A/N: I felt after watching Living and Deal Doll that it was time for a little fluff...so here ya go...Enjoy!!!
"Where's Grissom?" Nick was the first to enter.
"Good morning to you to Stokes" he was feeling better after their lengthy conversation and wasn't about to let anyone spoil the mood.
"Sorry, Hey!" he waved then entered followed closely by Catherine, Warrick and Greg. "We came to drive him home." he motioned to the team behind him.
"Where's Sara? She's okay right?" Grissom came out of the bathroom in his hospital room buttoning the last button on the blue shirt that Sara had picked for him to wear home.
"She's fine, she's at the house getting a few last minute things together." Catherine assured him. "You look good, but you look like you could use a few home cooked meals." she lightly touched his stomach which was flatter than when he first came in.
"Or a good batch of take out!" Brass added as he walked in the door. "Hey Ecklie how's it going?" he wondered what could be important enough to drag the Director down to the hospital.
"Find Jim, going fine, came down to see how Grissom was doing now that he's getting released." was all he was willing to offer any of them. He exchanged glances with Gil who quietly nodded letting him know in no uncertain terms that what they'd discussed would remain between them and only them.
"Well, it's good to see you vertical buddy" Jim clapped him on the shoulder "You had us worried there for awhile!" the entire team nodded in agreement.
"I guess it wasn't my day to die...right Nicky?" he smiled at the younger man knowing that they now shared a very intimate moment where one life hung in the balance, only this time instead of it being Nick's, the tables had been turned and it was Grissom that almost lost the fight. Nick nodded knowing that Sara must have told him about the Cassie case and how Nick was the only one who refused to give up, his attitude was it was always a rescue mission, not a recovery one.
"Yup, someone was looking out for you...but listen, if you EVER scare me like that again...well..." he turned away, his cheeks slightly red from blushing "I'm stealing your wife!" he laughed at the look on Grissom's face and totally missed the disapproving one on Ecklie's.
"In your dreams Nicky, I'll beat you to it!" Greg teased and then walked over to Grissom. "It's good to have you back..." he looked like he wanted to hug the older man but then simply stuck his hand out and offered a handshake instead. "It's really good to have you both back." no one needed to ask him who he was referring to, they knew Sara was included in the sentiment.
"Thanks, everyone...for worrying about me, for taking such good care of Sara and for holding up the lab while I was gone, I know with Sara and I both being gone it couldn't have been easy but, it's appreciated that you all pitched in and worked the doubles and triples, I'm sure it will show on your next checks." he looked at Ecklie who scrunched his face then nodded in agreement. "How about we get out of here and you're all invited to come over for breakfast?" he was happy to be leaving the hospital. While they'd taken excellent care of him, he hadn't slept well on their beds and he missed his wife over the last week. It had been bad enough to sleep alone when she was gone, but knowing she was home alone, probably worrying about him was excruciating to him.
They all agreed and Gil smiled "If you don't mind, Conrad and I have some unfinished business, I'll let him drive me and meet you all at home in say, an hour or two?" They nodded and quietly left the room taking all of his belongings with them.
"Gil, thanks for not saying..." Gil held up his hand.
"No thanks necessary Conrad, I don't think what you shared with me is open for office fodder. Thanks for everything you did while Sara was gone, I know her leaving was unexpected but I wanted to thank you for keeping her on the books like you did." he knew that her paychecks had continued to be deposited in her checking account even after her unorthodox departure.
"I wanted to leave our options open when she came back." he smiled then stood up. "Shall we, I think there's a certain woman eager to have her husband back?" he motioned to the door. The nurse came in with a wheelchair and the rest of the paperwork that released him back to civilization.
"I don't need that!" he pointed to the chair.
"It's procedure sir, I have to wheel you out" she apologized but wouldn't back down. "You either ride or stay!" she held the papers just out of his reach. Gil sighed with mild frustration and simply rose then sat down in the wheelchair and waited for her to disengage the wheel brakes before heading out the door.
"Thanks!" he mumbled as Ecklie cracked up laughing. "What the hell is so funny?" he shot him a glance.
