Happy Enough by SLynn
Disclaimer: Any character you recognize, not mine.
Chapter 21: Agreement
What had felt like hours of struggling for breath had in reality only been about a minute, minute and a half. It was the quick thinking of one of the nurses that got Amy out of the room before she went into shock from the experience. She'd thought he was dead.
Once he was unconscious they had to act fast and put him on a ventilator. It had been close. Greg's throat was so swollen the attending doctor knew that if he didn't get the tube in the first time they'd have to give him a tracheotomy. He'd been lucky.
Grissom and Sara arrived as this was all taking place. Finding Amy, visible shaken, waiting in the reception area wasn't what they'd expected. She didn't have much information for them, but they could hear the commotion of it all just down the hallway. Sara found herself sinking down into a chair, unable to speak. Amy joined her, staring intently at the double doors that led towards Greg's room. Grissom alone remained standing, waiting for an answer.
Dr. Goodman joined them thirty minutes later.
"Mrs. Sanders," he said addressing Amy, earning an appraising look from both Sara and Grissom.
"No," Amy said shaking her head, "I'm not his wife. There wasn't time to tell you."
Dr. Goodman nodded his head.
"Mr. Sanders is going to be fine, but he'll stay in the ICU for the night as a precaution. He's on a ventilator to help him breath, but once the swelling has gone down in his throat it'll be removed and he'll be able to breath again on his own."
"What happened?" Amy asked.
"He's had an allergic reaction to the drug treatment. It's rare, but it has been known to happen. That coupled with an infection from the catheter sent his body into a mild shock. He's lost a lot of weight, his immune system is low, it all played a part. The body can only take so much before it shuts down."
Amy nodded, understanding part. She felt a bit too numb to really comprehend it all. Grissom had caught every word eagerly.
"Can we see him?" Sara asked, finding her voice at last.
"I'm afraid only immediate family can be allowed in right now. Are either of you related?"
"No," Grissom answered. "His parents are on their way right now."
Dr. Goodman thanked them but had to go. He needed to contact Dr. Tracey, Greg's physician, and recheck his ventilator before they moved him to the next floor. Sara, Amy and Grissom didn't have anything else to say.
Greg was awake again the next morning. He couldn't recall exactly what happened and was confused as he struggled a minute with a tube down his throat.
"Glad you're awake," came Dr. Tracey's familiar voice. "Don't try to talk. Give me a minute and we'll take this out."
Greg tried to relax as he was instructed on what he'd need to do to remove the ventilator. It entailed little more then exhaling forcefully, but it stung. He coughed a few times trying to make the feeling pass.
"Better?"
He nodded his approval.
Dr. Tracey explained what had happened. He was stable again, would be continuing on with treatment that day, but on a different medication. He was also now on anti-bodies to ward off further infection from the now removed catheter. She failed to mention to him that because of the anti-bodies he'd be taken off of the anti-depressants. Greg was proving to have a very unusual biological makeup, sensitive almost. So far he hadn't reacted well to any of the medicines they'd tried, and mixing two many was a wrong move.
Jeff and Maggie were in to visit him as soon as they were allowed. His mother was still upset, partially blaming herself for leaving him, but relief was evident in her eyes. His father seemed somber, which Greg found disturbing. Jeff Sanders had never been a somber man; he almost seemed like a stranger.
All other visitors had been held at bay until after his next treatment. He was closely monitored throughout and it seemed to go off without a hitch. Once more that evening, everyone had stopped by his room, but Greg still couldn't speak much so mostly they talked to each other.
Greg hadn't realized it then but during this time he fell asleep. He was exhausted. Dr. Tracey had said that he might be more lethargic on this particular treatment, but he hadn't thought she'd meant it in coma-like terms. He just hadn't been able to keep his eyes open, despite half a dozen people talking to and around him.
When he woke up, it was much darker out and much quieter. And he wasn't alone.
Greg saw her sitting beside his bed, her hand wrapped over his as she stared out the window he'd grown so fond of. Still unable to articulate much, he gently squeezed her fingers into the palm of his hand.
Sara turned and looked at him, briefly wiping her eyes with her free hand. She'd been crying. He'd never seen her like this, so affected by anything. Greg wanted to hold her and tell her it would all be alright, that he would make it alright for her, but he couldn't speak. Even if he could, he wasn't sure if he should. She'd never believe him.
