Changing Lives

Disclaimer: I don't own anything connecting to the show.

Summary: Maybe it is the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of my favourite CSI couple.

Spoiler: 1.7 – Blood Drops, and this story takes place somewhere during Season 3 but it has nothing to do with it, it's just because of the timeline

Chapter 4: The Next Day

By the time Brenda woke up next morning Sara was already in the kitchen making breakfast. She walked into the kitchen sleepily and silently sat down by the table.

"Good morning, sweetie!" Sara greeted her daughter when she noticed the little girl.

Brenda gave her a little smile. Sara walked up to her and kissed the top of her head.

"How is your arm?"

"Fine." She answered sighing. Sara looked at her observing her face. She knew that Brenda would never complain about anything so she wanted to make sure that she was really all right.

"Okay." She said finally and went back preparing the breakfast. "I'm making pancakes, okay?"

"I like pancake." Brenda stated in a law voice.

"I know." Sara smiled at her daughter who smiled back at her. After Sara got ready she sat down and they began to eat without any further conversation.

Their relationship was rather strange, at least for an outsider. Neither of them was talkative, especially Brenda, who didn't communicate with anybody but Sara. This meant that most of the time they just sat in silence mutually enjoying each other's company Somehow they completely understood each other without any words. None of them knew what this connection was between the two of them but they felt that this was something special. This was the reason why Brenda let Sara enter her little world which she was unwilling to share with anybody else and this was also the reason why Sara finally let her own fiercely protected world open for Brenda.

Neither of them was aware of the fact that they were slowly but surely changing each other's life. Although they were not ready to leave their old fears behind just yet. For this they needed somebody else.

After breakfast they were discussing what to do that day when somebody knocked on the door. Sara went to answer it and when she opened the door, she glanced into a pair of warm green eyes.

"Hi!" She said smiling at Warrick.

"Hello." He answered. "I just wanted to know how Brenda's doing." He sounded a little bit embarrassed which didn't escape Sara's attention. She smiled back at him and stepped aside from the door to let Warrick enter the flat.

"She is fine, thanks. She has just eaten eight pancakes." She answered laughing. "I can't imagine where enough room for so many pancakes is in such a little girl."

"It's good to hear. And what about you?" His voice was full of concern just like the night before.

"Deja vu. I think I've already heard this conversation somewhere."

"Yeah, that's true but I hope this time you're feeling well, too." He looked at Sara seriously holding her gaze just to make sure that she wouldn't lie. Sara smiled at him kindly.

"Yeah, I think I managed to calm down. Thank you."

"I'm glad." After that they stood in silence for a while both of them unsure of what they should tell. But fortunately they were saved by a tiny voice coming from the kitchen door.

"I found it out. We should go for a walk then make some lunch and then we should make pancakes and muffins and then we could watch a movie."

At this both Warrick and Sara turned towards the voice.

"Oh." That was all that a surprised Sara managed to tell before she turned towards a now smiling Warrick and explained it to him that they had been discussing what to do that day and then turned back to Brenda.

"Honey, this list includes everything that we mentioned before." Her voice sounded surprised. She couldn't believe that she would like to do all of those things. "And you've just eaten all of the pancakes I made."

Brenda just looked at her with her big blue eyes.

"It sounds good to me." They heard Warrick saying and both of them looked at him questioningly. "I mean we could go to the zoo and have some lunch there. And after that we'll see what we can do about the pancakes and the muffins… If there is no objection." He added quickly when he saw the looks an the girls faces.

"I go and dress up." Brenda said excitedly and with a smile that Sara has never seen before and she went in her room. Sara just stood there and watched the retreating back of her daughter wondering what could have caused her wide smile and exited tone.

She was snapped out of her thought by Warrick's hand on her shoulder.

"Are you all right?"

She turned towards him with such a bright smile on her face which was very rare to be seen.

"Yeah, I'm definitely all right." She answered. She found it unbelievable but she was really all right and at this time she wasn't trying to convince others about it. At that moment everything was all right. "Just give us five minutes and then we can go." With this she also disappeared in her room.

CSI CSI CSI

Warrick and the girls spent an amazing day it the zoo. He was astonished how Sara and Brenda were alike. He simply enjoyed watching them exploring the zoo as if it were some kind of big adventure on their part. He felt like a father who took his daughters to the zoo and now he was guiding them not to get lost. It was amazing for him to see Sara so relaxed and happy. She was just smiling all the time and running from one den to the other excitedly while Brenda, who most of the time was walking besides him, led him by the hand wherever Sara was running. Warrick could have bet that there was no such a description in the zoo that the two of them hadn't read. Sara even explained everything to Warrick who, by the time they got home, became an expert on the different species of animals.

Warrick found Sara extremely adorable in this excited state and although Brenda was far less talkative than her mother, she also seemed to be enjoying herself and looked at every animal with curious eyes.

They had lunch in the zoo but by early afternoon Brenda got very tired and sleepy so the little group headed to Sara's apartment. At home Brenda had a nap while Sara and Warrick made the pancakes for Brenda who, surprisingly, managed to eat half a dozen of them. What is more, she insisted on making the muffins as well. This suggestion left the kitchen covered in flour and cocoa but finally all of them were sitting on the coach eating their muffins satisfied while discussing what they should watch.

Finally they decided on The Beauty and the Beast after Warrick's strong protest against seeing one more animal that day which excluded Finding Nemo and Ice Age from the options. They had a very good time watching the movie and Warrick once again was surprised at Sara as she seemed to know the whole cartoon by heart.

After The Beauty and the Beast they also managed to watch Aladdin and Hercules as well, although by the end of the third film it was only Warrick who hadn't fallen asleep. He was sitting on the coach with Sara's head in his lap and with Brenda at his feet. Somehow the little girl got to the floor during the movie which left the two adults sitting next to each other which then led to their current state. But Warrick didn't protest. In fact he felt very comfortable and he didn't mind if he could have stayed like this for longer. Much longer. But unfortunately the movie was over.

He stroked Sara's face gently and she stirred lightly. Warrick chuckled when a satisfied smiled appeared on the face of the woman lying in his lap. After Sara managed to wake up, Warrick offered that he put Brenda into bed while she could change. He was glad that he finally managed to persuade Sara to take off some nights. Although she really seemed to be alright, Warrick was sure that the events of the previous day took their toll on her and she needed some rest. And what is more she needed to be with Brenda.

To Sara's surprise the little girl didn't protest when she woke up and found herself in Warrick's arms she just blinked sleepily and went back to sleep. She was glad that Brenda was so relaxed in the presence of somebody else.

By the time Warrick put Brenda into bed, Sara had already climbed into her own bed and was almost asleep. Before he would have stepped into her room, he just stood in the doorway and watched her. Sara felt his eyes on her.

"You know you can tuck me in, too." She said smiling, however, her eyes remained closed so she didn't see the bright smile on her friend's face.

Warrick went to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. He carefully pulled the blanket up to her neck making sure that she was warm then he gave her a goodnight kiss on her cheek.

"Sweet dreams, Sara." He said and got up to head to home and then to work. Before he left the room he heard a muffled voice saying "I will, I will."

TBC

So that was it. I know it's not a very good one but I hope it isn't so bad, either. I'm sorry that I didn't update sooner but I had other ideas as well and I felt like writing them down. I don't know when I'll write the next chapter but please, you, who are still with me, don't give up on me. I will finish this story, it just takes a little time.

Thanks for reading and sorry for the mistakes!