Chapter Thirty Five:
"Hi Sara," said undersheriff McKeen as he closed his phone and put it away.
"Gil's not…"
"Mind if I come in?" he asked.
Her phone rang. "Just a minute," she said.
"Sara, don't trust Mc Keen. Call Hank," said Grissom. "Have Hank sit with you until I get there. I'll be there in five minutes."
"Okay," she said.
"Just remember, Hank was your idea," she said as she closed the phone.
"Hank," called Sara.
"Who's…"
McKeen looked down at the dog.
"You have a dog?" he asked.
"Yes, a retired attack dog," she said. "He got too aggressive in his job."
McKeen stepped back.
Hank sat down at Sara's side.
Sara's phone rang.
"Sara."
"Is Hank with you?" asked Grissom.
"Yes."
"I want you to excuse yourself as soon as I get there. Tell him you have to walk Hank. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Nick and Brass will fill you in when you get out here."
Sara closed her phone as she leaned over and grabbed the leash.
McKeen turned around when he heard the door open.
He saw Grissom standing there.
"Don't forget it's your turn tonight to walk the dog," she called as she stepped out and disappeared with the leash.
"Surprised to see you at my home," said Grissom "But then I guessed you would have heard that we have a lead."
"I wasn't sure how secure the office is these days," said McKeen.
"It will soon be quite secure," said Grissom.
"So, what did you find?" he asked.
"Enough to get you the death penalty," said Grissom without blinking.
"You're kidding? Right?" asked McKeen.
"The evidence doesn't lie. I know you're behind it," said Grissom.
"Look, Gil. You've obviously been pulling too many doubles," said McKeen as he placed his hands on his hips.
"You go for your weapon and I'll have to do the same," said Grissom.
McKeen put his hands in the air. "Okay, let's lay our cards out on the table. You know Gedda was scum. He's avoided prosecution for years."
"Because of people like you," said Grissom.
"I got rid of him," said McKeen.
"You tried to frame Warrick and when that didn't work, you killed him," said Grissom.
"I tried to talk with Warrick. He wasn't going to let this go," said McKeen. "I didn't want to kill him but I had no choice."
"Self preservation," said Grissom.
"Look, we can come to an agreement here. I can get you promoted to any position…need money? Name it," said McKeen.
"No thanks," said Grissom.
"You arrest me and I'll make sure that Sara disappears…this time she won't be so lucky," he said.
Grissom's jaw twitched.
"Come on, Gil. Don't make this turn out ugly. There are guys that I know who get a rush slowly torturing women like Sara. How about it?"
Grissom said nothing as the undersheriff walked across the room.
"Who else knows?" asked McKeen.
"No one," said Grissom. "I trusted no one else."
"Good," said McKeen.
He smiled as he reached for his gun but Grissom did the same.
Nick grabbed Sara by the arm as he led her to the van. He opened the side door as Brass sat there listening to the conversation.
"What is going on?" she asked.
Gunfire exploded as Brass leaped out of the van.
"Stay back!" Brass yelled as he drew his weapon but Sara followed the two men.
Brass cautiously opened the door.
"Oh Jesus!" yelled Brass. "Officer down at…"
Sara stepped into the room and froze.
Both men lay on the floor.
Sara rushed down to the floor and grabbed Grissom into her arms.
She pressed her hands over his chest in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
Nick appeared with a towel and she pressed it against the wound.
"Stay with me Griss," she cried.
He coughed bringing up blood.
"Don't you do this! Don't you leave me," she yelled. "You hear me. God Gil, please don't leave me!"
"Love you," he whispered. "Nine years…not two."
"I love you," she whispered as she kissed his lips ignoring the blood.
"Nine…not two," he said.
"Don't talk," she said. "Jim? Help him!"
"Ambulance is on its way," he said.
"Nine…not two," he whispered again.
"Nine…not two," she said. "Hold onto me! Feel my hand. I'm not letting you go! I'm not letting you…Gil, please…please…please don't let go… don't let go."
She sobbed as his body went limp in her arms. She held onto him tight as they heard the ambulance in the far distance.
Nick cursed as Brass shook his head over and over while Sara held him tight.
"He's not gone….his hands are warm…so warm…wouldn't leave me…" she cried as Nick swiped his eyes with his sleeve.
