Summary: Jason's whole life changed in one moment, he just didn't expect who would be in his corner at his lowest point.
Genre: Family, Friendship
Rating: K+
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Main Parings: GSR
Minor Parings: Rick/Elizabeth
Other Characters: Isabella Grissom, Jason Walker (William's friend), Mr. Edmond Walker (Jason's father)
Chapter 30: His lowest point
Early September, 2027
In the kitchen, Sara was cutting up a tomato for their salad that they would be having later for dinner, when Grissom walked up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist and kissing her neck, making her smile before he spoke softly. "Have I told you how much I love watching you work in the kitchen?"
She smirked in return. "You mean after I stopped being a disaster in the kitchen?"
He chuckled, then spoke with pride. "I did teach you well, didn't I?"
She sets the knife down, so she could turn around in his arms, and after wrapping her arms around his neck, she whispered with passion. "And cooking isn't the only thing you've taught me well."
So many possibilities were floating in Grissom's mind on what she was talking about, and the way she was looking at him, they weren't all 'innocent' either, so he cleared his throat and whispered. "Do share."
She chuckled before replying softly. "Well, some would have to wait until we are behind closed doors, but for one, this..."
She trailed off as she leaned forward to kiss him, but before their lips could touch, they hear their oldest daughter, 13 year old Isabella, yell from the living room. "Mom! Dad!"
The romantic mood effectively killed between them, they pull back from one another and rushed into the living room, but before they could ask what was wrong, Isabella said with tears in her eyes as she pointed to the TV screen. "He's not moving."
Both Sara and Grissom looked towards the TV, and for one, they were a little shocked they were seeing a football game on their TV, because unless they had gotten lucky with a UNLV game being televised so they could watch Eli play college football (Before he put all his focus on basketball), the only constant sport that would be on their TV was baseball, and two, they saw a bunch of trainers around the downed USC football player.
Grissom was about to say something, but was once again shocked when the name of the downed football player came on their screen, making them both gasp as they looked at one another with worry, then they walked up to their daughter and Sara placed her hand on her shoulder for comfort while they put all their focus on the TV screen, hoping there was any sign of movement from Jason, a friend of their son's, who use to be at one point in their past one of his best friends.
It took them a about five minutes, but they finally got him on a cart, and as it was driving out of the stadium, Jason, while being strapped on a backboard stretcher, lifted his thumb up as high as his restraints would allow to the crowd, which there were cheering, showing he did have at least some movement, making Sara and Grissom both sigh in relief.
But they were still worried, so before it even went to commercial, Grissom pulled out his phone and started to make a call to the hospital as he walked outside while Sara turned her daughter around and cupped her cheek before wiping her tears away and speaking softly. "I know what you saw was scary, but you saw him lift up his thumb, right?"
The little girl nodded with a sniffle, which a part of her couldn't understand why she reacted so strongly, even though, yes it was a scary moment, but this wasn't the first time she's seen an injury from a sports game. Although, it was the first time she saw it happen to someone she knew, or at least sort of knew, since she was young when it was at the peak of William's and Jason's friendship.
Her thoughts get interrupted when her mother continued. "That is a very good sign, and he is a tough one, I have no doubt he's going to pull through."
While Sara believed everything she said to her daughter, she was still scared for the young man, a young man who was in this house, from six years old to fifteen, more times than she could count. They had meals with him, took him on their 'day' trips to six flags, even Disneyland a few times, she even tucked him into bed during the early years of her son's sleepovers, and gave him as much comfort as she could when his mother died at age 10.
And during the three years he wasn't around their son, they still cared for him and thought of him often, so they were happy by the end of their son's senior year, him and Jason were becoming friends again.
Sara's thoughts get interrupted when Isabella spoke softly. "Are you going to see him?"
Sara nodded with a smile. "Yes."
Isabella nodded while biting her lip, then asked again. "Can you tell him I said hi?"
Knowing her daughter more than likely wouldn't want to go because of her dislike with hospitals, even though she did make an exception when William was in the hospital for his surgery.
Sara nodded with another smile. "Ok."
Grissom walked back into the house a moment later. "I asked Kelly to see if she could keep us updated, but I don't think I could just sit around here."
Sara turned to her husband with a nod. "I agree."
They then looked at their daughter, and she spoke before they could. "You guys can go, I'll stay here with Katie." Before they could open their mouths for a second time within seconds, she continued. "Come on guys, I babysit other kids, who might I remind you, are younger than her, on this block. I think I can handle this."
Sara and Grissom look at one another, and he smirked. "She does have a point, and what kind of message would we be sending to the other parents if they knew we had someone watching her?"
Sara couldn't argue with that, so she looked at her daughter with a nod. "Ok."
After hugging and kissing their daughter goodbye, Sara and Grissom headed for the hospital.
