I'm so sorry for the wait, school work takes up more time than I'd like. If anyone's still reading please, please let me know. I'm not sure I like this chapter. If you've read any of my other stuff you know I like angst, so this story will get angstier (I know it's not a word!) but so far it's seemed too fluffy. It will get better I swear.

Please Read, Enjoy and please please please review?

Chapter Four # Surprise!#

"Russell, will you please tell me what this 'family meeting' is about? Please, you're killing me!"

"Jules, have a little patience."

"Patience? Patience? I'm not good with patience?"

"Oh really?"

"Ha ha."

"Hey guys." Morgan smiled as DB and Finn entered the break room.

"Morgan, will you please help me? I wanna know why there's a 'family meeting' - Russell won't tell me."

"You mean you don't know?"

"You do?" Finn's eyes bulged as she rounded on Russell. "Why am I the last to know?"

"Last to know what?" Hodges frowned, entering the room with Archie, Mandy, Henry, Al Robbins, David Phillips and Bobby Dawson - who was although now technically dayshift was invited because of his friendship with Greg and the other grave shift CSIs.

"All I can say is that you're all in for a hell of a surprise!" Morgan laughed, sitting down.

"Why?" Finn urged.

"Hi guys, sorry I'm a little late." Nick came into the break room carrying Kristy in a car seat. Her eyes were closed as she slept, showing the faint purple of her eyelids.

"Oh she's gorgeous!" Mandy cooed. "Who's this?"

"My...daughter." Nick smiled crookedly.

"What?" Half the room cried.

"Let him explain when Greg and Sara get here!" DB hushed them all with a slight smile. Sara and Eli arrived next with Brass and Hank in tow. The dog wore a special visitors' pass, and Eli's hand clutched the lead firmly.

Almost before Sara could introduce the small child most of them knew anyway, Greg came in with his son on his hip with a fairly old man with similar features to Greg and a familiar twinkle in his eyes.

"Hi everyone. Russell, this is my-"

"Papa Olaf." Sara, Nick and Archie grinned. Greg went slightly red and the old man laughed.

"Grandfather." Greg finished. "I brought him along, d'you mind, Russell?"

"No, no, course not!" Russell smiled. "DB Russell, pleased to meet you!"

"Olaf Hojem." The man smiled, shaking Russell's hand. Russell called everyone to attention and relayed everything he had heard the night before.

"The question now guys, is how we handle this."

"Grissom will be back in a week or so but he doesn't know about any of this. I was going to call but I got a voicemail telling me that his phone charger got stolen by monkeys-"

"You're kidding?" Greg blurted.

Sara gave him the glare. "It happens. So I won't be able to get in contact until he's in the airport."

"'Hi honey, how was your trip? Dinner'll be ready at six and by the way we have a five year old'." Sara threw a pen off the table and it hit Greg on the head, cutting off his high pitched imitation of Sara. "Hey, baby here!"

The boy gurgled and Greg turned on him.

"Don't side with her!"

"Don't worry Greg. My aim's better than yours."

"So anyway kids, what we need to figure out is things like paternity and maternity time, childcare, all that sorta stuff. Plus, if people are taking out time we'll be short staffed, but that doesn't mean we can't deal without you if necessary for a short while, we gotta do what we gotta do." DB finished with a nod.

"If any of you need childcare I'll be around for a while." Papa Olaf nodded.

"You sure?" Nick frowned.

The old man rolled his eyes. "Trust me, Greg's cousin's kids get up to even more trouble than he did and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays I look after ten of them. I can handle four." He grinned a grin so similar to Greg's that Nick had to believe him.

"My...sister is coming down for a week, she can help." He added, remembering the plan for a surprise.

"I know a CSI who might be able to help out." Hodges offered.

"Good, good." DB nodded.

Sara jumped as her phone buzzed. "Excuse me a second!"

She put Eli on the floor and he wrapped his hand around Nick's belt. Nick half smiled at him and picked him up as Sara left the room.

"Hello?"

"Guess who?"

"Gil!" Sara cried. "How did-"

"I thought I'd surprise you, I got an early fight. We wrapped up early."

"Oh my god!" Sara's mouth dropped open.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah..."

"Sara?"

