A/n, Thanks to those of you who have reviewed the last chapter. Please keep doing that and please encourage others to review. Post a link in your profile to plug the story if you'd like just be sure to put my name as the author before it or after it. Now the chapter you've all been waiting for. This is the last chapter I will be accepting votes for if you want a boy or a girl and what you think the first and middle names should be. Please leave a review with your preference and choices if you haven't already done so. Please read and review. -----------------
"Well… Mrs. Stokes is a very lucky woman. The medics had to restart her heart when they got to the scene and we had to bring her back twice in the OR. We repaired the damage the bullet did. It collapsed her right lung and nicked an artery but thankfully not a major one. She and your child should make a full recovery. I'm confident that with rest and the proper care she will be fine." Everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"Can I see her?" Nick whispered.
"Give us about half an hour to get her settled in the ICU then you can. We've got her on a ventilator and we've put a chest tube in to help until her lung has been completely reinflated. She should come off the vent sometime tomorrow."
"How's the baby? Was there any damage to it from the lack of oxygen when Dacia stopped breathing?" Greg questioned.
"We had the on call OBGYN do aa ultrasound once the surgery was over and your baby looks healthy," the doctor answered. Nick flashed his first smile since he'd gotten the news. "I have to make my rounds. I'll have a nurse come get you when we've got her settled. Only two people at a time, please."
"We know, we've been through this before," Grissom responded. Nodding the doctor walked out leaving a much happier group of people in his wake. --------------------
"I'm so happy she's okay," Nick said sinking back into his seat.
"I know me, to," Sara agreed. Just then Nick's phone rang. Glancing at the screen he noticed it was Goldie. He'd called to inform the family about what was going on but had somehow managed to convince them to stay at home for the moment.
"Hey Goldie."
"How's Daisy? Are she and the baby okay?"
"The doctor just came out of surgery. He said her right lung had collapsed and that the bullet had nicked an artery but not a major one. She's on a vent and has a chest tube in for the moment. The doctor is hopeful to take her off the vent in a day or so. He thinks that Daish and the baby will make a full recovery."
"Oh thank goodness, hold on, let me tell everyone else. We're all at mom and Dad's." Turning to her family she related the news.
"Do you need us to come to Vegas?" Cora asked taking the phone.
"I don't think so at least not right now. I may take you up on that once they let her go home. I'm not sure how much time I'll be able to take off work and I don't want to leave her alone," Nick admitted.
"That's fine, just call me and let me know. Well I'll let you go so you can call your parents then go see Dacia. Tell her we love her very much, will you?"
"Of course I will, and I'll give her a hug and kiss for all of you to," the Texan promised.
"Okay, talk to you later."
"Bye," Nick replied hanging up and dialing his parent's home number. ------------------
"Hello?" came his father's gruff voice.
"Hey there, Dad."
"Hi Pancho, how's Daish, how's our grandchild?" Hearing her husband's part of the conversation jilian ran to the other room and picked up the extention.
"I'm here to," she interjected.
"Hey, Mama. Daish should be fine. The doctor said she had a collapsed lung and that the bullet nicked an artery but not a major one. She's being settled in the ICU and currently is on a vent and has a chest tube in to help reinflate her lung. They hope to take her off the vent in a day or so. The doctor is confident that both she and the baby will be fine. The baby looks healthy. They did an ultrasound," Nick explained.
"Have you got to see her?" Jilian wondered. Nick shook his head before remembering she couldn't see him.
"No, not yet. They're getting her settled in the ICU."
"Ah I see. Well we'll let you go so you can see her as soon as they come to get you."
"Give her our love," Bill requested.
"I will, Sisco, Mom. Love you both."
"We love you to, Nicky. Talk to you later," Jilian said hanging up the phone and saying a silent thank you to god for keeping her daughter-in-law alive. -------------------
"Family of Dacia Stokes?" Ap redheaded nurse was standing in the doorway of the waiting room. Everyone stood up.
"Is she ready for visitors?" Catherine asked.
"Yes, but only two people in the room at a time. She's in room 445. Do you need directions?"
"No, thank you, we've all seen way too much of the ICU wing in our jobs as of late," Sara commented.
"Very well then, my name is Becky and I will be Mrs. Stokes nurse until 7:00 A.M. tomorrow. Let me know if you have any questions."