Hours later
It took them most of the evening, but the head surgeon, who was a late thirties woman with brown hair and brown eyes, with a slim build and above average height, walked up to them and asked. "Mrs. and Dr. Grissom?" They both stood up with nods, then she smiled. "Normally this isn't protocol, but seeing as Mr. Walker isn't in town, I heard you are the closest family members Jason has here."
Feeling that is the truth, they both nodded before Grissom asked. "How is he?"
Before she answered, she asked. "Would you like to see him?"
No hesitation, they nodded again before the doctor lead them towards Jason's room, and when they got there, Jason, who was reclined in his hospital bed, asked in surprise. "Mrs. & Dr. Grissom, what are you guys doing here?"
Before they could answer, they hear a clearing of the throat and Rick's voice. "Hey, I heard my brother is in here?"
The surgeon smiled knowingly. "You're brother, huh?"
Trying to be serious, Rick nodded. "Yeah, my brother."
Then she looked at Elizabeth, who was holding hands with Rick, and asked. "And let me guess, his sister?" They all chuckled before the surgeon nodded, knowing how much her patient could use this interaction, before she tried to be as authoritarian as possible. "Ok, but 15 minutes. He does need his rest."
After they all nodded, she left the room while Rick and Elizabeth joined the group in the room, which if they were surprised Sara and Grissom were there too they didn't show it, then Jason looked at Rick with a raised eyebrow. "My brother, huh?"
Rick nodded with a smile. "My brother."
Jason's voice then got soft. "I thought you hated your brother then, so why be here?"
Rick then held out his hand and said sincerely. "I don't think it went as far as hate, but all is forgiven, you saved my best friend's life, and changed how you treated us. Besides..." He then smiled a little wider. "Brothers do fight, right?"
Jason smiled, the brightest he's had since he's been in here and took Rick's hand with a shake. "Right, brother."
As they release hands, Elizabeth slipped her hand out of Rick's and hugged Jason, while he asked. "Sister?"
She just chuckled with a nod, then after they pulled back, Jason looked at Sara and Grissom again with tears in his eyes. "Thank you guys, you didn't have to be here."
Sara and Grissom get a little emotional themselves as Grissom held out his hand towards him. "Of course we did, and we are with you..."
Rick cuts him off with a smirk. "Every step of the way." When they all looked at him, he shyly replied. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."
Jason then chuckled and shook his head. "It's ok. It's either laugh or cry about it."
They nodded in understanding, then Rick asked, this time softly. "So, what's the damage?"
Jason took a breath before telling them. "Still feeling a little numb from the waist down, they'll know more as the night progress."
Rick then asked. "End of your career?"
Jason shook his head, trying to be as brave as he could. "I don't know, man. I don't know."
Since he realized he had potential on the football field, and worked his butt off to get where he was, football became his world, his life's dream. He even ended up sacrificing his best friends for it, a decision he later regretted. But now he didn't know where to go from here, especially if football can no longer be part of his dream.
Next Morning
Since it was a late night for Sara and Grissom, Sara called Warrick when they woke up this morning, and told him she'll come in later that afternoon, which after finding out what happened to Jason, he wasn't that surprised, so he told her to take the day if she needed to, and she was thankful for it and took the recommendation.
Now, she was sitting at the glass table on the deck, looking at her husband, who was standing at the deck railing drinking his coffee while looking out in the yard, and after taking a sip of her own coffee, Sara took a breath and started speaking while walking up to him. "Griss, I think we need talk about something."
She took a moment before telling him about her concerns with Jason, how she felt he was putting on a brave face for everybody, even though she knew he must be freaking out inside on where his life is taking him now, about that young man's father who didn't even bother to show up to see how his own son was doing, and the last thing she mentioned was asking how he felt if Jason moved in here so they could be that support system that he needed to get back on his feet.
When she didn't get a reply out of her husband, she looked at him, then before she could ask, he asked, his attention still out in the yard. "You think we can build a nice sized office out here?"
Sara shook her head and asked. "What? Did you even hear a word I..."
He cuts her off while looking at his beautifully, confused wife with a smile and bright eyes. "It seems we can't keep an office these days, so how about we build one? And have the other one as an extra bedroom, you know for our new guest. Providing of course if Jason would want to stay with us in the first place."
Sara slowly smiled and chuckled. "You were already thinking about it before I even said anything, weren't you?"
He cupped her cheek as he replied with love. "I have to keep you on your toes every once awhile, dear." Then he took a breath and nodded. "And I agree, he's lacked that family support for years, basically since his mother died, and if his father can't even bother to show up at his son's lowest point, then who else would be there for him? I know our son would if he was here." Grissom then started to get emotional. "Plus, he saved our son's life, I feel like I owe him one." Sara nodded with tears in her eyes as she placed her forehead against his, comforting one another, for past memories and for what was to come next.
