I do not own CSI. Probably a good thing, too because I love angst so much. But, I guess so far this season there has been a lot of that, huh?

None of these characters are mine unless I have made up a new person; the rest I am playing with, torturing and returning. Sorry for the late update; work is demanding and I have not had as much time as would like

POLL: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHT ON THIS. A few of my readers have asked that I give "alternate" endings for this story; I have three in mind. So that readers could basically 'choose' how they want the story to end. I have the original ending already, but do you want me to offer alternates? Please let me know before I post next chapter. Thanks, Dy

Gil would like to have been able to say that he and Sara were completely happy after the proposal; he would like to have believed that their relationship was solid, they were the 'perfect' expectant parents.

The reality, he knew, was that there was still an issue of trust between them; he knew that even now Sara had a difficult time fully trusting him and that the pain he had caused her still lived among them like a constant light fog. He wanted to marry her, to make their relationship, their family permanent but he knew that even marriage could not stifle the sound of the lack of trust

Someone once told him that a relationship without trust was destined to fail; he knew that trust was the foundation of all strong couples. Did that mean he and Sara were not strong? Maybe it was too soon...maybe he needed to try harder...after all, it had only been a few months since she had even accepted him back into her life. It would take longer for her to accept that he was sincere, wouldn't it?

He knew that as much as he would like them to be 'perfectly okay', their relationship was still on rocky ground. It had to be, given their history

He had to admit he had an issue with living in her apartment; or not living in it. He liked his townhouse, it was comforting to him. But, Sara loved the nursery at her apartment; it had emerged from a sense of unity between her and their friends. Mostly, while he was 'missing in action'. How could he ask her to leave it again? She was, after all, adamant and so he had given in, still not understanding why she would not just compromise and move with him to a new, bigger home together.

He did not think she would understand his slight feelings of rejection and animosity over the fact that he had been almost completely uninvolved in the preparation of his child's room. Even though he knew it had been his choice and therefor the fault of no one else, he could not bring to words the emptiness he felt when he stepped into the room.

Especially given that Nick had helped plan the theme and paint the walls. The rash of angry emotions between the two of them still lingered and Gil, no matter how logical he was, could not shake the "little green monster of jealousy" that kept plaguing him. Nick was, after all, the man who was there when he had chosen not to be.

So maybe it wasn't Sara after all who was having trust issues?

After his coffee with Ecklie, he had been 'invited' to a meeting with the lab director. They had sat, rather uncomfortably, in the large overly expensive office with the silence nearly drowning Gil. He had known, without a doubt, that he would be suspended for his involvement with Sara. What he had not expected was the overall acceptance and understanding of their relationship. He had been given a few days off without pay as a standard procedure and both he and Sara had to sign documentation during the inquiry that stated their "relationship" had been mutual and that she had not been given any "promises of compensation, promotion or other monetary reward" in exchange for sex.

Sara had laughed later at home, saying that what she had gotten in exchange for sex was months of heart burn and the potential for stretch marks

On Sara's 30th week of pregnancy, she woke early. She had been taken off of fieldwork two weeks earlier and was surprised that she had enjoyed processing so much; she had forgotten how much she'd enjoyed laboratory work. Not just that, but working with Wendy and David was a welcome, relaxing change from crime scene investigation. Today, however, she was slotted on the day shift since both Gil and Catherine insisted that the graveyard hours were "taking a toll on her"

Gil had gone in the evening before, still on the graveyard shift. He made sure to complain about it, not liking being away from her at night. She reminded him it was only for awhile longer, after the birth he had put in for all of his leave at once, giving him ample time to spend with both her and their daughter.

Sara couldn't help but again wonder if having a tiny baby around, one that demanded his emotional commitment, would scare him enough to second-guess his decisions. He had given her no indication that he was having any second thoughts, but Sara knew Gil well enough to know that he would balk in the face of extreme emotional confrontations. She did not know if there was a more confrontational emotional moment than the birth of a child. She did not want any overwhelming feelings to scare him away just when she was getting used to his support.

Stepping off of the elevator, she felt a tingle go through her as the day shift receptionist watched her oddly. She knew there had been a lot of whispers about her and Gil over the last few weeks; after all, the news that he was her child's father was big within the confines of the lab. Still, the discomfort she felt was overwhelming.

As she passed by the front desk the day shift receptionist turned to another administrative assistant as they spoke and Sara could feel her cheeks begin to flush. Passing by another small office area, she saw many heads turn her way and whispers went around the room.

