Ok, so I failed at updateing twice a week. Sue me. Anyways, I only have a month left of school before finals, that and I'm WAY behind on writing. So please stick with me here. Thanks to Just Thinking. She's the one who rode my ass for skipping the holidays, so I backed up to cover them over the next two chapters. And thanks to my frequently absent, thegreatbluespoon, and for the bombshell you dropped on me this morning. Thanks Jess, like I needed to be freaking out.

Teens & Tribulations

Chapter 15

It didn't take long to settle into the routine of juggling work and the kids going to school. Sara would try to get home in time to take them, but on more than one occasion she didn't make it. Jason would then stepup to make sure Kassie was ready and escorted her to the bus. Summer faded in to fall and with that camel ittle Kassie's birthday.

Sara got together with Catherine to organize a party. They decided that it was a sure bet that she hadn't had a celebration, let alone an all out party. It didn't take them long to geteverything ready.

Grissom was getting ready to head home to shower before they went to Catherine's, when his email chimed at him. He pondered walking out without checking it, but a quick glance wouldn't hurt. Grissom opened the message and instantly regretted it. Ecklie had sent the message, saying that the sheriff wanted him to help another law enforcement agency in Arizona, with insect analysis. And he needed to do it that night.

Grissom made a disgusted growl as he left his office thumbing through the phone book on his cell phone to contact the sheriff.

He made it home in a sour mood that radiated off of him as he walked through the house. Sara was getting Kassie ready when he walked by. She could tell by his posture that something was wrong. After she filled Kassie with more fibs of where they were really going, she went to confront Grissom.

The shower was running and she heard him cursing Ecklie and knew that work had interfered. Sara just laid out some clean clothes for him and sat patiently on the bed for him to finish.

Grissom walked into the bedroom clad in only a towel, he was greeted by Sara's disappointed look. "Honey, I'm..." He paused not knowing what to say but, it was obvious by the look on her face that she knew work had interfered.

"Don't worry."

He sat down next to her. "I'm still going but, I'll have to leave early. Something per the sheriff and I can't get out of it." his tone faded as he let his disappointment show.

Sara took his hand giving him the assurance that she understood.

She drove Jason and Kassie in the truck, while Grissom followed in the Denali. Sara explained to them why Grissom was going to be leaving early. It broke her heart to watch Kassie's eye's well up as she tried not to cry. Her tears fell anyway.

When they reached Catherine's house, Kassie refused to get out of the truck. Sara didn't want to tell her the real reason why she needed to get out, so Grissom tried to get her out.

"Come on, we're going to have fun. I'm sorry that I'm going to have to leave early, but I'm here now. If you get out now then I will be here longer." He thought it would be easy to con a five-year-old, he was sadly mistaken.

"No, you're just going to leave anyway," Kassie pouted.

"I'm sorry sweetie, I really am. Look I'll make you a deal, if you get out now and be a good girl, I'll take you out for ice cream when I get back."

Kassie shook her head so fast that the braids in her hair whipped around. "I don't want ice cream later."

Grissom sighed in near defeat. How could a man of his intelligence fail to pry a small child from her car seat? Then it hit him. "If you get out, when I get back, we'll go to a pet store and you can pick out some fish. Would you like an aquarium?"

Her eyes lit up. "Really? I can have fishes?"

"Yes, but only if you get out and be a good girl."

She was out of her seat and into his arms before he could blink. Grissom carried her into the house and was greeted by several of his co-workers.

"Happy Birthday Kassie." they all exclaimed at once.

Her eyes lit up and she struggled for Grissom to put her down. She ran over to the stack of presents. "Are these for me?"

"Yes, they are. And we have cake and ice cream." Catherine told her.

"Tell everyone how old you are." Sara instructed.

Kassie stood up proudly. "I'm six." she said holding up her hands to reveal six fingers.

Even though she had never had a party before, Grissom and Sara decided that it must be programmed into every child's DNA to savagely rip off wrapping paper to get to the item inside. She received several books that would help her to learn to read, more coloring books and crayons, and Catherine got her a baby doll.

"That's so you can practice being a big sister."

"Wow, she's pretty." Kassie said while holding the doll close to her.

"What do you say to everyone?" Sara told her.

"Thank you."

"Your welcome." everyone spoke at once.

"Now for the good stuff." Catherine went to retrieve the cake.

With a sigh Grissom whispered to Sara. "I need to get going soon."

"Just wait until she blows out her candles. Please." She gave him her sad but hopeful face. How could he say no to that? So he nodded in agreement.

Catherine returned with the cake boasting six flaming candles. They sang Happy Birthday and when they finished Kassie just stared at the candles.

"Go ahead and blow them out." Sara told her.

It was obvious to everyone that she had never experienced any of this before and, it made their hearts ache.

She blew out the candles receiving an applause from the group. Grissom leaned over and hugged her.

"I have to go now."

"No!" she said grabbing on to him as he stood up forcing him to pick her up.

Sara quietly explained why he had to leave as Kassie began crying on his shoulder.

"Hey, remember out deal. You have to be a big girl." While she sniffled he felt her nod against his shoulder. "I'll be back in the morning."

She pulled back to look at him. "Then we'll go look at the fishes?"

"Then we'll go look at fishes."

Kassie leaned back into him and he hugged her back before setting her down.

After the cake and ice cream was devoured, the guests left leaving Catherine, Sara, Jason, Lindsey, and Kassie. Jason and Lindsey helped with the clean up but soon disappeared. Kassie started coloring and talking to her new doll about being a big sister, while Catherine nursed a cup of coffee and Sara was drinking water. After an hour of small talk Sara gathered her crew and took them home.