One week later
While Sara, Grissom, and Edmond Walker, who was in his mid-forties, tall, an athletic man with short blond hair and blue eyes, was in Jason's hospital room, Edmond looked at the doctor and asked. "So, how long will it be before my son can get back on the football field?"
Both Sara and Grissom clinched their jaws, not really liking that was the first thing Jason's father had asked, then Jason's doctor looked at Jason and spoke to him directly, knowing it was his life and choice. "I like that your health is improving, better than expected at this point in time, and you'll only get better with rehab. But, I strongly recommend that you don't play football anymore, because another hit like that will only increase your chances of being paralyzed permanently. All things considered, you were pretty lucky this time."
It was silent for several minutes before Edmond's phone rang, and the doctor was about to speak to him, but Edmond stood up and said. "I have to take this."
When he walked out of the room, Jason looked at them shyly on how rude his father was being, but it wasn't nothing new to him. "I'm sorry about him."
But they all just waved it off before his doctor spoke again. "Do you have any questions, Jason?"
He took a breath, letting this devastating news in before asking. "So, you really believe I'll make a full recovery?"
She nodded with a smile. "Yes, as long as you do your rehab, I don't foresee any problems going forward. It would also be nice if you surround yourself with a good support system too."
Before Jason could speak, Sara did as she looked at the young man. "He has that." Jason looked at Sara with a smile before she continued. "In fact, Grissom and I have talked, and we want you to move in with us, for as long as you want/need to."
Jason silent for several seconds before he asked softly. "Really?"
Both Sara and Grissom nodded with smiles before she replied. "Really, you matter to us greatly and we want to help you anyway that we can."
It's been a long time since he heard genuine words like that and seen a parental look that didn't have disappointment shown on their faces. It's also been a long time, pretty much since his mother died, that his father had given him any approval looks, except when he was playing football that is, and now that is off the table...
His thoughts get interrupted when his father walked back into the room, and he had asked. "So, when can I take him out of here?"
Before the doctor could speak, Jason spoke, making his decision without much thought. "Actually dad, when I get discharged, I'm not going home with you."
Edmond getting tense, looked at his son and spoke in a hard tone. "Oh, really? And where exactly do you see yourself going? Who will be looking after you now?"
Before Jason could speak, Sara stood up, proudly and without hesitation. "Us."
Edmond looked at Sara and smirked. "What? Them? The science nerds." He then looked at his son. "That's the best you could do? What at they even doing here, anyways?"
Grissom then stood up next, his patience running thin with this man. "Being a concerned parent, obviously better at what you're capable of doing."
Edmond turned to Grissom, his height a little taller than the older man, and asked in hard tone. "Do you really think you're better than me? Science nerd."
Before Grissom or Sara could speak, Jason did, with so much emotion/anger, everything he's felt for a long time finally came out. "He's the best damn father anybody could have! And he is ten times the father, and man you could ever be!"
Edmond looked at his son in shock that he would talk to him like that before asking. "You really feel that way?"
No hesitation with anger in his eyes. "Damn straight."
He gave him a humorless laugh before looking at Sara and Grissom. "Fine, you want him, he's all yours."
Before walking out of the room, leaving the room speechless, then not able to hold it in any longer, Jason, the guy who always had to act tough and not show any vulnerability to his father, finally broke down and started crying, from everything, including his life changing in a way he could have never imagined a week ago.
The doctor left to give them privacy while Sara walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him without a second thought. It took Jason a few moments but he finally responded and hugged her back while whispering. "I'm sorry, for everything."
Sara just shook her head and gave him comforting words, just letting him release all that he was feeling, whether it was past feelings or the new ones that just came up.
When he was calm enough, they pulled back, and once he cleaned up his face with tissues, he looked at them shyly and asked. "Can we not share what just happened?"
They chuckled with nods before Sara smiled while she spoke sincerely. "Your secret is safe with us, but know that you don't have to have a wall up, or have to have this macho tough guy act, alright? If you want to express something, as long as it's not hurting others, then do it."
Jason nodded. "Thank you, and I'll keep that in mind. It's just something I'm going to have to get use to."
They both nodded with smiles but Sara was the one that spoke. "We understand."
Two months later
Mid November, 2027
Isabella, now a Freshman in High School, was sitting on the couch in the living room, drawing a multi design vase that was sitting on the coffee table, or at least attempting to, that is. While she has always been interested in art growing up, whether it was viewing it with her parents, mostly with her father, or drawing some pictures herself, she only considered it dabbling since she only used it for a distraction when she needed it. But now, she wanted to take it more serious, so she signed up for art class at the start of the school year.
