AN: Thanks for the continued support, here is the next chapter. Warning: Mention of minor character death.


Chapter 11: A different direction

Six months later

After having the funeral for Mrs. Rose Tucker, everyone who showed up there, which was mostly the group of poker players that knew the family really well, ended up at Nick's place for a celebration of life for her, and while it was a sad time for everybody, they still enjoyed talking about her and reliving some moments that Nick, Sadie, Sara and Grissom got to hear for the first time.

When it was later in the evening, and all the guests had left, Grissom was standing out on the deck looking out towards the beach watching Nick comfort Sadie, both of whom had formed a pretty solid bond the last six months since he was there for them, even taking Sadie into his home the last month when Rose was getting so bad that she needed extra care so she couldn't be at home anymore.

His moment of silence was interrupted when he heard a tiny cry and Sara's voice. "Ok honey, we are going to daddy, see."

Grissom turned around a moment later with a bright smile on his face, seeing his two beautiful girls.

"Does someone want to see her daddy?"

Sara nodded with a smile as she handed him their three-week-old baby girl, Beth.

Grissom took the little girl, who looked so much like her mother, from his wife, and held her close to his chest with a small sigh, he couldn't believe how much more complete and love he's felt since his daughter was born, and he still gives himself a hard time for not only not having this a long time ago but almost denying this completely.

Almost as if reading his thoughts, Sara placed her hand on his shoulder, speaking softly/comforting. "Griss, it's not your fault on how long it took us to have this beautiful family. Who knows how long it would have taken us even if we had gotten together sooner, I probably would have still made us wait."

He looked up from his beautiful brown eyed daughter to his equally beautiful brown eyed wife. "Maybe, but…."

She cuts him off while cupping his cheek with a smile. "Just forget all the 'buts' and the 'what if's', let's just be grateful what we have now, which I wouldn't trade for anything."

He shook his head with a loving smile. "Me neither, and I'll be grateful for the rest of my life." He cleared his throat to get rid of some of the emotion as he finished. "Thank you, and I love you all so much."

With tears in her eyes, she whispered in reply. "And I love you all as well, thank you."

They kiss softly a moment later, then after pulling back, she saw Nick and Sadie down at the beach, then looked at her husband before speaking in another comforting tone. "You can really see their bond now, huh?"

He took a breath with a nod. "Yeah."

"You going to be ok?"

"Yes. We agreed the most important thing right now is about Sadie, and where she'll feel the most comfortable and the happiest…well at least the happiest she can be under these difficult circumstances."

As she nodded, they see them walking towards the deck, then Sara asked. "You want me to talk to him?"

"Actually, can I?"

Sara nodded with a smile as she cupped his cheek. "Of course, I just know how you feel about personal talk with other people."

He smirked as he handed Beth back to her. "Hey, I'm evolving, remember."

She takes her daughter from her husband and kisses his cheek as she whispered. "You certainly are, but you are still my bugman who I love very much."

He smiled brightly. "I love you too, honey."

They kiss one more time before she turns and walks back inside the house.

A moment later Sadie and Nick made to the deck, Grissom gave Sadie a sad smile and held out his arms.

She smiled sadly in return before walking up to him to give him a hug that was filled with comfort.

After they pulled back, she took a breath before speaking sadly. "I guess I should start packing." She then turned to look at Nick and continued. "Thank you for letting me stay here."

Nick nodded then replied with a smile. "You're welcome sweetheart."

Sadie then walked inside the house.

When Nick and Grissom were alone, they looked at one another and they both spoke at the same time.

"Can we talk…." (Nick)

"I think we should talk about something…" (Grissom)

They smiled before Nick spoke again. "You go ahead first."

Grissom nodded before replying. "I think we want to bring up the same subject, Sadie."

No hesitation, Nick nodded. "Yes."

The older man continued. "I've been noticing during visits that you two have been bonding very well."

"We have." Nick sighed. "I mean I don't know what would have happened between Hailey and I in the long run, but had I met Sadie in a different circumstance, and Hailey and I had gotten serious, I know, or at least I really believe, I would have a bond with her that way."

"I believe so too." After a short pause, he continued. "I also believe that you want her to come live with you."

Nick looks at Grissom with a guilty look as he tried to speak. "Griss..."

