"The story of a love is not important-what is important is that one is
capable of love. It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity."
-Helen Hayes

Chapter One

Grissom politely thanked the doctor for his time and walked down the silent halls of the hospital, barely noticing the people he passed. At the end of the hallway he reached a large waiting room, only occupied by three people at such an early hour of day.

Ignoring the worried-looking blonde couple, he made his way over to a brunette, who was staring blankly at a dull white wall. She didn't acknowledge him when he sat down next to her.

Grissom watched her, concern apparent on his aged features. After a long silence of considering his words, he finally spoke.

"Do you want to talk, Sara?"

She turned to look at him, her brown eyes shining with unshed tears, and then turned back to stare at the wall once again.

"What did the doctors say?" She asked quietly with a voice filled of worry and sadness. "Will Greg be okay?"

"They don't know. We'll have to wait and see."

Sara said nothing, finally breaking her gaze at the wall to look down at the floor. For the first time, Grissom noticed the blood stain along the sleeve of her jacket, as well as her jeans.

"What happened out there, Sara?"

"It all happened so fast." She shook her head slowly. "We were standing in the front yard, discussing footprints that we'd found along the side of the house. Suddenly, we heard shots and Greg…" She paused, trying to gather her shaking voice. "Greg pushed me and we both fell to the ground. It took me a moment to realize what happened and then I felt something." Sara stopped talking; her voice was shaking so badly that Grissom was sure that she was fighting desperately to keep from crying.

"What were you feeling?" He asked gently, already having a good guess at the answer.

"Blood. He was bleeding so much."

"Did you see anyone?"

She merely shook her head, wiping away a tear that had been threatening to fall.

"Brass has officers searching the neighborhood as we speak. We'll find out who did this."

"Good."

Grissom gave a small smile. "Come on, there's nothing more we can do here." He stood and offered her his hand.

Sara slowly looked up at him and then the hand. Her hand was shaking almost as badly as her voice had done as she took his hand and stood up.

The silence that fell upon them as the left the hospital lingered as Grissom drove the car toward the lab- Sara leaning her head against the window and staring impassively at the lights that streamed by.

When they finally reached the lab, she followed uncertainly a step or two behind him as they entered the cool air of the building.

Grissom saw Catherine, Nick and Warrick standing near the reception area, all looking concerned and obviously waiting to hear what had occurred only an hour before. Glancing back, he realized Sara had seen her fellow CSIs as well, for she slowed her pace and watched them apprehensively.

"Go ahead and change out of those clothes." He said to her gently. "I'll talk to them."

She nodded and headed in the direction of the locker room. Grissom waited until she was out of sight before approaching the worried CSIs.

"Is she okay?" Catherine asked, looking in the direction Sara had gone off in.

"Physically, yes. The doctors say she's just in shock. She'll be alright with some time."

"What about Greg?" Nick asked.

"The doctors aren't sure." Grissom shook his head slowly.

"Damn…" Warrick muttered. "This has got to be hell on Sara."

"She's the closest to Greg, and to be right there when it happened…" Catherine sighed, voice revealing empathy for the younger woman. "Why did you bring her back here?"

"The doctor recommended that she not be left alone. I didn't know what else to do. I agree that she should be at home, but we can keep an eye on her here." Grissom explained, also looking off toward the unseen locker room.

"I'll take her home, and stay with her." Nick spoke up after a moment of silence.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'll look after her. This is hard enough on her, she doesn't need to be here."

"Alright. I'll call as soon as I know anything." Grissom nodded slowly. "Take good care of her." He added as Nick started to walk away.

"I will." The younger man assured him, glancing back over his shoulder quickly before heading off the direction of the locker room.

When he reached his destination he paused momentarily in the doorway, quickly surveying the painfully sad scene within, before slowly entering.

Sara was sitting on the floor, between the bench, on which the bloodstained jacket was draped messily, and her open locker. She had her knees pulled tightly to her chest and her head buried in her arms. Nick could her hear her sobbing quietly as he sat down next to her- the tears she had fought so hard to withhold finally overtaking her. Unsure of what else to do, he simply put his arm around her trembling shoulders.

She looked up quickly at him but said nothing before throwing her arms around his neck and continuing to sob on his shoulder.

Although taken by surprise with her openly displayed emotions, Nick didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her and hug her tightly.

"It's okay, Sara. It's going to be okay." He told her gently. "You've got to be strong."

"I can't lose him." Sara replied quietly, voice muffled against his body.

"I understand. But he's a fighter, Sara. He won't give up, so don't give up on him."

"This is my fault."

"Why do you think that?"

"He was protecting me. He's hurt because of me."

"I'm sure he'd do it again without a second thought."

Sara unwrapped herself from Nick and sat back a little, looking at him thoughtfully. Uselessly wiping away still flowing tears, she managed a small smile. "I'll hate him forever if he doesn't make it through this."

"He wouldn't want that." Nick returned her smile.

"Then he better make it." Her smiled faded and she appeared to be on the verge of breaking down again.

"I'm going to take you home, and stay with you for a while, okay?"

"You don't have to stay."

"Do you really want to be alone?" He raised an eyebrow, doubt obvious in his voice.

"No…" She admitted, looking away.

"I want to help you through this, Sara. Let me help you."

She nodded silently.

"Alright. Let's go before people start getting curious and wanting to ask questions." Nick stood up and helped her climb to her feet. "Do you need anything out of your locker?"

"No." Sara picked up her jacket and held it tightly. "I'm ready to leave."

"Okay, let's go." He closed her locker for her, and put an arm around her, leading her out of the room and into the lab.

Heads turned as they walked by and whispers seemed to follow them, but everyone kept their distance as Nick and Sara made their way out of the building, her face stained by the tears that had finally stopped flowing.

To be continued...

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