Grissom woke not to his alarm but to the sound of Sara walking around and Hank's nails on the hardwood floor as he followed her. Checking his clock on the nightstand, he saw it was close to his time of waking so he sat up and reached out to turn off the alarm before it could ring. Sara had just been back to court that day as a rebuttal for Sinclair regarding the Lester court case. She'd countered an argument of another forensic technician who stated he could prove it was the fall that killed Becky Lester. The defense was jumping around from blaming the father to blaming the CSIs to now stating it was an accident. Sinclair felt that Sara was the best to counter the technician because she had the equations and math and the A/V recreation.

Leaving the bedroom, he found her in the office at her desk writing in her journal. Hank laid at her feet while a mug of hot tea rested beside her. She looked up and watched him, a slight smile on her face. "Sorry I woke you."

"Hmm, it's close enough I'm not bothered by it." He walked over and put his hands on her shoulders, leaning down to kiss her temple. "Rebuttal testimony quick and painless?"

"Fortunately." Sara turned and looked up at him. "How'd you sleep?"

Seeing her in sweats and a tank top, he knew she'd showered and was relaxing. "Well enough for you not being next to me."

"I have good news. The DA is so fed up with the whole thing, he's willing to deal with Susan Lester's attorney. He'll go down to second degree, no contest on parole after ten years if he stops the circus that is continuously ongoing. He also demanded a written apology to me for airing my personal business without care of how it affected me." Sara turned after picking up a piece of paper. "They took it."

Grissom took the paper from her and saw it was written apology from the defense attorney for everything personal he aired. "Good, so you won't have to go back to court."

"Not for a while anyways." She accepted the letter he handed her and put aside. "I'll nap for a bit then get up and get back on routine so I can come in tomorrow night without issue."

Walking into work, Sara's first stop was the front desk to pick up messages. Judy smiled at her as she approached the desk and brunette smiled back at her.

"Been gone a few days." Judy stated turning to get both Sara and Grissom's messages.

Sara nodded, "yeah, court sucks. After being in court on and off for three weeks, the job sounds exciting." She accepted her messages and then two that were from Grissom. "Plus Grissom hasn't been home yet so it tells me the case is important."

"Three dead kids." Judy told her and Sara let out a silent exclamation.

"Thanks Judy."

Heading to Catherine's office, Sara found the redhead bent over paperwork. "Gil's never been good a paperwork so you win best supervisor in that category."

"Sara." Catherine looked up with a smile on her face, "how was court? I heard the settled."

Sara nodded, "sort of, Susan Lester's attorney was jumping from the dad being the killer, then stated the CSIs were at fault, and then finally it was an accident. DA was tired of the circus so he lowered it to second degree and no contest of parole after ten years. Susan Lester plead guilty and Ray Lester was charged as being accessory after the fact."

"Come in and close the door." Catherine told her and closed the file on her desk.

Moving inside the office, Sara closed the door. "Am I in trouble?"

"God no. You're doing well Sara, no outburst and got a commendation. I'd be more about Greg, especially after the stunt he pulled last week."

Sara chuckled as she sat down in front of the desk. "I already lectured him."

"He told me. Thank you for doing what I didn't want to do. According to Grissom, your lecture had more of an effect than mine or Grissom's would have. Then again, Greg was mostly your trainee." She put her files aside and picked up the newspaper article that lay under it, holding it out to Sara. "I'm guessing this is what you didn't want me knowing. Sinclair handed it off to me when he let me know you would be receiving a formal apology letter from the Lester attorney."

The brunette took the newspaper article and looked at it. "So you know my secret."

"A secret that explains why you've been the way have been since you arrived." Catherine watched Sara ball up the article and put it in the trash. "Don't worry, it stays between us."

Sara quirked her lips before speaking. "Nothing in this lab stays secret Catherine. Someone who was there is going to tell someone else and then that person is known by someone at this lab and soon the lab knows."

"That's why I want you to talk to Ecklie." Catherine told her blankly. Watching Sara narrow her eyes, she continued. "Look, this whole situation is a bit outside my wheelhouse. If it's brought up in the lab, any discipline will have to be done by him."

"I'll take my chances. I don't want Ecklie thinking I'm incapable of doing my job." She shrugged, "do you have an assignment for me?"

