'Hey Sara. You've got a visitor.' A passing lab tech said sticking their head through the door to the communal area

'Really?' Sara said confused 'I'm not expecting anyone'

'I found her wandering the halls'

'Have you got a secret girlfriend you haven't told us about?' Greg joked

'Hilarious. Send them on through please Tara.' Tara nodded and seconds later a girl in her late teens walked in

'Oh My God. Elliott?' Sara gaped

'Hey Mama' everyone's jaws dropped 'I need your help.'

'Of course. What's wrong? Why aren't you back home in San Francisco?' Sara asked still in shock

'I ran away. Can I stay with you Mama? Please? I'll sleep on the couch and get a job to help with rent. I'll cook and clean and shop. Please say yes.' Elliott begged eyes filling with tears

'Whoa. You know I'd love for you to live with me but you can't just do that. Why'd you run away? Your Mum'll be worried about you.' Sara said hugging Elliott

'Mum's got a new boyfriend. Keith his name is, he's not a nice man. I think I've told you about him already?'

'In passing. You didn't seem to mind him then.'

'I didn't then. It's since then he's become horrible. He hits me and kicks me and calls me names. Oh it all sounds so stupid out loud.' She cringed

'It doesn't sound stupid Elliott. You shouldn't have to live with that. Have you told your mother?'

'She doesn't believe me. As far as she's concerned the universe revolves around him.'

'That doesn't sound like the Alex I know.' Sara said concerned

'I know but he's changed her. He's threatened to rape me several times now and I can't stand living there anymore.' Elliott admitted

'I understand. You can stay with me for a while as long as your mother agrees ok?' Sara compromised

'I'm 17.I can live where I like surely?' Elliott said defiantly

'I know but she's still responsible for you.'

'She probably hasn't even noticed I'm gone.'

'Now I'm sure that's not true.'

'Why don't you find out right now? Phone her.' She challenged

'Ok. Hey Alex it's Sara. Ok. Uh just so you know Elliott's safe. She's with me. No she's not. Alex she's sitting in front of me-I can assure you she is not in her room. Told you. She told me about the abuse from Keith.' Sara winced as Alex started shouting down the phone at her 'don't say that. Alex that's our daughter you're talking about-how can you call her those things? Maybe I will. Fine. So be it. I'll get him to call you.' Sara hung up

'I told you she didn't even notice I'd gone. So can I stay with you?' Elliott asked hopefully

'It looks like you'll be staying indefinitely.'

'Thank you Mama.'

'I'm not having you go back to that. You deserve much better. Now I don't expect you to contribute to the rent and if you managed to cook or clean I think I'd keel over from shock.' Sara grinned 'you are not going to sleep on the sofa. You're my daughter so act like it. Play your music too loud; leave your rubbish all over the apartment. Give me a heart attack but coming home really late. Just be yourself. I love you just like that.'

'I love you too Mama. Thank you.' They hugged 'uh Mama. Your friends are staring at us weirdly. You never did get around to telling them about me did you?' She laughed

'No. I wanted to keep you safe.'

'You should probably explain before their jaws dislocate.'

'Yeah. Guys this is my daughter Elliott. Elliott this is Warrick, Nick, Catherine, Greg, Grissom, Brass, Ray, Hodges, Wendy, Mandy, Henry and Doc Robbins.'

'Hi.' Elliott laughed at their still shocked nick managed to splutter out

'Daughter? I didn't know you had a daughter.'

'Technically she's unofficially my step daughter.' Sara admitted smiling

'What?'

'My ex girlfriend Alex is Elliott's mother. We went out for 9yrs from when Elliott was 1 till she was 10 and so was a 2nd mother to Elliott. It wasn't official as gay marriage wasn't legal then in California.'

'Ah.'

'How old are you Elliott?' Catherine asked

'17 ma'am'

'Call me Catherine. My daughter Lindsey is 17 too. If you ever need a guide to teenage life in Vegas I'm sure she'd be willing to help.' She offered

'Thanks.'

'Elliott and Lindsey would make a dangerous combination.' Sara laughed 'They're much too alike.'

'Sounds fun to me' Elliott grinned

'Oh good god' Sara groaned. They all laughed

'Sara, it's a slow night. Why don't you take Elliott home and get her settled in. I'll call you if we need you.' Grissom offered

'Thanks Grissom. Come on Elliott.'

'See you guys.' Elliott grinned 'I have no doubt I'll be seeing a lot of you.'

'It was nice meeting you Elliott.'

'And you. I so have to tell you all of Mama's embarrassing secrets. I'm sure she hasn't told you any of them Elliott grinned and I know some amazing stories.'

'I get the feeling we're going to get along very well.' Nick grinned

'Samantha Elliott Beverly Griffin come on.' Sara said

'She only full names me when she's embarrassed.' ELLIOTT GRINNED 'coming mother.' She kissed Sara on the cheek before skipping past her

'Bye guys.' Sara called as she left

'Well I didn't see that coming when I woke up this morning.' Greg laughed

'Poor Elliott. Her mother doesn't sound like a very nice person. I can't believe Sara would go out with someone like that for so long. You know how she gets with domestic abuse cases.' Catherine mused

'They both said she's changed since she met this Keith guy.'

'I guess.'

'I just hope this ends well. They both need happiness from what I can tell.'

'Ah home sweet home.' Elliott grinned as she entered Sara's apartment 'are you sure you don't mind me staying here?'

'Of course not. And you're not staying here. You live here.' Sara clarified

'I love you Mama. Thank you.'

'You're welcome kid.' They hugged

'Why don't you dump your stuff in the bedroom? Take a nap. Running away from home must be tiring.'

.'I'm not that tired honestly. What ARE we going to do about sleeping? The couch isn't really a long term option is it?' Elliott admitted

'No. We'll clear out the store room. It isn't the largest room but it'll be satisfactory for me. Until then I'll take the couch. No arguments.'

'But-'

'No arguments.' Sara laughed

'I love you, you wonderful woman. I couldn't ask for a better Mama.' Elliott flung her arms around Sara in a bear hug

'And I couldn't ask for a better daughter'

'No. You couldn't. I have a question.'

'Yes?'

'Why haven't we ever used the store room before when I've visited?'

'You never stayed long enough. I can cope with the sofa for short periods of times.'

'You keep your room. I'll sleep on the sofa.' Elliott offered

'No. God you're persistent. It's your room now.'

'Compromise. I have it until the store room is cleared out and then I take the store room as my room?'

'It's not very large.' Sara warned

'All I've got is a holdall of stuff.'

'For now. We'll have to go back to Frisco and collect your stuff.'

'Mom wouldn't let me have much. Made me sell it to contribute towards rent as most of the rent money went towards booze and smack.'

'Oh Elliott. I'm so sorry.'

'What I brought with me is everything important to me. I kept it hidden under my floorboards. I'd only give some of the money to Mom. The rest I saved up to get here. I'm sorry I didn't give you any warning.' Elliott apologised

'It's ok. But you're home now. Wait. Shouldn't you be in school?' Sara realised

'It's the summer holidays Mama.'

'Of course it is. My brain failed me temporarily.'

'Oh I've missed you so much Mama. You and your surprisingly scatty mind. How you survive in your job I'll never know.'

'Right back at ya kiddo. I love you.' They hugged again 'Now, the most important next step after running away from home is to find the Ben & Jerry's and watch a movie. That sound ok to you?.'

'Yes! I knew there was a reason I loved you.'