Sara woke to a soft ringing. On the fifth ring, she figured out it was her cell phone. She reached inside the night stand.
"Hello?"
"Why are you whispering?"
"Gil's sleeping. He needed a nap." Sara explained.
"Go check your email." Sara perked up when Catherine mentioned this.
"Really?"
"Yes; Archie burned a disc that I will relinquish, but I didn't think you'd want to wait that long."
"You're right; I'm getting up now." Sara slowly maneuvered herself to the edge of the bed. She was actually surprised that Gil slept through all of her movement.
"The guys and Jim are here to watch it."
"Hold on, I'm almost ready." Sara was waddling down the hall. On the way, she waved at Barney and Maria to follow her. She could hear the laughter of the guys as she logged on.
"What's going on over there?" Sara asked.
"They're playing America's Dumbest Criminal again."
"Oh, I love that game! Ok, I'm ready."
"Go ahead." Catherine told her. Sara hit play and watched the scene unfold. She could hear laughter all around her. She was cracking up. The reality was just as she had pictured it in her mind. He looked like a kid being dragged away from the candy store.
"What's so funny?" Gil sleepily asked.
"I've got to go Catherine. I'll see you next week." Sara said and after hearing Catherine acknowledge the comment, she hung up. She looked at Gil.
"Nothing; Catherine sent an email and it was very funny."
"You got what you wanted from her about me, didn't you?" He assumed.
"Oh yeah."
"Play it again and let me watch." He stepped closer.
"Are you sure?"
"If you're all going to have fun at my expense, I should at least know why." He sat next to her when Barney relinquished his seat.
"Good point." Sara played the video again. He told her what was being said in the exchange he shared with Catherine before he was dragged away. Sara laughed even harder the second time. Grissom refused to laugh or even smile; even though deep down he thought it was a little comical. Sara watched it several more times and never noticed when she was alone again. She forwarded the email to Angela with a detailed explanation before logging off and headed to the kitchen.
Armed with a plate of raw veggies, Sara went in search of her husband. She found him and Barney in the nursery.
"It looks good; you're hired." She said.
"Done laughing at me?" He asked.
"For now." She returned his subtle smirk. He spared her a playfully annoyed look. She smiled and popped a cherry tomato in her mouth. The room was a soft pink with cream accents. Maria stepped up next to her.
"Hey Sara, let's go pick up some bedding."
"I thought we did that." Sara was confused.
"It doesn't match so I'm taking it back. Do you want to go with me?"
"Sure." Sara blew a kiss to her paint-splattered husband and turned away. She finished eating while Maria gathered her things and the old bedding.
Sara paid for the new bedding before Maria could even open her wallet.
"Sara, what are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Sara asked with a smile.
"Yes, but why?"
"Gil and I haven't given you a baby gift yet."
"Yes, you have." Maria said very softly. Sara chose to ignore her and accepted the receipt from the sales clerk. She waited until they were outside before saying anything.
"Maria, I'm going home soon and probably staying there. I want to make sure you have everything you need. If I hadn't been raped, you and Barney wouldn't be getting the little girl inside of me. I told you two to save your money for the baby."
"You're absolutely sure? Gil won't mind?" Maria still seemed doubtful.
"Yes, I'm sure and Gil won't say a word."
"Thank you."
"Are you going to tell me the name yet?" Sara asked as her way of lightening up the mood.
"No; we want to keep her name a secret. You won't be coming back after your next appointment?"
"No; after thirty-two weeks, I start going in more often."
"Well, the three of us are coming up next month anyway." Maria smiled. She loved having Sara around.
"Yes; have you got enough clothes and blankets for her?" Maria thought about it.
"I think so."
"Let's get a few more to be safe." Sara suggested.
"You're in a shopping mood. I thought we wore you out when Gil got here."
"You did, but I'm not shopping for me now." Maria shrugged.
"Suit yourself."
"I always do." Sara told her with a mischievous glance. Maria laughed at the multiple meaning. They spent the next hour browsing baby clothes. Sara's hunger drove their next course of action; getting dinner.
"We're here!" Sara waddled in slowly. Gil and Barney met her and Maria near the front door. Both ladies were greeted with kisses. Sara carried her bags of food to the kitchen and started going through them.
"Gil, there's more in the car; could you…"
"Yes dear."
"Fankou." She replied with a mouthful of Chinese food. Barney followed him out the door. Maria went in the kitchen with Sara to get plates ready for the two guys.
Gil groaned when he saw the full trunk. He couldn't say anything because he didn't want to suffer another emotional breakdown. She didn't go on spending sprees very often, but this was twice in twenty-four hours. Dutifully, he carried the bags into the house.
"Come eat; we'll show you everything later." Maria commanded and Sara nodded to back up Maria's order. The Chinese food was quickly eaten. Sara led the group to the bags. Barney liked the new bedding much better than the old set. The new clothes and blankets were added to the laundry. Barney disappeared for a few minutes and then came back for Maria. Gil helped Sara to her feet and the four of them walked back to the nursery. Both ladies gasped and Maria entered the room.
