Returning Home Chapter 3, a csi fanfic

Chapter 3

Sunday May 9th, 2010
1516 La Porte Court
Henderson, Nevada
7:15 a.m.

"Alright, breakfast time!" Greg announced with a grin as he rubbed his hands together eagerly once everyone was in the dining room of the house Grissom, Catherine, and Nick determined to be Sara's.

"Dingbat!" Sara and Liz spoke as they walked past him, and smacked the back of his head.

"Big deal about breakfast?" Nick asked confused.

"Very. Once a week we all get together for breakfast. And once a week we all get together for dinner. Girls do breakfast, guys do dinner," Archie explained as he took a seat at the table.

"Mostly because Sara's the breakfast queen thanks to her family having that dang Bed and Breakfast," Greg added.

"I see,." Nick nodded.

"Yup. Cath, you're exempt as you're a guest," Sara continued as she walked by once more on her way to the kitchen next to the dining room. Everything was open, so it was nothing to be able to see the women gathering in the kitchen. Sara began pulling things out of the fridge and handing them to Mia, who passed them to Liz. Jacqui was pulling out pans, before Liz turned to gather knives, cutting boards, and other utensils as Jacqui moved on to bowls.

"Are you sure?" Catherine asked even though in all honesty the last thing she wanted was to try and get in that mix.

"We're sure," Mia answered as Sara straightened, and shut the fridge with her hip; balancing milk and a few more containers of vegetables.

"Okay, we're ready to get started," Mia announced a moment later and Warrick laughed as he grabbed the remote to the CD Player. Moments later Jacqui appeared at their sides, and everyone not cooking scrambled for seats around the table. Soon the table was occupied by Warrick, Greg, Hodges, Archie, Bobby, Nick, Gil, and Catherine.

"Hello, and welcome to CSI Café. I'll be your friendly neighborhood meal assistant," Jacqui began.

"Hello F.N.M.A." Hodges smiled.

"Good morning Miss Waitress," Greg continued before a towel hit him square in the head, and everyone looked up to find Mia, Liz, and Sara glaring at him, hands on hips.

"Don't you love the CSI Café F.N.M.A. Union?" Archie laughed.

"Yeah...why don't we have a CSI Café Waiter's Association Union?" Greg asked and the rest of the guys just shrugged.

"And moving on," Jacqui continued as Mia walked over to a white erase board, phone in hand. "Does anyone want an omelet this morning?"

"Please."

"Yes."

"Here, here."

"What do you think?" Bobby added with a wink.

"Alright then, Arch?"

"Sara's usual, plus ham."

"There's meat? In Sara's house?" Nick asked surprised

"Depends on what Phi is bringing." Sara answered as she winked towards Warrick who smiled, although the exchange was missed by the three. "I don't cook it, store it, or eat it. But I can't deny the rest of you cannibals."

"Wow! Sara Sidle letting meat in her house. The world has come to an end," Nick teased.

"Anyway," Jacqui began interrupting any further comment. "Mr. Stokes, what do you want in your omelet? I already covered Greg and Bobby while you were chatting."

"What are the options?"

Jacqui sighed before leaning against the table as she began to tick off items on her fingers. "Mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, artichoke hearts, tomato, onion, peppers...red, yellow, and green; whatever meat Phi is bringing..."

"Just talked to Phi. Ham, Bacon, Sausage, Steak," Liz called as Sara started cracking eggs into a large bowl.

"What she just said," Jacqui began once more. "Cheddar, Jack, Provolone, and Mozzarella Cheese."

"Okay..." Nick began as he thought. "Ham, Peppers - all three, onions, mushrooms, cheddar and Jack."

"Alright," Jacqui nodded as she wrote. "Okay, so we have waffles, French toast, pancakes, stuffed French toast, hash browns, regular toast, white, wheat, sourdough, and eggs can be cooked either scrambled, over easy, over hard, boiled, fried, or if you have a certain style you can always ask, Sara might know how to make it."

Orders placed, Jacqui returned to the kitchen where she and the others set to work. Liz was mixing up batter while Sara began cutting vegetables. Jacqui in turn started separating bread from the loaves, setting aside for French toast and other toast. Mia at the same time was putting hash browns on a griddle.

"Knock knock!" Jim's voice called from the door as he stepped in, just as Sara slid the sliced peppers into a bowl. "Good morning everybody, I found the local meat provider on your doorstep." he continued with a grin before moving aside to let Sophia Curtis in.

"Morning guys," Sophia smiled as she came in, bags on her arms. "And call me the local meat provider again, I'll sic your wife on you Jim," she added towards him. "Oh wait, I don't have to. She's right behind me." she continued with a laugh as she moved into the house and headed straight for the kitchen.

"She is?

"She is," came a familiar voice to two of those gathered around the table.

"Lady Heather?" Gil and Catherine chorused as Jim winced from getting smacked on his shoulder.

"Hello Gil, Catherine, Mr. Stokes," she greeted as she moved past her husband. "But please, call me Katrina. Lady Heather is my name at work, not here."

