A/N: Thanks for being so positive about this story, I love all those reviews.

Here comes the next bit. Enjoy.

A Testing Time.

As promised, Allison deposited Grissom at Sara's apartment the next morning on her way to work. Giving him a brief tour she left him to his own devices and headed out.

Grissom spent the next couple of hours getting settled and, despite telling himself he wouldn't, snooping around Sara's place.

It was very Sara, he decided, warm and comfortable, though not cluttered. There were several photos of the Vegas team and a few nick-knacks from Vegas, Boston and California scattered around, making the place look lived in. He had found her spare bedroom already made up, but he put his things in her room. Her room smelled like Sara, vanilla and peaches, and it was comforting. He knew he should change her bed; but he was reluctant for the same reason, it would smell of her. Common sense won out and after changing her bed and collecting what little laundry there was of both hers and his, he set it washing.

He made himself a coffee and sat at her small table to make a list. Groceries were the first things he decided he needed to get, because her cupboards were pretty bare and once he'd worked out just what he wanted he made a list of other things he would need for a longer stay than he had packed for.

Finishing his coffee he picked up his cell phone and set about organising a car so that he could get around more freely. Once that was done, he sat back and let his mind wander over the last few days.

His thoughts turned first to the conversation between Rod and himself last night on the way back to the hotel. Grissom had asked Rod for details about the day of the explosion, but he had not been fully prepared for what the other man had told him. He had listened quietly and as Rod had told him that Sara would probably not have survived if not for the self sacrifice of Agent Walker, who had died protecting Sara from the blast, he felt like he couldn't breathe. Sitting here in her apartment, his reaction was similar, and it took him some minutes to get his emotions back under control.

Other agents had died; he knew that and others had been injured including Allison and Richard, though no-one as badly as Sara. He would have like to attend Agent Walkers funeral but was unsure how his presence would be taken so he had organised with Rod for a letter to be delivered to Walkers family along with some flowers.

He wondered how much of that day Sara remembered; she hadn't said anything about it or asked any questions, obviously content that her team were ok and able to visit. Rod had told him that none of them had spoken to her about it. He hoped she really didn't remember and was not suppressing it intentionally. He decided he needed to speak to Dr. Lucas about that when he went in today.

Looking at his watch, Grissom discovered that it was ten o'clock and the car would be delivered soon; so he grabbed his jacket, phone and keys and headed out the door to wait downstairs.

He didn't have long to wait and he had just got behind the wheel when his phone rang.

"Grissom" he listened carefully to the details he was given and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Yeah, I can do that, no problem…….Ok see you at six………No I have a car now so it's not going to be any trouble……….Yeah, fine see you then…..bye."

Smiling to himself, he started the car and headed for the hospital.

--

Grissom headed straight for the nurses station when he arrived on Sara's ward, and was pleasantly surprised to find Dr. Lucas right there. Smiling at his good luck he waited for the man to finish speaking to the nurse beside him.

"Hello Dr. Grissom, nice to see you again." Dr. Lucas held out his hand to shake Grissom's.

"Nice to see you too. Actually I was wondering if I could have a word to you about Sara. Could we arrange a convenient time?" Grissom asked as he shook the doctor's hand.

"Certainly, actually, I was just about to go get a coffee if you'd care to join me?" he asked Grissom.

"Thankyou, but I don't want to intrude on your break."

"Wouldn't have offered if you were" Dr Lucas replied, heading towards the lift.

Grissom fell into step and they made their way to the cafeteria where they settled at a small table with their coffee.

"What would you like to know Dr. Grissom?" Dr. Lucas asked between sips of coffee.

"Please, just call me Grissom, the title is just a formality." He replied, deciding he would get straight to the point. "Do you think Sara has any memory of the day of the explosion?"

"With some head injuries the patient may have no recollection of the incident that caused the injury. That may extend to just before and just after the incident as well." He stopped and sipped at his coffee before continuing. "Because Sara was unconscious when she was brought in, she most likely will not remember anything immediately after the explosion." He looked at Grissom briefly before continuing.

"I'm guessing you are worried that Sara will try to suppress those memories" Grissom nodded.

