Title: From the Mouth of Babes
Author: Carina Scott
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I'm just borrowing them. I promise to return once I am finished.
Pairing: Warrick/ Gil (who else!)
Archive: yes, just let me know where
Rating: FRT (just to be on the safe side)
Spoilers: none
Category: Challenge
Summary: Sara learns the truth from the most unusual source.
Feedback: Any feedback is greatly appreciated (public)
Warning/Notes: I thought it would be interesting to have Sara learn the truth from someone as innocent as they come. Let me know what you think!

Catherine was out of options. Her mother was sick in the bed with the flu. She had asked both Warrick and Gil if they could do it, but being that it was Thursday, they had gotten an early start on their 4-day getaway at a resort in California. She called Nick and he already had a previous engagement. She thought about Greg, but she wasn't sure she trusted him with such precious cargo. She even asked the receptionist, but she had her own responsibilities. So, she finally made the dreaded call.

"Hello" said Sara, answering the phone on the third ring.

"Hi, Sara," replied Catherine, really hating to have to ask her this.

"Hey Catherine, what's up?" Sara replied, wondering why Catherine would be calling her.

"I really hate to ask you this at the last minute, but is it possible for you to pick Lindsey up from school at 3pm?" she asked, gritting her teeth all the while.

"Why are you asking me and not Gil or Warrick?" she asked in confusion.

"I asked, but they both had previous engagements." ‘Probably with each other' Sara thought bitterly, and then she had an idea.

"Sure Cath, I'll pick her up for you," with renewed enthusiasm.

"Thanks Sara," responded Catherine, wondering at the sudden change in Sara's attitude "I'll call her school and let them know that you will be picking her up for me. You can bring her to the lab. Thanks again, I would do it, but this paperwork has to be in by the end of the day or it's my ass."

"No problem. I'll see you at the lab," replied Sara with the same enthusiasm as before.

_______________________________

Sara knew this would work. It had to. Gil loved both Catherine and Lindsey. He would be so grateful to her for picking up Lindsey, that it would destroy the tension that had been building between them over the last few months. ‘The last few years if you are being honest,' she thought to herself. She let the thought dissipate in the wind blowing through her windows as she headed for Lindsey's school. They would get back to the friends they were before all the tension and eventually Gil would realize that he still had feelings for her. He would forget all anything that had happened before and finally he would be all hers. She just needed another chance and this was it. This would work.

_______________________________

She bounced to the Tahoe and opened the door to get in. She gave Sara a look that could only be described as suspicious.

"Hi, Sara," she asked politely, "Why are you picking me up?" she asked letting her curious nature get the best of her.

‘Just like her mother' Sara thought as she observed Lindsey's nature.

"Your mom couldn't make it, so she asked me to come pick you up. I jumped at the chance." Sara replied with a smile, trying to butter up the little girl, as she pulled into the line of cars leaving the parking lot.

Observant as ever, Lindsey replied "You know he will never stop loving him. They are made for each other. Just like Romeo & Juliet, except, for them it's more like Romeo & Romeo."

Sara just looked at the child in confusion and amazement. She should have realized that she couldn't hide her motives from Catherine's daughter. She was just like her mom, she could see through anyone's BS.

"I don't know who or what you are talking about." She replied pulling out onto the main road.

With an incredulous look, Lindsey said "I'm talking about you being in love with Uncle Gil. He doesn't love you, he loves Uncle Warrick and that will never change. He would rather die, than not be with him. He likes being your friend, but that is all it will ever be."

Sara tried to act as if she hadn't heard the child as she turned on the radio.

They didn't speak again, until they reached the lab.

____________________________

"Thanks, Sara" Lindsey replied, as she hopped out of the car and ran into the lab to her mother's office.

"Sure," Sara replied to no one in particular.

____________________________

Gil heard knocking on his office door at the beginning of his shift. He was still in a good mood this Monday. Why wouldn't he be? He had spent the last four days with the love of his life, sightseeing, relaxing, and making love. They would wake the next day ready to do it all over again. He was happier than he had been in a long while. Nothing could ruin this day.

He realized that he was wrong as soon as he opened the door to his office. Standing there was the last person he wanted to see, especially now.

"Hi Sara," he replied unenthusiastically.

"Hey, Grissom" replied Sara, realizing the sudden change in his demeanor. ‘Was he always like that around her' she thought sadly.

"What can I do for you?" asked Grissom while getting started on the paperwork that had accumulated in his absence.

"We need to talk" replied Sara softly. She had to do this.

Remembering the last time they had really talked, Gil took in a deep breath, and assumed the most emotionless face possible.

Sensing the change, Sara tried to calm his worries. "Don't worry Grissom; I am not going to ask you out again." Seeing his relief, she continued "I have realized something in the last few days. It's amazing it took me this long to realize it."

Taking a deep breath, she went on, "You and I could never be anything more than friends, if that is even possible anymore."

