Chapter 9

Back in Vegas, it had turned out to be quite a struggle for Grissom, to find a replacement for Sara. In the three weeks she'd been gone, they had already tried three different people, but none of them had been even remotely close to fill out the position she had left behind.

For rest of the team it meant a lot more work, they had always known that Sara worked a lot, but it wasn't until she had left they realized exactly how much.

Greg was missing her terrible even if they wrote together, but the one falling apart, was a young blonde Detective. Everyone had notice that the detective had changed, her smile had disappeared she was pale and looked tired and had lost weight.

Brass was really getting worried, he had repeatedly tried to talk to her, but he had not managed to get though to her, even the threat of ending up behind a desk had not made any difference.

Greg had managed to lure her out for breakfast a couple of times, they had talked a bit, but the minute Sara had been mentioned the detective had shut down. Greg was maybe young but he wasn't stupid, and slowly he began putting the pieces together, it didn't take him long to figuring out what was tearing her apart, no… the problem was getting her to talk about it.

It was Sofia's day off, and she was on her way to her mother's house for dinner. Her brother Matt and his family would also be there. Sofia and Matt had always been close, but they both lived a busy life, which meant they didn't saw each other as often as they wanted to, so Sofia was looking forward to spend some time with him.

Captain Curtis was looking forward to have both her kids' home at the same time; it was gradually too rarely it happened anymore. Matt busy with his political careers and Sofia well on track to follow in the Captains own footsteps, no doubt, Captain Curtis was very proud of her children.

The Captain was sometimes wondering if it had been a mistake to encourage Sofia to join the police force, not that she wasn't doing a great job, but the job often meant long working hours and not much of a social life. She knew all too well how hard it could be, to find someone willing to understand and accept that kind of work, and the last thing she wanted was for her daughter to end up spending her life alone.

The Captain couldn't remember the last time, she had heard Sofia mentioned going out on a date, but she still hoped that one day her daughter would get married, and maybe get some children on her own.

When Sofia walked into the living room at her mother's house, the Captain almost stopped breathing; she hadn't seen her daughter for about a month.

But what the hell have happened in that month!

The Captain could barely stand looking at this shadow that used to be her daughter, but she knew better than to say anything, now would not be the time confronting Sofia, it would only ruin the rest of the day.

Matt on the other hand, had never been afraid of confronting his sister whenever he felt something was wrong, and something was indeed wrong, he couldn't remember Sofia ever looking like this, not even when their dad had passed away. But with two kids running around wanting to play with their aunt, this wasn't the place, so it would have to wait to after dinner, so he could talk to her alone.

"Glad you could make it Sofia," the Captain said, "there is way too much crime in Vegas; I don't get to see you enough!"

Sofa smiled at her mom's word, "happy to be here. Hey Matt, long times no seeing, how have you been?"

"Busy like always, but fine… you?" Matt asked in a friendly manner.

"Fine, but like mom said, there is too much crime and too little time" she said with a sigh.

Sofia was soon crawling around on the floor with her two nephews, and before long, they were called to the dinner table. When they were finish with dinner, Matt suggested Sofia to take a walk with him, Sofia agreed and they walked over to a park nearby.

"So, how is policy?" Sofia asked brightly.

"Sometimes dirty but mostly I like it. What about you, still love being a detective?"

"Yeah, can't picture me doing anything else, it was fun being a CSI, but this is what I wanted all my life."

"I know, so what I don't get is, what are making you so unhappy?"

Sofia gave him a hint of a smile, before scanning the locations. "I'm not unhappy just tired, I have worked a lot lately" Sofia sighed.

"Sof, it's me Matt your brother, so don't give me that bullshit, I know you as well as I know myself, and something is definitely not right. You can lie to yourself all that you want, but please don't do it to me. I can see, something is tearing you apart, and I really would like to know what it is, how else can I help you?" He asked softly.

Sofia didn't answer immediately. "Okay, so maybe everything isn't great, but it's not something you can help with. Matt, I really don't wanna talk about it; it's not that important, anyway," Sofia got up.

But Matt knew his sister, and before she could take a step he had forced her to sit back down. "Well, if it's not that big of a deal, it shouldn't be such a big problem to tell me, now should it?"

