Trauma

Disclaimers: I don't own CSI, yada yada yada

Spoilers: thru S4 to be safe

Rating: R

Feedback: Please, but remember, I'm fragile

Chapter 7

A few minutes after Grissom and Catherine left, Sara was sitting up in bed contemplating her plate of hospital drek they called food.

"Hey, don't eat that! What? You have a death wish?" Nick grinned at her as he and Warrick sauntered in carrying a bag from her favorite deli and what appeared to be a milkshake. She smiled back at her friends, at least as much as she could with a split lip.

"See, I knew you guys were good for something," she said, snatching the bag from Nick's hand. They each in turn bent to give her a kiss on the cheek, and then Nick walked around the bed to take Grissom's chair, while Warrick stood guard where he was. As she ate, they discussed a few cases, the men being sure not to bring up any sensitive subject matters.

She had finished her veggie sandwich and was just munching on her chips and sipping her shake, when another body appeared in the door." Oh, hey, I didn't know you guys would be here, I... I'll come back later." Greg hung his head and turned to go.

"Greg, wait!" Sara called.

"Grissom said not to all three be here at the same time," he protested.

"He was trying to protect me. You guys scared me when I woke up and couldn't see your faces. I'm awake now, and am asking you to stay." Sara offered quietly.

"OK, if you're sure."

"I'm sure."

Greg's face lit up as he bounded into the room. Sara had almost forgotten how much energy he exuded into a room, and was strangely relaxed by it. As Greg stood (Greg stood? he's never still enough to stand) at the foot of the bed he began to animatedly describe the latest scene he had been allowed on. His impersonations of all the police at the scene led naturally to an impression of Jim Brass.

At this point, Sara, Nick, and Warrick were laughing so hard; tears were steaming down their faces. Holding her side, and one hand to her hurt lip, Sara cried out," Stop it! You are hurting me!"

This just encouraged Greg further. He then proceeded to a conversation between Brass, Catherine and Grissom. He didn't see Grissom skid to a stop at Sara's door, followed closely by Catherine. Nick saw them, and the look on Griss' face change from fierce protector to amused relief. As Grissom leaned against the doorframe, he shushed Nick across the room with a finger to his lips.

As Greg continued to make his known audience laugh, Catherine and Grissom couldn't help but chuckle, either. After a particularly funny Brass impression, Grissom applauded and walked over to the bed, to stand behind Warrick and beside Sara.

"That was very good, Greg. I don't think Jim does himself that well." Catherine complimented the young man who was obviously nervous to have been caught.

"Yes, and you nailed Catherine pretty good, too," Grissom said. He couldn't understand the five pairs of bug-eyes and gaped jaws that faced him. When he realized what he had said and how it had sounded, he felt the blush start at his toes and work its way upward. He ducked his head and grinned sheepishly as he felt the flush stain his cheeks.

"Gil, your face is priceless!" Catherine squeaked as they all started laughing. Even Greg loosened up enough to let out a giggle.

When Sara yawned, Grissom took that as his cue to send the rest on their way. Sara thanked Warrick and Nick for saving her from hospital food, and Greg for the entertainment. "You'll have to do that at the Christmas party," she told him.

"Yeah, maybe I can nail Cath again!" He dodged as Catherine swung at him, laughing.

"You all are just so disturbed on so many levels, I can't even begin to fathom." Grissom smirked at the departing group.

Sara looked up at him shyly, " Thank you," she said.

"For what?"

"For not getting mad at Greg. For not running the guys out. For being here." This last she said as she slipped her hand into his. He leaned over and lightly placed a kiss in her hair." I'll always be here," he whispered. She didn't say anything, so he thought she hadn't heard, he didn't mean for her to anyway. She heard. She just didn't want to get her hopes up. He had burned her so many times before, unintentional or not, it still hurt.

"Why don't you go on home and get some real sleep?" she asked. "I know you aren't resting in that chair and you are recuperating, too, you know." She really did not want him to leave, but she knew he needed the rest and was giving him an out to go.

"If its OK with you, Dr. Sidle, I'll hang around a little longer."

She smiled at his sarcasm and scooted over in the bed to pat the mattress beside her, inviting him to sit with her. She was pleasantly surprised when he propped his feet on the bed and lay down, taking her in his arms. She sighed quietly to herself.

"Sara, we need to talk about the other night," he started softly. He felt her tense in his embrace.

"I am so sorry I got you involved in this mess. If I hadn't called for a ride..."

"Sara, that's not what I'm talking about. I'm the one who should be apologizing. If I could have taken it away, and been the one hurt I would have. All of it. Even the... anything to save you." he choked out. " I... I care for you so much, Sara. I'm sorry it took those bastards and what they did for me to finally admit it. Not just to you. To myself. Can you ever forgive me?"

She held him tighter, her face buried in his chest where she could feel the sobs rumble through him. "Griss, there is nothing to forgive. I've known for a long time now how you felt, even if you didn't. I also knew that you are a very private man and needed time to sort things out. I just hope that when the rough part is over, you don't pull back again. I don't know if I could take that."

"I won't. If I start to, you just kick my butt. OK?"

"OK" she replied with a smile. She finally felt safe and content as she fell asleep in his arms.

He had never felt so... complete. He was protector and protected all in one. His arms felt her body relax in sleep and he soon followed.