"It will be difficult to ascertain if Sara remembers the day or not, or if she is suppressing those memories, only time will tell. I have scheduled a series of neurological tests for the day after tomorrow so I may have something more to go on after that."

"What sort of tests?"

"Cognitive tests and co-ordination type exercises, along with another check CT scan. We just need to see if there is any residual deficits in her motor and fine motor skills and some of these will test her memory and recognition as well" Dr. Lucas gave a reassuring smile to the man opposite him.

"I don't anticipate any problems with Sara; she has so far made a remarkable recovery." He told Grissom.

"That's great news, thankyou." Grissom returned the smile. "Do you have a time frame for the plaster on her arm, because I assume she can't start physiotherapy on her shoulder until the cast comes off?"

"Actually she can. We will change the cast to a lighter, waterproof one next week and commence physio as soon as possible. The shoulder was badly dislocated and it may require surgery sometime in the future. The biggest restriction will be those broken ribs of hers."

"If I know Sara, those ribs won't stop her. She never was one to take time to let herself heal, either physically or mentally. Do you think it would benefit her to see a counsellor?" Grissom asked.

"Actually it would probably be a good idea. It won't just be the memory of the incident, but the memory of the others injured and killed that may be an issue." Dr. Lucas replied.

"Sara is a very strong woman, one of the strongest I have ever known, but she does have a tendency to internalise things and I know that would not be good in this situation. The FBI probably have there own psychologists, I can speak to her boss about that when the time comes" Grissom told the doctor. "Otherwise, medically speaking, Sara is doing well?"

"Yes, as I said she is making a good recovery, her lung seems to be fine, she has not developed any infections and the surgical would on her head is healing nicely. All in all I would say that she will be fine." Dr. Lucas stood and held his hand out to Grissom once more. "I have to get back to my rounds, fell free to call me if you have any other questions or concerns."

"Thankyou Dr. Lucas, I will" Grissom stood and shook hands and watched the doctor leave. His thoughts turned to the neurological tests that he had mentioned and found himself uttering a silent prayer that they would all turn out fine.

--

When Grissom finally entered Sara's room it was to find her sleeping. He took his usual seat by her bed and sat back to wait for her to wake up. As he waited he studied her face; noting how the bruises were starting to change colour and that some of the cuts and scratches were starting to fade to thin red lines.

A warm feeling spread through his chest as he glanced at the ring on her finger and the medallion around her neck. They were much more than just a promise for the future and protection; they were a symbol of his love for the beautiful woman who wore them.

He glanced around the room, noticing for the first time a few more flower arrangements and a couple of gift baskets. Getting out of the chair, Grissom moved over to the table to check them out.

Flowers from her team and from another FBI department, a basket of chocolates and other goodies from the lab techs at her Washington lab and a gift basket from Catherine – he smiled as he glanced at it's contents – chocolates, fragrant skin care products, some items he could not readily identify but guessed Sara would appreciate and some fruit, both dried and fresh.

As he replaced the card in the basket from Catherine, he heard a snuffling noise from behind him. Turning he saw Sara struggling in the bed and as he moved closer he realised she was still asleep. She appeared to be in the throes of a dream; whilst he wasn't sure if it was a good one or a bad one he was concerned that she would hurt herself and he reached out to gently wake her.

"Sara. Sara wake up. It's just a dream honey, come on wake up for me" he watched as she opened her eyes and took a couple of gasping breaths. "Good girl, it's ok now, you're ok." He soothed, seeing her eyes fill with tears.

"Griss? I felt like I was being suffocated, something was pinning me down and I couldn't move. I couldn't breath" her breathing slowly settled as Grissom gathered her in his arms and held her as best he could, trying not to hurt her chest and shoulder.

"Its ok honey, it was just a dream, you're fine now, just take slow breaths, nothing's going to hurt you." Grissom continued to whisper soothingly to her as she calmed down and finally relaxed into his arms.

Sara raised her eyes to his and met his reassuring gaze. "Thankyou" she whispered.

"Any time honey, I'll always be here for you."