"Hey Katy-girl," Mia called with a smile.

"Come on in here, let's get this party started," Sophia added and Katrina grinned.

"Have fun with the Spanish inquisition there honey," Katrina told Jim patting his shoulder before moving to join the others in the kitchen, pausing along her path to grab the remote from Warrick. "Mine now Sweetheart," she winked at him before joining the other women in the kitchen, turning the CD player on as she went.

"Have a seat Brass; you're just in time for the show," Greg grinned up at him as the women in the kitchen started to sway to the music that was coming from the CD player while they moved around the kitchen.

"So you and Lady Heather?" Nick asked looking over at Jim as he sat.

"Katrina," Jim countered. "And yes, me and Katrina."

"How did you two end up together?" Nick asked curious.

"Long story short, we ran into each other at the supermarket and talked," Jim answered with a shrug. "Now shush, show's starting," he continued nodding his head towards the kitchen.

"I know this pain - Why do lock yourself up in these chains?" A voice began to sing, at first Grissom, Nick and Catherine thought it was the radio, until they realized the voice was coming from the kitchen, even more surprised to realize it was Sophia.

"No one can change your life except for you - Don't ever let anyone step all over you" Mia sang as Sara turned to start the omelets.

"Just open your heart and your mind - Is it really fair to feel this way inside?" Jacqui continued before Sara began to sing on her own, turning to grab the vegetables and start dropping them in the omelet as Sophia started heating up the meat and Jacqui began placing French toast on the griddle.

"Whoa oh
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?"

She sang before the others joined in, Sara still taking the lead.

"Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day
Things'll go your way
Hold on for one more day"

The six women continued to move around the kitchen singing and dancing. Katrina started cutting up fruit for bowls as Sophia went on to get plates.

"You could sustain
Or are you comfortable with the pain?
You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness
You got yourself into your own mess
Lettin' your worries pass you by
Don't you think it's worth your time
To change your mind?"

Sophia and Katrina broke away from the group as they came out bearing bowls of fruit, glasses and silverware.

"Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day
Things'll go your way
Hold on for one more day"

"Normal occurrence?" Nick asked glancing at the others as the women ducked under arms and twisted around in quite unnatural looking positions as they cooked, and Liz and Sara started to sing on their own.

"I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day and
Break free the chains
Yeah I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day and you
Break free, break from the chains

"Actually, yes," Greg answered with a wink as they started coming out of the kitchen, plates in hand as Sara finished up the eggs. Plates, bowls and dishes started spreading out on the table.

"Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day,
If you hold on
Can you hold on
Hold on baby
Won't you tell me now
Hold on for one more day 'cause
It's gonna go your way"

"Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can't you change it this time

Make up your mind
Hold on
Hold on
Baby hold on"

As the song finished, the women appeared at the table with their own plates and after glancing at each other; they proceeded to giggle like idiots for a moment before sinking down into their chairs.

"Hey Sara, nails on a chalkboard?" asked Nick once the girls got their giggles under control.

Shaking her head Sara cut off a piece of her omelet. "Once upon a time I use to believe that," she shrugged.

"Wait a minute. Nails on a chalkboard?" wondered Liz curiously.

"Years ago Nicky caught Sara singing while she was processing. He commented that she had a nice voice, her response was nails on a chalkboard."

"Actually it was 'Yeah, if you like nails on the chalkboard', or something like that," Nick countered Warrick.

"You didn't actually believe that, did you Sara?" questioned Liz turning to look at her friend.

"Like I said, once upon a time I did," Sara shrugged once more.

"I just find that hard to believe," commented Liz shaking her head as she turned back to her breakfast.

"You and me both Lizzie Belle," Greg agreed.

"Lizzie Belle?" asked Liz with a death glare at Greg. "Is that supposed to be in reference to my Southern Heritage DNA boy?"

"Not at all, just because you remind me so much of Belle from Beauty and the Beast," Greg answered before Sara choked on her orange juice.

Liz raised a questioning eyebrow at Greg. "Why do I not believe you? Tinker Bell maybe but Belle?"

"You okay there, Sunshine?" Jim asked as Warrick rubbed her back while Sara caught her breath.

"Fine," Sara answered after a moment. "And she's right. Tinker Bell yes...Belle...not Liz."

"Well, she's a bookworm, and so she's a blonde Belle, what the hell," Greg shrugged. "And why did you start choking there, miss supervisor of mine?"

"Nothing," Sara answered quickly. Too quickly.

"All right Sara. First of all, you're not supposed to agree with me when I refer being more like Tinker Bell than Belle and secondly, what the hell are you hiding girl?" demanded Liz

"It's nothing," Sara tried to play it down.

"Bull," argued Liz. "Spit it out Sara. You know I'm not going to let you get away with not telling me what you're hiding."

Groaning Sara sat back in her chair and dropped her head back to look at the ceiling for a moment. "God I hate you, you know that?"