Sighing, Catherine opened her file again and picked up a pen. "Suspect's car just got towed into the garage, go process that."

"Thanks." Sara stood up and headed to the door.

"Sara?" The brunette turned to her supervisor. "I'm guessing that is why Grissom went to bat for you after you blew up on me and Ecklie. You told him about what happened to your dad."

Sara confirmed. "He wanted to know why I was so angry all the time. It just spilled out and afterwards, he told me not to worry about losing my job."

"Ecklie wanted you fired and Grissom wanted to keep you, at risk of even his job."

"He what?"

Catherine nodded. "Told Ecklie your behavior was a result of his management skills. Ecklie suggested that he should fire Grissom instead. He knew Ecklie wouldn't fire him but he was willing to risk it to make sure you kept your job."

Sara opened the door. "I'm going to go process the car."

Grissom walked into his office to find the files that he needed for a supervisors meeting. Grabbing them, he looked up as he started to leave his desk and paused. Sara was curled up in his chair again asleep. She'd been processing evidence while the guys had been working on posters. While out collecting posters, the guys had gotten food but had forgotten to get some for Sara, a fact they'd comprehended when she walked into the breakroom and asked where hers was. He'd had to order food for her because she'd forgotten to pack lunch for herself and they hadn't thought to bring her any.

Catherine had told Sara to go home but she wouldn't, not until he did also. Grissom walked around his desk and over to Sara, pulling the blanket that sat across the top of the chair to shake it out. He put it over her and used a finger to brush back a strand of hair that was covering her eyes. Smiling was the only task he could possibly perform at seeing her sleep peacefully.

Grissom made it to the conference room to find Catherine, the new Day Shift supervisor Daryll Winters who had been promoted from CSI III two weeks before after the previous supervisor quit, and the new Swing Shift supervisor Lena Porter. Closing the door, he sat down beside Catherine and handed her the files he'd collected. Ecklie stood by the conference room's coffee machine but turned once he had a cup of coffee in hand.

"Alright, let's get this meeting started. First topic, where are we with filling empty slots? External and internal."

Lena kept her hands folded. "HR just got back to me that our single opening has been filled. A Casey Morgan, she's out of Dallas."

"Day shift is still waiting to fill my old slot but other than that, we're full."

Catherine glanced at the group. "Both teams have no open vacancies."

"Okay." Ecklie looked down at the list in his hand. "I assume schedules have been posted. Any conflicts regarding holidays or vacations that need to be worked on?" No one said anything so he continued. "Disciples or commendations?"

Daryll opened a file and removed a paper. "Leonard punched a suspect and had to be physically removed from the precinct." It was slid to Ecklie and the director looked at the paper. "He's on suspension currently."

"Well, this is a change." Ecklie put the paper aside and looked at the group. "Any policy changes that need to be consulted?" Again silent, "obviously not. Last topic, I don't care who did it or why they're doing it, no CSIs are to attempt a citizen arrest. I had that happen yesterday and if PD hadn't been nearby, I'd potentially have two dead CSIs."

"They've already been reprimanded." Grissom told him, "by you and me. It won't happen again."

Daryll huffed. "You always say that but your people are out of control Grissom."

"Woah, hold on." Ecklie put out a hand. "you and Max did the same thing four months ago. I remember it being worse since Max required stitches. You have no right to point fingers."

"And for once it's not our people who found themselves on suspension." Catherine stated.

Daryll sat up. "Right, your people. Because he couldn't stop himself from going after Sidle, night shift requires two supervisors. I guess you really like broken cases Grissom, I mean, Sidle is just another case to fix." He folded his arms. "Now we really know why she's so screwed up. Crazy mom kills dad, just a matter of time before she goes nuts also."

Not rising to the bait, Grissom looked right back at the day shift supervisor. "Are you finished?"

"Daryll, you need to watch your mouth." Ecklie told him while pointing. "Second, airing any personal information regarding anyone in this building violates at least five policies. I want you staying behind after this meeting so I can speak to you about what you just did."

Leaving the conference room, Catherine looked towards Grissom. "I knew this would happen so I told her to speak to Ecklie. He'd be the only one capable of protecting her against shit like Daryll."

"I'll talk to her but with Ecklie, I doubt she'll budge."

