Title: A Warning
Author: gittedl
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Very small reference from "Unfriendly Skies".
Summary: Grissom gets sick!
Disclaimer: Don't own them, not making any money from this
Authors Note: First of all a big thank you to Karin and Ann for beta- reading this for me. I also want to say thank you to Rosh for checking that I got the technical stuff right.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I sit in my office trying to finish the last paperwork from tonight's cases. I am so tired. Beginning to wonder if I am coming down with the flu or something. Even breathing feels hard to do. It has been coming and going over the last few months, but this time it has lasted over twenty-four hours. I look at my clock and notice that it's already half past eight. The clinic is open by now. Maybe I should call my doctor
"Hey Grissom, are you okay?"
I look up to find Sara standing in my door. I give her a weak smile and for a second I consider telling her the truth. "Yeah I am fine, just tired," I say instead.
She looks at me suspiciously. "Are you sure Grissom? You don't look too good?"
I close the file I've been going through and throw my pen on it. "It's okay Sara, it'll pass."
"Maybe you should get it checked out. It has been going on for a while hasn't it?" she says quietly.
I look up at her, surprised. How did she know?
As if she is reading my mind, she says: "I noticed. I think we all did. Even Greg has started to ask questions."
"You're right, it has. Actually, I was just going to call my doctor before you came in."
She looks satisfied with my answer, nodding her head. "Good, you know my number if you want to talk." Then she turns around. "See you tonight Grissom."
Before I have a chance to reply, she is gone. Why does she always do that?
I pick up the phone and start dialing.
"Las Vegas Medical Center."
"Hello my name is Gil Grissom. May I speak with Doctor Preston please?"
"One moment please," the receptionist replies quickly.
I sit back in my chair and start to wait, time passing by slowly. Finally after five minutes I hear the phone being picked up.
"Doctor Preston."
"Hello. My name is Gil Grissom."
"Mr. Grissom, how may I help you?"
"Well the reason I am calling you is that the last twenty-four hours, I've been extremely tired, short of breath."
"Short of breath?" Dr. Preston cuts me short. "Can you describe the feeling?"
"It feels like someone is pushing me on the chest, and it makes it kind of hard to breathe."
"Pressure on the chest. Do you have pain anywhere else, Mr. Grissom?"
"No. And I wouldn't call it pain either, it's just uncomfortable. Almost like I don't get enough air."
" I see.. hmm. I would really like to see you in my clinic as soon as possible. When can you come by?"
"Well, I´m on my way home now, so I could come by in about twenty minutes."
"That is settled then. I'll see you soon Mr. Grissom." And with that he hangs up.
I sit in my chair with the phone still in my hand, a little stunned. I thought he would prescribe me some pills or something like that, but now he wants to see me 'as soon as possible'.
I put the phone down and reach for my jacket. "Well, I might as well get it over with."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Exactly nineteen minutes later I walk into the Las Vegas Medical Center and head towards the reception. The lady behind the desk looks up. "How can I help you sir?"
"Gil Grissom. I have an appointment with doctor Preston."
"Right, Mr. Grissom. If you go down the hall, it's the second door on the right, Carol, our nurse is waiting for you."
"I thought doctor Preston wanted to see me?" I ask confused.
"He will Mr. Grissom, but he wants you to have an ECG taken first."
"I see. Thank you." I turn around and go down the hall. Electro Cardio Gram? He thinks it has something to do with my heart. I hadn't considered that possibility yet. I can't help but feel a little nervous. What if it is something with my heart? Well, let's not get ahead of things. Lets see what the ECG has to say first.
Second door on the right that's here, it's open. I knock on the door and enter the room. A nurse turns around.
"Hi there," she says with a smile. "Gil Grissom I presume?"
"Yes, that's me. So I guess you're Carol," I reply as light-heartedly as I can.
She walks up to me and shakes my hand, while she gently pulls me inside and closes the door. "The one and only and some say that's a good thing. Why don't you hop on the gurney and lay down."
