Chapter 21

Sara opened her eyes but looked up at the ceiling. "How are you?" She asked after he hadn't said anything for a few minutes.

Grissom raised his eyes to her face and saw she was looking elsewhere. "I should be asking you that question."

He saw a brief flitter of a smile before she spoke. "Ask me then."

He actually laughed. "How are you?"

"I still hurt." Sara winced as she tried to move.

"No Sara stay still." Sara stopped instantly as he grabbed her arm with both his hands firmly. She looked at his hands and watched as he quickly released her. Sara closed her eyes and turned her head away from him. He silently chastised himself for being so stupid. He hesitantly touched her arm again and slowly ran his hand down to meet hers. He squeezed her hand and waited for her to turn back to him. When she did he looked at their hands. "I'm sorry this happened."

Sara saw through his apology and knew he was blaming himself for what happened. "It wasn't your fault Griss."

"I should have done something sooner." A tear fell to her ear as she listened to him. "I was scared, I didn't want to believe it was happening again." He looked into her eyes and saw her tears fall. "No Sara, please don't cry." He raised his other hand to wipe the tears away and gently cupped her cheek.

"I can't help it." She leaned into his hand and let another tear fall, which he caught with his thumb. "I was scared too and so was Ash. oh my god where is she, is she alright?" Sara tried to move again as she panicked.

"She's fine Sara, please lie down, you need to rest." He pushed her back against the pillow and pulled up her blanket. "Rest. She's with Nick. I'll call her ok?"

Sara nodded and she closed her eyes as exhaustion hit her all of a sudden. Grissom was pulling away from her when she tightened her fingers around his. "Don't go."

"I'm right here." His hand caressed her cheek as she lost the battle to stay awake.

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Catherine went back into the room after she thought they had enough time to say a few words without yelling at each other. She offered to get Ash and tell the others she was awake. The male nurse came back and regrettably had to take Grissom to physio. Grissom was quiet again as he was wheeled away. Sara saw his change, but couldn't place why.

An hour later Ash walked into the room in a rush and hugged Sara gently. "Hey." Sara said tiredly.

Ash smiled happily at her as she hugged her again. "I'm so glad you're alright."

"I was told it was touch and go for a while." Sara said as Ash pulled herself up on the bed next to her.

"Yeah, but your ok now." Ash told her softly. "Have you seen Grissom?" Sara nodded and pulled her blanket up to her chin.

"He was here when I woke up."

Ash smiled. "Told you he'd find us, even if he got himself caught." Sara's smile faded. "What's wrong Sara?"

Sara shook her head. "Nothing, just tired."

"Well the doctor says you got to stay here for a while yet. You know let your lung and shoulder heal but also keep an eye on you. You lost more blood than I did." Ash reached for Sara's hand and held it as she closed her eyes again. "Get some rest. I'll see you soon."

"Bring the guys with you, I'd like to see them." Sara asked through a small yawn. Ash patted her hand and left.

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The doctor wouldn't let Sara go home and she was starting to get stroppy and angry with the hospital personnel. She barely spoke to the doctor because all she wanted to do was go home. The doctor advised her to stay and wait for her lung to get stronger and her shoulder to mend.

All but Grissom visited everyday. He was sent home and no one but Catherine had heard from him. She told the guys that he was well and getting better. Sara didn't let it show, but everyone noticed she was missing him and her bad mood was mostly the result. She was fed up with hospital food, the noise and nurses waking every 2 hours to check her vitals. She was about to snap when the doctor finally let her go home after she had spent 2 weeks in hospital. It was long enough to put you off for good.

The first thing Sara did was to refuse Catherine's offer to stay at hers. All She wanted to do was to take a long bath and sleep until she felt better, physically and mentally. Ash stayed with Nick to let her sister have time to herself. Everyone thought it wasn't such a good idea, but Ash told them that she knew what to do and knew what Sara needed right now and that was to get herself together and to do that she needed some to think without interruptions.

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The lab was quiet even with everyone but Sara working. Cases came and went for a week and no one heard from Sara. Ash stopped by in the afternoon and found Sara sat outside in the hot sunshine reading a forensic textbook. She grinned and shook her head. "I see your reading, and it's about time too. I haven't seen you pick up a book for weeks." Ash sat down on the garden chair next to Sara as she put the book down.

"Well, I thought I'd better start reading up on some things before I went back to work." Sara stood slowly while taking a deep breath. She wondered in the kitchen. "You want a drink?" She called out.

"A beer. When you going back to work?" Ash asked as she picked up the book Sara was reading.

"Tonight." Sara said walking out with two beers. She handed Ash one and sat down.

Ash looked at the front page and smiled. The book was in forensic entomology and Grissom help in writing it. "Good reading?"

Sara took the book and closed it as she took a swig of her beer. "Not really." Sara tossed the book to the end of the sun seat and sat back adjusting her sunglasses.

"You want to talk?" Ash knew it was futile even trying, but she promised the others.

Sara knew why she asked, because she normally wouldn't unless someone asked her too. "Talk about what?"

Ash sighed at least she tried. "Oh anything really. You need a lift tonight?"

Sara shook her head. "I'll drive, need to at some point, might as well be tonight."

"Ok, Just take it easy, don't push yourself." Ash made herself comfortable in her seat and pulled her sunglasses over her eyes. "It's a nice day." She offered as she breathed in the fresh air.

"It's ok."

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Chapter 22

One case surrounded the layout table. Photos, evidence and autopsy reports. Grissom sat at the top of the table looking through witness statements. Nick and Catherine were overlooking the photos from the large scene. Warrick and Sara were with Greg waiting for fibre results.

