Blindsided

Chapter Six

Life with Catherine wasn't as bad she thought it would be, Sara decided two weeks into her stay while she readied for bed. Turns out, Catherine's was quite the Super Mom/ Martha Stewart type. She was like a Soccer Mom with a streetwise edge. And Lindsey was just adorable!

Catherine cooked, cleaned, baked cookies for Lindsey's Girl Scout Troop, attended PTA meetings, repaired minor plumbing problems and still managed to sleep and show up for work looking like she stepped off of a magazine cover. Sara developed a whole new respect for her co-worker. Meanwhile, Sara's days and nights were less eventful.

At night while the team was at work, Sara babysat Lindsey, though she had a sneaking suspicion that Lindsey was babysitting her. Sara thought that she would be uncomfortable around the little girl, but she quickly found that to be not true. When Lindsey drifted to sleep, Sara would text message the guys, research on the net or e-mail Grissom.

After shift, everyone would stop over, each one taking turns springing for breakfast. Eventually, when the nightshift would meander home, Lindsey got off to school and Catherine settled in to sleep, Sara would spend hours instant messaging with Grissom.

Physically, Sara was frustrated. She was now only able to hear high pitched sounds in one ear while the other offered no change. Thankfully, the 'underwater' sounds ceased but the ringing was intermittent.

She was able to maneuver about the house with relatively less pain and only occasional dizziness. Fortunately, this meant that Sara was able to scale back on her pain medication. The guest bedroom was conveniently located next to the bathroom, so getting there was never an issue. Not to mention that Catherine had basically child-proofed the house for she and Grissom - who by the way had graduated to a walking cast.

Communicating had become increasingly aggravating and tiresome, so Grissom began to teach Sara, Catherine and Lindsey Sign Language. Resistant to the idea initially, Sara soon realized that learning to sign did not mean that she was giving up hope of a full recovery. Signing was practical, fun and something to do while her body slowly healed. Very slowly healed. It was a bonus that Grissom was their teacher.

Emotionally, Sara was all over the place. She almost broke down into tears one morning when she learned that Greg, Warrick, Nick and Brass had started taking Sign Language classes at the local community college on Saturday mornings.

Her friendship with Grissom was progressing well, a little slow for Sara's taste but going well none the less. There were plenty of held glances, blushing, major personal space violations and touching. While it was nice, Sara was ready to move on to the main course but she didn't want to rush Grissom, now that he 'knew what to do' about them. She would give him two more weeks, when he got his cast off, to make a move on her or she would take matters into her own hands.

In the back of Sara's mind though, there was always an unexplainable feeling of impending doom. Maybe some lingering depression. Maybe. Being unhappy for so long, Sara thought maybe she was just being pessimistic and chastised herself for trying to sabotage her attempt for happiness. But, she couldn't help wonder how Grissom would react if her hearing loss became permanent. His Mother was deaf, of this she learned recently. Unlike Sara's injury, Mrs. Grissom's loss was also gradual, she had time to adjust. Grissom wrote that his Mother was a strong and independent woman but that really gave her no clue about his feelings on the matter.

And what about work? At the moment, she was on temporary Disability. Talk about a blow to the ego! Sara knew that if she didn't return to work one hundred percent, she would not be permitted into the field. Hell, with limited hearing and unsteady feet, she was a risk being in the lab. What would she do? She supposed she could find work in another section of the lab -perhaps research. That would mean she would never work with the Catherine and the guys again. She would never see Grissom. Even if their friendship progressed into a real relationship, their work as CSIs was demanding and time consuming. There would little time for them. She was loosing him before they ever got started!

Sara was on the road to hyperventilation. She needed to calm down. One step at a time. She was scheduled to see the doctor in another week. She'd have her hearing checked again and probably be able to go home. One step at a time.

Catherine's home, the next day…

Nick smiled to himself as he watched Sara and Grissom speak quietly amongst themselves on the living room couch. Getting the pair together for had definitely been a good idea. Besides, they obviously needed some alone time.

