be back any minute to check me again." Sara tensed when she felt the vague pressure of the latest contraction. "I'll be glad when this is over."

"I remember when Lindsay was born. My water wouldn't break. The doctor finally helped me out with that. Not the most fun I've ever had." Catherine actually smiled at the memory.

"Do I really want to hear any more?" Sara looked a little apprehensive. "It's too late to cut and run."

"No. Sara, it is the best thing I've ever suffered through. I'd do it all again if Lindsay would be the result." Catherine laid her hand over Sara's. "I'll go before the nurse gets back. I'll be outside with everyone else."

"Wait." Sara grasped Catherine's hand when she turned to walk away. "Will you…uh, will you stay with me? With us?"

Neither of them could decide who was more shocked. Sara couldn't believe she had asked Catherine to stay. Catherine couldn't believe Sara had asked her to stay.

"I would be honored." Catherine gave Sara a watery smile and squeezed her hand.

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The bassinet was ready. The stirrups were up and holding Sara's feet. The doctor was getting her mask and gloves on.

Her eyes were smiling when she said, "Are you ready to have a baby Sara?"

Sara nodded and said, "I really need to push. Really."

"Okay, let me take one last look and we'll be ready." When Dr. Crane was satisfied that everything was in order she raised her eyes to meet the patient's. "I'm ready whenever you are. When you feel the next contraction I want you to take a deep breath, hold it and push." When Sara nodded, Dr. Crane asked Grissom, "Ready Dad?"

Thirty minutes later, at 4:02 in the afternoon on Wednesday, March 8, 2008, Jonathan Aaron Grissom was born.

When he lay against his mother's breast and let out his first angry cry his mother wept. She wept from sheer happiness. The love she felt for that tiny person warmed her in a way nothing ever had. She had been afraid at times that she wouldn't love their son the way a mother should. All fear was erased. She loved him – unconditionally and without reservation.

When he lay against his mother's breast and let out his first angry cry Catherine wept. Having a baby didn't prepare you for watching the process. The miracle she had just witnessed left her awestruck.

When he lay against his mother's breast and let out his first angry cry his father wept. His love for Sara was suddenly eclipsed by his love for this tiny creature. Even though he understood the biology of birth he hadn't understood the emotion of it all. His heart swelled in his chest until he thought it would burst.

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Grissom and Sara's friends stood outside the nursery window. Baby Grissom was front and center. He didn't know he was the luckiest baby in the world. He didn't know that he had more than a mom and dad. He didn't know that he had been born with four uncles, two aunts and a cousin. If it truly takes a village to raise a child then Jonathan Grissom had nothing to worry about.