A train hit a jeep, but when the train driver got out to check the jeep, he saw no one, when he walked around the train he noticed four bodies that couldn't have been there recently. The bodies were all decomposing. Everyone agreed that it had to be a dumpsite because the tracks were checked every two days and the bodies had been dead for around 6 days at least. The bodies were stripped, no ID, no clothing, nothing that could help the case.

Catherine, Warrick and Nick had combed the scene, but found nothing else that was relevant. Grissom was in a foul mood because he couldn't go to the scene and Sara was quieter than a mouse. No one even noticed she was at the lab until Greg bumped into her and she had a go at him. Later she apologised and Greg offered her some of his special Hawaiian coffee, which she gladly accepted. They didn't really talk, but Greg did relay that everyone was happy to see her back.

Grissom gave in, which he normally never did and needed to see the scene. Warrick offered to take him, but had to pick up some food for everyone. He asked Sara and she agreed to help not realising Grissom was going to be there too. They went to the scene first.

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Warrick sat in the car with Sara. She was quietly reading in the back seat, while Warrick watched them both carefully. 'Their avoiding each other' he thought. He wasn't going to let this go any further. He asked Sara if she could grab something from the boot. She got out and rounded the car. Warrick followed trying to think of a way to get them alone. It was a long shot but maybe it would work. He pressed his tone menu and made his phone ring.

"Oh man." Warrick lifted the plastic to his ear, covertly pressing the tones off. "Brown. Hey, Are you sure? Ok." Warrick put the phone in his pocket and turned to Sara who was looking at him.

"What's up?"

'Um, think quickly.' "My place was just broken into, Brass needs me down there." 'Good, lets hope she buys it.' Warrick closed the boot and walked to the driver's door. He shouted out to Sara over the hood. "I'll pick you up in bit." He climbed into the car.

Sara blinked rapidly and shook her head. "No Warrick let me come."

Warrick lowered the passenger window. "Can't leave Griss on his own Sara." With that he pulled away from the curb and drove off, leaving Sara staring at the back of the car.

'This is not good.' Sara looked up and saw Grissom looking at her. He turned back towards the tracks and made his way down the small hill with the help of the cane the doctors made him use. Sara walked towards him slowly when she heard a train coming. She knew the lines were back open and so did Grissom, so why was he moving closer to the tracks. Sara saw him leaning down to pick something up at the side of the track. Sara looked towards the horizon and saw the train light coming closer. "Grissom." Sara called to him, but he didn't turn. "Of all the times to ignore me." She said as she made her way towards him. The train was getting closer. "GRISSOM." She shouted over the growing noise. Grissom turned sharply when she reached out and touched his arm. Grissom saw the train and his eyes widened. Sara lost her balance on the pebbles at her feet from Grissom's pulling away.

The train rushed passed as Grissom dropped his cane and quickly wrapped his arms around her to stop her falling. Their hair flew up with the strong gust of wind the train made and their eyes locked. The train faded away into the distance. Sara took a strangled breath and squeezed his upper arms she had grabbed to steady herself when he pulled her to him. Grissom released his tight hold on her realising her lung was still fragile. "You alright?" He asked with only 3 inches between their faces.

Sara took a small shallow breath and nodded. "Am now." Grissom went to let her go when she grasped his arms tightly and shook her head.

"What?" He asked softly.

Sara looked deep into his eyes. "Don't let go. Please." Grissom held her again, pulling her to him. Sara linked her hands behind his neck as she laid her head against his shoulder. "Griss, I tried calling you. Didn't you hear me?" She asked into his jacket.

"No I didn't. Sorry, I could have gotten us both killed. I shouldn't be out here." Grissom pulled away gently so not to aggravate her shoulder. He looked for his cane. "Damn." Sara took a step back and noticed his cane in 3 pieces where the train had broken it.

"Come on, let me help." Grissom hesitantly took her outstretched hand and leaned lightly on her as they climbed back up to the road.

Once they reached a wooden bench and sat down Grissom turned to Sara. "Thank you."

Sara looked down had her hands. "Your welcome. We'll get a new one."

Grissom shook his head. "No not that." Sara looked up at him. "For warning me about the train. I didn't hear it or you calling me."

Confusion flickered across her face. "I realise how you might not have heard me, but how could you not hear the train?" He looked at her hands and reached out to hold them. Sara flinched at his contact, but relaxed as he slowly brushed his fingers over them. Grissom raised his eyes to hers, to her lips then to her eyes again. He was silent for a few more minutes just holding her hands in his. Sara spoke slowly to him when he looked at her again. "You didn't hear me did you?"

"No." He replied quietly. Grissom tilted his head slightly and smiled. "No." He repeated as he rubbed his ear lightly.

"What happened?" Sara didn't understand.

"I've been losing my hearing for a while now." He paused watching her listen. He tried to keep his voice normal, but the sound still hadn't come back. "I have Otosclerosis."

"How?"

"My mother, it's hereditary."

Grissom squinted as he concentrated on her lips. "Is there surgery or something? You can get help can't you?"

Grissom shook his head and Sara's eyes widened as she misinterpreted him. "No Sara. I. you're speaking too fast, slow down."

"You can't hear me now?" She asked slower.

Grissom smiled sadly. "No." He lowered his head and sighed. "Lets not talk about me." He looked up again and asked. "Did the doctor say your lung will get better?" Sara ignored his question and pulled a hand free from his. She softly ran the back of her hand down his cheek. He smiled a real smile. "I'm glad you're here." He said staring into her brown eyes.

"I've always been here Griss." Her hand traced his jaw round to his chin. Grissom slowly leaned forward. Sara's fingers lingered over his lower lip before sliding her hand to his neck as she leaned into him. Their lips met in the middle. The kiss was slow and gently at first. Grissom wrapped his arms around her, pulling her body to his not breaking the kiss.

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