DISCLAIMER : CSI and the fictional main characters within this fic are belong to CBS. I simply borrowed them to have fun.
A/N : My respect and love go to every mother out there. Pregnancy and childbirth are not always easy and beautiful like they often write in fiction. I hope I can be a good mother for this one that I'm carrying and I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
WATERMELON
-Part 4-
All the theory Sara had memorized from the academy was nothing but cosmic dust compared with the live experience of delivering one's baby.
The strange thing was that Sara no longer felt her trembling hands or the gore of childbirth. She was just amazed at what was happening, her mind intent on remembering what to do and what not to do.
By the time it ended, by the time she held a bluish wailing little baby in her hands, she was just awestruck.
Then when Sara saw the way Irene held the baby lovingly, despite the previous near-death experience, she felt her heart melt. The way that little chest rose and fell, the way those little eyes rounded as his mother touched his little fingers for the first time, could only be described as pure bliss.
All of a sudden, Sara saw her own mother, gently combing her hair and singing her a song of stars and moon. She saw her father, twirling around in the living room as she giggled in his arms. She saw her old family of four, going down the beach hand in hand. She recalled the sweet memories she had as a child. Those were buried deep beneath the nightmare of one single bloody night.
There would always be enough love for children. All she needed was to make sure that she would never go out of control. That she would give nothing but love to her baby. Seeing Irene and her newborn made Sara sure that she was also capable of giving unbound love.
She held the baby one last time as Irene was loaded onto a gurney by paramedics who had arrived minutes after the birth. The elevator had been forced open and Greg was leaning against the wall, winking at her.
"Well, that wasn't so bad, was it?" He waved his hand toward the messy elevator. "You did it like a real pro."
Sara gave a mocking glare over the little bundle in her arms as she gave the baby a soft kiss on the forehead, then on both cheeks. "I think I can do this," she whispered, more to herself than anybody else. I can mother a child, I'll just love and love and love my baby and learn from my parents' mistakes.
Greg stood up and came closer; tickling the little foot peeking from under his spare shirt that they had used as an emergency blanket. "Of course you can give birth in an elevator too, just don't ask me to lend a hand, or shoulder, or anything. Grissom can use his own… ahem… property."
Sara chuckled at the thought, giving another kiss to the now-sleeping baby.
"You'll be a great mother Sara. I'm now 110% sure of that." Greg wrapped an arm around Sara's shoulder.
Sara looked down at the miracle in her arms, suddenly feeling she could mother a thousand children. She didn't feel so worried anymore.
She'd tell Grissom, soon, now that she no longer felt anxious about his reaction. He might be glad. Oh how she hoped he would be happy to hear the news. But even if he was contemplative about it, even though he might be opposed to the idea, Sara didn't mind going down this road alone.
"Excuse me ma'am, I need to check the baby." A paramedic held out his hands toward Sara.
Reluctantly, yet lovingly, Sara handed the baby. Her eyes followed as the paramedic left.
"The lab and then straight to bed." His eyes also on the baby, Greg dangled his keys. "Our respective beds, of course. I'm too worn out for anything else." He winked suggestively at Sara.
"Yeah, right." She rolled her eyes. "Give me your phone though."
"Huh?"
"My phone's out. I need to book a flight to Paris. ASAP." Sara looked up at her friend, grinned. Her hand went to caress her stomach.
Greg grinned back, tossing his phone to her. "You go mommy. You go."
X-.-/-/-.-X
Sara was in a garden of flowers. Hues of soft violet, red, white, and yellow were around as far as her eyes could see.
A fountain, just at arms reach, was spilling water from its granite bowl to the small pond below. She touched the falling water with her fingertips, smiling, mesmerized at the freshness it brought to her skin.
The bundle in her arms moved and one little hand with chubby fingers peeked out.
She smiled down, and gently brought the little hand to the water. Gurgles of delight could be heard from the plump baby inside the bundle and that sweet sound brought out Sara's laugh.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" She whispered as her lips met the rosy round cheek in a soft kiss. The corner of her eyes caught the sight of Grissom, standing on the path of violets.
His hair seemed curlier under the sun, his face glowed almost ethereally.
She smiled at him, instinctively bringing her baby up a little higher for him to see.
He stared at her.
He didn't smile back.
X-.-/-/-.-X
She had fallen asleep.
The arrangements at the lab, the lengthy wait for the flight, and the jet-lag itself had worn her out.
Yet she was happy.
Well, maybe not happy, relieved; relieved that she hadn't lost the courage to tell Grissom, not even three days after the elevator incident.