"Thank you we will," Nick responded as he lead the others out of the waiting room and down the hall towards the ICU and his wife and child. ----------------------------------
"Nick, why don't you go in first, the rest of us can visit in a bit," Catherine offered. Nick nodded but hesitated. He desperately wanted to see his wife but he was terified and wanted someone with him. Noticing his indecision, Sara spoke.
"Do you want one of us to go in with you?" Thinking about it for a moment he nodded.
"Greg will you go in with me?"
"Sure," the ex-labrat agreed as he joined Nick by the door. Reaching out Nick grasped the door handle and opened it. -------------------------
Both men stopped short when they saw the woman in the hospital bed. Tubes and machines were surrounding her.
"She looks so small and helpless," Nick whispered brokenly.
"I know, but she's strong. She's a fighter. She has to be to put up with you," Greg teased.
"Thanks a lot, man," Nick complained with a small chuckle.
"What are friends for?" Greg asked.
"Yeah, I know."
"Hey there, Daish, it's Greg, Nicky and I are here. The rest of the team is outside."
"You have to wake up, sweetheart. I need you, our baby needs you. Doctor says the babies fine," Nick said. He could feel the tears pricking at the backs of his eyes. "I love you, Daish," he declared his voice cracking. Just as the first tear fell he turned and fled the room leaving Greg behind staring after him.
"You've gotta wake up and come back to us, sweetie. If Nicky loses you we'll lose him to. Love you so much, you're my best friend next to Sara. Get better soon," Greg finished squeezing her hand. Giving one last look he headed for the door so someone else could visit the injured CSI. -------------------------
Everyone looked at the opening of the hospital room door, revealing a crying Nick. Running out of the room he continued to run, tears blinding him. Holding out her arms, Sara gave him a sad smile as he ran into them.
"She l-l-looks so helpless."
"Shh, I know she does, but she's a fighter. She'll make it through this," the brunette vowed.
"What if she isn't? What if the doctor's wrong and I lose her and my child? I don't know what I'll do if I lose them."
"You can't think like that," Catherine said joining the hug.
"Thank you you two," Nick said softly composing himself and pulling away from Sara just in time to see Greg walk out.
"Who's next?" Greg questioned. After a moment of silence Catherine and Grissom decided they would visit then Sara and Warrick would. Half an hour later the rest of the team had visited Dacia and they were all seated in the ICU waiting room.
"You guys go home. I'll call you if anything changes," Nick told them.
"We don't want to leave you alone, man," Warrick protested.
"I'll be fine, Rick."
"But we'd feel better if someone was with you," Catherine said.
"I'll stay," Greg and Sara promised in unison.
"No, go home to Mikey. You know that's what Dacia would want you to do," Nick argued.
"You're right," Sara agreed placing a kiss on his cheek before standing up and grabbing for Greg's hand.
"Give him a kis from Uncle Nicky, please."
"Will do, see you later, Nick," Greg called following his wife down the hallway.
"I don't have any children or someone to go home to so I'll stay with you," Warrick volunteered.
"That's perfect, call us with any news," Catherine ordered.
"I will see you guys tomorrow," Nick answered.
"I'll see what time I can get off for you but I can't make any promises," Grissom told the younger man.
"I understand. You'll do the best you can, Griss."
"Yes I will. Bye Nick, Warrick." Both men waved as they settled back in the seats in the ICU waiting room. Because it was a popular place for people to stay in they had reclining chairs.
"Don't you want to go sit with Daish?" Warrick prompted.
"The nurse just went into check on her. We'll be able to go in in five minutes or so," Nick responded remembering his time in the hospital and the rules associated with the ICU. Five minutes later the two men were sitting in reclining chairs that pulled out into beds each holding one of the unconscious CSI's hands with Nick placing gentle kisses on her forehead and cheek every so often, letting her know how much he loved her.
TBC?
A/n, once again thanks so much to those of you who have reviewed. Please keep it up. If you haven't reviewed with whether you want the baby to be a boy or a girl do so on this chapter. Also if you haven't given your suggestions for either a boys first and middle name or a girls first and middle name depending on which gender you want do so with this chapter as well. This is your last chapter to give your opinion on this issue, so read and review!