A/N: Ready for another slice of angst? :P Sara's about to wake up…what will happen? Thank you to calim for the great beta :) And thanks for the reviews, please keep them coming and don't be afraid to cuss :P
Chapter 3
Sara woke up.
Grissom's mouth dropped open as he tried to breathe, his whole stomach tightening as his heart thudded in his chest.
"I want to see her. Now," he demanded. "And don't give me any shit about what time it is."
Alex looked to Steven and the doctor nodded.
"Okay, Gil," Steven agreed. "But there are conditions." Grissom frowned as the doctor continued. "For one, no offence, Catherine, but only Gil will be allowed into the room. It's a very controlled environment right now."
Catherine nodded her understanding. "Okay," she agreed.
"And two," Steven continued. "You have 10 minutes and 10 minutes only and then you need to get some rest."
Grissom wasn't keen on the time restraint but for now just nodded. "Fine," he mumbled, pushing the covers back. "Let's go."
"Hold on," Steven said, holding up a hand. "We need a wheelchair first. You stay right there while I fetch one."
Sighing, Grissom swung his feet over the bed and looked at Catherine. "This is probably a good time for you to head home," he suggested.
"Maybe," Catherine said softly. "Are you going to be all right?"
He nodded. "You can tell Nick not to bother coming as well."
Now Catherine frowned. "Gil…"
"I'm going to need some time on my own after this," he insisted. "I don't need anybody here with me and I don't want anyone here. Please understand that."
Surprisingly, Catherine agreed. "Okay," she whispered and Grissom blinked as she kissed him on the cheek. "Promise you'll call me if you need anything okay?"
"I will."
"All right. I'll see you in the morning and I'll bring Michael."
Grissom nodded again, his heart fluttering with so many emotions at the thought of his son. "Okay. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"Goodnight, Alex," Catherine said as she passed by him and grabbed her purse before heading for the door.
"May I ask who Michael is?" Alex inquired of his patient.
Looking up at him, Grissom sucked on his lip. "My son," he said quietly.
"Oh. Um…how old is he?"
"He'll be three in a few months," Grissom answered.
Alex rubbed his chin. "Still a little guy."
Grissom managed to smile. "Yeah. But I'm so proud of him." He shook his head. "He was so brave when those bastards broke into the store."
Alex's eyebrows soared. "He was there?" Grissom frowned at him. "Sorry," the surgeon apologized. "I just…don't have all the facts of what happened. Vague details of the kidnapping and then the crash."
"Yes, he was there," Grissom sighed. "Thankfully, they let him go."
"Does he know what's happened?"
Now Grissom swallowed. "No. The last time I saw him was outside the store before they vanished with my wife."
Blowing out a breath, Alex folded his arms. "Oh, boy."
"Indeed," Grissom agreed.
"A tough thing to explain to someone so young."
Grissom worked his jaw. "Tell me about it. I was going to ask if he'd be able to see Sara but I honestly don't know what to do. Catherine thinks it would be best just to let him know everything."
They were disturbed when Steven returned and he parked the wheelchair by the bed. "Did I interrupt something?" the doctor asked, sensing a little tension.
"Gil was telling me about his son. He's not sure what to say to him about his mother," Alex answered.
"I was wondering when this might come up," Steven answered.
"You know about Michael?" Grissom questioned, getting up to sit in the wheelchair, keen to get to his wife.
Smiling, Steven began pushing Grissom towards the door and out into the corridor, Alex following. "Catherine and I had a little discussion while you were sleeping earlier," he admitted. "She expressed your concerns."
"Oh," Grissom mumbled. "I guess I should have known."
"She has your best interests at heart," Steven tried to sooth.
"Yeah," he sighed. "So…what do you think?"
"I think you know in your heart what is best for your son," Steven encouraged. "We won't prevent him from seeing his mother if that's what you decide."
As they reached the elevator, Grissom looked over his shoulder. "What would you do?"
Steven smiled, pushing the call button. "I would give my son all the love and support I was capable of giving. And Sara needs him as much as he needs her."
Nipping down on his lip, Grissom nodded, getting what the doctor meant. Hiding Michael from what had happened simply wasn't an option. Not for any of them.
Alex's pager went off and he pulled it from his pocket. "I have to go," he said. "I'll catch up with you in the morning, Gil, okay?"
"Sure," Grissom agreed and the surgeon smiled then stepped away as the elevator opened.
"Are you ready for this, Gil?" Steven asked as he pushed him inside.
Grissom blew out a breath. "As ready as I can be I suppose."
The doors pinged open and they set off down the corridor. "Sara might not to be very responsive to you so be ready for that. But we won't know until we get there. She's also under a lot of medication so she won't be feeling much throughout her body either. But that's the best thing for her right now."
"Okay," Grissom breathed as they stopped outside, what he hoped, was Sara's room and a nurse approached them.
"How's she doing, Maggie?" Steven asked, taking the clipboard the nurse handed him.
"She's drifting in and out," the nurse replied. "Not been awake for more than a couple of minutes at a time and hasn't said anything yet. Heart rate has been pumping high for the last 20 minutes and we're spiking at 110."
