Chapter Fourteen:

Grissom's heart sank. His hand immediately shot to cover his mouth. He didn't know if he uttered a cry or not. He didn't want to think of her gone. He closed the phone and leaned back in his chair. He stared into empty space. He was startled by the ringing of his phone again. He started to sling it across the room when he noticed that is was Brass. He swallowed and then answered.

"Gil, you need to get down here to the hospital. It's Sara."

"Sophia just called me to tell me about the hit tonight. Is Sara…"

"What are you talking about? I brought Sara to the hospital tonight because I think she has a concussion and a bad one at that. I left her nanny and two uniformed officers at her house."

"Sophia said she was headed to Sara's house. There are three bodies."

"Gil. Someone's taken a contract out on Sara. I'm posting uniformed officers outside her hospital room. I am going to stay with her until she gets into a room. They sent her for tests right now."

"Who knew that Sara was taken to the hospital?"

"No one. I thought I would have her checked out and then we would return. I did call the guys and ask them to pick up some things the nanny had gotten together for the baby."

"Jim, get a hold of the DA and have them to tell the media that Sara Robertson was killed tonight. It might buy us some time to find out whose behind this before they try again. As soon as it's safe to move Sara, get her to a safe house."

"I'm already on it. Gil?"

"Yeah?"

"She needs you right now."

"I'm on my way."

Grissom grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. On the drive over, he analyzed the events of the last 72 hours. He intended to do whatever it took to protect Sara and her baby. He thought about Nicky and wondered if Sara would let him be a part of her son's life. I'm such a fool! I won't lose her again!.

Brass called Grissom to give him the location of the safe house. Sara had been diagnosed with a severe concussion and against the advice of her doctor, Brass had signed her out. Brass had just checked on Sara when there was a knock on the door. It was Grissom. He glanced at the bedroom and could see Sara lying in the bed.

"How is she?"

"She's not good. She feels guilty for the death of her nanny and she misses Nicky. She's having difficulty resting."

Grissom walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down. He took her hand in his and kissed it lightly. Sara's eyes were wet from crying. She refused to make eye contact with him. He was surprised she did not pull away from him. He had longed to touch her so many times before but had kept his distance. He didn't care now. He had almost lost her for a second time in just a few hours and he didn't care what it looked like. Life was too short.

"Nicky is going to be fine. Nick won't let anything happen to him."

"I miss him. I'm not used to being without him." Sara began to silently cry and she pulled her hand away from Grissom.

"Sara, if I could bring him to you I would but he is safer where he is right now. Do you understand?"

"I understand. It doesn't hurt any less. I can't breast feed him and I know he won't understand why I'm not with him. I don't want him to think I've abandoned him. I can't bear the thought of him crying for me." Grissom thought about the baby and his heart ached. He hadn't thought about how Nicky would react to being without Sara. It never occurred to him about the breast feeding. He was sure that Nick would have his hands full with a fussy baby who missed his mommy and now would miss his meal source. He knew that it was important for Nicky to continue the breastfeeding since his health had always been an issue.

"Sara, if you had a breast pump you could express the milk and we could get it to Nicky." Sara hadn't thought about it but she smiled when Grissom had solved her immediate dilemma. He left the house and returned an hour or so later with a breast pump.

He gave Sara some privacy as he and Brass stayed in the living room. When Sara had filled some bottles, she packed them in the cooler that Grissom had purchased. She called for Grissom who began picking up the items to take to the baby. Sara lay in the bed. Just expressing the milk had zapped what little energy she had left. She closed her eyes to fight off the nausea caused by the concussion. She grabbed Grissom's arm and pulled him down to her.

"Promise me you'll make sure he takes his bottle tonight. If he gets fussy, just rub his back and sing to him softly. It will help him sleep. I always sing him a lullaby before laying him down to sleep."

Before Grissom could ask her the name of the lullaby she had closed her eyes and fallen asleep.

Grissom arrived at Catherine's house to the sound of Nicky wailing. Catherine opened the door and was pleased to see Grissom with the breast milk.

"You're a lifesaver. We have tried every kind of formula we could think of but Nicky doesn't want it. "

Grissom followed the sound of the wailing to see Nick cradling Nicky but nothing would console him. He handed Nick the bottle and smiled "Mother's best!"

It dawned on Nick what Grissom meant and he grinned. "If this works, I'll kiss you. He has been crying for the last two hours. "

Nick tried to get him to take the bottle but he refused. Nick's smile faded. "Now, come on buddy. I know it's not the same but mommy sent this to you. She would be here if she could. Don't disappoint your momma right now. Come on please Nicky." The baby continued to cry.

The baby's wails tore at Grissom's heart and without thinking; he took the baby into his arms and then retrieved the bottle. He sat down in the rocking chair and began to rub Nicky's back. He began to slow in wailing and with the encouragement of Grissom's soft voice; he took the bottle and began to suckle.

Nick smiled. He knew that Sara would be proud of Grissom and her son at this moment. Nicky finished off a bottle and a half but then he began to whimper. He was searching for Sara. Grissom's heart lurched at the sight of his little face. He didn't know why the baby had such an effect on him. He's a part of Sara. I would love anything that is a part of Sara.

Grissom rubbed Nicky's back and began to hum a lullaby that his grandmother had sung to him. It was a lullaby she had made up. It was the only memory he had of her since she died when he was a young boy leaving him and his mother without any other living relatives. He noticed that Nicky had stopped whimpering so he began to sing softly to the child:

Rockaby rockaby rockaby baby

Rockaby rockaby rockaby my love.

Go to sleep my little one. I'll be here through the night.

Go to sleep my little one and dream the night away.

He continued to softly hum and then sang the course over and over. He did not notice that Nicky had fallen asleep. Catherine came and stood in the doorway. She looked at Grissom cradling the baby so tenderly and she smiled.

"Grissom, you're a natural."

Her voice brought Grissom out of his thoughts and he looked down at Nicky. His face suddenly changed. First there was surprise followed by hurt and then anger. He kissed Nicky on the forehead and held him tightly. He then handed him to Catherine and left. Catherine could not make out what had happened but she was relieved the baby was asleep.

Grissom grabbed Nick by the arm, "Outside!"

Nick followed Grissom. He could see that Grissom was angry.

"What's wrong?"

"Why didn't she tell me that Nicky is my child?"