"Matt, you don't understand, I really don't wanna go there; can't you just trust me, and let me deal with it in my own way?" Sofia said, her voice cracking with emotion.

"Your right Sof, I don't understand! You and I have always been able to tell each other everything, but these days are apparently over. I just don't get what can be so terrible, that you don't feel you can tell me, you know I would never judge you" he stated.

"Matt, it's not that I don't trust you, you know I do, it's just…" she repeated softly, dropping her hands to her side, she didn't know what to say.

How can I tell him…?

"It's just what Sofia?" Matt was thinking hard, he knew it wasn't her job, so it had to be something personally.

"Uh maybe… I think… I found out…" Sofia stuttered.

Matt couldn't help the little smile in the corner of his mouth, finally it all made sense. For at least ten years, Matt had suspected that Sofia was gay, but he had always feared the day when she found out herself, knowing, that she probably wouldn't handle it very well, looked like he was right. "So you're gay!" Matt said laughing.

Sofia's entire body went rigid, "Matthew John Curtis, that's not funny!"

"Yes it is," Matt couldn't stop laughing, "You're chasing bad guys with guns every day without being afraid, but a little thing like this have you totally freaking out."

Sofia could hardly believe her own ears, "How can you call this, a little thing?"

"Because it is, the world as we know it will not come to an end, just because you like a girl. So who is she, and when do I get to meet her?" Matt teased with an eyebrow wiggle.

"There isn't anyone, and there isn't going to be anyone, I just can't do it!" She answered automatically, giving her head a shake. Her mouth started to open, but she gave her head another shake without speaking.

Matt frowned, ignoring his sister's hurtful look, "why not?"

Sofia kept staring at him, her eyes opening wide in disbelief as her head tilted to one side. "Why not..? How can I?" She cried out, "It will destroy your and mom's careers, how am I supposed to live with what? And I don't think mom would ever speak to me again if she knew, or forgive me for not giving her grandchildren."

Matt just looked at Sofia for a very long time before speaking. "Do you really think my career is more imported than your happiness? If I can't be a good politician because my sister is gay, well, then they don't deserve me, anyway. I don't know about mom, maybe she is going to freak out, but eventually she will come around. And I can't see what it can do to her career, she's already were she want to be, and she is a pretty tough lady, I don't think anyone are going to give her, any crap." He looked thoughtful at her. "What about your own work colleagues, will they be able to handle it without giving you any shit?"

"Yeah, they are pretty cool people, but please don't tell mom! I don't think I'm ready to face her, just yet." She replied after a stunned moment of silence, her head shaking slightly.

"I won't, ready to go back; before they start thinking we're missing?" Matt grinned.

"Yeah guess so" she said, glancing up in time to see Matt's smug glare.

They got up, and started walking back, to the house.

Sara was really starting to get restless, three weeks without working was almost more than she could handle. She had been out hiking and rock climbing with Helen, and out surfing with Brian, but work was what Sidle did, so maybe, it was about time finding something to do. But it wouldn't be today, Brian had persuaded her to go on a picnic with him, but he wouldn't tell her were, just it was some place she'd always enjoyed coming. After half an hour of driving, Sara still hadn't any idea of where they were going.

"So, are you going to tell me, where we are going?" Sara quipped.

"Nope, you'll just have to wait and see," Brian chuckled.

After another fifteen minutes they finally reached their destination.

"Berkley," Sara laughed, "You're taking me back to school?"

"Yep," Brian said, "Thought we could have a picnic down at the Greek Theatre, you always loved to spend your free time there."

Sara couldn't argue against that, she had spent a lot of time reading there. "Let's go then, I'm starving I didn't get any breakfast."

While eating, Brian kept looking at Sara; it finally started annoying her.

"What?" She growled.

"I was just wondering, what happened with you and your lovely detective?" Brian asked warily, looking at her suspiciously.

Sara looked up, "Nothing!"

"Dah.., I kind of figured that much out on my own, why not?" Brian's eyes danced with mirth as he leaned back on the grass.

"How the hell should I know?" Sara said fiercely, "It's not like she ever gave me any explanation, she simply just avoided me."

Brian was about to ask another question, when they was interrupted.

