He must have been watching her for a while - though it only seemed like a few minutes – when there was a knock at the door. It was purposeful, but also held some compassion for the inhabitants of the room.
Grissom moved to open the door, and then paused.
What if it was Brooks? It wouldn't be hard for him to find them, and he had seemed pretty sure that they would meet again.
Grissom shook himself. For one, Brooks wouldn't be stupid enough to walk into the middle of a busy ER, two, Vega was just outside, and, three, he probably wouldn't knock.
There was something about Sara in danger that made him think completely irrationally. In fact, there was something about Sara in general that made him think like that.
He opened the door, and his whole body tensed.
"Grissom." Ecklie said, with a greasy smile. He moved to step forward, but found that Grissom was barring his way, his form filling the doorway, bristling with anger.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
The smile disappeared from Ecklie's face, to be replaced by a hash glare.
"I'm here to process the evidence. At the moment, that would be Sara."
"Why would dispatch send you? It's not your case!"
"It's not yours either, any more. The word is, you're on your way out. The sheriff asked me to come down."
Grissom was positively vibrating with rage.
"Then I say this not as a CSI but as Sara's friend. You aren't touching her, you incompetent jerk. Get out of here."
Ecklie was clearly enjoying making Grissom this uncomfortable.
"Hey, come now Gil. You wouldn't want to spend your last few hours as a CSI in a fight with another, better CSI, would you? You could be finding something better to do, like cleaning out your office…"
Sara's ears tuned in before her eyes were open. Grissom sounded furious.
"I haven't been fired yet, Ecklie. I think you should get out of here before I do something you'll regret. You aren't coming anywhere near her. Got it?"
He slammed the door with a violent crash. Running his hand through his silvering hair in frustration, he turned.
He was met by Sara, sitting up, blinking, confused. His fury dissipated, leaving just happiness and relief at seeing her.
He jumped. "Oh, hey. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. How're you feeling?"
"Better, I guess. What was Ecklie doing here?"
"He was sent to process you… How's your arm?"
"Still hurts. I'm glad you made - "
There was a knock at the door. Grissom felt his rage return.
"Get lost, you ass- "
"Gil?" Cath's voice floated through the door.
He opened it quickly, and greeted her with an apologetic half smile. "Sorry. I thought you were - "
"Ecklie? I passed him in the hall. He didn't look happy." She smiled. "How're you holding up?"
"I'm ok."
Sara piped up from her spot on the gurney.
"Hey Cath."
"Hey, Sara!" Cath moved over to the chair formerly occupied by Grissom and flopped down. "It's good to see you."
"You too. Have they..."
"…Found him? Not yet. They will. In the mean time, where are you gonna stay?"
"I can't go home. I just… Can't."
Grissom looked over at her, and opened his mouth to speak.
Cath cut him off.
"I don't think it's a good idea for you to be at home either, Gil. Both of you should come stay with me."
Grissom walked over to the two ladies, and looked for a place to sit. The only free spot was the foot of Sara's bed. Being this close to her while she was awake made him feel uneasy, somehow.
"We can't do that. They'll put us up in a hotel or something."
"Sure you can. I've got plenty of room."
Sara felt a hotel would be best. She would have to find a new place soon, but for tonight, a hotel would do. "We can't put you in danger like that. And Lindsey, too. Its better we go to a hotel."
This hadn't occurred to Cath. She looked to Grissom. He nodded. "She's right. And we'll be ok. They'll put an officer outside the door, and everything."
"Ok then. But call me if you need anything. Anytime."
Sara nodded.
Cath began to snap on her latex gloves, and Grissom took this as his cue to leave.
"I'll, uh, go get a coffee. You want anything, Sara?"
"Soda?"
"Sure. Cath?"
"No, I'm fine thanks."
"I won't be long."
He moved to the door, and then turned back. He looked over to Sara, about to say how glad he was that she was ok, but the words wouldn't come.
All he could manage was - "You'll be ok?"
She nodded yes, and allowed her eyes to connect with his. His look almost caused her to gasp. That blue stare was letting slip his feelings, and Sara could read them like a book. She looked away, down at a particularly fascinating spot on the blanket. Brooks had been telling the truth. She looked up once more, but he was gone.
"You ready?"
Catherine spoke softly, and Sara almost jumped. She had forgotten she was there, the intimacy in Grissom's look made her feel like there was just the two of them in the world.
"Yeah."
***************************************************************
They talked little whilst Cath collected the evidence. When she was done, a doctor came to treat Sara. Cath left them alone, eager to give Sara some privacy. She agreed to wait outside the door till Grissom returned, then she would have to take the evidence back to CSI.
She found a seat within sight of the door, and Grissom appeared within a few minutes. He almost walked straight past her, his focus so complete.
"Grissom!" She called out, stopping him just before he reached the door of Sara's room. "The doctor is with her at the moment."
"Oh." He looked down at the soda in his hand. "I'll keep it for her." He took up the seat next to Cath.
"You look exhausted."
"I'm ok."
"Have you found a hotel room yet?"
He nodded "Vega says they'll take us there once Sara gets the all clear. How long has the doctor been in there?" He shifted slightly so that he could see the door.
"Easy, Grissom. She's ok." She touched his arm comfortingly. He turned to her and nodded.
"I hope so. Have you heard anything? Have they found him yet?"
She checked her watch. "Brass said he was going back after he'd had something to eat. I could see if he's got any news."
Grissom nodded.
Cath smiled. "See a pay-phone on your travels?"
"There's one down the hall."
"Thanks. I'll be right back."
***************************************************************
