Hey guys. Very very sorry this has taken me so long to do. I was having trouble writing – damn Muse wasn't playing ball. I knew what I wanted to write and I know where the story is going but I just couldn't get it down on paper – I hate days like that. All my Muse wanted to do was play in Harry Potter land. Anyway, *Slaps wrist* I'll try and be a good girl and write some more and not leave big gaps between writing this.
Anonymous: Thank you for the reply. G/C romance? There's a sort of romance between them but it's hard to explain what I've done so you'll just have to wait and read. I don't want to give any secrets away yet!
Jnp: Thank you!!!! You made my day when I read this. I'm glad you think I have guts for doing stories like this, I wasn't sure what people would think.
G/C Fan: Thank you for your comments, very much appreciated.
Barb: Sorry for making you wait! Hope you can forgive me, and I hope you like this small instalment.
Leddy: Well, here ya are, Grissom slowly recovering. Got a logn way to go yet though. ;-)
And a huge thanks to everyone else who has reviewed this so far. I'll mention you in the next chapter if you review my work, pretty please?
Anyway, here's another chapter for all you guys out there and please please review because I'd like to know what you think. It still has quite a way to go yet!
Chapter Nine – Waking Moments
Two weeks later...
Things have changed so much since the day Jade arrived back in Las Vegas. That was a month ago now and Jade was trying to move on with her life. She was now practically living with Warrick; was working part time at the lab and was trying not to spend all her free time at the hospital. She'd been coping quite well so far but today wasn't going to be a good day and she knew it. It was her Graduation day.
Picking up the two mugs of coffee, she moved into the living area and handed Warrick his mug. She slumped down on the couch next to him, putting her mug on the table and curled up beside him. He put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder slowly. They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, Warrick reading the paper as he sipped his drink. Jade sat there looking out of the window.
"I can't believe it's my Graduation today."
"Mm?" He looked up from the paper. "Oh."
He wasn't sure what to say to that.
"But it wouldn't have been right without Grissom there."
"Well, maybe when Grissom's better we can have a little graduation party of our own. And you know you've still graduated even though you're not there."
"I know. It's just that he'd have been so proud – seeing me standing up there receiving it officially."
"He's already proud – with or without the Ph.D. He was always proud of you. Just like I am."
Jade smiled and let him pull her back in.
"You know I love you, right?"
"I know – you've told me about 20 times a day for the past two weeks." She joked. "Don't stop."
She told him.
"I love you." She smiled. "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I Lo – "
She punched him playfully in the chest, laughing. He grabbed her and wrestled her onto her back on the couch, laughing with her. Pinning her down he looked her in the eye.
"I love you."
He whispered seriously. She smiled gently at him again.
"I love you too."
She lifted her head and kissed him.
*****
Dr. Jack Martins looked down at his list of patients for the next in line, said goodbye to Mrs. Caldwell with the heart defect, and left the room. He moved down the corridor, checking his notes on Gil Grissom briefly before entering his room.
"Good afternoon Mr. Grissom – how are we today?"
He checked the machines and wrote a few notes down on the file.
"Same as normal I see. Well, at least you're not any worse."
He was just turning around to leave when a small movement caused him to stop. Grissom's finger had moved. He looked up to see his eyes flutter.
"Well, it certainly took you long enough. Welcome back into the land of the living, Mr. Grissom."
He smiled as Grissom's eyes opened for a moment.
"Jade's gonna be ecstatic to see you awake at last."
Grissom's eyes moved to the silent moving mouth, then closed slowly, falling into a peaceful sleep.
*****
Jade was pulled from her dream by the sound of the phone ringing. She moaned and nudged Warrick who also moaned.
"Phone."
She moaned again. He groaned in response.
"You get it, I'm sleeping."
She hit him in the side and leaned across him to grab the phone.
"Yeah...?"
She mumbled.
"Jade? It's Jack. Jack Martins."
"Jack?"
