Chapter 11
The young porter, who had told Sara his name was Jackson had been very chatty as he'd wheeled her to Sam's ward. He had told her all about his family and the hilarious activities his younger brother got involved in. As they came into the ward that Sam was staying in, Sara asked him to stop in the doorway. He looked confused but agreed. He told her to press a call button if she needed wheeling back to her own ward. Sara thanked him and said goodbye. At the far end of the ward, in the only occupied bed, Sam was fully dressed, in jeans and a vest top, sat up, with two men either side of her. One was Dr Bond, he was signing some sheets and talking to Sam and the man with her. Sara's smiled broadened when she realised that it was Grissom. From listened to the conversation for only a few moments, she realised they were discussing and signing Sam's released papers. 'About time too' Sara thought to herself. In her opinion, her sister should have been discharged days ago. Sam was nodding and answering a series of questions whilst gathering up all the books she had accumulated during her stay. Some belonging to the hospital, some were Grissom's and a large percentage were her own, that Grissom had kindly brought to her.
"And you definitely have somewhere to stay right? Whilst your sister is still in with us?" The Doctor asked.
Sam had originally thought Sara wouldn't mind her staying home alone, and hadn't been prepared for Sara's stubbornness regarding the matter. There was no way Sam would be left to her own devices in the flat in Las Vegas. Sara had worked on one too many crime scenes involving young girls being left alone in flats. Sam had put up a very good argument, but Sara was having none of it. "It's not fair, you and Grissom tag-teamed me!" Sam had complained when Grissom had given her the same response as Sara's.
When Sara had insisted that Sam could not stay alone under any circumstances, Sam had had a minor panic attack, and had began to hyperventilate, thinking she would be "sent back there!". It had taken Sara's best friend Catherine, to use her motherly talents to calm and soothe Sam. Although Sara was thankful for Catherine's help, she had time smothering the jealousy that had arisen when she saw how easily Catherine handled the situation. Luckily, however, Sam had willingly and happily agreed to their final plan.
"She's staying with me Doc." Grissom told the doctor.
"Oh good!" The doctor said, "Look after one another and don't come back too soon!" He winked to Sam.
Sam slid off the bed, supported by Grissom "I'll try, but we'll be back tomorrow to see my sister!" She said, nodding towards her sister and waved her over. Sara waved in response and tried to wheel herself over, but with a broken arm, was only able to go in a circle.
"Well that's just annoying!" She announce after completing two full turns.
Grissom laughed and went over to help her back to the bed.
The doctor chuckled, "Alright, remember to rest now Samantha." He turned to Grissom "And her medication?"
"I'll pick it up from the pharmacy on the way home" He promised. The doctor nodded, said goodbye and left the ward.
Grissom took this opportunity to bend and kiss Sara on the cheek "You were asleep when I popped by earlier" He explained.
"You could have woken me" Sara complained.
"I was taught to let sleeping beauties lie" He smiled.
"Oh gross, come on guys!" Sam Said getting her toothpaste and brush out of the cupboard and one headedly attempted to shove them in her bag. It fell on the floor. "And I suppose that would be Karma?" She sighed. She bent to pick it up as Sara and Grissom both laughed. Grissom had to hold her steady when she came up, wobbling.
"Careful" He warned her.
"Thanks Mr G." Sam said putting the bag back on the bed, more carefully this time.
"Mr G?" Sara snorted.
Grissom shrugged "I've tried telling her to call me Gil or Gilbert, but she seems stuck on formalities. Sara laughed again.
"It's because you're so formal like. It suits you." Sam explained, blushing.
"Ready to go?" Grissom asked. Sam nodded. "Right, well we'll wheel Sara back to her room first then." Grissom gripped the handle bars of the wheelchair and spun her round to face the door.
"Sure, but don't go thinking this is a rollercoaster alright? Im injured remember." Sara warned. "Want a ride Sam?"
"No thanks, but my bags would love one!" Sam said putting her bags down gently on Sara's pyjama clad legs.
