Chapter Thirty Five:

Sara rose quickly when the physician appeared.

"Sara Grissom?" Dr. Roberts asked.

"Yes. Hhhow is my husband?" she asked.

The physician glanced around at the other faces that were eager to hear any news.

"Mrs. Grissom, your husband has asked that you leave."

"What?" whispered Sara.

"He became very agitated when I mentioned your name. "He said you could leave…him."

Sara slumped back down into the chair.

Brass stepped forward. "Gil has a hard head…but the wreck must have cracked it. I'm sure he wants to see Sara. He just thinks she's still mad at him for totaling the car."

Dr. Roberts glanced down at Sara. "In the morning. I'd like for him to get some rest and then…"

"I can't see him?" she asked mournfully.

"I'm afraid I can't permit that," Dr. Roberts stated. "Like I said he became quite agitated when I mentioned your name."

"I'm not leaving while he's here," she insisted.

"Mrs. Grissom, he was adamant. He said you could leave…him. He repeated it several times. I've given him something to help him sleep."

Sara gulped. "This is a bbig mmisunderstanding. I said something and…" She took another gulp of air.

Brass intervened. "Look, just ask Grissom and…"

"I'm not going to risk upsetting him again."

Sara look devastated at the news.

"In the morning when Mr. Grissom wakes if he says wants to see her then…"

"She's his wife," griped Nick.

"He's my patient," huffed the physician. "Mr. Grissom has not been well for some time, has he?"

Once the question was put to her, she felt her head nodding in admission.

He'd not been sleeping well, barely touching his food and he seemed stressed most of the time.

"I think it's best if we let him get some rest."

Sara nodded slowly.

"I'll wait," she said softly.

The physician disappeared.

"We don't have to take no for an answer," stated Nick. "We can…"

Sara shook her head. "He's right. Gil…hasn't been well. I just thought…we've been trying to deal with the death of David and I just thought…"

Brass sat down beside her. "So if he wants rest then we'll give it to him."

"He seemed odd when he came into Frank's," whispered Sara.

Nick and Greg hung their heads.

Catherine rushed into the waiting room. "How is he?"

The others were quiet.

"Jim, is Gil going to…"

"He's resting…minor injuries from the wreck…but they want to keep him for observation."

Catherine sighed. "Well, that's a relief. By the looks on your faces, you would think…"

"He said…I could leave…him," wept Sara.

"Grissom is exhausted. He doesn't know what he is saying," began Brass.

"He's been having trouble sleeping," added Sara.

Catherine glared at Nick. "And you wanted to throw another case in his lap?" snipped Catherine.

"How was I supposed to know…he wouldn't sleep when he got home?" griped Nick.

"It was pretty harsh giving Grissom that kind of case after…"

Sara's eyes drifted up and Catherine didn't finish.

"Yeah, well maybe it opened his eyes a little," retorted Nick in a hushed voice.

"You think that all of this has been hard on Sara only?" Catherine whispered for Nick's ears only. "I don't know why he decided to come in and help…he clearly does not need to be working in the field…Doc said the kidnapping case rattled him," gritted Catherine.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

"No, you shouldn't. Next time I'll leave Langston in charge."

Sara stood. "Cath…is everything alright at the lab?"

"Yeah, sure why?"

"Gil just…he's been different. I just thought things might be…I thought he was worried about the lab."

"He worked a kidnapping case," answered Catherine.

"Oh…oh, he didn't tell me."

"It was my doing," stated Nick as he came to join them. "I assigned it to him."

Sara glared at him.

"Since we're confessing," stated Greg "I forgot to leave the note the other day."

"Gil said…"

"He covered for me."

"He tried calling me but I wouldn't answer my cell," confessed Nick.

"I didn't either," admitted Greg.

"So you guys just let him think…"

"We thought…"

"You would teach him a lesson," snarled Sara.

"It was cruel…now that you think about it," admitted Nick.

"Whatever happened between me and Gil has nothing to do with the rest of you. You have no right to treat him like that! He's never done anything to either of you and…"

"Add my name to the chewing," said Brass as he stood.

"You too?" asked Sara.

"He called…said he couldn't find you. He was worried…so was I for a moment but then you and Greg walked in so I told him you would come home when you were ready. I didn't even tell him that I'd just seen you."

Sara's hand pressed against her temple. "I yelled at him…because he wouldn't let me do anything at the farm. He thought….he thought I was leaving…and you guys just let him…" she didn't finish remorseful for her outburst.

No wonder he thought the worse…

She sat back down in the chair.

Nick sat beside her. "Sara…"

"He's…been so afraid that I'm going to leave again…just up and run like I did before."

"You had a good reason," griped Nick.

"He didn't deserve to be treated like this…by any of you," she wept. "You were his family."

"We're still family," emphasized Catherine.

"Gggil doesn't see it that way," she cried as she remembered Mary's words.