But Grissom stops him with a smile. "And it's ok, because I see she wants to stay with you too." Nick nodded, sensing that feeling as well, before he looked down, still feeling a little guilty about how he feels, so Grissom places a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I get it. She built a life here, she goes to school here now, she has friends here."

Nick takes a breath before looking at Grissom again, almost in tears. "I just don't want to take anything away from you and Sara, I know you two will be excellent parents to her."

With a comforting tone, Grissom continued. "The most important thing that Sara and I want for Sadie is for her to be in a loving, safe home, and while there is no doubt in my mind that we can give her that, she's already found that with you, so why tear her out of an already perfect environment if it's what both of you want."

Nick nodded, then with a small smile he continued. "I will give her that, I can promise you with everything I am, Griss. I will be the best father that I can be to her." Nick shook his head. "I mean if she'll ever see me that way, I don't want to push her." He then took a hard breath as if the wind was knocked out of him at that revelation while he looked out towards the ocean. "Me a father, wow."

Grissom couldn't help but smirk. "Not exactly how you pictured you would be one, huh?"

Nick shook his head as he looked at the older man again. "No, but while I wish I could change the circumstances on why it's happening, I wouldn't have it any other way." As Grissom nodded, Nick asked. "But are you sure you are ok with this?"

Grissom nodded with another smile. "Yes, I can't think of a better man to watch over her, and I know you'll be an excellent father to her."

Nick took another breath. "I hope so."

"No doubt in my mind." Grissom then cleared his throat before speaking. "Now we just need to talk to Sadie."

"You know what, why don't you talk to her, give her the news."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

After Grissom nodded, he turned and walked inside before going upstairs to the first bedroom on the left, the one where Sadie had claimed as her own since she 'moved' in.

He stops at the closed door and knocked, then a second later, he hears a 'come in' from the little girl.

He opened the door and stepped in the room to see nothing had been packed and Sadie was sitting on the bed looking at a picture frame, whom he assumed was of her mom and aunt. She then shook her head with tears in her eyes after noticing who had walked into her room. "I'm sorry, I'll start packing now."

As she as getting up from the bed, Grissom shook his head with a smile as he walked further into the room. "Actually, if you truly don't want to, you don't have to."

At first Sadie looked surprised/shocked, then she looked a little rejected as she asked softly. "You don't want me to come live with you and Sara anymore? Did you change your mind?"

Grissom was quick to reassure her as he kneeled down and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Absolutely not sweetheart, we will never change our minds on that, you can live with us if you really want, but I think that's not what you want anymore, feelings have changed."

Now it was Sadie's turn to look guilty with tears in her eyes. "Grissom I'm sor..."

Grissom cuts her off with another smile as he cupped her cheek to wipe her tears away. "Hey, you got nothing to apologize for or feel guilty about anything. When you agreed to live with us, your life was just rocked in the most unimaginable way, knowing it was going to implode again not much longer, and while we weren't that familiar with one another at the time, it probably felt like the best option you had. But now things have changed, and you do have another option." He then smirked. "I'm not really going to call it a better option, but..."

He trailed off and she chuckled slightly with a nod as she wiped a few tears of her cheek before she asked softly. "Does Nick even want me..."

Grissom cuts her off in another reassuring tone. "You bet he does. He just never voiced it because, like you, he felt guilty with what he was feeling, especially on what he would be taking from Sara and I. But neither of you have to feel that way, because we'll be just fine." He then cleared his throat and finished with a smile. "Just as long as you know come for visits for the Holidays, maybe throw in a few sleepovers during some of your school breaks."

She chuckled again. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that."

He shrugged as he moves his hand from her cheek. "I just beat you to it. But I mean it Sadie, just because your living situation will change from what we had originally planned, it won't change how we feel about you being in our lives. I want to see you grow into this amazing woman that I know your mom and aunt will be proud of, can we still do that."

With tears in her eyes again, she goes for a hug, and he hugs her in return while she spoke. "I want that too. I still want to get to know your family and visit Hank."

"He would love that."

"Me too."

Once they pulled back, she asked. "Can we even do this?"

"Well, Sara and I are officially your legal guardian, and if everyone involved is ok with the new arrangement, we can get a hold of Rose's lawyer and go from there. I don't believe there should be any issues." After she nodded, he continued with a smile. "Now why don't you go tell Nick the good news."

