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Spoilers: RfM.
Hank or Grissom?
By Jane Doe
Oh God that hurts! I wish I could scream, or cry, or hit the wall, or anything! It hurts so badly that I think I am going to be sick. Shit the room is spinning...that can't be good. I'm on the interrogation room floor. How did I get on the floor? I don't remember falling. I was headed for the door after our suspect was lead away to find Nick. Then...I have to stop. It hurts too much to even think.
"Sara we are so sorry. Are you okay?"
I recognize the voice as Nick's. Well Nick what the hell do you think?! "I'm fine Nicky." I stop there; afraid I might throw up if I keep my mouth open any longer. I cup my bruised eye and close the other just briefly willing away the pain. I am surprised that it helps just enough to compose my nerves. I find it very relaxing.
"Stay awake." Nick shakes my shoulders a little harder than necessary and both of my eyes fly open, which is a big mistake. The pain to the injured eye is indescribable. I clench my fists as the pain shoots through me. Son-of-a-bitch! I drop my hand from my eye but keep it closed. Out of the good eye I see Nick disappear and Greg begins to hover over me like the flu virus in the dead of winter.
"You okay Sara? We didn't even see you." He forces a small smile. "Maybe you should add a few pounds to that body of yours. You had to fly back at least two feet."
I know he is only trying to cheer me up but the swelling and splitting headache is making him more annoying than usual. "It's a hobby to see how far my body can be thrown by a door." I say sarcastically.
He twitches nervously. "We really are sorry."
"You said that already." I mumble. I close my eyes again only to have them pried open by a hand. The light suddenly becomes unbearable. My body screams for it to stop. Why is it so bright? Finally my pupils shrink and I can see; well I can see a little out of the left eye. The subject causing further agitation is a damn maglite! I rock my head to the side to get away from the hand.
"Sara can you hear me?"
It is Grissom. Kind, friendly, smart, blue eyes, amazing, Gil Grissom. No wait. He is the jerk pointing the light in my eyes! It figures, the man doesn't have a gentle bone in his body. Well at least not with me. Maybe someone else, I don't really know. I blink my eyes hard to get rid of the blue and green spots.
"Sara can you hear me?" He repeats.
I peek out the one good eye I have left. "Yes I can hear you. I'm not dead."
I could make out a tiny frown but there was a sparkle in his eyes that betrayed his disapproval. "Well you were unconscious for almost four minutes."
Four minutes? But I was just talking to Greg. When did that happen? I don't even remember it coming. That cannot be good at all. I must have really gotten hurt. The thought makes me feel sick again; another bad sign.
Grissom pries open my right eye assaulting it again with light. "Quit!" It took all my strength to shove his hand away. "I can't see as it is, so I don't need you blinding my one good eye with your little doodad." I couldn't think of the word. What is it? I use it all the time at crime scenes. Something about a flash. Oh well my head hurts. No! Flashlight! Ha! I got it!
Grissom looked over his shoulder to Nick and Greg. "Go call an ambulance. She has a concussion. She needs to get to the hospital."
"Sure." Nick and Greg both sprint to the door at the same time and collide with each other. "That's what put Sara on the floor in the first place Greg."
"Hey you were running too."
"I was working the case with her! You weren't!"
"It was my information!"
"It was your stupidity!"
"Look who is talking?!"
Out of cracked eyes I watch the scene before me. I want to yell to stop the noise but Grissom does it for me.
"Nick! Greg! You're grown men, now stop bickering!"
Nick's head drops between his shoulders. "Sorry Gris."
"Yeah sorry Grissom." Greg mutters.
Grissom sighs loud enough for me to hear, which starts to worry me some. I don't know why, but it does. Maybe it was just another blackout coming.
"Now Greg I want you to go back to the lab, and no buts. Catherine was looking for you and Nick get the ambulance. I'll stay with Sara." Grissom turns to look at me. "And don't run!"
His last shout sent an immediate stab of pain through my head starting at the eye socket and traveling to my forehead. I slowly realize my eyes are closing again. I try to keep them open this time but my struggles finally fail and my eyes close.
