Chapter 56
A/N: Hi Guys and a very happy 2021 to everyone. I thought I would start off a new year with a new chapter. I was going to post it earlier to but I got a bit carried away writing the last chapter. Which I suppose isn't a bad thing. I say last chapter, I'm 90% sure it will be although it may be a longer chapter than normal. I'm not entirely sure whether it will be too long to make two chapters though. I will see when I get to the end.
Anyway. I hope you enjoy the next one. Baby is coming and it's time to get ready. Hopefully the healing will continue and Hat has been retired until the next story. We shall see I guess.
I know it has been a very tough year for most. I work for a covid 19 team so I know firsthand just how hard it is. Never give up and just do the best you can. No one can ever ask for anything more.
Thank you to calim for the beta as always.
Much love and on we go….
4 weeks later
"You okay?" Sara asked, giving Grissom's hand a squeeze as it lay in her lap.
Once again, and for about the tenth time since they'd sat down, Grissom's eyes worked around the room. Over the backs of the heads of the people sitting in front of them, a quick glance to people at either side, then the door, back to the front of the room before he'd look down at Buddy sitting at his feet. He seemed to do this now whenever he'd go somewhere he wasn't familiar with. Peace of mind or planning an escape route, maybe. Whatever it was, it made him more comfortable.
Looking at Sara, he smiled. "I'm fine," he said honestly.
Smiling back, she held his hand just a little tighter. Damn they'd come a long way since August.
Thank God.
Christmas had been amazing. So much more than she could have asked for considering how Grissom was just a few months prior. There had been no seizures, for which she was eternally grateful, but the odd nightmare did come. All in all, that was to be expected and forgetting about Basderic was probably something that would never happen. But for the first time in a long time, he was not plaguing their lives.
Grissom continued to see James every two weeks with an option for extra appointments, if necessary. So far, he hadn't needed them. He'd even mentioned to Sara that now might be a good time to stop therapy. On that occasion she'd disagreed because his nightmares still cropped up.
Even though he was doing miraculously well, and she'd told him so, he needed those sessions even if just for a little while longer. And although their trust in each other couldn't get any better, James offered something she couldn't. An unbiased ear and professional advice. As much as she knew her husband, she wasn't a shrink and had no intention of pretending to be.
His hands continued to get stronger. His right hand allowed him to hold anything he chose with a moderate grip while his left struggled with the smaller things. But, all in all, they were better with every day that passed.
However, they weren't stupid. His hands would never be the same and accepting that was hard. Yes, it was realistic but, right now, what was important was the basics. They had their whole lives to work on the rest.
She could still see the smile on his face when he'd managed to sign his own name on a medical form. It wasn't perfect but it was legible and that meant so much to him.
And then came their baby. Only a little under 4 months to go and the time was flying by scarily quickly. With her husband's recovery it had been difficult to concentrate on the little one but now the time had come to do so. Grissom still had the occasional doubt about his ability to care for his daughter which, as hard as it was to hear, was only natural. Sara, too, had her own doubts about herself which surprised Grissom when she'd told him. After all, apart from a little more reading online, she knew as much as he did. And not to sink the proverbial ship, but they were both in the same boat. Well, apart from the physicality's, of course. That was all Sara's and, almost the size of a house, she was feeling it. Baby girl was certainly making herself known now.
So, in order to make them both feel a little better regarding knowledge and capability, she'd not only arranged the birthing classes but also organized for them to be introduced to a simulator baby on her next check up at the hospital. This had been especially for Grissom so that he could learn exactly how to hold their daughter and realize what capabilities he had.
"Glad you came?" she asked him.
He shrugged. "I don't know yet." Her eyes narrowed and he smiled. "Maybe ask me afterwards?" he teased.
She tapped his knee. "I promise it will be worth the money."
"I never thought it wasn't."
Sara studied him, eye twitching. "You really mean that?"
"Do you doubt my word, Mrs. Grissom?"
Lips pursing, Sara's free hand dropped to her belly. "Would I do such a thing?"
