Cara walked out the Mall, and let go of the breath she didn't know she was holding. She quickly wiped the tears from her face; however it was useless as they kept falling. Her feet led her in a random direction, and she didn't oppose, she kept walking and walking, then she turned into a quick run, never looking back.

Few Hours Later:

"Damn it! Damn it!" Sara threw her cell down onto the passenger seat as she once again never got through to Carla on her phone, so she returned her focus to the road in front.

This is just great Sara. Freaking great. What were you thinking! You should have told her the truth from the start...Her eyes; so forlorn. How did I not notice! I'm a freaking' investigator…Oh God…Carla could be in serious trouble; it's been four hours now.

Sara had checked everywhere; her apartment, the park, the shops. She was nowhere.

Before she knew it, she had driven automatically towards the lab, parked in her usual parking space, across from Grissom's. She slammed the door shut, sprinting into the break room. She leaned against the door-frame, as she caught her breath and stared out at Catherine in front, sitting on the sofa.

"Sara…….I thought it was your day off" Catherine raised her eyebrow as she gazed at Sara, who was now looking around tentatively through the glass in break room.

"It was, I mean, it is….." Sara spoke in sections, as she looked around the lab, half in the break room, and half in the corridor.

"Who or what are you looking for?" Catherine now stood up, and placed her hand on Sara's shoulder when she noticed the tears building up in her friend's eyes.

"Carla" Sara let the tears fall down her face, without a care in the world. "Catherine, it's Carla" The seriousness and softness of Sara's voice alerted Catherine, as she let out a small "Oh" –filled with empathy- then drew Sara close to her, letting her cry on her shoulder as she comforted her just the same way she comfort's her own daughter.

Sara pulled away and wiped her eyes, but it was futile as they just kept running down her face, "We were out, in the mall for lunch, I told you the other day that we hadn't been getting along as well as we used to but I never thought that she knew, I mean how she could have found out? Anyway, we had an argument then I stated that she was only my niece and she started crying and she ran away, that's when I realised, she knows that I'm her mother…Catherine, what am I going to do!" The tears once again poured down Sara's face as she spoke so fast and vernacular that Catherine only grasped some of the information.

"Wait wait wait, you're her MOTHER?" Catherine let her mouth droop as she started at Sara with astonishment.

"I was twenty and in love…." Sara told Catherine the rest of the story as she was pulled onto the sofa.

"Oh, God Sara, I never knew, I am so sorry" Catherine hugged her co-worker for what felt like the twentieth time in that hour.

"Its fine, I got over it soon enough, I just don't like a lot of people knowing, in case they treat me differently me" Sara's soft and quiet tone subtly let Catherine know that she didn't want anyone to know about this.

"So you don't know where she is at all?" Catherine quickly changed the topic, back onto which was important- a fifteen year old was missing and it was late at night; in Las Vegas, of all places.

"I looked for a few hours in the car, and then to your house, but Lindsey wasn't in then I ended up coming here…I think I am going to have to go see Brass, it's nearly midnight and she hasn't contacted me…."

"Wait, Lindsey's not at my house? I phoned her hours ago and she said she was still there…she should be there Sara, unless…"Catherine's worry was palpable as she drifted off into thought at the end of the sentence.

"Oh Goodness, would they really run away? I mean I don't think so…" Sara started to worry again as she watched Catherine pull her cell phone out her pocket, trying to reach Lindsey.

At that moment, Grissom walked into the break room, noticed the commotion in front of him. Catherine was pacing up and down the room, with her phone glued to her ear whilst Sara sat on the sofa, with hankies at either side of her and mascara smudged down her cheeks. His immediate protectiveness turned on, as he drew himself along side Sara, put his hands on her knees and kneeled on the floor in front of her as she now faced him sitting on the sofa.

"Sara honey, what happened" This was déjà vu for Sara, reminding her of the lab explosion, when Grissom caressed her injured hand, kneeling down next to her, calling her honey…

"Grissom, its Carla, she's missing…" The tears started again, and Grissom leaned into her face and wiped a tear off her cheek. This bold action by Grissom stopped the tears, as she gazed into his eyes and noticed his obvious worry…this moment was over soon when a bang was heard from behind them.

"Damn it Lindsey!" Catherine had launched her cell against the wall, the breaking obvious.

Grissom got up and now stood in the middle of the commotion in front of him, his hand running through his thick curls in his hair as he went over the events in his head. "Lindsey's gone too?" Grissom looked at Catherine who was obviously worried sick.

"Yeah….goodness, I thought she got over that stage Gil, I thought she had grown up…"Catherine went over to pick up her cell phone, and rubbed it and if by magic, the screen of the phone flashed back on.

"Okay, Sara where have you looked?" Grissom got his cell out, typed in a few numbers, and then brought the device up to his ear.