Catherine sat down on the other side of Sara. "I haven't said much about…what happened with Heather but Gil was no match for her. He saw someone…as awkward as him and he just…wanted to help her. She took advantage of that."

A nurse appeared an hour later. "Is there a Sara Grissom?"

Sara rose immediately, hoping that Grissom had asked for her.

"Can I see my husband now?" she asked eagerly.

"Mrs. Grissom, your husband is gone."

"Gone?"

"We went to check on him and his room was empty along with his clothes. We checked the floor and…"

Sara wasn't listening anymore as she turned to Brass.

"I'm on it. He probably called a cab."

"Was he…well enough to leave the hospital?" asked Sara.

"Dr. Roberts was just keeping him overnight for observation."

Brass pressed Sara's elbow. "He's probably gone home."

Sara was out of her mind with worry when hours passed with little or no information.

Langston pulled Sara aside. "I think you need to go home…wait by the phone. Sara, it's not good for the baby if you get upset," he whispered.

She nodded in defeat.

"I'm off. I'll take you," he offered.

Catherine glanced at her watch. "Shift will be starting in a few hours. Maybe he'll show up for work."

"Just like that? He walks out of a hospital after refusing to see his wife but reports for work?" griped Greg.

Brass closed his phone. "Well, we know he was picked up by a cab driver and dropped off near a rental car agency. He rented a…"

Catherine held up her hand. "Jim, we can't used department resources to track Griss down. There is nothing to warrant that he's in danger or…"

"He's in danger of losing the only thing important in his life…his wife," warned Brass.

"Maybe Grissom needs some…space," reasoned Catherine.

Brass scoffed at the statement. "He could have told us."

"Really? It sounds like he didn't think he had a reason to….the way he was treated."

"He was treated? Look what hell Sara has gone through and…"

"How much guilt do you guys want Grissom to shoulder because I'm not sure he can handle much more? You and I both know he's not been doing well but everyone has been focused on Sara..." she held up her hands to block his interruption. "We know what Sara endured…but what about Grissom? Jim, you and I both know Sara's leaving almost pushed him over the edge."

"So what do you think we should do?"

"Give it until shift. If he doesn't show then…we'll talk with Sara and see if she wants to file a missing person's report."

"What if he does show?" griped Brass.

"I don't know. I'll have to assess his condition."

Brass muttered under his breath but he accepted Catherine's decision.

Catherine arrived at the lab an hour before shift, hoping she would spot Grissom.

Sara had called a few times but there was no further information on Grissom's whereabouts.

Langston had called an hour ago, letting Catherine know that Grissom had never returned home and that Sara was finally sleeping at his insistence.

"Thanks, Ray. Get some sleep yourself," she said as she leaned back in her chair.

She almost flew out of the chair when she spotted Grissom.

He tapped on the door that used to belong to him. "Judy said there was a…"

"Where the hell have you been?" she griped.

He stiffened. "What I do on my own time is none of your business. I was off the clock."

"Gil, you know what I mean. You walked out of the hospital," replied Catherine, worry dripping from every word.

"There was no reason for me to stay. I wasn't…injured…seriously."

"You passed out. That's a big deal! Leaving the hospital like that without telling anyone…"

"It was my decision."

"Look, I know things have been hard…this whole mess with Heather and then David's death…"

"Do you want me to take the case?"

She looked dumbfounded. "You just expect to show up for work as if nothing has happened and…Gil, everyone has a breaking point. I'm worried…"

"Catherine, can I work?" he asked gruffly.

She eyed him.

"I just need to work," he almost pleaded.

She took the assignment from his hand and glanced at it but then handed it back.

"You need some help?" she offered.

He shook his head.

"I'd like to work alone," he whispered.

"Gil…"

He was out of the door before she could utter another word.

She sighed as she picked up the phone and called Sara.

"Was he alright?" she asked.

"He seemed…he wanted to work, Sara so I let him. The case was just a robbery. Maybe it's what he needs right now to clear his mind. I couldn't say no," explained Catherine.

"I'll come by during dinner break," offered Sara.

"That would be good," smiled Catherine.

Nick appeared in the doorway.

"Hey, have you seen Grissom?" asked Nick.

"He just left. A case came in so he took it," said Catherine.

"Does he need any help?"

"You're offering? You sort of threw him to the wolves the last time," eyed Catherine.

"Cath, I was wrong. I'd like to give him a hand," offered Nick.

She handed him an assignment. "It was a simple robbery. Gil….asked to work solo."

"You think that's wise? He wasn't even discharged…left without permission. I'm not sure he should even be working under those conditions."

"Nicky, he needs it. He almost pleaded with me…I couldn't say no."

"He needs to go home and talk with Sara."

"We need to stay out of their marriage."

"I am. I just don't want him to think that Sara is just going to up and leave again."

"I think we just need to let him work through this…just the two of them."

"I get the message," admitted Nick. "I just…I didn't like how he looked."

"Me either, Nicky."

"Are you going to let him work a full shift?"

"I'll determine that when he gets back."

He returned three hours later.