Giving her a grin, his attention drew to the door as a lady carrying a folder walked in and headed to the front of the room.
"Good afternoon, everyone," she greeted.
The small echo of voices around the room silenced and all gave her their attention.
"Thank you all for coming. I think I have spoken to most of you on the phone already but just in case I haven't, my name is Jenny Foster, and I will be your guide through these classes for as long as you have them booked for."
Leaning into his wife, Grissom whispered in her ear. "You only booked this one, right?"
Slowly turning her head, Sara narrowed her eyes. "Shush," she warned playfully.
Smirking, Grissom faced front as Jenny continued.
"What I normally do on the first day is let you just have a look around at your leisure, and if you would like to, have a chat and get to know each other," Jenny began. "Everything you see around the room is information you will find useful at all stages of your pregnancy and you can take home whatever you would like. I'll be here to answer any questions you may have." She clapped her hands together. "So, any questions to start with?"
A young woman at the front put her hand up and Jenny nodded to her. "Do you show us how to use a breast pump?" she asked. "It's my first baby and I'm worried about my nipples."
A low cackle emanated through the room and Grissom's eyebrows shot off his forehead. Slowly, his head turned, and he glanced at Sara with an amused look.
"Please tell me you're not going to ask about your nipples…"
Unable to help it, Sara quietly chuckled.
"A very valid question," Jenny answered, despite the amusement of the group. "And some woman can suffer from sore nipples if they totally depend on their breasts as a feeding method."
Now the room emitted a few worried whispers and Jenny held up her hands.
"I promise we will cover this, and I can recommend to all of you the best methods. Everyone is different and has their own way of wanting to feed their baby. I will certainly go over everything you need to know. In the meantime, there are some pamphlets around the room to get you started."
"Thank you," the woman replied.
Smiling, Jenny looked around. "Any more questions?" The room remained silent. "I'm sure you will all have plenty as the weeks go by so for now, why don't you all take a look around."
Grissom watched as the people around him got up and felt Sara squeeze his hand.
"Shall we go take a look around and mingle?"
"Sure."
Giving him a bright smile at his positive attitude, she clasped of Buddy's leash and stood, pulling Grissom with her. He looked a tiny bit nervous even though he wasn't admitting it, but his attitude made her feel so proud.
Sticking close by as they moved to one of the tables, he watched as Sara picked up a small pamphlet.
"Breast feeding," she said, looking at Grissom who shot her a raised eyebrow.
"You have great aim at finding the popular subject," he said.
Smirking, she opened the small book. "Not something you want to read up on?" she teased.
Nipping on his lip, he fought a grin. "I wouldn't say that. But I'd prefer it when…"
He was cut off by someone interrupting them.
"Hi, guys."
They both turned to see their host.
"Hi," Sara replied, dropping a hand to Buddy's neck as he sat and wagged his tail at the new face.
"Sara and Gil, right?" Jenny asked.
Grissom nodded. "I wonder what gave us away?"
Sara flashed him a purse of her lips as she reached out to shake Jenny's hand.
"Pleasure to meet you both," Jenny said. "I know we spoke on the phone, Sara, but it's always great to meet people face to face. And of course, animals." She looked down at the excited dog with a smile.
Sara had called to explain about Grissom and their situation once she'd booked the classes online. It wasn't uncommon that people knew about them since the stories about their ordeal had been all over the news and newspapers. But she wasn't going to assume anything. Besides Jenny wouldn't know how careful they needed to be with Grissom when he was out in public and how he might react.
"Well," Grissom said looking around. "I certainly think he's gotten everyone's attention. People must be wondering why the heck we brought a dog to a birthing class."
Jenny looked around and then down to Buddy's jacket. "Well, if they can read then they should know why. Although it's none of their business."
Grissom leaned into his wife. "I like her," he whispered and Sara snorted.
"I understand things have been very difficult for you," Jenny continue. "Just remember I am here to help."
"Thank you," Grissom said with appreciation.
"Do you have any questions?"