"Everywhere Griss, I searched my apartment first when she first when missing twelve hours ago…

Twelve Hours Ago

"Carla!" Sara swung the door open as her voice ripped through her apartment, the sheer determination in her voice palpable.

She scurried through each room, checking in every nook and cranny, even though the search was futile. She slumped back onto the edge of her bed, replaying the haunting scene over and over. Sometimes, she looked at Carla, and realized that she would have to tell her someday, but the memory of giving her beautiful baby up was just too much, too painful. Carla, although so different from Sara, reminded Sara so much of herself, and the fact that she had lied to her daughter all this time pained Sara, but she reminded herself it was for the best. It was for the best…wasn't it?

The investigator side kicked in and Sara started from the beginning, how did Carla find out in the first place?

Sara automatically went towards the living area, stood in front of the bookshelf, and noticed the DNA book was out of place – how didn't I notice this? She pulled the book carefully out, however failing as dozens for old photographs and letters came pouring out, scattering across the hard wooden floor, bringing back the memories for Sara.

Five Years Ago:

"David, please, I want to know my daughter" Sara pleaded to her older brother.

"Sara I can't. You are calling more and now you want to visit her? You are getting attached Sara. You promised this wouldn't happen, remember ten years ago when you gave her to me? You said it was the best. You were unstable to look after a child and you still are. She is safe with me, which is what matters. It's for the best Sara. If you love her enough you will leave her."

Her brother was good at convincing her. She looked at the baby picture of Carla, and stroked it carefully, allowing a few tears to fall. She had missed out on so much. Sara had a sort of wake up call at that moment and new, she needed Carla more than anything. She stood up –still holding the photo- grabbed her car keys from the kitchen worktop, and left the house.

Present:

Sara woke up from her flashback, and noticed Grissom on the phone obviously to Brass. Catherine was now being comforted by Warrick, she watched whilst his hand gently caressed her back, in a soft swirling motion until she heard Grissom's cell being slammed shut.

Grissom drew a deep breath then looked deep into Sara's brown eyes. "Brass is going to notify all of PD, and get a few squad cars out to search the strip" He looked over at Warrick, glad that he was comforting his friend. "Warrick, you and Cath go and search- anywhere- while I will go with Sara and do the same. It's all we can do just now, we can catch up on the cases later- this is priority."

Before they new it, they were all split up, and Grissom was sitting in the drivers seat of the Delani, Sara across from him, Caressing a photo of a young girl- obviously Carla.

"Sara, I tried to stop them in the lab that day…" He spoke softly as he reversed the vehicle and got out onto the main road.

Sara flipped her head back and turned to face her boss. "You tried to do what?"

The shock was palpable in Sara's voice which obviously led Grissom to understand that Sara was not aware of the whole story. Just great Gil, wait a go, now you have to tell her the whole story….god is she going to be mad at you… Grissom sighed as he listened to his conscious and began to speak; "They were in the DNA lab when I walked in, doing the paternity test" Grissom continued to stare at the road in front; he couldn't bare look at Sara's face.

A thousand words, thoughts were processing through Sara's head and she just couldn't comprehend the obvious. "You knew?" The obvious hurt and confusion in her voice tore through Grissom.

"Sara…" Grissom used his soft voice to draw out her name, as he thought about the best way to go around this conversation without hurting her more. "Yes, I knew…I found Lindsey and Carla in the DNA lab, I asked what they were doing and they didn't tell me, so when the results were ready I took the paper off Lindsey and read it." Grissom pulled the car into a parking space at the mall, turned off the engine and turned to face Sara.

"But why didn't you tell me Grissom? Don't you think I deserved to know? We wouldn't be in this situation if you had told me sooner" Sara paused as realisation hit her. "That's why you've been off with me all these weeks, giving me decomps one after the other; you think I gave her away, been lying to her all these years because of my own selfishness.."

Grissom interrupted Sara as the anger in her voice along with her volume was increasing. "Now, Sara, look that's not true..."

"Yes it is Grissom and you know it. You have been pissed off with me these past few weeks when you could have just told me the truth and acted like an adult, and I wouldn't be in this situation, wouldn't have dragged Catherine into it, and Carla would be okay, I mean she could be…" The tears came tumbling out of Sara as she bent down, cuddling the old photograph.

Grissom got out the car and walked round to Sara's door where he opened it and carefully clipped Sara out of her seatbelt, led her out of the car and drew her into him, as she wept into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Sara, I'm so sorry" He repeated as he ran his fingers through her silky hair. He could feel the tears threatening to fall as he choked out; "I could have stopped this Sara, you are right, if I had just had the courage to tell you, but I guess I couldn't face the fact that you had a child that you had gave birth…"

He was interrupted by the ringing of his cell in his bottom pocket.