The short walk back to Sara's ward was filled with Sara and Grissom arguing playfully about the extra money Grissom would need for food and other necessities for Sam's stay. Grissom was determined to remain a man of chivalry and would not accept and money, or Sara's card. Nor would he accept a debt repayment later. Sam tried to settle the argument by accepting 50 from her sister for "spends". They spent the remaining part of visiting hours in the ward, talking about neutral topics. Sara and Grissom spoke to one another more passion than Sam had ever seen between two people. The love and electricity between her sister and Grissom was immense, even when discussing the most trivial of topics. It made Sam blush sometimes when she thought about it too much. She couldn't remember ever seeing her parents like this. It was new. And nice. She loved seeing her sister like this, happy, neither of them had experienced it much as children. She couldn't fault Grissom either. His sheer devotion to Sara was astronomical. He was kind, funny and didn't talk to Sam as if she was a worthless kid, like all the other men in her life had done. It was clear that he had Sara's very best interests in heart. She wondered how the hell they managed to keep their relationship a secret from their friends at work, to her, it was just obvious, and anyone who couldn't see the connection was blind. Grissom had always made time to be with Sara and indeed Sam when he had time off, or finished his shifts, sometimes he even came in during his shifts if they over ran, and he was at the hospital anyway. He was a little more devoted than the average supervisor. Sam chuckled at the thought.
"What?" Sara and Grissom chorused.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing… I was just thinking to my self, sorry."
"Riiiiiiiight?" Sara said, elongating the word to emphasise her disbelief. At her sisters poor explanation. "How about you go and get yourself some candy or something, celebrate your freedom?"
"By rotting your teeth!" Grissom interrupted, jokingly. Nudging her gently and holding out a couple of dollar bills for her to take.
"Sure, thanks Mr Grissom! You guys want anything?" She asked taking the bills. They both declined her offer and she left in search of a vending machine.
Sara lay back down on the pillow that was propped up to a comfortable position and looked at Grissom. "Thank you"
"It was only a couple of dollars, no worries!"
Sara
laughed quietly, "No, I meant thank you for taking Sam in for the
week, you don't have to!"
Grissom smiled at her and put his
hand on hers. "I know, but I want to! She's a good kid, we wont
have a problem, she's really quiet."
Sara
pulled a face, "Not at night!"
"I'm sorry?" Grissom
didn't understand.
"She talks in her sleep sometimes, screams…"
"Oh…"
"Not all the time" she added quickly, "I can usually tell if she will have a rough night by her mood." She yawned and licked her lips, then began to explain. "If she's subdued, nervous or shy, then it's not going to be a quiet night. I tried explaining it to her once, tried to get her to talk about it you know, I don't think she knows that she does it…I just thought I should warn you…" Sara finished with a sigh.
Grissom was quiet for a moment, contemplating all that Sara had told him about his new little guest then shrugged, "We'll work something out."
Sara raised her perfectly plucked eyebrow.
"What?" Grissom asked.
"I just expected you to…"
"To ask why?" Grissom finished.
Sara nodded, "Yeah, kinda."
"It's none of my business," Grissom said in his professional toneless voice.
"You know I want to tell you, its just… still raw at the moment…"
Grissom nodded, "That's fine as long as you know where I am when you're ready to talk, either of you."
Sara closed her eyes and nodded again. Grissom leant forward and softly touched his soft lips to Sara's forehead, kissing her gently, avoiding an angry blue bruise and a swelling cut. Their fingers entwined and Grissom brushed his bristly not-shaved-for-quite-a-few-days growth along his jaw line against her smooth cheek and he moved closer to her delicate little ear. Sara shivered beneath his touch, and a smile found its way to her lips, widening to emit her gap-toothed grin of delight as he whispered huskily in her ear.
"I love you Sara Sidle."
Her breath caught in her throat. He'd never said that to her before. Hell, no one had said that to her before. I love you. He'd said 'I love you'. He loved her! Granted, it was not in the most romantic setting, but it was certainly the most romantic, perfect man that had said it, and she wouldn't have wanted anyone else to say it to her but him. He leant back and she looked into his clear, focused eyes.
He smiled. "Breathe!" he reminded her, almost laughing. Sara flushed red and allowed oxygen to flow back into her lungs. "Better?" He asked, definitely laughing now.
Their eyes locked on one another and their gaze held steadily for a few moments. His clear blue, meeting her deep brown. Grissom leant forward once more and this time, pressed his lips to hers and kissed her in a way she'd never experienced before, and one that she was wholly glad she was lying down, because if she'd been standing she would have fell flat on the floor. Sure she'd been kissed before, but this was different.
Boy was this different!
Gently, Grissom parted his lips, and let his tongue slide into her mouth, and hers in turn, explored his mouth. Their tongues pressed passed one another, warmth flowing through both of them. Grissom slid his hand round to the nape of her neck, tilting her head back gently, and pulled her to him. Her one good hand reached for his shirt and she wrapped her fingers in it, pulling him closer to her. She never wanted to let go. She'd never felt this good before.