Chapter Ten: In the Dark

"Come on," Sara muttered dryly through her teeth, her hand still wrapped in his. Her eyes never left his face, watching for the slightest movement. She could feel his hold on her, it wasn't firm, but it was indeed there, and that alone was hopeful. Yet there was no change in his face, no indication that he was indeed awake, or close to it.

"Come on Greg," she encouraged him lightly, resting her free hand on his forehead. "You just have to open your eyes; that's not asking much. I want to see you, actually see you. You've gotten this far, you can go all the way now."

She paused here, waiting for a response, but nothing came. Sighing she let go of his hand, pulling back as she sat in the chair. Bringing her knees under her chin she closed her eyes, trying to fight of the weary feeling that was coming to rest on her.

She had never given up hope on him, and even now she believed that Greg would recover. Time could be a painful feeling, the knowledge that you cannot do anything but wait can be overwhelming. For now, Greg was safe in the confines of his mind, and when he chose to finally venture out from the darkness, she would be there waiting for him.

After all, she believed that this could only strengthen their bond. The two had worked side by side for years, their conversations light and easy, flirtatious even, but nothing more than that. Then, in a series of unpreventable circumstances, they had been thrown closer than ever, a constant battle of life to win over death.

Life had never been fantastic for her, if anything it had been the complete opposite. Sara had only begun to talk to Greg about her past, never letting up too much. She was thankful that he did not press the matters, knowing somehow that it was painful for her to recount the horrors she faced growing up. She had promised him that one day, she would tell him everything, but now was not the time.

Though it seemed, within the last several years, more things had gone wrong than all the years of her childhood combined. Her choice of boyfriends had been little to nothing, all of her relationships ending no sooner then they had started, or the simple fact that the other had turned away with little warning. Then there was the lab explosion, the DUI, the suspension, the same one Greg had asked her about, and she had avoided the topic almost completely, giving him only a rough draft version of what had happened.

Then there was Sofia, someone who she still never got along with very well. At the time she had asked Grissom out, Sara still had feelings towards her mentor. It was nearly a week before that night she had picked Greg up. The night that had started the never-ending escalation into danger.

Memories flooded back to her, and she shivered, drawing her arms around her. She had thought for certain that they would both die. She could still remember vividly, holding Greg that night, the pair being forced into a trunk of a car, having very little room to maneuver in. Greg had trembled against her the entire night, from fear, cold, shock, or all three, she never was quite sure.

There had been many people before that had angered her, but at those times, anger was all she felt. Remorse for the victims came afterwards, a connection so deep and dark she was unable to talk about it with anyone.

That night though, she had felt so many emotions, more than she had ever known. They had coursed through her body, sometimes one by one, while others came all at once. In her mind, she had believed that it really was the end.

Even after they had come out of the scrape alive, it took a long time to get back up on their feet. Therapy was a fall out for her, and she stopped going after only a few sessions. Greg still continued to go, encouraging her to join as well, but she disregarded the invitation. For a while they got along fairly well, whispering quietly when they were alone, and sending silent messages when they were around others. After a time, however, they became uneasy around one another; the gap between them was slowly replaced by edginess, then anger.

She knew that she hadn't been the best contestant of 'let's get along', but the entire fault did not rest on her shoulders. After all, Greg had started half of the arguments. At first it was little things; one of them being late to work, taking a longer break than necessary, starting a new project without consulting one another.

Then the little things grew, they began to pick fights, just because they knew they could. Both knew the other's weak points, and used it well. That wasn't necessarily their fault either. They were not used to the work schedule, working in the lab all the time. Maybe Greg was, after all, it was all he had done for years, but not her. Never her, Sara had never worked in the same area for that long.

The trip to the mountains, though loaded with downfalls, had been uplifting in the end. It was refreshing to get fresh air, and though she had missed being back home dearly, the time she had spent with Greg had been wonderful. They both knew they had issues to work out, and though neither admitted it, it was clear they were both trying harder.

It had been a larger move than she had ever thought possible. Returning home, they had spent more time together. They kept their relationship quiet at the lab, even though most of their friends already knew about it. It had been a strict topic that they had discussed, already knowing that there would be those who frowned upon such a thing as coworkers dating.

