Ok, so now that everyone's relived that Lindsey didn't get pregnant, we'll continue. Down here in Oklahoma, baseball is life, next to football, it seemed that every weekend I was at a little league watching my boss' grandson play. So that's where I got this idea, that and since Grissom like's baseball. Thanks for all of the wonderful reveiws, keep 'em coming. And thanks to Just Thinking for all of her input and beta work. I don't remember where Jess was, but she was around somewhere. Oh, and I passed all of my classes this semester, hell ya me!

Teens & Tribulations

Chapter 21

It was a cool morning for the middle of June. The window was down as Grissom drove home in the darkness. For the first time in two weeks Grissom managed to leave the lab before the end of shift. Sydney was nearly two months old, and he and Sara had finally settled into a routine that was some what successful. Jason seemed to keep his distance from Lindsey as he and Dirk began to hang together out more.

As he turned onto his block, two joggers appeared in the head lights. He passed them, pulled into the drive way, and walked to the end of the drive. Grissom noticed that in the year he and Sara had lived there, his neighbors were always gone when he got home. Now, he stood as one by one cars emerged from their garages and headed out.

Grissom approached the joggers. "What are you two doing?"

"Jogging." Jason replied out of breath.

"I see, may I ask why?"

"Little league tryouts are tomorrow." Dirk said.

"Baseball? Hasn't that already started?"

Dirk shook his head. "This coach has his tryouts the year before. I guess it's so he can practice with the team all year. He's really good."

"Do you mind? I mean it's just a tryout." Jason was beginning to beg. "I didn't think you..."

"I don't care. It's just surprising, that's all; baseball is a very good sport. It will teach you a lot." Grissom interrupted. "What time tomorrow?"

"Three, at the UNLV ballpark. I was hoping to catch a ride with Jason. If you don't mind Mr. Grissom?"

"No Dirk, I don't mind. How long have you been running in the morning?"

Jason and Dirk both looked at each other. "About a week I guess."

Grissom nodded, "Do either of you have a glove and cleats?"

They both just looked at each other once again before shaking their heads.

"I guess we don't." Jason said with some disappointment.

Grissom rocked on his feet and smiled. "Ok, here's the deal, both of you take a shower and I'll take you to get enough for the tryout. Dirk, we'll stop by your house so you can get some money."

Dirk gave a slight nod and followed Jason into the house. Grissom was right behind them, only he went to the kitchen to get something to eat. He spooned out some leftover fruit salad into a bowl, and sat down with a crossword puzzle.

Only the hum and slight water movement from the aquarium were heard until Jason came back down the stairs "Dad..."

"Hmm?" Responding when called 'Dad' had become natural for Grissom.

"You know what happened to Dirk'sparents, right?"

"Yes."

Jason's voice indicated he was nervous, and Grissom picked up on it instantly. "Well, his...ah...Grandparents don't have much money to help him buy what he needs to play ball with. So, I was wondering..."

Grissom looked up at him fishing for eye contact. "If we could help him?"

"Just a little." Jason answered quickly as he looked into Grissom's eyes. He didn't need an answer, and a smile appeared on Jason's face as he read it from his eyes.

Sara was exhausted when she woke up, or tried not to wake up. She never moved as the small monitor next to the bed came to life. With a tug, the blankets were over her head. Sydney was a fairly good sleeper, but with everything else going on, Sara's energy level was zero. She tried to ignore the screaming monitor for as long as possible. Just when she was about to make the struggle out of bed, Grissom's voice came over the monitor.

"Hey sweetie, what's wrong? Huh? Where's Momma? I bet she's still sleeping." Sara closed her eyes and silently thanked him.

After a few minutes Grissom appeared at the bedside cradling their daughter. "Sara, honey are you ok?"

"Huhhh?"

"You've been sleeping in more and more lately. Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah, fine." She pulled back the covers as Grissom passed Sydney to her.

He watched as she settled the baby next to her and nursed her while she remained lying down. Sara's eyes closed heavily and Grissom refused to leave her side as he used his hand to rub her back, and as he suspected Sara fell asleep while Sydney nursed.

