A/N: I see that some of you are reading/favoriting my old IPS fanfiction - and that makes me so happy! The series never explained how Norah got her name - so I made something up in this chapter. I love the singer Norah Jones, and she fits the timeline.
Norah woke up for her usual middle of the night feeding, but Mary was prepared and had a bottle of formula in her bedroom, so she didn't have to leave her sanctuary to see if her family was still out in the living room.
She had no choice but to venture out when Norah woke up at ten, screaming the house down for breakfast. Mary briefly put a pillow over her head to muffle the shrieks of her offspring, but it didn't help – the sounds penetrated the barrier, and she threw it across the room in frustration. She shuffled across the floor, shoving long strands of blonde hair out of her face yet something inside her softened a bit when Norah's screams reduced to whimpers when she bent over the side of the crib.
"Morning, bug," she murmured as she lifted her daughter and bounced her gently, the last of her cries subsiding. "That's better – who needs an alarm when I have you, hmm?"
She quickly changed Norah's diaper and then opened her bedroom door only to be confronted with both her mother and sister.
"Here," Jinx said softly, handing her a bottle of formula. "I was just coming to get her – I was going to let you sleep."
"Thanks," Mary took the bottle and popped it into Norah's mouth, watching as she greedily gulped the contents down. "Who can sleep through that racket? What are you both still doing here?"
"We were catching up and then we sort of fell asleep on the couch," Brandi explained as they followed in Mary's wake to the kitchen.
Mary looked at the disaster – dirty dishes heaped in the sink from last night's dinner and wine glasses with sparkling cider still in them. She went over to the coffee pot and held it up, staring at the empty carafe.
"I'll run down to the coffee shop, sweet pea, and get the three of us some pastries and fresh coffee for breakfast – sound good?" Jinx cooed as she reached for her purse and blew her girls kisses, planted a wet smooch on the top of Norah's head and left, slamming the front door behind her.
"And you sit right there with Norah – I'll clean this up," Brandi insisted.
Mary blinked in surprise as she sat down. "You're going to do something in the kitchen?"
"Hey-" Brandi snapped a dishtowel in her big sister's direction. "It's not cooking – it's cleaning. I do know how to do that."
Mary snorted. "You lived with me for years, Squish – I have lots of material evidence that states otherwise."
Brandi laughed. "You're snippy this morning – I mean extra snippy. What's up?"
Mary shifted Norah to her other hip, watching the formula in the bottle as it disappeared. "I'm just ready to get back to work – you know how much I enjoy my job. I never pictured – I never intended to be –" she fumbled to a stop as Norah finished her bottle and Mary lifted her to a shoulder, patting her back to encourage burping.
"Peter and are back now – and better than ever – so our offer still stands."
"What offer?"
"To raise Norah."
Mary involuntarily clutched her closer. "Are you nuts? She's my daughter-"
Brandi paused in the act of loading the dishwasher. "You were sure singing a different tune when you were pregnant – you insisted that you were giving her up for adoption. What changed, Mer?"
Norah whimpered in her tight hold, and she loosened her grip. When her daughter continued to fuss, she knew Norah was still hungry. Mary wandered over to the cupboard and stared at the collection of small jars before choosing one and holding it out for her daughter's approval.
"Yams?"
Norah cooed and waved her arms, batting the jar Mary was holding.
"I'll take that as a yes since you can't talk yet."
Brandi watched this exchange in amazement. Maternal was one of the last words she would ever use to describe her big sister, even though Mary had practically raised her after their father abandoned all of them.
"Squish?"
The sound of her nickname brought her back to the present. "What?"
"You're staring at me – is something wrong?"
Brandi shook her head as she watched Mary feed Norah pureed yams. "No, I just – I'm glad you decided to keep her."
Mary sighed. "I don't know that it was a conscious decision. I just remember walking into the NICU and she was lying there – so tiny and helpless. She was even smaller than you were, Squish."
"But look at her now – look at those chubby cheeks! She's got the strong Shannon blood, Mer. She's a survivor." Brandi left the dirty dishes and came to sit next to her sister. "Why did you name her Norah?"
"Well, it's not like there's a family name to pass on, is there?" Mary's tone was bitter as she fed her daughter another bite.
"Mary-"
Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment before she opened them, keeping her focus on Norah. "I was terrified when I was pregnant, Brandi. I mean, our lives are so fucked up-"
"Language!"
Mary rolled her eyes. "She can't talk yet-"
"But she can hear you!"