"I'm glad you're back, Gil. I am. I just... We have a...situation."

"Situation? Is everyone okay?"

"Kinda..." Sara bit her lip.

"You're being very cryptic, Sara are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine...can you come straight to the lab?"

"Yes..." Grissom said hesitantly. "Why?"

"Our apartment's a crime scene and we're having a family meeting about something completely different."

"What!"

"It's okay, nothing's stolen or broken, apart from a few bullet holes in the wall."

"Oh god, Sara, what the hell happened?"

"I'll explain when you get here."

"I'm getting into a cab now."

Sara couldn't help but smile. "We're in the break room."

"I'll see you in five."

Sara walked back into the break room. "Grissom's on his way. He was gonna surprise me..."

"Now you're gonna surprise him." Nick laughed.

"Yeah..." Sara sighed.

"Ha! I knew there were no monkeys!" Greg laughed. His son made an irritated gurgling noise and hit Greg on the nose. "Ow!"

"Greg, I think you should name your son Karma." Sara smirked, taking Eli when he reached out to her.

"I say we pretend that this is what we do everyday when Grissom arrives." Greg announced. "Y'know, 'just another day at the office'."

"Who's the kid here?" Nick rolled his eyes.

"Me." Greg retorted.

"God bless those poor kids!" Mandy dramatically placed the back of her hand on her forehead.

"Haha." Greg said dryly. The door flew open and over half the room couldn't help the smiles spread across their faces as Gil Grissom stepped into the break room. His eyes widened at the sight of all the children.

"Wha...what..."

"Oh yeah, we made Grissom speechless!" Greg grinned.

Grissom half glared at Greg, but there was a fond tone lingering around it.

"Hi honey." Sara hugged Grissom tightly with one arm and he hugged her back as if in a daze. "Hi Eli." Eli waved at Grissom, dropping his head onto Sara's chest.

Grissom quickly embraced Nick, Brass, Al, Greg, David and to everyone's surprise Hodges, before shaking hands with Russell, Finn and Morgan.

"So, what the hell is going on here?"

Ten minutes later Grissom shook his head. "This is not what I expected."

Greg snorted. "Join the club."

Grissom just shook his head again. "Greg Sanders, a dad?"

"Superdad." Greg corrected.

Grissom shook his head a third time and turned to Eli. "So you're living with us for a bit, hey Eli." The boy nodded. Grissom pursed his lips. "Well, I'm not working at the moment, so..."

"Gil Grissom - the ultimate stay at home dad!" Nick announced with a smile.

Grissom just rolled his eyes.

"Um, now Griss is here, I'd like to say something." Greg said seriously. "My ex didn't even name these two, yet another reason I'm so glad I got custody, and I was wondering if you guys would help?"

"Sure." Nick, Sara, Morgan, Finn, Grissom and Russell automatically responded.

"Of course." Mandy scoffed, and Henry nodded. As soon as consent was given Greg smiled widely.

"Great. I was thinking of calling my daughter Low-ay-la, spelt Loeila. Lola for short."

"Well, it's gorgeous, unusual...fits in with your tastes and ideas. Well, some of them." Sara nodded.

"I like it." Grissom smiled, causing Greg's grin to widen.

"Then Maree, with two 'e's." Everyone nodded and Greg finished with "Hojem Sanders."

"Loeila Maree Hojem Sanders. I like it." Brass declared and general nodding flew round the room. It almost surprised Greg how much the detective's approval meant to him.

"Any ideas for the boy?" Nick grinned.

"I'm not sure. I know middle names..."

"What about Loki, after the God of mischief?" Sara smirked.

"How about Rudy?" Nick suggested. "Sound kinda Norwegianish."

Greg and his grandfather rolled their eyes.

"I like Reuben." Morgan added.

"I like Reuben." Henry nodded.

"So do I!" Greg declared. "Reuben Warrick Mark Hojem Sanders?" The room fell sadly quiet.

"Its a great name, Greg." Grissom said quietly.

"Magabahbah." The baby girl, Loeila said seriously.

"Baby likes the names." Eli said quietly.

"Do you like the names?" Greg asked Eli softly. Eli considered and nodded.

"Pretty names."

Greg smiled. "Thanks."

"After daddy?"

"What?"