Catherine groaned when a call came in about a gang shooting.

"Hey, how did it go?" she asked.

"Cath, it was a robbery case," he replied.

"Yeah, I know but you look tired. Why don't you…"

He looked at the assignment. "You're going to need everyone on that case."

"We can get by without you."

He glanced down the hall and saw Sara holding an overnight bag while she spoke with Wendy.

"I'll meet you at the scene," he said as he practically ran in the opposite direction.

Sara glanced back and frowned when she no longer saw Grissom.

She hurried to the Catherine.

"Where is he going?" she asked.

"I think he's trying to avoid you," replied Catherine.

Catherine glanced down at the overnight bag.

"I brought him some clothes…I didn't know if he had any here," she stated.

"He did. I think the bag rattled him," whispered Catherine.

Sara sucked in air. "I didn't think. I just…"

Sara turned green as Catherine grabbed her arm. "Stay here…rest. It may be awhile before we get this mess cleaned up. I'll watch over him," urged Catherine.

"Cath, could you…"

"I'll explain the bag to him."

He was already processing the scene by the time the others arrived.

Greg and Nick glanced at one another.

"Guys…give him space…just let him work. Okay?" whispered Catherine.

"Yeah, sure," stated Greg.

Nick hesitated a moment as he pulled Catherine aside.

"Cath, did you get a chance to tell him…we're sorry?" asked Nick.

"I left the apologies up to you," she said. "Hey Nicky, we'll clear this mess up after shift. Let's just get this case behind us, let him work and clear his mind and then we'll talk."

"You've got it boss…lady," he grinned.

"Good save," she huffed with a grin.

"You would think that as many bodies as we process in a month after a gang shooting, there wouldn't be much of a gang left," called out Greg as he carried out the last of the evidence bags.

"They're recruiting all of the time," sighed Nick.

"Well, some of these guys were not gang members," stated Brass as he joined in on the conversation. "According to witnesses, these guys were just playing a game of basketball and a gang dispute broke out."

"I guess basketball is no longer a safe sport," stated Catherine as she glanced toward Grissom who was quiet.

A crowd still remained behind the police tape.

"Hey Jim, you going to part the crowd so we can get out of here?"

"You think I'm Moses?" he griped but then chuckled. "I'm ready for dinner."

"That sounds good," chimed in Greg.

"Hey, how about the diner…rather than Frank's?" asked Nick.

Grissom fumbled inside his kit, not joining in on the conversation.

He felt Catherine's hand on his arm. "How about dinner?" she asked.

He shook his head.

"You okay?" she whispered.

"They keep getting younger and younger," he said as he wiped his hands on his pants.

"Let's have dinner…all of us," she begged.

"I'll take the evidence back," he stated.

"Gil…I know the guys said some things…did some things…"

"Cath, I don't want to talk about it. I just want to go…shift is almost over," he said.

"Are you going home?" she questioned.

He picked up his kit. "I don't have a home anymore."

"Gil, that's not true. Listen…"

Brass began to call out to the officers to clear the area further.

There were several loud pops as the crowd ran for cover.

"That wasn't a gun," stated Greg.

"Well, at least it cleared the area," stated Nick as he started toward the Denali with Greg.

"We need to talk…but not here," stated Catherine as she grabbed her things.

Greg and Nick stopped to wait for the others.

Catherine shook her head, letting Nick know that Grissom had turned down dinner plans.

"Hey, Grissom, how about the diner?" asked Nick.

The air was filled with the sound of screeching tires.

Gun fire exploded in the air.

Nick and Greg were shoved to the ground as bullets whizzed above their heads.

Brass managed to get off a few shots as well as the officers as the car sped away.

Catherine jumped up. "Is everybody alright?"

"I've got an officer shot," called out Brass.

Nick and Greg scrambled to their feet as well as Grissom.

"Man, I'm getting tired of getting shot at," griped Nick.

Grissom picked up his kit.

"Hey, Griss, thanks for shoving us to the ground," stated Nick.

"Yeah. Did you play football?" chimed in Greg.

Grissom did not respond but continued toward his car with his kit.

"Hey," griped Nick as he glanced back at Catherine, throwing up his hands in frustration.

They watched as Grissom made it to car door and then halted.

He slipped down onto the pavement with his back against the car.

"Grissom!" yelled Catherine as she ran toward him. "Officer down!"

Brass turned and saw his friend leaning against his car as blood oozed from his shoulder.

Catherine quickly assessed his condition.

"Gil, stay with me," she urged as she put pressure on the wound.

"Bullet went straight through," she breathed. "Nick, get some towels from the Denali."

Nick quickly returned, assisting Catherine.

Grissom's head bobbed forward.

"Gil, stay awake," she urged.

Grissom smiled as he glanced up. "Warrick."

The others paled.

"We need an ambulance, now!" cried Catherine.

Note from author:

Gee, sorry about that…really. If everyone will hurry up and review, maybe I can post again soon.

Take care!