Grissom and Sara exchanged a glance. "I'm sure we will," Sara replied. "Once things start sinking in about what we need to know."
"It can be quite overwhelming when it's your first," Jenny informed them.
"No kidding," Grissom agreed. "I think I'd be overwhelmed no matter what number child it was."
Jenny smiled at him. "That's all very natural but the more you know the more confident you will feel."
"I hope so," Grissom agreed.
"That's what I keep telling him. But I don't think he believes me," Sara teased.
Jenny smirked. "Have you decided how you're having the baby?"
Again, Grissom's eyebrow hitched. It was certainly working overtime today. "I'm sorry? I thought that was pretty decided for us."
Jenny laughed. "What I mean is there are options available regarding the type of birth. Most have their baby in the hospital, but some give birth at home. Water birth is also an option. Mothers can have their baby naturally or use medical drugs to help with the pain."
"Oh," Sara said, taking Grissom's arm. "Well, um, I think we will be just going for the old-fashioned method. Hospital and plenty of medical staff at hand. Just to be sure." Grissom gave her a worried look now. "I'm not saying we will need them. But I know both of us would rather be safe than sorry."
"You can say that again," he agreed.
"As for drugs," she continued, giving Grissom a smile. "I'll see what happens. I'd love to do it naturally but I'm not silly enough to think labor is like putting a band aid onto a scraped knee."
"I totally understand that. And I'm sure your doctor will go through your options with you, before and on the big day."
Sara nodded, receiving a smile back from her husband.
"Here." Jenny reached to the next table and offered Sara a piece of paper. "This is our schedule. What we'll cover each class so you can prepare yourselves beforehand and know what to expect. People find it all a little better than the element of surprise and looking dumbfounded when I ask them to sit on the floor so we can practice breathing techniques."
"We do that?" Grissom asked surprised.
Jenny gave him a nod. "Yes. Even you will learn, Gil, and then you can support Sara at the time she needs you the most."
"I can't wait to see that." Sara chuckled.
Giving his wife a dumbfounded look, she flashed him an open-mouthed smile.
"Right, I better go see if anyone else wants a chat," Jenny said. "If you think of anything you need, just come over okay?"
Both Grissom and Sara nodded, and Jenny headed off to speak to another couple.
"So, Daddy," Sara turned to Grissom, giving a playful tug on his jacket. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I need to breathe more," Grissom deadpanned.
"Haha," Sara laughed. "You're breathing is just fine."
"Oh, Yeah?"
Wrinkling her nose, she leaned a little closer. "I'll let you demonstrate later," she whispered.
Wriggling his eyebrows, Grissom grinned. "I'll hold you to that."
With another bright smile. Sara looked around. "As we'll be spending a bit of time together, shall we introduce ourselves to some of the other couples?" Grissom's eyes shot back to her. "Only if you feel up to it. No pressure."
He looked around now, inhaling deeply. "Okay."
"Yeah?"
Letting out the breath he'd been holding, Grissom nodded. "Sure."
Giggling, she took his hand. "Then let's go say hi."
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
The first class had gone well. Not that they'd really done much but had walked away with a lot of information and Grissom had dealt with being around strangers very well. So different to going to the mall or a restaurant because he actually talked to people. There was some curiosity from their new acquaintances. A few asked about Buddy and, no doubt, all saw Grissom's scars, but no one made a fuss or probed too deeply.
It was going to be difficult to let people back into their lives that they knew but this was certainly a good start.
With a smile, Sara released Grissom's arm as they walked across the small parking area and took the car keys from her pocket. Deactivating the alarm, she opened the back door for Buddy.
"In you get," she instructed, unclipping his leash.
This would only be the second time Sara had driven them, plucking up the courage a few short days ago to finally get back behind the wheel. They were both tired of having to depend on other people to drive them places, so it was time to take that step. And, yes, while they knew there would be a risk Grissom could have a seizure, there always would be that risk. They couldn't let that possibility dictate their every move anymore. Sara always carried Grissom's injector, medication, glasses and, of course, there was Buddy. So, they were as prepared as they could be should the worst happen.