Stopping him before he could reply she continued, "No Gil, let me finish. It has been brought to my attention that you have given your heart over to someone else. I have noticed a change in you over the last few months, a good change, although I tried to ignore it. You have been more sociable, less stressed, and genuinely happy. I tried to ignore the changes, not wanting to know the cause for them.

Thursday evening, the veil was lifted from my eyes by the most unusual source. This source opened my eyes for me and made me realize that Warrick has your heart and that he loves you completely. She also made me realize that I never had a chance because you love him in return. So I just want to let you know that I will no longer bother you. I only ask that we remain friends, if that isn't too much to ask after the way I have behaved."

After a stunned silence, Gil finally replied, "I would like to remain your friend, and thanks for everything you said about me and Warrick. It is all true; I do love him very much."

"I respect you Gil, and considering everything I have done to you over the last few months, I am honored that you would still consider me a friend. To be honest, the only thing keeping me here was my childish hope that we would eventually get together. I realize now, that this isn't possible. Because of that, I can't work with you knowing how you feel about Warrick. I am truly happy for the both of you, but until I can get over you, I don't believe it is wise for me to continue to work here. I will turn in my resignation notice by the end of the week. I hope my resignation doesn't impact our friendship. I realize now, that it was unfair for me to impose my feelings upon you and then berate you for not returning said feelings. Congratulations on the happiness you have found with Warrick, you deserve to be happy." she replied sincerely as she turned to leave the office.

"Thanks Sara, and tell Catherine I said thanks also," Gil said as Sara was leaving.

"Your welcome, Gil, but what are you thanking Catherine for?" Sara asked, confused.

"Your source?" Gil replied knowingly.

"My source?" Sara asked before it finally hit her, "No Gil, my source wasn't Catherine. It was Lindsey."

"Lindsey is your source?" Gil asked, disbelievingly.

"From the mouths of babes," replied Sara with a slight smile, as she closed the door to Gil's office.

Gil sat there for a few minutes thinking about everything that had just occurred in his office. 'Had Sara really congratulated him on his relationship with Warrick?' He was dumbfounded.

Continuing with his paperwork, Gil said to no one in particular, "From the mouths of babes indeed."

"What?" came a smooth voice from the doorway of his office.

"Nothing," Gil replied, looking up into the emerald gaze of his lover, "Just thinking about how much I love Lindsey."

"Lindsey?" Warrick asked.

"Never mind, what are you doing here?" Gil asked, changing the subject.

Gil watched as Warrick closed (and locked) the door behind him. Then he walked languidly around Gil's desk and stood in front of him.

"I was just thinking about how much I love you" Warrick said as he leaned down and kissed him so deeply that for a moment Gil forgot where they were. When Warrick finally pulled away, Gil could see the love and passion in his eyes.

"I love you Warrick" Gil replied, with a surprising ease.

"I love you too, Gil" Warrick replied as he closed the door behind him as he left the office.

Thinking about how much he loved the man that just left his office, Gil picked up the phone, knowing who he had to call. She answered on the first ring.

"Hi Gil" she answered upon answering the phone, recognizing his number on the caller ID.

"Hi, Cath" he replied "I have a question for you."

"Sure, ask whatever you want."

"What is the most expensive thing Lindsey wants for her birthday?"

"It could be pretty expensive, you sure you still want to know?" Catherine asked curiously.

"Sure I do" he replied without hesitation. ‘It's the least I can do for her after all she has done for me' he thought as Catherine told him what Lindsey wanted for her birthday.

~The End~

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A/N: I figured that the innocent observation of a child might be what Sara needed to get a clue. Lindsey was the perfect person to do this because, as child that is wise beyond her years due to everything she has dealt with in her short life, she has no ulterior motive. Because of Sara's nature, if anyone else had tried to clue her in, she wouldn't have listened, believing they had other reason's for stating what is obvious to everyone except for her. It could be argued that Nick would tell her this because he is Warrick's best friend, and Catherine is Gil's best friend. Greg has a crush on Sara, so he wouldn't try to push her at Gil. Lindsey has no reason to lie to Sara, which is why Sara actually listens to what she says.

The title of this fic comes from the following bible verse: 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABES THOU HAST PREPARED PRAISE FOR THYSELF'?" (Matt. 21:15,16)

Some of you may be wondering why Sara started Grissom by his first name. I did that on purpose to show the change in their relationship. Grissom had never really allowed Sara to call him by his first name, although if she did, he never called her on it. I think that he only reserved that for people he respected, even Ecklie. With the newfound maturity Sara has shown, I figure Gil wouldn't mind that she was calling him by his first name. And since the tension between them is slowly fading away, I felt that Sara would feel more comfortable calling him Gil. I hope this explains any questions you may have had regarding Sara calling Grissom by his first name. Thanks

***To the Greg fans: I don't mean to imply Greg (whom I love) is irresponsible, I just can't see Catherine asking him to pick up her daughter.***