Now it seemed like it made little difference. With this accident, all viewpoints would be looked at, discussed. It wouldn't take long for Ecklie to find out about the two of them, then after he did, who knew what would happen? She wasn't willing to lose Greg over such a petty matter, but at the same time, she wasn't ready to give up her job. Her job was what made her who she was. Without it, she was nothing. But without Greg, she felt that she would be even less than that.

Sara bit her lip to keep from crying. Being so emotional was hard; there were times that she wished she could be more like Grissom, times when she wished all she had to do was flip a switch that controlled them all. Then maybe she could sleep for once, or eat a decent meal without getting sick as the memories came flooding back.

But most of all, she would be able to keep from crying every time she saw him like this. Greg didn't deserve this; if anyone did, then it was she. After everything she had said to him, when all he had done was try to help. "I'm sorry," she breathed lightly, the tears stinging her eyes.

Only a few seconds after she had spoken, a light groan filled the room, prompting her to open her eyes. Her mouth hung open lightly, and she was unable to move as she watched Greg turn his head towards her, his eyes still closed.

"Greg?" she whispered his name, barely audible even to her ears. Greg had become still again, but only for a moment as he lifted a hand towards his face, another muffled groan coming from him.

Leaning forward, Sara reached for his hand, surprised as he pulled it away, heading back towards his face. It came to a rest on the ventilator that was still on him. Sara whispered his name a few more times, pleading with him to open his eyes, but he seemed oblivious to her request, his one hand still resting against his face.

Within the next moment, the entire atmosphere of the room changed. With one sudden movement Greg had reached up with his other hand, the force so sudden that it pulled the IV clean from his arm, leaving a small trail of blood on the white sheets. With both hands against his face he began to claw at the tubes that around his mouth.

Fear and shock drove through Sara as she quickly reached up, grabbing a hold of his wrists, now screaming his name, desperate to calm him down. One would think that for his condition, he would have been easy to subdue, but there was an unseen spark of adrenaline, driven by fear.

Sara's concern escalated as he pulled free, reaching back up to secure a hold on the ventilator. The heart monitor behind her increased steadily, and a soft cry from Greg beneath her clung to her own heart. Shouting his name still, Sara reached around with one hand, hitting the call button repeatedly, doing her best to try to calm Greg down with little success.

He was still struggling under her hold when the nurse came in, quickly taking in the situation. Shouting down the hall she quickly moved to usher Sara outside, the room quickly filling with more doctors. Sara watched as long as she could before the door swung shut, the last vision filling her mind was that of Greg being held down by three others.

Holding a hand to her mouth she cried quietly, her body still trembling as she began to pace up and down the bland hallway. Reaching with her free hand into her back pocket, she dialed Grissom's number, trying her best to keep herself together.

But when his voice came over the phone, she found herself crying again, unable to talk. She noted bitterly how Grissom's tone changed to one of concern as he questioned her.

"It's Greg," she finally managed to say, an uncomfortable pause coming between them as she continued to cry, still pacing back and forth outside of the door.

"Sara…what happened?" Grissom asked quietly, and Sara shook her head slowly.

"Something's wrong, I…I think he's having a seizure, or a heart attack or…or something…I can't see what's going on, they…they won't let me in the room."

"I'm on my way," Grissom reassured her, ending the call shortly after. Sara was left to herself again as she paced worriedly. Ten minutes passed, then twenty…Grissom arrived, and she was forced to recount the terrifying ordeal. Then they waited for several more minutes.

Nearly and hour had passed since they heard anything. Sara had finally given up pacing, sitting with her back against the wall. Grissom sat on the small chairs next to her, the two not speaking. The longer they waited, the more time she had to worry, but at the same time, she was afraid to see what they had to say. Her imagination ran wild; what would she find beyond those doors? What had they done to him? Was Greg even still alive?

The door opened, the first doctor stopping to speak with them as the other two left, the door shutting once again before Sara had a chance to peek inside. The doctor was closer to Grissom's age, a bit shorter however. He was bald, his hair thinning around the sides, making the idea that his hair being ruffled seemingly impossible.

"We can assuredly say that Mr. Sanders is out of his coma," he told them quietly, "but he had to be restrained and sedated in order to calm him down enough to remove the ventilator"

"But he's okay?" Sara asked breathing a sigh of relief as the doctor nodded. She didn't believe in restraints, and the thought of Greg being treated in such a way would have normally angered her, but she was too relieved to worry at the moment. "Can I see him now?"

