It was nearly noon before the surgery ended. The doctor entered the waiting room, looking at the group who eagerly crowded around him. Even Jessica rode over on Greg's shoulders to listen to the doctor.
"I'm guessing there are no member's of Mr. Brown's family here." The doctor stated.
"Wrong. We are Warrick's family." Catherine countered in a slight snarl.
The doctor looked at her skeptically, but wisely chose not to argue.
"Mr. Brown had extensive trauma due to the amount of blood he lost. The cauterizing of the wounds was slightly helpful, but immediate medical aid would have avoided a lot of the damage incurred."
"There were circumstances that prevented that-" Grissom began to explain but Sara stopped him with a jab in the ribs.
"We believe we were able to repair the damage." The doctor continued. "But, the amount of blood loss, was significant. We have him on a ventilator as a precaution."
"So, he's gonna be okay?" Nick interrupted, unable to hold back.
"We've done everything we can for him. The rest is up to Mr. Brown."
"Can we see him?" Greg questioned.
"Yes. At this hospital, we believe in the power of hope. If you are all his friends and family, I ask that each of you go in, talk to him. Let him know that you are here. He needs to know you are here for him. He needs to feel the connection, touch him. Human contact can work miracles." The doctor looked at them all tiredly. "Nurse Jonah will show you to ICU after a while. You will each get five minutes with him every hour. Not the child." He looked pointedly at Jessica.
Each member went in to see Warrick for their allotted five minutes. Each came out in tears. After the last of the CSI's came out, Gemma handed Jessica over to Gil and went inside. Gil waited in the hallway, looking in the observation window.
Gemma was already in tears before she got to the bed. Her hands were shaking as she reached and took Warrick's. She took his hand in both of hers, running her fingers over the long fingers. "I'm so sorry Warrick." She sobbed. "This is all my fault. Please don't die, Please."
Moving closer, she ran her fingers over his face. "Open your eyes Warrick. Let me see those eyes of yours." Gemma looked at the noisy machine that was helping him breath. She looked to another machine, watching a line jump in time with his heart. She moved her hand to his chest. "I love you Warrick Brown. Please don't die on me."
Gemma looked up at the clock, seeing that her time was nearly up. "I know you think a relationship between us it wrong, but I've never loved someone before. I don't know how to stop loving you. I don't think I want to."
"Ma'am." Nurse Jonah came into the room. "Times up. You have to go now."
"Okay." Gemma leaned over, planting a kiss on his mouth. Lifting the hand that she still held, she placed a kiss on his palm. "I love you Warrick." She whispered once again before she went out into the hallway to join Gil. Gil studied her as she took Jessica from him, but said nothing. She took Jessica back over to the observation window.
"Da'oh seep?" Jessica asked in a child's version of a whisper.
"Yeah, he's sleeping again. He's very sick." Gemma took one last look at the man before she allowed Gil to lead her back to the waiting room.
The following morning, the doctors took Warrick off the ventilator, assured that he was breathing fine on his own. He did not wake up. Not the next day either. Or the next. The CSI's had to return to Vegas. Gil was not pleased with leaving Gemma unprotected, so he pulled some strings and had a couple of officers assigned to keep an eye on things. At all times, there was an officer posted outside Warrick's room and another that monitored Gemma and Jessica. The CSI's came to visit on their days off. They would sit in with Warrick for a while then take Jessica out of the hospital so the little girl could stretch her legs and Gemma could have a break.
Two Federal agents showed up at the hospital, questioning Gemma. They questioned her about every detail of her life with Tony and the time since his death. She was able to confirm several suspicions they had about the dealings. She was even able to give names and descriptions of some of his contacts. The agents left, pleased with the outcome. Gemma wondered why it took someone getting shot to get them to listen to her.
When she asked him this, Gil told her that the FBI was building a case against Tony's family that should put them away. It was just a matter of time before they could. The CSI's were pushing the case along. Nick had gone back to the abandoned Honda, and recovered the bullets. Bobby Dawson had worked with the Feds to match the bullet. Seems that the bullet matched a gun owned by a Sammy Latruse, a cousin of Tony's. The FBI now had him for the attempted murder of Warrick. Gil guessed that it wouldn't be long before Sammy started talking.
Greg drove Grams up from Vegas to see her grandson on the third day, but there was still no change. Coming out of the ICU room in tears, she studied Gemma and Jessica. "So you're the ones that took my baby from me?"
Swallowing roughly, Gemma nodded. "Yes Ma'am."
"You something special?' Grams questioned.
Gemma's blue eyes widened. "No Ma'am." she shook her head, bewildered by the line of questioning. "I'm just a regular woman."
Grams studied her intently, causing Gemma to grow nervous. Finally she smiled. "No, you're wrong. You are something special. I bet you made him work for your affections. Didn't fall all over yourself over that pretty face of his."
"Well…..no…."
"Good! I've always said he needs a strong woman. One who doesn't fall for all the pretty packaging. Although, you'd have to be blind not to notice the boy, he's gorgeous."
"Yes……he is."
"But it's the man inside that counts, right? And this one? She the one that's calling him Daddy?" Grams turned her attention to Jessica, who smiled shyly at the new person.
