Hey y'all. Thanks for all these reviews, I love all of you! This is PROBABLY the penultimate chapter of this story, I may do a sequel for the second year, what do youz think?

Anyways, quick update before bed.

Read. Enjoy. Review.

Chapter Forty Nine # I've Got What It Takes #

"Well? You must feel something?"

At the lack of response from the teenagers, Jenny Shepard sighed and turned to Russell.

"You suggested group therapy, but I really don't think this is helping." She hissed quietly, but Russell frowned.

As Jenny's office was only big enough for around five students, Jenny and Russell had met with Nick, Tali, Sara, Greg, Morgan, Warrick, Catherine, Archie, Ryan, Tony, Ethan and MJ in the music classroom afterschool.

"Can we just go?" Ryan complained. "Nothing is happening."

Russell looked at Greg. "You have a pretty diverse music taste, the lot of you."

They all shrugged.

"Why don't you come up here…" Russell held up microphone and a lead to a speaker. "If you plug your iPod in here, this speaker will tune out the words and you can sing about how you feel."

Everyone else in the room scoffed, Jenny included, but then Greg stood up. He walked slowly up onto the small stage, plugging in his iPod and taking the microphone.

The others sat, dumbstruck, as he began to sing.

"There are so many souls who don't follow their dreams

Ignoring their passions makes no sense to me

I could lie or waste time to follow the seasons

But I think I'd regret it, when I fall asleep.

I don't have superpowers, there's no magic spell

But I remain faithful for things to go well

I'm not looking for miracles, at least for today.

I know I've got what it takes."

With a deep breath, Sara stood up, joining him at the front.

"Well its hard when you start and its never at ease

The stars are so far but they'll always be seen

I can't pretend I just make things

With no rhyme or reason

But boy the work's worth it when I fall asleep."

Morgan joined them next, at the same time as Ethan and Tony.

"I don't have superpowers, there's no magic spell

But I remain faithful for things to go well

I'm not looking for miracles, at least for today.

I know I've got what it takes."

Tali, Ryan, Archie and MJ walked up, followed by Catherine, leaving Nick and Warrick alone at the bottom.

"There's no end in sight, so I'll take my time

Crossing the line

I'll keep holding on, keep singing this song."

Finally Nick and Warrick looked at each other. They fist pumped and stood up, singing as loud as they could without ruining the song.

"And if people don't like it, well it won't bother me

Failure's still something I feel I've achieved.

I won't forget their opinion, moving on isn't easy

But not doing things would be boring indeed.

I don't have superpowers, there's no magic spell

But I remain faithful for things to go well

I'm not looking for miracles, at least for today.

I know I've got what it takes."

Jenny was dumbstruck, Russell grinning from ear to ear.

"You know, I think I would have to agree with the lot of you. You definitely have what it takes."

They all smiled a little.

"You can go, for tonight." Jenny announced, smiling as Greg leapt off of the stage and out of the air of stifling depression.

"Milkshakes!" he declared.

"Cath, MJ, Ethan, you comin'?" Nick asked the non-regulars.

"Well my mom has kidnapped Lindsey and has taken her to see all of her friends so I'm up for it, sure." Catherine smiled.

"Why the hell not?" MJ asked, with the dismal excuse of a smile that had been all to grace her pretty face since La Tijreras kidnapped Nick and shot Ethan in response to her father putting away their leader.

"Well there goes my lift home. Guess I'm comin." Ethan grinned, wheeling his chair down the ramp and off of the little stage.

"I…I think I'll give it a miss today guys."

"Sara!" everyone moaned in disappointment.

"I'm sorry, guys, I just can't today."

"I'll drive you home." Tony offered with a smile.

"Thanks." She smiled wryly, shouldered her bag and headed for the door.

Tony followed, worry seeping into his mind.

As Sara waited for his leaning on the door of his car, he sighed.

"Sar, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." She shook her head, getting into the car.

"Sara-"

"I'm fine." Sara said, staring right ahead.

Tony sighed and put the keys into the ignition bringing his car safely out of the parking lot.

They drove in silence for about twenty minutes before Tony abruptly stopped the car.

"Talk to me."

"What'll happen next?" Sara's eyes remained straight ahead.

"What?" Tony frowned.

"You're going to Ohio State in less than three months, if that. What'll happen when you meet a gorgeous girl who's funny and smart…"

"Sara-"

"It's true, Tony, you know it is…"

"Well, there's a possibility that something like that might happen one day, but I'm not going to Ohio State in three months."

Sara turned with a frown. "What?"

"I'm going to Western Las Vegas University." Tony grinned sheepishly. "I was going to tell you on the last day of school, make it a surprise. I couldn't go to Ohio and leave you here when there are guys in the year below almost as hot as me… But you're too smart for that, I should just stop trying to surprise you, really."

Sara gave a hollow laugh. "You're kidding?"

"No, I'm not." Tony grinned, stroking the side of Sara's face. "I love you, so much. It's unreal…this isn't high school love."

"I love you." Sara half sobbed back.

"What's been wrong with you, Sara?" Tony asked, concerned.

She gave another laugh, just as hollow as before. "My foster family are going through hell, until five minutes ago I believed that my boyfriend was moving states, my mom's in prison, my dad's dead, my brother's… abandoned me."

Tony frowned. "What?"

"I haven't spoken to him since the night when…" she sniffed, wiping her eyes. "I called the police to ask where he was a few days later. He left the hospital, talked to his parole officer and left Vegas. Just like that. He's never coming back, Tony, he took a bus, and he hiked it to California. He didn't even tell me. I got a postcard today."