"I'm afraid not, his behavior has shown that he is potentially violent and suicidal. I don't think visitors are such a good idea now."

"Greg is not suicidal," Sara stated, her voice rising. "Or violent, he's just scared. He's been through a lot."

She wasn't aware that Grissom was holding her back until she tried to take another step forward. The doctor didn't look impressed in the very least, and he frowned at her actions. "I'm sorry, it's regulation; he's been placed under a 72 hour watch. After those hours have passed, then you can see him."

"Three days?" Sara cried, turning to look back up at Grissom. "I can't wait three days. I've been waiting so long for him to wake up, so that I can see him, talk with him. And now the moment he wakes up you tell me I have to wait for three days? Have you ever thought how that seems to Greg? He's done nothing for almost two weeks now, and now you're telling him he has to wait longer?"

"Sara, Sara," Grissom cut her off, squeezing her shoulder gently. She bit her lip, sniffing quietly, still staring at the doctor.

"If I may, Mr…."

"Nyves," the doctor replied, still frowning as he folded his arms.

"Mr. Nyves. It has been pointed out that there is a quicker recovery time if there is emotional support. I believe that Sara seeing Greg will only help to aid that. Would you please reconsider? After all, I'm sure a man of your intelligence knows that."

Nyves seemed to be taken aback by his comment, and for a moment he didn't speak. He nodded though, rubbing his chin as he sighed, composing himself. "Well of course I do. But like I said before, it is regulation, but perhaps I can make a special arrangement."

Grissom nodded at the offering, watching as the doctor walked away. Sara turned towards him, throwing her arms around his neck as she gave him a hug. Startled, he returned the embrace after a moment, watching her as she pulled away.

"Thank you," she whispered, "I don't know how you do it, but you always do."

Grissom smiled at her, nodding. "You just have to know how to talk in their language."

"Which is easy for you," she told him quietly, glancing back up as the doctor returned, nodding towards the door.

Moving towards the door, she paused when she noticed that Grissom hadn't followed. "You coming?" she asked him quietly.

He shook his head, still smiling at her. "You go ahead, I'll give you some alone time first."

She returned his smile, turning the handle and pushing her way inside. The room was darker with the door closed, but she was hesitant about leaving it opened. She gave Greg a warm smile when she saw him watching her, his eyes barely open.

With the ventilator now off, he was drawing in heavy, ragged grasps of breath, a sound that was unnerving, but at least he was breathing on his own. She could see the skin around his mouth was bruised, scratches running up and down, remnants from his earlier actions.

Small leather straps had been used at his wrists and elbows, and the IV had been carefully reinserted. After taking in the situation, Sara let out a shaky breath, moving to sit next to him. His eyes followed her movements, but never once did he try to speak.

Uncomfortable at the silence, Sara moved to start a conversation. After all this time, Greg was actually awake, she should be happy, but her worry only escalated.

"Hey," she said softly, smiling at him.

Greg responded only by staring at her through heavily lidded eyes, he breathing still shaky as he watched her. Sara reached out slowly to touch his face, surprised as he turned away quickly, staring at the ceiling now.

Both hurt and surprised by his actions, Sara withdrew her hand, reminding herself that Greg wasn't exactly coherent at the time being. Instead of trying to say anything further, she just watched him, his eyes blinking in attempt to stay open as they drooped closed.

"Where am I?"

His voice was rough, nearly gone. It was surprise to hear him like that. Swallowing Sara leaned forward, resting her arms on the bed.

"You're in the hospital, Desert Palms," she told him quietly, thankful for some conversation at least. "You were in the accident…we were," she added.

Greg turned his head towards her slowly, blinking a few times. "We know each other," he stated, watching her expression.

Sara looked down, sighing. "Look Greg, I know you're mad at me, but don't be like this, you can be mad at me when you're better. You've had me worried sick."

"I'm mad at you?" Greg wondered quietly, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Stop it Greg," Sara warned him, frowning now. "You're scaring me."

Greg shook his head lightly, looking back up to the ceiling. "I don't remember."

"Of course you do," she told him firmly, all the while the fear slowly building up inside her. If this was a joke, she would kill him later for it. By no means was this funny.

"No…I don't remember anything," he told her quietly. "I've been trying to think of something…anything…but there's nothing there…"

Sara didn't say anything, only watched as he turned back towards her, unshed tears glistening in his eyes as he closed them. "I don't remember."

TBC…