"Sara Sidle, my favorite student! When did you come back to Frisco? I thought you were in Vegas?"

"Professor Goldsmith, how are you?" Sara asked cocking her head upwards.

"I'm fine Sara; I can see you and Brian are still friends, what's nice."

"Yeah well, we won't be for long, if he keeps prying into my private life," Sara insisted, as she pulled herself up to her full height.

The professor smiled, "So, how long are you going to be in town?"

"I'm not sure, but at least for a couple more months," Sara replied with a smile.

"How would you feel about, a four weeks teaching job here at Berkley?"

"Me teach? Oh no, I don't think so, that's not for me!" Sara replied, giving Brian a warning glare as he tried to hold in his laughter.

"You did it back when you were a student, so why not?" She said looking at her in confusion. "Look, we really need someone who knows science, please come by my office tomorrow and at least hear some more about the job, before you say no."

"Of course she'll come by, even if it means I'll have to bring her myself, what time?" Brian exclaimed, getting to his feet and wrapping his arm around Sara's shoulders.

"Tomorrow around 3pm" Goldsmith retorted.

"Fine, we'll be here," Brian promised.

"See you tomorrow then," the professor said walking away.

Sara turned to Brian angry as hell. "What the hell are you thinking? I don't know shit about teaching, there's no way in hell I'm going to show up, tomorrow."

Brian was laughing so hard he barely could speak, "Well, teacher Sidle, I think you should start thinking about your language, you can't talk to kids like that."

Before Brian knew what had happen, he was lying on the grass with a very fierce Sara on top of him, trying to strangle him, but eventually her temper cooled off.

"Brian this is really a bad idea!"

"Why? You have been an A student all your life, I don't think you can find ten people in the entire country who knows more about science than you do, so sorry sweetie, but I don't see the problem."

"You don't? First of all, I don't know anything about teaching, second, I don't think, I'll even like teaching, you know I'm not known for my big patience!"

"Look, go talk to Professor Goldsmith and hear her out, then make your decision, it's not like you have agreed to anything, yet." Brian insisted.

"Okay, but only because you already have promised her, I'll be there." Sara said, shrugging as she held a bottle of water to him.

Sara went back to Berkley the next day to talk to Goldsmith. It took the professor a very long conversation to convince Sara that she would be the right one for the job, but Sara had finally said yes. On her way home, Sara was still shocked about, that the professor had managed to talk her into taking a teacher position. When Sara got home she wrote a text message to Brian.

I hate you for making me go.

Brian just smiled when he read it, he knew Sara had accepted.

The whole CSI team Brass and Curtis was gathered in the break room waiting for Grissom to show up, Greg was talking with Sofia, Warrick was teasing Nick about his latest date, and Catherine and Brass was discussing a case.

Grissom entered the room, "People, can I get your attention please?"

Everyone, stopped talking, and looked at Grissom.

"I just got off the phone with the undersheriff, seems he got his eyes on us for the moment, and to say the least, he is not happy about our solve rating is dropping, especially not since it's an election year!"

"Well, maybe he should start making some city improvements, to bring down the crime," Nick snorted.

"Did you tell him, we're one hand short?" Warrick asked.

"Yes I did, and Nick cut it out it won't do us any good. I know everyone is working under pressure, and it's not a criticism of your work, just have in mind that we're under the microscope," he stated emphatically. "Oh, before I forget it, Sara sent her regards. I talked to her earlier today, it seems she'd been employed as a teacher at Berkley, so I don't think; she is coming back, anytime soon.

"Have you found someone, to take her place?" Catherine wanted to know.

"No, not much luck in that department, she isn't the easiest person to replace" Grissom said patiently.

"How hard can it be?" She muttered, crossing her arms defiantly.

Grissom choose to ignore Catherine remark, "people, we have a job to do, so let's go."

It was Sara's last day at Berkley, she couldn't believe that four weeks already had gone, or that she'd actually had ended up loving teaching.

Professor Goldsmith on the other hand wasn't surprised at all. She had always known that Sara would be a great teacher, and Sara hadn't proved her wrong.

Sara went over to Goldsmith after the last class to say goodbye, and then she headed home to get ready to participate in Brian's garden party.

Tbc…