Squeeze Through
June 22nd, 2004
Sara felt horrible as she sat in the waiting room of the hospital. She and Nick hadn't even turned the corner, Sara still watching the house in the rear view mirror, when the entire structure blew. Immediately, she grabbed Nick's arm with a loud gasp. Nick swung the car around, simultaneously reaching for his cell phone and dialling 911. The crews around the house were doing inventory, checking to see which of them were present and who may have been hit by the blast. Detective O'Reilly was crouched in the front yard over the prone body of a blond. Sara gasped again and rocketed out of the vehicle, her worst fears confirmed when the detective's sad eyes met hers.
"She's got a pulse, but its weak."
"Paramedics are on their way," Nick responded, remarkably cool. But Sara knew otherwise. She looked up into the sky for a moment to collect herself then back down at her colleague.
"Its my fault," she said softly. "I knew we shouldn't have left her here alone."
"Hey, sweetheart, it wasn't your fault. You didn't plant the bomb, you didn't make Catherine go into that house… honey, we didn't know it was going to happen. If we'd known…" Nick let the sentence trail off as he pulled Sara into his arms. O'Reilly looked at the two.
"Which one of you wants to call Gil?"
-
He'd never been so terrified in his life. He'd picked up her message on his cell after he'd finished with a rather smug looking Mr. Cabot and didn't think anything of it. He trusted her with crime scenes, why was this one any different. The second call he got from Nick froze him in the middle of the hallway.
"What?" he asked, his voice strangled.
"I'm sorry, Gris, we didn't know…"
"Where is she?"
"Desert Palms, in surgery. Doctor's say she's critical." There was silence on both ends for a few moments before Sara's voice floated over the connection.
"I'm sorry, Grissom, we didn't know… but God, there was so much blood," Sara said, her voice cut off on the end as he heard the slap of a hand over someone's mouth. He guessed Sara hadn't meant to say that. His shoulders sagged as he waited for Nick to take the phone back again.
"We're here now. Is there anything you want us to do?" Grissom was torn. Part of him wanted to rush out, to make sure she was still alive, but if she was in surgery, there was nothing he could do.
"I'm going to go pick up Lindsey. Just… stay with her?" Nick agreed willingly and Grissom hung up, telling Warrick the Reader's Digest version of the events that had transpired in the last half an hour. He left the young man in charge with instructions to ask Greg first, then call Sara and Nick if any new cases came in.
"Gris?" Grissom turned to the African-American.
"Call me when she's out?" Grissom nodded silently and left.
-
The secretary of Lindsey's school looked surprised when Grissom entered the office looking worse for wear.
"Can I help you sir?" she asked politely, quickly hiding her shock.
"I'm here to pick up Lindsey Willows. Her mother is in the hospital," he said monotonously, trying to keep the extreme sadness out of his voice.
"Sir?"
"Please? She deserves to know. I'll stay here while I tell her if you want, just… get her down here," Grissom pleaded. The secretary nodded and quickly got on the PA to call the young girl down. Lindsey's face lit up when she spotted Grissom.
"Uncle Gil!" she exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms. He hugged her tightly, reining back the tears that were threatening to explode. The love of his life, his fiancée, the woman he was to marry in two weeks, was in the hospital, quite possibly fighting for her life.
"Uncle Gil?" Lindsey's voice was questioning and he knew she knew something wasn't right as soon as their eyes met. He almost broke down there, looking into the eyes of a mini-Catherine Willows.
"Honey, your mommy was at a scene today…" he paused to collect himself again as her eyes went wide.
"No…" she whispered.
"She's still alive, but she's in critical condition at the hospital." He noticed some relief wash into Lindsey's eyes at the mention of the life still in her mother but almost cried with her when she launched herself into his arms sobbing.
"Sir?" It was the secretary holding out a clipboard and a pen.
"If you could just sign here that you've taken her, we can let her go." Grissom quickly did what he was asked and picked Lindsey up, carrying her shaking body to the car.
-
He was going through the motions but not feeling anything, and his gut was telling him Lindsey was doing the same. It had been an hour since Catherine had been taken into surgery and it was lunchtime. Nick and Sara, both much calmer than they had been originally, had bought them lunch, forcing them to the cafeteria to eat it. Grissom and Lindsey were on autopilot but alert, listening for any news on Catherine. A doctor approached the table.
"Hello, you wouldn't be here for a Miss Willows, would you?" Immediately Grissom and Lindsey jumped in with questions. The doctor held up his hands.
"She's stable though still unconscious. We got most of the splinters out of her and patched her up pretty good. She's got a broken arm from the fall and a sprained ankle, not to mention a pretty nasty concussion. She's one lucky lady. We're pretty sure she'll pull through." Grissom and Lindsey sagged in relief.
"Can we see her?" Lindsey asked. The doctor smiled at her.
"Of course…"
"Lindsey Willows." The doctor took Lindsey's hand.
"I'll show you up to her room," he said with a smile. Grissom stood as well and Lindsey caught his eye.
"Can Uncle Gil come too?" she asked in a small voice. The two men looked at each other.
"Of course he can. I'll take you both up there now, but I'm warning you it could be a shock." Grissom nodded his head and followed the doctor and Lindsey. He hated hospitals, a hatred that had re-manifested itself with the Lopez case last September. Even if it was Sara in the hospital and not Catherine.
Lindsey's steps slowed as the doctor indicated a room up ahead but she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and pushed onwards.
"Two at a time and for twenty minutes only." Grissom and Lindsey nodded, and the doctor opened the door to Catherine's room. Grissom had to hold in a gasp. She looked too fragile against the pillows and sheets with small cuts marring her face.
She's alive, Gil. Thank God she's alive, he told himself over and over again. She was alive and she was okay. His focus of attention shifted substantially when Lindsey grabbed his hand and squeezed tightly.
"I'm scared," she whispered quietly.
"It's okay, honey. The doctor said she'll make it out okay." It gave Lindsey more confidence to move up beside her mom.
"Mommy, it's Lindsey. Uncle Nick told me what happened at the house and that you rescued a little girl just like Bekki. It was very brave." She sniffled slightly. "Uncle Gil's here with me and we're both worried. We'll be back soon, when you wake up. I love you." She stepped back, allowing Grissom a chance to whisper the same sentiment in her ear. They both left the room.
I know it wasn't nice of me to leave you on the first half of this chapter… I just really felt mean at the time. Here's another one for you… I'm hoping to be almost done so I can move on to the third instalment… not sure how long this is going to be yet! Wish me luck! LOL.
Kavi Leighanna