I sit down on the gurney and start to lean down.
"Ohh. before you lay down Mr. Grissom, you need to take off your shirt."
Carol is looking at a sheet of paper, making a few notes while I remove my shirt. I lay down and silently wait.
"I can see that you spoke to doctor Preston earlier. You are experiencing pressure on your chest. When did it begin?"
"It started yesterday. But I've had it before, just never this bad." After I've said it I suddenly realise how stupid I've been. My body had been telling me that something was wrong and I hadn't been listening.
She looks at me with a cocked eyebrow. "And have you seen a doctor about this before?"
"No," I silently mutter.
"We better get started now. First I am going to put these electrodes on and then we'll see how your heart is working."
She starts to put some electrodes on my chest, one on each wrist and one on each leg. Then she rolls a machine up to stand next to the gurney and puts the cords on the electrodes. "Right then, let's get the show on the road. Now Mr. Grissom lie perfectly still and relax. It'll only take a minute." Then there's a click and she turns on the machine.
I take a deep breath, close my eyes and slowly breathe out, clearing my head and trying to follow her advice to relax. However that's easier said than done, with the knowledge that something could be wrong with your heart.
Short after that I hear Carol turn off the machine. "That's it." She removes the electrodes on me. "Now while I have you there, I might as well take your blood pressure."
A few minutes later I stand up to pull my shirt back on. "When will doctor Preston be here?" I ask.
"He will be here in a minute. I'll just go down to his office and show him this." She answers with a smile, holding the papers in her hand. "Why don't you lie down and relax Mr. Grissom, and then it won't be long." And with that she's out of the door.
Relax. Hmm she said that two times now. I don't need to relax, I need to go home and get some sleep before the next shift begins.
Suddenly the door opens and in comes doctor Preston. "Mr. Grissom," He says as he shakes my hand. He then pulls out a chair from the corner and places it next to the gurney, before he sits down.
"I've been looking at your ECG and I have a few questions for you. You said earlier that you've had this before. How long have you had this?"
I clear my throat. "It started about two months ago. But it always passed with time. This is the first time it has lasted this long."
He looks down in his papers while he starts to speak again. "Since yesterday?"
"Yes." I don't like the sound of this. Almost as if something is wrong.
He closes the file he is holding and looks straight at me. " Mr. Grissom, I am going to be honest with you. Something on the ECG is off."
"Off?" What the hell does he mean with off?
"According to the ECG your heart doesn't get enough oxygen. Now this can indicate that maybe you have a blood clot or there is a contraction in one of the vessels on the heart."
Shit. This could be bad.
"That's why I think you should be hospitalised, so a cardiologist can have a look a you. They can run some tests and find out exactly what's wrong."
Very bad. My stomach starts to contract. "How long will this take doctor?"
"Well it's kind of hard to say, it all depends on what the tests say. But at least a few days would be my guess."
A few days! What about work? I can't just stay away. Things have to be arranged. Catherine has to take over. I have to.
"Mr. Grissom how did you get here?"
I'm startled out of my thoughts. What did he say? Something about how I got here? "I drove," I answer confused.
"Well, you can't drive to the hospital. We'll call an ambulance that will take you there.
I shake my head. Ambulance. Blood clot. Contraction. A few hours ago I thought that it was just the flu. How could I have been so wrong?
Doctor Preston stands up. "I will let the receptionist call an ambulance. You can wait in here. Carol will be here in a minute to help you get prepared." Then he's gone.
"Mr. Grissom," Carol enters the room. "Is there someone you need to call? To let them know where you are."
"Just a colleague from work," I mutter.
"If you want to, you can call from here while you wait for your ride?"
I do have to call Catherine. There will be no telling when I'll get the chance to call her once that I am at the hospital. She need to take over tonight's shift apparently I won't be there. "Yes, thank you."