"You, in a wheelchair...pissed off cause they won't let you walk out of here" he chuckled between words and continued. "I never thought I'd see the day that Grandpa Grissom ... "he got another glare from Gil. "Had to be pushed down the hall...we're getting old!" he laughed again and this time Gil joined him.
"Don't remind me..." he didn't finish. For the longest time, the age difference between himself and Sara had been a sore spot, not from her perspective but his. He often thought about what others would think behind their backs about the older man, younger woman. Sara had assured him many times over that she wasn't the least bit concerned. She loved him, no matter what and would until the day they died. It took a lot of work before he finally came around to her way of thinking and gladdy took her hand wherever they walked now. He no longer cared about other people's thoughts and concerns with his relationship. Sara was his and his alone and that was what made it all the more special.
Back at the house, Sara had taken a shower, made the bed, fed Bruno and put out some things that they might munch on. Catherine had when she first returned home, asked her, actually made her vow not to go into the two rooms that were going to be the babies bedrooms.
"Just promise me you'll stay out until Gil gets home, it's kind of a surprise and I want you both to be there!" she just about twisted her arm when Sara decided to play coy and not promise.
"They're rooms in my house!" she argued lightheartedly. "I'm being banned from going into my own rooms in my own home?" Catherine and Warrick both nodded.
"Give us your word!" he pressed the issue, "It's only a week and then you can go wherever you please just leave the two doors shut until Gil comes home!" she finally relented, gave her word and a scouts honor even though everyone knew she hadn't ever been a scout.
"Fine...I swear" she held up her hand and pledged...Catherine and Warrick cracked up laughing knowing that the suspense would drive her nuts but Sara was true to her word, once given she would not go back on a promise no matter how much curiosity bugged her to do so.
When Gil walked through the door, it didn't even occur to Sara to see who he was with, she ran to him, gently threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately then took his hands and placed them on her belly where one or both of the babies were doing flip flops. "Homer and Marge missed their Daddy" she kissed him again then looked over his shoulder as he embraced her and saw Conrad "Oh...oh my God...Sorry Conrad I didn't see you there...thanks for bringing Gil home!" she reached out to take his hand while he reached out to hug her...they embraced awkwardly.
"No problem, it gave us a chance to talk."
"Can I get you anything? Coffee, tea, beer...water...we have diet and regular soda..." he shook his head.
"Coffee would be fine if anyone else is joining me." Gil smiled enthusiastically, he hadn't had a good cup of coffee in two weeks and he was missing Greg's blend.
"Too bad we don't have..." Sara held up a bag of Blue Hawaiian as he started.
"Compliments of Greg...said you shouldn't come home without the proper beverage...it will be ready in about five minutes. Where's the rest of the team?" Just then they all walked in and several of them greeted Bruno who had finally let himself in the doggie door and came to see who was in his house. When he spotted Grissom his tail wagged enthusiastically and whipped against Greg's legs...
"Shit that thing hurts!" he rubbed the spot that he'd just been assaulted on.
"Yeah...tell me about it., try not to let him get to close to private parts...it's worse than any whip you could..." he started to blush when he realized that everyone was looking at him with quirked brows. "Ugh...never mind, just be careful." he walked away and headed into the kitchen with the dog glued to his side. "Daddy's home Bruno...come on let's get you some Goobies., I know Mommy" he glanced back at Sara and smiled "doesn't let you have them like Daddy does." he crooned to the Boxer who danced around his feet.
"I'm thinking brain damage" Brass looked at Ecklie who shrugged "I never in my wildest dreams imagined Grissom calling himself Daddy to a dog" he continued to chuckle.
"I never imagined Grissom being anyone's Daddy" Greg added. "Just didn't picture him as being affectionate..." he looked at Sara and smiled.
"Oh he's affectionate!" Sara rubbed her belly. "And more so..." everyone held up their hands like she was tossing out Holy Water...in a room full of vampires.
"Ewwww...Too Much Info woman!" Catherine shook her head...
"I just got those pictures out of my head!" Greg covered his eyes and fled the room.
"Hey, what can I say? He's a sexy..." Conrad held up his hand and shook his head.