"Reuben Warrick. After my daddy?"

Greg swallowed the lump in his throat. "Yeah. After your daddy."

"Okay."

Sara's phone buzzed again.

"Why, aren't we Little Miss Popular today!" Greg grinned.

She smirked and answered the phone. "Sidle."

"Sara, its Vartaan."

"Oh, Lou, hi. Did you figure out..."

"You're not going to believe this but they got the wrong town house. Thought you were his nanny, mixed up the address on the SatNav. I've checked it all out; their boss paid them two grand to kidnap a different kid as a prank to his father. They were shooting pea guns, thought you were in on it."

"Really?" Sara raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah. I thought it could be a trick but all the details pan out. You can go home now, Sara. I'll send you the case report if you like."

"Thanks."

"How's the little guy doing?"

"He's...well, he's okay considering."

"Poor fella. Let me know if there's anything I can do."

"Thanks so much, I will."

"No problem. Bye!"

"Bye." Sara hung up. "They got the wrong damn house. The people that tried to kidnap Eli got the wrong house. It was a prank, according to Vartaan they were using pea guns."

"Wow. Never heard that one before." DB raised his eyebrows.

"Bad men. Good dog." Eli said firmly.

"That's right, Eli." Sara smiled.

"Um, Griss?" Nick said softly. "I, uh...I was wondering, would you be her godfather?"

Grissom smiled. "I'd be honoured, Nicky."

Nick grinned and Greg cleared his throat.

"Speaking of godfathers... Its a Hojem family tradition for each kid to have five godparents."

"Five?" Nick's eyes bulged.

"Two godmothers, two godfathers and whoever the father owes the most money to." Papa Olaf explained.

"Oh." Nick frowned.

"Nick, Grissom, would you mind being Reuben's godfathers?"

"I'd love to, Greggo!" Nick grinned.

"So I take it I'm forgiven for the mildew experiment?" Grissom asked with a raised eyebrow trying to mask the pleasure on his face.

"Not quite." Greg grinned, and Grissom laughed slightly. "I was also wondering if Mandy and Catherine would be his godmothers."

"I'm in." Mandy nodded with a smile.

"I'll call Catherine later."

"So who'd you owe the most money to?" DB asked with a slight grin.

"Henry?"

"Me?" The lab tech asked. "Are you serious?"

"Of course." Greg scoffed.

"Then sure." Henry beamed.

"As for Loeila... Sara?"

"Do I even need to say it?"

"Yes."

"Then yes! And don't patronise me."

"And Morgan?"

"Me?" The blonde's eyes widened even more than Nick's.

Greg nodded solemnly. "You've been an absolute godsend since they...arrived."

"Do I get to teach her how to kick your butt?"

"Mm, okay."

"Then definitely."

"DB?"

The supervisor grinned at the baby girl. "How could I say no?"

"Archie?"

The A/V tech grinned. "No."

"What?"

"I'm kidding."

"Good, or else I'd have to kick your butt!"

"Greg! Language, small people!" Hodges gestured.

"And the person I owe the second most money to right now is Hodges."

Hodges looked shocked as Greg grinned at him. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I don't hate you anymore."

"Nice to know." Hodges murmured, his mouth hanging open.

"Did Greg just do what I think he did?" Morgan asked Mandy.

"Oh, I remember the days they were still hating each other across the hall." She mocked happily.

"Yes or no?" Greg raised his eyebrows.

"Yes." Hodges smiled slightly. "I gotta make a phone call!"

"Tell your mom I said hi!" Morgan called as he raced out of the room. A few minutes later he spoke quietly to DB.

"Okay guys. Thanks to Hodges I can give all three of you a week of paternity and maternity leave. Nick, Kristy's too young for just a week so take three or four if you need it."

"Thanks." Nick smiled slightly. "Is it weird that she's not really mine and I'm already in love with her?"

A chorus of 'no's surrounded the room.

CSIVCSIVCSIV

Eli followed the bold Hank back into the house, nervously pausing at the door. He turned back to look at Sara.

"Its okay. They're gone now, they won't come back."

He nodded and followed Hank to the large dog bed. Hank flopped down and Eli flopped down with him, resting his head on Hank's back. Hank moaned softly and sniffed Eli's head before dropping his head contentedly onto the bed.

