Chapter Twenty One:
Grissom sat there in the hospital room and grinned while Brass complained to the nurse.
"I like hospitals really but do you think I could get out of here soon?" he asked. It had been days and now Brass was growing restless.
"I'll talk with your physician," said the nurse with a smile.
Ellie had disappeared.
Nick had gone over to check on her and she had checked out. No one said anything to Brass about her appearance at the hospital. They felt it was best to say nothing.
Grissom waited until the nurse left.
"Jim I need a favor."
"I'm not sure I'm in any condition to be doing favors," he said.
"I need you to stay at the townhouse when you get out of here."
"Thanks but no thanks. I plan to lounge at my own place…"
"Thomas is pushing for Sara to go back to San Francisco. She's not ready to go back to work. She wouldn't if she had something to do…take care of you."
"And here I thought your invitation was because you loved me."
"She won't admit it but she needs some time off."
"You two work things out?" he asked.
"She says it's over," he said.
"Are you going to settle for that?"
"No…but Thomas is pushing her…I just want her to be happy. If San Francisco makes her happy then…she's physically and emotionally not ready for work."
"She'll stay if I stay?" asked Brass.
"Yes…I think."
"I get the master bedroom?" he asked.
"Sara has the guest room."
"Where are you going to sleep?"
"In the other guest room."
"Isn't that where Sara is sleeping?"
"Is it a deal?"
"What's a deal?" asked Sara as she stepped into the room.
"I've been trying to talk Brass into staying with us while he recuperates. He's going to need some help for awhile."
"I'm not a complete invalid…."
"You can't stay by yourself," said Sara.
"Play cards with me?" asked Brass.
Sara grinned. "I think that can be arranged."
Grissom smiled.
He left them to talk. An hour passed and she stepped out.
"Ready to go home?" he asked.
"Greg was supposed to…"
"He got caught up on a case," said Grissom.
They drove back to the townhouse and she spent the next several hours working in the flower garden. He kept his distance giving her space, only checking on her every now and then. She returned inside and grabbed a bottle of water.
"Flower garden is looking nice again," he said.
"It needs plants," she said.
"You could pick them out and I could have them delivered," he offered.
She glanced at him but said nothing.
"What are your plans for the baby?" he asked.
"Plans?"
"Sara the baby will be here soon."
"I uhm…I haven't had time to think about…"
He looked at her.
It wasn't true.
She had already been approved for twelve weeks of maternity leave. She and Ben had scouted out a daycare center near the apartment complex and after close inspection she had felt comfortable with the idea of leaving the baby there. Ben had even offered to babysit from time to time. She had grown dependent on him without even realizing it.
Now, he was gone.
"I need to shower. I have an appointment this afternoon," she said.
"Appointment?"
"Doctor appointment," she said as she turned and walked away.
He quickly came around the counter. "Is everything okay?"
"Just a check up," she said. "I thought it was best since…" She stopped and headed toward the showers.
She's worried about the baby also…
He stood there with keys in hand when she returned to the living room.
"You look tired. I thought I would drive you…please."
She sighed.
In truth, she was tired. She had stopped when her mind would not rest.
I can't shut down…
Something is not right…
It was good she was not going alone. He tried to make conversation on the way. She felt he was pumping her for information.
What if he finds out?
I'm too tired to hide this anymore…
"Have there been any complications?" he asked. "I mean the doctor appointments have been routine?"
"Yes."
"Good."
She was not prepared for his next move.
He got out of the vehicle walking beside her without asking. She said nothing as they stepped into the doctor's office. She signed in and took a seat. Within minutes, she was called.
"Ms. Sidle."
She stood and felt him following. She said nothing somehow needing the support today.
"I understand you have a regular OB in San Francisco?" asked the nurse.
"I'm here on business," she said. "I went into preterm labor but they managed to stop it. It's time for my regular check up and I didn't feel I should delay it."
"You made the right choice," smiled the nurse.
"Any complications right now?"
"No…just very active when I try to sleep."
"Taking your vitamins?"
"Yes."
"Let's check your urine and then blood pressure."
Sara disappeared for a moment and then returned with cup in hand.
"Urine is good. Any problems with blood pressure?"
"Some," she admitted.
Grissom became alarmed.
"It's a bit high today."
"Oh."
The nurse glanced at her. "I'll check it again in a little while."
"Any other complications?"
She glanced at Grissom for a second.
"I uhm have blurred vision…not often but sometimes…I'm a little dizzy after I've been up for awhile."