Tony took the little piece of cardboard in his hand.

Sara. In California, I'm safe. Sorry I didn't tell you. Had to get away. T.

"An-an-and that's all he wrote, the only contact I've had with him. There's no – "I hope that you're okay" not even a "love from". Just a T."

Tony thought for a moment. "I know he's your brother biologically, but you have better brothers than that bas… boy."

Sara looked at her boyfriend with a raised eyebrow.

"You have Nick and Ethan-"

"Foster brothers Tony-"

"You have Warrick and Greg, and Ryan and Archie. You have brothers Sara. Sisters, too."

"Not everyone thinks that, DiNozzo." She sniffed.

They stood up as Robbie's coffin was carried down the aisle. Sara squeezed Nick's hand comfortingly and he squeezed back.

A woman walked up to the Jillian and Bill. "Jilly, I am so sorry!"

As his mom hugged the woman Nick whispered in Sara's ear. "My Aunt Jaynee. Mom's sister."

Jaynee Bennett turned stopped hugging her family and stared at Sara.

"This is Sara." Nick explained.

"The foster child?" Jaynee frowned.

Jillian sighed at her sister's tone. "Yes, Jay."

"Well I understand why you took her in, you were always too kind for you own good, but Jillian your son just died. Your own flesh and blo-"

"I don't need reminding of that!" Jillian snapped.

"What I'm trying to say is, forgive me dear, I'm sure social services and even the girl would understand if you gave her back, Jillian."

"What did you just say?" Jillian whispered dangerously, beating her husband and children to a retort as Sara's face flamed bright red.

"Well do you even care how it looks, you're trying to replace Robert! And do you give a damn about how your kids feel abou-"

"We want Sara here." Ethan said, his tone just as dangerous as his mother's. "She was here before Robbie…she's going to stay."

Jaynee went red. "I'm sure 'Sara' doesn't want to be a burden-"

"Enough, Jaynee." May, Robert's widow's voice was soft but firm. "Sara isn't going anywhere."

"But everyone stuck up for you."

"Doesn't meant Jaynee doesn't have a pretty decent point. This isn't my family."

"Yes it is. Family runs deeper than blood. You belong here Sara, I promise."

"When you say that," Sara smiled. "I can almost believe it."

CSIVCSIVCSIV

She took a deep breath and opened the door.

A sheepish Eddie Willows smiled at her, holding up an envelope and a cake. "Peace offering?"

Catherine folded her arms. "Depends on what's in the envelope."

He sighed. "My mom helped me calculate how much it costs, year by year, to raise a child. And this is my contribution. Two thirds of the cost, for the first year. I can give you the rest as the years go on, but this is kinda a straight up."

Catherine took the envelope hesitantly

"Can I please see my baby? Please, Catherine?" as Eddie's eyes begged Catherine they reminded her of all reasons why she had dated him in the first place.

She took a deep breath. "Okay."

She led him into the living room where Lindsey was waking up with a spluttering cry. She picked up the spluttering baby, barely noticing the look of wonder and adoration on Eddie's face.

"She's beautiful." He whispered as Catherine rocked the baby gently.

Catherine passed the baby over to Eddie, sighing as Lindsey's crying ceased.

"Why's she called Lindsey?" Eddie asked curiously, his voice soft.

"My mom's sister was called Lindsay with an 'a', and we were really close. She got cancer a few years back and as she was dying, I told her that I would name my first child after her and she looked at me and said, 'Don't you dare, Catherine. You spell it with an 'e', it…'"

"Then what?" Eddie pressed gently.

A tear trailed miserably down Catherine's cheeks. "She started coughing…she was dead two minutes later."

"I'm sorry…" Eddie murmured, moving his eyes from his daughter to Catherine. "I really am."

She nodded and he took a step towards her but she held up her hand.

"No, Eddie. No."

"Catherine I made a mistake, I want-"

"No, Eddie, please. Please. Just hold our baby and then leave, please."

Eddie sighed, turning his eyes back to Lindsey.

When he left half an hour later, Catherine took a shaky breath.

"I love you so much, Catherine." Eddie murmured softly, tucking hair behind her ear.

He wanted her back.

A desperation took over her body and ran into her room, clutching her baby to her chest. She snatched up the phone and waited anxiously for the other end to pick up. She watched as Eddie walked away and then picked up his phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi…"

"Hey Cathy. You changed your mind, wanna got out tonight?"

"If I can get my mom to babysit, then hell yeah, I really, really do."

"That's great! You know what, my grandma could babysit."

"Really?"

"Sure."

"That's amazing! Eight o'clock?"

"Make it seven at the old place. I'm sure you'll need an early night."

"Okay." Catherine laughed.

"I'll see you then."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Thanks, Warrick."

CSIVCSIVCSIV

Morgan lay in Greg's arms on the soft grass in the park.

Just like a scene from any cheesy movie, the sun shone warmly on her face.

"Greg?"

"Yuh huh?"

"Are we too young, d'ya think?"

"Too young for what?"

"All of this. This year. This stuff we're going through. This… relationship."

"Nah. We got what it takes."

PLEASE tell me to continue/sequel or what?

I feel like the animation and energy are draining a little from this story and I'm letting y'all down, so sorry about that :(

Chapter Name and song come from Alex Day's new song, I've Got What It Takes. AWESOME SONG!