Steven scratched his cheek. "Blood pressure isn't too bad considering. Let's give her a shot of flecainide for that heart rate and see how we go. 30 minute checks on everything, okay?"
"Yes, Doctor," Maggie replied, taking the clipboard back from him.
Grissom pushed himself from the chair earning himself a glare from the doctor.
"Don't start, okay?" Grissom requested. "I let you push me here but I need to be strong." He nodded towards the room. "For her. Plus, I need to get mobile again. Got a wife and son to look after remember?"
The doctor just smiled. "Fine," he agreed. "Ready?"
Inhaling deeply, Grissom nodded.
Grissom slowly stepped into the room, the familiar beep, beep, beep greeting him. Swallowing hard, he approached the bed, making sure that he moved to Sara's left side so he could hold her hand.
The first thing he noticed was the oxygen mask was gone which, hopefully, was a good thing. In its place was a cannula. Apart from that she didn't look much different from the last time he'd seen her. Her eyes were closed. Perhaps she was sleeping again.
"I'll give you a few minutes alone, okay?" Steven whispered.
Grissom nodded and Steven stepped away to allow him some privacy.
A lump burned in his throat as he moved close to the bed, his gaze flicking over Sara's body before it came to rest upon her face. Her eyelids twitched and his heart skipped a beat. Time seemed to stand still as he waited then, ever so slowly, her eyes opened and her head tipped his way.
"Hey," he whispered, a tiny smile catching his lips.
Sara blinked a few times, her world blurry. She blinked again not quite grasping what she was seeing, her brow creasing, mouth dropping open slightly.
"You…," she mumbled.
Grissom frowned at the slightly stunned look on her face.
"You're…alive…"
Grissom's eyebrows soared. That wasn't exactly the first thing he was expecting her to say, especially after the doctors had said she had yet to speak. But as his brain kicked into gear, he began to realize why.
Managing another smile, he reached out and took her hand giving it a gentle squeeze. "Yeah," he choked.
She almost smiled back, eyes fluttering closed for a second as she swallowed on a dry throat. "I thought…they…shot you." Her eyes opened again. "Thought you were…dead."
Squeezing her hand a little tighter, he brushed his thumb over her cheek. "You can't get rid of me that easily," he whimpered. He didn't mean to but the quake in his voice was unavoidable. "What's the last thing you remember?"
"The shot," she replied, swallowing again. "You…on the floor."
Suddenly, her eyes widened. Pulling her hand free from his, it landed on her stomach and she looked down, her gaze shifting to her legs then her arm. Terrified eyes shot back to Grissom.
"Babies?" she cried.
In a flash he took her hand again as the heart monitor suddenly went crazy. "Sara, relax," he pleaded.
"My babies…"
"Honey, they're alive," he managed hearing quick footsteps behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Steven and a nurse rushing towards them. Sara whimpered and his attention returned to her. "Relax. The babies are alive. You needed a C-section after the crash because you went into labor," he explained.
"You do need to calm down, Sara," Steven requested. "I know you're confused but we can't have your heart rate getting any worse right now."
Emitting a scared whine, Sara squeezed her eyes together then shook her head. "What…is going…on?" she cried. "What crash?"
Clearing his throat, Steven looked at Grissom. "Gil, maybe you should go back to your room. This isn't a great time for Sara to be getting…"
"No," Grissom said firmly, reaching for his wife's cheek and softly cupping it. "Sara…Sara, look at me," he begged and, thankfully, she did. "Take a breath. Just breathe," he soothed, rubbing his thumb over her skin and not pulling his eyes from hers for a second.
"Let's give her a shot to calm her down," Steven whispered to the nurse as he checked the heart readings.
"What…happened…to…me?" Sara sobbed in-between breaths.
"I promise I'll explain," Grissom said. "But you need to relax first, so just keep breathing, honey."
The nurse quickly administered the shot into the IV and Sara closed her eyes. "Can't…feel my…legs," she mumbled.
Biting his lip, Grissom glanced at Steven who folded his arms, his attention still very much on his patient.
"You're on a lot of medication," Grissom soothed, running his fingers through her hair.
"Hmmm," she grunted but that was it.
Frowning, Grissom squeezed her hand again. "Honey?" No reply came and he sighed.
"Considering how weak she is, I think the shot has sent her back to sleep," Steven said. Grissom worked his jaw and felt the doctor's hand on his shoulder. "It's probably the best thing right now."
Grissom shrugged. "I just wanted to explain," he said quietly. "She deserves that much at least."
"She does," Steven agreed. "But when she's stronger. Maybe tomorrow." All Grissom did, was nod weakly. "You should get some rest."
Now the CSI's eyes shot to the doctor and he moved to the chair by the bed, sitting down. "I'm not leaving her," he argued and his eyebrows rose when Steven smirked at him.
"Why am I not surprised?"
"You're not going to argue with me?" Grissom questioned.
