A/N: How do. Back for another chapter of hospital mayhem? Lol. I know what that's like at the moment. I'm feeling a happy chapter though. So makes a change for me, lol. Enjoy :)
My gracious thanks to calim for the beta and for all your reviews. You all rock! :)
Chapter 14
While Sara slept for a few hours, Grissom called Catherine to catch up on the lab then called Claire at home to fill her in and organize a time for her to bring Michael back to the hospital. Shocked at the news upon her return from vacation, the nanny didn't let anything that happened faze her and offered her help in any way.
That offer had been a huge weight lifting off Grissom's shoulders. No longer did he have to worry about who his son would be with or whether he'd settle in a strange home for a night or two. It wasn't good for Michael to be constantly passed around to different people no matter the necessity for it. Grissom missed him, a lot, and he knew Sara did as well, but having him in a hospital environment for too long wasn't something he wanted.
The investigation into the fugitive responsible for the kidnapping of his wife and putting her where she was now, wasn't going as well as other things though. Ryan Murphy had vanished without a trace along with the stolen jewels. Even his brother's funeral hadn't stirred him into making a reappearance but Grissom did his best not to think about it. Yes, he would love to see the man rot in jail but his current priority was his family and not chasing after low life scum. His decision to put work before family led to this situation. Each and every day he reminded himself of that and it wouldn't be happening again.
Now he settled by the bed, just like he normally did, and gathered a book from one of his bags to keep him occupied. He hadn't left the hospital once since the accident with the exception of taking Michael to the park across the street a few times. The thought of being far away should anything happen to Sara or the twins was just too horrible to think about. The nurses had brought in an adult cot for him to sleep on and he just made do. As long as he was there, he didn't care. He'd sleep on the floor, if necessary.
About three hours after being brought back to her room, Sara stirred. Putting his book down, Grissom got up and flashed her a smile when her eyes opened.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Grissom," he greeted.
She snorted. "So formal."
He smiled, reaching for her hand. "How are you feeling?"
After yawning, Sara smacked her lips together. "Okay. A little sore still but it's all right." She yawned again. "I'll admit…it was nice to get my legs out of these damn slings for a while. Sick of having them stuck up in the air."
"I've got fond memories of your legs stuck up in the air."
Sara's eyebrows rose and she couldn't help pursing her lips as Grissom smirked.
"Careful," she warned. "My heart rate doesn't need any assistance to get any faster at the moment."
As his smirk turned into a smile, he glanced over his shoulder as the nurse stepped in.
"I thought I heard voices," Christine said, grabbing the blood pressure cuff. "How's your pain, Sara?" she asked, pushing her sleeve up a bit.
"Bearable," Sara answered. "At the moment anyway but it's odd actually feeling it."
Recording Sara's blood pressure, Christine removed the cuff and then checked the IV. "Well, we'll do our best to make sure that pain stays under control. I'll let the doctor know you're awake."
As Christine left, Sara sighed causing Grissom to frown.
"Are you okay?" he asked, squeezing her hand.
"I guess," she said unenthusiastically. "Just thinking."
Grissom's brow twitched a little as his concern grew. "Want to share what you're thinking about?" His tone was soft and in no way demanding.
"Pain," she said flatly. "And how bad it will get because I won't be able to stay on this medication forever."
"Well," Grissom began, feeling a sudden tightness in his throat as his nerves spiked at the thought of her in pain. "I…um," he paused, not really knowing what to say. He wasn't stupid, the pain would certainly come.
Now Sara squeezed his hand. "You'll just have to put up with my complaining."
His head kinked back on a snort. "I'm sure I can deal with that."
She smirked. "I wouldn't count on it."
Leaning close, he hovered over her, their eyes locking. "Try me," he challenged with a smile placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"Am I interrupting?" Steven asked.
Straightening himself out, Grissom cleared his throat with a shake of the head. "Um, no, come on in."
Doing just that, the doctor joined the couple, having a quick look over the elevation of Sara's legs.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked her.
"I suppose it depends how you define comfortable," she returned.
Steven reached for her chart, pulling a pen from his pocket. "Elevation is always a challenging thing."
"No kidding," she mumbled.
"Any idea when she might be able to keep her legs down?" Grissom asked.
After writing his notes, Steven put the chart away. "It will all depend on the swelling," he replied.
"And how is that exactly?" Sara questioned. "Am I getting my test results now?"
Sara knew her legs were still swollen, the left especially badly, but she didn't know at what point it would be un-swollen enough to get her vertical again.
"From a recovery point of view," Steven began, "we're doing okay."
She frowned at him. "Okay? Would you care to elaborate on that?"