"She calls Warrick, Daddy'Oh." Gemma agreed.
"Well." Grams bent over to get a better look at the tot. "It's not everyday one meets a great-grandchild. I've been after that boy to get me one for years." Taking the girl by the hand, she led her out of the waiting room. Gemma looked nervous, wanting to follow after them.
"Did she just kidnap my child?" She asked Greg. "Should I go after them?'"
"No, that's just Grams' way." Greg put his arm around her. "I hear they've been letting you in his room for longer."
"Since everyone else has gone, they let me clock in as one of you guys." Gemma nodded sadly. "The nurse even let me smuggle Jess in for a minute yesterday. He's not waking up Greg."
"It takes time. His body is healing."
"I'm so afraid! I don't know what I'd do if I lost him! There's so much left unsaid. I never told him that I love him. Never kissed him….never-" Gemma clung to Greg, sobbing as she vented her anguish.
"Whoa! Information overload!" Greg cut in, with a laugh. "You hold on to all that. You can tell him when he wakes up."
"Do you really think he will?" Vanessa looked up, her blue eyes searching his face for any sign of hope.
"Look, if it were me in there, and I had you sitting here waiting for me. I'd wake up." Greg nodded. "He will. Warrick's strong, but he does things his own way. He's not one to take shortcuts. He'll wake up when he thinks he's ready."
"He's really lucky to have all you guys." Gemma tucked herself into a chair with a sigh. "Everyone I met is so great."
"Yeah, I hear you even think that about Hodges!" Greg gave a visible shudder. "That guy gives me the creeps! I hear you actually think he's nice! Hodges….nice!"
"He is." Gemma let out a little laugh over Greg's dramatics. "He came to visit yesterday. He brought Jess a stuffed pig. He really is a nice man."
"Hodges came here? Brought a gift? Wow! I was in the hospital right there in Vegas and he didn't come to visit me!" Greg through himself in the chair beside her and pouted. "Hmph!"
"I've made a decision!" Grams announce an hour later when she and Jessica returned. By the chocolate on Jessica's face and clothes, they'd found a vending machine on their walk. "Now that I've got me a great-grandchild. I'm keeping her. She's coming back to Vegas with me!"
"What?" Gemma spun to gape at the woman. "She can't go to Las Vegas!"
"Of course she can! Greg here says she isn't in danger anymore. This hospital is no place for a growing girl. She's coming home with me." Grams declared. "It'll give you one last thing to worry about. You can focus on getting my grandson back on his feet."
"Ma'am. I don't think it's such a good idea. Uncle Gil wouldn't like that. Besides, we're still in danger, we still have police protection."
"Didn't you hear? The FBI nabbed them all this morning!" Greg frowned, growing pale. "Ah, geez, I bet Grissom wanted to tell you in person. Don't tell him I told you, please."
"Mrs. Brown, I'd love for Jessica to visit you, but I still don't think Uncle Gil would approve of it. Besides, Jess is an active little girl, she would tire you out."
"Uncle Gil, My foot! "The older lady snapped. "I've got more energy than I know what to do with . I could run rings around you young pups!"
"It's not a bad idea Gemma." Greg cut in. "Besides, there's plenty of us in Vegas, if Grams gets worn out, she can call any of us, we'd take Jessica. Heck, Hodges would probably take a vacation just to watch her." He added with a smirk. Gemma blushed at the teasing. "Besides, it would give you more time to be with Warrick. He's going to wake up soon, he's going to need you."
Gemma looked at the two adults in front of her, then at her small daughter. Jessica was clinging to Grams like a security blanket, pleading with her eyes. "Jess? You really want to go?"
"Gwampa Gil in Vegas!" The girl nodded. "Gwams house!"
"But, Mommy will be staying here? Is that going to be okay with you? What if you miss Mommy?"
"Unca Gweggo come back." Jessica shrugged.
"Yeah, if it doesn't work out, I'll bring her back to you." Greg agreed, amused that Nick had taught the girl to call him Greggo. Nick had said it once as a joke, but it had stuck. Now a new generation would be calling him that. "Let here come to Vegas with us. It'll do Grams good to have someone to keep her mind off of Warrick."
"Mrs. Brown-"
"Don't you be calling me Mrs. Brown. I'm Grams!" Grams cut her off. "I'm not asking you for your permission. A hospital is no place for a little girl. Besides, I've got to go show her off to my friends. My boy finally got me my great grandchild and I'm aiming to tell everyone."
"Mrs. Br…….Grams." Gemma corrected herself at the evil glare the woman aimed at her. "She's not Warrick's child. We were just pretending……"
"She is his. You can't tell me she's not. Course I'll insist the boy makes it legal, but that's no matter. Come on child, lets go to Vegas." Grams nudged the girl. "Kiss your Mommy goodbye. Gregory, get her things!"
In a matter of minutes, Gemma was left alone in the hospital. She knew she would miss her daughter, but she was also relieved that the girl would be getting out of the hospital for a while. These last few weeks had been hard on the little one. Gemma worried if this experience would have any lasting effects on Jessica.
Relief came later that night when Gil showed up. The police escort was called off. Gemma now had only Warrick to focus on.