Suddenly she was wide awake, rubbing her eyes.
"What is it? Is Gil okay? Is he alright?"
Warrick turned to look at her when she said her Godfathers name.
"Jade – he woke up."
She sat bolt up.
"What? Really? Is he okay? Has he said something?"
"He's fine. He woke up for a moment, then fell asleep. He'll probably sleep for a while, but he is out of the coma."
Jade closed her eyes, an overwhelming relief sweeping through her.
"Jade? Jade, what's going on?"
Warrick asked. She ignored him for the moment.
"We'll be there soon."
She put the phone down before the doctor could reply. Warrick looked expectantly at her, waiting for an answer.
"Gil woke up. He's out of the coma."
Warrick looked relieved and watched Jade jump out of the bed and grab her jeans, then followed at a slower pace.
"What else did they say?"
"Not much. Just that he woke and now he's sleeping."
She quickly ran a brush through her hair and pulled it back.
Within five minutes they were both ready and Warrick grabbed his keys.
"I'll drive."
He told her. She didn't argue and jumped into the passenger seat.
They made it to the hospital in record time and Warrick had to power walk to keep up with Jade as she marched down the corridors and up the stairs after getting impatient because she had to wait more than ten seconds for the lift.
"Jack!"
Jade suddenly shouted, spotting the Doctor coming out of a nearby room. He jumped slightly and turned, giving her a smile when he realised who it was.
"How is he? Is he alright? Is he awake yet?"
She questioned him without breath. Jack put his hand up to silence her.
"Calm down, he's fine. He's still asleep which is something he's likely to do a lot of over the next few days – but he is out of the coma. We've still got a few tests to perform but him waking up is a very good sign. But we won't know about his mental state yet."
Jade looked hopeful, even though she knew the risks of brain damage from the coma.
"Can we go sit with him?"
Jack nodded.
"Sure you can. If he wakes, just press the call button."
Jade nodded and, grabbing Warrick's hand she pulled him down the corridor towards Grissom's room.
She entered to see that some of the equipment had gone. He was no longer on life support, and he just had a mask over his face rather than the large tube down his throat. She smiled at being able to see more of his face than she had done in weeks and took the seat right next to the bed as usual. Warrick stood behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll go and call the others, tell them the good news."
She merely nodded, her gaze never leaving her guardian, and he smiled and left.
*****
Hearing the phone ring, Catherine strode into the office and picked it up.
"Willows."
"Hey Cath, it's Warrick."
She could hear the smile in his voice, and felt a small spring of hope bounce in her stomach.
"Hey Warrick, something up?"
"Grissom's out of the coma. He woke up about an hour ago, we're down at the hospital now."
Catherine's stomach completely flipped and she beamed.
"Is he ok? Has he said anything yet?"
"No, he's sleeping right now. The Doc said he'd do that a lot."
"But he'll be ok?"
"They said it's a good sign that he's awake but they don't know how he is properly yet. Mentally I mean. But he's woken up and that's the main thing."
"You'll let us know when he wakes, right? Tell us how's he's doing?"
"Of course I will."
"Thanks, I'd better go and tell the others – they'll be so pleased."
"I'm sure they will. Laters."
"Bye."
She hung up and headed to the lab to find the others. She spotted Nick and Sara inside with Greg and entered.
"Hey Cath."
Sara said, glancing at her, then turning back to Greg.
"He woke up."
Catherine said, unable to keep the news to herself. They all stared at her for a moment before Nick replied.
"Grissom? He's awake?!"
"Well, he's out of the coma, but the Doc's say he'll sleep for a while. They don't know the full extent of his mental state yet but it's a good sign that he woke up."
Sara yelped with happiness and hugged Catherine, who looked stunned for a moment but returned the hug. Greg and Nick high-fived.
"He's going to be okay."
Sara smiled as she pulled away from Cath.
"Yes he is."
She smiled back.
There ya are. More coming sooner than last time, I hope!!!!!