Ok, here's the scooby on this chapter. I lost it. Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a dork. Luckily the totally awesome spoon had it. So, thanks to Jess, I have reclaimed this lost chapter. Thanks to Just Thinking for going over it, again.

Teens & Tribulations

Chapter 17

The New Year came and left before they knew it, and winter had bloomed into spring. Their hearing date was constantly getting pushed back. So far back that Sara was convinced she would have the baby before they ever saw the inside of a court room.

As he stood in the nearly empty hallway, pacing like a caged tiger, Grissom grabbed at his tie and pulled it down.

"Would you stop it?" Catherine exclaimed as she stood to push it back up to his collar.

"I'm nervous."

"It's obvious," Sara spoke up. She was sitting on the bench outside the courtroom, now thirty-four weeks pregnant. It had taken that long for the hearing on their petition for adoption to be called.

Footsteps echoed towards them from down the hall. Grissom looked over Catherine to see Brass, Warrick, Nick, and Greg approaching. They were all dressed in their court suits.

"I see we're not too late." Brass mentioned.

"No, and if it doesn't start soon, Gil's going to rip off his whole suit." Catherine couldn't help but laugh at Sara's comment.

Grissom just pursed his lips at her as Catherine finished fixing his tie.

"There, now leave it alone." She warned before returning to sit by Sara.

Greg sat down next to Jason and slipped him his ipod. Kassie sat leaning into Sara, her feet dangling off the bench as she clapped her feet together. Catherine had loaned her a dress that Lindsey used to wear. In fact, she had brought over a huge box of clothes that Lindsey had grown out of. The guys stood around Grissom, reassuring him that everything was fine, and not to worry. He knew it would be, but if he lost Jason and Kassie, he didn't know what he would do. It surprised him how attached he had become to them in the short time they had all been together.

"Grissom." The bailiff called out as he opened the doors to the courtroom.

Grissom moved over to help Sara get up. That simple chore had become very difficult for her in the past week as her belly grew. Kassie took Sara's hand and tried to walk behind her as they entered. Jason walked next to Grissom as they approached their seats.

"All rise."

Grissom helped Sara stand once again. The look on her face was that of a person who just wanted to kill whoever invented the idea of people standing as the judge entered. He couldn't help but smile at her reaction, but Sara wasn't laughing.

"The honorable Judge Hugh Scott presiding," the bailiff called out.

Grissom turned to look over his shoulder at Catherine. She gave him a big smile. Judge Scott was an older judge who once presided over many of Grissom's trials before he was a supervisor. Now Judge Scott presided in civil court.

"Be seated," JudgeScott said. He flipped through the papers in the file before looking up. "Gilbert, lad, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Your Honor."

"You are now?How about at home, with your wife that far along?" The judge grinned at him.

Grissom inhaled a sharp breath.

"You're not under oath, yet," Judge Scott laughed. "I remember what it was like; you don't have to tell me. Congratulations, by the way."

"Thank you, Your Honor." Sara and Grissom spoke in unison.

"Okay, let's get this dog and pony show going, shall we? Now, the state has all of theses questions I'm supposed to go through with you, but I'm sure after having these two kids living with you for the past ten months, it has been enough for you guys to know that this is what you want. So, since I'm the judge, and by the look on Mrs. Grissom's face, we need to get this over as soon as possible." He mumbled to himself as he went over the file in front of him. "Jason Miller."

Grissom pushed Jason to stand as the judge looked up.

"I see you are on probation for quite a horrendous crime. Would you like to add anything?"

Jason swallowed a big lump that had settled in his throat. "Just that I'm not a violent person. I felt I had no choice, but now I feel I have a real family that loves and cares for me."

Judge Scott cleared his throat. "Jason, I'm sure that you are a fine young man, and I know that you are not violent. I read through your file. There is something special about you, and Gil sees it."

Jason smiled and looked at Grissom as he sat back down.

"Well, I can already tell that I don't need to hear from little Kassie." The judge added and smiled as Kassie buried her face into Sara. "So, I'll make this short and sweet on you all."

He read into the file for several more minutes, mumbling to himself as he went, then Judge Scott looked up, smiled, and said, "Adoption granted."