Instead he sat up and motioned her in closer. She was hesitant, not sure what he was planning, but finally she sat down on the bed beside him.
"I told them the damn thing itched," he whispered hoarsely into her ear.
Sara looked at him in disbelief before laughing and crying all at once.
"That's not funny."
Greg laughed too, but it came out more like a bark. After a moment they both settled down, Sara once more composed and Greg glad he'd done something right.
"Don't do that again," she said seriously.
He mouthed the word 'promise' to her and made an 'x' across his heart. She grinned at him, tears once more in her eyes. Sara knew he could have died, almost died, and was having a hard time accepting that.
Not wanting to stop herself, she brought her hand to his face. Greg felt his heart flutter momentarily before he remembered to press down those thoughts. He kept telling himself that she was just worried as a friend because of what had happened. It wasn't anything more then that. Still, he knew that this was the closest they'd been to each other alone or otherwise since that night.
Sara hadn't noticed how close they'd gotten, how physically close they were to each other until she heard the door opening. They'd been inches apart until that moment and now she pulled back nearly jumping to her feet.
Greg's mother was back. She'd asked Sara to sit with him while her and Jeff stepped out, not wanting to leave him alone even sleeping. If she noticed anything odd about either of their demeanors upon her return she hadn't let on.
Sara stayed only long enough to say goodbye. Greg had never been so confused.
The next few days went by in a hurry. The latest treatment seemed to be working fine. Greg decided against fighting off the drowsiness and just slept when the mood hit. He was still doing the therapy thing twice a week, which was going well. Greg managed to keep himself pretty well occupied despite being virtually confined to bed.
After another week his father had to get back to work. Greg was sorry to see him go, they hadn't talked much while he'd been there. They hadn't had much opportunity. Jeff Sanders promised to visit his son again soon and had already scheduled in a trip that would bring him back in three weeks, about the time Greg would know the results of his next bone marrow test.
Maggie Sanders stayed an additional week to see him through the entire four week treatment. She too had work to attend to, although if Greg had asked she'd have quit her job if he needed her. But he hadn't. He had liked having her there, it had been a valuable comfort during some rough times, but he also liked his space. His mother was a bit overprotective and he needed to do this on his own.
Greg had almost been in the hospital for two months before he was released. He knew it was only temporary, but it felt good. Nick picked him up at noon and drove him back to his own apartment. They joked the whole way there and it almost seemed like nothing had ever gone wrong.
Nick had tried to talk him into allowing a few people to be there and meet him at his apartment the day he got out, but Greg had resisted. He just wanted some privacy more then anything. Nick had understood, but said he couldn't promise people wouldn't stop by anyway. Greg knew this was too true to argue, but hoped he'd at least have a few hours to himself.
Nick had stayed long enough to help him unload his things. Greg's apartment, no doubt owing to his mother's stay, was immaculate. She'd cleaned everything five times over at least. Nick had laughed when Greg remarked that it was cleaner then the hospital. They said quick goodbyes and Greg let the quiet sink in around him. It hadn't lasted long.
Amy stopped by. She apologized for doing it, but she wanted to see him. Greg smiled as she blushed at this; she hadn't meant it to come out like that. Again he was always amazed at how easy talking to her could be. He hadn't had the chance since their last encounter, something she was hesitant to bring up. Greg did it for her.
"I never thanked you, did I? You probably saved my life. Where did you learn those breathing techniques, you're not asthmatic are you?"
"No," she said a bit hesitantly, "and you don't have to thank me. I'm just glad… don't thank me."
"Well?" he asked, after she'd stopped short.
"Oh, the breathing. Yeah, well my mom's an OB, I use to go to her classes at night and…"
"You had me doing Lamaze?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"I can't believe you," he said with a laugh.
"I'm sorry; it was the first thing I thought to do."
"Very reassuring in times of crisis. Good thing I wasn't bleeding, you would have tried to check my cervix."
"You don't have a cervix."
"That's my point."
Amy and Greg enjoyed a good laugh before she decided she should go. Just as she got to the door, before they'd actually said goodbye, it hit him.
"Do you think you could stay a little longer?" he asked. He suddenly didn't want to be alone. The abrupt quiet had unnerved him and Amy had such a nice laugh. He wanted to hear it again.
"Sure," she said, taking off her jacket and heading back to the couch.
"I thought I wanted to be alone, privacy after all that time, but I think I've been alone long enough."
Amy nodded in agreement. She knew exactly how he felt.