Boo yah, so far I'm passing all of my classes, and finals is next week so it might be a while until I update. This took a little longer to post than I hoped, but it's here now, so ya'll can shut up. Thanks to Just Thinking, her information on everything is invaluable. And to thegreatbluespoon, so far she's just bragged on how good Arby's was the other night.

Teens & Tribulations

Chapter 19

Grissom walked into the living room after a strenuous shift and smiled at the sight before him. Lindsey was sleeping on the couch and Jason was lying on the floor next to her. He heard a slight commotion in the kitchen and went to investigate.

Sara and Kassie were making muffins. Well, Sara was and Kassie was stirring.

"Good morning."

They both looked up at him.

"I'm making muffins!" Kassie exclaimed as she continued to stir.

"I see that. Are they done, I'm hungry."

"Nope, not yet."

He moved over to Sara and kissed her cheek. "I'm going to take a shower, andI'll be back to have some muffins."

"Okay. I'll make a special one for you."

He grinned at Sara before retreating to the confinesof the shower.

Sara and Kassie finished making the muffins and ate them with Grissom as Jason and Lindsey continued to sleep.

"How late were they up?" Grissom asked.

"Well..." Sara swallowed a bite. "...I got up and nursed Sydney around midnight and they were still watching movies. So your guess is as good as mine."

After the short breakfast, Sara made sure Kassie was doing something that wasn't going to disturb them as she escorted Grissom back to their bedroom.They made a brief stop in the small room that was transformed from storage to a nursery. Once Grissom had seen his daughter sleeping peacefully, he turned his attention back to Sara. She tugged on his hand and he put up no resistance.

Once surrounded by the darkness of their bed room Sara laid down on top of Grissom and kissed him deeply.

She pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I made a suggestion last night, and I'm wanting to go through with it."

He just smiled back and rolled over so she was pinned beneath him. "Me too."

Grissom was sound asleep when Sara woke him.

"Damn you!"

"Huh?" he responded. His voice was heavy with sleep.

"There's a package out there, with your name all over it. Literally. Gil Grissom, caution: live animal. What the hell did you order?"

His eyes shot open. "It wasn't' supposed to be here until next week."

"What is IT?"

Grissom climbed out of bed and pulled on his robe. "You'll see." He stated as he passed her.

She followed closely, poised to strike down her husband for ordering God know what kind of thing for his little basement zoo. Grissom opened the small box as if Christmas had come early. He lifted the small plastic container. Sara stepped back.

"Parabuthus granulatus. Granulated Thick-tailed Scorpion, from south Africa." Grissom proudly announced.

"I see it's a scorpion. Why is it so special?"

"I'm going to use this little bugger to help make a new anti-venom for the hospital."

"Wait. It's poisonous?" Sara asked with concern.

"Yes, he will only sting if handled improperly. Why?" he asked as he continued to eye the arthropod in itscontainer.

"Think, Gil. We have three kids, and two of them are able to get into your little cave down there."

"Sara, relax."

"Like hell relax!"

He stood up straighter as she seemed to be picking a fight with him. "Look, I have to keep him because under government law, this species is to only be housed and handled by an entomologist or a zoologist. I don't see anyone else around here that qualifies, do you?" he spat back.

Sara just flipped up her hand at him and stormed off. Grissom watched her go and carried his new pet to the basement.

"I don't know what to do, Catherine."

"Well, Sara, I know you guys didn't miss his birthday on purpose."

"Yeah, but I don't know how to make it up to him. And Gil's not much help at the moment." Sara sighed.

"Well, you know him better than anyone. When anything messes with his emotional state, he turns to work."

"I know, it's just seems like he's not being very helpful."

Catherine sighed. "Because he's not. You have to remember, Sara, it hasn't even been a year since Jason and Kassie fell into your laps. Look what's happened in that short period of time." She began to list the events on her fingers. "You adopted them, got married, had a baby. That's a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone Gil."

Sara laughed briefly. "Yeah, I guess I just need to talk to him about it. That damn scorpion was my final straw, and I picked a fight with him. He's been down in the basement since the damn thing arrived."