"Hey, we're ready." Jason peeked his head in.

Grissom held up his hand. "I'll be there in a minute."

Jason left and Grissom looked back down at Sara. After realizing that Sydney had released her hold on Sara, Grissom gently scooped her up and recovered Sara before heading out into the living room.

"Jason, here take your sister and you guys get into the truck."

"Okay." Jason drawled out his confusion as he took Sydney.

Grissom joined them with Kassie in tow, and after checking that Sydney was properly strapped in, he started the motor, and pulled out.

They returned two hours later. Grissom didn't regret bringing Sydney and Kassie along until the drive home. Sydney was hungry again and beginning to cry. Kassie was upset that they weren't shopping for her and threw a fit in the parking lot of the sports store. Both were still upset when they all walked into the front door.

"Why couldn't I get anything?" Kassie wailed out.

"Kassie, I told you why."

"I wanted a glove too."

Grissom was about to reach the end of his rope as he tried to calm a crying baby and a pouting six year old. "Kassie please, I told you why. You can get something next time."

She wailed again and ran upstairs. For the moment Grissom was satisfied with that as he attempted to prepare a bottle to comply with the other complainer.

As he got Sydney sucking on the bottle, Grissom headed to check on Sara. She hadn't moved much since he left, and after he had put Sydney down, he joined Sara under the covers.

She rolled over and pushed her self against his frame. Grissom embraced her, "Honey, are you sure you're all right?"

She didn't respond but only tried to get as close to him as possible.

Grissom woke several hours later with Sara still cradled in his arms. Only this time she was wide awake looking right into his eyes.

"What?" he quietly asked, not wanting her to take it the wrong way.

She slowly closed her eyes and held them closed before opening them to respond. "I don't know. I was just so tired this morning. I've never felt like that before. Ever."

"Ever?"

She slowly shook her head.

"Sara, a lot has been going on, I'm sorry I haven't been here more to help, in fact, I've probably hindered more than helped."

"I should have said something to you earlier, but you're either at work or working in the damn basement."

Grissom sighed, "I'm sorry." He gently kissed her cheek. "Did you get enough rest?"

"I think enough for now."

"Good."

"Because man I've gotta pee." She pulled the covers off and ran into the bathroom, leaving Grissom laughing in the bed. "Grissom?"

"Yeah."

"What are the boys doing?"

He curiously got out of bed and went to see what she was talking about. Grissom peered over her glacing out the small window over-looking the back yard. "Oh, they are going to try out for little league tomorrow. I took them to get gloves and it looks like they are playing catch."

She turned to look at him thinking this was something he had pushed onto Jason.

"Their idea." He spoke and raised his hands.

"I'm hungry now."

Again, he laughed. "You have been in bed for how long?"

"Long, and I'm hungry."

Sara was snacking at the breakfast bar with Grissom when Kassie came down. She refused to even look at him, as she pulled a juice box from the fridge.

"Momma please?" Kassie held up the box for Sara to open for her.

"Why doesn't Dad do it?"

"No." her tone was sharp and harsh.

Sara obliged and Kassie thanked her before heading back up stairs.

"What did you do to piss her off?"

"I took her and Sydney with me when I got the boys their gloves. She wanted one too, but I didn't get her one. So, she pitched a fit in the parking lot and has been pissed ever since."

"So, you bought her nothing, while you bought the boys something?"

"It was something they needed."

Sara shook her head and tried to remember of how simply he thinks at times. "Gil, you can't buy two kids something and nothing for the third."

"She'll get over it."

"She's going to hate you for days, kids remember things like that."

He could only give her a half smile knowing she was right. "When's your six week checkup?"

"Change the subject, cute. It's tomorrow, but don't worry, I'll be fine on my own, but what about Kassie?"

"I guess I'll take her with me."

Grissom took Jason and Dirk to the UNLV baseball field on the day of the tryouts. He was amazed at how many people were there, with a quick scan of the parking lot, Grissom estimated that there were at least fifty cars. He began to do the math in his head and knew that there was a big chance that neither of the boys would make the team.