"When you lie down, is it better?"
"Yes."
"You'll need to monitor your blood pressure…could be hypertension. Try to avoid stress, limit your work…maybe early maternity leave…when are you going to take maternity leave?"
"I uhm haven't been working the past several days…I feel like I haven't really worked in weeks…I uhm had a few injuries just scrapes and bruises from uhm a shooting…my job." She looked at the nurse.
The nurse frowned, "I see. Let's check that blood pressure again."
Sara sat there quietly.
The nurse looked at her.
"It's still high. Are you under a lot of stress from work right now?"
Stress?
I have nothing but stress…
"I'm not working. I'm on medical leave for a few weeks," she said.
"Are you under stress?"
Sara did not reply.
Grissom knew the answer but said nothing.
"I'll put you in room 3. The doctor will be there in a few minutes."
She stood and he followed.
Once the door was closed, she turned and looked at him.
"You don't have to stay," she said.
"Can I stay? I won't get in the way," he said.
She stood there a bit awkward.
"Griss, I have to change," she said.
"I uhm…I'll turn my back," he said. He walked over to the window and glanced out.
"You look beautiful…you know."
"I don't feel like…You can turn around," she said.
He stood there while she stared at the examining table.
"Need help?"
She reluctantly nodded.
He grinned as he helped her. His hand rubbed her back while the other rested on her abdomen.
"I think pregnancy is the most beautiful act of nature," he whispered.
The doctor stepped in and glanced at Grissom.
"Is this Mr. Sidle?" she asked.
"No," they both said in unison.
"I understand your blood pressure is high."
"I thought it was just a little high," said Sara glancing at the nurse.
"It's high," said the doctor. She flipped through the chart and then glanced at Sara. "I'm sorry I didn't remember you at first. You came here when you first found out you were pregnant. There's a note in the chart that says you moved to San Francisco. You're twenty six weeks along."
Sara glanced at Grissom as he stood there shell shocked. She knew his brain was working in overdrive with the calculations. She felt lightheaded.
"Let's do your examine and then talk about the blood pressure."
Grissom stepped back into the corner so that he was near Sara's head.
She could not see his reaction.
Is he angry?
Is he happy?
He must be angry…
I hid it from him…
"Baby's measurements look good… on the small side…very active?"
"Yes."
"That's good."
"Let's listen to his heart beat for a moment."
The doctor grinned. "He has hiccups right now."
Sara smiled. "He gets them a lot."
"Can I listen?" asked Grissom quickly.
The doctor glanced at Sara.
She nodded.
He was quiet.
Words could not express his feelings at that moment.
It was his.
The baby belonged to him.
There was no way she could deny it now.
Why didn't she tell me?
She purposely kept this from me…
She led me to believe…
I never asked…
She never told me…
I was afraid to ask…
She was probably afraid to tell me…
"Let's check that blood pressure again."
She glanced down at Sara.
"It's worse."
He knows…
He's going to be angry…
I'm not strong enough for a confrontation…
I need Ben…
Ben is dead…
"I've never had a problem…"
"Pregnancy does all sorts of things to our bodies. High blood pressure is one of them. I want you to monitor your blood pressure for a week and if it remains high then we need to prescribe medication. Limit the stress…as well as work."
"Work?"
"If you have to work, try to take regular breaks…avoid stress as much as possible."
Sara nodded even though she knew that was impossible.
She dressed and they were on their way home. She expected him to immediately begin with the questions when they were alone but he was quiet. She sat there and said nothing as she tried to control the trembling in her hands.
I need Ben…
Ben would calm me down…
Ben would tell me to give him a chance…
Ben would…
I miss Ben…
Once they were back, she retreated to her room but did not bother to shut the door this time. He left her alone for awhile before coming to stand in the doorway.
"The baby is mine Sara."
She couldn't deny it.
She was too tired to fight with him.
She scooted down in the bed and laid on her side.
"Kicking again?"
"Just a muscle spasm," she said.
"Blurry vision?" he asked.
She nodded.
"I don't want to upset you. He's mine, isn't he?"
"Yes," she said softly.
He stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You left…remember," she said.
She didn't want to talk about this.
She wanted him to leave.
"I was coming back."
"That's not what we were told."
He sighed.
"Look, we can work this out."
"Work out what?"
"Sara, I love you…"
Note from author:
What do you think Sara is going to say? So, Grissom finally knows but there's a few more problems headed their way… By the way, it looks like there are thirty four chapters.
Take care,
Penny