Carol takes the cordless phone from the table and hands it to me. "I'll just finish these papers you need to have with you, to the hospital, while you make the call."
"All right." I dial Catherine's number, but there's no answering. Great! Now what? Sara, of course. Before thinking twice I find myself dialing her number. Come on Sara. Pick up the phone. Suddenly I hear a groaning sound.
"Sidle."
"Did I wake you?" I knew this was a mistake.
"Grissom! Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me. Listen I'm so sorry that I woke you up, but Catherine didn't answer her phone. And well. you did say I could call." Much to my own annoyance I find myself rambling.
"What's going on?" She sounds like she's starting to wake up.
"I'm not coming to work tonight. So if you could please tell Catherine that. Then I'll call her later, when I know more."
"Grissom, what happened?"
"I'm at the Las Vegas Medical Center and they want to take me to the hospital to do some test. It shouldn't take more than a few days."
"Hospital!?"
Suddenly the door to the exam room is pushed open and two EMT´s enter with a stretcher between them.
"There's your ride Mr. Grissom." Carol says while handing the admissions papers to the closest EMT.
"Sara, I've got to go. My ride is here. I'll call later."
"Wait Grissom."
I hang up the phone quickly. She's probably going to be mad at me, but right now I don't care.
One of the EMT´s comes up to me and extends his hand towards me.
"Hello Mr. Grissom. My name is William and this is my colleague Louis. We are going to take you to the hospital."
I shake his hand lightly.
Then William continues: "So first we have to get you on to the stretcher, without you moving too much around. Just to be on the safe side." He rolls the stretcher up to the side of the gurney where I lie. "Why don't you slowly slide over here on the stretcher Mr. Grissom?"
"Fine, but is all this really necessary?"
Carol comes over and puts her hand on my shoulder. "It's better to safe and sure. It will only take a few days, but then you'll know exactly what's wrong."
She's right. I need to get this checked out. "Thank you, Carol."
And then they start to roll the stretcher out of the exam room.
To be continued..
Copyright © 2003 by gittedl
Author: gittedl
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Very small reference from "Unfriendly Skies".
Summary: Grissom gets sick!
Disclaimer: Don't own them, not making any money from this
Authors Note: First of all a big thank you to Karin and Ann for beta- reading this for me. I also want to say thank you to Rosh for checking that I got the technical stuff right.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I sit in my office trying to finish the last paperwork from tonight's cases. I am so tired. Beginning to wonder if I am coming down with the flu or something. Even breathing feels hard to do. It has been coming and going over the last few months, but this time it has lasted over twenty-four hours. I look at my clock and notice that it's already half past eight. The clinic is open by now. Maybe I should call my doctor
"Hey Grissom, are you okay?"
I look up to find Sara standing in my door. I give her a weak smile and for a second I consider telling her the truth. "Yeah I am fine, just tired," I say instead.
She looks at me suspiciously. "Are you sure Grissom? You don't look too good?"
I close the file I've been going through and throw my pen on it. "It's okay Sara, it'll pass."
"Maybe you should get it checked out. It has been going on for a while hasn't it?" she says quietly.
I look up at her, surprised. How did she know?
As if she is reading my mind, she says: "I noticed. I think we all did. Even Greg has started to ask questions."
"You're right, it has. Actually, I was just going to call my doctor before you came in."
She looks satisfied with my answer, nodding her head. "Good, you know my number if you want to talk." Then she turns around. "See you tonight Grissom."
Before I have a chance to reply, she is gone. Why does she always do that?
I pick up the phone and start dialing.
"Las Vegas Medical Center."
"Hello my name is Gil Grissom. May I speak with Doctor Preston please?"
"One moment please," the receptionist replies quickly.
I sit back in my chair and start to wait, time passing by slowly. Finally after five minutes I hear the phone being picked up.
"Doctor Preston."
"Hello. My name is Gil Grissom."
"Mr. Grissom, how may I help you?"
"Well the reason I am calling you is that the last twenty-four hours, I've been extremely tired, short of breath."