Later, after the hearing, they were all gathered at the small diner down the street. During the early afternoon hour it was near empty. Catherine had run home to pick up Lindsey, and she was sitting in a booth with Jason, Kassie, and Greg. The rest were sitting at a large table, because there was no way Sara was going to be able to fit between the bench and the table.

"So, are you sure you're not carrying twins?" Nick asked bluntly.

Grissom looked sincerely at Sara as she smiled back. "No, Nick, I'm not carrying twins. It's just one big baby."

"I know how you feel. Lindsey was just over nine pounds when she was born. You would have never known it to look at her when she was little."

"Well, this one is almost nine, according to the doctors. I don't know how they can tell." Sara said, as she moved uncomfortably.

"Are you alright?" Grissom asked with a hint of concern in his voice.

Sara shook her head. "No, I'm fine. He's just really active."

"HE!!" Several voices echoed.

Grissom looked at Sara with as much surprise. "I don't know if it's a boy or girl, I just don't like calling him 'it'. Besides, I hope it's a boy." She winced a little.

"Sara. Are you sure you're alright?" Grissom laid a hand on her belly and could feel the baby moving. He looked up at her, then to Catherine.

She read the concern on his face and moved to kneel next to Sara. Catherine placed a hand on Sara's belly next to Grissom's.

"He's moving into position." Catherine said as she looked up to Sara.

"Well, tell him to stop. It's very distracting."

Grissom looked to Catherine as she continued. "Sara, congratulations. This is the start of labor. It could take days of this before you're actually ready to deliver."

"You have to be kidding me?" Sara asked.

Catherine shook her head. "Nope. I had a friend that was feeling contractions for over a week as the baby was moving into position."

"A week?!" Sara exclaimed.

"Yeah. Then she spent over twenty-four hours in the hospital in labor. I've heard of longer, but hey, everyone's different."

"How long were you in labor with Lindsey?" She asked.

Catherine stood and sat back down. "Gil, you know the answer to that."

Everyone looked at him.

"Yeah." He scoffed. "She calls me screaming while I'm at work, so I leave my crime scene and pick her up, drive her to the hospital. God knows where Eddie was. She's still screaming at me, like it's my fault, and I think only a few hours later Lindsey was born." Grissom finished turning his attention back to Sara who was still showing signs of discomfort. "Come on. Let's go home so you can rest."

Once he had her resting in their bed, Grissom went into the living room and sat down heavily on the couch. Kassie came down the stairs and curled up next to him.

"Is the baby coming?" She asked. "I can't wait to be a big sister."

Grissom put his arm around her and responded. "You're going to have to wait a little longer, but yes, the baby is coming. And you'll be a great big sister."

"Why did we go to that big building today?"

"Well, that was the court house, and the judge made us officially your parents. What do you think of that?"

"I like it." She said as she raised herself up and kissed him on the cheek.

"Where's Jason?"

Kassie giggled. "He's at his girlfriend's. They're yucky."

"They are?"

"Yeah, while you guys were talking, they kissed. It was gross."

Grissom inclined his head. "Just remember this when you're older."

She shook her head. "NO! Boys have cooties."

"I'm a boy, do I have cooties?"

Kassie giggled again. "You used to. My friend at school, Savannah, she says that boys have cooties until they get older."

"Oh." Even though he had no idea what she was talking about, he decided that it was easier to just agree with her.

Grissom remained on the couch as Kassie moved to the floor and pulled her coloring books from the small pile of magazines that were neatly stacked on the coffee table. He smiled and watched as she colored a picture.

That evening, Grissom was making dinner, when Jason walked in, followed by Catherine.

"I believe this belongs to you." She simply stated as they entered the kitchen.

Jason was looking at his feet as he walked in. Catherine had him by the elbow. Grissom looked at the two of them before realizing that Jason had crossed one of the many lines with Lindsey that Catherine had set.

"What did he do?" Grissom asked.

"Well lets see, first they were both in Lindsey's room, with the door closed. And do you want to know what I saw when I opened the door?"

Grissom slightly shook his head as he raised both of his eyebrows.

"Tell him." Catherine elbowed Jason.

