Appreciation by SLynn
Summary: An art heist, an arsonist and a lot of angst. Takes place approximately four months after the end of 'Precious Things' This is the fifth in a series. Greg/Sara and Nick/OC
Spoilers: Up to 'Nesting Dolls'
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing and will return them all when I'm done, virtually untouched.
Notes: Thanks to everyone who stopped by and read my LJ to find the missing clues as to why it's taking me so long to update. My family is expecting our new addition in December. I appreciate your patience.
Chapter 29: Outcomes
Greg was never certain when he'd fallen asleep, but sometime during the day it must have happened because the next thing he knew a nurse was shaking him roughly and moving him away from the bed where he'd been sitting, holding Sara's hand since making his way into the room.
Sara was waking up and they needed him to leave.
Hustled out before he fully realized the situation, Greg didn't even get a chance to see her open her eyes.
Peering into the window, unable to get a good view do to the sheer volume of doctors and nurses now inside, Greg checked his watch and began to pace.
"Mr. Sanders?"
Greg turned as his name was called and saw an older nurse approach him.
"These are Ms. Sidle's personal items. Sign here."
Just as abruptly as she shoved a paper bag into his hands, she now thrust a clipboard onto his as well.
"Why are you giving me these?" he asked even as he signed.
"You're her contact. It's protocol. She's being transferred to a regular room as soon as possible and because of recent instances where patients have claimed to have things lost or stolen during these transfers we now hand over all possessions before removal."
Greg nodded numbly.
"This is the inventory," she said handing him a new paper and taking back the clipboard, "ensure that everything is there before the transfer occurs."
With that she was gone.
Greg checked the window once more, still unable to see anything, before sitting at a near by bench to go over the list.
Everything looked to be in order except one thing caught his eye.
Opening the bag he found a smaller one inside. Inside that, he found the odd item. Taking it out, Greg turned it over a few times in his hand, smiling despite the circumstances.
"Greg," he heard his name called from just down the hall.
Pocketing the possession and the inventory, he stood up just as Catherine made it to him.
"What's happening?" she asked, indicating the room just behind her.
"Sara's awake," he answered quickly.
"And?"
"And," Greg said, shaking his head, "I don't know. They rushed me out and haven't said anything since."
"How are you doing?"
Greg just shrugged and went back to the observation window to Sara's room. Still unable to see anything, he turned back to Catherine who was now scrutinizing him with an intense look.
"I don't know how I am," he finally admitted. "All this waiting and worrying. I feel…I don't know…helpless. I can't do anything for her, just sit here and…"
Catherine put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I guess I'm just use to being the one on the other side of the window," Greg finished with a choked laugh. "I don't know how she did it. I was in and out of here so much. Was it like this then?"
"Pretty much," Catherine answered with a sad smile.
Greg ran a hand across his face, still tired but better off for having had a small nap and especially for now having company, but before he could continue Dr. Davidson came out to join them.
"Ms. Sidle's doing fine," he said before either of them could ask. "We've removed the ventilator and are about to transfer her down to her new room. Would you like to go in and see her?"
Greg smiled slightly and turned to Catherine.
"Go ahead," she encouraged, "I'll wait here."
"Thanks," he said to both of them before moving to the door.
Hesitating for a moment, he opened the door and stopped abruptly a few feet inside. A few nurses were still hovering about checking IVs and taking Sara's blood pressure and temperature. Greg didn't want to interrupt them, but he also didn't want to spend another minute apart from Sara.
Finally, Sara looked over and caught his eye. It was all decided and with that he quickly made his way over to her. Taking hold of her hand and gently rubbing it, he planted a lingering kiss on her forehead completely at a loss for words.
Sara tried to say something to him, but her voice was too rough for words causing a small fit of coughs.
"Don't try to talk yet honey," the nurse nearest her said as she handed her a glass of water. "You'll need a few days before that."
Sara nodded reluctantly, eyes filled with tears, as she took a small sip and handed the glass back.
Greg still hadn't found words yet, pressed her hand to lips before covering it in his own.
"We'll give you two some privacy," the nurse who had supplied the water now said. "We'll be back shortly to take you down."
The women both left leaving them thankfully alone.
"Sara I was so…"
Before he could finish, she just smiled and shook her head. She already knew what it had to have been like for him, waiting without knowing. Instead, she motioned him closer and tried whispering a question.
"You shouldn't…"
Again she waved him off and mouthed the words instead. It was too painful to speak, but she had to know what had happened. The doctor, her doctor she imagined, had briefly gone over what her injuries were, but she wanted the details. Sara needed to know what had happened at that house, how Greg was. How they'd gotten out. She couldn't remember much after having shut herself up in the bathroom.
He seemed to understand, but this time he was the one waving her off.
"Later," he promised. "I'll tell you later. Right now, I don't…I can't yet. I'm sorry."
