Chapter Four:

All in all, the marriage arrangement had not bothered Sara until now. She felt guilty for not trying to become close to Jared. She wanted a real marriage but could not bring herself to allow him to touch her when she was still in love with Grissom and was carrying his child. She begged Jared to be patient with her but she wasn't sure if she would ever be able to be intimate with anyone else. As Sara's pregnancy progressed so did Jared's advances. He was verbally abusive after he had been drinking. Sara would retreat to her bedroom so he would not be able to bother her. The pounding on the door reminded her of the many fights she witnessed between her parents.

She waited until he left and then snuck out the back way. She was tired and needed to lay down but she knew that she would not be able to get any rest there. Jared had been upset when she refused to come down stairs later for the dinner party. She had been out several nights with him and she was just too tired to endure another show for the media. Jared complained that he was behind in the polls and she needed to make more appearances with him. His mother insisted that she be there tonight. Sara was adamant and the discussion had turned into a nasty argument. She felt the first cramp as she got into the car. She leaned back in her seat and waited for the pain to go away. Within a few minutes, she was feeling better and decided that a nice vegetarian salad would be good so she headed to her favorite spot in the mall.

It was all that Sara could do to walk to the women's restroom. The cramping had returned and she felt a little sick to her stomach. She went into the stall and gasped as she noticed the blood. She tried to calm her nerves but her brain was in overdrive at that moment. She sat there until the cramps subsided and then she headed for the hospital.

Sara lay on her side in the bed. She couldn't keep her eyes from the baby's monitor. She stared at the heartbeats over and over. Her doctor had insisted that she stay for a few hours to ensure the bleeding had stopped and then she would be allowed to go home followed by strict bed rest for at least a week. Sara had been given something for the cramping and someone would have to take her home. The nurses had attempted to call Nick but when they were unable to reach him they contacted the next person on Sara's emergency list, Grissom.

Grissom rushed to the nurse's station and asked for Sara. Her physician overheard him and came to speak with him.

"You must be Nick Stokes," said Dr. Horton.

"No, I'm Gil Grissom."

"Yes, you're Nick's backup in the event he can't be here. I insisted that Sara give us two persons to contact. Sara had a bit of a scare tonight but she is going to be fine. There was some cramping followed by some vaginal bleeding but the bleeding has stopped. We've given her something for the cramps and have ordered bed rest for at least a week. If the symptoms return, she is to come back to the ER immediately."

"What caused the cramps or bleeding?"

"We really don't know but we're monitoring the baby's heartbeat right now and its fine. We are going to do an ultrasound before she leaves to make sure everything is okay. Can I be frank with you Mr. Grissom?"

"Yes."

"Sara needs to take it easy. This is now a high risk pregnancy. We don't want Sara to go into labor at only 26 weeks gestation. She needs to cut back at work and..."

"High risk? Sara cut her hours back last month and she is only working in the lab and not in the field."

"You can't help but turn on the news these days and see Mrs. Robertson on the campaign trail with her husband. She shouldn't be out late at night. I've been to some of those functions and they run into wee hours of the morning. I'm afraid Mr. Robertson will have to go it alone without Sara."

"Why isn't Mr. Robertson here now?" Grissom wished he had not asked this out loud but Dr. Horton replied, "Probably the same reason Sara has him on the no contact list."

Grissom was surprised at this revelation. He was also surprised to find out Sara was 26 weeks pregnant. That meant she would have been pregnant before the wedding. That's why Sara agreed to marry the bastard. He probably took advantage of their breakup and one night's mistake resulted in the pregnancy. At least it made a little more sense. It was obvious the man did not love Sara or the baby. Grissom wanted to hit him. What stupid fool would turn Sara away? Grissom decided not to answer his own question.

Grissom stood in the doorway of the hospital room. He watched as Sara lay curled up in the bed. She glanced over and their eyes met. He came and took her hand in his and together they watched the baby monitor. After a few minutes, Sara whispered.

"Do you think the baby's heartbeat is good?"

"The baby has a strong heartbeat, Sara. It's going to be fine." He wasn't sure if he said that to reassure her or himself. The nurse appeared shortly with the ultrasound. Grissom started to leave but Sara would not let go of his hand. He was relieved; he didn't want to leave.

They watched as the tiny person soon became very clear to them and they both smiled as they watched the baby bounce from one side to the next. The nurse smiled and patted Sara's other hand.

