AN: Thanks for the continued support, here is the next chapter.


Chapter 7: It was inevitable

When they got into the vehicle it was silent for a few minutes before Nick asked after clearing his throat. "This might sound like a dumb question, but how is Sadie doing?"

Grissom sighed. "She's being strong, even knowing that her world is going to become even more fractured in the very near future."

"She told you about her aunt?"

"How do you know about her aunt, did Rose te..."

Nick cuts him off while shaking his head. "No, Hailey did that night. She said that's why they were moving back to San Diego."

Grissom smirked as he asked. "What, did she give you her whole story in one night?"

"I think pretty much." They both chuckled slightly before he sighed this time. "But I also think most of it was that she needed to talk to someone who would just listen without having an alternative motive. I saw it in her eyes, Griss, she was lonely. She had a lot on her plate, hell, she's had a lot on her plate for a very long time."

"I know Nick."

Now Nick got mad as he slammed his hand on the steering wheel. "Her time shouldn't have been cut short, she should have been able to see her beautiful daughter grow up, be proud of everything she'll accomplish. And if Sadie would've gone that route, become a grandma and watch her grandchildren grow." After Grissom nodded in agreement, Nick sighed as he shook his head, calming down slightly after that burst of anger. "I'm sorry."

But Grissom shook his head with a smile in understanding. "You have nothing to apologize for, you said it yourself you were already starting to care for her, so of course this is going to sting."

Nick nodded, then he chuckled a little as he asked. "But it is a little crazy right? Falling for someone you only knew for one evening?"

Grissom chuckled as he replied with a raised eyebrow. "Did you forget who you were talking to?"

Nick chuckled again. "Right, you and Sara. So, for the record, it was a love at first sight thing, wasn't it?"

Grissom sighed again as he looked out his passenger window. "More than you can possibly imagine. Let's just say that my hangups and delaying our relationship wasn't because the lack of feeling I had for her, it was there and solid by the time I walked out of that seminar on that first day. It was the actual believing that I could really be with a woman like her, that she would actually be interested in a man like me for the long run."

Nick stopped at a stop light to look over at the older man. "And when you actually felt your dream of loving her, and being unconditionally loved by her, became a reality?"

Grissom moved his head to look at Nick, which was a look of pure love and devotion. "I was all in, never looking back again. And while it hasn't been all smooth sailing since that day, I don't regret it one bit, it's been everything I could have hoped for and then some." When Nick nodded a little sadly, even though he tried to hide it, Grissom cleared his throat and spoke softly. "I'm sorry."

Nick immediately shook his head before he started driving again. "Don't be sorry. I don't think I ever heard you be this open about anything, let alone your relationship with Sara. It's nice to hear."

Grissom smirked. "So, it not unsettling to hear about your ex-boss/mentor and the woman you consider a sister?"

Nick chuckled with another shake of his head. "No, only because I know how long both of you had waited to finally be together and how happy you two are now. Which by the way, I'm happy for you both. I'm glad you two found one another and have the life you guys deserve."

"Thank you, Nicky." As Nick nodded, Grissom continued. "And I know it might not seem like it right now, but one day you'll get there too."

"Maybe, or maybe I just missed my chance years ago."

Grissom raised an eyebrow as he asked. "Is there something you need to talk about?"

Nick waved it off with a chuckle. "Nah, man, it's ok."

The older man eyed the younger one, but didn't say anything more about, just told him. "Well, if you ever do need to talk, all you have to do is call."

"Thanks Griss." As Grissom nodded, Nick cleared his throat before bringing the subject back to the original one they started. "There is something that Hailey didn't say that night that I just found out from her aunt."

"Which is?"

"She was a skilled poker player, she actually could have gone pro, but as you know her life took another turn."

"She did tell me she was a good player but didn't tell me about the pro part."

When they stopped at another light, Nick asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm just curious but how much time did you actually spend with her outside of the classroom?"

Grissom shook his head with a smile. "It wasn't like that, Nicky. Like you said, she just needed someone to talk to, and besides the times I was with her outside of the classroom we were at the park so Hank and Sadie could spend time together, they really formed a good bond. Do you really think I could hurt Sara like that?"

Nick shook his head with a smile. "Nah man, not for a second."

