Title: Returning Home

Author: Elizabeth Kelly

Rating: T (PG-13)

Disclaimer: CSI, its plot and characters, belong to CBS Worldwide Inc., and Alliance Atlantis Productions.

Summary: GSR - What if something you thought was lost forever, returned home?

Chapter Eleven

"Honey?"
"Mmm?"
"I've been thinking,"
"'Bout what?"
"You, and me… and baby G." Sara turned on her side to face Grissom, pulling the blanket down from over her head in the process.
"What?" she asked, wondering if she had heard right.
"I want to create life," Grissom replied excitedly, his eyes wide.
"Is this your mid-life crisis?" she asked, wiping the sleep out of the corner of her eyes.
"No, Sara, I want us to procreate." Sara stared at him blankly.
"Us, as in you and me?"
"You took first year biology, you should know that I can't do it by myself." Sara rolled her eyes at him.
"We just got engaged!"
"So, we are getting married in two months, and I can't wait to start a family with you. We talked about this, you said you wanted kids!"
"Yeah, I was talking about in a couple of years, not now!"
"Why not now?" he asked.
"Because, I just started my new job, and…"
"So, you can take maternity leave," he suggested smirking at her.
"Grissom are we ready for a kid?"
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean, are we really ready? Am I really ready?"
"Sara, you are going to make a great mom."
"But what if I'm not, I don't know anything about kids. I don't know what they need, what they eat, how they think, what they wear," Grissom chuckled.
"What are you worried the baby would hate you if you dressed it in an unfashionable jumpsuit?" Sara punched him lightly in the arm.
"I'm just…" she tried to search for the word. "I just don't know."
"Sara, all our child would need is two parents that love it more than anything else. And I know that you would love our daughter more than anything." The image of Grissom holding their child made Sara smile.
"What makes you so sure it's going to be a girl?" she asked, after a few moments.
"Does that mean yes?" he asked, hopefully. Sara thought about it for a few moments, then smiled her Sara smile at him.
"Gilbert Grissom," she paused and leaned in to kiss him, then pulled back to look in his eyes. "I would love to create life with you."

The hustle and bustle of the morning staff arriving at the hospital, signalled the start of the day. Yet for the occupants of room 216, their day had not yet begun. Maddie lay on the bed in a drug induced sleep, her small frail body trying to fight the infection that had invaded it. Sara's head rested on her hands which were lying, crossed on the bed. Both were oblivious to the noise of the workers out in the hall, and the commuters on the near by road. For sitting in such an uncomfortable chair, it was the best sleep that Sara had had in at least five years.

The sound of the door opening, caused Sara to stir. Blinking wearily, she forced her eyes to focus on the person who had just entered the room.
"Hey," she said softly, her voice thick from sleep.
"Hey," Andrew whispered back, which caused Sara to giggle softly.
"We can talk louder, you know, she can't hear us," she said speaking in her normal voice. Andrew forced a smile out, which Sara immediately noticed.
"You ok?" she asked. Andrew nodded, to which Sara only glared at him. "Tell me, what's wrong!" she demanded.
"I'm just…"
"Just what?" Sara pushed gently.
"I don't know it's hard to explain. This case, Catherine, Ryan and Molly, Maddie and you and Gil it's just a lot to deal with at the moment."
"You push yourself too hard, you know that?"
"And you don't?" he questioned.
"Not as much as you do. You know that you are a much better father than your father ever was, so stop beating yourself up over Ryan and Molly. Last I heard they still love you. And this case is practically over, the hard bit has been done, Maddie's home, where she belongs. I know that you felt guilty for not being able to find her, but I need you to understand that Gil and I never blamed you, not once, not ever. How many hours did the three of us, sit down and go over the evidence? There was nothing that could be done. And…," she paused, raising her eyebrow at him. "What's going on with Catherine that's got you so worked up?"
"It's nothing it was just a big misunderstanding." Sara narrowed her eyes, but on hearing a moan from the bed decided to let it go for now.

Turning around, her eyes met the beautiful calm ones in the bed. Sara smiled.
'Hey Maddie, do you remember your Uncle Andrew?' Sara signed. Maddie studied him, then shook her head. Not expecting this answer, Sara turned to look at Andrew. His face was unreadable.
"I'm just going to go," he said heading for the door. Turning before he left, he spoke to Maddie. "I'm glad that you're home."
Maddie had turned to Sara to look for a translation, and when she turned back, he had gone.
"Did I make him angry?" she asked worriedly. Sara smiled, and patted her arm,
'No, he's just got a lot going on right now,' she replied. 'How did you sleep?'
'Ok,' she finger spelt. "When can we go home?" Maddie asked almost pleadingly.
'Soon,' Sara replied, not knowing the answer for sure.
"Good," Maddie replied, looking around the room. "Am I going to go back to school?" she asked quietly.
'You need an education, Maddie,' Sara replied.
"I know, but I mean you and Dad are smart, can't you teach me?"
'It's not the same thing.' Maddie looked away.
"But I'm scared to go back to that school," She whispered.
"Honey," Sara said, turning Maddie's face back to hers. 'Your father and I would never send you back to that school.' Maddie gave Sara a small smile. Maddie looked at Sara in a way that reminded her of Grissom trying to determine if a suspect is lying or not.
"Thank you," she replied eventually.
'Why don't you get some more rest?' Sara asked her as Maddie stifled a yawn. Nodding, Maddie rolled over and closed her eyes.

