Chapter Twenty one:
They sauntered out of the bedroom each taking a seat opposite one another.
"I take it you've ended the spat?" asked Brass.
"We weren't fighting," beamed Grissom.
"It sounded like…" Sofia stopped. She covered the snicker.
"We were merely discussing matters," said Grissom taking a bite. "This is good," he commented.
"I made your favorite," purred Sofia.
Grissom did not seem to notice the slight kick under the table.
"If you were aiming for him, you missed," winced Brass.
"Sorry," said Sara.
"It is his favorite," said Sofia. "These two will have you cooking before you know it."
Sara scoffed, "Not after they've had mine."
Grissom's fork stopped in midair. "You can't cook?"
"Is that a problem?" she challenged.
"No…dear," he replied.
Brass and Sofia hid the smirks.
Sara gawked at him.
"What?" Grissom asked as he stared at Sara.
"Dear?" she asked. "That's an animal that…."
"I have a few other choice words to call you," he dared.
Sara stuffed a fork full of food in her mouth.
Grissom did the same.
"Well….dear, I have to get to work," teased Brass as he stood.
Sofia stared at him. "That's it? You eat and then…"
Brass bent over and kissed her.
"Later," she said with a grin.
"Count on it," he said as he headed for the door.
Sara finished the waffle and stood quickly. "I need to go," she said taking her plate but Sofia grabbed it.
"Where are you going?" asked Grissom.
"Home," she said.
He scrambled out of his chair and went after her while Sofia stood there staring at the mess.
"Sara…Sara, wait!" he said.
He watched as she packed her things.
"I've got to get back to my apartment…wait you brought me," she reminded him.
He smiled. "Yes, I did."
He stood there with arms folded.
"Fine, I'll call a cab."
His smile faded. "Stay…here."
"I've got to get ready for work," she said. "I left my reports in the apartment."
"I'll drive you," he offered. "Then you can get some things and…"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Griss, we've been through that," she sighed.
"But…we…"
"I really need to go. Are you going to give me a ride or not?" she asked.
She reached for the bag but he carried it.
He was silent the entire drive.
She slipped out of the vehicle and he fell into step behind her.
Once inside the apartment, she took one look at it and cursed.
"I'll take care of this mess," he stated.
"I'll get to it after shift," she sighed.
"Sara, I'll call my maid. I'm sure she won't mind coming and…"
"I pay," demanded Sara.
"Of course," he relented.
Sara grabbed the reports and then started for the door.
"Sara?"
"Yeah?"
"The amnio…"he began.
"I'll let you know," she said.
She started to walk out but quickly kissed him. "I enjoyed the shower."
He smiled slightly. "Be careful."
Sara sat in the lobby as she glanced over some reports.
She was glad when her name was called as she sat down in Dr. Martin's office.
"I understand you want to talk with me about the amnio," said Peggy.
"I want to reschedule the procedure," she said.
"I'm not sure that is a good idea," said Peggy.
"Look, I know I kind of freaked the first time but…"
"Sara, you never mentioned the anxiety attacks," Peggy stated.
"That's because they were mild and I'd only had one…okay maybe two," she began.
"I would not recommend it," said Peggy.
"Why not? I won't panic this time," assured Sara.
"What's changed?" she asked.
"I uhm…I won't," repeated Sara.
"Sara, unless you prove to me that you've resolved some of your stress then I'm not inclined to agree to do the procedure."
"So how am I supposed to relieve the stress? Not knowing is causing the stress. I have Hank and Melissa wanting to have an active role in my pregnancy…Grissom doesn't like Hank. Hank doesn't like Grissom. I'm stuck here in the middle."
"Have you tried sitting down with everyone and talking about the issues?" asked Peggy.
"I've talked with Grissom."
"No Sara. You have to include Melissa and Hank," she corrected.
Sara was silent.
"If you can discuss the situation with all parties…in a civilized manner then…I might be persuaded to do the procedure. If not, you're going to have to find another doctor," said Dr. Peters getting up.
Sara rounded the corner and stepped into the elevator.
Glancing at her watch, she pushed the button and headed to the nursery.
She had been calling the hospital each day to check on the baby that had been injured on the bus.
Sara stepped out and made her way to the window. She spotted the baby immediately by the small cast. He lay there wailing.
A nurse saw her staring and she tapped on the window.
"Hi, can I help you?' asked the nurse.
"I'm Sara Sidle with the crime lab. I just wanted to see how…Alex was doing," she said.