Just then a cry echoed out into the living room. Sara went to stand but Catherine stopped her. "Let me. It's been a while, but I miss it." She stood, and in a few minutes returned cradling Sydney. "I always knew you two would have cute kids."

Sara smiled as Catherine sat down. "So, what's the news at the lab? It seems like forever since I've been there."

"Well, nothing new, there are a few pools that have been started since the birth of this little doll."

"And those would be..."

"Oh, well..." Catherine thought for a moment. "There's one on what her first word will be. 'Momma',''Dada', and 'bug' I think are the choices."

Sara laughed. "Bug?"

Catherine nodded. "And there are others along similar lines. Like when will she start walking, you know little stuff." She paused briefly. "Then there's the pool on when number two will be conceived."

Sara shot her a shocked look. "You have got to be kidding?"

Catherine shook her head. "Nope. I have money in that one."

"Catherine!" Sara exclaimed. "What date did you pick?" she asked curiously.

"Gil's birthday. I'll cut you in for half. There's a lot of money in that one."

"Ah, no. I don't plan on getting pregnant again that soon. If at all."

"We shall see. So, enough with that, about this birthday party."

Grissom spent the evening in the basement, and only came up to eat a quick dinner. Jason was unusually silent, but Kassie was very talkative. Sara didn't say any more words than needed to Grissom. She was still upset with him. Suddenly the shrill cry from Sydney's room silenced Kassie.

"I'll get her." Grissom said and stood suddenly.

"Thanks." Sara said shocked. She then began to wonder if he had been eavesdropping when Catherine was there earlier. She hoped not.

Jason and Kassie finished eating and went about the ritual of dishes. More water was on the floor and on them than in the sink. Sara just let them have fun with it as she went in search of Grissom.

She found him in the nursery rocking Sydney. "Hey."

He looked up. "Hey. Look, Sara..." he paused as she held her hand up, stopping him.

"I'm sorry. Instead of discussing things with you, I was just tired and took your head off." She moved in and kneeled next to him. "Forgive me?"

"Forgive me?"

She smiled and he leaned over to kiss her. "Forgiven." they said in unison.

"Here, she's hungry, and I need to get going to the lab." he said as he stood.

Sara took the baby from him and sat down where he once sat. "Don't forget about the party tomorrow. I left the list of things that you are supposed to pick up on your way home."

"I won't forget, and I know, invite people." He said with a sigh.

Sara smiled as she began to nurse Sydney. "It's only a few people. And you once said yourself that this was long overdue anyway."

"I know, I know. I'll see you in the morning."

Sara watched him go then turned her attention back towards her suckling infant.

The next morning Grissom went about finding everything that was on Sara's list. Everyone he mentioned it to was more than willing to participate. Even if it was short notice.

Back at the house, Sara was helping Jason clean up from his breakfast excursion. He hadmade them chocolate chip pancakes. She was less than enthused about it, but let him try. Surprisingly to her, they were good. Kassie was more than wired after eating chocolate for breakfast.

She checked her watch. "Jason, when you get done in here, Gil asked me if you would feed his tarantulas this morning."

"Sure!" he exclaimed. Jason quickly finished the dishes and headed to the basement.

Sara rushed to the garage and just as she was about to open the door Grissom opened it from the other side. Catherine was right behind him. He carried in a cake and she had several presents.

"Where is he?" Catherine asked.

"He's in the basement feeding the spiders. Is Lindsey coming?"

"Of course. Warrick went to pick her up for me. Greg and Nick will be here any minute. Most of us did our shopping earlier this morning."

Grissom turned to look at her. "While you were on the clock?"

She widened her eyes at him. "Yeah, duh. When the hell else were we supposed to shop?"

He just shook his head and placed the cake on the table. Kassie came bounding down the stairs and squealed when she saw the cake. Grissom scooped her up.

"You're only getting one piece since you still haven't come down from your sugar high." Sara told the hyper six-year-old.

