Author: mysunshine08
Title: Four Years Later
Rating: K - K+
Summary: What happens when Sara comes back after four years have passed?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of CSI...if I did...well we just won't go there, I do own the little girl though
A/N: this is my first fanfic ever...so please be nice though helpful criticism would be well helpful
So how was everyone's Thanksgiving???
Chapter 4 - Jennifer
He broke the ice first
He shifted in his seat when he looked back at her. "I love you, I miss you, come back and let me take of you", is what his heart was telling him to say. His head on the other hand was the more logical of the two, and he felt that if he would have said that then she would run, and then he would never be able to hold her and tell her things that she needed to hear to make then both feel better. After a quick war between minds over soul, his mind winning said with full disappointment in his voice,
"Sorry I'm late; I tried to get here as soon as possible."
"That's okay; we have only been here for 15 minutes." She motioned to herself and the little girl next to her. The awkwardness was approaching fast again. He wished the waitress would hurry up and bring his order so he could put his attention elsewhere.
"You look good" they both said at the same time. They both laughed, not an awkward laugh, but a one that said that they were now comfortable at the moment then they were before. The waitress chose this moment to give the man his order. When she arrived, she decides that she would be nosy.
"Your daughter looks beautiful, you two must be proud." She noticed that the man was a little taken aback.
"She's not mi..." if the light bulb above people's head were visible you could see his going off full light. Something clicked he remembered back to the letter he had received and now understood what a four-year old surprise. He looked up at the waitress, then back at the women in from of him. She nodded as though she could exactly read what was going on in his mind.
"Thank you" he said just above a whisper like if he talked any louder the world would shatter into a million pieces. The waitress stated that he was welcome and went back to her television.
"I'm sorry, it just registered" the man continued, you could hear all the forgiveness in his voice.
"I'm the one who should be sorry, I was going to tell you in the letter but I couldn't muster up enough courage to." Tears started in her eyes, she looked up not only to stop the tearing, but so the little mascara she did wear wouldn't run.
He saw what she was doing and went to place his hand on hears when a little voice spoke up that made them both jump out of their seats.
"Mommy where are we?" It sounded so loud against the silent background noise. The older women didn't hesitate to answer.
"We are in Las Vegas sweetie." She picked up the little girl like she was a fragile doll, which to him was what she was. "Are you hungry or thirsty?"
"Yes." He didn't know which one she had answered to, but her mommy seemed to know the correct answer. She brought the Styrofoam cup and then reached for some of his fries.
"You don't mind do you?"
"No, go ahead" His appetite was no longer with him; he was just concentrating on the little girl that as of two minutes ago was his. He thought back to see if there was any signs that he may have missed. There was that week when she would get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom; he would hear her throw-up but he would be so tired that he would pass it off as maybe she had food poising. He didn't recall any mood swings that were suppose to be associated with pregnancy, but then again her mood was always changing, it was one of the little things that he found that he loved about her. The way that he could bring her out of one of her moods when she would get too involved with a case and shut the world out. He was pleased with himself that he and only he was able to bring her out of that state of mind, even if it was only an I'm fine" or a half-hearted smile that he loved so much.
Her voice and her hand upon his brought him back him back to reality. "You okay?"
"Yea, I'm just thinking. Were you pre...pregnant when you left?" He mentally slapped himself about how stupid that sounded. Of course she was pregnant when she left, how else the curly-head girl would be here now, looking at him.
He corrected himself, "What I meant was, did you know that you were pregnant when you left?"
They were looking at each other like they were the only ones there, when he noticed the flash of sadness in her eyes as she nodded. He then wondered if she would see the disappointment in his. The blue-eyed girl brought them both back to the diner when she pulled her mommy down to ear level to whisper something in her ear.
He continued to look back and forth between the two beautiful figures, wondering what could be occupying the little girls mind. He watched as her mommy looked up at him, then back at the little one next to her. A few more moments of conversations, the older women nodded.
She got out of the booth and quietly addressed him, "I'll be right back." Before he could say anything she had escaped to the restroom.
He looked dumbfounded, he laughed at himself then looked at the little girl who was now in his care, she had scooted over to the middle of the seat and as she sipped her milk, she just stared at him like she was looking into his soul. It scared him a little knowing that this girl sitting in front of him was his, not only his, but his and the women that he loved, who had left him, with nothing but a letter. Yet he still feel for her ever time she looked at him. This little girl was having the same effect on him; he was falling in love with his daughter .There he had said it, not out loud but to himself.
"What's your name?" his own voice scared him, he sounded like a giant talking.
"Jennifer Ann Grissom, what's yours?" he was shocked, she had kept his name, she had kept his name. A peace come over him, she, no they belonged to him, they were his and he was not going to let them get away again.
"My name is Gilbert Grissom." his heart wanted to say something along the lines of "I'm your dad, I deeply in love with your mom." But those thoughts were interrupted with a question that would have silenced the silence that surrounded the diner.
"Are you my daddy?"
TBC