Taking charge

Sara becomes the legal guardian of a young girl and shocks everyone one she asks Greg for his help. But when dark secretes come back to haunt her Sara nearly risks everything to protect her new life and her new relationships.

thank you for the reviews and hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm sorry if it sucks but i was half asleep at the time. thank you all for your kind reviews.
Chapter seven

Sara couldn't help the grin spreading across her face as she dressed her self. Outside her bedroom she could hear the giggles of Lotte and the chuckles of Greg Sanders. Both of whom where currently watching a DVD of Ice Age. She had laughed to herself when she heard Greg's impression of Sid.

Lotte and Greg were the first up and they went about making (albeit nosily) breakfast, what had woke Sara up was the cursing coming from Greg as he burnt himself then quickly assuring Lotte he hadn't swore. After the fifth time Greg burnt himself Sara got up, switching her alarm off she dragged her self out of the bed and shuffled to the door. The sight she found made her heart melt and brought a laugh to her lips. Lotte's red hair was falling into her face and the batter she was currently stirring. She was covered in flour and egg. But it was Greg that made Sara laugh out loud, his usual well groomed hair was sticking up at odd angles while flour cover his face. Egg and milk stained his shirt while one of his fingers was wrapped in paper towel. Both looked at her innocently but then smirked when she didn't stop laughing.

Greg mutter something about never cooking for a woman again while Lotte snickered and carried on stirring. It had taken a handful of pancake mix hitting her for her to stop laughing. She turned her gaze to Greg and she knew the look she was giving him now made him swallow and fear for his man hood. Lotte just giggled and almost fell off her stool once.

Sara grinned as she ran her hand through her wet hair… after Sara had grabbed the bowl Lotte was stirring there was no more pancakes on the menu. There was however pancake mix all over her kitchen wall and the two adults and a very amused child.

She had to be in work in an hour but she didn't want to go in, she wanted to spend her day with Lotte… and Greg. Though her friends had been there for her, where still there for her she couldn't help but feel closer to Greg. He had been amazing with Lotte; Sara still couldn't believe how much affection Greg had shown the young girl. How at ease he looked with her… sometimes Sara couldn't help the stray thought that she wanted to make it permanent. She wanted to tell Greg to stay with her and Lotte forever. But each time that thought crawled in, she would banish it… Greg was her friend and she loved him deeply but she wouldn't risk their friendship over what could be a simple crush.

A duet of laughter brought Sara back to the real world she checked herself and nodded before walking towards the bedroom door. She glanced around to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything when she saw it. The picture she had placed in both hers and Lotte's bedrooms. It was a picture of a younger Sara with her arms wrapped around a red head –Georgian- Sara's breath caught in her throat and she felt the tears prickle at her eyes. She hadn't forgotten about her lost friend, in fact she had put that picture there to remind herself of the promise she made to both mother and daughter. She was going to find Lucas and she was going to make him pay for what he did. One way or another she was going to make him pay.

Brushing away the stray few tears she stepped out and headed towards the living room seeing both Greg and Lotte on the couch. Greg was sprawled out in near enough the same position she had found him that morning while Lotte sat as close as she could to the TV while preaching on the couch.

Sara looked up and saw a Sloth currently in the teeth of a sabre-tooth. Sara watched as both of the two watched people laughed. Despite still being a kid at heart Greg had become the sweetest guy she had ever known. Not to mention sexy… even before his transformation to CSI he was cute. Sara had remembered three months ago on the day she had lost her friend and gained a new family member how sexy Greg had looked. Hormones weren't her problem… at least not those hormones.

Greg titled his head back slightly and saw Sara, he gave her a lazy smile and nudged Lotte with his foot causing the young girl to spin round and grin at Sara. Then Lotte glanced at Greg and nudged him, he looked at her and frowned.

"Now" she questioned and her answer was an eager nod from Greg who sat up to watch Lotte better. Sara was confused until Lotte jumped up and lent over the back of the couch. Her eyes going wide and softening, her lower lip stuck out and threaded her fingers together to beg Sara

"Please……… please pretty please don't go" Lotte said in a pitiful voice that made Sara grinned. She looked at Greg who was grinning proudly before looking at Sara "I taught her that" Greg declared as though he had just won the Nobel Prize. Sara shook her head and walked over to Lotte taking the girls face in her hands, she kissed her on her forehead before looking down at her.

"I'm sorry but I really have to go to work… then tomorrow I'm all yours I promise" Sara declared as Lotte attempted to keep the pout but it was softening.

"But why… uncle Greg said he would take me to the video store and then get some of his DVDs… it's no fun if your not here" Lotte beseeched causing Sara to sigh and stroke the girls hair. She wanted so much to give in to her… Sara's childhood had been crap but Lotte's was by far the worst. But she was resolved and knew they would both enjoy their day tomorrow. She had two days off and she intended to enjoy her weekend with Lotte.

