Sara was sitting beside Bobby's bed. They were each taking turns tossing playing cards towards the bedpan sitting on the far end of the bed.
"So you really think this is fun?" asked Sara. She had yet to get a single card into the bedpan. Bobby on the other hand was having much better luck. Of course, he had several more decades of practice.
"Sure. My grandpa used to sit on his front porch in his favorite chair and do this for hours. I would love to sit with him and talk about life. Plus, what else can I do when I am stuck here?"
"I could read you another crime novel."
Bobby groaned. "I don't know how you can read those things. Don't you deal with enough death? A young person like you should have more diverse interests. Take up knitting, or something."
Sara smiled with amusement. "Knitting? Are you serious? I'm not exactly the domestic type."
"Well, alright. I
suppose young people don't see knitting as 'cool.' How about break dancing?"
Sara burst out laughing. "Maybe we should stick to board games and cards," she said.
"I suppose that is for the best. We wouldn't want you breaking something and ending up as a patient here, too," said Bobby, winking.
"So," said Sara, leaning to pick up the cards from the end of the bed and handing half of them to Bobby. "We are supposed to sit and talk about 'life' while doing this?"
"Yup."
"Ok. So, Bobby, what is your favorite memory?"
"This one," he replied.
Sara looked at him, her surprise evident on her face. "Your favorite memory from 99 years of living is sitting in a hospital tossing cards at a bedpan?"
"Right now it is always the best. My favorite memory is generally the one I am living at the moment. Think of it like living in the moment, to the extreme. When you are really living a moment, you can appreciate it so much more than later when you are simply remembering it. This exact moment can never really be recreated or remembered exactly right, so you need to appreciate it now. If you look hard enough, there is something wonderful to cherish in every moment, even the difficult ones. Something good, knowledge, growth, or even a relationship, grows out of every moment. Most people couldn't stand being stuck in a hospital bed. But I look for the good in the situation. It's not everyday that an old fart like me gets to sit and talk with a beautiful young woman such as yourself."
Sara smiled and blushed. "Well, a few more weeks of this and I might actually get one single card in the bedpan." She again gathered the cards from the end of the bed so her and Bobby could resume their activity.
"What is your favorite memory?" asked Bobby.
"Oh, I don't know. I don't think that I have a favorite."
"Of course you do. You wouldn't have asked me a question that you didn't already have your own answer for."
Sara looked up at Bobby, amazed at what that man could see. He had only known her for a few days, and already he seemed to know her so well.
"Ok, how about if I say that right now is my favorite memory?"
"That would be cheating. You would just be copying me. Try again."
"I don't know. Every time I solve a case I have a new favorite memory. The moment that I find the clue that locks up a case, I feel a wonderful high take over my senses. Those are all favorite memories."
"Too easy. Sara, one thing you need to learn is that not everything is about work. Try again."
Sara frowned. This man was good. She looked across the room at Grissom, lying still on the bed. "Can my favorite memory be yet to come?" she asked. "I think my favorite memory will be when Grissom wakes up again."
Bobby threw his last card and put his hand on Sara's arm. "And that, my dear, is a wonderful favorite memory."
Sara sighed and looked down at her lap. Out of the corner of her eye she saw one card left, stuck under her leg. She pulled it free and looked at it. The two of hearts. How ironic, she thought. 'Two hearts' were exactly what had been occupying her mind since the accident. Her heart, and Grissom's heart. She glanced up and tossed the card towards the end of the bed. It landed dead center in the bedpan. A perfect shot. Her first win. Just as she was about to celebrate her victory with Bobby, she heard a soft moan from across the room. She looked over at Grissom, and held her breath. Could it be? Is it possible that she just heard what she thought she heard? As if in answer, Grissom slowly slid his hand up to his chest, and moaned again.