Now she was already in their small apartment, in Paris, lying in the bed she had missed so much, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
One glance at the clock and she knew that in another half an hour Grissom would be back from work.
She decided to take a bath. There was no advantage to delivering earth shattering news when you smelled like a 6000 miles flight.
Her phone flashed, signaling a new email and she checked to find one from Greg. A picture of baby Gregory Adams was in Greg's e-mail. It was Irene's baby, the one and probably the only baby that Sara would ever get the chance to help deliver.
Sara smiled. Greg's e-mail was filled with sparks of pride that the baby was named after him. He even teased that if it had been a girl Irene would have named the baby Gregoria instead of Sara.
Nah. She wouldn't advise anyone to name a baby after her. One Sara Sidle with her somber childhood was enough for this world.
She was replying to the e-mail, informing Greg that she had safely arrived in Paris and how she hoped that the baby wouldn't be too influenced by Greg's constant visits, when she heard the click of the key in the front door.
Grissom was already there, far too early for her liking.
Hank barked, and Sara only got the time to take one deep breath before the scrambling canine pawed her to the floor.
"Easy boy, easy." She chuckled, rubbing Hank's belly as she tried to get up.
"You're here?" That was more a question than a statement, coming from a clearly stunned Grissom who was standing in the middle of the living area.
"Yes. I'm here." Sara flashed him an uncomfortable smile but got nothing in return. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Recalling her dream she suddenly felt uneasy. "I…, Us-." Her sentence was thankfully cut short by a bounding Hank eagerly circling his mistress.
"You okay?" Overcoming his original shock at finding her in the apartment, Grissom came to her side in long strides, pulling at Hank's leash as he finally wrapped her in a big hug and kissed the top of her head.
The hug was as warm as before, and closing her eyes Sara exhaled in relief and let herself be held by his strong arms. "I'm okay. I just…there's something-"
"Good." He pulled back slightly and kissed her on the forehead. "I love surprises, but this one makes me worried." He smiled, "What's up? Missing us too much?"
Sara reached up to touch his face, and looked into his eyes. She smiled. "Something like that."
"Let me settle this boy so we can talk." He pulled back and gently led Hank to the kitchen area, pulled a bag of dog food from the cupboard under the sink and poured the treats into Hank's bowl while Sara stood watching from the doorway, a fond smile on her face.
How on earth would she deliver the news?
Once the dog was settled, Grissom came for his wife again, leading her back to the bedroom. "You okay?" he asked with concern. "What brought this visit on? What's happened?"
She exhaled, and then inhaled, preparing her well-practiced announcement.
His eyes filled with worry and he led her to sit on the bed. "Is everyone okay back in Vegas?"
There was no other way left, Sara looked up to his ever beautiful eyes and shook her head before blurting out in an almost inaudible whisper. "I'm pregnant."
Gone were her perfect sentences.
Grissom blinked, one, twice, three times.
"I'm having a baby. Our baby," she tried again, clearer and a little bit louder this time as she anxiously covered her still flat stomach with her hand.
Grissom gave himself a shake of the head. "You. Pregnant." Finally, words from him. He refocused baffled eyes on her. "But… how?"
Sara's only response was a tilt of the head and a rise of her brow.
"You know what I mean," he sighed, running a tired hand through his hair. He sat down next to her on the bed. "We use protection."
Sara sighed, staring at the man in shock before her. Okay. No giddy, happy, text-book reaction then. No jumping on the bed, no swirling me around in excitement. I kind of expected that.
"Yes. But you know… there is no protection that's 100% effective." Despite her promise to stay positive, the words came out as sad as she felt right now.
"No. There isn't." He gulped. "So… you are really pregnant then."
Sara was torn between crying with disappointment and being angry at her husband. Yet, she understood him completely. The news was shocking, they didn't plan to have any children, and he was at the age where a man was supposed to have grandchildren, not an infant.
He had every right to be completely stunned.
The fact that she understood his reaction didn't make it any less hurting though.
"Yes, I am. We are." She forced the words out of her mouth. "Listen Gil." Her hands went to cup his, and she brought it to her lips before giving it a gentle kiss. "You don't have to say anything right now. You don't have to do anything you don't want to."
Gil still stared at her blankly.
"I'm beat. I need a bath. I'm going to take a bath. We'll talk whenever you're ready." Without meeting his eye she gave him a quick peck on the cheek, before hurrying to the bathroom and closing the door, trying her best to keep her emotion in check and not burst into tears in front of him.
To Be Continued…
So, Grissom's reaction, I hope you could see the realistic side of it. He's old enough to be a grandpa. Anyhow, tell me in a review;)