A/N: It took several days to post, for some reason, I couldn't download this into Thanks for the reviews! Maybe two chapters left for this one! Of course, I don't own CSI or anything. But, if I'm a good girl, and eat all of my vegetables, maybe Santa will bring me Billy for Christmas.

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Chapter Ten

CSI Human Resources Department…

"Dolly! How are you?" Catherine breezed into the small office with her usual flair.

"I'm fine, Catherine. You look stunning as always. How's that sweet child of yours?"

"More like a pre-teen and way more independent that I'd like."

"I know what you mean." The graying woman removed her glasses with a sigh. "They grow up much too fast these days. It seems like just yesterday when my own where in diapers, now my grand babies are heading to college soon."

"Ugh. Thank God I don't look as old as I feel." Catherine tossed several blond strands for emphasis. "So, I was wondering if you could walk me through the hiring process."

"Oh dear," Dolly's eyes lit up as she leaned forward. "Is this part of an investigation?"

"Actually, yes. You could say that." Though it was a bit of a stretch.

"I've always admired investigators." Dolly started conspiratorially. "We all know that these cases would never be solved without CSIs. If I were thirty years younger, I would be out there myself."

Catherine shook her head in understanding. "I could see that. You have a great eye for detail, Dolly. That's very important for an investigator. Finding key evidence could mean the difference in catching a killer and I'm sure nothing slips past you."

Dolly smiled, accepting the compliment. As the Human Resource Director for the last fifteen years, there was not much that went on at CSI or LVPD that she was unaware of. "Tell me what I can do to help."

"I need to review several recent applications for employment. Including any correspondences and pre interview screenings information."

"Well…That information is confidential."

"I understand. And you understand that anything you and I discuss here is also confidential? I could have the Director call down..."

"Of course, not. Is anyone in trouble?"

"Not at all. Fortunately, I occasionally get a case that's not criminal. As a matter of fact, this is more like a favor for the department." Catherine tried to tone down the web of deceit.

"Oh. It must be time for policy reviews again. You'll find that everything is in order."

"Of that I have no doubt. This won't take long. Let's start with a recent hire...say Sara Sidle?"

Grissom's home…

"What's going on? You sounded pretty upset on the telephone." Sara questioned as she moved past Grissom into the open doorway.

"You didn't have to come over here. I should be leaving for your place soon. Are the children almost done packing?"

"They're all done. Most of their belongings will stay. Gil's taking several of his new cars and action figures and Gillian is taking stuffed animals. She left the Entomology text on her nightstand so that you can read to her at night."

Grissom chuckled in response. "I communicated with my Mother today."

"Oh?" Sara tensed noticeably. "How is she?"

"Extremely excited about being a grandmother. She'll plan to visit the minute the children return."

"Gil and Gillian will be excited as well."

"Do they…know about her? Did you tell them?"

"That their grandmother is deaf? Of course. We have even learned a few signs."

Grissom stared at Sara in awe. "Thank you. That…means a great deal to me."

"I would very much like for their grandmother to be a part of their lives."

"Very good."

"So, uh? How are you holding up? You look…tired? Did you sleep today? Cause you know that there's not much time before shift and -"

"I'm fine Sara." Interrupting her nervous rambling, he took in her appearance for the first time. She wasn't as calm as she sounded. "Why are you nervous?"

"Sorry. I tend to get a little worked up when I have to leave the children."

"Then why do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Leave the children. I feel…nauseous…and I...I feel like I'm having some sort of breakdown." Grissom replied honestly as he ran shaky fingers through his hair haphazardly. "I don't think I can do this."

"It never gets easier but you do learn how to deal with it better. Their first day of preschool, I cried in the hall for an hour and sat in my car until school was out. Four hours!"

Grissom smiled at the shared memory. "I wish I could have been there."

"I know, I know Gil." Her head dropped in guilt.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"

"It's okay. Really."

"You know Sara…I realize now that this was why you insisted on having two days off together. If I had known…I never would have made it difficult for you to be with the twins."

"It was tough but we made out okay. When I couldn't get away, Mom would bring them to me."

"They've been here before? To Vegas? This close and I didn't know." Grissom gaped incredulously.

"I'm sorry." Sara said for what seemed like the hundredth time, trying to keep up with his mood swings.

"I'm sorry, Sara. Sometimes, I…it seems as if I will never catch up."

"I did this. It was my decision to…I did this…" Sara choked as another wave of loss and hurt washed over her.

"Come here." Grissom gently pulled Sara into his arms. He wondered briefly if they would ever get past this point. He wanted to get past it. But there was always something. Something more. "I want to trust you, Sara. Can I trust you? This is it, right? They are coming back home?"

"Grissom." Sara closed her eyes and swallowed the painful lump in her throat. "Grissom, I love Gil and Gillian more than anything in this world. I would do anything for them, including moving here to Las Vegas to be with their father. They love you so much and have wanted for so long to meet you, to be with you. I…I could never deny them that chance again. I only hope that one day they will forgive me for waiting so long. They need you to be in their lives - I need you to be in their lives. They'll leave tonight and we'll miss them terribly. When school is completed, I'll be there myself to bring our babies home. Our home is where you are, Gil. Las Vegas, California, doesn't matter; we'll never be far from you again. You have my word." Sara took a tentative step towards Grissom and ran her fingers lightly through his hair. "I want you to trust me, Gil. Will you trust me?"

His eyes drifted closed as her words sank in and her fingers began to massage the nape of his neck.

"Try Grissom. I never meant to hurt you. I do love you."

Words from earlier drifted back into his head. His Mother was right; he needed to open his heart. "I…I-uh, love you too, Sara."

Sara lifted his chin until their eyes met, then leaned forward and captured his mouth with her own. When their lungs finally protested, each broke away, panting for air. Sara was the first to recover her speech.