"Sure," the doctor said walking around to Sara's right side, the couple watching his every move as he motioned a finger along her leg. "Your right tibia seems to be healing well. The rod and nails are doing the exact job we wanted them to," he said, pausing right by the fibula. "Right here, we may have a little muscle damage that requires some work but this could heal without any assistance. The break is healing satisfactorily."
Swallowing hard, Sara felt Grissom grip her hand.
"Okay," she breathed, a definite nervousness hitting her tummy. "What, um," she paused, swallowing again, "about the left?"
"Your knee cap is holding well," Steven said positively. "The tension band is keeping all the broken fragments in exactly the right places and so are the plate and screws that we placed into your tibia."
Clearing her throat now, Sara squeezed her husband's hand just a little tighter. "I'm waiting for the but." Sara wasn't naive enough to think this was going to be all good news.
A soft smile passed over Steven's lips. "The feeling within both your legs was good considering. And, it's still very early days with your left ankle, Sara, but so far it is holding."
She inhaled deeply. "While it's still," she mumbled.
"True," Steven confirmed. "But as we mentioned before, until we reach a point to be able to apply some movement, we won't know exactly how much it will hold."
Grissom took a breath. "Do you…have any idea when movement will be possible?"
Steven shook his head. "Not yet. We will need to operate on your muscles and tendons before we can even think about this. The swelling in your left leg is being increased because of this added damage. Although I'm sure you know, muscles, by way of their tendon attachments at each end, insert into your bones and provide the force required for movement. Without this, you won't be moving."
"When are you planning on this next surgery?" Sara asked. She knew the sooner it was done, the sooner she would know what else she had to face.
"Tomorrow we'd like to get the cast off your arm and take a good look at your wrist. If all's well, the day after tomorrow."
Frowning, Sara glanced at her arm. Being the lesser painful of her injured appendages it had received the least attention. However, she couldn't deny it would be nice to get the plaster off and be able to have at least a little independence back.
With hopeful eyes, she glanced back at Steven. "Will you be leaving the cast off?"
"I won't make any promises until we've had a proper look. It's usual for such breaks as you have to be casted for 4-6 weeks."
She sighed, looking away from him. "That'll be a no then."
Both Grissom and the doctor could sense the disappointment in her voice and Grissom just wished there was something that could perk her up a bit.
"You've done well today, Sara, so be proud," Steven encouraged. Her eyes flicked back to him as he folded his arms across his chest. "And I have a suggestion that could very well make you smile. If you feel up to it that is."
Now Sara's curiosity bloomed. "Oh?"
He smiled. "How about a little personal visit with the twins?"
Her eyes widened, heart rate kicking up a notch. "Really?" Steven nodded. "I mean…like properly? I can…hold them?"
"I'm sure we can work it out," Steven said confidently. "If that's what you would like."
"Yes!" Sara almost shouted.
Grissom snickered at her enthusiasm and, when she looked at him, he gave her the biggest smile.
But then she frowned as a huge burst of nerves hit her. "Yes?" she questioned him apprehensively.
"Yes," he clarified. "You'll be fine."
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
As Sara was wheeled through the NICU towards the twin's room, accompanied by a nurse, she was bombarded with emotion. Happiness, excitement but also a little fear. Yes, she'd seen them but only through glass. This was totally different and finally she'd be able to hold them. Something a mother should be able to do from the very second they were brought into the world.
Would they know who she was? Would that natural bond still be there?
Reaching the room, Jane spotted them through the window and headed their way.
"Are you okay?" Grissom asked.
Sara looked at him. "I think so," she replied. "I don't know why I'm nervous. I shouldn't be nervous."
"It's not a normal situation, is it?" he countered. "But you'll do great, I promise."
Nodding, she looked at the door as Jane stepped through, flashing them a smile.
"Good afternoon," she greeted.
"Hi," Sara said a little timidly, her gaze moving back to the glass for a second.
Grissom pointed over his shoulder. "I'll just wash my hands and be right back."
Jane nodded at him before returning her attention to Sara. "Doctor Sharpe says you're doing well. It must run in the family."
Sara smiled. "You have no idea how much of a relief it is to know my babies are doing well."
"They are like their mother."
Letting out a soft snort, Sara glanced back through the window. "How is this going to work?"
"Ready when you are," Grissom announced as he hurried back.
Another nod from the doctor came. "So," she began, "we'll wheel you into the room, Sara, and pop your bed into the space that's been cleared. One by one we'll bring your babies across to you and we should be able to rest them across your chest and left arm. Okay?" Sara nodded. "Any questions?"
"Is there a time limit on how long I can hold them?
