San Francisco.

Waiting outside the curtained off hospital bed in Accident and Emergency, Warrick was using the reception desk phone. He was listening to Timmons' update on the trap the detective was constructing. The second call he made after hanging up, was to Josh.

Forty-five minutes later, one of the nurses he had bumped into earlier, called him into the cubicle. He said a swift goodbye to Josh and followed the nurse. The baby was sleeping, dressed in nothing but his diaper and a small blanket wrapped around him. Against the white sheets, he looked so small and pale.

One nurse left while one stayed with him, telling details of the baby's condition. Before she could say anything more than, 'he has a slight cold', Warrick spoke up.

"Is he going to be ok?"

The nurse nodded. "Yes."

"Did you manage to take another blood sample?" He switched back into work mode.

"Nurse Kelly is signing the paperwork for you now."

Warrick looked up at the nurse and offered her a small smile. "Thanks. The sooner the blood is analysed the better."

The nurse moved towards the bed and adjusted the blanket. "The EMT's sent a sample already, didn't they?"

"Not enough. Sadly we need more to put into evidence in case this goes to trial. With more than one reference the stronger the evidence."

"Well, I'm glad this is turning out for the better." She sighed and then switched back to business. "Do you have a contact number for the next of kin?"

"I'd like to wait until the first results come back." Warrick shrugged. "They've already been through this test once. I'd rather have positive news for them this time."

"No problem" She approached him. "Would you like to sit with him for a few minutes? We're moving him to paediatrics until he's collected by his guardian."

"Thanks. I'd like that."


Los Angeles.
Airport.

The pacing was starting to get annoying. They had only been waiting twenty minutes and Brass was ready to down two shots of whiskey, just to let Grissom continue his impatient stride.

After a slow ten minutes, Brass got up and walked away, heading straight towards the bar.

Grissom checked his watch once, twice, three times, before turning to look up at the large airport departure board. Their flight had been delayed by forty-seven minutes with no further announcement. He had considered calling ahead and letting Warrick know about the flight changes, but held off. It was more than likely that Warrick was still inside the hospital. Truth be told, it comforted him. Just knowing that the baby they had in custody was safe was enough to stave off a lot of worrying.

Deciding to call Sara instead, Grissom sat down and hunted for his cell phone. He had dropped it in his duffle bag before leaving the police station. Digging under two dirty shirts and a pair of socks, he twisted open his cell phone.


Between Las Vegas and San Francisco.
In the Air.

Steadying her shaking hand, Sara returned her glass of water to the tray. She was staring out the window when her cell phone vibrated in her pocket. She caught her nail on the seam and frowned as it broke off the corner.

Reading the caller ID, she forgot about her nail and smiled slightly. "I hoped you'd call."

"In the air already?" He asked quickly. "I'm still stuck waiting. They delayed the flight again."

"When do you think you'll get to Frisco?"

"Another hour maybe. The intercom informed us that the runway was being picketed by protesters. Something about not extending the airport into forestry."

Sara leaned her head against the window. "I guess I'll arrive at the hospital before you then."

"You could wait." He said softly. "But I know you're anxious."

"Warrick hasn't called. I'm still shaking from the phone call." She confessed, clenching her free hand into a fist.

"DNA should be back by this evening." He paused and listened to an announcement.

Sara smiled. "That your flight?"

"Yes. I'll call again before we land. You sure you're going to be ok?"

"I'll be fine. Love you." She returned the phone to her pocket and inspected her nail.


San Francisco.

Parking outside the airport after receiving a call from Sara only thirty minutes before, Warrick shifted his bag from the passenger front seat to the foot-well in the back. He then stuffed a load of take out rubbish into a brown paper bag before getting out the car and binning it. Waiting for Sara outside the airport was pre-arranged so neither had to search for each other and become lost in the crowds.

"You need to move your vehicle, sir." Said a thick voice from across the hood of the car.

Warrick pulled out his badge. "Official business." He informed airport security.

Looking at the badge from where he stood, the older man nodded and tipped his hat. "Just don't clog up the road for too long. Busiest hour setting in."

"No problem. Thanks." Warrick flashed a smile over the mans shoulder. "I'll be leaving now. Hey Sara. Hop in."

Sara shoved her bag in the back and smiled at the man Warrick had been speaking too, watching as the man walked away.

"Griss said you should eat, so I'll swing by a deli on the way to the hospital." Warrick checked his mirrors before indicating and following the exit arrows out of the parking lot.

"Can't we get food at the hospital?" She asked, anxious to get some answers and confirm that the baby was in fact her nephew.

Warrick sighed quietly, knowing beforehand that it wasn't going to be so easy. "Not the best place for food. Honestly, even the patients go to the deli around the corner." He blabbed his way through some more excuses as she thought up more reasons to just get to the hospital quickly.

Giving up, Sara slumped back in her seat. "Fine. What time are you expecting the DNA results?"

