A/N: Thank you for reading! Keeping with our belief that GSR is forever!

Needing You

Chapter 10

Finally, with two nurses helping her, Sara was ready for discharge. It had not been easy and, already exhausted, she really wanted to crawl back into the hospital bed and sleep for the rest of the day. But she put a smile on her face and joined in the chit chat about leaving the hospital, knowing if she mentioned her tiredness, the efforts aimed at discharge would immediately be reversed.

She still had twenty-two metal staples in her head—a few more days, the neurosurgeon said as he checked her prior to discharge, before those came out. Attached to her belly were six small circles to monitor her heart beat, the baby's heart beat, position, and movement, and uterine contractions. Every four hours, she would plug a small machine into her computer and transmit the information to the obstetrician's office. Before sleeping, she would attach herself to another monitor which sent real-time data to a medical service office.

"At night," the physician explained, "is when we get the best information. When your body's at rest is when we usually detect the beginning of labor. You will probably get a call early one morning to come in."

Along with the monitoring, Sara was scheduled for two office appointments every week. "I'm hoping you can make it another three weeks, Sara," the obstetrician said. "Little bean is growing—if she can get to four pounds, I don't think she'll have to stay in the NICU very long."

As she was rolled to the waiting car, Sara realized she did not know how many days she had been in the hospital. She closed her eyes, tilted her head skyward, and let the breeze tickle her face. She felt an enormous sense of calm descend as she heard Grissom's voice as he spoke to the woman pushing the wheelchair. She opened her eyes and took a deep breath; her smile came easily as her husband helped her into the car and fastened the seat belt.

Sara knew every convenient route to their house; today, her husband drove scenic streets, winding their way through one of the oldest neighborhoods in Las Vegas to their home.

As they drove, Sara had laced her fingers with Grissom's. They had no need to talk; Grissom sensed Sara desired quietness as she adjusted to life outside of four walls. And he wanted a few minutes alone with his wife before they reached home and all the activity going on.

Sara said, "I'm so happy we have our house." She lifted his hand and kissed each finger. "It suits us now—even with everyone there," she laughed, "its home."

"I couldn't keep them away—they have been such good friends through all of this—and all of them want to help." He chuckled, bringing her hand to his lips. "They've promised to leave in thirty minutes—there's enough food for a small army. Will thinks its great fun to have so much company." He had not bothered to tell her of all the new toys added to Will's collection; she would see those soon enough.

Instead, he said, "Nick and DB did a great job on painting the baby's room. The crib is up and Catherine and her mother put up cute window things—like a short curtain over the blinds. And my mother has been in charge of food—I think everyone in the lab brought over something to eat."

Grissom slowed to a stop. "If you think you're ready…"

"I am," Sara smiled and touched his face, "I'm so happy to be home—I know things could have been so much—ended differently—so I'm thrilled to celebrate with our friends." Her voice cracked with emotion. She blinked away tears. "I'll try not to cry in front of everyone."

But with Grissom practically holding her upright, her vow was quickly retracted when she entered her home. Nick and Greg, Catherine and her mother, Lily, Betty and Jim, who was holding Will, were laughing and crying at the same time, hugging her, saying words of welcome. Somehow she managed to sit down and Will was placed in her lap. Keeping their promise, everyone was gone within thirty minutes—Betty disappeared into the kitchen, Jim and her husband were talking near the front door as the others slipped away.

Tears filled her eyes as she realized how much she had missed her son; his little hands played across her face and tickled her chin; he babbled dozens of sounds and played hide-and-seek by burying his face against her shoulder and giggling as she pretended to hunt for him, all while they remained on the sofa. As quickly as his play had started, Will suddenly scrambled from Sara's lap and ran across the room to several colorful plastic boxes. Sara remembered two boxes—now she counted five as Will tipped over one box and picked up two toys.

Holding toy airplanes in each hand, Will ran around the room making zooming sounds until he landed both planes beside his mother before he ran back to another box, turned it over, and rolled a large yellow truck across the floor.

Jim and Grissom returned to the room; neither sat down as Will pushed his truck to Sara's feet. She looked at the two men.

"It would appear Will's toys have multiplied," she said, laughing. "And to think, I worried that he would miss me!"

Will parked his truck next to his mother and ran back to his toys. "Ba! Ba!" he yelled as he upended a third box of toys.

Jim Brass stuck his thumb in Will's direction. "I'm being paged," he said with a chuckle.

Betty Grissom appeared, juggling two steaming bowls of pasta in her hands. She placed bowls on the table and signed, "Cheese ravioli, pine nuts, and Gorgonzola," and waved for Sara to come to the table as she disappeared again into the kitchen.