Sighing, Sara sat back in her chair. Her mind began to tick over the things that they needed to discuss together, the three of them. Sara watched her daughter's chest rise and fall with each deep breath. It had a somewhat calming effect on her well-concealed panic. She wasn't sure if she was ready to be with Grissom just yet. She knew people would think it was stupid. She had been chasing him for the last four years, now that she had him, why was she considering letting him go? For them Sara had an easy answer, it was no longer just the two of them. Before Maddie had been found, Sara had just wanted them to go slow, build up their relationship back up to where it was. Friends first, then date for awhile, before moving back in together. But now Maddie was back and the last thing Sara wanted to do was to inform Maddie that her parents were no longer living together and that San Francisco was no longer their home.

They would have to move into Grissom's townhouse. It was bigger, for starters. Secondly, Maddie hadn't been held hostage in his apartment building. In all honesty, Sara didn't really feel comfortable living in her apartment now knowing who had been living in the apartment above hers.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Turning around Sara saw Grissom standing awkwardly at the door.
"What did you knock for?" she asked.
"You looked deep in thought, I didn't want to walk in and frighten you. Sara smiled softly. "What were you thinking about?"
"It's nothing really," she said casually. "Where have you been?"
"I was calling Joan and Thomas and Mum, to let them know the good news," Grissom said coming to sit on the second chair beside Sara.
"Really? How did they take it?"
"Joan and Thomas are happy and told me to give Maddie their love." Sara smiled at the thought of her kind foster parents.
"And your Mum?"
"Well her new nurse, Rosa, who you would like, had to hide Mum's keys to stop her from driving to the airport." Sara chuckled, 'that sounded like Grissom's mother', she thought.
"I said we would call her when we get home." Sara stiffened slightly, at the mention of home.

"Are you okay?" he asked, placing his hand on her arm.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just wondering how we are going to tell out little girl about everything that has happened over the last five years."
"I know, it's a lot to tell an already traumatised child." Sara nodded, leaning over to place her head on his shoulder, in the spot that had always been reserved for her. "But you know what?" he said rubbing her arm gently.
"What?" she whispered into his neck.
"We're going to work through it, together, as a family." Sara smiled and for the first time in five years she felt like everything was going in the right direction.

"Oh, my God, Sara you look like an angel!" Hayley gushed. Sara stared at her best friend of twelve years, who nodded at her as if to reassure her. Slowly, Sara turned around, she gasped when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She had to blink several times to convince herself that the woman in the mirror was really her. Sara wasn't really all that feminine, she only wore dresses when she really had no other choice.

She hadn't always been like that. She had loved dressing up when she was little. That had changed that fateful night. She couldn't wear a dress without being reminded of the blood that had stained the front of her favourite dress, when she had rushed to her father's side. Nor could she rid the image of her mother, one of her closest friends, being led away in handcuffs.

Yet, these memories were only fleeting as she took in the sight of herself in her wedding gown. The strapless white bodice, that hugged her body nicely, had hand-sewn crystals sewn in intricate designs, the skirt flared out falling straight to the floor. Her long brown hair had been pulled back and held with combs, soft delicate curls had been allowed to fall out around her face. The veil was made out of the sheerest material, and fell to partway down her back.

"Are you sure I look okay?" Sara turned and asked her friend nervously. Hayley, came over and placed a hand on Sara's arm.
"You look perfect," she assured her. Sara turned side on to the mirror, running a hand over her still flat stomach.
"Hey, there little one," she whispered softly. "Mommy is marrying Daddy today, and I just want to let you know that we will always love you."

It was a constant beeping that woke her up. Sara shook her head, trying to remember where she was. The beeping became louder and faster, and then the memories flooded back to her. Maddie found, Maddie in the hospital. The door was thrown open with an almighty bang. Grissom who had been asleep in the corner, awoke with a start. Dr Winters was standing over the girl in the bed, a stethoscope pressed to Maddie's chest.

"Pulse is rapid and weak!" a nurse called out, as another one pushed Grissom and Sara out of the room.
"Wait what's going on?" Sara asked.
"Your daughter's condition is worsening," the nurse replied hastily.
"But she was fine an hour ago," Grissom cut in.
"I'm sorry, we'll do the best we can," she said squeezing Sara's shoulder softly, and giving Grissom a sympathetic smile before hurrying back into the room.

Grissom and Sara stood at the door, watching the doctors and nurses rushing around inside. Their state of jubilee at Maddie's return had well and truly faded. They had just gotten her back; and neither of them thought they could cope with losing her a second time.

A/N: Sorry about the long delay between updates. Life just got in the way, and then I lost my muse. However, on the bright side, the holidays are coming up so I will have plenty of time to write more then. Don't expect an update soon though, because I am right in the middle of my exam block, and a little bit stressed!