A few more hours passed before there was any official word on Greg or Beth's condition. Brass had brought the three CSIs to their homes and then returned to the hospital. He had been waiting with Catherine and Grissom for a while, until finally, a doctor in a white lab coat entered the waiting room. Catherine, Grissom, and Brass all gave the man their undivided attention.
"Hello folks. My name is Dr. Turner, and I have some good news." Grissom felt as though a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. "Ms. Morstan has made it through her surgery and is going to be fine. She's being moved as we speak." The doctor paused and all three of the experienced CSIs caught it.
"And Greg?" Grissom asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
"Mr. Sanders is still in the ER. It looks as though he'll pull through, but there is still a chance that he might not."
"Thank you Dr. Turner. When will be able to see Beth?"
"You can see her now, but she's under heavy medication and shouldn't be awake for a few more hours." Catherine, Brass, and Grissom expressed their thanks and followed Dr. Turner into a white room. The room was more sterile than the labs at the crime lab. In the midst of the brightness, was the pale still form of Beth Morstan. While Brass and Catherine pulled chairs up beside Beth's bed, Grissom stepped outside the room to make a phone call.
"Stokes."
"Nick, it's Grissom. Beth just came out of surgery. She's going to be fine."
"Gris, that's great. When can we see her?"
"Well, right now she's sleeping off the drugs. They don't expect her to wake up for a few hours. But Catherine and Jim are in there with her now."
"I'll call Sara and Warrick and we'll be over shortly." There was a pause. "How's Greg?"
"Greg is still in surgery, but we were told that it looks like he's going to make it. There's still a chance that he won't, but the doctors are optimistic."
"Well, it's good to hear that his odds are looking up. I have to admit Grissom; I was getting really nervous there for a while."
"I think we all were Nick. Can you call the others and let them know? I'm going to see how Beth's doing."
"Yea, I'll call them. Thanks Gris." Grissom hung up the phone and re-entered Beth's room. Catherine and Brass were watching her as she slept, while whispering words of comfort and encouragement to her. Grissom took a seat beside Catherine and thought about how close he had come to losing two of his closest friends.
Nick, Sara, and Warrick arrived at the hospital within the half hour. They found Beth's room and went to join Catherine, Grissom, and Brass. The three younger CSIs had made a pit stop on the way to the hospital and had bought some flowers, a card, and picked up a framed picture of the night-shift. They set the three items on the small table beside her bed and waited.
It had been an hour since Nick, Sara, and Warrick had arrived and Grissom was feeling the weight of the evening. He had come crashing down off of an adrenaline rush and he was having a hard time focusing. He fell asleep once, and as he drifted, he began to dream. He began to remember the events of the evening. He saw Greg lying in a pool of his own blood, and then he watched the madman shoot Beth all over again. He jolted awake when he heard the gunshot. He was breathing hard and he was sweating. Catherine saw the whole thing. "Gil, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure." Grissom made no effort to move.
"Outside." Catherine stood up and left the room, waiting for Grissom to follow. He soon joined her and shut the door behind him. "Gil, I have no idea what you went through or what you saw, but I do know that you're not doing yourself any good, sitting here, reliving the moment every time you close your eyes. Why don't you go over to my house and take a cold shower or something, maybe clear your mind."
"Thanks Catherine, but-"
"No 'buts', Gil. I want you to go. Catch a cab and I'll call you when we hear anything about Greg." Catherine had efficiently blocked Grissom's re-entry into the room, so he had no choice but to leave. Before he left, he gave Catherine a hug.
"Thank you Catherine. Thanks for everything."
"You're welcome Gil." She watched him leave and her heart went out to him. It had been a horrendous night for him, and he needed to digest it. After he was out of sight, she returned to the room and joined her friends.