Laura had made them both breakfast, just orange coffee and toast, but neither were feeling too hungry.

"So, do you have any news about anyone in the family, mom?" Sara asked. She appeared to be more at ease with being around her mother now, not cringing when she said something embarrassing, or frowning too much.

"Oh, that's what I meant to tell you. I got news on your brother." Laura leaned against the kitchen unit, sipping a coffee.

Grissom exchanged a glance with Sara. "Oh?" she replied cautiously.

"Yeah, he called up your uncle Bill about two weeks ago, asking him to bail him out of prison for the night. Your uncle went to the precinct to visit him, but wouldn't take the bail money with him, so you're brother attacked him."

"What was he in there for?" Sara avoided Grissom's gaze, staring instead at the knots in the wooden table.

"Who knows? You know what you're brother's like, it was probably possession or causing a disturbance." Laura shrugged, signifying that she didn't care too much.

"So you don't actually know?" Sara sounded angry.

"Hey, why do you care? After what we found out he did to you, I'm surprised you give a shit."

Sara's jaw tightened, her voice low. "Mom," she growled, her voice containing an unspoken warning.

Laura understood immediately that Sara may have told Grissom about her father, but had obviously said nothing about her brother. "I'm gonna go and clean my teeth. I think you should speak to Gil."

Sara waited for her mother to leave, and groaned in despair. "God, she's only known you two days, and she already calls you by your first name. I've know you nearly two decades, and I only do occasionally."

Grissom shrugged his indifference. "At least I know that when you do it, you really mean it. So, what's this all about then?"

"I …. my mom thinks I should tell you about something ….".

Grissom put an arm around her. "If you don't feel ready, don't," he told her. "Don't hint at anything, just tell me yourself when you think the time is right. I respect it that you don't feel like it's something you should say right now."

Sara pulled away slightly. "I appreciate that," she replied.

"Have you told him?" Laura questioned unexpectedly, standing in the bathroom doorway.

Before Sara had a chance to retaliate, Grissom interjected. "We're still at a certain stage," he told her. "Sara has told me that she doesn't feel ready to tell me about what happened with her brother. If she doesn't want to tell me, I respect that. I'm in no position to force her," he mysteriously.

"If she won't tell you, then I will," Laura said.

"Don't you dare," Sara yelled, taking both Grissom and Laura by surprise. "It's nothing to do with you."

"It's everything to do with me," Laura retorted. "You're my daughter, and he's my son, and what he did to you was unforgivable."

Grissom stood up. "I'm going to go and sit in the bedroom," he said calmly. "You two sound like you need to talk, and I get the feeling that some things won't be said if I'm around." He looked at Sara, and then at Laura. "If either of you need me, you know where to find me." He left mother and daughter to it, entering the bedroom and shoving a pair of earphones in his ears, turning the sound up on Puccini extra loud. He picked up a book, a Rousseau book, something light to read.

He must have dozed off, because when he woke up, the music had stopped, and Sara was sitting next to him on the floor, back against the bed.

"How long was I asleep?" he asked, rubbing his eyes ad removing his earphones.

Sara sniffed. "About fifteen minutes."

"You've been crying," he said gently, pulling her into his arms. "Why didn't you wake me?" His mouth pressing against her hair, his voice absorbed by the brown strands. She looked beautiful, in a vulnerable way.

"You looked so cute and peaceful. You never look at peace when you're awake," she said. "Besides, it's only me being pathetic." She closed her eyes, trying not to let Grissom how hurt she was. She didn't blame her mother for trying to get involved - hell, Sara had often displayed a self-destructive side to her mother that was troubling. But she didn't want Laura telling Grissom what happened until he had fully digested the news about her father. She didn't want to scare him away, not with things between looking almost salvageable.

He rested his head on top of hers. "Honey, you're not being pathetic. I want you tell me what your brother did, but like I said, I'm not going to force you. But it just hurts me so much to see you like this, knowing that something is wrong, but also knowing that I can't do anything to help you." He breathed in deeply, trying to stop himself from becoming overly emotional.

That was the last thing Sara wanted. "Why do you think you always have to protect me?"

"Because I do have to protect you," he answered. "I don't care how tough you make yourself out to be, you're not. Well, you are, but you know what I mean?" He broke away, tilting her chin with his hand, those beautiful blue eyes swimming with feelings Sara had never been privy to before.

Sara sighed, making a huge effort not to cry. "God, I can't stand this any more."

His thumb caressed her chin. "It'll be okay, I'm here for you. Look, do you wanna go out for a walk or something? Get some fresh air, get away from your mom for a while?" Unsuccessfully, he fought the urge to comfort her more, and bent his head slightly, brushing his lips against her cheek.

Sara swallowed, nodded, blinked tearfully. "I, uh, I know of a good place a few miles away. The further away from here, the better," she explained.

Grissom abruptly released her chin and stood up, offering her his hand to help her to her feet. "I'll go and tell your mom."

Laura Sidle sat at the dining table smoking a cigarette. "Jeez, I didn't know families could be this hard to control," she said upon seeing Grissom.

He gave her a sympathetic smile. "That's life all over. I don't think Sara's ready to let her walls down yet," he said. "That's why she's taking a while to open up."

Laura expelled smoke from her mouth. "She seems to open up to you. She thinks the world of you."

Grissom sighed in resignation. "I'm part of the damn reason she's having problems."

"No, you just helped her manifest them. She told me you 'rejected' her, and I think that brought her problems to the fore."

Grissom kissed his teeth and tilted his head back slightly. "You think if I hadn't have responded the way I did, it would have just prolonged the issues?" Knowing this didn't make him feel any better.

"Sure do," Laura confirmed.

"I told her I'd take her out for a while, you know, so she can clear her head and stuff. Is it okay if we borrow the car?"

Laura dug in her trouser pocket and tossed him the car keys. "She's right about you, you know."

"What?"

"She thinks that deep down, you're attracted to her."

"What makes you agree with her?"

"You may be a god friend, but I don't think you'd go to these extremes to help a person."

Grissom smiled. "Maybe you underestimate my philanthropic qualities."