"Can you believe that is Dr. Grissom's?" Sara heard a voice say, lower than they thought she could hear.

"Can you image having sex with him?" Another voice said "God, I'd love to do him..."

"Everyone knows she's been after him for years; who knows what she did to get him in the sack"

"Wonder what she had to do to get him to ask her to marry him?"

There was a little laugh "Isn't that obvious?"

"Entrapment...works every time"

"It won't last." Came the reply "He's been a bachelor for too long...they'll be divorced by the time that baby is two years old"

"If that"

Sara stopped, looking into the room as suddenly it was filled with silence. She knew her cheeks were burning red enough to match her red wrap around blouse and that her eyes probably shot daggers at the women involved. "Maybe you could put wagers on that" She said coolly "After all, it is Vegas...gambling is legal you know"

With that she turned and walked away, trying hard to maintain a careful composure as she heard more muffled whispers. What she really wanted to do was run back the way she had came and never step foot in the building again. Catherine had told her there was a reason she never worked the day shift; she said the rumor mill was amok with any new piece of gossip it could eat. Now Sara wished she fought the decision to move her on days as opposed to nights or even graveyard.

As she rounded into Gil's office, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief to find him still at his desk, finishing up paperwork. He looked up at her as she closed the door and his face lit up. "Hey, beautiful" he greeted as he removed his glasses, standing up so he could come around the desk to her

She allowed his arms around her, feeling the tension in her begin to ebb as he hugged her close, causing the baby to roll and kick simultaneously; he laughed. Putting a hand on her stomach he smiled broadly "Good morning to you, too" He said as he looked down before kissing Sara's forehead softly. "How was your night?"

She nodded. "I hate the day shift"

He gave her a perplexed look "You just got here"

She sighed "Yes, but already I have the urge to scream and pull hair out"

He nodded "The gossip mill?"

"Yeah" She said as she followed him to his desk and sat across from him "You hear it too?"

"All of the time" he said with a slight smile "Although what I usually hear is what a stud I must be to keep up with a 'young thing like you' and father a child at my age"

Sara laughed at that "Well...if you want my opinion..."

"No" He held his hand up with a smile "Save it for the gossip mill"

"What?" She shot back playfully "You do not think I should tell them what a wild man you are in the bedroom?"

"Only the bedroom?"

She smiled, a hand on her growing abdomen "Not that I have been too wild myself lately with this thing in the way..."

He gazed at her; he loved her, God help him "I think you are fantastic" He said softly

They were quiet, her face flushing slightly before she spoke again "How do you deal with it?"

"I am fortunately only here for a few hours of the day shift" He said with a slight nod "And most of that time is spent in here...safe in the confines of my office"

They were quiet as he placed his glasses back on and resumed his review of the night's work "I want a transfer, then"

His lips pursed and he cocked his head as he gave another nod "I am sure I can work something out with your boss" He said "After all, rumor has it that she and I have 'a little thing going on' on the side you know...although rumor also has it Catherine sleeps with almost every guy in the lab..." He shrugged "...maybe even with Sophia..."

Sara laughed a full laugh that made him giggle in return. "Well, you know Catherine does have a way with people..."

"Now that sounds like the gossip mill..."

"Sidle?" Ecklie barked as he came into the layout room, making her stop, frozen in spot as she removed the soiled sweatshirt from the bag.

She looked over at him, trying to smile "What is it, Ecklie?"

"Why are you here?" He stood near the doorway, files in hand

"Uhm..." She looked around her "I'm working?"

He rolled his eyes incredulously "Cut the crap" he said "I mean, why are you here? On this shift?"

She placed the sweatshirt in front of her on the table, shrugging "I'm working" She repeated

"Not this shift" He said, coming in closer "You were transferred to days"

She nodded "I was...it didn't work out"

He sighed "Look, Sidle...I know that you need to have certain preferential treatment due to your pregnancy, and I fully support that. But you cannot take advantage of that and your relationship with Grissom to get what you want" He said firmly "It isn't fair to other people"

She placed her hands flat on the table in front of her "What other people, Conrad?" She asked "There isn't anyone else I know who is vying for a spot on this shift to sort through vomit soaked evidence...basically I did someone a favor by opening up a spot on the day shift"

"You cannot keep bouncing around..."

