AN: I'm glad everyone liked the reunion! Dialog in italics in this chapter is sign language. I don't know much about it, so I've decided to stick with 'regular' sentence structure, for clarity

Thanks to WalkerTRngr for the beta help

Disclaimer: I don't own anything relating to CSI

Chapter 7

Grissom drives from the hospital to PD, so Jim can call ahead and get Henry to meet them to pick up the blood sample for a tox screen. He promises to run the tests immediately and call with the results as soon as he has them, and then sprints back towards the lab.

"Ah, the energy of youth," Jim notes drily.

Sara snorts and nudges him with her hip as she passes. "Come on, old man."

Smiles meet them as soon as they enter the building, the receptionist from yesterday jumping to her feet and leaning over the desk to gush over Mattie, people popping out of rooms as they pass to say how glad they are everything had a happy ending.

When they reach Jim's office, it's already full of people – Greg and D.B., Catherine and Morgan, Al and David, and a young woman Grissom doesn't recognize but assumes must be the nanny, Joelle. A spontaneous applause starts up when they spot the newcomers, which makes Mattie laugh and clap his hands as well.

"Oh, buddy, I've missed you!" Joelle exclaims as soon as Sara and Mattie enter the room, reaching for the little boy. Sara hands him over without hesitation, and over the next ten minutes or so, he makes his way around the room, being hugged and fawned over by everyone in turn, before Greg reclaims him and settles on Jim's couch.

Sara sits down next to them, pulling a jar of baby food and a juice pack out of her bag, along with a bright green, plastic spoon. "You hungry, baby?"

Mattie doesn't respond, but he does eagerly open his mouth at the first spoonful of orange mush.

As he eats, most of the room's occupants file out, leaving only Grissom, Greg, and Joelle, along with Sara and Mattie. Catherine slips by him with a quiet request that he not disappear on her before they have a chance to catch up a little, and he agrees with a nod, and Jim says something about catching breakfast before disappearing for a meeting with Ecklie.

Joelle has been perched on Jim's desk since handing Mattie over to D.B. earlier, but now, she crosses the room silently, leaning against the wall next to him.

"So… it's nice to meet you," she says, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "Put a face to the name."

For a moment, he wonders what Sara's told her about him, about them. She can't possibly have a positive impression of him, but then again, he doubts Sara put any blame at his feet, even though it's where it belongs.

"It's nice to meet you too," he replies, because that's what you say, isn't it? "You're obviously important to both Sara and Mattie."

"They're important to me." There's a hint of steel in her voice, and a hard flash in her eyes for a moment. "So, how long are you planning on staying in town?"

Cutting right to the chase. He likes her.

Turning his gaze back to Sara, who's found some wet wipes and is removing the traces of a good meal from Mattie's face, he feels a smile tug at his mouth. "I haven't decided yet."

Joelle doesn't respond for so long, he glances over to see what's going on, only to find a half-smile on her face. "Good," she says, nodding once before looking away from him.

He's not sure why, but he feels like he just passed some sort of test.

Fifteen minutes or so later, matching yawns from Greg and Mattie make Sara laugh.

"How long has it been since you slept, Greggo?" she asks.

He rolls his eyes. "I'm fine."

"I know, but there's nothing that requires your attention right now," she continues. "Dayshift's handling that… woman's house, they'll process everything. Go home. Sleep."

He sighs, but does nod. "You're right, I probably should. Are you staying for the interrogation?"

Grissom catches the hesitation on Sara's face. "I'm not sure," she admits to his surprise. "I was thinking I would, but now I don't know… I'll see how I'm feeling when they're starting."

He wants to tell her to just go home, that she doesn't need to put herself through that, but he knows it has to be her own decision.

Greg must be thinking the same thing, judging by his reply. "I know you're not going to listen to me, but I will still say just go home. Watch the video, read the report, but there's no way Jim's going to let you into the room, and what good is watching through the window going to do?"

"I know," Sara replies. "I know! I just…"

"I get it," Greg says when she trails off. "Just putting in my two cents."

She offers him a smile. "I know. Now stop stalling, hand over the kid, and go home!"

Greg snorts a laugh before transferring Mattie to Sara's lap and standing, stretching a little and yawning again. "Let me know if you need anything, OK?" he says, squeezing her shoulder. Drawing level with Grissom, he offers a tired smile. "It was good to see you again, Griss. Team breakfast before you and Catherine leave town again?"