Kassie headed for the sand piled outside of the dugout. He took a seat on the nearby bleachers to keep an eye on her, and to show his support for Jason when another man approached him.

"I've seen you before."

Grissom looked over at the man that had sat next to him. "I don't think we've met before."

"No, I think I've seen you on the news."

"I'm on the news a lot more than I would like to be."

The man snapped his fingers. "You work for the police."

"Crime lab." Grissom corrected.

"Right, right. I'm Doug Landers."

Grissom shook the man's extended hand. "Gil Grissom."

"So, your son play ball?"

Grissom pursed his lips, why, oh why, couldn't he be left alone. "It's his first time at tryouts."

Doug let out a sigh. "It's D's third. He's an ok player, good in junior high ball, but this is like the minor, minor leagues."

Grissom now knew that he would be taking two very disappointed boys home.

"D's my oldest boy, Doug Jr., but we just call him D."

He couldn't stop his eyes from rolling, luckily his sunglasses hid it, and like a sign from God, his phone rang.

"Excuse me." he picked up the phone welcoming its interruption. "Grissom."

Doug watched the kids as they began to get separated out to move to different stations.

"I'm kinda busy at the moment... yeah, Jason wanted to try out for baseball." He paused and looked over at the man sitting next to him, who was patiently waiting for him to get off of the phone. "Ok Greg, I'll see you tonight."

"Is Greg you're other boy?"

"What? No, Greg works for me at the lab. Jason..." Grissom pointed to the field, "...is my only son."

"I've got four boys myself."

Grissom decided in order to rid himself of this nuisance he had to think fast. "Look, Doug, it was nice meeting you, but I've got some calls to make."

The other man gave a quick nod and left. Grissom put the phone to his ear for reassurance as he watched Jason being herded around in the first group.

The first station was brief, Jason was weighed and his height recorded. After that, each kid was playing catch, only each time they got further and further apart, until one threw the ball short. Everything was meticulously recorded, Grissom liked that method, because with the number of kids trying out, it would have been impossible to keep track otherwise. Jason was then taken over to the running track. Eight went at a time as they did a sixty yard dash. Grissom found himself cheering when Jason crossed the line first in his group. He was embarrassed at first, but after he saw other Dads either cheering or yelling instructions at their kids, he didn't feel so bad.

Once again the phone rang, only this time he cursed it. "Grissom."

"Hey, how's he doing?"

Curse no more. "So far so good, but there are a lot of people here. We might be having a reassurance dinner instead of celebrating."

"I just hope he's not too disappointed. Hey, I need you to pick up some items on the way home."

"Oookay, what are these items?"

"I'll text them to you, otherwise you'll forget. I know you will."

"I see you're feeling much better. Back to insulting your husband."

"Only because I love you."

"I love you too, we'll be home soon."

Grissom hung up in time to see Jason step up to the plate. One of the coaches was giving him instructions. He watched as Jason swung and missed three in a row. Grissom shook his head, wondering if Jason had even held a bat before. Instead of stopping the coach walked over to Jason. After a moment Jason walked back up to the plate. Grissom could tell he was more relaxed. The machine pitched the ball, and connected with Jason's swing. Instantly Grissom was on his feet trying to see the ball in the setting sun. The coach had more pitched and Jason never missed one.

Once everyone had gone through, the coaches thanked everyone and announced that they only had room on the roster for ten kids. Grissom had his doubts about Jason or Dirk making it. They waited around until that fateful piece of paper was posted.

Jason and Dirk waited in line while Grissom watched Doug's boy cry as once again, he didn't make the team. Dirk came bounding over to Grissom.

"I made it, I made it!"

"Good for you." Grissom praised as he saw Jason turn to face him. Right then he knew the answer to his question.

Well another chapter read, now all that is left is to leave a review. Come on, I know you want to, just try it, it's not that bad. Who knows you might even like it.

TDCSI