Chapter 14 – Miserable

Saturday afternoon was a blur for Grissom. He spent most of it dozing off and on while on the couch or in the bed. He wanted to be better company for Sara, but he felt awful and didn't want to do anything but lie around. He began to realize that she didn't seem to mind. She spent most of the time reading.

Finally getting hungry later in the evening, Sara made herself a plate of pasta primavera and some toast for Grissom. After eating dinner, they moved to the living room and took their usual places; Sara in the chair and Grissom on the couch.

After sitting down, Grissom took the blanket and spread it out on top of himself. "I have an idea of something fun we can do." Grissom offered, with a slight laugh.

"Why do I have a feeling I don't want to hear your idea."

He smirked and continued, "It's not that bad of an idea. After you told me about your last trip to Chicago yesterday, I'd like to see some pictures. Can we look through your photo album? I'd like to see all the places you visited."

"Sure," she said smiling. "But are you sure you're up to it?"

"I'm up to it. I actually feel better than I have all day," he said, trying to convince himself.

"Okay. Let me go get it." She went to her bookcase and pulled out the album. She handed it to Grissom as she sat down next to him on the couch.

He opened up the album and looked through the first few pages of photos. "Wow. These are beautiful Sara." He pointed to a picture of the skyline. "Is this one taken from the Sears Tower?"

"Yep. It's a shot of the Southside." She looked up at Grissom, met his questioning eyes, and decided to explain. "My friend, Kim, lives in Bridgeport, which is in the Southside of Chicago. See, here's Comiskey Park," she said while pointing to the baseball stadium near the top of the photo. "We actually spent about an hour up in the Sears Tower. Everything looked so peaceful."

As Grissom turned the page, she pointed to another photo. "This is one of my favorites. It's of Lake Michigan. We spent the day at Navy Pier for an Italia fest and the sunset was just beautiful."

Grissom looked at Sara and smiled, enjoying her company and seeing her so happy. He continued flipping through the pages of the album with Sara giving him a story about every photo.

A few pages later, and feeling the need to sneeze, Grissom grabbed some tissues from the end table. He turned away from Sara and sneezed twice.

Sara looked up at Grissom. "Bless you."

"Thanks," he said after blowing his nose and throwing the tissues in the trash can next to the couch. He took his blanket and tightly wrapped it around himself, making sure he didn't drop the album from his lap. Before getting the chance to turn another page in the album, he started sneezing again. After the fifth sneeze, he started to cough.

Watching him with concern, Sara could see that he was still really cold and was definitely feeling worse than he was letting on. She moved the photo album to her lap and reached a hand up to his forehead.

He closed his eyes reflexively and leaned into her hand, her cool touch feeling good against his heated skin.

"You're too warm Grissom. I think you still have a fever."

"I could have told you that with the way I feel," he said, while opening his eyes when Sara removed her hand. He tried to give Sara a weak smile, but he didn't have the energy. He reached for another tissue on the end table and sneezed again.

"Why don't you go rest in the bedroom Grissom? It's more comfortable than the couch. You may not think so, but you really need the rest. You can even watch some TV if you'd like. The television in there gets cable too." She closed the photo album and laid it on the coffee table.

"I'm fine here," he said, as a chill went through his body, making him shake. "I'd like to keep you company."

"You are not fine on the couch and I don't need the company," she said while grabbing the box of tissues and putting it under her arm. She picked up Grissom's glass of water and started to tug on his arm. "Grab your pillow and blanket and let's go."

Grissom slowly got up and followed Sara in to the bedroom. She placed the tissues and water on the night stand and turned toward Grissom, as he made his way in to the bedroom. "I'd like to take your temperature to see exactly how high it is. That is if you don't mind."

"No, go ahead…if it will make you happy." He forced a smile on his face and threw the blanket on the bed. Shivering as another chill wracked his body, he quickly got in to bed and pulled the blankets over him.

Once under the covers, Grissom turned over on his side towards the middle of the bed. He curled up in to a ball to try and get warm. He was planning on watching television for a little while, but once his head hit the pillow, his body relaxed and he began to fall asleep.

Leaving the bedroom, Sara walked in to the bathroom and was rummaging around in her medicine cabinet looking for the thermometer. Not finding it, she continued to look for it in the cabinet under the sink. Obviously not having to use it recently, it was hiding all the way in the back of the cabinet. She pulled it out of its container and rinsed it off with hot water.

She walked back in to her bedroom and saw Grissom laying with his back to her. "Grissom, I found the thermometer. Roll over so I can take your temperature." Not getting an answer or any movement out of him, she sat down on the side of the bed. She placed her left hand on his arm and began to gently shake him.

Grissom slowly rolled his head around. "Sorry Sara. I didn't mean to fall asleep. I'm just a little tired I guess," he said between coughing.

"Don't be sorry. You should be sleeping. I'll leave you alone once I'm done taking your temperature." She handed Grissom the thermometer. "Here, put this in your mouth and don't move or talk."

Grissom took the thermometer, placed it under his tongue and waited for it to beep. When it did, a minute later, he read off the temperature to Sara. "102.3. I guess that's a bit too high huh?" He gave Sara a weak smile as he handed her back the thermometer. "I think I better take another dose of Tylenol." He rolled over and started to get up.

Sara saw what Grissom was planning to do and gently pushed him back down. "I'll get the Tylenol for you. Just lay back down." She headed to the kitchen and came back with the bottle of Tylenol, the bag of cough drops, and some more water for Grissom. She placed the bag of cough drops and the water on the nightstand. Opening the bottle of Tylenol, she poured two caplets into Grissom's outstretched hand.

"Thanks Sara." He swallowed the pills and placed the glass back on the nightstand. Then he quickly grabbed some tissues and sneezed.

"Now lie back down and get some rest. I'll turn up the heat a little more for you. Oh, I also brought you the cough drops if you need them."

With his eyes almost closed, Grissom nodded his head and turned back around to his side. Sara got off the bed and fixed the blankets for him. Walking back to the living room, she turned off the bedroom light and partially closed the door.

Seeing that it was a little early to go to bed herself, she decided it would be a good time to do her laundry. It had been sitting in the laundry bag on the floor in the dining room since they got to her place early that morning. While waiting for her laundry to be done, she made up her bed once more and lay down to read. Once all of her laundry was folded and placed on the kitchen table, she headed back to the couch to continue reading. Still not caught up on sleep, Sara fell asleep around 9:30 with the book open and in her lap.

TBC