"Short of breath?" Dr. Preston cuts me short. "Can you describe the feeling?"
"It feels like someone is pushing me on the chest, and it makes it kind of hard to breathe."
"Pressure on the chest. Do you have pain anywhere else, Mr. Grissom?"
"No. And I wouldn't call it pain either, it's just uncomfortable. Almost like I don't get enough air."
" I see.. hmm. I would really like to see you in my clinic as soon as possible. When can you come by?"
"Well, I´m on my way home now, so I could come by in about twenty minutes."
"That is settled then. I'll see you soon Mr. Grissom." And with that he hangs up.
I sit in my chair with the phone still in my hand, a little stunned. I thought he would prescribe me some pills or something like that, but now he wants to see me 'as soon as possible'.
I put the phone down and reach for my jacket. "Well, I might as well get it over with."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Exactly nineteen minutes later I walk into the Las Vegas Medical Center and head towards the reception. The lady behind the desk looks up. "How can I help you sir?"
"Gil Grissom. I have an appointment with doctor Preston."
"Right, Mr. Grissom. If you go down the hall, it's the second door on the right, Carol, our nurse is waiting for you."
"I thought doctor Preston wanted to see me?" I ask confused.
"He will Mr. Grissom, but he wants you to have an ECG taken first."
"I see. Thank you." I turn around and go down the hall. Electro Cardio Gram? He thinks it has something to do with my heart. I hadn't considered that possibility yet. I can't help but feel a little nervous. What if it is something with my heart? Well, let's not get ahead of things. Lets see what the ECG has to say first.
Second door on the right that's here, it's open. I knock on the door and enter the room. A nurse turns around.
"Hi there," she says with a smile. "Gil Grissom I presume?"
"Yes, that's me. So I guess you're Carol," I reply as light-heartedly as I can.
She walks up to me and shakes my hand, while she gently pulls me inside and closes the door. "The one and only and some say that's a good thing. Why don't you hop on the gurney and lay down."
I sit down on the gurney and start to lean down.
"Ohh. before you lay down Mr. Grissom, you need to take off your shirt."
Carol is looking at a sheet of paper, making a few notes while I remove my shirt. I lay down and silently wait.
"I can see that you spoke to doctor Preston earlier. You are experiencing pressure on your chest. When did it begin?"
"It started yesterday. But I've had it before, just never this bad." After I've said it I suddenly realise how stupid I've been. My body had been telling me that something was wrong and I hadn't been listening.
She looks at me with a cocked eyebrow. "And have you seen a doctor about this before?"
"No," I silently mutter.
"We better get started now. First I am going to put these electrodes on and then we'll see how your heart is working."
She starts to put some electrodes on my chest, one on each wrist and one on each leg. Then she rolls a machine up to stand next to the gurney and puts the cords on the electrodes. "Right then, let's get the show on the road. Now Mr. Grissom lie perfectly still and relax. It'll only take a minute." Then there's a click and she turns on the machine.
I take a deep breath, close my eyes and slowly breathe out, clearing my head and trying to follow her advice to relax. However that's easier said than done, with the knowledge that something could be wrong with your heart.
Short after that I hear Carol turn off the machine. "That's it." She removes the electrodes on me. "Now while I have you there, I might as well take your blood pressure."
A few minutes later I stand up to pull my shirt back on. "When will doctor Preston be here?" I ask.
"He will be here in a minute. I'll just go down to his office and show him this." She answers with a smile, holding the papers in her hand. "Why don't you lie down and relax Mr. Grissom, and then it won't be long." And with that she's out of the door.
Relax. Hmm she said that two times now. I don't need to relax, I need to go home and get some sleep before the next shift begins.
Suddenly the door opens and in comes doctor Preston. "Mr. Grissom," He says as he shakes my hand. He then pulls out a chair from the corner and places it next to the gurney, before he sits down.