He started to drive again while Grissom spoke, once again back to the original conversation, getting an idea. "And with that knowledge, did you ask her if Hailey played at all since she's been here?"

"I know what you're thinking, and yes I did ask, which she said Hailey did, but she couldn't think of any one of them hurting her, they helped teach her everything she knew at the poker table. She also said that while they were competitive and didn't like to lose, once the game was over, they left it at the table, until the next time they played." There was a slight pause before Nick continued before Grissom could speak again while he turned on the street to his house. "And before you ask, yes I will get a few members of the lab to go ask them questions just to be sure that it wasn't any of them. Rose gave me the names."

Grissom smiled at Nick while Nick stopped in front of his house. "Very good, Nicky."

Nick smirked as he looked over at the older man. "I happened to be taught by one of the best mentors out there."

Grissom chuckled as he opened the door. "Who, Catherine?"

Nick shook his head. "Catherine is great, don't get me wrong, but I think you know who I was talking about."

"I do, and you've made me very proud."

Nick smiled shyly. "Thanks Griss." Grissom nodded as he finally got out of the vehicle, then after he walked around it from the front, he stopped at the driver's side window when Nick spoke again. "And hey, I know you haven't been a CSI in years, but if you want to officially consult on this case, you can, my lab doors are always open for you, no matter in what capacity it is."

"Thank you, Nicky. I'll keep that in mind." Nick nodded while Grissom finished. "Just promise me you'll do everything you can to get this one. I know it's against the rules to promise anything, but..."

Nick cuts him off in a serious tone. "You have my word, man. This is not going to be one of those cases that gets shoved in a pile and be forgotten for years, every stone will be overturned."

After one more nod, Grissom turned around just in time to hear a ding from Nick's cellphone, indicating that he had gotten a text message, and when Grissom was halfway up the driveway the front door opened before Sara walked out.

They greeted one another warmly before Grissom looked back at Nick, who was still there, and asked with a raised eyebrow. "Hey Nick, did you forget something?"

Nick smirked while nodding his head. "Yeah, your wife."

Grissom turned to look at Sara with a surprised look, and she smiled while cupping his cheek. "Hey, you may not be a CSI anymore, but I am. I asked Nick if I can join the case, and I already got an approval by my supervisor, just in case it will take longer than my scheduled time off."

Grissom cleared his throat. "Sara..."

She cuts him off while running her thumb up and down his cheek. "I know how much this one means to you, and I want to do this for you, Nick, Sadie and her aunt, you all deserve the best on this one." She then smirked. "Well, not to toot our own horn, but as close to the best we can get without the original group."

Grissom chuckled with a nod. "Ok." Then he placed his hand on hers that was still on his cheek. "But be safe out there, no heroics."

"Like I would ever do that." After he raised an eyebrow at that, she nodded with a smile. "Ok, I would." She then gets more serious. "But I promise this time I'll be good and safe. I love you and I'll see you later."

"See you later."

They kiss softly before Sara pulls back first and runs to the vehicle, which Grissom heard Nick teasing Sara before he drove off.

Grissom sighed as he watched them before turning back to the house.

He barely made it inside before William ran to him with a smile. "Daddy!"

Grissom smiled bright while picking his son up, then held him close and closed his eyes. "You know how much I love you, right?"

"Like what mommy says, to the moon and back."

"Yep."

After an extra-long hug, William pulled back and asked his father. "Daddy, are you ok?"

Wanting to be truthful, Grissom sighed. "No buddy I'm not, but having you in my arms makes me feel a whole lot better."

William smiled as he gave his father another hug. "Then I'll give you more hugs."

Grissom kissed his temple. "Thank you for that."

A moment or two went by before Grissom finally sets William down, who immediately went back to playing with his toys, so Grissom goes and sits down on the couch with a heavy sigh, which then Hank slowly gets up from his spot on the floor and walks over to Grissom before sitting down and letting out a few whines while placing his paw on his thigh.

Grissom gives him a small smile. "I know, boy. We'll make sure you see Sadie sometime before we leave, I promise."

After giving Hank a few more pets, Hank moved away from Grissom and laid back down with a heavy sigh, then just looked at him with those sad 'puppy' eyes.

