First of all, kudos to all that have reviewed, just remember any hate mail be directed to thegreatbluespoon, this was all her folks. You can PM her through her FF site. Big thanks to Just Thinking, for her great beta skills.

Also, you peeps need to bug over to read the story I have concocted with thespoon. In less than two weeks she's going to be chillin' here in Texas with me, and we are hoping to get more reviews for it, 'cause we are such review freaks. Muchos Gracias.

Teens & Tribulations

Chapter 30

It was like jumping into cold water, socold that it took your breath away. That was how he felt at that very moment. His lungs constricting, heart beating from the adrenaline, face full of shock and concern; the phone nearly fell from his hands. Whatever the nurse had spoken after her initial words were just white noise.

The only thing Grissom kept hearing was: "Your son was involved in a car accident."

After that, nothing. He quickly informed the nurse that he was on his way. Grissom rushed out of his office and hurried down the hall looking for Catherine.

"Cath." He was out of breath from his sprint down the hall.

"What's wrong?" To her, he was always like an open book when it came to his body language.

"Jason was in an accident, he's at the hospital…"

"Go, I'll get Sara." Catherine interrupted understanding time was of the essence.

They both rushed out of the lab, people watching as they sprinted to their vehicles. Grissom tore off towards the hospital; Catherine went to get Sara.

The door clicked as the key disengaged the dead bolt. Sara entered to a quiet, semi dark house. She tried not to laugh as the first sight she saw was Greg. He was strung over the couch in a manner that was reserved for passed out drunks. Quietly Sara went up the stairs. She opened Kassie's door and peeked in, the sight of her sleeping comfortably was enough for her. Next she went to Jason's room. He was still absent. Sara made her way back down stairs, suppressing another giggle as she passed Greg. She made it to her final destination and entered. Sydney was also sound asleep, tucked safely in her crib, clutching her stuffed killer whale. Sara kissed her finger and lowered it to her infants' cheek.

Just as she exited the room she heard a knock at the front door. Sara couldn't figure out for the life of her who it could be, but the knocking needed to stop before it woke the dead. When a quick check through the peep hole revealed an agitated Catherine, Sara quickly opened the door.

"Cath what's…"

Catherine pulled her out onto the front porch, she knew what she was about to tell her would send her into orbit. "Sara, listen to me. Apparently Jason was involved in a car accident."

Her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my God!" Right after panic began to set in. "Where is he? Is he at the hospital? Where's Gil, he knows right?"

"Sara. Sara. Sara!" Catherine practically yelled and grabbed her. "Gil's on his way to the hospital. Is Greg still here?"

"Oh, what…yeah."

"Good, come on."

Sara beat Catherine to her Denali and was attempting to dial Grissom's number as the truck came to life and began to move. There was no answer. "Dammit Gil."

All Catherine could do was attempt to keep her calm and get them there in one piece. "Sara I'm sure he's in the hospital and can't use his phone. We'll be there shortly." As a mother herself she could only think of how she would react if the tables were turned. More than likely she would be much more hysterical and way less cooperative.

Grissom could answer his phone, but after seeing who it was, decided it would be best to talk to her in person instead of over the phone. He knew Sara would start asking question after question, and he wasn't ready to give her any answers.

He stood in the waiting room looking out the large window at the Vegas night sky. At that moment the city looked peaceful and innocent, but Vegas was far from either. Leaning against the glass, one arm propped up over his head, Grissom looked down into the parking lot just in time to see Sara and Catherine run to the emergency room entrance. It didn't take them long to get to where he was waiting.

The door burst open and Sara rushed up to him. "How is he?"

Grissom turned just in time to envelope her in his arms. "I haven't heard."

Sara pulled back. "That's a load of shit. Someone must know; I can't believe no one has told you."

"Sara listen to me." He held her at arm's length. "All I know is he's in surgery. The other car hit on his side of the car." Sara brought a hand to cover her mouth. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I guess they rushed him straight to the OR." Grissom released a tense breath of air; he didn't want to say it anymore than hear it again. "It doesn't look good." His voice was low trying to soften the blow.

Yet it still knocked the wind right out of Sara. Tears welled up in her eyes. "No. NO!" She slowly shook her head back and forth as she repeated the words over and over.

He pulled her body back to him and held her tight. Grissom looked over Sara's shoulder to Catherine. She was just hanging back letting them release their emotions. It was weak, but she gave him a forced smile and moved to sit down. Grissom pulled Sara over to a small couch and they sat down still in each others arms.

"The nurse said he's in good hands."

The next two hours went by in absolute silence. Sara remained in Grissom's embrace praying for her son's recovery. He did the same. Catherine had gotten a hold of Greg as he was brought up to speed, and agreed to watch the girls while they waited for any news on Jason's condition.