"Okay, okay. Our lives are so messed up – I didn't want to be the one responsible for fuc- messing up a life that I had a huge part in creating-"
Brandi frowned. "I don't understand what this has to do with her name."
Mary swung her head to look at her baby sister, and Brandi nearly gasped aloud at the raw emotion she saw in her sister's eyes. She reached out and grasped Mary's free hand and to her surprise, Mary didn't pull away.
"I had panic attacks when I was pregnant – I felt like I couldn't breathe – that I was drowning."
"I didn't know – you never said anything-"
"You and mom were busy planning your wedding – and I knew that your own nerves were in a fragile state-"
"You think?" Brandi gave a weak giggle. "But - you did talk to someone?"
"Marshall found me in my car after one of my appointments – when I heard Norah's heartbeat for the first time – it all became real. He didn't say anything, just slipped into the passenger seat and put a CD into the player. The singer had the most soothing voice – I hadn't heard her music before – Marshall told me later her name was Norah Jones-"
"I love her!" Brandi exclaimed, letting go of Mary's hand. "Did you name my niece after her?"
"I guess I did – Marshall let me keep the CD – and whenever I felt overwhelmed, I would listen to it. Her music was the only thing that made me feel calm – well, aside from talking to Marshall." Mary smiled at the memory and Brandi bit her lip, wondering if she should voice her thoughts.
"Mary, I don't want to pry-"
"Then don't." Mary stood up to get a wet cloth to clean Norah's face and hands.
"But even you have to know that Marshall's in love with you."
Mary's hands paused in the act of wiping her daughter's face before she turned and threw an unreadable look over her shoulder. "I'm not sure what that has to do with-"
Brandi gasped. "You DO know!"
Mary rolled her eyes. "It was a long time ago – he's with Abigail now – they're living together – and the man's practically ready to propose!"
"Oh my God," Brandi breathed. "You love him too."
"Leave it alone, Squish." Mary unstrapped Norah from her highchair.
"Why? Can't you see it? He's over here all the time – helping you with Norah- cooking you dinner-"
"He's my best friend – and Norah's godfather. Nothing more."
Brandi laughed. "Mary-"
"No. Leave it alone. I mean it. Marshall's happy and – I'm happy for him."
"You don't sound happy-"
"That's because I haven't had my coffee yet. Where the hell is Jinx with breakfast?"
Ethan was quiet after leaving Dr. Tim's office. Away from his twin sisters', he usually took the opportunity to talk about anything that was on his mind and it was only when he was quiet that his parents knew he was chewing on something serious.
"Mama?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Am I going to be like Nana?"
Sara's heartbeat quickened as she locked eyes with her son in the rear-view mirror. "What do you mean?"
Ethan shrugged. "Nana can't hear. She talks with her hands."
Sara pulled into a parking space and cut the engine. She got out and opened his door, reaching inside to undo his seat belt. Ethan didn't move from his car seat, instead looking up at her with serious eyes as he finished his thought.
"Nana can't hear – is that what's happening to me?"
Sara held out her arms. "Come here, sweetheart." Ethan leapt into her embrace and buried his face in the nape of her neck. She kicked his door shut and walked slowly over to a park bench, sitting down with her boy in her lap. "You can still hear me talking to you right now, yes?"
He nodded against her.
"And you can hear the birds in the trees – and the traffic – and the other kids in the park playing nearby?"
Again, he nodded before he pulled away and played with the scarf around her neck. "But not with this ear." He tapped his right ear.
"Grasshopper," she addressed him by his nickname. "How long have you not heard well out of that ear?"
He shrugged. "I don't know – awhile, I guess. It doesn't hurt, mama."
She cuddled him close. "That's good. Why didn't you tell me or daddy?"
He shrugged again. "Scared-"
"Of what?"
"Kids hurt me."
Sara frowned. "The other kids at school?"
He nodded. "I want to play with them but-"
"You don't hear what they are saying all the time," Sara finished, understanding the problem and Ethan's frustration.
"And they call me names."
"Oh E," Sara sighed as she wrapped him up tight in her arms and spoke into his left ear. "I'll talk to Ms. Tyler and explain what's going on and then she can talk to your class. I'm sure once everyone knows, things will be better."
She waited for him to nod before she continued.
"As for you becoming like Nana, I don't know the answer to that yet. Nana lost her hearing when your daddy was a little boy. You are just starting to lose your hearing – and only in one ear. Dr. Tim is sending you to a special ear doctor who can help you."
"The new doctor can save my hearing?"