"That sounds good, Greg."

The smile on the younger man's face brightens, making Grissom smile in return, and then he's gone.

"Do you know how long it'll be before that woman is interrogated?" Joelle asks.

"No, I have no idea," he replies. "As I understand it, she was arrested right before Jim brought Matthew back, so she should have been booked by now, but it might still be a while."

Joelle gives Sara a questioning look. "If you want to hang around for that, I can go back to your place with Mattie, he looks to be about ready for a nap."

Sara looks down at her son, who is indeed blinking up at her sleepily. Before she can answer, though, Jim appears in the doorway.

"I just talked to Henry – no signs of any toxins or drugs or anything else in Mattie's blood, so that's good."

She lets out a long breath. "Good, that's a relief. Any news on the suspect?"

Jim nods. "That's the other reason I'm here – she's in interrogation and I'm on my way there. Now, you cannot sit in on the interrogation, I hope you understand that, but do you want to watch?"

Sara hesitates again, eyes skipping between Jim and Mattie. A moment later, she sighs. "No. I… I want to see it, but right now, I think it's best if we head home. Try to get back to normal as soon as possible."

Grissom can see Jim's shoulders relax a little, and he understands the feeling. "I think that's a good idea," the detective agrees with a smile. "I'll get you a DVD with the interview."

"Thanks." Sara rises to her feet, getting Mattie settled on her hip. "We'll head home then, just come by whenever you get a moment."

"Will do."

She glances at Grissom. "Are you coming? Your car's still at my place."

He hesitates for a moment, because he could go with her, pick up his car and just… leave. But he doesn't want to.

"I think I'll hang around for the interrogation," he says, because he is curious about this woman. "I'm sure you and Mattie could use some time on your own to settle down right now. Jim can give me a ride later, right?"

The man in question gives him a suspicious look but nods. "Sure, no problem."

He thinks – hopes? – that Sara looks a little disappointed, but the expression is soon gone, and she nods. "Sure, that's fine," she says, her voice carefully even, and he bites back a smile, because he knows that voice, and she's definitely at least a little upset. Hopefully that he's not going back to the house with them, and not that he's not picking up his car immediately so she doesn't have to see him again… but no, if she wanted him to leave, she would tell him straight up.

He follows Jim down the corridors to interrogation room 2, where Conrad's waiting. His eyebrows rise when he spots them. "Sara's not joining us? And here I was all ready to give her the run-down of why she can't sit in on the interrogation."

"She knew she wouldn't be allowed to," Jim replies with a shrug. "She wants to see the interrogation, but she decided to go home with Mattie, try to get him back into their normal routine, I suppose. I'll take a DVD over to her later."

"Good, good." Conrad turns his attention to Grissom. "Are you here as a spectator or did you want in on the action?"

For a moment, he considers asking if he can join them, but it might be safer if he stays behind the glass. "Just watching," he replies.

"OK, then. Let's get started."

Conrad opens the door and Jim walks through it first, while Grissom opens the door to the observation room. It hasn't changed at all since the last time he was here, and he pulls a chair up to the glass through which he can see the interrogation room next door. A woman, looking older than her thirty-eight years, is sitting at the table, hunched in on herself on the hard metal chair.

She looks up when the chairs across the table scrape against the floor, eyes jumping between Jim and Conrad before focusing on the table, but doesn't say anything. The two men get settled, and Jim places a case folder on the table between them while Conrad sets up the video camera to tape the interview.

"Hi, Melissa, my name is Jim, this is Conrad, and we need to ask you a few questions. Is that OK?"

She nods almost imperceptibly, not looking up from the table, where she's drawing patterns with a finger.

"You're entitled to have an attorney present," Conrad informs her. "Do you understand that? Do you want an attorney?"

She shakes her head, which Grissom knows any defense lawyer worth their salt will be able to argue doesn't qualify as waiving her right to counsel. On the other hand, odds that this will go to trial are pretty low.

"Your son, Timothy…" Her head snaps up at the name, a bright smile appearing on her face, and despite the circumstances, Grissom can't help but feel sorry for her. "How old is he?"

The smile is replaced by a frown. "You… you know how old he is, you took him… you took him from me!" She pushes her hands against the table, rising halfway to her feet and pointing an accusing finger at Jim. "Where is he? Where is my son?"