Sara half smiled for a second before following Grissom into the bedroom. "So Tina's dead?"

"Yes."

"And half the lab are parents?"

"Yes."

"And you just said you'd take him in without even trying to call me?" Even after years of being married, Sara couldn't read Grissom's face.

"Well, I couldn't let him go into foster care, Gil! When I was there I...they..." She shook her head and he looked at her. "I couldn't let Warrick's son go through that. Not when there were people who would care for him. And I didn't have it that bad! I... I looked at him and I saw that boy, the one Greg found in the dumpster years ago, with Sofia and I just... He... I couldn't just... Gil..."

"Sara, I didn't say that you made the wrong decision. And I'm happy he's with us and not in care. I know you couldn't call. I'm sorry, in just a little jetlagged and shocked. I'm sorry, Sara."

She smiled sadly. "Its okay, I just... I'm exhausted. I finished a triple shift, picked up a traumatised child, I got about six hours of sleep, I got shot at, I just..."

"I know I wanted you to keep busy, but this..." Grissom let the light joke trail off and wrapped his arm around Sara, pulling her towards him. "Get some sleep. I'll look after Eli."

She looked at him. "You sure?"

He kissed her softly. "I'm sure."

"You're jetlagged."

"I could always run one more shift than you." He smiled slyly.

"Is that a competition?"

"Not now." Sara grinned gratefully.

"Sara!" Eli called, tiptoeing to the door.

"Yeah?" She sat up.

"Are you gonna leave again?"

Her heart thudded painfully. "No, Eli. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I was just bringing the groceries up. And I won't do it again."

His wide green eyes fell onto Grissom's and Grissom's mind flashed back.

"If I could have picked my own father, I would've picked him."

Warrick's eyes had passed down to Eli, just as Greg's had passed on to Reuben.

"...never knew your father?"

"That's why Eli has to know his."

Grissom swallowed as he thought of the video of Warrick talking about his son.

"Hey, Eli? Sara hasn't had any sleep for a while... How about you and I hang out? Just for a while. Sara'll be right in here."

"Okay..." Eli said, putting his thumb in his mouth again.

Sara gratefully headed towards the door to the en suite while Grissom took Eli into the living room.

Eli looked up at Grissom sadly. "What d'you wanna do?" Grissom asked. Eli shrugged. "I dunno."

He didn't sound like a whining child, more like a boy with no hope. No reason to play.

"Eli..."

"What?" He whispered when Grissom didn't speak.

"I'm...I'm really sorry about your mommy."

Eli's eyes filled with tears. "She left me. She just won't come back! Just like daddy."

"Listen to me." Grissom knelt down and put his hands on Eli's shoulders. "It's okay to be sad. To feel like you won't be happy for a long time. But your mommy didn't leave you on purpose and neither did your daddy. They both wanted to stay with you, so bad. But they couldn't."

"Why?" Eli asked, his voice breaking and his lip trembling.

"Why?"

"I don't know." Grissom shook his head.

"It's not fair!" Eli's lip trembled. "Why?"

"Because god said it was time to go."

"I want my mommy." Eli sobbed, falling into Grissom's arms.

"I know." Grissom shakily stood and Eli's legs wrapped tightly around Grissom's waist. His tiny body wracked with sobs, and he clung to Grissom. Grissom felt the pain of losing Warrick rise up within his chest once again.

He held the little boy tightly to himself, trying to sympathise with the tiny boy.

He would do right by Warrick. Look out for Eli.

"Its gonna be okay. One day you'll be okay."

Sara found them later that evening when she got up at the insistence of her protesting stomach. They were all asleep. Grissom lay on the couch with his back to the back; Eli was curled next to him, his arms wrapped around Grissom's neck like a lifeline. Hank was curled up on Grissom's feet, his head on Eli's lower leg. He was the only one to look up when Sara walked in. She pulled her dressing gown around her and walked over to them.

She kissed each of them on the head and turned out the light.

Note: Grissom may seem a little OCC, it's because he's now retired and because he's been on holiday and he's missed the team and blah blah blah. Catherine will come back next and someone else who's a surprise. Brownie points to anyone who can guess who (hint – Hodges...)

Please review. It's hard writing right now. :'(