Chapter Thirty Seven:
"I'll hold him while you take Katie for awhile," said Grissom.
"Don't let them put him back in there…he needs us…he needs to be touched and loved," she said.
"I won't," he said softly.
She held Katie as she rocked her. She kicked her small legs escaping from the blanket. Sara stopped and wrapped her once more. She stared intently at Sara as she softly hummed to her.
The others stood outside the glass partition and watched the family bond.
"Katie reminds me of Sara," said Nick. "She's feisty but a sweetheart."
"I think Matthew is like Sara," said Greg quietly. "He has a strong inner will to survive."
It was true.
They stood there and watched as Grissom held his son tightly. He spoke to him softly as he kissed him over and over. Catherine swiped at her eyes.
"He sure knows how to step up to the plate," said Catherine. "I never dreamed our bugman would be married with children."
"Have they said anything about Matthew's condition?" asked Warrick.
"No improvement. I think that's why they decided to let Sara hold him. In case…you know," said Nick softly.
Sara handed Katie back to the nurse as she took Matthew again. They watched as she readjusted the blankets and then snuggled him up close to her face. She hummed softly to him as
she rocked back and forth. Grissom sat there and watched.
"It's going to be hard if they lose him," said Nick.
"It's good that she got to hold him," said Catherine.
Sara began to cry softly.
"Honey, are you alright?" he asked.
"I need Jim," she said. "Gil, please."
He nodded as he quickly got up and stepped out of the room.
Brass sat down in the chair next to Sara.
"I'm here kiddo," he said softly.
"I need you to hold him," she said.
"Sara…I'm not sure I can hold something so tiny…"
"Dad, please."
He froze.
She had never referred to him in such an intimate way.
He held out his arms.
Sara gently placed the baby in his arms.
"He's beautiful. Isn't he?" she cried.
"Yes he is," he said as he tried to hold back the tears.
"Andrew died….but I lived," she said.
"You were the strong one," he said.
She nodded as she swiped at her tears.
"Sara, Matthew takes after you," said Brass. "He's strong. He's going to make it."
"I don't know how I'm going to give him up…I can't lose him dad…I just can't. I look at him and I see Grissom…I see you."
He grinned. "He gets his good looks from me…he gets his smarts from Gil."
She laughed despite the tears.
"Know any lullabies?" she asked.
"I used to sing this old tune to Ellie," he said.
"What was it?"
Brass leaned back and began to sing softly. Sara's hand rested on his shoulder as they both held Matthew.
"Did you ever see a dream walking?
Well, I did!
Did you ever hear a dream talking?
Well, I did!
Did you ever have a dream thrill you
with Will you be mine?
Oh it's so grand
and it's too, too divine.
Did you ever see a dream dancing?
Well, I did!
Did you ever see a dream romancing?
Well, I did!
Did you ever find heaven right in your arms,
saying I love you, I do?
Well, the dream that was walkin'
and the dream that was talkin'
and the heaven in my arms was you.
(Did you ever see a dream walking by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel…very old song…go look it up)
The nursery was silent as he sang it over and over. Grissom held Katie as he listened in the other room. He glanced down at her and kissed her softly as he smiled at Sara. She returned the
smile as her head rested on Jim's shoulder.
"I love you dad," she whispered.
"I love you kiddo," he said as he hummed the song.
It had been a long day.
She felt her eyes droop but she tried to stay awake.
She felt herself being lifted once more.
She tried to object but she was too tired.
Her head rested on his shoulder.
She breathed in deeply.
She knew it was Grissom.
A kind and gentle man…
I found him mom…
I found him and I found my father…
I let go of the pain momma…
I let go…
She slept deeply that night.
She stirred only once despite the constant in and out of the nurses as they checked the IVs and took her blood pressure.
She slept through it all.
There was no need to worry.
She knew he was there by her side.
She woke the next morning to blue eyes staring intently at her.
"Good morning," she said.
"Your son wants you," he said.
"Matthew?" she asked quickly.
