He turned to face her , but, didn't speak, he appeared to be grief stricken.
"It's bad isn't it, she wasn't sure who, she stepped on the gas.
The Camaro was totaled, the paramedics were tearing the roof off. He hurried toward the car, Sara close on his heels. Brass stepped in front of him, stopping his progress briefly.
The look Grissom gave Brass told his friend there was no stopping him, "Gil, let them get her out of there," Jim could see this was more than a routine crime scene for his friend. He managed to stop Sara, to tell her the particulars of the scene. They watched him make his way to the mangled wreckage.
"The Camaro was sideswiped by an SUV. The witnesses said it ran her into the lightstandard, and sped off swerving all over the road, possibly drunk. We've got a partial plate broadcasted. We'll find it and get that driver," Brass filled Sara in still keeping an eye on his friend.
"Who's in the car," she had never seen Grissom as distraught as this.
"I don't know, Sara. I'm pretty sure he does," Brass could tell, Gil knew who the lady in the car was, he was just not sure how.
Grissom got to the car as they were laying her on the stretcher. Her beautiful blue-green eyes were open and somehow found his. He took her hand in his, the paramedic tried to stop him, but the look Grissom gave him change his mind.
He turned away from her long enough to holler at Brass and Sara, "get whoever did this." He got in the ambulance.
"Jim, what's going on here," Sara couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. If she didn't know better she would think Grissom had feelings for the lady he got in the ambulance with.
"I think we just found out something about Gil no one else knows. Lets wait and see before we start any unwarranted rumors," Brass could see the shock in Sara's expression. "I'm calling in the rest of the team to process this scene."
Sara grabbed her kit and got to work, thoughts of what she had just seen swimming around in her mind.
Angela was conscience the whole way to the hospital. Except for the nasty cut on her forehead and all the blood she seemed fine.
"I love you, darlin', you're going to be fine," he had told her this several times during the trip. Squeezing her hand in gentle reassurance, he was truly scared. Grissom couldn't handle the idea of losing his beautiful lady love.
Just as they wheeled Angela into examination room, he was forced to let go of her hand, "Gil, I love you, forever." It was so faint he hardly heard her, it was all she had said. His heart was torn and bleeding, the thoughts of losing her were tearing him apart.
The nurse showed him where he could wait and gave him the usual papers to fill out. He was numb, couldn't think, pictures of the events that had just passed weighed heavy on his mind. Her beautiful face and long blonde hair covered in blood, her blood was foremost in his mind. When he finally focused, seeing his hands covered in her blood was the last straw, the tears, that he was desperate to hold back, finally fell from his eyes to leave their stains on his handsome face.
He didn't even notice someone had sat down beside him. "Gil," no response. She put her hand tenderly on his shoulder, "Gil," Catherine was worried about her friend.
He slowly turned toward the familiar voice, a haunted look on his face, eyes full of fear, tear stains evident, "Cath,....why?"
She put a comforting arm around him, yet like everyone else she was uncertain as to why her dear friend was such a basket case. She didn't believe what Jim and Sara had related to her, but, now it all seemed to be true, "Talk to me, Gil. I'm here for you," he had been there for her when Eddie beat on her, she was finally able to repay that in some way.
His dead serious stare through eyes that continued to tear up, told Catherine how deeply his feelings for the woman he awaited news on went. Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, "I love her Catherine. Don't let them take her from me, she's my whole world." His eyes glazed over, he looked to be miles away.
"Gil, no one's going to take anyone from you. I'm sorry, but, I really don't know who you are talking about." Catherine had never heard such desperation in Grissom's voice, she was scared for him, yet the curious part of her wanted to know who the mysterious woman was, that he just openly professed his love for. "Talk to me Gil. I can't help you if you don't talk to me."
That almost brought him completely back to this plane of existence. "I'm sorry, nobody knows, but, Angela....her name is Angela, we have been together for about ten years now. I love her, I couldn't handle it if I lost her. She's been in there an awful long time, why...why... We're happy," just when it looked like he was going to collapse back in on himself, the doctor came out to talk to him.
"Mr. Grissom, she keeps asking for you. She's lost a lot of blood, but, there are no internal injuries. She has a concussion and we're going to keep her here for twenty four hours observation, it's standard hospital procedure for any head trauma. You can see her now, she is still groggy , and we gave her something for the pain. She's very lucky, Mr. Grissom." The doctor turned and walked away.
Grissom gave Catherine a quick hug, and went to see Angela, leaving Catherine standing there with her mouth hanging open.
He peered down on her drying the tears from his eyes. She seemed to be in peaceful sleep, he was always amazed by her beauty. Taking her hand gently in his, giving a silent prayer of thanks for sparing her life, and allowing him the opportunity to make their lives together right.