"I don't know that either – but Dr. Tim says she is a very good doctor and she's also his friend, so-"
"Can we go see her right now?"
Sara smiled. "No, E. We'll have wait until Dr. Tim calls her and can set up an appointment for us. And I thought it would be nice if Daddy came too-"
His shoulders slumped. "I have to wait?"
"I'm afraid so – but I thought we could get veggie corn dogs for you and your sisters. Are you hungry?"
He jumped off her lap and twirled in a circle. "I'll race you!"
Grace had long ago grown accustomed to being the only Chinese person in her classes. She had run into a few other Chinese students at NMU, but they were few and far between. Mary and Marshall had warned her when she arrived in Albuquerque that the Chinese community was a small one, and she needed to do her best to blend in. Grace immediately cut her hair in a short bob and dyed it a deep red. Her wardrobe contained no kimonos or silk floral prints – she had gone out and bought jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes to blend in with the other students on campus. To the casual outside observer, she looked like a typical American Chinese student studying forensic science. It helped that her mother had been an American, and that she had been born and bred in San Francisco. She wasn't fluent in Mandarin or Cantonese – though she understood enough to get by in a pinch from listening in on all her uncle's business meetings over the years.
So when she heard someone speaking Mandarin when she was touring the farm, her heart nearly stopped. Her eyes immediately scanned the area and landed on a Chinese man standing in the shadow of a tree, talking on a cell phone. Grace shivered and tightened the scarf around her neck.
"Grace? Is something wrong?" Cindy asked, placing a hand on her coat sleeve.
Grace jumped at the contact but then gave her classmate a nervous smile. "I was just wondering if Bowen was giving Mr. Brown any trouble-"
Cindy smiled. "I'm sure he's fine – you fed him on the way here – he's probably sleeping by now."
Grace nodded, her eyes still staring at the stranger as he hung up and his gaze locked with hers.
It can't be – there was no way he could have found me. It can't be Weng – but those eyes. I'll never forget his eyes –
"Daddy!"
Her attention was diverted by a small child running across the open field to Dr. Grissom's side. She watched as the older man beamed, caught him in his arms and then tossed him in the air.
"Gil!"
A tall woman with dark hair joined them, and Dr. Grissom leaned in to kiss her, pulling away quickly as their son protested.
"That could have been us, Lianhua*."
Grace stiffened at the sound of his voice behind her, fear making her blood grow cold. "We-"
"Don't speak, just listen."
She swallowed nervously and nodded.
"You are going to do exactly as I say and none of your classmates will get hurt. You are going to get back on that bus and act naturally. When you get to the university, I will be waiting for you. We're going on a little trip, just the three of us."
She licked her lips. "Three?"
"Don't play dumb – I know about the baby – I saw you with him this morning."
She shook her head frantically as her mind raced. "He's not mine – yours. He's Mr. Brown's child – I watch him overnight sometimes –"
The rest of her words were cut off as his hands slid around her throat from behind and squeezed. Black spots danced across her field of vision. "If you're lying to me-" he growled in her ear.
"Not – lying-" she choked.
He released his hold and she spun to face him, staggering away a few paces, looking around to see where her classmates had gone.
"Ms. Ling! It's time to go!" Mr. Holgate shouted from the bottom steps of the bus.
"Give me your phone."
She shook her head. "I need it for-"
"I'll give it back to you at the university – but I can't have you calling for help while you're out of my sight now, can I?"
She took the phone out of her back pocket and tossed it at him. He swore as he drove for it and she took off running for the bus, knowing that he didn't dare pursue her for the moment – not while all these people were around.
"Ms. Ling – who was that man? We need to-"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Holgate," she panted as she reached the bus. "Let's go."
Mr. Brown appeared at her side with Bowen. "I think this young man needs a fresh diaper first."
Mr. Holgate rolled his eyes as Grace blushed. "I will hurry."
She glanced over her shoulder as she walked over to some bushes to change Bowen's dirty diaper. Weng had disappeared again, hopefully to wait in his car to follow the bus. She didn't have much time. Did she dare leave him here – exposed to the elements in the wild hope that Dr. Grissom and his family would find him – take him in and care for him? It was madness – but she couldn't take him with her – Weng was waiting on the other end of her bus ride.
He must never know about his son.
He must never get his hands on him.
Grace finished changing Bowen's diaper and taking a blanket out of her backpack, she wrapped him snugly in it, cuddling him close, her tears wetting his hair. "Mama loves you so much – I hope that one day Mary and Marshall will be able to tell you about me. Stay safe and grow up strong – I'm doing this so you can have the life I never got to have-"
"Ms. Ling!"