"You're son is just fine."

Sara was speechless. She had not known the sex until that moment. The nurse suddenly apologized for the slip.

"It's okay. I really wanted to know. Are you sure it's a boy?"

"Very sure. Would you like a picture of this beautiful little boy?"

The nurse printed off two pictures and handed each of them one.

Within a few hours, Sara was permitted to leave. Grissom had insisted that Sara lean back in the front seat and rest. The medication had made her very drowsy and she was asleep before they left the parking lot. Grissom slowed the vehicle as he neared Sara's house, it was apparent that there was a dinner party going on. He called Catherine and made arrangements for Sara to stay with her. He nudged Sara awake. Sara's shoulders slumped as she saw all of the vehicles.

"I forgot about the fund raiser. Perhaps we can go in the back and…"

"Sara, you're supposed to be on complete bed rest and I don't you are going to get any rest with a dinner party going on. Catherine wants you to stay with her until you're feeling better."

"I have to get some things. If we go in the back entrance, we won't be seen. Grissom reluctantly helped Sara out of the vehicle and followed her into the house. Sara stopped at the foot of the stairs.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't think I can make it up the stairs. I'm not feeling too well. There's a bag already packed in my closet at the top of the stairs. It's for emergencies. " Grissom pulled up a chair for Sara.

"Stay here."

Grissom hurried up the stairs. He didn't like being there. He entered the bedroom and began searching for the suitcase. He located the suitcase but also noticed Sara's medication on the bedroom stand and picked these up as well. He headed back down the hallway when he overheard a noise coming from across the hall. The door was ajar. Grissom could make out the image of Sara's husband having sex with another woman. He felt the urge to kill the man. He heard footsteps on the stairs and headed back down. He came face to face with Sara.

"I forgot about the prenatal vitamins..." Sara stopped as she heard the noise. She started for the bedroom but Grissom stopped her. She knew something was wrong. She continued toward the door but Grissom blocked her path. He gently took her by the elbow and with the other hand he placed it on her abdomen.

"Sara, don't." From the look on Sara's face, Grissom knew that Sara had guessed who was in the bedroom. Grissom all but carried her back down the stairs.

Grissom was relieved when they were back in the Denali and he was driving away. He looked over at Sara who was very quiet. He wasn't sure whether she had seen anything. What was important was for Sara to remain calm.

"How about we pick up some dinner along the way? I can call ahead…"

Sara gave a small smile and then she closed her eyes. She rested her hands protectively around her abdomen and began to caress the sides.

"Is he awake?"

"Ever since you mentioned food."

"Good."

They had eaten in the vehicle on the way to Catherine's. Grissom noticed she had not eaten much. He was a bit concerned for the lack of appetite.

"You never said if you wanted a boy or a girl."

"I just wanted a baby. It doesn't matter to me. I just want to be able to count its fingers and toes. Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't care if it's not perfect. Look at me. I'm not sure if I'll even be a good mother. I didn't mean to put the baby in jeopardy."

Sara had begun to cry quietly and she looked out the window.

"Sara…"

She didn't answer so he didn't push. By the time Grissom had arrived, Sara was asleep again. He gently carried her inside and put her to bed. He had tried not to show his anger but now that Sara was asleep, Grissom was fuming.

"I think you could use a drink," said Catherine.

Grissom and Catherine went into the living room and Catherine handed Grissom a drink. He took it and downed it without a thought.

"That bad Huh?"

"That bastard of a husband of hers"

"You met him tonight?"

"Not formally."

"I don't mean to pry, but has Sara told you anything about her marriage?"

"Nick is the person you really need to talk with. The two of them are inseparable sometimes. I know they share a lot. Sara isn't the type to just share with just anyone. You know something?"

"I know he's a bastard."

"Well, that much you've already told me."

"I found out that Sara doesn't want her husband to be contacted if she goes into the hospital."

"I can't really blame her there. That family of his is going to turn her delivery into a media circus."

Grissom hadn't thought about that. "I saw him in bed with another woman tonight."

"That bastard. Did Sara see?"

"I'm not sure but I think she knows he's cheating on her."

"Bastard. Sara won't stand for that. She will be leaving him. She always said she wouldn't put up with a cheater."

"Sara's never been pregnant before."

They looked at one another and took a drink. Grissom summed it up again, "Bastard."