"We'll monitor that as we go," Jane replied. "They need to stay warm so it will depend on their reactions being out of the crib. They both have small temperature alarms attached to their wrists so if we have to get them back into bed pronto then we'll know about it."
Sucking in a breath, Sara gave a nod. "Okay. I'm ready."
Nodding, Jane opened the door and as the orderly pushed Sara into the room, followed by Grissom, their accompanying nurse took a seat off to the side. They both watched as Jane chatted with her colleagues as she moved across the room then reached into one of the cribs.
"Want to say hello to Hope?" Jane asked, moving around to Sara's left side.
Eyes glued to her daughter, Sara dumbly nodded, maneuvering her left arm so Jane could carefully place Hope down. As soon as she felt the tiny weight upon her body, she began to sob. It was so much less than she'd expected. But a trembling smile soon came when Hope's face crinkled a little, as if she was frowning, then her small fingers gripped onto her mother's gown before letting out a yawn.
"She's so beautiful," Sara sniffed, a tear welling in her eye but then, as Hope's eyes opened, she truly smiled. "Hello," Sara beamed. The baby blinked a few times, her hand getting a little tighter upon Sara's gown. "Can she see me?" she asked, unable to take her eyes from her daughter, managing to shift her arm enough so she could whisk her thumb down her cheek.
"It's possible if her focus is good enough," Jane said. "She can certainly hear you."
"Is that right?" Sara said softly. "Can you hear your mommy?"
Hope blinked again and then to the surprise of everyone, she smiled. Well, almost.
"Wow," Grissom breathed. "She's smiling." He frowned then. "I think."
A giggle left Sara's lips. "She sure is."
Hope shuffled a little, as if digging deeper into her mother's embrace, her eyes closing and Sara's smile got broader but then she had an odd thought.
"Do you think they'll take to me feeding them?" she asked, looking up at Jane. "You know…breast feeding, considering that's not what they're getting at the moment."
"When they are well enough to try," Jane began, "then…you can try. You can't do anything more. The nutrients they need right now are being provided and, when they're a little older and stronger, they could easily take to your breast but for a true answer to that question, I just don't know. They might or they may prefer a bottle. All babies are different in this situation."
It dawned upon Sara then. How on earth was she going to look after her babies? It could be another month before she had any use of her arm back not even mentioning her legs. The twins would more than likely be out of the hospital a long time before she was. How would Grissom cope with that?
"Are you okay?"
Hearing her husband's voice, Sara looked up. "Um, yeah. Why?"
He shrugged. "You just looked…a little lost there for a second."
"Just thinking," she said quietly, brushing her thumb down Hope's cheek one more time.
"What about?" Grissom asked softly.
Not wanting to cause a scene or ruin the moment, Sara just shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I'll tell you later."
Grissom's eyes narrowed with suspicion but he let the matter lie for now.
Jane allowed Sara a few more minutes and then spoke up. "How about we let Hope say hello to her father and I bring Gabriel across? We try not to keep them out of the cribs too long."
"Okay," Sara agreed, looking up at Jane as she stepped closer and reached for her daughter. "Could you just hold her up so I can give her a kiss?"
Nodding, Jane scooped up Hope from her mother's arm and held her close to her face. Sara gave her daughter a gentle kiss on the cheek and looked on as she was passed to Grissom. She watched him rock their daughter, his own smile lighting up his face as Hope opened her eyes.
"She's got your eyes you know," he pointed out, tenderly rubbing his fingers over Hope's head.
Sighing happily, Sara rubbed her tummy then glanced up when Jane returned.
"Here we go," she said, leaning down to Sara and carefully placing Gabriel in the crook of her arm. "He's wrapped in a blanket to ensure he keeps warm," Jane informed her as Sara's eyes wondered over her son. "He can't keep his body warmth quite as well as his sister yet."
"Okay," Sara breathed, eyes taking in her son's features. "He looks so much like Mike, only smaller."
"Looks like his sister, too," Grissom added.
Jane smiled. "The joy of twins."
Managing to dip her head just enough, Sara kissed Gabriel on forehead. "Could have been triplets," she snickered.
"Maybe next time," Jane jested.
As Sara's headed rose a look of bemusement crossed Grissom's face.
"When you're ready, dear," Sara challenged and as Grissom's eyebrows soared, she snorted.
Jane grinned at their banter. It was nice to hear, especially after what they we're going through. "Not too long, okay?" she said. "And then we need to get these two little ones back into the warmth.
All Sara did was nod and glanced back at her son, intent on making the most out of every second possible.
A/N: Awwwwww:D Will this mood last? We will see.