"I told her what you did when Ecklie wanted her fired. You may be in for a lecture regarding risking your job."

Grissom looked to Catherine. "I wish you hadn't."

"It was a mistake but we were talking about her blowing up at us. I figured that's why you went to bat for her at risk of your own job. Because you learned about her father."

"That's between us Catherine, I respectfully ask you leave it alone."

Getting home, Grissom heard music as he entered the townhouse. Sara had been gone from his office when he returned so he knew she'd gone home. She stood in the kitchen chopping fruit while Hank laid on his bed a few feet away. Sara looked up as he walked downstairs.

"Hey, how did your meeting go?"

"Combative." He placed a hand on her hip and kissed her temple. "Daryll aired your history in the meeting but Ecklie reprimanded him severely. He's on suspension for a week."

Pausing in her cutting, Sara was silent before speaking. "Catherine said to let Ecklie know but my interactions with Ecklie aren't always the best. I don't want him thinking I can't do my job."

"I don't think he thinks that, Sara. He went on the defensive very quickly once he realized what is going on. You and he may have problems but no one can blame you for something that happened when you were twelve."

Turning slightly, she watched his face. "What do you think I should do?"

"Talk to Ecklie. With this, he'll protect you. Your temper, suspensions, erroneously handling a case, those he won't protect you from. Something that happened when you were a child, he will."

"I'll talk to him tomorrow." She picked up the knife again and started back working on the cantaloupe melon in her hands. "You've been at work a while. Go shower and relax, the frittata should be out of the oven within the hour."

"I love it when you cook." He saw her smile despite being turned away from him.

After a moment she turned her head to look at him. "Even if I've practically forced you to become a vegetarian?"

"With what you cook Darlin', it's an even trade." He rubbed her lower back before walking off. "I doubt I'll ever return to meat if I can enjoy your cooking every day."

Sara chuckled. "Hmm, even if the boys don't trust my cooking."

"Their loss and my gain." As he disappeared to the bedroom, Sara couldn't help the laughter that came to her.

Another night of work yielded very little and it was only as morning etched across the sky did information finally pick up. Sara took ten minutes to head to Ecklie's office and knocked on the open door. The man waved her in as he signed various pieces of paperwork.

"Catherine suggested I speak to you about…" He cut her off.

"I'm already aware." He set his pen down and looked up at her. "After it was brought up in our meeting, against policy, I looked into it."

Sara nodded, "I hope you know it doesn't mean I can't do my job."

"Sara, you and I have never really seen eye to eye, I understand that. However, no one in this lab is allowed to air personal information like it's a bullet. The rumor mill gets nine things wrong and one thing right, but that's everyday stuff. The murder of your father being aired out, that's unacceptable. Just know discipline will happen if any member of management hears word of it. If you hear something, bring it to me."

"Thank you."

"To be honest, I have expected Gil to strangle Daryll but he was cool as a cucumber."

The brunette shrugged. "Likely because it wouldn't have helped anyone, especially me, if he'd done so."

"I want to tell you that I'm proud of the work you've done the past year." Ecklie told her. "You haven't blown up at a suspect or had any complaints. It's the first time in the last few years that you haven't."

Sara smiled. "Thanks."

"Due to the cross-supervision system, I need to equal out the team. Nick has the Lead CSI position under Grissom, given Sanders just became a CSI, the Lead CSI position under Catherine will be going to you. I need you submit your application within the next few days." He saw her narrowing her eyes. "It'll come with a pay increase, as small as it is."

"Okay." She nodded, "good talk."

As she turned the corner heading back into the central lab, Sara ran into Grissom. "Hey Gil, we're not having any luck the three teenagers from CC Drive. It's been two days, no one has come forward. Without an ID, it's like they never existed."

He glanced at her as they walked. "We need to get their faces out into the public, newspapers, billboards."

Opening her file, Sara handed him pictures of the deceased teens. "Well, maybe you could breathe a little bit more life into them."

He judged the pictures before speaking. "Yeah. I'm pretty good at mouth to mouth." As he walked away from her, she shook her head at his weird comment.

I wrote a work of how they got together. It's so detailed and beautiful in my opinion. I always wonder what made them stop ignoring the elephant in the room.

Let me know what you think if you so choose.