Driving for Sara wasn't as straightforward as it usually was considering her size, but as long as she could still drive, steer and park that's all that was needed. And, yes, when she got close to the birth date, she knew they would have to depend on a friend again but, for now, they enjoyed the freedom. They could do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted and go wherever they wanted. Not that they went many places, but it was nice having the immediate choice.
They'd had a brief conversation about the possibilities of Grissom driving again. That really scared Sara although she hadn't mentioned her fears. For the most part she didn't want to knock her husband's confidence by telling him but they both knew it couldn't be a possibility until his hands were much stronger. Probably working as much as they possibly could be working. He'd need a physical assessment before he would be allowed to drive so he needed to be very, very ready before they even considered it.
Closing the back door, she slipped into the driver's seat, watching as Grissom clipped in his safety belt, making sure he got it in securely. Once she was happy he was strapped in, she handed him the stack of booklets she had in her hand and took a treat for Buddy from the glove box, passing it to the dog over her shoulder.
Dropping a hand to Grissom's knee, she gave it a healthy squeeze. "Anywhere you want to go?"
Looking at her, he sucked on his lip. "Do you know what I really feel like doing?"
Slightly frowning, Sara watched him. She had no idea. "Ummm, enlighten me."
"Feel like collecting on one of your Christmas gifts?"
Her frown deepened, eyes working as she thought. "Dinner?"
"Hmmm," he mumbled, nodding. "Home. Chill for a bit. Shower. Change. Dinner."
Lips parting, Sara gaped at him, a little surprised after what would have been quite a taxing day for him already. "You want to go out to dinner?"
"That's what I promised but if you don't want to then…"
"I'd love to," she cut him off and then giggled. "As long as you want to. Are you sure you're up to it?"
"I wouldn't have said so if I wasn't."
A beaming smile crossed Sara lips and she leaned over for a kiss. "Baseball game tomorrow then?" she mumbled against him.
Tipping his head back, Grissom lofted an eyebrow at her and she threw him a grin as she sat back.
"Just kidding," she laughed. "Decide where you want to go, and I'll book a table when we get home okay?"
He nodded and Sara's smile remained as she faced front and pulled away.
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
Table booked at their favorite restaurant for 7.30pm, the couple relaxed most of what was left of the afternoon before showering together. Now wrapped in a towel, Sara helped Grissom with his tie.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for this moment?" she asked.
"What moment?"
Making sure the knot was tidy, Sara dropped her hands to his shoulders. "Seeing you in one of your best suits and not the; 'Mom is coming to dinner suit'."
"I'm glad I could help you complete one of your life's ambitions."
"Hahaha," Sara laughed. "You just wait until we renew our vows. Extra special suit for that one."
Although they were both very happy their relationship was getting a second blessing, they had decided to wait until after baby girl had arrived. For one, Grissom to build his confidence more for being around people and two, Sara wanted to wear a dress. Bit hard given her current size.
"Is that right?" Grissom said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Ugh huh." Sara wriggled her eyebrows, throwing him a grin.
"I'll wear a special suit and you can wear the towel."
Lips pursing, Sara tapped him on the nose. "You'd love that wouldn't you?"
Taking a step back he looked her over. "I could live with it."
"I bet you could," Sara drawled as his eyes caught hers again. "Not so sure our guests would appreciate it though."
"Too, bad," he breathed.
Laughing, Sara stepped back and whipped the towel off, dropping it to the floor. "Maybe I should go like this."
As he gaped at her, Sara felt warm inside. Not every man would find their wife sexy while pregnant, but she was very grateful hers did. Even when doubting herself, Grissom would make her feel good.
"I suggest, my dear," Grissom said seriously. "That you get yourself dressed otherwise my promise of dinner may be rescinded because we will end up not leaving this room."
Giving him the brightest of smiles, Sara turned on her heels, wriggling her butt at him before heading to the wardrobe. "Promises… promises…."
A/N: Keep the faith :)