Grissom sat there for a few minutes before he sighed and got up, not able to stop his mind from working the 'case', trying to think back to everything he saw and heard, as he stopped by the front window to look out of it, which wasn't any more than what he already told the detective.

He stood there for only a few minutes before he silently said, 'screw it' and started packing William's go bag with snacks, his coloring books with crayons and some of his toys, feeling he had to do something, even if it was just standing off to the side and giving them advice, it was definitely better than just sitting/standing around here.

Grissom made sure Hank had enough to eat and drink before him and William said bye to him and headed out to Grissom's vehicle.


When they made it to the lab, he grabbed William's go bag, helped William out of his car seat, then walked with him to and in the CSI building, stopping at the receptionist desk a moment later.

The red-haired, blue-eyed woman behind the counter smiled as she asked. "Welcome, how can I help you today?"

"Yes, I'm Dr. Gilbert Grissom..."

The woman cuts him off a second later. "Yes, Director Stokes said that we might be expecting you and said you do know where the daycare area was."

When Nick became director, he was free to do what he wished with the lab if he could find the funding for it, so the first order of business was to set up a little daycare center for the single parents who work here or those who need the extra help without paying a lot of money on a babysitter. Plus, their kids would be right there if they needed to see them or just give them a hug during a difficult shift.

Internally Grissom smiled wider than he actually did on his face with a nod. "I do ma'am, thank you."

After handing Grissom a guest badge once he signed in, he was free to pass to the daycare area.

When they made it there, Grissom knocked on one of the closed double doors.

One of the doors opened and this time a woman with blond hair and blue eyes opened it with a smile, the same woman Sara and him had met yesterday when they were doing the tour. "Dr. Grissom, nice to see you again, I was expecting you."

Grissom chuckled. "Let me guess, Director Stokes?"

After the woman nodded with another smile and chuckle, she looked down at William and said hi.

William shyly smiled and said hi in return before the woman, Cynthia, handed him the clipboard she was holding. "I just need you to sign in."

Grissom nodded and released William's hand to sign in, then they walked into the medium, cafeteria sized room that had a refrigerator, cupboards and shelves with games and other little kid activity items, a tv, a couple of round tables to sit at, even a few cots for those nightshift/overtime parents who need their kids close by and don't have anybody else to watch them during the night.

Grissom and William stop in the middle of the room then he kneeled down, handing his son his bag before cupping his cheek. "I know we are supposed to be spending time together as a family and you are a little confused on what's going on, but..."

William cuts him off in an understanding tone. "I know daddy, mommy said she had to go to work, even though we don't live here, and you want to help mommy and uncle Nick."

Grissom nodded with a smile. "You are a very smart boy, and we'll make it up to you soon."

William nodded while wrapping his arms around his father and said softly. "Just help whoever you have to daddy, I'll be ok."

"I love you, so much."

"I love you too."

After they pulled back, Grissom kissed his forehead and stood up, then William grabbed his bag and headed over to where a few other kids were playing. He introduced himself and before Grissom knew it, he was on the floor playing with them, already laughing and having a good time.

Cynthia got his attention. "He'll be fine, Dr. Grissom, I promise. I already have yours and your wife's contact number, so I'll let either of you know if something does come up."

Grissom nodded with a smile as he held out his hand. "Thank you. I'll come and check on him later."

After she nodded, they release hands before Grissom turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him before heading towards the conference room, which he was halfway there when he saw Nick and Sara walk out of one of the lab rooms, they see Grisom, then Sara looks at her watch and smiled while holding out her hand. "Alright, pay up buddy."

Grissom raised an eyebrow as he saw Nick pull out his wallet and handed Sara fifty bucks. "Excuse me, you guys did a bet to see if I would show up?"

Sara smirked as she took the money from Nick. "No, babe. It was how long it would take for you to get here. You coming here was inevitable." Sara walked up to him, speaking softly. "We both felt that you couldn't sit this one out."

He held up his hand. "I'm only here to observe."

Nick then replied. "Any help you can provide will be appreciated."

After Grissom nodded, there was a moment of pause before Sara cleared her throat. "Alright, let's do it. Let's get justice for Hailey."

They nodded before the three of them headed towards conference room.


AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. I hope you are all having a safe and wonderful weekend. More chapters to come.