"Sara I need you to open your eyes. Even the bad one if you can."
But my head hurts!
"Please Sara, just stay awake." His voice was soft, almost a whisper. It is probably just me that thinks he is whispering. I have heard of pain affecting all of the senses when it is extreme enough. I wonder if this is the side effect or if I am fading in and out of consciousness. Well I am thinking and I am semi-aware of my surroundings. I guess I am not blacking out again. What did I have for lunch? Wait, what does that have to do with anything? "Ow!" I jump slightly as Grissom touches my bad eye.
"Good you are still awake. You were too quiet all of the sudden."
I cover my eye. "I won't be awake too much longer if you keep hurting me."
"Good you got out a full sentence that required thought."
He smiled at me. He just smiled at me. It wasn't a little mysterious smile; it was a complete grin of joy. I even saw his teeth. I sure hope I am not hallucinating because that would sure be nice. He's gorgeous when he smiles. Too bad my whole face hurts or I would smile back.
"Let me take a look."
I sit there as he again checks the left eye then moves to the bruised one. "How bad does it look?" I squeak.
He stops to smile down at me again. "Like you were hit by a door. It's bruised and swelling rapidly but there is no blood around your eye so I don't think there is any permanent damage. I want you to try and open your right eye."
"It hurts."
"I know."
It wasn't a cocky 'I know', it was a caring, sympathetic 'I know'. It gave me strength to will every muscle in my right eye to work. Through the swelling I manage to get another crack of light in. The light is as bright as the flashlight and I shut it tight. I try again, and again, and again. My eye begins to water and I feel the tears dripping down the side of my cheek. Grissom brushes away one that threatens to reach my ear. The contact startled me. After all openly touching each other is almost a barrier we never cross. It was like going to the museum with 'Do Not Touch' signs everywhere. It was just off limits. Yet when I look up at him he doesn't seem to mind touching me. Is it the concussion or confusion making my head hurt? I don't know how to regard Grissom nowadays. It's like walking on eggshells. There are good days and there are bad days. I never know when another good day will come along, so I try not to wait for it. I did say try, implying failure on my part.
"That's good enough." He says softly. "Now we know you have control over your eye muscle; another good sign it's not permanent."
His words bring comfort to my body. I suddenly feel tired and drained by the whole ordeal of opening my eyes so I don't fight it. I close my eyes and began to give away to sleep.
"Sara no, you can't sleep. You have a severe concussion and need to stay awake."
"But I'm tired." I mutter. Just as I was starting to doze off he shook my shoulders and I jumped. "What?!"
"You were falling asleep."
"No I wasn't." I denied.
"Yes you were."
"No I wasn't." I open my eyes to a larger crack but again give in and close them.
"Dammit Sara if you fall asleep on me..."
"I won't Grissom." I say with annoyance but my eyes remain closed. I manage to blink softly a few times to release another collection of tears onto my cheek. I boldly sneak a peek at the man leaning over me. This must be a better day. "Don't worry Gris. I am right here and not going anywhere."
"You better not." He warns brushing the tears from my cheek again.
I don't like confusion, but I can accept this. I only wish I was fully aware of his little touches or felt something other than pain on that side of my face. I mean here he was touching me, freely I might add, and all I feel is a dull ache of pain. Why does it always end in torture? Just as the thought enters my already groggy mind, Hank walks in with his medical kit in hand and rushes to my side.
"Baby? Are you okay?"
Now I am ready to pass out. I quickly look at Grissom and he backs away from me with a noticeable twinge of pain in his eyes. It's an unmistakable pain, as if your heart is ripping. I am still mending mine and wonder if his will ever heal for anyone. No don't go, I scream, but it never reaches my lips. If I could turn back time, I would have never gotten out of bed the day I called Hank baby. It was a mistake, but I can't take it back. It was said and it is done.
"Sara? What happened to you? Talk to me."
A soft glow from a tiny light parades my eyes. I notice Hank isn't as forceful as Grissom, but that probably had to do with training. I manage to find my voice. "Yeah I'm fine. The door and I had a fight."