She silently pouted and stuck out her lower lip to Grissom. "Don't look at me."

In the short time it took Jason to feed the spiders and look around at everything again most of the guests had arrived. He climbed up the stairs singing to himself.

When I lay it on
Come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice

Hey oh listen what I say oh
I got your
Hey oh listen what I say oh

"Surprise!"

He stopped dead in his tracks at the edge of the living room. "Whoa!"

"Happy Birthday!" The group exclaimed.

Jason stood speechless and he slowly walked into the room. Sara walked up to him and hugged him. "We're sorry about your birthday, so I know it's a little late, but will you forgive us?"

He eyed the cake and stack of presents on the coffee table, and silently nodded with his mouth agape. She escorted him over to the large recliner and he sat down.

"Here, this is from me." Greg said handing him the first gift.

Jason smiled and ripped off the paper. "Wow! An i-pod."

"Yeah, and I've already put some songs on it for you."

Grissom rolled his eyes, as he could only imagine what they would be.

Lindsey moved over and sat on the arm of the chair next to him.

Jason finished opening the rest of his presents. Warrick had given him a silver chain, which was immediately around his neck. Catherine purchased a few short sleeve button up Ralf Lauren shirts. Brass and Nick had just given him money. Grissom and Sara also gave him money and a few science books for his collection. One on entomology, the other on physics. He gave both Sara and Grissom hugs and thanked the others. They all ate some cake, then quickly dispersed so they could get some rest before the night called. As Lindsey was leaving with her mother she slipped Jason a small box. She left with a smile, as Jason quickly pocketed the small box before anyone saw it.

Grissom settled on the couch, Kassie sat next to him and colored as Sara went to feed Sydney. Just as he was dozing off, he was startled by Jason singing along on his i-pod.

Shake shake shake your money maker Like you were shaking it for some paper
Took your mama nine months to make ya
Might as well shake what ya mama gave ya

Grissom raised his eye brow as he watched Jason sing and move his head and hands with the music as he sang. The volume was turned up enough that he could partially hear it, and Jason was singing louder than necessary.

You ... you looking good in them jeans
I bet you look even better with me in between
I keep my mind on my money, money on my mind
But yous a hell of a distraction when you shake your behind
I got on my right side pouring some cups
My whole hood is to my left and they ain't giving a fuck

"Gil!" Sara yelled from the other room. She could obviously hear him. Grissom stood and followed Jason about the living room, the teen had no idea he was being followed and continued singing.

So feel free to get lose and get carried away
So by tomorrow you forgot what you was saying today
But don't forget about this feeling that I'm making you get
And all the calories you burn from me making you sweat
The mile high points you earn when we taking my jet
And how everywhere you turn I'll be making you wet.

Grissom ripped the head phones from his head.

"Hey!" Jason exclaimed.

"What in the hell is this?"

"Ludacris."

"It damn well is ludicrous. Listen to it, don't sing it. Please." Grissom said, obviously not getting that Jason meant it as the rapper's name.

"Fine. I'll sing it upstairs." Jason headed for the stairs as Grissom just shook his head and headed for bed.

Three more weeks passedand even with the night off Grissom couldn't sleep. Sara was exhausted and had fallen asleep the minute her head hit the pillow, so he left her and busied himself in his basement. He removed his new scorpion and gently placed him in a glass baking dish. After he turned off a majority of the lights, Grissom turned on his portable black light to see what color the scorpion would turn as it reacted to the light. He was busy watching the scorpion when the light highlighted something on the couch under the glass dish. Grissom paused for a moment and moved the dish to fully expose what he was seeing on the cushion. It took just a brief moment to recognize the stain. He had seen too many to mistake its identity.

Damn, if that's not one hell of a cliffhanger, I don't know what is. FYI, the conclusion to this little senario is the next chapter. So, the more reviews I get begging and pleading me to update, I will much sooner than planned. Otherwise, my last final is the 9th and so it will be nearly a whole week before you know what happened. So, leave your reivews, good or bad, and I'll see what I can do. Scouts honor.

TDCSI