Smiling now, Steven turned back to the nurse. "Could you bring a blanket and pillow?" She smiled back and nodded before stepping away. "Would I achieve anything if I did that?"
Grissom shook his head. "Probably not."
"We're not monsters, Gil. But, if I'm going to break the rules and let you stay, there are conditions."
"I'm listening," Grissom replied.
"You do not touch any of the equipment. Sara is currently on nil by mouth, so you must not give her anything to eat or drink. If she should wake and ask for water, call for a nurse and we can allow her a few ice chips. Should a problem arise then you must let us do our job and leave if you are asked. Getting in the way will not help us."
Now Grissom nodded. "Okay," he agreed. "Anything else?"
"If she wakes up and stays awake for more than five minutes and no one comes in, hit the call button. The nurse will need to do some checks."
"Are you leaving?"
"I'll be on call," Steven reassured. "Sara has plenty of care so please try not to worry. Well, too much. I suspect she will sleep most of the night anyway."
Exhaling heavily, Grissom nodded again, eyes flicking to the door as the nurse returned and held out a pillow to him.
"Thanks," he said gratefully, placing the pillow behind his neck before taking the blanket from her and dropping it on his lap. The nurse smiled and stepped away. "So what happens tomorrow?" Grissom asked.
"We'll see when tomorrow arrives," Steven replied. "We can't predict or presume anything at the moment so we'll take each hour as it comes. However, the sooner we can get her back into surgery the better. Alex will explain more about that once he has assessed Sara."
Clearing his throat, Grissom nodded. "Could you find out if there is any more news on the babies? I know she'll ask if she wakes up."
"I'll get someone to find out for you, okay?"
"Thanks," Grissom whispered somberly.
Steven smiled. "Do you need any more pain relief before I go? I can get the nurse to bring it in."
Holding a hand to his stomach, Grissom thought for a second. "That might be good," he admitted, feeling sore again. He knew he was overdoing it but being there for his wife was more important than a little pain.
"Okay. I'll get that sorted and get some water for you as well. Then try to rest."
"I'll try," Grissom sighed, knowing that wasn't going to be easy.
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
Just after 2am, Grissom fell asleep. He'd been fighting against it for hours, wanting to be awake in case Sara woke. But, once the medication kicked it, he couldn't keep his eyes open. A few short hours later, a whispering caught at his senses and his eyes slowly opened, centering on two nurses hovering over his wife.
Pushing the blanket from his lap, he slowly sat forward. "What's happening?" he mumbled sleepily, surprised when Sara's head tipped his way, her gaze locking with his. He wasn't sure whether to smile or frown.
"Just relax," the first nurse urged Grissom. "We're just doing a few checks and making her a little more comfortable."
His eyes scanned her name badge, preferring to know who he was talking to. "May I ask what tests, Christine?"
She smiled at his observation. "Breathing, blood pressure, pain level," she replied. "The important things."
Nipping on his lip, Grissom returned his attention to his wife and reached for her hand, managing a small smile now. "Hey," he said softly.
Sara blinked. "Hey," she whispered then yawned, her head tipping back to watch the other nurse, Sally, move around the bed to pick up a blood pressure cuff.
"Just need to check your blood pressure, Sara, okay," she said.
Running her tongue over her bottom lip, Sara nodded faintly. "Water?" she asked quietly.
Christine smiled before twiddling a knob on the IV line. "I'll get you some ice chips in a second. Can't have much in your stomach right now."
"Could you just step out of the way for a second, Gil?" Sally requested. "I need to get to Sara's arm."
Reluctantly releasing his wife's hand, Grissom stood and moved out of the nurse's way.
"Can you tell me what the pain in your arm is like?" Christine asked, shifting Sara's cast slightly so it wasn't putting too much pressure on her tummy.
"Heavy," she mumbled. "Numb. Everything is numb."
"Any pain, throbbing, tingling?" Christine continued.
"No."
Grissom swallowed. "Is that right?" he asked.
Christine nodded. "It means the painkillers are doing their job."
"Okay," Grissom agreed knowing the less pain she was in, the better. Well, he hoped.
After getting her blood pressure reading, Sally unfastened the cuff and urged Grissom back to his wife. Sitting back down, he retook her hand now noticing she had a tiny bit more color in her cheeks.
"How do you feel?" he asked even though he knew it was a stupid question.
Her eyes fluttered. "I…don't know."
"Any pain anywhere, Sara?" Christine questioned, looking over her legs and checking the bandages.
"No," Sara mumbled. "Just thirsty. Dizzy. No pain."
"Good," the nurse replied. "That's what we want. Are you comfortable? Need to sit up a bit?"
"I'm fine," Sara slurred. "Be nice to know…what happened." Her head tipped back to Grissom. "Babies? Michael?"
He looked at the nurse and she nodded.
"We'll go get those ice chips. Just buzz if you need anything."
"Okay," he agreed, returning his gaze to Sara and squeezing her hand. "Michael is at Catherine's. He doesn't know what happened yet."
She blinked a few times before taking a breath. "So…what did…happen?"
A/N: Poor Sara, how's she going to react? :(