He smiled. Hank has a great smile, and he smiles all the time. He smiles at the sunshine I bet! He really is a great guy. He is the all around guy that you want to have around for life. These people make the best of friends. Friends. I am pretty sure that's all we are. I don't know if I want something more but maybe it's already something more than friendship. It's true that we go out to the movies like I said, and he asked me to dinner and I couldn't say no. I guess that's a date, it was at a really nice restaurant. Well for some people it is a date. I don't know anymore. That line was blurred a long time ago. Maybe he is my boyfriend. He is always there for me, he likes me, and we do spend time together. Most would consider that as a boyfriend. But...go ahead and say it, he isn't Grissom. Maybe that is why I am holding out. It doesn't feel right with Hank.
His gloved hand on my face distracts me from my train of thought. Grissom didn't wear gloves. He wasn't afraid to touch me, why is Hank? I mean the theory around the office is that I am closer to Hank than to Grissom, so why is he afraid to touch me with his bare hands? Hell I drink after him! We shared a Coke yesterday! That's germs on germs! Almost a kiss! I wanted to scream in offense but he cut me off.
"Let's get you off this floor. Does that sound good?"
I slowly nod my head but Hank does most of the work. He practically picks me off the floor but I am awarded a view of the room. Catherine and Warrick are here standing next to Nick in the corner. Greg pokes his head in from the doorway and Grissom is to the left behind Hank. He is not looking at me. I don't blame him. I feel horrible.
"Okay Sara, sit down and just breathe while I examine your eye." He sits me down and prepares my on site treatment. He crouches down in front of me resting a hand on my thigh for support. I don't mind the contact. He touched me before and it's normal for us now, but Grissom stares at his hand like a parasite. "This may, no, it will hurt."
"What is it?" My voice doesn't sound like my own anymore. Maybe I'm not me anymore.
"It will help your eye so you can open it and I can have a look." He deposits three stinging drops into my eye.
I grab my eye. "Shit!"
"Blink Sara and don't rub it out. It has to do its job."
Its job?! What is it, to burn my eye from it's secure purposeful location in my head?! I hiss in pain and the nausea comes back. I blink but it hurts too much and I have to stop. Oh my head! It starts to spin again.
"She has a concussion. Do you think it's wise to cause her more pain? She could pass out again."
My eyes are flooded with tears; some from the drops but most from crying. I squint away the pain to see Grissom now standing directly behind Hank.
"Mr. Grissom I know what I am doing. Sara's concussion is very important but I have to determine if there is any real damage to her eye. Besides she is fully responsive now."
"She blacked out for four minutes and it might happen again. Responsive now doesn't ensure responsive later, especially if she is in a mild shock from the pain."
Hank turns back to me. "Sara how are you feeling?"
I look at Grissom then at Hank. I don't want to side with either one. Hank does know how to do his job and I trust his ability to help me. I don't appreciate Grissom second guessing him in front of everyone. Yet Grissom does have a good point and I value his opinion more than anyone realizes. Even though Grissom doesn't show it in an obvious way, I know he cares. All of the sudden my head hurts more. It must be the thinking. The dull ache turns to a sharp pain, but instead of yelping out I lie. "I'm fine."
Hank whispers in my ear letting his lips brush my cheek on it's voyage. I shudder. "Liar." He backs away with a cute smile on his face that would normally be welcome but the sharp pain is now throbbing. "Do you need the stretcher or can you walk to the ambulance?"
"Walk." I mutter.
"I'll go get the stretcher then." He shot me another smile of white teeth and disappears from the room. I drop my eyes closed to calm my queasy stomach and achy head. Before I knew it Grissom had me by the shoulders. I flinched; totally unaware of what is happening. It is getting darker now. I try to keep my eyes open but I fail miserably.
"Sara!"
I knew someone was calling my name but it sounded like a whisper and distant. Then I couldn't hold myself up anymore. I think...
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A/N: Sorry about that, but it got longer than I wanted it to and I had to stop. I know it's evil but I didn't want to bore you. I'll continue as soon as I figure out if Grissom's POV is in order or if I should continue it as a Sara POV.