By the end of the next week the hit and run story had been bumped off the front page by other news. Nick, Greg, and Grissom had wrapped up the evidence long before the story faded, but they were relieved that the press wouldn't be hounding them for any more for answers. Kyle Morris was in Juvie where he belonged and Sara was in a temporary placement while Child Services looked for a more permanent placement. The wear and tear of the hit and run, on top of the other cases that came across his desk, had kept Grissom busy enough that he hadn't had time to think as much about his Sara. Staying busy seemed to be helping. The CSI's and Jim began to see a change in him. While he wasn't himself yet, his dark moods were becoming fewer and farther between and he seemed to be calmer.

Everyone noticed a change in Jim too. He was smiling more and while he was still quite capable of sarcastic quips here and there, his humor wasn't quite as dark. He seemed to have found a new source of vitality and energy. He's always had a little strut in his gait...now it was evident to everyone. Catherine and Warrick knew its source but had talked to each other and agreed to keep it quiet. When Jim and Glyn were ready, they'd let everyone in on their secret. Catherine just hoped they wouldn't wait as long as Gil and Sara to share. She wasn't sure she could keep it under her hat THAT long.

Grissom, having had his plate full with an unusually busy couple of weeks, was once again trying to catch up on the pile of folders on his desk. It was that day that he finally opened the file from Glyn's first case. Little Sara's picture was on top. His heart skipped a beat as he opened the folder and was met by her big brown eyes. He sat, transfixed for a moment, and then slid the picture aside to read. Her story was in many ways like so many cases he'd read before. But in some particular ways, it was as if this was his Sara at age 6. At least his Sara was a little older when her world collapsed. This little girl was only 6 and she'd lost everything, even her innocence. Gil's heart was heavy. He felt a surge of sadness…..sadness for this little girl and all the other little Saras like her, and especially for his Sara. He pulled her picture back to the front and studied it more closely. She had a sweet face and trusting eyes, in spite of all that she had been through. No wonder Jim thought Glyn had a rough time with this one. Thinking of Jim, Gil wondered what had happened to Jim's idea of asking Glyn on a date. He hadn't seen any evidence that there was anything going on between the two but Jim sure had been different lately.

His gaze returned to little Sara Morris. I wonder how things are going for her now, he thought. Glyn said she was in a temp situation because there is no other family. All of that and now she's going to be locked into foster care too.

Catherine was standing in his doorway, doing her periodic check on his condition. Grissom was aware of her presence but was trying to ignore it. He really was doing better, he thought, and he wished everyone would just treat him like normal….whatever that was.

Cath saw the changing expressions on his face and recognized the sadness. But it wasn't the agony that she'd seen when he first came back, she thought. She noticed he had a file open…..maybe that's it. "Hey Gil…." she ventured.

He looked up and resigned himself to the Catherine quiz. His eyebrow lifted and his face took on what Catherine had come to think of as the classic Grissom look. "Making any headway on your stack?"

"A little." What the hell, I'll show her the file and see what she thinks. "Just going over this case from a couple weeks ago."

Catherine eased up on the corner of his desk as he handed her the file. After reading it, she understood why he'd been looking sad. "Wow, Glyn got a tough one. And on her first solo too.

We got the bastard, didn't we?"

"Yeah, at least til he's 21. But something about this little girl got to me."

"Could it be because she has big brown eyes and her name is Sara? Darn, I wish I hadn't said that, thought Cath.

"Yeah, that's part of it." he winced. "And there are some similarities in their stories. But….there's something else. Its just….." he paused.

"Just?"

"…...Well, she's only 6 years old and she's lost everything, for starters. And now she's lost in the system."

"You mean…..literally lost?"

"Well, ….no. But she's in the system with little hope of getting out."

"Well, you can only do so much, Gil. At least we got the bastard."

"Yeah, you're right. I just wish…..well, that there was something more I could do."

Catherine almost fell off his desk. Gil Grissom never got this involved with the individuals in a case…..well, not unless they involved Heather, at least. "Have you tried contacting her case worker? Maybe they can give you an idea….at least some information."

Gil looked surprised. Why didn't I think of that, he thought. "I think I will…..hunt down this caseworker. Thanks Cath"

"Glad I could help," she said as she slipped off her perch. "You know, Gil, for a guy who is as observant as you are, sometimes I think a snake could wiggle right up and bite you," she said as she headed to the door.

"That's why I have you around, Cath. To warn me about snakes," he smiled.

Now THAT sounded like the old Grissom, she thought.

Grissom watched appreciatively as she exited. Damn she's got a hot ass, he thought.

He called and located Sara Morris's caseworker. The woman had little to add to the information on Sara. But she did give him an address. She said he could go by and visit, if he liked, but to please call first and make an appointment. So he did. On Tuesday at 3:30 pm Gil Grissom was scheduled to meet little Sara Morris.