She nodded slowly, understandingly, but again she tried to ask a new question.
Greg, getting most of the idea behind it, shook his head again.
"Everyone else is fine," he assured her. "Nick and Charlie were outside. They weren't hurt."
She smiled at him in a funny way. He hadn't completely understood what she'd asked. To relay it again, she moved her hand from his grasp and tapped his chest twice.
"Oh," he said with his own smile, "I'm fine too."
Sara continued to give him a disbelieving look. She knew he had to have been inside with her. Besides that, he looked terrible. It could just be fatigue and worry, but she knew better than that.
"I'm fine," he repeated, refusing to elaborate.
She couldn't argue with him, Sara lacked the voice and the desire. She didn't want to argue with him even if he was clearly lying. It didn't matter right now.
"Ready to go?" the nurse, back as she'd promised, asked from the doorway.
Greg looked up at her and felt Sara's grip tighten.
"Don't worry," the woman said, "he can come with you."
Greg turned and was surprised to see that Sara did look a bit terrified.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said in a low voice. "Not without you."
Sara smiled up at him weakly, still holding on tight.
Catherine, who had been told which ward Sara was to be moved to, wasted no time heading down and calling everyone to let them in on the news.
By the time she finished, Sara had been transferred and she decided it was time to step in.
Knocking gently, she cracked the door and peaked inside.
Greg waved her in, still at Sara's side, before motioning her to be quiet. Sara had drifted off to sleep. The nurses had told him it was likely to happen, was normal, but he'd wished she'd stayed awake. Greg had a hard time watching her motionless in the bed.
"How is she?" Catherine whispered.
"Good," Greg said eagerly, standing up and stretching as he crossed the room to her. "She was up for some time but can't talk. Still managed to ask a dozen questions, but it'll be some time before her throat is healed."
Catherine smiled and nodded, tears involuntarily springing to her eyes. Blinking them back rapidly, she took in Greg's appearance once again.
"You should get some sleep," she admonished.
"I'm fine."
"I'm not saying leave," Catherine countered, "just crash out on the couch over there. At least while Sara's asleep."
Greg looked over his shoulder at the couch that occupied the room and had to admit the idea sounded appealing. He knew he had dozed earlier, but it couldn't have been for more than half an hour.
"I'll wake you as soon as she stirs," Catherine promised.
Greg nodded in agreement, sitting down on the couch a bit reluctantly.
At first he thought sleeping wouldn't be possible. He was still too worked up over the ordeal, over seeing Sara awake and recovering. Elated that she really did seem to be fine and worried he'd miss her waking up again. But as he settled down and Catherine shut the blinds fatigue sunk in once more and he wasn't able to fight it.
When he next opened his eyes he was nearly startled to find the room partially full.
Warrick, Grissom, Nick and Amy were there in place of Catherine, all of them talking quietly to one another nearby.
"Hey," Amy said, being the first to see him move, "you're awake."
"What time is it?" he asked groggily.
"Just after six," Nick answered.
They were all looking at him now and it was making him a bit nervous; like he might have been drooling or talking in his sleep or something.
"I'm going to go call in and check the lab," Grissom said, mostly to take the attention off of Greg and to be doing something again.
He stood and left without another word and Warrick, soon after, began to pace the room.
"What happened to Catherine?" Greg asked, sitting up straighter and adjusting to the light.
"She had to go pick up Lindsey," Nick answered again. "She'll be back tomorrow."
"Has Sara woken up again?"
"No," Amy said, shaking her head with a frown. "Dr. Davidson said she probably won't for some time. The antibodies they're giving her now are going to make her pretty much out of it."
"So," Greg began again, "you've all just been what, sitting here watching me sleep?"
"Yeah," Warrick said, with a trace of a smile. "Pretty much. You didn't think we'd just leave you here alone did you?"
"I don't know what to think anymore," Greg said, but with a smile of his own.
"Why don't we go down to the cafeteria and get you something to eat?" Nick suggested. "You've got to be hungry by now."
"No," Greg said, "I don't want to leave. I promised Sara I'd be here."
"Well let me bring you something back then," Amy said, standing and moving towards the door. "It won't be great, if my experience with hospital food has taught me anything, but it might be edible."
"Thanks," Greg said in return, unable to turn down the offer. He was hungry; it had now been almost a full day since his last meal.
Amy smiled back at him before turning to go, leaving the three guys alone to temporarily wait it out.
"How are you holding up?" Warrick asked, finally stopping his route across the room and sitting down next to Greg and Nick.
"Not bad," Greg said. "Better than I was."
Warrick nodded and seemed to agree. The rest had done Greg good and so did the news of Sara's improvement.
"Everything's going to be fine," Nick said in his best reassuring voice. "You'll see."
It was Greg's turn to nod; he felt that way too. Despite everything that happened, it really did seem to be turning out okay.