A/N: Another fantastic co-write and beta from Jellybean. Not sure when any more chapters will be ready, but when I know, you'll know. We hope you enjoy this chapter

CHAPTER 72

As Sara walked to her car, her mind couldn't help but revisit something that came up during her conversation with Karson.

Patrick Davies.

After watching that commercial that Ladd Sayers hoped to air for his political campaign, Sara couldn't help but think — Why did he use Grissom's likeness for the "I'll catch bad lawmen, too" bullshit, when he could have just as easily used Patrick Davies' likeness? He was, after all, the guy in prison.

After setting the flowers securely into her car, settling herself into the driver's seat and turning on the engine, Sara connected her Bluetooth to the car to make a phone call.

"Yes, hello, this is Sara Grissom. I am one of Dana's clients. Is she available for a quick question?" The receptionist on the other line put her on hold and the voice of the Grissom's lawyer filled the car. "Hey Sara. Is everything OK?"

Sara could tell Dana was clearly anxious about getting a call. She probably thought something else happened to Gil or he had changed his mind about the agreed legal strategy. "Nothing has changed since we saw you the other day."

"So, everything's OK with moving forward?"

"Yes, and that's why I called." Now it was Sara revealing a little anxiety. "I didn't know if you were aware of… I mean… I know you do your homework. I'm not saying you don't. Both you and Wilbur know what's going on…"

"Hey. Sara. It's cool. Spit it out."

"Patrick Davies," Sara said in a rush. "You know about him, right?"

"Patrick Davies," Dana repeated, a professional, yet tense timber in her voice. "You know, it's funny you mention him. Why wasn't he the guy in Sayers' commercial?"

"Yes!" Sara exclaimed. "I was talking with my boss and his name came up and that immediately came into my mind. I feel stupid I didn't say anything when you were at the house."

"Well, you know. Husband gets attacked out of nowhere. Your son could've been hurt. Your dog's more of a quantified hero than Rin Tin Tin and Lassie put together. Some smokin' hot chick was telling your husband to take his clothes off. You had stuff on your mind." The last line made Sara laugh, which Dana hoped would happen. "But seriously, Patrick Davies is definitely on my radar. Sara, there are serious dots that can be traced between Sayers and Davies, and I'm ready to confront Sayers about it. You got time for a quick rundown?"

"I'm driving in stop and go traffic. I'm ready to listen."

Dana outlined everything in a succinct manner that impressed Sara. When Dana spoke about a conversation with an informant inside Sayers' office, Sara became both grateful for lawyers going the distance for the family and frustrated at the same time. Like Karson said and like Sara knew from painful firsthand experience, Sayers was a political machine. But Patrick Davies seems to be a wrench in the machine that Sayers intended to bury as deep as possible.

After speaking for four full minutes without a word from Sara, Dana asked, "Sara? You still there? I didn't lose a signal, did I?"

"No. I'm here."

"It's a lot, but like I said I'm ready to confront Sayers with all the ammunition I can," Dana said. "How do you feel about that?"

Sara grabbed the steering wheel a little tighter than usual and took a second before responding. "Honestly?"

"Of course."

"I hope the shit hits the fan so hard Sayers regrets ever hearing the name of Dana Osorio."

Unbeknownst to Sara, the look on Dana's face could be described as nothing less than "fuck yeah confidence." "I have an appointment on the books with him in two days. And he'll hear from me two days from now, no matter what games he might play. I promise you that, Sara."

With her mind swirling after her conversation with Dana, Sara drove home on autopilot. She had not even registered a car was parked on street parallel to the front yard when she parked the car in her drive.

With her purse across her shoulder and her left arm carrying her bouquet, Sara opened the door to smell a wonderful aroma. But before she could check out what was cooking in the oven, a pint-sized giggle machine with a face full of something not readily identifiable was charging towards his mama and grabbing on her leg.

"Easy there Daniel. You'll knock me over," Sara said as she looked down at her son. "What is that all over your face?"

"That would be his father's meatball grinder."

Hearing Catherine's voice utter that statement made Sara look up with surprise. "Catherine. I didn't think about whose car that was in front of the house."

"I was me. Here. Let me get those for you," Catherine said, taking the bouquet out of Sara's hands and putting them safely on the counter.

"Thanks." Looking over her shoulder, she saw Grissom walking into the room. "Hey, hon."

"Hey, Catherine was hoping to see you. She brought us dinner. Something you will definitely like."

"Oh yeah?"

Grissom took Daniel from his mom. "I'll wash up Mr. Wonderful here, and put on the new clothes Catherine got him."

"Clothes? What's the occasion?" Sara asked as Grissom left.

"No occasion. I was at the Strip getting some food from Rodolfo's and there was an outfit I couldn't resist," Catherine said.

"Whoa. Did you say Rodolfo's?" Sara asked, making a beeline to the oven. She took out a large pan that had been warming in the appliance. She took it out and placed it on the breakfast counter where Catherine stood opposite of her with a coy smile on her face. Sara looked like a kid waiting to unwrap a Christmas present. She peeled off the aluminum foil and her expression mirrored that of a kid getting the perfect Christmas gift. "Oh my God. Is this what I think it is?"

"Spinach lasagna with ricotta and bechamel sauce. If I remember correctly the two of us scarfed that down and a couple of bottles of wine after a big case."

"The Garrigan case two years and 8 months ago."

Catherine laughed. "Do you seriously remember the date? It's not like the first time you had sex."