The only other person in the living room with her, sighed as he closed a junior college book of classes they had to offer to their students, which he will be among them at the start of the next semester, and she smiled while looking down at her art. "What are you passionate about?"
Jason, who wasn't a 100% yet, but had finally got feeling back in his lower half and was walking a little more now, looked at her with a shocked and raised eyebrow look. "Excuse me?"
She smiled wider as she looked at him, nodding her head towards the book he had in his hands. "You're looking for some classes to take, right? Well, find something you're passionate about and do it." Before he could speak, she smirked while looking down at her art. "And don't say sports, it's not on the list."
He chuckled and shook his head. "You think you know me, huh?"
Looking at him again, she smirked again. "Am I wrong?"
He gets a slightly sad look on his face, knowing that's not part of his life anymore, at least in a competitive manner. "I guess not entirely."
She looked at him with sympathy now, knowing it must have been hard to have a new life's dream. "I'm sorry."
He waved off with a little more happy smile. "It sucks, I'm not going to lie about that, but, I'm ok. Like the doctor said, it could be worse."
She nodded while looking down at her art again before looking at the vase, then it was her turn to sigh, and just before she tore the piece of paper out of her book to start over, Jason asked, without even thinking. "You mind if I take a look?"
Looking at him with curiosity, Isabella handed him her art book and the pencil as she said. "Sure."
He took both items from her, studied both her art and the vase, then went to work, and Isabella saw it in his eyes as he was drawing, his passion.
He looked like William did when he played chess, or Katie when she was doing math, her father when he was teaching his kids, both his own and his actual students, about entomology, and her mother as she soaked up every word she was reading in whatever mystery she was into that day.
The next time he looked her way, he saw the look she was giving him, and asked. "What?"
She smiled wider, her eyes bright as she replied. "I think you found your passion."
He looked down at the art book before looking at her again, and chuckled while shaking his head. "What, this? No way."
She chuckled with a nod. "Yes way, and you should totally do it."
He cleared his throat and handed her supplies back to her. "I can't."
She frowned a little. "Why? Because a guy like you aren't 'suppose' to?" Before he could reply, she continued. "Give me one good reason, and I'll never speak of it again." Despite her being younger than him, she was giving him a determined look that was throwing him off a little, so when he opened his mouth to reply, nothing came out, and after a second attempt, she smirked, like she just won the 'argument'. "Can't think of one, can you?"
He shook his head with a smile. "I guess not." When she made her hand into a fist and she said 'yes' in victory, it made him chuckle again. "And you're just loving it, aren't you?"
She smirked. "Hey, I'm part 'Sidle' so of course I am, we take our wins very seriously."
After another round of chuckling, the most he's chuckled in awhile, he took a breath. "I'll keep your recommendation under advisement."
She nodded before replying in a sincere, soft tone. "You really should, just know I would see whatever you create."
A little shocked, he asked. "You would? Just base off that?" He pointed to her art book.
She nodded again, then finished. "Also, like us 'Grissoms and Sidles', we like to stand by those who we believe has potential, and I see that in you."
She wasn't the first Grissom to say or imply that, but for some reason in this moment it meant a little more to him, so he nodded with another smile, and as she was going back to her art, he said softly. "Isabella?" She looked at him before he finished. "Thank you."
With a sparkle in her brown eyes, she nodded. "You're welcome."
A moment later the front door opened, and Sara spoke as she walked up to the couch. "Jason, you have something from your father."
He took the white envelope from her with a polite smile. "Thank you, Mrs. Grissom."
Even though they told him that he didn't have to be so formal with them, he hasn't quite broken that habit yet.
Then he sighed as he opened it and pulled out a check with a very large sum. "Trying to buy me back so I would come home, I see."
While his father did end up paying for the medical bills and had asked multiple times if he would come home, Jason hasn't forgiven him. Besides, he liked it here, he felt more freer here, and as long as Sara and Grissom allowed it, he wanted to stay here for as long as he could, at least until he was back on his feet 100%.
He stood up gingerly, and once he had his balance, he handed the check off to Sara. "Here is something for you and Dr. Grissom for taking me in like you have, save some for yourself and donate the rest to charity if you want. I don't want his money."
Sara was shocked at the gesture and she shook her head. "Jason, I appreciate it, but we can't..."
He cuts her off. "Please?"
Sara looked at Grissom, who had just walked into the room to see the what was going on, and he spoke softly. "We'll hold on to it."
After Jason nodded, he walked about halfway in the room, then sat in his wheelchair and rolled into the bedroom he was using as his own with a smile on his face, yeah, his life might have turned completely upside down, but least he felt he had a strong support system behind him, and no one was going to take that away, not even his father.
AN: More to come. Thanks for reading, and please review. Also, try and stay safe out there.
