A/N: As always huge thanks to Aus for the beta read. Also, thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing!

Slight references to another fic of mine "An ecdysiast, a party and a confession"

Chapter 7 - Waiting

Using the lights and sirens, Nick was able to catch up to the ambulance, and stay with it all the way to the hospital.

Grissom remained silent for the entire trip.

He continued to stare at the back of the rescue squad as the doors swung open and a team of emergency room personnel helped pull the stretcher out. He felt like he was watching a nightmare play out in front of him. A floating sensation gripped him. A breeze hit his face, and he felt a touch on his shoulder. Glancing toward his right, he realized Catherine had opened his door. "Are we there?" he asked unable to process his environment.

She offered him a concerned smile, and nodded her head. "Yeah, come on, we'll need to fill out some paperwork," she explained, motioning toward the doors that slid open, allowing the medical crew entrance as they hastily moved Sara inside.

The younger CSIs flanked their boss as they entered the organized chaos of the ER.

Grissom knew that the bay had to be noisy based on the activity around him, but he heard none of it as the blood rushed through his ears. He caught a flash of movement as he watched Sara disappear through another set of doors. He moved to follow, but was stopped.

Glancing down he saw Catherine's hand on his arm again. His eyes trailed up her arm to her face. Her lips were moving, but he couldn't hear her. He closed his eyes, offering up a silent prayer, shook his head, and opened his eyes. In a rush, noise assaulted his senses.

"…can't go there. Let them work," Catherine was explaining.

Nodding he looked around him. "Yeah," he answered, and headed for the front desk.

A kind face greeted him, looking out of place in the environment. "Can I help you?" the young nurse asked.

Grissom cleared his throat. "Yeah, they, ah, they just brought in my…Sara Sidle. She works for the crime lab. She was involved in the explosion tonight," he explained awkwardly.

Offering a sympathetic smile, she handed him a clip board. "We heard about it over dispatch. Are you her supervisor?" she asked.

Glancing at the paperwork, he nodded.

"Does she have any next of kin?"

Looking into her eyes, he shook his head. "I have power of attorney," he explained.

Satisfied, she pointed to some chairs. "Fill that out, and the doctor will be out to see you when she can," she spoke softly. "There's some coffee in our break room if you need it," she told him knowingly.

Offering his thanks, he headed for the chairs.

--/--

Nick rubbed his neck as he cracked it. Catching a glimpse of the admit nurse heading their way, he looked toward his boss.

Grissom was leaning forward, head resting in his hands. Nick, placed a hand on Grissom's knee. "Gris," he spoke softly, getting his attention.

Looking up, he saw Nick nodding in front of the group. Shifting his focus, he saw the nurse standing in front of him. Standing quickly, he searched her uniform for her name tag. "Nurse Nelson," he started.

"Call me Marta," she instructed. "They brought Ms. Sidle up to the OR. The waiting room on the third floor is more comfortable."

"What's her condition?" he asked hopeful for information.

Smiling her encouragement she nodded toward the elevators. "All I know is that they weren't running when they headed toward the elevators. Around here, that's a good sign," she offered.

"Thank you Marta," he said, and headed for the elevator, the CSI night shift in tow.

--/--

"What's taking so long?" Greg asked, his frustration mounting.

Nick looked up at the clock on the wall. "It's only been an hour Greggo. When have you known Sara to make any process easy?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Grissom allowed a small smile to cross his concerned features. "Never," he responded honestly and stood.

Catherine re-entered the room with a beverage carrier full of coffee. "I had to go down the street to find decent cappuccino," she announced handing out the cups. As Grissom took his, she looked into his eyes, hoping to find out how he was truly holding up. "Brass called. Everyone at the police and fire department are pulling for her."

Nodding his mind replayed the events that landed them all there. "Are they all still out at the crime scene?" he asked her.

"Yeah, they just recovered Foster's body. They got word that O'Donnell his here, and in stable condition," she filled them all in.

Nodding, he rubbed the back of his head, hitting the tender bump he had all but forgotten about.

Noting the wince, the blonde moved around to examine the area. "That's a pretty big lump Gil," she informed him. "You should get it looked at."

Brushing her hand away he shook his head. "It's fine. I just need some aspirin," he explained.

They all recognized the tone that warned them all he had very little patience left. He turned and sat back down, daring anyone to challenge him.

"Sara's gonna be pissed at you if your brain explodes," Greg said under his breath.

Glaring at the youngest CSI, he couldn't help but smile again. "My brain is not going to explode Greg," he informed him.

"Cite your source," Nick returned.