"Uh, guys?" Nick interrupted their playful banter. They leaned away from one another almost guiltily. "I'm just going to run a few errands, if that's okay with you?"

"Oh, uh, that's fine. We'll be fine." Grissom answered smiling. His thoughts heading into a more intimate direction immediately.

"That's what I thought." Nick commented smugly. "Be back in two hours." Then left the two scientists to their own devices.

"I think Nick has the wrong idea." Sara deduced as the front door closed.

I don't think that he does. Grissom finger spelled, moving close to her.

"Seriously, we don't want him getting the wrong impression about us. Once those rumors hit the lab-."

You're doing it again. Moving even closer until their legs and shoulders touched.

"Doing what?" She questioned breathlessly, cocking her head to one side. The perfect angle as far as Grissom was concerned.

Over talking.

A response was not required as Grissom's mouth descended upon Sara's. His lips were softer that Sara could have ever imagined. They moved slowly over her own as if testing the waters. His hesitancy was not necessary. Sara reached up and buried her fingers into his soft curls then pulled his head closer, sealing their mouths. Parting her lips, Grissom's eager tongue snaked it's way into her mouth. Their tongues continued to dance as their hands began to explore one another.

Sara groaned out loud as Grissom's large hand cupped her breast through her blouse. Taking his hand into hers, Sara gently removed his hand from her breast and slid it down then back up the same distance, this time underneath the garment. In no time, he pushed the bra up, revealing her mounds. It was Grissom's turn to groan as his hand made contact with her soft skin. Sara smiled as she felt the vibrations from Grissom's chest. She strained forward to give him better access and began trailing wet kisses down the side of his neck.

His position becoming more uncomfortable, Grissom broke apart momentarily to kneel on his good knee, pulled Sara more towards him and away from the end of the couch. Getting back to the task at hand, he fastened his lips to her breast, fulfilling at least part of his many fantasies that involved Sara.

She felt like she was falling. Lost in the wonderful sensations Grissom's mouth was creating, Sara closed her eyes and leaned back. That was a mistake. Moving too quickly with her eyes closed gave Sara the sensation of falling. Her eyes shot open as she grabbed Grissom's shirt for leverage. Grissom pulled back abruptly, noticing her tension.

"Sara?" He questioned.

His sudden movement made Sara's stomach lurch. "I think I'm going to be sick!"

Sara scrambled, trying to right her clothing and untangle her self from Grissom. Her jerky movements only acerbated the nausea and dizziness as she staggered from the couch. Grissom struggled to stand as he watched Sara sway wildly. Finally to his feet, he guided or they helped balance one another enough, rather, to make it to the bathroom. Not a moment too soon as Sara lost her lunch.

Holding onto the sink with one hand, He moved around and wet a washcloth for Sara.

"Thanks." Sara said wiping her mouth. "Sorry about that."

Grissom smiled, then offered his hand to assist her up from the floor of the small bathroom.

Taking Grissom's hand, Sara moved to stand. What could only be described as a cymbal solo from hell began to play in her ears. She shook her head to stop the violent clamor going on inside of it but instantly regretted the action.

Loosing all since of balance, Sara grabbed onto Grissom's other hand as the room began to spin. Unfortunately, Grissom's hand slipped easily from the wet sink, leaving them both teetering. Sara was the first to go down. Holding onto the shower curtain for dear life, he stretched out to hold her but gravity won. He watched in horror as her head smacked the corner of the sink.

The shower curtain gave, sending him careening backwards. He hit the wall then the floor hard as his foot got caught in a small space between the tub and sink.

Lying still to catch his breathe, he took in the scene. Sara had fallen face down near the door. Unconscious.

His arm hurt like hell and he couldn't reach Sara with his cast wedged. Grissom would have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious. Nick wouldn't be back for another hour. What to do now?