Sadie smiled. "Yeah?"

Grissom nodded. "Yeah."

As they share another hug, she whispered. "Thank you, Grissom."

"For what?"

"For everything you've done for me, and what you were willing to do for me."

"Anytime, Sadie." While they pulled back, he continued. "And I do mean that, anytime you want to come over and visit, all you have to do is call."

She nodded with a bright smile. "I will."

A moment later she was out the door, ready to talk to Nick.

After Grissom stood up, he headed for the guest bedroom him and Sara were using, and when he walked in, he saw William, who chose to sleep in the room with them during this visit, laying on the cot, sleeping with an opened book on his chest.

Sara, who was sitting up in bed feeding Beth, smiled at her husband as he watched their son. "Our little man was more tired than he claimed to be."

He nodded as he walked to the cot. " I see that."

Once he stopped next to it, he easily took the book off his chest, closed it and places it in his travel bag. He then watches his son for another moment before turning his attention to his wife, who was now getting ready to burp Beth, so he asked with a smile as he walked towards the bed. "Can I do that?"

Sara nodded with a smile. "Of course."

Grissom's eyes grew brighter with love as he took his daughter from his wife, also grabbing the burping rag and placing it on his shoulder before he started burping her while speaking in a soft, comforting/encouraging tone, and all Sara could do was sit there and watch him, only falling in love with him even more.
Watching him become a father was the best experience ever, especially when their daughter was born. Beth already has her dad wrapped around her little finger.

When Grissom noticed Sara watching them with that look of pure love and admiration, he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Yes dear?"

Sara smiled brightly. "I just love watching you with our children, it's the best part of my day. It's been a beautiful sight watching you become a father."

Grissom cleared his throat from the emotion before speaking softly with love in his eyes. "And you as a mother."

Sara gets out of bed as she spoke again. "You never lost faith that we could do this, become parents, and that I would be a good mom."

"No, I never did, and you're not just a good mom, you're an excellent mom. Our kids are lucky to have you."

Sara cupped her husband's cheek as she whispered, seeing their daughter falling asleep in her father's arms. "And you. We are lucky to have them."

They share a soft kiss before they walk over to the travel baby bed, then Grissom gently sets their daughter down and they watch her sleep for a moment or two before Sara heads back to the bed while Grissom changes into his sleeping clothes.

When he was in bed, she asked softly. "So, how was your talk with them?"

"It was good. They opened up on what they really wanted, even though they felt guilty about it." Before Sara could ask, he continued after a soft sigh. "They both felt they would be taking something away from us, but I told them that's not true. We are still planning on being a part of her life, it's just in a different way than we had envisioned it."

She nodded in agreement while moving her hand to cup his cheek and run her thumb up and down it in comfort. "And are you really ok? I know how much you were looking forward to Sadie living with us."

Not that he didn't feel bad about the reason why Sadie would be living with them.

No hesitation, he nodded with a smile. "Yeah, I'm ok. They need each other more, and like I said, we will still see her, just not everyday."

She nodded as she moved closer to him so they could share a soft kiss before she lays down on his chest while he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. They laid there in silence as they slowly fell asleep, satisfied with their decision on letting Nick take Sadie, and happy they'll still get to see her grow up in a loving home, even though it wouldn't be theirs.


Two months later

Late March, 2016

After arriving in San Diego, they headed right to Nick's place, not only to celebrate Sadie's 12th birthday, which happened a few days ago, but to also celebrate William's 5th birthday that will happen tomorrow.

Since it was spring break for Grissom, they asked William what he wanted to do, and he was the one that asked to go to San Diego to spend time with Nick and Sadie, even though in the last two months they seen them more than they had the previous six, which under the circumstances back then, it actually wasn't that surprising.

So, they talked it over with Nick and he had no problem with the couple day visit.

When they get to Nick's they noticed a vehicle in the driveway, and it looked very familiar to them, so they looked at one another and Sara asked. "Did you know Catherine was going to be here?"

Grissom shook his head as he turned the vehicle off. "No idea."

They just shrugged it off, but felt a little excited to see her since it's been awhile, at least in person, they still do regular video chats but it just wasn't the same.