Sighing loudly, Grissom allowed himself to relax slightly for his team's sake. "Common sense."

Warrick smiled, "Tell that to Sara. Remember the case where she refused to give up on the bamboo stick? She walked around the lab with it for almost a full day trying to figure out why it was at the crime scene."

Greg chuckled, "Yeah she almost knocked Jimmy out in the hallway."

"What about the case she was convinced you had discovered spontaneous human combustion?" Nick threw back.

"She kept me on my toes that entire case," Warrick commented. "See Gris, sometimes common sense makes you miss things."

"We can't all be as stubborn as her," Gil agreed, and allowed the conversation to continue as they discussed the moments that made them all respect their colleague.

While the soft laughter filled the room, he looked up at the clock. Fear made him wonder if they would have only memories of the woman he loved.

--/--

Nearly an hour later, the team all found themselves in the same room, waiting for news.

"Hey Greg, whatever happened to that eunuch?" Nick asked, laughter caught in his throat.

Greg glared at the Texan. "It was an ecdysiast, and she was convicted of murder last month."

Remembering the case Grissom realized that was the night their relationship began. Memories of the night ran unbidden through his mind. It had turned out to be one of the best birthdays on record.

"Who spiked the punch?" Warrick asked, having forgotten about the party.

"Yeah Greg, who emptied a bottle of rum into the punch," Grissom asked knowingly.

Knowing he was caught, his face turned red. "How did you know boss?"

"I printed the bottle the next day," he explained, but before he could elaborate Dr. Roarke walked in.

All noise in the room stopped, and they waited expectantly for an update.

Without hesitation, the doctor looked at Gil, "Dr. Grissom, Ms. Sidle is being moved to ICU. She lost a lot of blood, but we were able to repair the damage done to the artery."

"But she'll be alright?" Nick asked with concern.

Looking at the group Allison wanted to provide good news, but needed to make sure she didn't give them false hope. "She's stable now. The next 24 hours will be critical."

"Can I see her?" Grissom asked.

"I suggest you all go home and get some rest. She's sedated, and isn't expected to wake until the morning," the doctor responded not answering his question.

"I want to stay with her," he explained more urgently.

Nodding curtly, she turned to leave. "I'll let the nurses know you'll need a cot."

"Thank you doctor," he exhaled, relieved.

"I'll check on you both in the morning," she informed him.

--/--

Grissom sat in his chair next to Sara's bed, watching the morning light move its way across the room.

Despite the nurses urging, he had not slept a minute. He had felt the need to watch the slight rise and fall of Sara chest the entire night. His emotions were in turmoil. He wished he had been able to talk her out of the search and rescue training or even attempting the recovery, but in his heart he knew he would have been unable to change her mind; and that in and of itself was one of the many reasons he loved her.

Ryan Foster was alive because of her, and Derek O'Donnell didn't die alone. His last thought made him realize she had been through emotional trauma as well as her physical injuries.

Leaning in, he took her hand. Concern filled him, wanting her to wake up, but unsure she was ready to cope.

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft voice.

"Dr. Grissom. How's she doing this morning?" Dr. Roarke asked.

Leaning back, he released Sara's hand and ran his fingers through his hair. "Still asleep," he explained, frustration evident.

Glancing through the chart, Allison nodded. "Well, the extra rest will help her body recovery faster," commented, and looked up at the exhausted man in front of her, and then to the pristine cot across the room. "It would do you some good as well."

"Yeah. I just want to be here when she wakes up," he explained.

Placing the clip board back on the hook at the foot of the bed, she walked around the bed, and lifted Sara's blankets to examine her sutures.

Craning his neck, he caught sight of an angry contusion beneath the gauze. Realizing the immediate threat was over; he had a new fear growing, "Is there any permanent damage?"

Securing the bandages, Allison lowered the blankets. "She'll need physical therapy, but there didn't appear to be any nerve damage. I'm more concerned about her blood loss," she answered honestly.

Swallowing hard, Grissom looked at the face of his sleeping girlfriend. "Is she not out of the woods yet?" he asked standing up.

"We'll need to assess her status after she wakes up," Dr. Roarke explained, turning around, and nearly colliding with him. Noticing the growing fear in his eyes, she laid a hand on his forearm, "She should waking soon, and then we'll go from there."

"Yeah," he breathed, and stepped out of her way.

Squeezing his arm, she smiled, "I'll check in on her in an hour. You should get some sleep."

Sinking into his chair, he watched the sun slide across Sara's face, highlighting every scrap and bruise.

Leaning forward, he took her hand in both of his, and he watched the slight rise and fall of her chest.

TBC…