Chapter 2 - The Fallen One

Grissom and Warrick told the medics what they knew about what had happened to Greg and about the explosion in the lab last week.
"Has he been complaining of headaches or nausea since the accident?" One of the medics asked as they worked on Greg.
Grissom looked at Warrick who shook his head. "Not that we know of."
"Any weakness or confusion?"
"His hands have been shaking." Grissom confessed, "I thought it was just nerves. I told him it would stop."
Warrick frowned, "What's wrong with him?"
The paramedic looked grim, "Hard to say for sure, but it could be a subdural hemorrhage."
"That's bad isn't it?"
"It's not good but it could be worse." They buckled Greg onto the stretcher and pulled it up. "If it had been an aneurysm or an subarachnoid hematoma he'd have been dead when you found him."
Grissom watched with a heavy heart as they wheeled the stretcher out.
"What's that kid done now?" Hodges grumbled as the medics rushed past, "poison himself?"
Archie stepped around the older man, his heel coming down hard on the top of Hodges foot.
"Ow!"
"Sorry." Archie apologized, "Didn't see you there."
Hodges looked furious but didn't say anything more as he retreated back into his lab.
"That wasn't very nice." Grissom said.
"He never is." Said Archie.
"I was referring to you." Gil smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
Archie smiled at the joke, "I don't play well with others. That's what my kindergarten teacher said anyway." The smile disappeared, "What happened?"
"Not sure," Said Warrick, "I was looking for Greg and we found him on the floor in the lab." His voice trembled, "There was glass, I guess he dropped something."
"He had a seizure." Grissom added.
"Greg's not an epileptic. Do you think it has anything to do with the explosion?"
"I'm going to find out." Said Grissom. "I'm going to Desert Palms, will you let the others know?"
Archie nodded, "Keep us informed," he smiled "us lab rats stick together."
"Mind if I come, Grissom?" Warrick asked.
"What about your results?"
Warrick looked guilty, "Greg is more important."

Grissom spoke softly to the nurse at the admissions desk for several minutes then came back to where Warrick was pacing.
"He's in CAT scan right now, then they'll be taking him up to surgery." Grissom sighed. "He's stable for the time being but they're pretty sure it's a subdural hemorrhage."
"I can't believe we didn't notice anything was wrong with him."
"These things can go for weeks after an injury before they get serious enough to cause problems."
"But you said his hands have been shaking."
Grissom tried not to take it as an accusation, "I though it was just nerves." His tone was harsher than he intended.
Warrick dug in his pockets for change, "I need some coffee, want some?"
"Not now." Grissom watched as Brown went down the hall to the snack machines. Pulling out his phone, he dialed the AV Lab. "Archie? Yeah, I spoke to a nurse, he's stable but they're going to have to do surgery on him. Subdural hemorrhage, most likely a result of the explosion. Have Catherine, Nick and Sara come back yet?" He listened as the tech explained that the others had been told and were now on the way to the hospital. "Thanks Archie. Yeah, I'll tell him, thanks." Gil shut the phone off and tucked it back in the case.
Warrick came back with two cups, "I got it from one of the nurses, it's better than the machine junk." He handed one to Grissom. "Look, I didn't mean to sound like I was blaming you…"
"I know." Grissom interrupted gently, "We're both worried and it's making us snappy." He accepted the cup, "Archie said Hodges has your results, he left them on my desk."
Brown took a sip from the cup he had clasped between his hands, "Thanks. Are the others coming?"
"They should be here in a few minutes."

Catherine was exhausted; the last crime scene had been a real challenge, multiple guns, and multiple victims in a gang related argument. No one was in the DNA lab so she left the samples in the fume hood. She checked to make sure that the hotplate was off before she closed the door.

She leaned tiredly against the door to the AV lab, "Hey Archie, where is everyone?"
"Grissom and Warrick went to Desert Palms, it's Greg."
She was so worn-out that she only understood a couple of the words, "What's wrong with Warrick?"
"It's not Warrick," Archie came over to her led her to his chair. "Are you okay?"
"All this overtime, I just need some coffee." She yawned, "Where's Greg? I could sure use a cup of his Blue Hawaii right now."
"He's at the hospital."
"Who's at the hospital?" Sara asked, as she and Nick crowded into the small room.
Archie looked exasperated, "Grissom and Warrick. Something happened to Greg in the lab…"
"Oh my God!" Catherine leapt to her feet, "The fume hood, did I turn off the damn hotplate?"
Nick grabbed her before she could rush out, "Sara and I double checked it, and it's not on."
"Calm down Catherine, it's nothing you did," said Archie, "he collapsed in the lab and had a seizure."
"Greg had a seizure?" Sara asked. "Why? How?"
"I don't know for sure, Grissom said he'd call as soon as he knew anything but the paramedic said it could have been a subdural hemorrhage."
"Let's go." Said Catherine.
"I'll drive." Said Nick, taking the keys from her.
Nick isn't a native Vegas boy but he knows the route to the hospital, he shakes his head ruefully, it seems he's driven this road too many times of late.
They are all silent in the minutes it takes to arrive. Nick illegally parks the Tahoe in a handicapped space but the women don't scold him as they hurry into the hospital.
"Greg Sanders?" Sara asked the nurse at the station.
"Sixth floor surgery waiting room," the nurse continues to give directions even though they've dashed for the elevator, "go right after you get off the elevator, then a left." She calls as the doors close.