A/N: Sorry for the delay. My writing will hasn't been around much lately so I've found it hard to put finger to key :P Time for Sara to get her legs down I think. You may wince a bit. My gracious thanks for all your reviews, they rock. And, thank you to calim for yet another great beta and for all your help.
On we go….
Chapter 19
Sara could deal with pain. True, she didn't have much choice in the matter but figured the exam would be a cakewalk compared to giving birth. And she'd been partially right. Numerous moans and groans had escaped her lips along with a few grimaces as the doctors poked and prodded their way up one leg and down the other, but she could feel her right leg and most of the left. A portion around her left knee and a few points on her foot were being stubborn but, all in all, it was great news.
Sharing Grissom's smile, she clung tightly to his hand, then turned her attention to the doctors.
"The swelling in your left knee is looking much better," Alex said, removing his gloves and tossing them into the disposal bin.
Inhaling deeply, Sara nodded. "Yeah," she said quietly. "I saw."
"That's good, right?" Grissom asked.
"Absolutely," Alex confirmed. "It means the knee is already accepting the procedure and, hopefully, doing its best to fix itself."
"So when can I get up?" Sara asked impatiently causing Alex to smirk.
"We may consider taking your legs down in 24 hours," Donald said, "as long as the swelling continues to subside."
"Okay," Sara replied waiting for more to come.
"We will then decide whether or not to cast your left leg," Donald continued.
Grissom squeezed Sara's hand a little tighter. "Can you do that? I mean, considering all the lacerations and swelling?"
"Like I said," Donald continued, "the swelling will be a major factor but it will be much safer with a cast on." He pointed at Sara's knee. "It would be a full leg cast. Starting above your knee and going down to cover your ankle. This way your full leg is supported and it will provide us with an easier job of letting you get out of bed. One simple knock or movement out of place and, trust me, it won't be fun."
Sara swallowed. "No, I suppose it wouldn't but if it gives me more chance of getting up then let's do it."
Donald chuckled. "I love your enthusiasm but we need to wait just a little while, okay?"
"We just need to be patient," Grissom as he smiled lovingly at her.
Sighing, she looked back at Donald. "Will I be able to see the babies today or am I confined to my room?"
"No moving today," Donald replied. "It's for your own safety and comfort."
"I thought as much," Sara mumbled.
"We can see the twins tomorrow," Grissom said, trying to keep positive.
Her head tipped his way and she lifted his hand to rest over her chest. "You can go and see them and then let me know how they are."
"We'll see," he whispered.
"The nurses are going to come in and make sure your legs are disinfected before they add some support bandages," Alex said. "As much as possible we need to try and let your skin air for a while."
Sara pursed her lips at her husband. "It's a perfect time for you to see our babies. I'm sure you don't need to watch that." He frowned but she continued. "Go and get Mike and take him to see his siblings. And then bring me ice cream."
Now Grissom's eyebrows soared and she smirked. "Seriously?"
"Oddly, yes," she confirmed. "I feel like ice cream."
A smile found his lips. "Okay," he agreed. "Ice cream it is."
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With Michael beside him, Grissom settled into one of the soft benches inside the NICU with Gabriel nestled in his arms. Looking into his baby's eyes, his face lit up with a glorious smile when he looked right back at him.
"Mommy says hello," he said, rubbing his thumb over Gabriel's chin. "Yes, she does," he confirmed when the baby kicked out his legs.
"He's doing really well," the nurse said who was hovering close and keeping an eye on Michael.
"It's so good to hear that," Grissom replied.
"Can I hold baby, Daddy?" Michael asked, holding out his arms.
Looking at his son, Grissom's eyebrows rose. "Um, I think he's still a little too small yet, Mike. He needs to be held very carefully."
"Aww," Michael pouted and folded his arms.
Looking at the nurse, Grissom watched as she smiled and held up a finger. "I have an idea," she said.
Stepping away before he had a chance to ask what it was, she quickly returned holding what looked like a baby in her arms.
"This is Rebecca," she said. "She is our 'real care' baby simulator we use for training or if Mommy's are a little scared of holding their babies."
Michael could certainly hold that baby and there should be no issues.
"Michael, would you like to hold Rebecca?" she asked.
"Baby?" Michael queried, looking over the small being in the nurse's arms.
"Almost," she confirmed, stepping closer to him. "She sleeps and she cries and, oh boy, will she let you know when she's hungry. Want to look after her for a minute?"
Nodding keenly, Michael opened out his arms again.
"Be careful with her, Mike, okay?" Grissom warned. "Just like Daddy is being careful with Gabriel. Nice and gentle."
Assuming the baby was expensive and that the nurse was probably breaking the rules, Grissom hoped that Michael wouldn't break it. He was sure his insurance would never cover that one.
"Yes, Daddy," Michael answered. "I be careful."
Carefully, the nurse placed the baby in Michael's waiting arms and smiled at how he seemed in awe when she rested in his hold.
"Baby sleeping," Michael said.
The nurse nodded. "She is."
Grinning, Grissom lightly stoked his hand over Gabriel's head, looking down when he let out a tiny whimper.