"I'm coming!"
Grace took a business card from her wallet and scrawled a message on the back, a tear falling on the ink and smearing it. She took a second blanket from her pack and stuffed some loose brush and leaves into it, shaping a bundle that resembled a sleeping baby. Finally, she shoved Bowen under the bushes and stood, clutching her fake baby to her chest.
"Good-bye, Bo-Bo."
"Grasshopper!"
"Moth – Cricket!"
Gil and Sara stood back and watched as their trips were reunited on the preschool playground. They had been separated from each other for less than eight hours but the way they were acting, one would think the separation had been eight days. Edie and Emma tackled their brother in a giant bear hug, knocking him to the ground and the three of them rolled around, laughing and talking and not making any sense except to themselves.
Gil leaned down to whisper in Sara's ear. "I bet you five dollars that they sleep in the same bed tonight."
"No bet," she grinned, watching her offspring with genuine affection.
As soon as their house had been finished, the girls and Ethan had been given separate rooms – something their parents thought they would enjoy. But they had forgotten to take their triplets' strong bond into account. As soon as they could climb out of their cribs, the girls would wander into Ethan's room and into his crib or vice versa. Once the triple terrors had graduated to big girl and big boy beds, the bed sharing simply got easier. There were actually very few nights when the trips slept alone in their own beds.
"Think they'll ever outgrow co-sleeping?" Sara mused aloud.
"Eventually," Gil nodded. "But who cares as long as they're not sleeping with us?" he waggled his eyebrows suggestively at his wife before squeezing her butt.
Sara moaned in response and tipped her face up to meet his lips-
"Mama!"
Sara jumped back guiltily and stared down at Edie. "Yes?"
"E said you brought us veggie corn dogs-"
Emma ran up to her sister's side. "Yeah – where are they?"
"At home in the fridge-"
The twins grabbed her hands. "Let's go!"
After supper and several rounds of hide-and-seek, Gil pulled out 'Charlotte's Web' and chased the triplets down the hall to Ethan's bedroom for story time.
Sara gave him a quick kiss. "I'm going for a run."
He frowned. "You all right?"
She nodded. "I just – Ethan's fears and questions – added to my own uncertainties about his future-" she shrugged. "I just need to run, blow off steam."
"Take Hank with you."
"Gil, this isn't Vegas. I'll be-"
He cupped her cheek, caressing the smooth skin. "Sara, please. For my peace of mind and the kids?"
She leaned in and kissed him long and slow. "Okay, Dad. Wait up for me?"
He grinned. "I'll keep the bed warm."
Running in Sedillo, New Mexico was very different from running in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gil had bought Sara a LED light that attached to her hat – baseball in spring/summer, knit in fall/winter and served two purposes. It lit up the ground in front of her as she ran and alerted other runners, bikers, and vehicles to her presence. She also wore reflective clothing that lit up when any kind of headlight shone on her – and Hank also wore his own reflective harness coat.
All these lights hadn't been necessary in Vegas – the city of lights that never slept. Unless you lived in the suburbs, it wasn't necessary to have all the reflectors because there was always the glow from the Strip.
Running in Sedillo, especially after dark, was DARK. Sara loved it because you could actually see stars and Gil knew so many constellations and planets. He had taken her star gazing several times since they had moved out here – well, their dates started out with looking at the cosmos but usually ended with her seeing a different type of stars. Whoever said that romance fizzled after marriage and children had never met Gil Grissom. If anything, her husband grew more amorous as the years went by – she really was one lucky lady.
Sara's route took her along the top rim of the canyon that led down into the body farm, but she and Hank didn't go down into the farm unless something caught her attention.
Like tonight.
As Sara paused to retie her shoe, she cocked her head to the side as a faint sound was carried on the night wind. Hank also got to his feet; his attention drawn down into the canyon.
"What is it, boy? Do you hear something?"
Hank whined and tugged on his leash, clearly wanting to go down into the farm.
"I'm sure it's nothing-"
But the sound came again – stronger this time, and now Sara could identify it.
A baby was crying- and the sound was coming from the body farm.
Hank barked and tugged harder, looking back to see if Sara was coming.
"Let's go, Hank."
*Lianhua (Chinese): lotus flower
A/N: That was a desperate, bold move by Grace - but it looks like it's going to pay off. I know, I'm evil to leave you all here . . . you know what I want - drop me a line in reviews!