"He's better. Social Services are having a hard time finding a foster home for him. There are no viable family members. He'll most likely be in care all of his life unless he gets adopted. Not many want a baby with special needs," said the nurse.
"Special needs?" asked Sara.
"He has a cast," she pointed out.
"But he'll heal!" exclaimed Sara.
"He'll also need special therapy and it was a bad break. It will delay his crawling and walking…he'll be developmentally delayed."
The nurse smiled at the person behind Sara.
Sara turned and came face to face with Melissa.
"I was afraid you weren't going to come today," said the nurse.
Sara felt self conscious as Melissa eyes slowly settled on Sara's midsection.
"Melissa?" asked the nurse.
"I'm sorry," Melissa said. "I got caught up…personal matters."
"He's all yours," said the nurse as she handed Alex to Melissa.
Melissa cuddled the baby and then sat down in a rocker.
"I'm sorry," said Sara. "I was just checking on him."
"Ever since Hank told me about him…I've been coming. I just wanted to make sure he was okay," explained Melissa.
"That was very kind of you," said Sara as she started to leave.
"Sara, could we talk?" she asked. "I mean I've tried to talk with you but…"
"I'm sorry but this is awkward…for me," said Sara.
"I just want to talk," she pleaded.
Sara sat down.
Neither said anything as Melissa rocked the baby.
Melissa smiled down at the baby.
"He's a good baby," smiled Melissa.
Sara smiled.
"I didn't know about you," admitted Sara.
"I know," she said. "I didn't know about you…not until you came to the apartment on that case….then I just sort of knew. It started to make sense."
Sara nodded.
"He uhm tried several times to break it off…I even let him go once or twice but I could never really let go…move on," she said. "I love him. I'm not sure I could love anyone else but…"
"Look, I've told Hank that we're done…no matter what."
"He told me. Sara, he's not a bad person…he just came from a big family and wanted children. The moment I saw him, I fell in love with him."
"Do you uhm mind me asking…"
"I had endometriosis in my late teens. I had a hysterectomy by age twenty-two," she said.
"I'm sorry," said Sara.
"We'd been together for a couple of years before the topic of children came up. He proposed and I said yes but then I told him and everything changed."
Sara stared at the floor.
"Hank is very excited about the baby," Melissa said.
"It might not be his," said Sara.
"He's hopeful…I am too," she said.
Their eyes locked.
"I can't give him what he wants. You could," she said. "Sara, I want you to know that I wouldn't…I would be very good to the baby. I would never…"
"I believe you," whispered Sara.
Melissa stared down at the baby. "Some women are so lucky. They never consider how much of a miracle birth is."
"There's adoption," said Sara.
"We talked about it…he was even excited about it until…"
"He found out I was pregnant," finished Sara.
Melissa nodded.
"Alex needs someone," said Sara.
"I'm not sure Hank wants to adopt now," said Melissa.
"What do you want?" asked Sara.
"I just want a baby," sniffled Melissa.
"Then why don't you apply to adopt Alex?" Sara asked.
Melissa stared at her.
"Single parents adopt all the time," explained Sara.
Sara sat there and chatted with Melissa for awhile until the nurse came to get Alex.
Sara watched as Melissa gave up the baby.
"You're very good with him," said Sara.
"You think I really have a chance…to adopt him?" asked Melissa.
"You won't know until you try," replied Sara.
Sara opened the door and found the apartment spotless.
She tossed her keys on the counter and grabbed a glass of orange juice.
"I can do this," she said out loud.
She glanced down at her answering machine and sighed.
There were several messages.
She clicked on the machine
Sara, give me a call. You didn't tell me you were taking off.
Sara, I'm worried. You're phone is off. I thought we could have dinner
Sara…I uhm love you…
The machine clicked off.
Sara picked up the phone and called Grissom.
"Hey," she whispered.
"I've been worried," he began.
"I got your messages," she said.
"Are you okay?" asked Grissom.
"Yes, I am. I thought you could come over after shift," she said.
He smiled. "I'll be there."
"Griss?"
"Hmmm"
"I'm inviting Hank," she stated.
He was silent.
"I'm also inviting Melissa," she added.
"I'll be there," he replied. "Want me to come early?"
"That would be nice," she admitted.
"Sara?"
"Yeah?"
"I'll support you…whatever you decide. Don't worry," he urged.
"I'm not…for the first time, I'm not," she said as she hung up.
Note from author:
fluff...see the white stuff floating around...causes havoc to the senses...
Take care!