"There's was no pulse," whispered Brass.
Note from author:
Now, I was going to release the epilogue separately but I knew we had all been through enough with the season nine promos so I included it.
Epilogue:
She stood there as tears streamed down her face.
She did not bother to hide them.
They had started during the funeral and remained as she stood there in front of the casket.
William held her hand tight.
"His hands were so warm as I held them," she whispered. "I stared into those blue eyes as he died in my arms."
"Sara, there was no other person he wanted to be with at that moment," said William.
"Like Warrick…Gil held him as he died," she said.
"It was time to let go," said William. "It was the right thing to do."
She nodded slowly.
William led her past the others as they made their way to the car.
He drove back.
"Tired?" he asked.
She said nothing as she looked out the window.
"Remember, if you need to talk I'm here anytime," he said.
She caressed the small bulge that tossed from side to side.
"No more talking," she said.
She stepped out of the car and quickly ran inside the house leaving him to follow.
She did not stop until she was there in the bed beside him.
"You okay?" whispered Grissom.
"Missed you," she gulped.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't come with you," he said.
"How are you?" she asked.
"I'm fine," he said. "The fever is gone. They haven't let me up since you left."
"Good," she said as she curled up next to him.
There was a tap at the door.
"Sorry to intrude kids but I thought I would take the others into town to that nice seafood place and leave you guys alone," said William.
"That would be nice," said Grissom. "I don't think we've been alone in a long time."
Sara said nothing as she lay there.
"Sara, you mind getting the others while I have a word with Grissom?" asked William.
"You just want to tell him how I did at the funeral because he asked you to," said Sara.
"So do you mind? I'm hungry and would like to get to the restaurant," said William.
She reluctantly got up and walked past William. "You have ordered delivery for us?" she asked.
"Of course. In fact, Grissom suggested it and Greg placed the order a few minutes ago so can you hurry up?" asked William.
She half smiled as she left.
"How is she?" asked Grissom.
"It was hard on her but she was glad that she was with Frank when he died. They had gotten close over the last several weeks while you've been recovering," said William.
"I wish I could have been with her," said Grissom. "I'd grown fond of the old man also. He spent a lot of time here with us."
"Not with the fever and the threat of another infection," warned William. "Tell me how are you doing?"
"It wasn't a setback," said Grissom. "It scared Sara though. She hasn't been able to sleep."
"She's been scared ever since you died," said William.
"I didn't die," said Grissom.
"You died in her arms," said William. "Nick and Brass had to pry your hand from hers so the medics could shock you."
He didn't remember anything except their conversation.
"Listen, it's going to take time for her to feel safe again. She's worried you're going to leave her."
"I'm glad the others could come for a few days. It will help having them here. She's missed them," said Grissom.
"Have you told her yet?" asked William.
"No, I haven't," said Grissom.
"Told the others?" asked William.
"No."
"Boy, you really do procrastinate," said William.
Brass stepped inside. "The guys are finishing up a sand castle with Lindsey and Catherine."
"Where's Sara?" asked Grissom.
"She's making fun of their moat," said Brass. "Greg has threatened to throw her into the ocean."
Grissom chuckled.
"Listen, did you ask him if he's told Sara yet?" asked Brass.
"What do you think?" asked William.
"I told you he proscrastinates," said Brass.
"I'm not finished talking with you about the shooting," said William to Grissom.
Grissom flinched.
Brass had already taken a chunk out of his hide on that one.
It was a risk he took without hesitation.
He knew McKeen would carry through with his threat.
He also know McKeen was not that great a shot or at least he hadn't been in the past.
It almost cost him his life.
He knew he had almost died.
He also knew he had shot McKeen straight through the heart and smiled when he saw the man drop.
He never cared for violence but he did care for justice.
Warrick received his.
Sara ran inside. She was dripping wet. "Some people have no respect for…pregnant women!"
"What happened to you?" asked Grissom.
"Nick and Greg…threw a bucket of water on me!"
Grissom chuckled. "No getting back into bed until you've showered."
She frowned as she disappeared into the bathroom.
"Tell her," said William. "Brass and I will tell the others."
She stepped out of the bathroom and found the beach house quiet.
"They're gone?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "It's just the two of us."
She smiled.
She curled up beside him.
