Hey yall. Here's the next installment. Enjoy!

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A short while later the doctor returned, informing them that Catherine had been moved to recovery.

"Only one visitor at a time is allowed," he stated. Grissom glanced down at Lindsey, who had moved to his side the moment she'd seen the doctor approach. The doctor followed his gaze then spoke again. "Although, given the circumstances, I have no problem making an exception in this case." Grissom gave the man a grateful smile before turning to Warrick, who cut him off before he could speak.

"Go. I'll head back to the lab, tell the guys the good news. Just make sure you give her our love. We'll come by to see her tomorrow." He grinned broadly, said goodbye to Lindsey and left.

Silently they followed the doctor along the hall until they reached a room marked 'Surgical Recovery Unit'. He paused at the door.

"She's still unconscious from the anaesthetic we gave her. Don't be surprised if she stays asleep for this visit. We're confident she should regain consciousness sometime tomorrow." Grissom nodded and the doctor turned, leaving them alone.

Lindsey reached for the door handle but Grissom stopped her. She gave him an inquisitive look.

"Butterfly, you need to understand that your mom's been through a really serious operation. She'll be asleep when we go in there. She'll also have lots of tubes and wires attached to her but it's nothing to worry about, they're just so the doctors can keep an eye on her, make sure she recovers ok. You ready?" The girl nodded and he opened the door long enough for both of them to pass through, the shut it quietly.

The room was silent save for the steady beeping of the heart monitor. He moved toward the bed, Lindsey close beside him. He bit back a gasp as his eyes settled on Catherine's still form lying in the bed. Her eyes were closed, which wasn't unexpected, tubes pumping oxygen into her body protruding from her nose. She was incredibly pale, a similar shade to the pillow on which her head rested. Her strawberry blonde hair was fanned out, reminding him of a halo and providing a small amount of color in the bland room. The covers were pulled up to her chest, her arms lying by her sides. He winced inwardly at the IV lines piercing her delicate skin and running to the bags secured on poles by the side of the bed. He tore his gaze away from the woman in the bed and turned to her child. Lindsey stood unmoving at his side, eyes never leaving her mother.

"Lindsey?"

"Do you think she knows I'm here?" He smiled gently.

"I'm sure she does. I know it must be strange and a little scary, seeing her like that, but she's going to be ok sweetheart. We just have to wait for her to wake up. It may take a while, because she had a serious operation. But she will wake up." The girl relaxed slightly at his comforting words, but still did not move. To encourage her, Grissom moved towards the bed and sank into the chair beside it. After a moment he heard Lindsey move. She stopped next to him.

"You can talk to her if you want." She regarded him questioningly.

"Can she hear me?" He nodded.

"Studies have shown that a high number of patients respond to familiar voices while still unconscious." Lindsey glanced at him, then back at her mother before gingerly sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Mom?" The only response was the steady rhythm of the heart monitor. "It's Lindsey. Uncle Gil said you might be able to hear me." She turned back to Grissom, who smiled silently telling her to continue. "I don't know what to say," she whispered.

"You can say anything. The words aren't really important, it's your voice she needs to hear." She took a deep breath, then spoke again.

"I was really scared mom. When Uncle Jim came to Becca's to get me I knew that there was something really wrong. The doctor said you're going to be ok though." She continued talking, about school and her friends, dancing and a movie she wanted to see. "When you're better we can go together. I'm sure Uncle Gil will let you have the night off. Maybe he could even ccome with us." He smiled again, suppressing a yawn. His gaze fell on Catherine's still form as Lindsey's soft voice urged his eyes shut and coaxed him into slumber.

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Ok guys, I'm having a little trouble deciding how to end this, so I'm gonna ask yall what you think. Do you want a happy, fluffly, Grillows-filled ending, or a sad, angsty, Catherine-dies-and-they-bury-her, leaving-Grissom-heartbroken ending??
Review and let me know. What ever the general consensus is, that's what I'll write!
Lily
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