"He's been fussing this morning. It seems he misses his lullaby."
She smiled wide.
"He's better?"
"Yes, he is. I just think he was waiting for you," he said with a grin.
She scrambled out of the bed but he was there to stop her.
"I'll carry you," he said.
"I don't have the IV any longer," she said.
"No, but I still insist on carrying you," he said.
He lifted her and soon she was back in the rocking chair.
She grinned when Matthew was placed in her arms.
He wriggled about.
She softly cleared her throat and began to sing the song.
He stilled as he listened intently to his mother's voice.
Grissom appeared with Katie.
He sat down beside her.
He smiled as she sang the song to both of them.
"I guess you missed your real calling," he whispered.
"Jim said he sang that for Ellie," she said.
"It's a good thing I know it," he said.
"You do?"
"Yes I do. I used to hear it in my head every time I watched you from across the room. You were always my dream," he said.
She leaned over and kissed him.
"You can be romantic when you want to be," she said.
"I'm not sure romance will find its way into our home with these two around," he said.
"We have lots of help," she said as she motioned toward the eyes outside the glass partition.
He waved at them.
Sara smiled when she saw Ellie standing beside Brass.
A young man stood on the other side.
"My mom told me I should find a kind and gentle man," she said.
He smiled at her.
"I'm glad I listened to my mother," she said.
The End.
Epilogue:
"You think we should let them sleep together?" he asked as he looked down into the crib.
"She doesn't cry if he's next to her," said Sara as she yawned.
"Yes but…"
She left him to stand there and fret.
"Sara…"
She ignored his protests as she crawled into bed.
He marched into the room and glared at her.
"I don't think we should leave them like that," he said.
She looked at her husband.
He had become efficient at morning feedings, rushing in to warm the bottles just before the twins began to wail.
He had it down to a science.
That is until Katie decided that she much preferred the night life over day and now the house was in turmoil.
"She could roll over and Matthew could roll…you know he's always doing things before Katie."
"Gil, they're eight weeks old. They're not going to roll over yet," she said yawning. "I on the other hand need sleep. Katie stays up all night and sleeps during the day. Matthew stays up all
day and sleeps at night. Someone has to change. Katie has to switch."
"Does that mean you're not coming back to grave yard?" he asked.
They had not discussed it.
She stared at him.
"I guess I'm not. They need to have a normal routine. They need to sleep at night and be awake during the day…no I guess I won't."
She expected him to be upset.
He wasn't.
"Thank God," he said.
It wasn't how she imagined he would react.
She looked confused.
"I don't like nannies or daycares," he said.
"I didn't say I wasn't going to return to work," she said.
She saw his anxiety return.
"You would change shifts?" he asked.
"I could work first shift," she said.
"Yes but what about the children?" he asked.
"I would hire a nanny…why do you not like nannies?" she asked.
"If they love children so much why aren't they with their own? The nanny usually has an affair with the husband or is involved in some sordid…"
She gawked at him.
"Cite your source," she said.
He opened his mouth but then closed it.
"Matthew needs you. He doesn't respond to anyone but you."
"That's because I'm nursing him. He's particular about his food source," she said.
He frowned.
"He's always responded more to you," he said sitting down beside her. "Katie won't…"
"Gil, I'm not going to abandon them. I'm going to return to work…in four weeks," she said softly.
"Four weeks!"
"Most women only take off twelve weeks. I've been off for months," she said.
"That was different," he said.
"When do you think I should return to work?" she asked.
"It would be beneficial to them if you delayed your return until… they were in grade school."
"Grade school!" she yelled.
"Don't yell. It's not good for them," he said.
"Listen here Gilbert. I am not about…"
She stopped when she heard a noise coming from the baby monitor. She practically crawled over Grissom and ran into the nursery.
He was there by her side.
They both stared down into the crib.
Matthew stared up at them.
Sara smiled at him.
He smiled back.
She picked him up and held him tight.
"Did you see that? He smiled!" she said excitedly.
"Yes I did," he said.
