Title: Ripples in the Water

Author: Evidence

Chapter: 10

Rating: PG-13

Author's Notes: The medical information is pretty factual and now you begin to see how Dylan is different from other children.  Thanks for reading!

Many of his clothes were now hanging back in the closet brushing Sara's slacks and shirts.  He had fixed up Sara's bed so that when she came home this afternoon she could lay down and relax.  Dylan was on a high enjoying every minute with his father.  Grissom had splurged on a bike for him although Dylan couldn't ride it.  They had practiced for two days but even with training wheels, Dylan's loose motor control would not keep him upright.  Something else to stick in the garage alongside the roller skates, fishing pole, and various other toys Dylan could not use.

The doorbell rang interrupting Grissom's tweaking of the house.

"Thank you," Grissom said receiving a beautiful mum plant from the deliveryman.

Grissom knew he hadn't sent it to Sara.  Hum, maybe Nick and Tina or Warrick?  Could be Brass.  Probably Catherine.

Grissom slid the card out of its envelope.  It read: "You get well soon.  I have some more information for you.  Call me. Eric."

His breath caught in this throat and he had to tell himself to breathe.  Eric, Eric St. John, the man who called Sara, Sara's ex.  Gaining some composure Grissom thought for a moment.  This was not a romantic message and he had information for her.  What was going on?

Sara's face was bright even though she was still in a lot of pain.  "I am ready to go home." 

Grissom entered the room and grabbed her bag from the closet.  "You look wonderful, Sara.  You've made excellent progress."

"Thanks.  You've been a big part of that."  A blush shown on her cheeks.

Grissom put his hands on the wheelchair.  "Shall we?"

"Please, push away."

At the Tahoe Sara pushed herself up from the chair.  She could walk but seeing the hip had a chunk of bone missing from it walking was rather limping.  Grissom put his arm around her waist and helped her into the passenger seat.

It was strange to be touching her again.  It felt like they were starting all over when one touch meant so much.

Grissom started the Tahoe and decided to jump right into the questions nagging at his mind.  "Sara, I have something to ask you.  You received a plant from Eric St. John.  Are you still involved with him?"

Sara quickly turned her head causing pain to shoot through her body.  "No, I've never had an affair with him!  What would give you that idea."

"The day I left he called you.  Then you confirmed the affair to Brass."

She rubbed her head.  "I lied to Brass."

"What?"  He nearly swerved into oncoming traffic.

"I wanted to make you hurt like I was so I lied.  I've never slept with anyone else since we started dating.  Eric has been helping with another issue."

"Something you couldn't tell me?"

"Yes, Eric is a psychologist who specializes in the treatment of people who close themselves off from the world. He recently moved into an office in Henderson.  I contacted him hoping he could help me with…you."  Her voice was soft.

Thoughts swirled in Grissom's brain.  One major reason for the separation had been the affair.  Sara felt she needed help to deal with him?

"I love you Griss but sometimes you are so hard to understand.  I needed someone to tell me that was normal for you.  I needed to be reassured."

"You could have asked me."

"No, I couldn't have not the way you were acting."

She was right, he never told her now he was feeling how did he expect her to reveal the same information to him?  "I'm glad you didn't have an affair."

She rubbed at her sore hip.  "Is this strange?"

"What?"

"You taking care of me after we have been separated this long?"

"I guess it's different…not like we are married but not like we don't know each other well."

Sara chuckled.  "Some weird middle ground."

"Yeah."

After a quick snack consisting of a wheat-free cracker (Grissom couldn't understand how she act such things), Sara was already drained and Dylan was still at school.  Grissom put his arm around her and helped her to bed.  He gently laid her down on the turned over sheets reminiscent of times past.

Her eyes were flickering, starting to sleep but not wanting to.  "Grissom…"

"Shh, you sleep.  I'll be in the next room if you need me."

He watched her drift away and went back to clean up the kitchen.

The first days were the hardest for Sara.  Grissom had to help with dressing and showering her; the pain was too great in her back and hip for her to move much on her on.  Stiffness ran through her entire body.  It felt odd for both of them to be so close with Grissom helping her with this and that but to be so far away. 

Grissom relished the fact of being needed.  Sara had always been so independent but she needed him now to do simple things until she improved. 

Grissom had taken three weeks out of work- something very unique for him.  He spent all this time at the house with Sara or bringing Dylan here and there.  He felt happy again and didn't even mind being away from his job.  For once his family took complete precedence over being a CSI. 

Sara had also a chance over this time to divulge further in Grissom's psyche.  She learned more about his past and who he was.  They were sharing a deeper connection than they had previously over the span of time they had known each other.  But something was different; they had already put themselves in hell and somehow were coming back from it.  Sara no longer worried that saying something to Grissom might upset him, he had upset her enough as it was.  Grissom felt freer to share his feelings after he had let many private kept thoughts slip out during their fights.

Being apart was in a way putting them closer together.  They weren't as careful around each other because of that water under the bridge so they were more able to be honest.  Honesty was something new to Grissom even though he would never admit it.  He was no liar but by keeping his feelings close to his heart he unintentionally had lied many times.  This "new Grissom" wasn't trying to hold anything back for he had already lost Sara and was now just trying to find his place in her life.

It was the last day of Grissom's leave.  Sara was now able to get around and change on her own but her clothes needed to be baggy.  It had been a wonderful three weeks.

Dylan had been to bed for a few hours when Sara's eyes began closing.  "It's bedtime for someone," Grissom said with a smile.

Sara yawned.  "Yeah, at least I can get there on my own now."

She started up but Grissom followed.  "Let me make sure you don't trip on anything and undue all the good that's been done."

"Okay," she said with a laugh and gently put herself in bed.

"Do you want to change?" Grissom asked referring to the sweats she had worn all day.

She shook her head and closed her eyes.  She felt his presence and reopened them.  He was looking at her biting his lip.  She knew what he was hesitantly asking.  "Get in." Sara moved the cover.

He took off his shoes and placed himself next to her.  He spent all the other nights on the couch but he just felt the need to be closer to her.  He put his hand in hers and watched her fall to sleep.

The office building was white sandstone.  Grissom scanned the names on the building plaque until he found the one he was looking for.  The elevator rode smoothly up to the fifth floor as Bach played in the background.  Grissom exited at his destination walking over to a friendly looking receptionist. 

"Excuse me," He said with a slight smile, "I have an appointment with Dr. St. John."

To be continued…