Jason continued to look at the floor as he spoke softly. "I was kissing her."

"Keep going. Tell him the whole thing."

Jason sighed as he continued. "We were lying on her bed."

Catherine made a motion with her hand indicating to Grissom there was more, but he didn't know if he wanted to hear it.

"I was lying beside her and I guess my hands got a mind of their own."

Grissom inclined his head as this new revelation, but didn't know how to react or what to say.

"Are you just going to stand there like a stump, or do something about this walking bundle of testosterone?" She asked obviously peeved by Jason's actions. "Lindsey's been grounded. What about him?"

"What do you want me to do Catherine? Punish him for being an adolescent letting his hormones get the best of him?"

She shook her head at him. "I can't believe you. No, wait, I can. Just do something. I'll see you later."

Grissom looked at Jason, who was still staring at his shoes.

"Are they still on your feet?"

Jason looked up. "What?"

"You've been staring at your shoes since you got here. I assume they are still there."

Jason smiled. "Need help with dinner?"

"Please."

Jason helped Grissom prepare the evening meal. He knew Grissom wanted to ask about what really happened over at Catherine's, so he decided to enlighten him.

"We didn't have sex."

"Excuse me?" Grissom asked, nearly dropping the tongs for the salad.

"Lindsey and I, we didn't have sex."

Grissom just stood and looked shocked at the young man's confession.

"I don't know what you guys would call it, but at school, it's just making out. We still had our clothes on."

Again, Grissom paused. "Earlier you said something about your hand."

Jason's eyes immediately fell to the floor. "It was Lindsey's idea. She took my hand and put it on her chest."

Grissom couldn't help but let his mouth fall open. He didn't know whether to scold or congratulate him. Jason was getting more action than he was lately.

"Hey, you guys didn't have to make dinner."

They both looked over to see Sara standing at the end of the bar.

"How are you feeling?" Grissom asked

She placed a hand over her belly. "Good, he's settled down for now."

"Are you hungry?" Jason asked from behind Grissom.

Sara smiled at them. "Duh. I'm pregnant, of course I'm hungry."

Once again, Sara had to convince Grissom to go into work that evening. Since she had been feeling a little contraction here and there, he was beginning to feel on edge. But, like always, she won. He quickly handed out the evening's assignments and retreated to his office.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Why are you calling? I said I would be fine." Sara replied.

"Well, I'm worried, sue me." He shot back.

"I'm fine." She said, but as a sudden contraction hit, she sucked in a breath and held it.

He heard her loud and clear. "Sara?"

"Griss, it hurts." She said painfully.

Grissom stood clutching his cell phone as he quickly made his way to the parking lot. "Sara, I'm coming home, just hang tight and breathe, honey, you have to breathe."

"It hurts." She spoke a hushed tone into the phone.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wanted to say 'I told you so', but now was not the time. He made his way through the late night traffic, as the only sound he was hearing on the other end was her breathing beginning to relax.

"Sara? Sara talk to me." He said, his words full of concern.

After a few more breaths she was able to reply. "That wasn't fun."

He couldn't help but smile at her comment. "I'll be there in a few minutes."

"What about the lab?"

"What about it? Sara, you're all that matters to me. You, the baby, Jason, and Kassie."

Sara felt the tears streak down her face. "I'll be here."

"You better be."

As he predicted, Grissom pulled into the driveway only five minutes after hanging up with Sara. He rushed up the short staircase and into the front door. The first thing he wanted to do was shout out her name, but he quickly silenced himself knowing that the kids were already asleep. Grissom found her sitting on the couch, and he was at her side in an instant.

"Honey, how are they?"

She opened her eyes and looked at him. "I'm fine, now that my knight in shining armor is here."

He smiled at her. "Funny. I meant the contractions."

"I know. It's gone, but I think I'm actually in labor." She said with a huge smile as she placed her hand on her stomach.

Grissom smiled back and his hand joined hers.

Ok, I promise that I will update very, very soon. And if I don't, just send me a message telling me to get my ass in gear. Other than loosing this chapter, I had 3 big tests at school, and I passed them all with flying colors. Thanks for all who are still reading, and to those who have reviewed.

TDCSI