"OK, OK, let's calm down," he says, trying to defuse the situation, and to Grissom's surprise, she settles back down, returning to drawing patterns on the table.

"When was Timothy born?" Conrad asks, taking a different route.

"April second, 2004. It was a Friday. He was a day late, he was supposed to be born on the first. My little April fool's baby. He just had a birthday, you know."

"And what day is it today?"

A frown. "It's April… third?"

"Fourth. What year?"

"No." She shakes her head, again turning in on herself, arms wrapping around her torso.

"Melissa, look at me, please." Grissom is surprised by the gentleness in Jim's voice. He waits until she looks up again. "You know what year it is, don't you?"

She's shaking her head even as she responds. "2015."

"That's right. So, the little boy in your house wasn't Timothy, was he?"

"No, no, that's my son. Mine! You had no right to take him!"

Conrad opens the folder and extracts a large, glossy photo. He puts it down on the table in front of Melissa, waiting until she picks it up, gently tracing a finger over it. "That's your son Timothy, Melissa, isn't it? When he was eight. Before…"

"No!" It's like an explosion, in an instant she's on her feet, cowering in the corner. "No, he's not… he's not…"

Jim and Conrad don't do anything, just sit there until she goes quiet, rocking back and forth, her hands clamped over her ears and her lips moving in a silent mantra. Jim glances over his shoulder at the one-way mirror before, as one, they get up from the table and leave the room. Grissom stays where he is for a moment longer, sighing as he watches the broken woman on the other side of the glass.

The door opening pulls his attention, and he turns to find Jim in the doorway. "I don't know if there's any point in Sara watching that, but I'll put it on a DVD for her anyway. You want a ride over when I'm done?"

Grissom hesitates for a moment. Part of him wants to say yes, because he wants to see her, wants to be there for her, but on the other hand, she just got Matthew back. He said he would give them some time to get settled, and it hasn't even been an hour since they left.

Besides, he should probably pay his mother a visit.

"Actually, if you don't mind, could you give me a ride to my mother's place instead?" he asks. "I'm sure Sara would appreciate some more time alone with Mattie. Besides, if my mother finds out I'm in town and I don't come by…"

Jim snorts. "Say no more. Let me just get this done." He holds up the camera. "Meet me at reception in ten minutes?"

"Perfect."

Half an hour later, he's directing his friend onto his mother's street.

"So," Jim starts when he's pulled up to the curb. "You heading back to Sara's place tomorrow?"

There's definitely some sort of undertone there, but Grissom doesn't want to get into all of that right now, if he has a choice in the matter. "Probably, yeah. But I can take a cab, you don't need to drive me around all over town."

"I don't mind," Jim replies. "I'm off until Monday anyway, and it's not like I have much else to do. Call me, OK?"

Grissom has a feeling any objections will not be accepted. "OK, I will. Thanks."

"Give my best to Mrs. G."

With a nod, he gets out of the car and walks up the path to the front door of the small house, pushing the button for the doorbell connected to a system of flashing lights inside. A minute or so later, he hears the lock turn, and then the door opens.

To say his mother looks shocked is an understatement, and for a moment, he wonders if maybe he should have sent her a message before coming over. She is almost eighty-five, after all, he doesn't want to give her a heart attack.

"Hi, Mom," he signs when she just stands there.

His greeting snaps her out of it, and her hands start flying. "Gil. What are you doing here? Why didn't you tell me you were coming? Is something wrong?"

He holds up his hands to get her to slow down. "Can we go inside before you start the third degree?"

"Of course."

She leads the way into the kitchen where she puts the kettle on for tea – he's immediately transported back to his childhood, where tea was the universal cure for everything from a cold to a broken heart.

"Now, are you going to tell me what you're doing here?" she asks again when they're sitting at the table, both nursing a cup of steaming tea.

"I can't just stop by to see my mother?" At her raised eyebrow, he sighs. "Have you been watching the news lately?"

Betty frowns at the turn in the conversation. "What does that have to do with you being here?"

"A little boy was kidnapped on Thursday," he explains. "It's been all over the news."

The expression on her face turns sad at that. "Yes, I saw that. Poor child. And poor family. I hope they find him soon."

"He was actually found this morning," Grissom tells her.

"Oh, that's a relief. I still don't understand what that has to do with you? Did the police call you in? But why would they need an entomologist for a kidnapping case?"