Once the whole Grissom family was out of the vehicle, including Hank, they headed up the walkway to the front door, then Sara, the one who wasn't carrying Beth, knocked on the door.

The door opened a moment later, and Sadie smiled when she saw them. "Hey guys."

Hank is happy as well, but he is a little calmer, especially when he's near Beth, even though Grissom was holding her.

Once everyone was greeted, Sadie moved to the side to let them in the house, where they see Nick and Catherine sitting on the couch, and while William ran to Nick to greet him, Catherine stood up with a smile while Sara spoke as the two women met in the middle of the room. "Well, this is a nice surprise, we weren't expecting to see you."

Catherine and Sara share a hug while the older woman spoke with a smile. "Well, I knew William's birthday was coming up, and Nick said something about you guys coming over, so I thought I would take the opportunity to visit you guys, and..." She trails off as she looks at the little girl in Grissom's arms. "I thought it was time that I get to see this little precious thing in person."

Grissom hands Beth off to Catherine, and while the little girl started to get fussy, Catherine calmed her down fairly quickly, showing them she still had it, then as they were walking towards the seating area, Grissom asked. "And how did you get the time off?"

Catherine took a breath before looking at Grissom and replied. "Believe it or not, but I've decided to cut back on my hours a little." They did look a little surprised, and Grissom was about to speak again, but Catherine continued before he could. "But don't worry, I've made sure the lab would be in good hands for when I do decide to leave it all behind permanently."

Grissom seemed to know whom she was talking about as he replied. "So, you believe Greg is ready?"

Catherine nodded. "More than ready, he's been an excellent assistant supervisor." She then looked at Nick before he could speak and continued with a bright smile. "Almost as good as you."

Nick nodded with a chuckle. "Ok, I can handle that."

As her and Nick's look at one another lasted a little bit longer than necessary, Sara and Grissom shared a look before Catherine looked at Grissom again. "I guess I'm just starting to feel like it's my time, at least where full time is concerned, anyway."

Grissom looks at her with sympathy. "I get it Cath, no need to explain that to me. Just know I support you in whatever you do next in your life."

She smirked. "Hey now, don't be framing my retirement papers yet, I'm still in the just thinking phase. There is still a lot to teach my daughter."

Sara took the next question. "So, she is sticking it out as a CSI?"

Last fall, Lindsey started her career as a CSI, and things were going very well, well as good as could be expected with a job like this. But then she got her first really bad case, and she wasn't sure she could do it anymore, so Catherine and Greg gave her a prep talk and she decided to stick it out.

"Yeah, she wanted the victims to get justice."

They all nodded as Nick replied. "Isn't that why we do this?"

They all smiled with another nod before Sara replied. "Absolutely."

There was a pause before Nick looked at William and asked with a smile. "Hey buddy, Catherine made cookies earlier, do you want one? If it's ok with your parents of course."

William looked at his parents and they nodded with a smile, so William followed him and Catherine, who still had the baby in her arms, into the kitchen, then Grissom and Sara turned their attention to Sadie, who was on the floor still giving Hank attention, and he was enjoying it to the fullest.

Grissom was about to ask how she was doing, but she spoke before he could. "I don't want to be a snitch or anything, but Catherine has been here a lot the last few months, she even came for my birthday."

Which meant she was here just a few days ago and she turned around and came back.

They will admit they were a little surprised by that information, but then Grissom tried to reason the situation before their imaginations went too far. "Well there was always a friendship there, and Nick had been going through a hard time, plus adding a new dynamic into his life he's not use to, he probably needed help from someone who's been through having a young daughter who is almost a teenager."

Sara nodded, seeing what her husband is thinking. "That is true, but I can't get the look they just shared a few moments ago out of my head."

Grissom nodded in agreement before asking. "Have you noticed anything between them previously?"

Sara paused for a minute to think about before replying. "Maybe there have been a few moments in the past where something could be up with them, but I just chalked it up to non-serious flirty moments, like how it was between him and I when I got there."

The minute she said that last part, she felt her husband's mood shift, but knowing it was just a reflex move when he thought of how much he dragged his feet back then when it came to them, she places a hand on his arm to calm him down before smiling as she continued. "Now her and Warrick were a different story, which while I don't think anything actually happened, there was something definitely between them."

