I stiffened as he touched me, all to aware of my bruised and battered body being surveyed by his penetrating gaze. He softly rubbed circles on my back, his gentle touch persuading me to relax, bringing me to tears again. I pressed my face into his shoulder, aware that I was soaking the plain black cotton of his soft tee. He softly stroked my back, my arms and my hair, warming me. I was completely unaware that I was shivering until a soft blanket was draped around us by Nick, holding in our heat, keeping my shivering from becoming too obvious. Grissom kissed my forehead, his taller form holding mine close in a protective gesture. The momentary skin-to-skin contact made me shiver; not with revulsion but with gratitude. I heard the click of men's shoes down the corridor and pressed myself against him, forcing him to hold me tightly. He complied instinctively, his arms forming a protective barrier behind me. The wound on my abdomen twinged and throbbed as I pressed myself closer to my supervisor, uncaring about how it might affect the future. The future for me right now was just moments, something flexible, fluid, ever changing. He pulled back, removing the blanket from him and wrapping it tighter around me and sitting on the hard bench that ran along the wall next to Nick. I mewed in distress and scrabbled for his hand, wanting, no, needing the contact between us to remain constant. He stood again and took my hand, exerting a minimal pressure on the back of it, not the palm, where the fifteen stitches holding the deep cut that raced across it shut. I buried my tear-stained face in his chest, wrapping my arms around his neck and shaking with sobs as a new memory crashed through me. Catherine left the room, resting a palm on Nick's shoulder and shooting sympathetic glances at me. She leant over, whispering in Nick's ear, blonde hair falling over her shoulder. He nodded once and led her out towards her car, shouldering the bag of evidence and placing a hand on the small of her back. Their easy relationship made me want to cry again, but I already felt bad about drenching Grissom's shirt the first time.

'Griss…? Where's Greg?' I whispered, my voice hoarse and shaky.

'Back at the lab honey.' He murmured, brushing my hair through his fingers. I was slightly in shock, my boss, Gil Grissom, hugging me and he called me honey? Had he really called me honey? He shrugged his shoulders and lifted me up, cradling me in his arms. I rested against his shoulder and felt myself slip away as sleep claimed me in its warm and safe embrace.

oOo

I awoke in a hospital bed, pain shocking through me until I felt like I was going to projectile vomit over the closest person to me, which, unfortunately appeared to be Gil Grissom. He placed a cool hand on my forehead, the mere touch and sound of his quiet breathing instantly calming me.

'Grissom?' I said weakly, pain choking the sound in my throat.

'I'm here.' He whispered, 'I'm here, what do you need?' He asked sympathetically. I smiled slightly and swallowed down the urge to vomit. Ugh, that tasted disgusting.

'How long have you been here?' I asked, ignoring the random stabs of pain as I pulled at the stitches in my stomach.

'As long as you've been asleep?' He answered with a small snort of laughter.

'And how long is that?' I fixed him with a steely glare. He turned his watch face and read it blearily.

'About ten hours… What do you need?' He asked again, rubbing his eyes with his hands. He reached a hand over and stroked my forehead, smoothing my hair out of my face.

'Morphine!' I gasped as a strangled cry escaped my lips.

'Where?'

'A button… on the drip stand.' I gasped, pain making me want to scream. He stroked my cheek softly and pressed the button releasing a welcoming flow of pain relief. I sighed and relaxed again, the excruciating pain already receding to a dull ache.

'Are you okay?' He asked worriedly.

'Honest truth? No, I don't think I ever will be again either to be perfectly honest with you. If you mean the pain, then yes, it's gone.' I slumped back against the pillows and closed my eyes weakly. Who knew talking was such an effort? I looked up at Grissom and was startled to see tears threatening to overflow and roll down his face in his eyes.

'Oh Sara…' He whispered, one finger tracing the tear trail brought on by the pain that had recently flared up. With a spontaneousity completely unlike him, Grissom leant over and placed a tender kiss on my lips.

'Grissom…?'