Grissom made it home in the middle of the night and was able to sleep a few hours before Kassie bounded into his room. She threw herself onto the bed and just stared at him as he opened his eyes from the sudden disturbance.

"What?" His voice was heavy with sleep. He had been awake for more than twenty four hours and was grateful for the few hours he had received.

"Fishes, remember?"

"I remember. What time is it?" he asked more to himself as he pulled the covers back enough so he could see the clock. It read seven thirty. "Sweetie, it's Sunday. I don't think the pet stores open until after ten."

She looked at him sticking out her bottom lip.

"We're still going, but I need some more rest. Come back in at ten and then we'll go, ok?"

Her pout turned into a huge grin and she climbed out of the bed.

With unbelievable accuracy, Kassie returned at the stroke of ten to wake him back up. He was so tired, he never felt Sara climb into bed whenever she had gotten home from the lab. Grissom grunted and moaned as he forced his body to get out of bed.

They spent several hours at the pet store and with some convincing, the only thing they purchased was the aquarium. Jason helped her put it together. Well, he put it together while she watched. Grissom had to go back to bed as he felt his body shut down from exhaustion.

After a few days of running the aquarium without fish in it, Kassie picked out the fish she wanted and with the help of Jason, they thrived in the tank. She was only allowed to feed them with the help of someone to ensure she didn't over feed them.

When the next week rolled around the only thing on the kids'minds was trick or treating. After a short pleading period and Jason telling them that they were never allowed to, Sara had Grissom convinced to let them go. He was against the idea because to him, that's when all of the crazies came out.

Sara took them to get costumes and on the night of the 31st, she helped them get ready. They were going along with another boy that Jason had befriended at school, Dirk Thompson. He sat next to Lindsey, she was dressed up as a princess, and he was a pirate. Sara helped Kassie get into a Cinderella costume.

"I was Cinderella when I was little." Lindsey recalled. "How much longer is Jason going to be?"

Just as she finished they turned when they heard voices echoing down the hall.

"Why did we have to do that in the basement?"

Grissom let out a chuckle. "Because Al, we needed our privacy to reconstruct him." Dr. Al Robbins followed Grissom into the living room.

"Where's Jason?" Lindsey asked impatiently.

"Come on out." Grissom called to him.

Jason walked into the room and everyone gave out a small grotesque sound. "Well how do I look?"

Lindsey was just staring at him with her mouth agape. Dirkwas the onlyone who responded in a positive form. "Cool!"

"What are you?" Sara asked.

Grissom looked at Sara sideways. "What does he look like?" He and Al were taking pride in their make up job.

"He looks like he's dead."

"Actually, he's a two week old decomposing body."

"Complete with the bugs." Jason said pointing out the small beetles on his arms and neck.

"Alright let's get going everyone." Sara said herding everyone towards the door. "I'll see you later." she said before giving Grissom a peck on the lips.

She was the one elected to escort them around the neighborhood, mostly for Kassie's sake. Sara knew nothing about trick or treating, but it didn't take long for Dirk and Lindsey to show Jason and Kassie how.

They always had Kassie in the front when ringing the door bell. Jason was the last one to get to the candy dish and nearly everyone that saw him would stare at him wide eyed after they had jumped ten feet in the air. Sara laughed at everyone's reaction to him and, she had to admit, he did look just like a corpse that had been laying in the woods for a few weeks.

They stayed out for as long as possible before Sara dragged them home. She designated Jason to look at Kassie's candy before she ate any, and to try and have her in bed by ten.

After they assured her that they had everything under control, with a few giggles, Sara left for the lab praying that the house would be in one piece when she returned.

Grissom was the first one home the next morning. He walked into the house as if it was any other morning. Only this wasn't any other morning, this was the morning after three teenagers had been trick or treating. After ten steps in he kicked an empty pop can. He furrowed his eye brows as he made his way towards the living room. The 'dead boy' was strung out over the recliner, a princess was sleeping peacefully on the couch, and there was a pirate sleeping on the coffee table.

Candy wrappers and several empty soda cans littered the floor, and the stereo was playing some music that in itself would give him a migraine. With a quick push of a button, the offending music was silenced. Grissom looked over the scene before him deciding it was wise to just close his eyes and walk away.

Sara followed suit several hours later and, she saw the exact same scene that Grissom had seen earlier. She quickly phoned Catherine that Lindsey was safe and sound, as she was freaking out because her daughter was not home when she got off. Sara gave a quick shake of her head and went to join Grissom.

After the Halloween fiasco, Thanksgiving was next on the agenda. Sara's belly expanded noticeably as the baby grew. Catherine had organized a dinner at her house.

Sara helped Catherine and her mother with the cooking, Grissom and the guys sat around drinking soda. That whole on call thing put a damper on the drinking, so they made due with what they had. Jason and Lindsey were tormenting Kassie outside, and after the third time of her running in the house crying, Sara put her to work in the kitchen with them.

They enjoyed the traditional turkey dinner, Sara even found herself taking a nibble of the roasted bird. Grissom watched in amazement as she tried to eat a piece without anyone noticing her but, he did. The cravings were too much for her and she could only resist for so long. As any Thanksgiving goes everyone ate too much. Sara ate more than anyone. She was even fingering food while Catherine was cleaning up.

Greg stretched out on the floor and quickly fell asleep, Nick and Warrick stretched out in the two recliners, both undoing their belts, a sure sign they ate too much. Grissom and Brass relaxed on the sofa and sipped on coffee. The kids went back outside to burn off dinner. After Catherine and her mother had put everything away, with Sara's help, pagers began to chime. Well at least they had a big meal to keep them nourished.

Please review. I'll try to catch up on the writing, and if more people throw some ideas out there I might just use them and give you the credit. You don't count Jess.