Chapter Twenty Five:
He couldn't sit.
He couldn't just stand.
He walked the halls over and over as he waited for permission to see her.
He needed to see her.
He needed to hold her hand.
He was relieved when he was finally sitting there beside her.
His eyes roamed over her body.
He memorized every bruise and cut.
His fingers traced her cheek.
He stared at the ventilator.
The door opened and his stomach knotted.
Catherine stood there with her kit.
Catherine worked quickly.
Catherine's eyes met his every now and then.
She collected the samples and then pulled out the camera.
His eyes locked with hers.
His gut clenched.
There must be physical evidence…
"Bruises…it could have been from the fall," she whispered. "I have to be sure."
The first flash was followed by a second flash.
He breathed in deeply.
He looked at her battered body lying there in the bed.
He gulped another breath.
He watched as the machine breathed for her.
"I'm done," Catherine announced.
It did little to help.
"Hollister…"
"He's being charged with violating the restraining order…we'll have to wait on the evidence to see if we can charge him with anything else," said Catherine.
Grissom nodded.
"Gil?"
He looked at Catherine.
"His attorney has already posted bail," she said.
"I don't want him near her!" yelled Grissom.
"He's in critical condition. They're not sure if he's going to make it. He's in a coma."
Good…
The bastard should die…
"Why don't you go home and get some rest? I can stay with her," offered Catherine.
"I'm not leaving her," he said.
Dr. King stepped into the room.
"Mr. Grissom?"
"Yes," he said barely above a whisper.
"Mr. Grissom, the pneumonia is worse."
He knew.
He could hear her struggling to live.
Don't leave me Sara…
Don't leave me alone…
"I'm sorry," said the physician.
"Dr. King…we found a bottle of prenatal vitamins…is she pregnant?"
"The test came back negative. Was she trying to get pregnant?"
"We were trying."
"I'll check in on her in a few hours," he said as he walked away.
Catherine's hands held his tight.
"So sorry honey," she whispered.
Hours ticked away and yet he remained by her side.
Catherine had left hours ago to return to the lab but she was already back.
He still sat in the same seat as if he had not moved from the spot.
"You should take a break. Get something to eat," Catherine said.
"I want to be here in case she wakes," he said.
"Gil the SA kit was negative. She wasn't raped," she said.
He sighed out loud.
"Anything else?"
"Hollister's car was parked about a half mile from the cabin. I'm guessing he hiked in and waited for Sara. It explains how he got there without his vehicle. He intended to hide and then…
something foiled his plan. Sara may have fought and gotten away. The semen found in the bed belongs to Hollister. He chased her to the cliff and she fell or he pushed her. We won't know
until we can question Sara."
Grissom stared at Sara.
"Gil, David Hollister's family has been called in. He's not expected to live," she said.
There was no reaction.
He wanted him dead.
He wanted to kill him with his own bare hands.
"How you holding up?" she asked.
"I uhm keep hoping she'll wake up," he said.
"Jenny and Brad are here," said Catherine.
He stepped outside the room.
"Mr. Grissom, I'm so sorry," said Jenny. "How is she?"
"She's in critical condition," he said.
Brad held his wife.
"If it's any consolation David probably won't make it," said Brad.
"It's not," said Grissom.
"Could we see her?" asked Jenny.
"No one is permitted inside…except family."
"I just wanted to hold her hand," Jenny said between bouts of tears.
"I'm sorry," Grissom said as he stepped back inside.
He knew it was heartless but he didn't care.
He did not want to share her with anyone especially anyone connected to David Hollister.
He sat back down in the chair and took her hand.
"Come on honey. Please Sara wake up," he begged. "I need to hear your voice."
He placed her hand on his cheek as he sat there and let the tears fall.
Her labored breathing continued.
His heart shuddered the moment the machines sounded.
A nurse came rushing in.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Brad and Jenny stood off to the side as they watched a flurry of nurses rush inside followed by a physician.
Brad grabbed Jenny's hand and led her to the elevator.
The elevator door closed as Catherine watched through the small window in the door.
"I think we just got rid of the bitch," said Jenny. "Just one more loose end...my dear brother."
She woke.
The machines continued to go off as she struggled.
"The machine has malfunctioned," said the nurse.
"She's awake," said Grissom quickly.
Sara felt something odd in her throat as she tried to speak.
She heard his voice and she turned.
He was there.
"Hey," he said softly.
She tried to move her hand toward the tube but he stopped her.
"Sara, you need to listen carefully. Can you do that? If you can understand me, squeeze my hand."
He felt a slight squeeze and he smiled.
"You're on a ventilator so your lungs could heal. Do you understand?"
She nodded.
"Good."
She felt frightened but she wasn't sure why.
She wanted to be in his arms but the wires restricted her movement.
The agitation grew.
"Sara…"
He grabbed her hands and held them.
"Can you remove the tube?" asked Grissom to the doctor.
"I think we can do that," said the physician.
"Sara, we want you…"
She was not listening.
She kept her eyes locked on his.
She struggled through the pain.
It was intense.
Every inch of her body ached.
She sputtered when the tube was removed.
She coughed again and again causing her to cry out in pain.
"We can give her something for the pain," said the nurse.
She shook her head.
She did not want to sleep again.
She wanted to be with Grissom.
"Sara, I'm Dr. King. I need you to answer a few questions," he said.
She nodded.
"What is your name?"
"Sara…Grissom."
"Do you know the person holding your hand?"
"Grissom…Gil."
"Good. Can you tell us what year it is?"
She stared at him.
"Sara?"
"2008."
"Good."
"Do know where you are?"
"Hospital."
"Good."
"Do you know what happened?"
She didn't.
She didn't remember.
"That's enough questions for now," said the physician.
Her eyes grew heavy.
She didn't want to sleep.
She struggled to stay awake.
"Just rest," said Grissom. "I'll be right here. I'm not leaving."
He leaned back in the chair and slept.
Hours passed.
Nurses came and went.
Shifts changed.
He remained by her side.
He slept as the others came and went.
Brass nudged him once and tried to persuade him to leave.
He refused.
He was awake when Dr. King returned for another round.
"Let's see how she is doing," he said as he listened to her lungs. "Her lungs sound better."
"How is the pneumonia?" asked Grissom.
"The pnuemonia seems better," he said.
She felt the stethoscope.
She opened her eyes and sought out Grissom.
He squeezed her hand.
Her voice was raspy but it felt good to speak again.
"Gil?"
"I'm here," he said.
"I'll check back in a few more hours," said the physician.
Grissom nodded.
He held her hand to his lips. "How do you feel?" he asked.
"Chest hurts," she said.
"It's the pneumonia. It's getting better."
She nodded.
"You should leave," she said. "You look tired."
"I'm not going anywhere," he said.
He kissed the palm of her hand.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
"Have you remembered anything?" he asked softly.
She shook her head.
She tried to sit up but stopped when she felt the pain.
"Gently," he said. "You have several broken ribs. The concussion is better."
"I don't remember much," she said.
"It's too soon," he said.
She closed her eyes as if in pain.
"Sara?"
"Head hurts," she said.
"Just rest," he said.
"I want to go home," she said.
"Soon."
She closed her eyes.
She slept again.
Note from author:
I thought I had better release this chapter tonight or face being linched! Now that everyone knows Sara is going to be fine...no baby...so no miscarriage...have a good night. I am rushing to proof read the rest of this and let you know how many chapters there are. I am still finishing up the ending...
Take care,
Penny