"Oh, it's beautiful!" She cooed and inspected everything. Sara stood at the door and rubbed her belly. She wiped away a tear. Barney and Maria took it as a sign for happiness.
"Would you excuse me? I'm quite tired. Good night everyone." Sara walked away at what she hoped was a casual pace. Gil followed her and knew something was wrong. He also had a feeling that he knew what was troubling her. He closed the door of their room and copied her actions to match her state of undress.
"Honey, are you ok?" Sara offered up a fake smile, sat on the bed, and held up her feet. Gil automatically put socks on them for her.
"I'm just tired, Gil."
"Can we talk later?" He asked.
"Sure." She shrugged. He lay beside her and then she rolled away. She felt more tears threatening to fall. Gil rolled to her back and wrapped an arm around her.
"I know you're crying." He said softly.
"I know." She choked out and let the sobs take over. She kept them quiet because he didn't want to risk being overheard by Barney or Maria. Gil moved so that he could face her and pulled her tight to him. She clutched his back and sobbed into his chest. There were no words. He already knew why she was crying because he was feeling the same as her.
"Honey, are you going to be alright?"
"Yes."
"It's harder than you thought, isn't it?"
"Yes." She answered.
"I wish that you were carrying our baby inside you."
"Me too."
"Would you like to start trying for a baby after you've recovered?"
"I don't know." She was honest.
"Well, when you're ready, I would love to have a baby with you. Just let me know." He kissed the top of her head.
"Thank you."
"I think you're very brave to be doing this."
"I get tired of being brave."
"I know; I'm here for you." She looked up at him. He slowly wiped the tar tracks from her face.
"Do you think that Barney and Maria will tell her about all of this?"
"You'd have to ask them."
"I might."
"I love you, Sara." She smiled.
"I love you too, Gil." He leaned forward to kiss her lovingly. Sara reciprocated and then snuggled into the warmth his body provided. She dozed off in the safety of his arms. A short time later, someone tapped on the door.
"Come in." Gil called out quietly.
"Is she alright?" Barney asked.
"Yes."
"Liar." Barney called his bluff.
"She's just sad." Gil shared some of the truth.
"Is she changing her mind?"
"No; she's just wishing for slightly different circumstances."
"So will you two be trying for a baby then?" Barney asked.
"She needs to talk to you." Gil dodged the question. He didn't feel like answering such a personal question.
"Ok; Maria and I are about to start a movie. Would you care to join us?"
"I'll pass. I'm going to be with Sara right now." Gil said.
"Do you want a book or something?" Barney offered.
"Most likely I'll fall asleep. I'm fine for now." Barney nodded and carefully closed the door once again. Gil held Sara until he knew she was asleep and then rearranged them on the bed. He fell asleep with his hand on her belly.
Sara woke in the middle of the night looking for food. Gil woke when she tried to extract herself from his arms.
"Where are you going?" He asked in a sleep laden voice.
"I'm hungry."
"Want me to get you something?" He offered.
"I'm fine; get some rest."
"No; I'm up. I can't get too used to a day walker schedule anyway."
"Ok." She shrugged and found a robe to cover the t-shirt and boxers she'd stolen from Gil a few months prior. He pulled on some pants and followed her. He waited until she'd eaten a little bit.
"Barney knows something is bugging you."
"I'm not surprised." She said.
"I told him that you needed to talk to him."
"I heard you."
"Why didn't you say anything?" He asked, confused.
"I was comfortable. That doesn't happen often these days. I also thought I was dreaming that conversation."
"Oh."
"He knows I'll talk when I'm ready." She said.
"Just like me."
"Want some?" She offered up some toast and changed the subject at the same time.
"No thank you; are you up for a walk?"
"I would need to change out of these clothes." She said.
"Me too; we can go as soon as you're done eating." She nodded. Gil smiled and ended up stealing one of her pieces of toast. They were both wearing some of his clothes. Sara found them extremely comfortable to sleep in. She was also wearing a robe that hung open and fluffy socks on her feet. Gil liked to tease her about the socks and she put up with it because she teased him about his colorful boxer collection. When she first saw the drawer full, she asked him if he went shopping with Greg. That question inevitably led to the two of them tangled in the sheets.
Sara carried her plate to the sink and then followed him to the bedroom. She shed her robe as Gil shut the door.
"I don't want to go for a walk." She said casually. She didn't want to tip him off too soon.
"Are you going back to bed?"
"No."
"More food?" He asked.
"Tempting, but no." She had taken a few steps closer to him.
"What do you want?" He asked.
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A/N: So, how can Sara occupy her time? Any guesses?
Thank you all for the reviews I've gotten so far. Let's keep them coming.
Have a great day everyone! Kelly