"Could I get a cup of that coffee without the pictures Sara?" he winked at her and for a moment, Sara stood with her mouth open.
"Ugh...yeah...um...sure...right this way." she motioned to the kitchen where Grissom had gone to moments before. When they got there, Gil had laid out all kinds of things to make omelets.
"I hope everyone's hungry?" He motioned for everyone to put what they wanted on their plates.
"Hey, you just got released from the hospital buddy." Nick was concerned that he would try to do to much too soon.
"You want Sara took cook omelets for you?" he looked at her and shrugged not wanting to hurt her feelings.
"No!" came the unison voices of everyone in the room. "Not Sara..." they all started laughing except for Sara who decided to play the part and pouted. Gil made everyone's omelet to order including Ecklie who said it was the best he'd ever tasted. He was actually enjoying the camaraderie in the room and could clearly see what made this team so cohesive. Gil didn't even have to ask Sara what she wanted and everyone noticed that he didn't take any meat in his omelet just like her.
After the dishes were loaded into the dishwasher, Warrick nudged Catherine and whispered something in her ear.
"We'd like to show you both something, I hope you like it..." Catherine motioned for them to follow her and led the way upstairs to the two bedrooms. "We all got together while you were both in the hospital and wanted to surprise you with something...we took a little liberty here and I just want you to be honest., if you don't like it...please, we can change anything you don't like...but just be honest..." her voice was pleading and Gil and Sara looked at each other. Catherine threw open the first door of the jack-n-jill bedrooms and Sara's mouth dropped open. The walls were painted a soft pale green with wanes coating in white as the bottom, the wall paper border and curtains on the window along with the crib set were yellow with dragonflies, spiders and various other little insects but the room was definitely male. There was a glider in the corner and the crib, dressing table and dressers were a light oak with brass bugs for drawer pulls. There was a small light on the dresser nearest the crib and it was also in keeping with the insect theme.
"Oh my God Catherine it's beautiful..." Catherine hugged her.
"It's perfect Cat" Gil joined in and kissed her head. "It's just what Sara and I talked about..." they both nodded. They knew that Catherine probably had the material on the bedding, drapes and the lampshade custom made but it all was too perfect for words.
"Thanks Guys., I was worried...let's go see the other room. They went into the second bedroom which was done in pale yellow, Lady Bugs and Butterflies were everywhere on the walls, curtains and bedding, things around the room were definitely feminine and like the boys room, there was a rocker/glider in the corner but the crib and furniture were white instead of oak. "I wanted them to have something different, the beds shift into twin beds when they're old enough to be out of cribs." she was astonished when Gil hugged her again and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"I can't thank you enough Catherine" he looked around "All of you, we could never thank you enough for everything.' Conrad came forward and handed them a card.
"It's a little something for the kids" he blushed slightly and backed up. Gil knew he wouldn't want them to open it with everyone there and tucked it into his pocket.
"Everyone...thank you all...so very much...it's been ..." Gil couldn't find the words to finish so Sara stepped up and wrapped her arms around her husband.
"Overwhelming..." she answered for him. "But it's been so much more than we could ever imagine...when I left, I didn't realize that the family I thought I was missing was right here, in this room...every one of you" she smiled at Conrad. Just as she was about to say more the doorbell rang and when Gil came back Al and his wife had joined them.
"Well now the complete family is here..." he laughed.
"No, Archie, Bobby, Wendy and Mandy are missing" Greg added enthusiastically.
"What about Hodges?" Sara teased but she had a certain fondness knowing that David had worked just as hard to find her as the rest of the team.
"We'll have to have a party and have everyone over" they all agreed.
"Well" Conrad stretched. "Considering that Gil just got release, he's made us all breakfast and cleaned up...I would like to take the time to thank you and then bid you both adieu...shift starts shortly and you know I have to get back to being the nasty taskmaster!" he smiled, shook Gil's hand and kissed Sara on the cheek then bid them goodbye. Everyone else took the hint and Al and his Wife Meridith were the last to leave, they'd brought baby gifts for the kids and a gift certificate for not only free babysitting but for dinner at one of the swankiest new restaurants in town.
