A/N: Okay, here's the next chapter. I'm sorry it's so short, but there are three more chapters left, and they are each a bit longer. Thanks once again for all the wonderful reviews and support. I hope the conclusion of this fic lives up to everyone's expectations. It's really so nice to have people out there who specifically look for your fics and enjoy them. So, thanks for that, too!

Chapter 8: Inching Closer

Sara sat in a chair at the foot of Grissom's hospital bed. She had been in his room since they had brought him up from recovery six hours ago. The other CSIs and Brass had come and gone, but Sara had remained, silent, pale, her eyes downcast. Everyone had asked if she was okay, and each time she had just mumbled, "I'm fine." They had left her alone, but couldn't help staring at her strangely as they witnessed the bizarre ritual she was performing.

As the hours had passed, Sara had slowly moved her chair closer and closer to Grissom's bed. When she had first entered the room, she had pulled the chair over near the door, as far away from Grissom as possible, and had sat there.

Every so often, she had shifted the chair a bit closer, until she had reached her current position—about even with the bottom of his bed. Now, she finally lifted her eyes, training her gaze on Grissom's still form.

He hadn't awakened fully since they had released him from the recovery room following the several hours of surgery it had taken to repair the damage to his leg and stop the bleeding. He had needed a blood transfusion, and the doctors had told Sara and the others that if he had gotten to the hospital just five minutes later, he would have died. That news scared Sara beyond belief. She knew Grissom had been in very bad shape, but hearing the doctors actually say the words—he would have died—froze Sara to her soul. They hadn't claimed he could have died or that he might have died, but that he would have. The fact that there had been no doubt or question made it worse and much more real.

But now he was there in the bed. He still looked bad—pale and drained, hooked up to tubes and wires, his injured leg immobilized in layers of thick bandages and a brace that extended from his ankle to the top of his thigh. In spite of his appearance, Sara could see his chest rising and falling under the blanket that covered him, and she focused on those rhythmic movements. She thought she saw him stir, so she moved her seat one final time, placing it right at his side. Reaching out and gathering his right hand in both of hers, she was glad to feel him squeeze back weakly.

Long moments stretched by as she sat there, holding his hand. Then, finally, she watched as he moved his head and struggled to open his eyes. After several blinks, he got her into tentative focus. "Sara?" he wondered hoarsely, his voice cracking.

"Yeah, it's me. I'm here," she assured him. She stroked his hair, and then ran the backs of her fingers down his face. "Shh, it's okay. You just rest now," she soothed. "Rest." Her tender words and touches lulled him back into a comfortable sleep. After a few minutes, she carefully slipped her hand out of his, stood up, and left the room.

She found Catherine in the hall, just coming in. "Oh, hi," the older woman said with some surprise. "Are you leaving?"

"For a little while, yeah," Sara answered.

"Okay. I'll sit with Gil. How is he?"

"He woke up for a few seconds," Sara explained, obvious relief on her face and in her tone.

"Glad to hear it. That's a good sign," Catherine replied, continuing past the other CSI into the room. She didn't fail to notice that Sara looked happier than she had since the whole ordeal had started. The life was back in her eyes, and that was good to see. "Did you call the nurse?" she asked over her shoulder.

"No, but I'll stop by the nurses' station on my way out and let them know."

"Great."

Sara watched Catherine get settled in the seat she had just vacated. The older woman took Grissom's hand in one of hers and began running the other one gently up and down his arm. It looked like she was talking to him, too, but Sara couldn't make out what she was saying. With a smile, the brunette CSI turned and closed the door behind her.

To be continued…