Stepping closer, the nurse looked down at them. "I think he's hungry. Would you like the honors?"
"Yeah," Grissom replied. "I'd love to."
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It was an hour later that Grissom and Michael returned to Sara's room. He grinned as his son literally ran inside toward his mother and climbed up onto the chair by her bed.
"I held baby, Mommy," he said.
Looking surprised by that comment, Sara glanced at Grissom as he approached. Smiling, he set down the bag in his hand then leaned down to kiss her.
"Hello you," he greeted.
"Hi," she yawned with a bit of bemusement. "Is that right? He…"
"The nurse was kind enough to let him hold a simulator baby," he said, cutting her short. "He wanted to hold Gabe but with him being so small and fragile…," he trailed off with a shrug.
Her mouth dropped open. "Ah, I see. Fun."
"Baby was good first," Michael continued. "Sleeping. But then she started crying." His head shook. "I no like that."
Smiling, Sara reached out and ran her fingers through his hair. "Babies do cry, honey. You cry. Everybody cries. Even Mommy and Daddy. And we might not like it but we just have to deal with it when it happens."
Michael shook his head. "Give baby back to nurse."
Chuckling, Sara yawned again, glancing back at her husband.
"Are you feeling all right?" he asked. "You're looking a little tired again."
"Hmmm. As okay as I can be," she admitted. "Started to hurt a bit so they gave me a shot. Probably why I'm looking tired." A worried look crossed Grissom's face and she reached for his hand. "It comes with the package, Gil. And we know it's only going to get worse but I'm okay. Let's enjoy the good news of the feeling in my legs whether it hurts or not."
He inhaled deeply, her courage nipping at both his heart and gut. She was never much of a complainer. Always kept everything bottled up just like he did. But yes, the news about her legs was good so he should at least try and keep the mood nice.
"Did you still want ice cream?"
"I do!" Michael yelped cheerfully.
Grissom rolled his eyes. "What a surprise. You'll spoil your lunch."
"Never," Sara snorted. "He'd eat ice cream all day long if we let him." Grissom smirked. "And yes, I'll have a bit if you brought some. You can spread it on my legs if you like. It might cool them down."
His eyes sprang to hers before he reached into the bag. "I brought vanilla, mint chocolate or strawberry," he told her as he took the three tubs from the bag.
"Vanilla," she replied.
He nodded. "Mike?"
"Berry," Michael replied, sitting in the chair and swinging his legs.
"I thought you might," Grissom chirped knowing that was his son's favorite. He popped off the top, took a spoon from the bag and held out the ice cream. "Here."
Michael wasted no time in taking the tub and spoon and was quickly digging in.
"Don't eat it too fast," Sara warned, "or you'll get a headache."
As he'd just put a giant scoopful in his mouth, Michael just bobbed his head.
"I foresee a headache," Grissom agreed as he opened Sara's tub.
"Just leave it to melt a bit," she requested, "otherwise I'll never be able to get it out."
He had to admit that was a good point. He could've fed it to her but he knew how much she hated that so did as she asked.
"How are the twins?" she asked.
"Beautiful," he sighed and then smiled pulling out his phone. "The nurse took a couple of pictures for me," he said handing it to her. "Gabe has put on another two ounces."
She smiled back, the news like blissful music to her ears. Pulling up the photographs, her smile grew. Grissom looked so proud.
"The nurse also said his heart rate is almost normal now so he's really doing well."
Her eyes shot to his. "Yeah?"
Moving close, he leaned in and kissed her lips. "Yes. And he's eating a lot better so, fingers crossed, he'll be a healthy fatty soon."
Sara chuckled. "A healthy fatty? I'm not sure how that would work."
He grinned at her. "Hopefully, you can see them soon."
"Yeah," Sara sighed. "I hope so."
It made Sara's heart sing that Gabriel was doing better. There was nothing worse for a mother than her child being sick apart from the thought of losing one and she'd had to contend with both. It wasn't fun but to hear he was doing well just made her morning a little brighter. She longed for a time when she could sleep with them in her arms. That to any parent was just pure bliss - to feel the warmth of your creation, the gentle breath breezing across your skin and to have that heartbeat against your own. There was no other feeling like it.
She truly, truly wished that day was not too far away.
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One day later
Grissom chewed on his thumbnail as he watched three nurses and Steven carefully lower Sara's right leg from the sling. Her fingers were tightly gripping the bedsheet as her face contorted into a painful grimace. He really wanted to take her hand but he had to move out of the way to give the staff the room they needed to do this safely.
The all clear had been given that morning to remove Sara's legs from their slings. Both were happy and also afraid of what was to come. She knew it was going to hurt worse than the initial exam and he hated feeling helpless as all he could do was watch as the doctors slowly lowered her leg.
"Doing really well, Sara," Steven encouraged, carefully helping to place her leg down onto special soft padding that had been placed on the bed.
"Burns so much," she gasped, tightly squeezing her eyes closed.
"Almost there."