Casting a sideways glance, he sighed. "An hour, two tops."

"I guess I can wait and hour or two. Can you at least take me to see him?"

Warrick nodded slowly. "I suppose. You don't want to wait for Grissom? He and Brass should be in the air, but will be landing in about," He checked his watch quickly before turning at an intersection. "an hour."

"Just you drive and let things sort themselves out. I wanna see the baby for myself."

"Okay." Warrick let out a rush of air.


Las Vegas.

Catherine took the clump of messages Judy held out to her, saying they were for Grissom. After dumping them on his desk, and calling in a few cadets to take up some of the slack, she headed for DNA.

"With all evidence results pending, it's still uncertain if there's a case at all." Detective Vega was telling Greg and Nick.

"It's coming together." Nick scratched at his two-day-growth-stubble. "Evidence from three counties is going to pose a big delay in collection, processing and communication. We can't help it. Not right now anyway."

"Warrick is bringing back everything collected after Sara and Grissom get to the hospital." Greg told them. "When the kid is identified, he's heading back. They got the suspects in for questioning and while Sara is signing papers for custody, the cops are gonna Fed-Ex the interviews. After that's all done, it's either arrests and court or back to square one."

Nick gave him a glare. "Thanks for clearing that up, Greg."

"Fine." Greg snapped.

"Boys, corners." Catherine stepped between the group and patted the tech on his shoulder. "Anything?"

"Enough to hold both original suspects."

Catherine nodded. "Good. That's some good news at least. Now, Greg, I need you doing some more background research into the Briggs business and Nick, I want you with Vega."

Detective Vega dropped his hands from his hip and stood up straight. "We got some DA talking to do."


San Francisco.

Grissom and Brass managed to get a cab to the hospital. Though Grissom was told not to worry, he was snapping at the driver and Brass the entire drive. Warrick had gone with Sara into the hospital, but Sara had frozen before going into the ward on the Paediatrics floor.

Willing the elevator to go faster, Grissom tapped his fingers against the glowing number display. The doors opened with a ping and before the door fully opened, he was out and Brass was following closely behind. Rounding a corner, Brass saw Warrick sitting beside Sara.

Sara looked up at the sound of heavy soled feet hitting linoleum. Her heart skipped and quickened as she saw Grissom walking fast towards her. She stood and ran the last few metres between them, throwing her arms around him. It felt like forever since they had seen each other. It felt longer since they'd touched.

"Hey Warrick." Brass shook the young mans hand. "I guess you should be getting to the lab."

Warrick looked away from Brass briefly. "Yeah. Timmons said he'd have the evidence boxed up and ready to ship out. Got my own escort for the flight too. Josh, CSI here, he's basically the lead CSI on the case. He will need a ton of paperwork signed before I can leave. Legalities suck."

"What about the suspects?" Brass inquired.

"Whole family is in the cells. Probably started the interviews already. I might stop by and check them out for myself. Timmons requested all tapes be sent to our labs back home before the days out. That'll help with any DA sweet talking that needs to be done to full proof the case."

Sara sighed against Grissom's neck, snuggling and holding on tightly. "I couldn't go in."

"It's ok." Grissom held her to him as he addressed Warrick. "DNA results?"

Before he could answer, Warrick's cell phone chimed. "Should be it. Brown." He listened intently to the caller.

"Gil," Sara pulled back slightly to look him in the eyes.

Opening his mouth to say something comforting, Grissom was cut off by Warrick's confirmation. Swallowing, he nodded his head towards the ward. "Let's go meet Anthony Blackwell."

Brass smiled as the couple walked towards the open double doors. The sounds of babies crying and voices from parents, families and hospital staff, buzzed in harmony. "Guess we can stop worrying about the baby now."

Warrick nodded. "Just the case. I'm guessing Richard Briggs has a lot to say."

"He did lose the baby. And that's only after he became friends with Anthony Blackwell Senior, became his lawyer and then forgot to carry out any legal bindings he made with Mr Blackwell. I'd say he's in deep shit."

"Not to mention the Blackwell family." Warrick added after Brass sat down. "Talk about seriously messed up. What made them think that kidnapping a child would make things any easier for them? I don't know them but I'd say they could have gone through the proper system to fight for custody. They might have won, but they went around it all wrong."

Brass shook his head. "They knew they would be investigated by the court. Background checks into the whole family. Anthony Blackwell's Last Will and Testament would have come to light and any chance they had at keeping the baby would have been non existent."

"As long as someone pays the price for this, I'm happy for Griss and Sara." Warrick stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles. "Though, I can't see Griss and Sara as parents. Not at the moment at least."

Brass grinned. "I have been seeing them as parents since I flew out of Vegas. Grissom confided in me. Something secret. Something he doesn't want me to tell."

"A Grissom secret?" Warrick crossed his arms and grinned back at the detective. "You gotta tell me."


To Be Continued.