"I have to work because I like buying you things… things like pancake mix that you and uncle Greg can throw at me" Sara said with an arch of her eyebrow. The pout vanished as Lotte grinned and ducked down. Sara had won that battle but she knew leaving Lotte alone with Greg was going to mean a lot of pouting.

"Now I have to go… be good, no junk food and not too late to bed please" Sara ordered as Lotte nodded then turned and watched the movie once more. Sara quickly bent over the girl and kissed her firmly on the head. Sara turned to Greg who had been watching the pair, her breath caught when she saw the smile playing across his face. She couldn't help but smirk at his mischievous grin.

He was leaning back against the armrest with his arms folded and a twinkle to his eyes "so do I get a kiss too" he flirted as Sara pursed her lips and folded her arms she chose to ignore that remark… at least for the moment.

"Be good, no junk food and don't let her stay up" Sara ordered as Greg sighed and nodded, Sara knew him too well to allow it to go that quickly "Greg" her tone low and threatening. Greg turned his hazel eyes to her and pulled his best innocent boy look he had. Throwing his hands up in defeat he grinned "ok… ok I promise" he agreed causing Sara to laugh before she headed to the dinner table she snatched up her bag and keys before looking back at the pair.

The thought hit once more… it wasn't the first time she had watched Lotte and Greg and realised that she loved them both. Lotte like a daughter and Greg… well she loved being with Greg, talking with him, laughing, eating…and as of last night (or morning) she liked him sleeping in her bed, she blushed when she remembered the feeling of his fingers drawing lazy circles on her hip, she had pretended to be asleep not wanting him to stop.

"thanks again Greg for babysitting… you sure you don't mind I mean tomorrow afternoon you'll be able to get some peace and quite at your own place" Sara stated as Greg shook his head but still watched the movie.

"I don't mind Sara… I love hanging with Lotte. Plus it gives me a chance to snoop and look for your diary" Greg joked causing Sara to shake her head before she licked her lips. If Greg wanted to flirt she could give just as good as him. Sara strode over to him and quickly bent down and kissed him firmly on the cheek…at least she had intended the cheek but she moved too much forward and caught the corner of his lips. She pulled away before Greg could jump with surprise his eyes turning to her quickly "be good Greg" she said in a husky tone. Greg blinked and with that Sara stood and walked towards the door offering a last goodbye over her shoulder.

She was still smiling as she headed into the crime lab; she only briefly nodded to Judy. The feeling of both Greg's fingers on her and the small taste she got from his lips ran around her head. She didn't even notice Catherine calling to her, she finally snapped out her dream world when Catherine grabbed her arm and took deep breaths.

"Damn it… wherever you were you speed walk" the older woman declared causing Sara to blush "sorry… thinking" Sara admitted as the two women walked together. Catherine simply raised an eyebrow and smirked but said nothing more.

"well two things I need to talk to you about; firstly do you and Lotte want to join me and Lindsey for a girlie day out on Sunday" Catherine questioned causing Sara to think. She had wanted to spend time with Lotte on her own… though agreeing that Greg could stop by was not exactly on her own. Sara looked at Catherine and smiled "I would love to but… but it's kinder my week end off and I wanted to get some things done. So me and Lotte will hang around the apartment" Sara told her, it was the truth. Apart from the fact that Greg was also joining them. But Catherine's face still lit up "well then how about Lotte join us… and if you write down the name of her school I can get Lindsey to drop her off… Lindsey just adores Lotte not that she would admit to it being as she's a teenager and I'm just her mom" Catherine told her as they turned a corner and headed to the break room and locker room "I don't know…" "look you can spend all day tomorrow with her and most of Sunday morning with her… the girls will love it and it gives you time to yourself. Believe your going to be missing that soon" Catherine said lightly stopping outside the break room. Sara couldn't help the smile as she thought how better she and Catherine were getting on now both had young girls to care for.

Sara groaned when Catherine gave her a pleading look with a large grin. two people have used that look on her that day, but instead of saying no Sara found herself nodding at Catherine "ok, but if I phone her school on Monday she had better be on time" Sara ordered as Catherine nodded holding a hand to her heart "cross my heart and hope to dye my hair blue" she declared causing Sara to laugh out loud.

Giving Catherine a look she now knew where Lotte had got that saying from. Shaking her head Sara went to walk to the locker room but stopped and looked back to Catherine "hey what's the second thing" Sara questioned causing Catherine to look at her then groan "wear your jump suit and some boots… we have to head back out to the mudslide, Grissom has a feeling" Catherine declared before she turned back into the break room and Sara muttered to her self wishing she had brought a change of clothes.

