Disclaimers: Not mine

Spoilers: Inside The Box

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A MOMENT IN LIFE – (Chapter 2)

Grissom opened his eyes at the sound of knocking on his door. It was either his doctor or nurse or Catherine. Dr. Roth had just visited him a while ago and the nurses didn't bother him until meal times. He smiled at his method of elimination, "Come in."


The door opened to reveal who he had already predicted to be his visitor, "Hi." Catherine smiled brightly, feeling refreshed from having slept in her own bed for the first time last night since Grissom's surgery. "I brought you a visitor."

A moment of panic enveloped Grissom at the word 'visitor'. Who had she brought? She wouldn't have told the others...not yet, not without him, anyway. Right? He snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of a little girl's voice.

"Hi Uncle Grissom!"

Bringing his mind and eyes back into focus, Grissom smiled when he realized who his surprise visitor was. "Hi Lindsey."

The little girl hopped onto the bed to give him a hug but was pulled back by her mother, "Whoa...whoa, be careful, sweetie. You don't wanna hurt Uncle Grissom's ear."

Lindsey pouted a bit but stayed put in her spot by Grissom's leg, "Are you ok now, Uncle Grissom? Does it hurt?"

"No." He lied. Now that the anesthesia had worn off, his ear was beginning to sting and that was bringing on a headache, but he wasn't about to worry the little girl or her mother. "It doesn't hurt at all."

"Are you hungry? Mom and I could get you ice cream! Last time I was in the hospital, I got ice cream!"

Grissom looked questioningly at Catherine, "Ice cream?"

"She had her tonsils taken out. Lindsey, Uncle Grissom didn't get his tonsils taken out."

"So does that mean you can't eat ice cream?"

"Doesn't look like it." Grissom feigned disappointment.

"That's too bad." Lindsey pouted again, having had her heart set on getting ice cream.

"How about we go for ice cream after I get outta here?"

"At that ice cream place we used to go to? Where they make those really big sundaes?" Lindsey's eyes lit up.

"We'll go anywhere you want. As long as you promise me something."

"What?"

"Promise me you'll be good for your mom...at school and at home."

Lindsey looked back at Catherine then turned to Grissom with a nod, "Ok."

Catherine looked at Grissom with new wonderment. Sometimes the man said things she would never expect him to say. "Uh...Lindsey, honey, it's time for school."


"Ok, I'll come visit you again tomorrow, Uncle Grissom. Bye!"

"Bye Lindsey." Grissom smiled with a wave as the little girl disappeared out the door.

Catherine stopped in the doorway and turned back to him, "I'll be back in a bit."

He nodded, almost a little too eagerly, and watched as the door closed. He knew he was being selfish. Catherine had spent practically all her free time this past week with him. If she wasn't at work, she was here, by his bed, keeping him company. It was only last night she had actually returned home since Lindsey was returning from her grandmother's. Though he would never have the courage to admit it out loud, he had grown accustomed to having Catherine by his side, more so than before, and found himself almost uncomfortable with himself when he was alone. He wasn't sure what it was and he knew he would have to deal with it soon -- Dr. Roth just told him today he would be ready to leave the hospital soon. And though he was embarrassed to discover how much he was enjoying Catherine's attention, it was undeniable how perfectly content he was with her company.

*To Be Continued*