"I'm calling dad," she said.
"Sara, he's at work," said Grissom.
"I don't care," she said.
She fumbled for her cell.
"He's not at work," said Grissom softly.
She looked at him.
"Where is he?" she asked.
"He took the night off. He's on a…date," said Grissom.
Sara grinned. "A date? My father is on a date?"
Grissom stood there nervously.
"Out with it," she said. "Who did he take?"
"None of our business," he said.
"It's someone we know," she said.
"Sara, your son is hungry. Feed him," he said.
He sat there and watched as Matthew suckled.
"I'm going to find out," she said.
"Yes…but it won't be from me," he said.
She glanced down and saw that Matthew had fallen asleep.
"Just a light snack before bedtime," she whispered.
She gently burped him and then returned him to the nursery.
She lay there facing Grissom.
"You've forgotten what day it is," she said.
He gave the deer in the headlight look.
Dates scrambled through his brain.
Not our anniversary…
Not her birthday…
Not the anniversary of the first time…
Wait…seriously she would not keep track of that….
Would she?
"Is it the first time we…"
She snickered.
"Sara, I'm not good with dates," he said.
"It's been eight weeks…we can have sex again."
His eyes lit up.
"Really?"
She nodded.
He mauled her.
He apologized when he accidently ripped her gown.
The panties were thrown onto the dresser.
"You sure we can do this?"
"If you can manage to do it without waking them," she said.
He did.
He learned to be quick and efficient.
She lay there and sighed out loud.
"I've missed that," she said.
"Me too."
He was on top of her again.
"I love you," he whispered.
"Show me," she said.
He wasted no time in entering her once more. He was in a frenzy when she rolled him over onto his back without breaking the contact.
"Sara…"
She resumed the rhythm and he tried to contain the urge to slam into her. She slowed.
"Not nice," he whispered.
"Who is Jim going out with tonight?" she asked.
He glared at her.
"You're kidding, right?"
She eased herself off.
He grabbed her hips and tried to push her back down.
"Sara…"
She leaned down and seductively kissed him. Her tongue darted in and out until he thought he would explode inside her. She pulled back.
"Heather…he met Heather."
Sara froze.
"He's dating Lady Heather?"
"Sara, now is not the time to be discussing your father's choice in women," he said.
She felt herself being rolled.
He took control.
"He's dating someone you…had sex with?" she asked.
He halted.
"I never had sex with Lady Heather," he said.
"But Catherine said…"
"I've not been with anyone since you came to Vegas."
"Really?"
"Really," he said.
She smiled and then moaned when he thrust deeply inside her. She felt her resolve give and she climaxed. He soon followed.
"I uhm wasn't going to with hold…"
"I uhm wasn't going to tell you the truth either," he said with a slight grin.
He felt a blow to the head as her pillow slammed into him.
He chuckled.
He felt it again.
He could not seem to stop.
Another blow came his way and yet another.
He grabbed his own pillow and threw it in her direction.
She scrambled out of the bed as pillows continued to fly through the air.
Soon, feathers emerged.
They both looked at one another.
"I won," she said.
"You did not," he declared.
She giggled when he grabbed her waist and sought the one intimate spot where he knew she was ticklish.
The knocking on the door startled them both.
"You should get that," she said.
"Me? I have feathers all over me," he whined.
"Like I don't?" she replied.
He grabbed her by the hand as he dragged her to the door.
They opened it to find Brass standing there with Lady Heather.
They both looked at each other.
"Could we come in?" asked Brass.
They pretended to not notice the feathers.
It was impossible as with each movement, they floated in the air.
Grissom looked embarrassed. "We were uhm…"
"It must be eight weeks," said Lady Heather.
Sara blushed.
Brass chuckled. "We came to see the twins."
"Now?" asked Grissom.
"We were talking and just happened to be in the neighborhood," said Brass.
"Matthew smiled this evening," said Sara suddenly.
"He did?" asked Brass quickly.
"Yes, come and see them," she said as she guided them to the nursery.
