CHAPTER 11

Grissom..... last time she saw him, he was suntanned, he had lost some weight, he had his wedding band clearly visible on his finger. He looked good as never before. He even seemed younger. Another man! Retirement had fit him well: she noticed. He avoided the lab, curious eyes and questions. They met at his place. He took Hank, she took his condo promising him she would have sold it again in future. He didn’t want anymore bounds with Vegas. His life was now somewhere else. He showed her some pictures of his Costa Rican adventure. She saw animals, bugs, other members of the group, amazing landscapes. She saw Sara, her protruded belly, the 2 of them. She saw an echography.

- “Boy or girl?” -

- “Boy!” – his eyes sparkled.

- “How you gonna call him?” –

- “We haven’t decided yet.” - he responded and she nodded.

He was near his car ready to leave the sin city again, he suddenly turned to her.

- “I’m sorry, really sorry.... but......... I can’t come to the lab. It would need too much time and I don’t have so much. I want to come home as soon as possible.” -

- “Ahhhh... don’t worry. I’ll tell them your reasons and your apologizes. They will understand.. Maybe not Hodges, but anyway...” -

- “Thanks Cath” – he hugged her - “I appreciate that” – she patted his back.

- “You’re welcome.... Come on. Go home. Enjoy your fatherhood and take care of Sara and Hank!” – she exhorted him.

He entered the car – “Come to see us!” - he said in the air going away.

That was almost 3 months ago.

And now an e-mail from Grissom. Unusual.

Subject: the most beautiful bug in the world: weird but very Grissom.

She opened it.

Text: Warrick Gilbert Grissom. 7 pounds and half. She winced. She was going to start crying and screaming for joy.

She opened the attached file. She put a hand on her mouth and contained the laugh. The photo filled the PC screen. A tiny healthy little boy with bright blue eyes.

Grissom and Sara had worked fast but well. The boy was beautiful and looked like his father, a little geek. She smiled wide at the idea.

Nick entered the room:

- “Hey! you ok? You look upset?” -

- “Look at this!” – she turned the laptop in his direction. – “this is Grissom and Sara’s baby, this is Warrick!” –

He found wonderful, they had chosen their lost friend’s name for their son. He smiled at Catherine. – “Bravi! I think we have to congratulate!” -

- “What do you have in mind?” –

- “A trip to Santa Barbara as soon as we can.” –

Life has incredible paths at time. How could you ever imagine something like this from Gris?

The year before, after War’s funeral he had momentary chosen to be lonely and depressed, and now a year later he was happy and had his own family. It was really true: for one to go, there is always one to come.

THE END

I want to thank first of all Billy and Jorja and all the CSI staff for giving us that wonderful happy ending! It’s been an amazing journey! Then I want to thank my friends R. and M. for giving me the courage to write in a languege that is not mine and reading my stories: sorry for the annoyance guys! Thanks to YTDAW for sharing with me this strong GSR addiction: you rock!

And finally a special thanks to Grissom1 (you inspired my work) and all my readers (I hope you like it as much as I like writing it).