Chapter 25

Leigh's phone call came just as she was putting Julian down.

Sara smiled into the phone. "And how is the most beautiful baby girl in the world?"

"Much like her Biblical and present day namesake she is stubborn, headstrong and way to smart for her own good."

"I tried to tell you that when you named her."

"How are you? I am so jealous you. Imagine a woman with a baby sleeping through the night. It's disgraceful."

Sara recounted finding the nursery empty and finding out that Gil had been taking care of Julian each night.

Sara was not surprised at Leigh's next words. "Poor Gil."

Sara silently agreed.

Sara was not sure when the liquor bottles appeared in the trash again but they had. Grissom spent an every increasing amount of time away from home and when he was at the condo the balcony was his haven where he smoked and sipped clear liquors.

Julian's first nights without Grissom were a terror. The child could not understand where his father was, his father that told him funny stories and sang opera concertos. His father was nigh time and his mother was daytime. Didn't they know that?

Sara tried everything. She walked and cooed. She talked softly and patted his back. He wanted nothing except Gil Grissom. When she was at her wits end she looked her son in the eye and gave him a gentle speech. "Jules baby I know you miss your daddy. You daddy doesn't think he can do this. He doesn't think he can be a father. Jules I don't think he's right about that and you know he's not right about. Your father is not a bad man. He's very good man and he thinks that he's doing what's best. Sweetie I know it tough on you but honey, we are going to have to get through this together."

Julian Lee quietened as he felt his mother's sobs wondering why his parents always seemed to be crying.

Sara's own sweat startled her awake. She felt both hot and cold. Her nightshirt clung to her skin. When she tried to stand her body fell back on the bed. As she lay there tremors tore through her body and pain stabbed at her gut. It was nearly 5 and Julian's cries could be heard through the halls. She had no idea if Grissom was home or not. She called his name, no answer. She tried again gathering all her strength to make herself heard over the baby.

Gil seemed surreal. His soft words broke through as he assured her that everything was going to be alright. She had a sensation of being lifted and of driving in some sort of vehicle before everything went dark and quiet.