Grissom's raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What? Her and Warrick?"

She chuckled. "Are you serious, Griss? Did you live under a rock back then, it was the talk of the lab."

He sighed. "I guess I just didn't pay that much attention on our team back then." When his look turned to more of a regret that he wished he had paid attention to his team like that back then, she cupped his cheek with sympathy as he spoke again. "Then I can kind of see why, at least on Nick's side, why it would have taken this long for him to admit anything is there, if there really is."

"Nick and Warrick were like brothers, and if Nick is/has been falling for Catherine, there is bound to be a little guilt there."

As Grissom nodded, he looked at Sadie, who was just watching them in amazement at their back-and-forth conversation without missing a beat, then he asked with sympathy. "So, if it's really true, are you ok with it?"

"It wasn't like my mom and him were dating, and even if they had been, I'm sure she would want him to be happy, and so do I." She sighed. "I just wish they don't hide it."

"Sweetheart, I don't think they are hiding it to be deceiving, I think they just want to really make sure this is the right step for them, and you, because like I said, they've had a long friendship and changing that status for a deeper one, can be a little scary, especially when you don't want to also lose that friendship in the process if it doesn't work out. And Nick wants you to have a good, happy, stable life."

Sadie thinks about that for a moment, and nods with a smile. "Yeah, I guess I get that."

They talk pleasantly a few moments when the others walked back into the room before they moved outside so Hank could run around with the kids.


A few hours later, Nick was standing by the grill cooking burgers and hotdogs, which some of them were vegetarian for Sara, while Catherine and Grissom were in the kitchen.

Sara walked up to Nick with a smile. "So, you and Catherine, huh?"

Nick looked at her surprised. "What?"

Sara chuckled. "Come on Nick, I'm a trained CSI, I could sense a shift between you two."

That was true, Sadie didn't have to say anything to them for Sara to see the signs from when they sat down on the couch to when they arrived at this moment, something certainly had changed between them.

Nick took a breath as he spoke while flipping the burgers and turning the hotdogs. "A part of me can't believe this is actually happening. I cared for Hailey, I truly did, but..."

He trails off and Sara smiled as she placed her hand on his arm. "Hey Nick, you have nothing to defend, I know that. I was here, remember. I saw how devastated you looked. But with Catherine it's different, you've known her a lot longer, and your feelings for her?"

After another breath, he continued. "Have been there longer than I can admit, at least on my end, for multiple reasons."

Sara wasn't done getting answers, so she replied. "One of them being, Warrick?"

"Yeah, they had a connection, so I stepped back."

"And did anything..."

She trialed off, and he shook his head. "No, and she said a part of her regrets it never did. We didn't want to add another regret to our lives, so we are seeing what happens." He sighed again. "I just don't want to hurt Sadie."

Sara shook her head with a smile. "You're not, she just wants honesty."

"Wait, she knows?"

Sara chuckled. "Nick, she's a smart, 12 year old, she can notice things."

"Yeah. Great did I already screw this up with her?"

Sara shook her head again. "No, she wants you to be happy." She brings Nick into his arms for a hug as she whispered. "And so do I, so if Catherine is who you want, go be happy, it's time for both of you, you guys have nothing to feel guilty about. Both Hailey and Warrick would want you to be happy as well, I know it."

"Thank you, Sara."

As they pulled back, she smiled. "You're welcome."

A moment later Grissom walked out with drinks, and he places his at the table, walked over towards Sara and Nick, and after handing Nick his drink, he held out his other hand and spoke in a serious tone. "Good luck, I wish you two the best, but don't hurt her, Nicky, she's been through a lot."

Nick nodded with no hesitation and shook the older man's hand. "I know, and I promise, Griss."

After they release hands, Grissom and Sara head back to the table while Nick continues cooking food, then after they sat down, Sara asked Grissom. "So, she admitted it?"

He shook his head. "Not in so many words, but when I told her to be happy, I saw the look she gave me."

Sara chuckled with a nod, knowing that Nick gave him the true answer he wanted.

Throughout the rest of the afternoon/visit, everyone had a good time, laughing, smiling and joking.


AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. Sorry the chapter was a little delayed, but I hope I made up for it for the length of it. One more chapter to go. I hope you all are having a safe/wonderful weekend.