"Let's go say goodbye to our children." The promise of something more hung in the air unspoken.

Sara's Apartment…

"I have something for you, Daddy." Gillian whispered conspiratorially, arms tucked securely behind her back.

"You do? What is it? Is it a grasshopper?"

"No."

"Is it a beetle? A butterfly?" Grissom continued on, inching closer to where she stood.

"No, silly!" She thrust forward a framed recent photograph of Grissom, Sara and the children. "Nana took it. Remember Daddy?"

"I do. It's beautiful." He figured the picture as he recalled the event. They had all gone to the park. Grissom snapped back to the present when he felt a tug on his pants leg. He hoisted his daughter up onto his hip and she snuggled close.

"I didn't want you to forget what we looked like. I love you Daddy."

"I love you too, Sweetheart. And I could never forget how you look."

"Will you call me and read to me every night before I go to bed?"

"I promise to call you everyday. And if your Mother and I aren't too busy catching bad guys, I'll read to you too. How does that sound?"

"Okay." She buried her head into Grissom's shoulder. "I don't want to go."

"Hey, there." He lifted her chin to see her eyes. "Your Mom and I will come to visit you and before you know it, school will be over and you'll be back here to stay."

"Forever, Daddy?" She held his gaze waiting for his answer.

"Forever."

Grissom tried not to get emotional as his little girl placed her hands on either side of his cheeks then bathed his face with tiny kisses. He then passed her on to Sara who waited for her turn with teary eyes.

Grissom turned and found Gil leaning against the doorjamb, watching quietly. "You all ready?"

"Yes, Sir."

Grissom sighed heavily as he led the boy outside. He wondered for the hundredth time if they would grow closer. Not that he was complaining about the progress made. He hadn't expected Gil to take to him as quickly as Gillian had, but he had hoped his son would not still consider him a friendly stranger who played toys with him.

Before ducking into the car, Gil stuck his hand out, which Grissom sadly accepted.

"Goodbye, Gil. I'll see you soon."

However, when he moved to withdraw his hand, his namesake, who rarely initiated physical contact, held onto his father's hand, pulling it until Grissom was almost eye level.

Grissom's eyes, mixed with confusion and hope, met the steady gaze of his son. Gil then released his hand and reached out to hug his father.

"I love you, Dad."

Grissom did cry as he pulled his boy into a tight embrace. "I love you too, Son."

CSI Lab…

"You're in early."

Warrick's smooth, rich voice startled Catherine from behind during her concentrated search in the computer database.

"Yeah, what can I say?" She quickly clicked the open window closed. "I'm dedicated to the job."

"Uh-hmm. So, since when did Sara's financial records become part of the job?"

Damn, she hadn't been fast enough. "I'm just doing some research - checking out a few things."

"What is this about, Catherine? I thought you liked Sara?"

"I do like Sara. There are just some things that don't add up with her."

"And this is your business, how?"

"I'm looking out for Grissom."

"By violating the rights of his…what are they again? Anyway, I'm sure Grissom wouldn't appreciate you snooping around in Sara's business and Sara will definitely be pissed."

"I know, I know."

"I can't tell."

"But what has she been doing all these years?"

"You could always ask her." Warrick suggested.

"You can't tell me you aren't even a little curious?" Ignoring her co-worker's logic.

"It doesn't matter. It's not my business or yours! This is wrong on so many levels."

Catherine took a deep breath and changed her tactic. "Don't you want to know if Sara is someone we can trust? I mean, look what she's done to Grissom."

"Let Grissom figure this out for himself." Warrick sighed in frustration when Catherine didn't seem to get it. "Look, Sara's a good CSI, Cath. She knows the job, has a decent personality and I trust her. What has happened or is happening with Grissom, you know, her personal life - is not for me to decipher or judge.

They seem happy - or close to what any of us would consider happy. You've seen Grissom with his kids. You want to mess with that? It's not perfect, but what is?" He rolled his eyes when Catherine did not appear to be affected by his words. "If you look long and hard enough, you'll find flaws in all of us, some more than others.

"Well, excuse me if I haven't been completely taken in by her charms!" Catherine spat defensively. Irritated by Warrick's loyalty to the other woman.

Warrick cocked his head to one side. "I don't even know where you're going with that but be careful, Catherine. You have a lot to loose too. And I'm not just talking about your job, for using government property for personal agendas."

Catherine pursed her lips in thought for several minutes after Warrick's departure, and then turned her attention back to the computer screen to pick up where she left off.

Sara's Apartment…

An hour later, Grissom was still plenty emotional as he and Sara took a seat in the living room with coffee.

"Mom says she'll call as soon as they get in."

Grissom only nodded in response.

"Shouldn't take more than a couple of hours. They'll probably make it in before we go in to work. Maybe…"

Sara was met with more silence.

"Gil?"

Grissom lifted his eyes to meet hers.

"They'll be fine. We'll speak with them in a few hours."

More silence.

"You know, Mom has her cellular telephone. We could call her now, if you'd like?"

"No." Speaking for the first time. "I -uh. I don't want her searching for the telephone while she's driving."

"Okay." She studied his pale features. "Are you okay, Grissom?"

"Yeah, I. I just didn't think…I didn't know or realize, I guess…" He stammered, placing his cup down on the table with shaky hands.

"What? What didn't you realize?"

"That it would hurt this much…" He was unable to stop the tears from falling.

"Oh, God. Gil..." Sara sat down her own cup and moved close to him. "It'll be okay. They'll be back. I promise. I promise, Honey. They'll be back home, soon." Sara murmured repeatedly as they rocked and cried together.

Grissom tried to believe her words while they stayed wrapped into each other's arms until it was time to leave for work.