"Oh, you wound me," cried Liz dramatically as one hand went to her forehead and the other going to her heart.

Sara lifted her head enough to look at Liz next to her. "Of course, that's why I have those hair sticks holding my hair up. They're for jabbing in your arm when you drive me nuts."

As much as she tried, Liz couldn't help but let the giggles out at Sara's answer.

"That's what those things are for?" Greg asked skeptically.

"Yup," Sara answered as she reached up and pulled one out of the twist on her head and poked Liz in the arm once.

"Interesting. So those are poke Liz sticks..."

"Actually..." Sara began looking at Liz and grinning wickedly. Handing her the stick in her hand she reached up to grab the other as her hair came tumbling down. "Attack?"

"Attack," agreed Liz with a grin

Rising the two pushed their chairs back and went after Greg, who realized too late what they were doing as he tried to raise his arms over his head. "Help! Help! They're killing me."

"Okay, who is this woman and what did you do with the real Sara Sidle?" wondered Nick as the two women turned their attention from Greg after a few minutes and began sword fighting with the hair sticks.

"She grew down," Greg answered as he grabbed his knife and tried to join in the fray, only to have both women gang up on him once more.

"Uncle! Uncle!" Greg cried a few moments later from the floor where Sara was sitting on his legs while Liz was collapsed on the floor and using his chest as a mattress as she and Sara continued to 'swordfight'.

"Where's the camera?" Jim asked with a laugh. "We need this for the album."

"Coming up," Bobby grinned as he went after the camera that was by the front door.

"Ahh man, let me up!" Greg whined. "I don't want this in the album, Linds is going to tease me unmercifully."

"Linds? My Lindsey?" Catherine asked as the room went dead silent and Greg winced before mouthing the word 'Oops' to Sara over Liz's torso.

"Yeah, Lindsey is a part of the group," Katrina spoke up after a moment.

Catherine frowned slightly. "She's still in contact with all of you?"

"You have a problem with that?" demanded Liz, sobering quickly as she got up off of Greg, helping him and Sara back to their feet. "Just because you chose your career over your daughter doesn't mean the rest of us have."

"Hey! Don't even try to think you know me." Catherine snapped.

"Well the same could be said of you, Miss 'Jump to Conclusions about a person'," snapped Liz in reply. "I know what you think of me after all."

"Oh, and what is that Miss Thinks She Knows Everything?"

"That I'm nothing more than a dumb blonde bimbo from the south who's only goal in life is to look pretty and have all the guys falling all over themselves in front of me," replied Liz. "Don't even try to deny it Ms. Willows. I know the look you gave me when we first met. It's the same look I get from most people when they first meet me. You judged me without even knowing anything about me so don't think you can just waltz in here and make snap judgments about situations you know nothing about."

"What are you talking about?" Catherine asked with another frown. "I didn't think that when I first met you, I was a bit more concerned with the case than what you looked like last night."

"I'm not talking about last night Ms. Willows. We've met before, in Miami about three years ago. I was there to see a friend of mine and you stopped me in the reception area, and you weren't exactly very pleasant about it either," replied Liz.

"Okay!" Sara began stepping in the middle before things could go further. "Sophia has to get back to work, and the rest of us all need sleep. Why don't we write the whole insanity of this morning off to physical exhaustion? None of us here have been getting any real rest lately, and I'm sure the three of you must be exhausted, you flew here then went right to work..."

"Sara's right, why don't we call it a morning and we'll see everyone tonight at work," Warrick continued as he stood up.

Liz didn't say anything more, just turned and walked into the kitchen where she stood leaning against the counter looking out the window.

"Alright, everyone up and out. We heard the boss lady, beds are calling," Greg smiled as he looped his arms around Mia's waist. "Warrick has dish duty!" he continued with a grin before pulling Mia out the door and heading towards their car.

Catherine shot one look at Liz before shrugging and heading outside. Everyone else followed suit, until only Jim, Katrina, Warrick, and Sara were left in the dining room. Leaving the three as they gathered dishes, Sara moved into the kitchen to stand behind Liz.

"Hey Beth."

"Hey," replied Liz, quickly wiping away her tears hoping Sara wouldn't see them. "I'm sorry Sara. I shouldn't have acted like that towards guests in your house."

"Come on girl, why don't you go upstairs, take a nice bath and crash. I'll come wake you at five and we can have dinner before going in...maybe watch a musical while we're eating..." Sara suggested softly. "And what are you apologizing for? You just beat me to the punch," Sara continued with a smile.

Liz nodded. "Thanks," she said as she walked past Sara, her arms around her middle protectively. "Night guys," she said as she passed Warrick, Jim and Katrina.

"Night," they called after her as Sara moved into the dining room.

"Well, it's been an interesting day," Sara sighed softly after they heard the door shut upstairs.

"I think that's putting it lightly there Sunshine," Jim countered as he pulled her into a one-armed hug. "Wait until Catherine finds out about where Lindsey is living now."