They remained quiet as the clock ticked away. The doors to the waiting room opened. Three tired heads turned to see the doctor standing in his green scrubs.

"Mr. and Mrs. Grissom?" They both stood and approached him. The doctor let out a sigh that they were all too familiar with. "I don't know how to say this, but I'm sorry.We did everything we could, but his injuries were too severe."

That was all it took for Sara to break down completely. Her legs gave out and she slumped to the floor crying and repeating 'no' as she went. Grissom went to the floor with her pulling her as close to him as he could. Catherine kneeled next to them and put a comforting hand on Sara's back. Tears formed and easily fell from her eyes.

Sara never composed herself. Grissom pulled her with him onto the couch. Catherine stood just in time as Nick and Warrick entered. She quickly ushered them out into the hall. They didn't need to be told what the condition of Jason was, the distress in Sara and Grissom told them what had happened.

She wasn't ready to talk about Jason. "How are the other kids doing?"

Nick was between breaking down in tears and punching the wall, so Warrick answered. "One was DOA; the other is in surgery as well."

The briefest flash of relief crossed Catherine's face. She remembered how it was only hours ago that Lindsey was begging and pleading to go to the concert with Jason. Because she was firm and told her 'no', her daughter was at home, unscathed. She was alsothinking that at least Sara and Grissom weren't the only parents mourning, it wasn't right to think like that but Catherine couldn't help it. "How about the driver?"

Nick looked up; the tears in his eyes didn't hide the anger that lay beyond them. "He walked away."

Warrick placed a hand on his friends shoulder. "He's in lockup sobering up. With the amount of alcohol in his system he should be dead."

Catherine shut her eyes and shook her head, saying that Jason was dead was not possible.

They waited outside of the room for what seemed like hours. Eventually Sara cried herself down to a semi-calm state. Grissom slowly opened the door joining them in the hall. He looked as if he had aged ten years. The first words he spoke were rough sounding. "Cath, would you escort Jason to Doc Robbins." She opened her mouth wanting to know why, but he beat her to it. "I know what protocol says but I don't care. Please Cath." He was as defeated sounding as she had ever remembered him.

She nodded and went to find a nurse and flipped open her phone to call David.

Grissom looked at the faces of Nick and Warrick as they stood and did their best not to look him in the eye. They didn't say anything to him as he went back into the small waiting room, Sara stood into Grissom's embrace, and walked out. Nick and Warrick were right behind him, giving them any support they could as Sara leaned into Grissom.

Warrick took Grissom and Sara home. She was sitting in her dazed state as Grissom opened the back door to the Denali. Warrick took the offered house keys from Grissom and opened the door. He stepped aside as Grissom passed him clutching Sara's hand, and went straight to the bedroom. Greg was awake sitting on the couch as he silently watched Grissom and Sara pass. He turned and looked at Warrick; he had become as good of a CSI as the rest of them. Reading Warrick's expression was all he needed, he knew the worst had happened.

Grissom returned and thanked the both of them. He checked on Kassie and Sydney, they were both still asleep. After seeing his daughters were safe and sound, Grissom decided that he needed something to kill the pain that was beginning to wash over him. He opened the cupboard above the refrigerator and pulled a dusty bottle of scotch from the hidden darkness. His first few drinks were fast, downing the burning amber liquid immediately after he poured it. Grissom grabbed up the bottle, partially full tumbler, and went to sit heavily on the living room couch. There he continued to drown his sorrows and hide his emotions. It had been a while since he had drank a significant amount of scotch, but he didn't care and kept filling and emptying his glass.

An hour passed, the bottle near empty, Grissom was laying on his back staring at the spackling on the ceiling. A soft, warm hand touched his shoulder.

"Daddy."

He didn't want to look at her, not right now. He didn't want to be the one to tell her that her brother, her protector was dead. It would tear her apart as it was Sara and himself. "Mmm."

Kassie moved around and looked at his face. "Is Momma home?"

He tried to smile. "Yeah, she's in bed. Why don't you go lay down with her okay?" With what little energy he had left, Grissom raised a hand and gave a soft stroke to her brown hair.

"Alright." Her voice was so innocent and as she walked away and for the first time, he began to let his tears escape.

Kassie softly padded her way to the bedroom where Sara lay, and pushed open the door. She slowly and carefully climbed into the bed and curled up next to Sara. As her smaller body came in contact with Sara's, it was quickly enveloped in her embrace. She could see her mother's dried tears and the redness around her eyes.

"Momma, what's the matter?"