Grissom extended his hand and helped her to stand. "Eat, then bed," he said.

The food gave her strength—gone was the intense exhaustion and the overwhelming desire to sleep, replaced by a calmness brought on by being surrounded by four people who loved her. Her first thought was to rest—as her husband had suggested—but she realized he would be willing to do as she asked.

"I want to sit in the yard for a while," she said as she finished her pasta.

When she and Grissom had decided to buy a house—leave the condo they had called their first home—several months before Will had arrived, they had no firm ideas for where they wanted to live. Until Catherine visited and suggested her neighborhood.

"Not historical in the sense of history in other cities, but this neighborhood is a Vegas original—lots of young families, big yards—and all of us want people who will honor the original intent. No tear-downs or McMansions—and we have several beautiful parks within walking distance of every house."

Sara and Grissom had known they had found their home the minute they had seen the backyard. The rest of it fell into place as easily as a well-fitted glove. Surprising, both of them, they found enjoyment working to create their own garden—after Will arrived, they had added a swing and grassy play area—but everything else was local plants, a planned desert of primrose, poppies, forget-me-nots, buttercup, desert lily, and marigolds provided a carpet of yellow, white, and purple among carefully placed rocks.

After they finished the meal, Grissom supported Sara as she walked into the back yard; Jim Brass followed with a babbling Will who took the shortest path to his swing.

"It's so good to be outside." Sara said as she walked along the gravel path that wove around plants that had flowered weeks ago.

Grissom kept an arm securely around her waist as they walked. "It sounds like we're going to need another swing—I don't think Will is going to give that one up anytime soon," he said as delighted squeals came from the little boy.

Suddenly, teary-eyed, Sara said, "I can't pick him up, Gil. I can't put him in his swing!"

Grissom guided her to a bench. "We've got that worked out—Jim is going to take him to play school and pick him up. That leaves me free to take you to appointments. And I'll be here all the time or Jim or my mom will be here."

When she sighed and wiped her eyes, he continued, "You've got to accept help, Sara. We agreed to this. Jim is thrilled to help this way."

She nodded as exhaustion returned. She said, "I need to rest—and make a list."

"Of what?"

Sara laughed. "A thousand things, Gil." When he frowned, she added, "I need a few things and I want a hair cut as soon as these staples come out. And," she squeezed his arm, "we need to decide on a name."

Grissom assisted her to stand and nodded toward the patio to more comfortable chairs. He said, "You decide—you know what I don't want-Gilly." He made a face that caused her to laugh.

Much later, after Betty and Jim left and the small family were finally alone in a quiet house, Will showed his mother how he had missed her as his bedtime came and he refused to be quieted when put into his crib. Finally, unable to stand his cries, Grissom brought his son into their bed.

"We've not done this in months," Grissom said as he placed the smiling baby beside Sara.

Sara snuggled with the little boy, who babbled and laughed, in the crook of her arm and quickly quieted. "I'm glad to know he has missed me—and I don't care if he sleeps with us for the next three years!"

Grissom crawled into bed and Will wiggled so he was cross-ways between his parents, his head against Sara, his feet propped on his dad's chest. Grissom laughed. "Little buddy, we have a problem!" He turned his sleepy son's body.

Laughing, Sara rolled to her side. "I think this was the reason we moved him months ago!"

Father and son quickly slept, but in the cool darkness, Sara watched. Grissom's hand lay on little Will's chest; her fingers were laced with his to have the physical touch of the two people she loved more than life. Sara moved closer to her son. Will was perfection in a way she had never imagined—a part of her yet not her. After his birth, she had spent hours discovering and memorizing every part of him—almost unbelieving she had grown this soft, fair infant in her body. Will was his father's child with a happy pink smile, a musical laugh—and she had been surprised at how her love grew for her husband and for his child.

Within months of Will's birth, Sara knew her son needed a sibling—there was too much attention centered around one little boy—and in a few months, she knew they had succeeded. It had taken so long to decide to have one baby, the decision for a second one came easily—and conception occurred as quickly.

As if a signal had been given, Sara felt her baby girl move—healthy, growing, developing—and she smiled.

She untangled her hand and touched her husband's face in a light caress. When his eyes opened, his gaze locked with hers, she knew she was loved in an intimate, indescribable way. Anchored, solid, real.

Grissom moved his hand to touch her belly, gently stroking her tight flesh. He smiled, "Everything is fine, Sara," he said, sighing as he shifted slightly so his feet found hers. His eyes closed again in sleep as her palm cuddled his face.

A/N: Thank you for reading-and especially for your reviews and comments! More to come!