He gently eased Sara back onto her pillows and gave her a gentle kiss before moving back to the chair by the bed, not letting go of her hand. He watched as relaxed a little and got herself comfortable, before speaking.

"Seems like you have a few fans Miss Sidle" he teased, indicating the flowers and gift baskets. His attempt to lighten the atmosphere worked and she gave him a smile.

"Wow, can you bring the cards and the baskets over for me?" she asked.

"Certainly" he rose and grabbed the cards and picked up the two baskets.

Sara read the cards first, smiling at what was written before pulling the smaller of the two baskets closer.

"Yum, chocolate, and fudge and candy, I think I officially love those lab techs" she sighed happily as she moved the basket out of the way and grabbed the other one.

"WOW! Catherine sure knows how to spoil a girl, this stuff is expensive and I love it." Sara now sported a grin from ear to ear. "I'm going to enjoy this stuff, she said, pulling out item after item before replacing it in the basket. "I'll have to thank her as soon as I can."

Sara gave Grissom a questioning look. "Do you know how much longer they are going to keep me in here? They haven't told me much."

"Actually no I don't" Grissom hadn't asked Dr. Lucas that question. "I do know that they are going to do some neurological tests the day after tomorrow, so I guess once we have the results of those we'll find out.

Sara frowned. "What sort of tests?"

"Dr.Lucas said another CT scan and some cognitive and motor skill tests to…."

Sara cut him off before he could finish and he could tell she was not happy.

"Why do I need cognitive and motor skill tests, I'm fine, my memory is fine and the only problems with my motor skills is that I cant' do much because it's too damn painful to move." Grissom could tell she was getting agitated.

"Sara, you had a fractured skull that had to be repaired surgically, they need to make sure everything is ok" he tried to reassure her and at the same time make her understand.

"Well it worked and I'm fine, I don't need tests to tell me something I already know" she snapped. "Do you think there is anything wrong with me? Because if you do you'd better tell me now or…."

Grissom, wondering where all this had come from so suddenly, stopped her from continuing by placing two fingers over her lips and fixed her with a look that made many criminals cower. He knew the look wouldn't work on her, but he hoped she'd realise he meant what he said. He felt her lips tighten into a straight line under his fingers as she returned his glare.

"I do not think there is anything wrong with your mind. The tests are just part of your on-going care Sara. Honey you almost died" he paused to let that sink in, he didn't like saying it so bluntly, but he wasn't sure she realised just how close it had been.

"You know you can't concentrate, and when you try you get a headache, you get dizzy when you stand and need someone with you and you still get nauseated for no apparent reason. Those things are side effects of your injury Sara, they will go in time, and all the tests will do is confirm that there is nothing wrong."

Sara stared at him; noting the hurt in his voice and the look in his eyes when he said she had nearly died and she felt her chest constrict. This was the first time anyone had said anything like that to her, that she had almost died. Sure the doctor had explained her injuries and what they had done for them, but no-one had actually said that she almost died until now.

"I didn't know" she whispered, letting go of his hand and reaching out to touch his cheek.

It only took a moment for Grissom to understand what she meant. He hadn't realised that no-one had told her how close it had been.

"I'm sorry….." Sara cut him off before he could finish.

"You have nothing to be sorry about Gil" she told him, her eyes never leaving his.

"That's why you came isn't it, you're my next of kin, I never got around to changing it when I moved here" He nodded in response, not trusting his voice.

"Thankyou." She watched as his eyebrows rose. "I just wish you hadn't had to go through that."

Grissom held her hand tightly with one of his hands and stroked her cheek with the other,

"Oh honey, that's not the only reason I came. I love you and I needed you to hear it, I was not going to let you give up on me, not if I could help it" he placed a kiss on her forehead. "I couldn't lose you Sara, I need you too much."

Sara watched in amazement as a tear fell down his cheek. Gil Grissom was crying and it was for her. As she reached out to pull him to her, he finally allowed himself to release the anguish he had been feeling since he received the phone call almost five days ago. They clung to each other for what seemed like hours, her tears now mingling with his in a cathartic release of what seemed like a lifetime of fears.