Grissom met her eyes that were lovingly caressing his face. "Hi, darlin', how are you? I'm so sorry you should be at work," she was still a little groggy from the whole ordeal.
"Don't worry about me, I'm covered. The only thing that matters right now is that you're going to be alright. You scared the heck out of me," his tone was teasing as a sweet smile spread across his face. He kissed her hand first on the back and then the palm, enjoying the warmth of her skin. Finally leaning down he placed a soft kiss on her forehead that was bandaged.
She reached up to caress the soft bearded cheek she loved so much, "Gil, I love you. I'm sorry I scared you," she pulled him to her lips, wanting to taste what she could have lost forever.
His cell phone always managed to go off at the wrong moment. "Grissom," it was Sara with information on the accident scene.
"We tracked down the vehicle, but, Brass is still looking for the driver. The vehicle was abandoned a few blocks from the scene. We've had it towed to the garage. Found evidence of alcohol in the vehicle. Are you alright, Grissom," Sara had been worried about him since what she had witnessed earlier in the evening.
"I'm fine. Was the vehicle reported stolen or are we looking for the owner," he hadn't let go of Angela's hand, in the pit of his stomach was an urgent need to get the person who did this to the only one who ever held so much of his heart.
"Yeah, Brass has the vehicle owner as the first suspect on his list. Do you need anything, we're all concerned about you," she really meant she was concerned about him, but, thought better of wording it that way.
"Thank you, Sara, for your concern, but, everything will be fine," he read through her words. "Keep me posted, we need to get this person before he kills someone. One more thing, what did you do with the victim's car," he winked at Angela, as he asked about her beloved car.
"We have it here, in the garage also, it's considered evidence. It's pretty well totaled though," she wondered why he cared about that particular car.
"Sara, don't let anyone take that vehicle. I'll get it released to me," he knew Angela would want it totaled or not. That vehicle held some precious yet painful memories for Angela and she'd never let it go.
"Okay, see you later," it was more of a question than a statement, she wasn't sure about him at all.
"I'll be back when I'm sure Angela is going to be alright," he turned his phone off giving his full attention to his beautiful love.
"If you need to go to work, I'll be fine. You can come back later," she knew how much his work meant to him.
"I'm not going anywhere, you're stuck with me," his mischievous grin gave away his teasing words.
She squeezed his hand as she drifted off to sleep.
He sat down next to her bed watching over her as she slept. Formulating plans for their future while she rested. He knew what was the right thing to do and he was actually ready to make an honest woman out of her. He thought he had lost her when he first saw how badly mangled her car was. This whole ordeal made him realize just how much he loved her, and how devastated he would have been if he lost her. After all she was the only breath of fresh air he had in his world, that was usually filled with death and darkness.
She awoke a few hours later to find his arm draped over her lower abdomen, and his head on her stomach. She felt so safe and protected gazing upon his handsome face so peaceful in sleep. "My sweet strong handsome knight, glad you're here to watch over me. I hope you don't get in trouble at work over this." She spoke softly not wanting to disturb him, running her fingers through his hair.
Gil had heard every word she uttered, he just wanted to enjoy her warmth for a moment longer. Staying where he half laid, "I heard what you said. Where is this handsome knight of yours?"
She caressed his bearded cheek, "you're my handsome knight, so strong, sweet, and gentle. When can we go home?"
He had sat up, "the doctor said twenty four hours mandatory for head injuries. Then I'll take you home," he placed his hand over hers and rubbed his cheek against her palm. Her smile warmed his heart.
Angela could see the love in his deep blue eyes, but, there was still something weighing heavily on his mind, "what's bothering you, Gil. I see it in your beautiful eyes. Share please."
"You always seem to know, don't you. And I know you won't let it go until I tell. Okay, I love you, more than I even knew, then I saw your car all twisted. I thought I had lost you, forever, before I got to say all the things I still want to tell you," he paused to let the wave of fear pass over him.
"I'm right here darlin', I'm not going anywhere," she took the opportunity to allay his fears, but, he wanted to tell her all of it.
"Angela, let me finish," his eyes searched her beautiful face, like he was seeing her for the first time. "I thought this was gonna be easy," he had taken her hand in his resolving to say this. "Angela would you do me the honor of consenting to be my wife?" His palms were sweaty and his mouth had gone dry. His heart was racing a thousand miles an hour, as an overwhelming sense of dread swept over him.
"My dear sweet, Gil. I love you so very much, and I've been so happy just sharing my life with you. Now you're telling me you want to share that happiness, with me, forever. Yes, Gil, I'll glady marry you." She suddenly felt wonderful, no aches, no pain, and her nasty headache was gone.
The smile that spread across his face could have easily lit the whole Vegas strip, with power to spare. His joy was short lived. Every bell and whistle she was hooked up to had gone off. Her hand had gone limp in his, she was gone.