He sighs. "No, they didn't call me in. That little boy – Matthew – he's Sara's son."

She stares at him for a long moment. "Sara's son? But… is that why you…"

"No!" He holds up a hand to stop her. "No, Mom. Sara would never do that." He hesitates for a moment, because he never told his mother they were trying to get pregnant. "We were… before the divorce, we were talking about trying IVF. She decided to go ahead with it on her own, after we…"

He braces himself for the questions, but they don't come. Instead, she just squeezes his hand. "How is she?" she finally asks. "I can't imagine how hard this must have been for her, but she got him back, right?"

"Yeah." He smiles at the memory of the reunion. "He seems completely unharmed, hopefully he won't remember much of this when he's older. And Sara… she's strong. She probably won't let him out of her sight for a while, but she'll be OK."

Betty studies him for a moment, eyes sharp. "So, you saw the news and came to support her?"

He shrugs. "I… I needed to be here."

"And now?"

That's the question, isn't it? "Now… I don't know."

Mattie keeps up a continuous babbling monologue from the backseat the entire drive home, making Sara smile. He seems to be his usual happy, talkative self, which is a relief, and gives her hope that maybe the events of the last forty-eight hours won't have a lasting effect on him.

Seeing Grissom's car in the driveway makes her breath catch for a moment. She's not sure why he decided not to come with them, maybe it really was just that he wanted to give Mattie some time to get settled, but she can't help but think that he's already thinking about leaving.

Which shouldn't be a surprise. He doesn't live here anymore, after all. Apparently, he lives in San Diego…

"You OK?" Joelle's voice pulls her out of her thoughts, and she forces a smile onto her face.

"Fine, yeah. Come on, the food's getting cold."

They picked up some Thai food on the way, since neither of them have eaten since breakfast, and after getting Mattie settled in his playpen within view of the dining table, they settle in to eat.

"So…" Joelle starts after a few minutes. "That was the famous Gil Grissom."

Sara freezes for a moment, her fork halfway to her mouth. "Famous?"

Joelle shrugs. "The way you and Greg talk about him, yeah. He seems nice."

"That's your takeaway? 'He seems nice'?"

She smirks. "Well, I wasn't sure you wanted to hear that he's obviously still completely, head over heels in love with you and that I'm pretty sure all you have to do is ask him to stay and he will."

Sara almost chokes on her vegetarian pad thai. "Where on earth did you get that idea?" she gets out after a moment, reaching for her water and gulping down half the contents of the glass in one go.

"Oh, please, it's so obvious," Joelle says with an eyeroll. "I don't even know him, and I could tell within a minute of seeing the two of you together."

"Yeah, well, you're way off," Sara retorts, focusing on her food to avoid Joelle's annoyed look. "He's apparently been back in the country for a while, and he hasn't reached out. How does that work with your little… theory?"

"He's obviously scared. Worried you've moved on."

The words bring back the events of last night, Grissom scrutinizing the photos in the bookcase, trying to (surreptitiously) figure out where Matthew's father was.

Could Joelle be right?

Before she can continue too far down that particular rabbit hole, Sara wrenches her thoughts away.

"Yeah, well, he's the one that filed for divorce," she says. "So, he only has himself to blame."

Joelle's quiet for long enough she starts to think she might have let the topic go. But no such luck.

"You haven't, though," she finally says, a little hesitant. "Moved on, I mean. So why not…"

"No," Sara interrupts her. "Jo, please. You don't know everything that happened between us, I can't just… I can't go there again, OK? I can't put myself out there only for him to…"

Joelle reaches across the table and squeezes Sara's hand when she trails off. "I'm sorry," she offers. "I really do believe he would jump at it if you so much as hinted that you wanted to give things another try, but I understand if you can't. I won't say anything else."

Swallowing down a lump, Sara offers a quick smile before getting up and gathering up their plates and cutlery to put into the dishwasher.

"Do you want me to leave?" Joelle asks while her back's turned.

Sara closes the dishwasher and turns, a genuine smile on her lips. "No. No, stay, please." She glances into the living area, where her son has fallen asleep in his playpen. "Mattie's obviously overdue for his nap, I'll go put him down, why don't you pick out a movie we can watch or something?"

Joelle brightens immediately. "OK. I'll get some popcorn going too. It is Saturday, after all, and after the last couple of days, I say we've earned it."