She gasped again and then felt the pull on her leg fade away and a softness develop around it. The burning eased a bit but it was still there. Opening her eyes, she sucked in a deep breath and looked at her left leg still stuck up in the air. Moving the right hurt enough so getting the left down was going to be a serious bitch.
"Okay, Sara?" Steven asked, looking over her leg to ensure it was placed down correctly.
Swallowing, she nodded, licking a droplet of sweat from her lip. "Just about," she huffed.
"You can take a break if you want."
She shook her head. "Just get it down."
Grissom could hear the pain and frustration in her voice but who could blame her?
Steven nodded to his staff and they all moved into place. For a brief second, Grissom closed his eyes and took a breath, his fingers clenching in and out.
"Ready, Sara?" Steven asked.
"Yeah," she breathed, her heart racing faster than she thought possible.
With Sara's go ahead there was no reason to prolong the task and they set to work, Grissom wincing at her every gasp. When she screamed, and slammed her hand down onto the mattress, he had to fight the urge to rush to her side.
"We can't stop, Sara, just hang in there," Steven begged as her leg was painstakingly lowered.
She was panting now and it almost reminded Grissom of when she was in labor.
"God, it hurts," Sara growled when her leg was totally freed from the sling. It felt like a million daggers stabbing her at once.
"Almost there, almost there," Steven urged. "Hold on."
Her leg was gently placed onto a thicker piece of padding used for the comfort of her knee and to ensure her ankle was positioned correctly.
"That's good," Steven said as he and everyone else let go of her leg.
The second they did, Grissom was at Sara's side, immediately taking hold of her hand. "Honey?" he whispered nervously when a tear ran down her cheek.
Sara swallowed hard and then her lips parted, short sharp breaths very audible to all.
"Just breathe nice and slowly," Steven advised as Sara slowly opened her eyes. "The feeling in your legs will be very strange to start with but once your body gets used to being flat again it should wear off."
A shuddering gust of air passed through her lips as Grissom brushed the tear from her cheek.
"You did so well," he praised. "And I'm right here."
She nodded slightly. "So, I can get up now, right?" she laughed, her tone pained but humorous.
Grissom smiled, rubbing his thumb over her hand. "It will happen soon I'm sure."
His attention was drawn across the bed as a nurse injected something into the IV. He looked at Steven.
"Just a little extra pain relief," the doctor advised.
Grissom nodded pretty sure no one was going to argue with that.
"Sara, we'll be checking on you frequently over the next few hours," Steven began. "Do your best not to move for now because we need to let all that blood and tissue settle. And I'll be back in a little later to make sure we don't have any problems."
She blinked drearily. "Like what?"
"Swelling mainly. I'd expect some but we need to be careful."
"Oh," she mumbled. "Back to balloon legs."
"Hopefully, not," Steven shot back. "Just try and relax and make sure you shout out if the pain gets too bad."
"You can be sure I will."
Steven stepped away to chat with the nurses and Grissom flicked his fingers through Sara's hair.
"Can I get you anything?" he asked lovingly.
"A beer. Make that ten beers."
Smirking, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I think I'd get shot if I gave you beer." She managed a smile back and then yawned before wincing. "Are you okay?"
"Hmmmm. Just moved my right foot a bit and probably shouldn't have."
"Probably best for you to keep still for now," he recommended.
"I know but it doesn't stop the frustration after being stuck up in the air for so long. I just want to move, Gil. Get out of this damn bed. Have a proper bath. Hold my children."
Sighing softly, he reached back to her hair, curling a strand behind her ear. "I know," he said softly. "And I wish I could make this easier. Everything will come in time."
A soft knock sounded and they both looked over to see Catherine standing in the doorway.
"Okay to come in?" she called over.
"Sure," Grissom called back, lowering his arm.
Catherine smiled as she entered. "Good to see you flat again," she said to Sara. "How are things?"
"They've only just taken my legs down so I'm still getting used to it," Sara replied.
"But things are going well," Grissom added. "We still have feeling so that's what's most important."
Pursing her lips, Sara looked at him. "He just got his medical degree," she teased.
His eyes narrowed and she smirked before returning her attention to Catherine. "How are things at the lab?"
"They're usual chirpy self," Catherine returned. "Everyone misses you guys. Me especially."
"It's tough being boss, isn't it?" Grissom challenged.
Catherine's eyes shot to him. "It has its moments but sometimes, yeah, it can be. I'm not as patient as you."
"I never would have guessed," Grissom bantered. She grinned before pulling a file from her bag. "What's that?" he asked with a frown.
"I need your help with something if you don't mind and. It doesn't have to be right now but…"
Standing, Grissom approached her and held out his hand. "It must be important so hand it over. I'll look at it when Sara naps."
"You can look at it now, Gil," Sara said. "It's not like I'm needing a great deal of attention."
Grissom's tongue drew from his mouth in thought. "What is it?"
"Bug body," Catherine answered. "Your specialty. I need your thoughts."
Nodding, he looked back at Sara and she smiled.
"Knock yourself out."
A/N: Yay, Sara has her legs down. When will she be able to get out of bed?