Sara jumped apart from her boss as she felt the vibration of his phone, realising that someone may know something about her daughter.

Grissom saw from the caller ID that it was Brass calling, not a good sign "Grissom".

Sara studied his face as he spoke on the phone, praying to get some good news. "Have you found Lindsey and Carla" Grissom asked sharply, and as he was getting his answer his face became pale and a deep sigh was heard as he lifted his head, locking eyes with Sara. "Okay, make sure you tell Catherine and I will meet you back at PD then" He swiftly closed his phone over, thinking about how to break the news to Sara.

"Grissom" Sara's stern voice was mixed with worry, fear and hostility for Grissom.

Grissom stroked Sara's arm as he looked into her eyes, took in a deep breath and began to speak. Sara could only decipher some of the words coming out of Grissom's mouth.

When he stopped speaking he noticed how lost Sara looked, and didn't know whether it was because she was so angry or just, shocked. So he opened the passenger's car door and closed it when she was sitting in as he headed to meet Brass, Catherine and Warrick back at PD.

Sara looked through the glass walls in the police department and noticed Carla and Lindsey sitting down on the chairs, with Catherine and Warrick talking to Brass at the top of the room. As she headed into the room, she noticed the lack of clothing on both the teenagers, their faces covered in make-up, and their eyes both glazed over as they giggled mischievously to themselves.

She noticed the few police officers checking out the teenagers, as the high-heels and short skirts that they both wore aged them enough to get them into any nightclub down the strip.

"Sara" Brass spoke softly as both Grissom and Sara approached, and noticed the palm of Grissom's hand on the lower of Sara's back.

"Two officers got a call from one of the strip clubs down the strip, seems as though two teenagers were being bought drinks off older men, and it was called in by the manager, they swear the guys didn't touch them, but it was obvious they were going to, they're both going to have a hellish hangover tomorrow." Brass finished speaking and looked across at the faces of both Sara and Catherine. Catherine drew in a breath as she gazed angrily down at where her daughter sat, as for Sara; she just looked completely shocked as she stared back at Brass.

Catherine stormed towards Lindsey, pulled her off the chair and held onto her arms as she knew that with the combination of alcohol and stilettos weren't a good act of support. "What the hell were you thinking Lindsey? You could have gotten yourself into serious bother, you know exactly how dangerous this city can be, especially after midnight! God Lindsey, I thought you had grown up!"

Lindsey stuttered as she looked into her mother' eyes "You know me? You work constantly and when you're home all you do is sleep, I was sick of being a good girl, I wanted fun, and I enjoyed myself, didn't we Carla?" Lindsey looked smugly at her mother, as she turned to face her best friend.

Carla tried to stand up but she collapsed right back into her chair, then she started to giggle. Lindsey bent down and pulled her friend up and they now both stood in front of Catherine, a lot taller than her as they wore stilettos. "Yeah, we had a grr-eat time, trust me!" Carla started to laugh as she shared a private joke with Lindsey until Carla made a groaning noise, leaned over and was sick.

Catherine and Lindsey both jumped back, whilst Sara came running forward, to comfort Carla.

"Uhuh…" Carla moaned as she sat back down, putting her head between her legs, and pulled the garbage can in front of her, where she continued to be sick.

Sara reached out to gently stroke Carla's back, even though Sara was angry. Carla however sat up abruptly, pushing Sara's hand out of her way. "Don't touch me" Carla snarled at Sara as she wiped her mouth.

"Carla I have been looking all over for you, and have been worried sick, what the hell do you think you were playing at…and bringing Lindsey into this too?" Sara spoke calmly as gathered herself together.

Carla chuckled to herself, as she starred into Sara's face. "I've lived my whole life abiding by the rules, being a good teenager as I tried to make my dead mom proud. But how can I carry on when I realise my whole life has been a lie?"

Sara leaned forward to stroke Carla's forearm, but Carla pushed her back; "How can I kid on that everything is normal? When I found out the DNA results, I realised that I have been lied to all my life; do you know how that feels! And to see you sit there, thinking that I am treating you unfair, seeing you smile and laugh it off when people say we look the same; "oh, she's not my daughter, she's just my niece" it hurt more than realising my whole life was a lie. Because right there I learned that even although my mother was alive she never intended to be one" Carla broke down into tears as she stood up and fell against Sara. Sara hugged Carla as they both cried together, Sara kissing the top of her head, and running her fingers through her soft hair.

Grissom looked on at what was happening before him and could feel the tears building up in his eyes, but instead of pushing them back, he let them fall.

A/N - this is not Beta'd I will get it beta'd soon though...

This chapter was a lot longer than planned and I found it really hard to write because I didn't want too much angst, so I tried my best!

I have already planned the storyline for the next few chapters but if you have anything that you would like to see just review and say 

Have I mentioned how much I love reviews?