Grissom was oblivious to the looks… well he would be seeing as he had taken the time and care not to step in any loose patches of mud. However Sara and Catherine were ordered to search for some new evidences and wasn't as forewarned as Grissom to mind their steps. So both women now stalked into the lab covered in mud and anything else that decided to stick to them and both shared the same thunderous look towards a certain doctor who was walking before them.

"I say we go make our own mud" Catherine hissed to Sara whilst trying to get another piece of mud from behind her ear. Sara just smiled as they stood at the reception desk and began to collect their messages. Sara was about to offer her own idea when something caught her eye. A lone figure out side the crime lab, standing watching them and at first Sara didn't recognize the man, his dark blonde hair cut short and his deep grey eyes twinkling. He would have been handsome was it not for the smirk the pompous way he held himself.

She was aware that Catherine was still talking to her but she couldn't answer she couldn't look away from the man… she knew him. Then he winked and Sara's blood went cold… her body shuddered and she found herself bolting towards the entrance, pushing past officers and slamming the doors open. Cool fresh air hit her face and she found she couldn't breath, everything was too obnoxious and suffocating, she was growing dizzy as she looked around her feverishly. The man was gone as though he was never there, but she had seen him… he had winked at her. Sara almost screamed when a hand touched her shoulder and she whirled round to find her self face to face with Grissom. His hand still resting on her shoulder with Catherine standing behind him… and most of the crime lab staring at her.

"Sara" Grissom questioned as Sara took shuddering breaths, then she felt even more cold in fact she was freezing and it had nothing to do with the weather. Her blood was running cold; her heart a jackhammer at the moment and images of a broken body filled her head.

"Lucas" was all she could mutter causing Grissom to frown with concern and she allowed him to lead her back into the crime lab… throwing one last look over her shoulder seeing a small car departing from the car park but she didn't see the driver.

Sara took the offered coffee before Catherine sat beside her on the bench in the locker room. Grissom sat on her other side after leading her to somewhere private to ask what happened. "Thanks" Sara offered but was intent on remembering ever detail about her best friend's murder.

Sadly she knew so little about him, truth was she only knew what the files told about him having met him a handful times. She knew he was indifferent sometimes… and a lousy drunk, the reception held for after the wedding proved that when she was sure his flirting and dirty manner was all because of the drink and the enjoyment of being happy. However she knew different…when people close to you who drink and act badly you convince yourself that it's the drink and that deep down they were kind and wonderful people… and sometimes that is true but mostly not.

"Sara what happened" Grissom questioned finally breaking the silence, causing Sara to take a deep breath and focused on her coffee held tightly in her hands "Lucas Keats… he was married to Georgian…"Sara trailed off hoping her supervisor would understand what she was saying with out her having to say it but he frowned at her "he's Lotte's father…I saw him" Sara told him as Grissom glanced over at Catherine who was already mentally ordered Brass to get as many officers as he could to search for the guy.

"Outside" Grissom asked as Sara closed her eyes and dropped her head, had she seen him… outside. She was sure she had but when she arrived out side he wasn't there. But she knew what she saw so she nodded not looking up "yes… he was standing out side… it was him I know it was… I know his face anywhere" Sara declared as Grissom placed a hand on her back. It was a surprise to have Grissom shows any affection so openly in front of anyone else. But Sara wasn't interested in Grissom out of characterness, it was the face now etched into her mind. Lucas Keats was still out there and it was only going to be a matter of time before he came back for his daughter.

"I'm going to call Brass… tell Nick and Warrick to open the case again" Catherine ordered standing up and hurried from the room. Sara still didn't lift her head however she did open her eyes in shock when Grissom wrapped an arm around her and pushed her against him. He placed a hand against her head and held it against his chest.

This was something she had wanted… he was what she wanted for such a long time. But Sara had discovered, shortly after adopting Lotte that it wasn't just about her anymore… Sara had discovered that even though she would always love Grissom she couldn't be in love with him anymore, any man she ever thought about brining back to their home would have to be good for Lotte too… Grissom though a caring and good person wasn't the right person for Lotte. Lotte needed someone who was outgoing, open with their feelings and most of all made her laugh… Sara bit her lip when she pictured Greg. She screwed her eyes shut when tears welled up.

"Sara we're going to get him, I promise… the evidence never lies and karma never forgets" Grissom told her as Sara sighed. She could only half believe him, it was true the evidence never lies but karma… well sometimes it just sucked. Sara took a deep breath and pulled back avoiding Grissom's eyes; she placed the coffee down and stood up "Grissom… I… I just want to be with Lotte right now. Make sure she's ok" Sara stated as Grissom thought then nodded "of course… go, even though she's probably fine. The baby sitter no doubt has her worn out by now" Grissom said lightly with a raise of his eyebrows. Sara smiled before she headed to her locker and opened it. She grabbed her stuff and looked at Grissom finally wanting to say something but nothing came to her mind so she clamped her mouth shut and hurried out of the room.

chapter eight being worked on as i type or you read don't know which one.