Sara turned to get two plates, two forks and a spatula. With the attention of a surgeon, she neatly made an incision into the pan. "No. It's not like the first time. It's way better, hence me remembering the date."

That garnered another laugh from Catherine. "You're too much." She watched as Sara was ready to offer a large piece. "Hey. This is for you. I've got to get going."

"You don't want any?"

"It's not that, I gotta get across town for an appointment, and I'm already cutting it close with traffic…"

"I'll cut it in half. We can think of it… like old times."

Catherine couldn't deny the olive branch presented to her. "You're right. I got a few minutes."

Cutting the piece in half and putting them on separate plates, Sara asked. "I'm guessing you heard about Gil?"

"Actually, I found him and Jim arguing in the lab parking lot this morning about that very bouquet over there. Jim was ready to strangle Gil as the two of them tried to arrange the flowers. I figured it might be best if I put the bouquet together."

Sara snorted. "Jim wrote on a sticky note that Gil was being a pain in the ass."

"You know how Gil is when he wants something done correctly," Catherine said.

"Don't we all?"

"I told Gil he could go into the lab and deliver the flowers with Jim, but … he didn't want to go in." Catherine watched as Sara's face, that had just been filled with joy, morphed. "And I totally understand why he said that. It's sad. Just … so sad. So, I stayed at the car and chatted with Gil. I actually didn't get the full story about his attack, not until I called Jim during his lunch. But I asked Gil if I could drop by, you know… to check on him. See Daniel. I hope you don't mind the intrusion."

Sara looked at Catherine. She could be arrogant and full of bluster. And she had hurt them more than might even be able to comprehend. But Sara could tell Catherine probably was thinking that very same things to herself. "I don't mind. I think it's nice of you."

"Gil mentioned you guys are thinking of leaving Vegas." To that, Sara simply offered a confident nod. And to that, Catherine took a resigning deep breath, before masking with Catherinesque facade. "Well, if you do, you better find another Rodolfo's because I'm not sending this shit in the mail."

"Eat, before this gets cold."

The two were enjoying their small portions when Grissom came back in with Daniel, who was wearing a "Don't mess with the BIG BRO" t-shirt and jeans with playing card patches on the butt and down the legs.

"Oh my God," Sara said.

"I know," Catherine said with a huge smile. "It's perfect, right?"

Catherine left a few minutes after finishing her slice of lasagna. Grissom made a salad and set the table while Sara relaxed. He put Daniel in his seat for dinner, and then brought the youngster's food, salad, drinks and the items Catherine purchased — which included garlic bread, pepperoni flowers, the meatball grinder and the "better than sex" lasagna.

Sara came to the table, and wordlessly went to the kitchen to retrieve the one item Grissom forgot — the flowers. When the couple sat down together, Grissom immediately cut a large portion of lasagna for Sara.

"I feel like I should tell you that piece is way too big, especially considering I had a small piece with Catherine."

Grissom gave her the side-eye. "You feel you should say that, or you are saying that?"

"I'll let you interpret it."

Grissom smiled and handed her the plate, no changes made. The two ate in comfortable silence, with Sara giving as much as attention to the flowers as her family.

Finally, he asked. "Do you like the flowers?"

"I love them, Gil," Sara said as she reached her hand to grasp his. "You choose some such… unexpected blooms."

Grissom pointed to each bloom in turn, explaining the meaning behind each. "Camellia, means, 'my destiny is in your hands.' These are purple hyacinth, appropriately meaning, 'please forgive me.'" He pressed on, ignoring Sara's attempts to protest. Pointing to a two-toned bloom he explained, "Two-toned carnations, because 'I cannot be without you,' and finally, if you thought roses were the only passionate flower in the garden, you'd be wrong." He pointed to a bunch of small, delicate purple-coloured blooms. "Heliotrope represents, eternal love."

Sara stared at him. "You know, I love you so much, and then you do this… I just love you more."

He smiled, pleased by Sara's reaction. "You do the same thing for me." He squeezed her hand. "In the past three months, there were so many times you could have run away and made a better life for you and our children. Even after watching that video that could potentially crush my ability to support this family, you not only didn't run, you asked if my mother could move in with us."

"You're my family, Gil. I don't ever want to run from you."

Grissom retreated from his seat across from Sara. He brushed his hand in his son's hair and kissed the top of his head before going to Sara. He gestured her to move her chair parallel to the table, and when she did, he kneeled before her.

"When I got out of prison, you have said I don't have anything to make up for, but I still missed two months with my family. I almost threw away what might have been my only chance to be with you again by hurting you and then being a fool and hurting myself. Even with me trying to recover, my past still catches up with me, making things tough on you again." He bit his lip to stem a sob, but couldn't avoid the tear escaping his eye. "You have given me so much, and I promise you I will spend the rest of my life – our life – showing you exactly how much you mean to me."

Sara didn't stem her own sob. And as tears flowed down her cheeks, she wiped the stray tear off Grissom's own cheek. "You said in your note I make your heart race. Well, you keep my heart beating." She then placed her hand on her belly. "My heart and our children's hearts."

She bent down and Grissom met her half way as they shared a strong kiss, full of love. Their foreheads touched and they stayed like that for a moment until Grissom took his time to get up. His knees cracked a bit, which only caused Sara to smile and gesture her head toward his seat. He returned there, placed another kiss upon Daniel's head and sat down.

Sara and Gil shared another look of love. And then they resumed to eating. Dinner had never tasted so satisfying.