Chapter 26:
"Miss Sidle?" The tall, good-looking doctor asked questioningly as he opened his door. "Are you okay?" He added with concern.
"I'm fine, thank you doctor. You remember Nick Stokes?" He nodded and shook hands, before welcoming them into his office and closing his door. They sat down anxiously.
"What can I help you with?"
"A friend of ours was shot at a crime scene this evening. We want to know how he's doing. The nurse wouldn't tell us anything, and I thought maybe you could help us. You've met him. His name is Warrick Brown. He came in to visit me a few times when I was here."
"I could look where he is, but Miss Sidle, you must understand that I shouldn't. This is breaking patient privilege. You didn't want yours to be broken when you were here." He replied, obviously conflicted.
"I understand that doctor. I have no doubt in my mind, however, that Warrick would want to see us. We just want to know if he's okay. If you can't tell us where he is, at least let us know that he'll make it. He needs his friends, his family with him, during this. If there's anything I understand, it's that." She squeezed Nick's hand gently, and cast him a quick look. He looked at her beautiful face with more respect than before. She had such a way with people. No wonder he had fallen I love with her.
"Hmm…" The doctor typed a few things into his computer. "Your friend is in stable condition and will be fine. But you didn't here it from me, and I'm sure you'll hear from him soon enough. I can't let you know where he is, however."
"Thanks for your help though Dr. Ferguson. We really appreciate it." Nick nodded gratefully, realizing that he hadn't even said a word since they entered his office.
"Off topic, how have you been recovering?" He looked at her with a scrutinizing eye. She gave him a small smile.
"Slowly, but I've got some great people helping me through." The doctor turned to Nick.
"Take good care of her Mr. Stokes." Nick finally found his voice, confident with every emotion his heart felt.
"I will." He and Sara walked out of the office and back down the antiseptic, sterile, halls.
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"All you know is that he's in stable condition?" Grissom repeated into the phone. Greg and Brass were listening on his end to the conversation with Nick. "Sara thinks we should tell Catherine? I don't know. Yeah I guess. Maybe let her do it. Okay. Let me know. Bye." He hung up, and faced his two colleagues.
"What's happening?" Brass asked quickly
"That was Nick. They wouldn't let them see him, but Sara went to see Dr. Ferguson, the doctor that attended to her when she was a patient there. He told them that Warrick was in stable condition, but wasn't able to give the room number, since Warrick hadn't given any permission to anyone. Sara thinks we should tell Catherine. I left it up to them. They're going to see if they can find him, just wandering the halls. They'll call back later."
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They didn't even know where to look. Stable condition could mean anything. Did he have surgery? Was he in surgery? Was he still in emergency? They checked about every floor, beady eyes watching their presence. No sign of Warrick. Giving up, they made there way out of the emergency room, where they heard a familiar voice.
"What do you mean they were looking for me? You didn't let them in? Stop that – that hurts!" Nick turned to Sara who shot back a big grin. They followed the voice and ripped open the curtain that separated them from their coworker and friend.
"Warrick!" Sara said, bursting into tears. Both men stood shocked for a second, at the sudden emotion. She quickly went to hug him gently.
"Are you okay man? We've been worried sick!" Nick finally said, giving him a small, but anxious grin. Warrick returned it.
"I had a fit when they told me people were looking for me, but they said they couldn't let them in without my permission. By the time I said it was fine, they said you were already gone." Warrick explained, as the nurse continued to bandage his shoulder. Sara grabbed the chair next to him, both men noticing how pale she was. In all the frantic excitement, Nick had forgotten that Sara was still well on the road to recovery, and all ready had been exhausted before they had found their friend had been shot.
"Are you okay?" Nick asked quickly. The nurse left temporarily to give them some privacy. She nodded.
"Just tired." They both looked at her skeptically, but said no more as Warrick explained what happened at the crime scene.