"I'm not" She replied with reasoning "I swear, Conrad, if I would have bumped anyone else to come back to this shift I would have just bucked up and stayed on days." She smiled at him softly, knowing that killing him with kindness was better than arguing with him.

He was speechless, having expected an emotional tirade to defend himself against. "You and Grissom are both on thin ice, Sara" He explained "Do not think that you are not being watched"

She nodded "Well," She replied "Since our relationship has obviously been accepted by the lab director and I am no longer his direct report, I do not see that as a problem"

He returned her nod "You don't think this is completely wrong?"

She shook her head "I think you should just let it go. For the sake of what is best for this department, I would think you should focus your attention on something important; not just spend your time brewing over Gilbert Grissom and some twisted personal vendetta." She paused thoughtfully "It makes you look bitter and insecure...if you want my opinion"

He glared at her unsure if he was angry at her words or her seemingly friendly indifference. "Well, I don't want your opinion" He snapped "Just remember your position here, Sidle. You are not in charge of your assignments, got that?"

"Of course" She replied as he turned to storm out. She sighed heavily, thinking for the umpteenth time that she would not come back to the lab after the baby was born. She had, effectively, had enough.

"How much crap do you have?" Catherine asked, heaving another box into the back of her Denali

"You have seen my townhouse" Gil replied curtly "Truckloads..."

She scoffed, chewing her gum as she observed him through her sunglassed eyes. It was nearly 10 AM and they had left the lab that morning to bring a few of his things over to Sara's apartment; she was exhausted. "Can't you hire a moving company or something?"

"No" He replied with simplicity "I am not moving"

"So, you're moving in with Sara but you're not moving" She said as she crossed her arms in front of herself "That's genius"

"I am keeping the townhouse...at least for awhile" He said as he put another box in the back

"And what are you going to do with it?" She asked with a smart-ass tone "You either live together as a family or you don't...you cannot have it both ways"

"I am not ready to give it up yet, Catherine" He replied "It has been a big part of my life"

"So has Sara" She replied. "This is just a house..."

"It's my house"

She rolled her eyes, popping her gum as she headed back towards his town house "Grow up"

They had just finished putting all of his study manuals in the Denali, Gil running back in to make sure he had collected everything for that trip. Catherine stood, digging through one of the boxes when the sound of a car pulling up next to her made her look up. To her dismay, she saw Heather Kessler climbing out of the driver's side to approach her.

"Catherine" She greeted with her usual dripping charm "How nice to see you"

Catherine really wanted to say something completely inappropriate, instead choosing a smile "Hello, Heather"

Heather looked towards the back of the Denali, squinting "Are these Gilbert's things?"

"No, I just thought I'd start a collection of a really boring entomological nature" Catherine said, closing her eyes as she caught her own sarcasm "Yes. These are Gil's"

"Is he moving?" Another charming smile

"You could say that"

"Well..." She looked toward the house "Perhaps I should speak to him? I did not know he was leaving this place"

Catherine tried to bite her tongue, but when Heather began walking towards the stairs she spoke "You know, Heather" she began, trying to sound much more civil than she really felt "I don't know if you know this or not, but Gil's going to have a family." When Heather stopped to look at her she continued "He's moving in with his fiance...they're having a daughter in a few months. Maybe it is best if you just..." She shrugged, a huge smile on her face "...leave?"

She saw the gears moving in the other woman's head and wondered what exactly she was thinking "A family?" she asked, another drip of charm falling to the ground "How lovely. I should give him my congratulations"

Catherine reached out to grab her arm "No" She said with her own fake charm "You really shouldn't. I think what you should do is march your shiny little butt back into your car and drive away...at least, if you know what is good for you that is what you'll do"

Heather gave her a cold, calculated glare "Are you threatening me CSI Willows?"

"Oh, trust me" Catherine grinned coolly "I don't have to threaten you...and don't even try that CSI shit with me; I'm off the clock"

Heather yanked her arm away "I see" She said as she glanced at the house one more time "It is nice to know that Gilbert has such an attentive friend"

"A friend that'll kick your ass if you don't get in your car and leave...please"

Putting her sunglasses on, Heather backed away before turning to slowly get back in her car, saying before she left: "I am sure Gilbert will call me..." She grinned "...he always does" With that she opened the door and climbed in, revving the engine as she backed out smoothly.

As Catherine watched her pull away, Gil came down the stairs looking towards the retreating vehicle "Was that Heather?"

Looking at him, she shook her head. "No...just some idiot who needed directions..."