Sara opened her eyes and looked through the haze into Kassie's young eyes. "Oh sweetie." She tightened her arms around her and sniffled as fresh tear formed. "Remember Jason went out with some friends last night?"

"Yeah."

She sniffled as she continued. "Well while they were on their way home, the car was hit by another car." Her tears began to fall freely once again.

Kassie looked Sara right in the eye. "Was Jason hurt?"

"Yes, sweetie, he was."

"But he's okay, right?" Tears began to form in her eyes as well.

Sara pulled her head into her chest. "He was hurt really bad."

Kassie began to sob, her voice cracking as well. "He's okay isn't he?"

Giving bad news to strangers was hard enough, but to tell your daughter that her older brother isn't going to come home, that was pure hell. Sara didn't want to come right out and tell her he was dead. The only way she knew how was to relate the situation to another experience.

"Remember when one of your fish, Mortimer, died?"

As her head rested next to Sara's chest, Kassie nodded.

"And Dad and I told you it went to heaven?"

Again she nodded.

"Well…" Thinking it was hard enough, saying it was worse. Her tears increased with intensity as she forced the words out. "Jason went to heaven this morning."

Kassie started crying even harder right along with Sara. "No, why? He said he would always be here for me."

"I know sweetie…"

Sara didn't get to finish as Kassie pulled away from her and ran out of the bedroom. She stood and began to follow. Kassie ran upstairs to Jason's room. She threw herself on his bed and continued to cry.

Grissom was now sitting up on the couch and watched Kassie rush by crying. He knew Sara had told her that Jason was gone. Sara walked by immediately after. If he could, he would have followed, but the massive amount of alcohol was keeping him grounded to the couch. The pain was still there no matter how much he consumed.

She didn't bother knocking and went straight in to try and comfort Kassie. Sara curled up on the bed with her and after several more minutes of crying they were both able to calm slightly and just lay together surrounded by the memories of Jason.

Another cry filled the house. With one more swallow, Grissom looked to the top of the stairs. He waited for Sara to appear, but after a minute passed, he knew she wasn't coming. It took every ounce of strength to get on his feet. Then to walk to Sydney was going to be another feat.

He stood over her crib and tried to convince her to go back to sleep. He knew he was toodrunk and didn't dare try to remove her. "Shhh. My head's going to hurt enough as it is. Shhh. Please go back to sleep."

Soon, Sara appeared and pushed him aside. "Move."

Her tone was harsh as she removed Sydney and changed her diaper. Grissom stood on unsupportive legs and watched. Sara picked up a now quiet Sydney and just walked passed her husband as if he wasn't standing there.

The day played on like a broken record. For an hour or so the house would be dead silent. Kassie would wake only to continue her rants and sobbing. After an hour she exhausted herself and would fall asleep. Sara did her best to comfort her as they shared many hugs and tears. Sydney was doing as she normally did. Unfortunately the dark mood that had settled in the house had her fussing more than normal. It took Grissom another half bottle to pass out. As he drank the pain in his chest never went away, and he couldn't just fall asleep. So, he decided to drink enough to just pass out.

By the beginning of the evening, everyone but Sara was asleep. She had been sitting in the recliner across from Grissom when she wasn't with Sydney or Kassie. Her body was exhausted and wanted sleep, but her mind refused to let her. So she sought refuge in watching her husband sleep in his cloud of scotch.

A soft knock came at the front door. She didn't want to answer it; she wanted to keep the world away from her family. Do whatever she needed to, to protect them. After several more knocks, Sara sighed and forced her body to walk to the door. Without looking to see who it was, she pulled it heavy door open.

Warrick and Catherine looked at her as if they knew the state they would find her in. She stepped back and let them enter.

Catherine pulled her into an immediate embrace and the moment she did, Sara broke down again. It was all Catherine could do to comfort her. After a few minutes, Sara pulled back and they walked into the living room. She sat in one chair as Catherine sat in the other. Warrick perched himself on the arm of Catherine's and put his arm around her.

They all looked at Grissom. He was on his back, one arm and leg hanging off the side. His head turned sideways, mouth agape as he breathed in ragged breaths. The one empty and one half full bottles of scotch stood on the table. Catherine didn't need to ask; she knew her friend well and sighed as she knew it was only the beginning.

I'm sure that you all would like to kill me for what I have just done, but like I said 'twasn't me. One evening I was chillin' and thespoon called me and she's just like, 'you need to kill Jason.' The wheels began turning and here we are. Sorry if I disappointed some of you, but hey it's fiction. And I kinda did want to kill someone. Remember to send her any hate mail you wish, or if you want direct it to her through your review, dealers choice. Don't worry, there is more to come, and I promise to end the story happy.

TDCSI