New Territory 9/?
Summary: Set 8 months after 'Little Secrets.' Everything in the Sanders household couldn't be better, but a ghost from the past wreak havoc on his life. Can he find a way to get his life back before it's ripped away for good?
Disclaimer: I only own Alex, Edith and the evil Rebecca
Rating: R
-break-
"God." Sara moaned angling her head allowing Greg the room to suck deeper into the curve of her neck.
After celebrating their engagement as a family, they laid Alex down, each reading stories before the young girl was knocked out from exhaustion.
Once they made it back to their room Greg didn't waste any time pulling her into his arms, his lips devouring hers before taking up residence on her neck and collarbone, his pace slowing.
"I love you so much." He breathed catching her eye, his breath heaving deep in his chest.
Palming his cheek Sara bit her lip slightly swollen lip, smiling. "I love you…and Alex beyond words."
Grinning Greg captured her lips again guiding her to their bed, showing her how much love he had for her.
-break-
"You seem happy." Nick commented as he and Greg straightened their suits after using the bathroom in the courthouse.
Adjusting his tie in the mirror Greg bit back a grin remembering the night before. "I…" He started but stopped realizing his blunder. "Well…Alex and I proposed to Sara last night…she said yes."
"Damn man…congrats." The Texan patted him gingerly on the shoulder as they stepped out of the restroom. "And don't worry about this custody case. You got it locked. Grissom, Catherine, Warrick, Brass, and even Archie have already submitted character references and you know Sara and I will take the stand if you need."
Taking a breathe, Greg tried to calm the nerves that even the engagement couldn't overshadow. "Thanks Nick." Seeing his attorney wave them over, the tech cringed as uncertainty filled his belly, his hand grabbing for Sara's as the four of them walked into the courtroom.
-break-
Rebecca's smirk leaving the stand was nearly unbearable for Greg as the judge turned to him and his lawyer.
"Mr. Sanders, I have received many letters on your behalf, however if you have more evidence to present then now would be the time before I can determine a verdict."
Turning to the younger man his attorney offered a smile. "Did you want Sara or Nick to take the stand?"
"Do you think I should?"
"I think your case is solid without either of their testimony but if you feel more comfortable than you can."
Looking between his friend and fiancé Greg knew either would jump to his aide in an instant, praising him as a father but they didn't know him at the beginning, and he felt that was more important for the judge to know. "No, I got this."
"Alright." Turning back to the judge he stated firmly. "Mr. Sanders would like to take the stand."
Nodding Judge Appleton pointed to the witness stand. "Proceed."
Stepping up to the big wooden chair behind the wall Greg nearly lost it. Pulling in a breath he put his hand on the bible reciting his rights to the bailiff. Once said he settled in the chair ready to be bombarded.
"Alright Mr. Sanders please tell us what transpired between you and Ms. Stein from the start of her pregnancy leading up to where we stand now in the courtroom."
"Well, I didn't know Rebecca, Ms. Stein, was pregnant. I didn't know of Alexandra until she was left on my doorstep with this card attached." Greg placed the card down allowing his lawyer to hand the card to the judge.
"We'd like to submit into evidence item 15-A."
Judge Appleton read over the card, a stoic expression on his face. "You may proceed Mr. Sanders."
Clearing his throat Greg nodded. "When I first read the card, I was shocked, wracking my brain trying to figure out what I did. Then Alex cried and it didn't matter. I picked up her car seat and called my boss who helped me get set up formula, wipes, diapers, and a crib. My boss, Gil Grissom, even insisted that I get my DNA tested against Alex's."
"A procedure of which you could do yourself, given your job description." His lawyer supplied with a smile.
The tech nodded his eyes moving to Nick and Sara, neither had heard this part of the story. "It is but having been in many courtrooms himself as a crime scene investigator he didn't want me to run it. So, he had our dayshift at the time do it. When I saw my name as a positive match, 99.97%." Greg's eyes filled with unshed tears as his gaze moved from his fiancé to Rebecca, to finally the judge. "From that day on with help from my boss to our mutual detective friend Jim Brass and my neighbor Edith Halik, I have been able to take care of Alex. Feed her, clothe her and love her in every way I possibly can." Turning back to Sara, he smiled. "And now with my fiancé we're giving Alex the family she's always deserved. Before being summoned for this case the last time I saw Rebecca Stein was when I caught her with my best friend in our bed."
There were some gasps heard in the courtroom but his lawyer, John Pays redirected back to him. "Was there anything more you'd like to add?"
"Yes…" Turning to the judge Greg started speaking, candidly, tears pooling in his eyes. "I know courts, even Nevada courts, tend to favor the mother in cases like this and I understand. But Alex didn't have a mother, at least not before this last year, when my girlfriend…I'm sorry fiancé, Sara Sidle, stepped up. She wouldn't even accept my proposal until I did it with Alex because she knew if I didn't Alex would be sad, and she didn't want that." Seeing the judges smile, Greg offered his own, finishing. "Please Judge Appleton, don't take away my little girl. She's the most precious person in this world to me and if she is taken from me, I'll die." He finished with tears pooling in his eyes, his breathing heavy.
Offering him a smile, Judge Appleton nodded back to the table his attorney was at. "You may step down Mr. Sanders. We will take a recess and come back at 2pm."
-break-
The wait was agonizing.
Nick had taken them to lunch while they waited for the judge to come back with his verdict but for Greg lunch was the last thing on his mind.
"Greg, baby, please try and eat something." Sara smiled encouragingly, her hand squeezing his thigh.
"I'm not hungry." Greg sighed, pushing his untouched plate back, his eyes drifting outside the window.
"Its gonna be ok Greggo." Nick smiled reassuringly, turning back to Sara, his eyes begged for help.
Sara nodded back, turning to Greg she wrapped her arm around his shoulder burying her face into his neck. "We got this…when this is all over the only other time I want to be back here, other than work, is when I adopt Alex."
Shocked Greg turned to her wide eyed, their eyes meeting over his shoulder. "Really?"
"Of course." The brunette grinned, her hand caressing down his cheek. "I want to be her mother as much as I want to be your wife."
"I love you." Greg whispered leaning forward capturing her lips in a fiery passionate kiss.
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