"Are you sure you're better?" she asked.
He rolled over. "No fever."
She sighed.
"Sara?"
"Hmmm?"
"I won the bet," he whispered. "You agreed it was nine rather than two."
"What?" she asked.
"You said it was nine…not two."
"You'd been shot! You were not supposed to be talking. I would have admitted anything!"
"You said nine…not two."
She tried to remain calm. "Fine, it was nine…not two."
"Sara?"
"What?"
"I'm calling in the bet," he said.
"The bet?" she asked. "That's crazy. You're in no condition…"
He leaned over and kissed her.
She moaned. "Stop this Gil."
"A deal is a deal," he whispered.
"Later…when you're better," she said.
"I'm good. I'm better than good. I want my wife," he whispered.
"No."
"Not fair Sara. You agreed. A deal is a deal," he said as he rolled over on top of her holding his weight from her.
"We're not doing this," she said.
His hands caught her wrists and she found herself pinned.
"I'm not going to die Sara," he whispered.
She gulped. "You did," she whispered. "You let go even though I held your hand. You let go!"
"I never left you," he said. "You kept me grounded."
"I watched as you flatlined and then…"
"I'm here. I'm not dead."
"You uhm were. I was never so scared…never so…"
He caressed her cheek with his hand. "I want you to yell at me."
"No."
"Sara, you've held it back for weeks," he said. "Let go."
"No!"
"It's just you and me. I gambled…I used reverse forensics…we didn't have anything on him…I was going to corner him…he came to you instead…I got him to admit he had killed Warrick. I let him pull his gun first…I let him shoot…"
"You stupid bastard! He could have killed you! He almost did!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.
Grissom smiled.
He was hit full force with a pillow.
"That's it?" he asked. "I get shot just millimeters from my heart and that's all you are going to say?"
"You died! I held you while you died! You stupid son of a bitch! I almost lost you! Our son was almost fatherless!"
He smiled again.
Another pillow flew through the air.
"I spent weeks in intensive care with infection after infection…I almost died," he said.
"You almost died again!" she yelled.
"I guess I did," he said sitting on the side of the bed.
"Do you have any idea what you put me through?" she asked.
"Yes, I do."
Their eyes locked.
"Sara, I know you're scared but I'm not going to die," he said.
"You stupid…" she slung the pillow and he moaned.
"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you? I'm sorry Gil," she said suddenly.
"I had William get the others out of the house so we could spend some time alone," he said. "It's been a long time since we've…"
"It's going to be a long time before we…"
He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her forcibly despite the pain he felt in his shoulder.
"Still tender?" she whispered.
"Yes…but I don't need my shoulder for… Sara please….if I were a dying man…wouldn't you grant me my last wish?" he teased.
She pushed him away.
"Not funny!" she cried.
He looked at her suddenly.
"I'm sorry Sara. I didn't mean to make you cry…please don't. We don't have to do anything. I'll just hold you," he said.
She pulled herself off the bed.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Changing for bed," she said.
He muttered. "Not the pajamas!"
He knew it would be those damn pajamas, the ones that meant hands off.
She stepped out of the bathroom and he stared at her.
"Purple?" he asked. "Purple gown?"
"You figure it out," she said with a slight grin.
He was not prepared for her to make the first move.
It knocked him off his feet.
He groaned in pleasure as her hands roamed down his waist.
"Am I going to like purple?" he asked.
"Yeah…you are," she whispered she kissed him below his navel.
He groaned again.
"Gil?"
"Hmmm?"
"When were you going to tell me that you're not going back to the lab?"
His head shot up.
"How did you know?" he asked.
"The university called the other day."
"About that," he said.
"I'm glad," she said as she kissed him on the lips.
"You don't mind being married to a professor?" he asked.
"No," she said. "I've always had a thing for instructors…especially those with blue eyes and warm hands."
He grinned as he leaned back.
"I think you look beautiful in purple."
THE END.
Now, I hadn't planned to make Sara pregnant because she and Grissom end up with Eli. I think that is the way the story will play out on TV. If it does, I can live with that. Keep happy thoughts of GSR. Thanks to those of you who are faithful readers and reviewers.
Take care,
Penny
P.S.
I didn't even have to name the child….LOL. (But if I did…you probably know what I would have named him…)