They stood quietly and admired the children.
"Katie likes to feel someone when she sleeps so I put her in with Matthew," whispered Sara.
"Good idea," said Heather.
Sara smiled at her.
"We should be going. It's late," said Brass as he took Heather by the hand.
He turned and winked at Grissom. "Besides, you can get back to your pillow fight."
They both watched as the two left.
They stared at one another.
"Sara, I had no idea. I just made it up. Really," he said.
"Who did he say was his date?" she asked.
"Catherine," said Grissom.
Sara burst into laughter. "And you believed that?"
"They're friends…there's a history…what?"
"Catherine is dating Warrick."
His jaw dropped.
"Like you didn't know," she said as she tossed the covers into the air letting feathers fly onto the floor.
"Catherine and Warrick?" he asked.
"I'm not falling for that. Everyone knows about Cat and Warrick…just like Nick and Mandy."
Grissom looked shell shocked.
"What about Greg?" he asked.
"Now I know you're just trying to fool me. Greg isn't dating anyone. He's having an affair with me."
She could have knocked him over with a pillow.
"Gil?"
"Gil?"
He stood there staring at her.
"I was kidding…really. I would never…"
He threw his pillow knocking her onto the bed.
"I know. I just couldn't resist," he said laughing.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked angrily.
"Like you would have an affair with Greg," he chuckled.
"I might…second thought that would be like dating my brother…you're right," she said.
He pulled her down until she was sitting in his lap.
"You really didn't know that dad was out with Heather?" she asked as she stroked his beard.
"No…I made it up. He's always taking jabs at Heather. I never dreamed he might be attracted to her."
"Were you?" she asked.
"No. I've only had eyes for you," he said.
"Keep that up and you might get lucky again," she said.
She looked down and saw that he was already aroused.
She smiled.
His hands sought the tickle spot and she squealed.
"So not fair," she whined.
"What's not fair is what you tried to pull earlier," he said.
"Sorry. I'll never do it again," she said.
"We have a few hours before they wake," he said.
"I thought you said there wouldn't be time for romance," she said.
"I had a talk with them," he said.
She giggled as he nibbled on her neck.
"Gil?"
"Hmmm?"
"If dad marries Heather then she becomes your mother in law," she said with a snicker.
"Stop," he said as he couldn't help from chuckling.
"Can you imagine Catherine's reaction?" she asked as she joined in the laughter.
"Can you see my father in leather?" she continued.
The room erupted in laughter.
Cries sounded through the baby monitor.
"I think we woke them," she said snickering.
"It's fine. I'm not sure I can be romantic after imagining Jim in leather with a whip."
She sat there nursing Katie as another smirk escaped her lips.
"Stop," he said.
"I'm sorry," she said. "It's just that…the wedding gifts…"
Matthew wailed as Grissom patted him on his back.
"I think my son wants you also," he said.
"Hand him over," she said.
"You're quite efficient," he said as he watched both of them nurse at the same time.
She leaned back in the bed.
"Don't go to sleep," he said.
She nodded.
He leaned over and kissed her.
Her eyes shot open.
"Don't go to sleep," he said once again.
She smiled. "With a kiss like that, who could sleep?"
He grinned.
He helped with the babies and soon they were back in the same crib.
He returned to the bedroom and found her fast asleep.
He gently covered her as he kissed her softly on a bare shoulder.
"Love you," he whispered.
She woke.
"You really are a kind and gentle man," she said as she rolled over and made love to him even though she was exhausted.
"Gil?"
"Hmmm?"
"Maybe I should wait to go back to work…I would miss so much if I returned to work."
"Your decision…but if you want to go back to work we'll find the right nanny," he said.
She was quiet.
"She has to be old and ugly," said Sara.
He chuckled.
"Yes, dear."
THE END……..
Until the next story….
Soon….
Thanks so much fo those of you who have been faithful and read along. I am preparing once again for another trip although I am not sure if I have recovered from the last one. LOL Keep good thought of Grissom and Sara...
Take care,
Penny