"I've been looking at your ECG and I have a few questions for you. You said earlier that you've had this before. How long have you had this?"
I clear my throat. "It started about two months ago. But it always passed with time. This is the first time it has lasted this long."
He looks down in his papers while he starts to speak again. "Since yesterday?"
"Yes." I don't like the sound of this. Almost as if something is wrong.
He closes the file he is holding and looks straight at me. " Mr. Grissom, I am going to be honest with you. Something on the ECG is off."
"Off?" What the hell does he mean with off?
"According to the ECG your heart doesn't get enough oxygen. Now this can indicate that maybe you have a blood clot or there is a contraction in one of the vessels on the heart."
Shit. This could be bad.
"That's why I think you should be hospitalised, so a cardiologist can have a look a you. They can run some tests and find out exactly what's wrong."
Very bad. My stomach starts to contract. "How long will this take doctor?"
"Well it's kind of hard to say, it all depends on what the tests say. But at least a few days would be my guess."
A few days! What about work? I can't just stay away. Things have to be arranged. Catherine has to take over. I have to.
"Mr. Grissom how did you get here?"
I'm startled out of my thoughts. What did he say? Something about how I got here? "I drove," I answer confused.
"Well, you can't drive to the hospital. We'll call an ambulance that will take you there.
I shake my head. Ambulance. Blood clot. Contraction. A few hours ago I thought that it was just the flu. How could I have been so wrong?
Doctor Preston stands up. "I will let the receptionist call an ambulance. You can wait in here. Carol will be here in a minute to help you get prepared." Then he's gone.
"Mr. Grissom," Carol enters the room. "Is there someone you need to call? To let them know where you are."
"Just a colleague from work," I mutter.
"If you want to, you can call from here while you wait for your ride?"
I do have to call Catherine. There will be no telling when I'll get the chance to call her once that I am at the hospital. She need to take over tonight's shift apparently I won't be there. "Yes, thank you."
Carol takes the cordless phone from the table and hands it to me. "I'll just finish these papers you need to have with you, to the hospital, while you make the call."
"All right." I dial Catherine's number, but there's no answering. Great! Now what? Sara, of course. Before thinking twice I find myself dialing her number. Come on Sara. Pick up the phone. Suddenly I hear a groaning sound.
"Sidle."
"Did I wake you?" I knew this was a mistake.
"Grissom! Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me. Listen I'm so sorry that I woke you up, but Catherine didn't answer her phone. And well. you did say I could call." Much to my own annoyance I find myself rambling.
"What's going on?" She sounds like she's starting to wake up.
"I'm not coming to work tonight. So if you could please tell Catherine that. Then I'll call her later, when I know more."
"Grissom, what happened?"
"I'm at the Las Vegas Medical Center and they want to take me to the hospital to do some test. It shouldn't take more than a few days."
"Hospital!?"
Suddenly the door to the exam room is pushed open and two EMT´s enter with a stretcher between them.
"There's your ride Mr. Grissom." Carol says while handing the admissions papers to the closest EMT.
"Sara, I've got to go. My ride is here. I'll call later."
"Wait Grissom."
I hang up the phone quickly. She's probably going to be mad at me, but right now I don't care.
One of the EMT´s comes up to me and extends his hand towards me.
"Hello Mr. Grissom. My name is William and this is my colleague Louis. We are going to take you to the hospital."
I shake his hand lightly.
Then William continues: "So first we have to get you on to the stretcher, without you moving too much around. Just to be on the safe side." He rolls the stretcher up to the side of the gurney where I lie. "Why don't you slowly slide over here on the stretcher Mr. Grissom?"
"Fine, but is all this really necessary?"
Carol comes over and puts her hand on my shoulder. "It's better to safe and sure. It will only take a few days, but then you'll know exactly what's wrong."
She's right. I need to get this checked out. "Thank you, Carol."
And then they start to roll the stretcher out of the exam room.
To be continued..
Copyright © 2003 by gittedl