A/N: Hi everyone. I hope you are all well. New chapter afoot as we begin what will hopefully be Sara's road to recovery. I guess it depends on the hat :P
Thank you for the reviews. Always very welcome. As always my gracious thanks to calim for the beta.
On we go…
Chapter 31
Sitting in her wheelchair, engrossed in a book about water therapy, Sara heard it. Those unmistakable footsteps. Her head lifted, eyes flicking to the digital clock by the bed. 10.30am, right on time as always. Eyes finding the doorway as he stepped through, she smiled and as she did, he whipped his hand out from behind his back to reveal a rather lovely looking bunch of flowers.
"Good morning," Grissom greeted with a smile of his own. "Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady."
Looking extremely surprised, Sara held one hand to her heart while the other reached out to take the offering. As she looked over the flowers, Grissom leaned down to kiss her softly and she giggled.
"Wow," she said as he pulled back. "These are gorgeous. Thank you."
"More than welcome," he said shyly. "Mike helped me pick them out. He wants to start growing them at home."
Sara snorted. "Growing flowers?" Grissom nodded and she smiled again, giving them a sniff. "How cute."
"Yeah," Grissom agreed.
"Could be a fun project for you," she teased. "Get the ants to help, too."
He smirked. "Very funny."
Her smile remained as it usually did when he arrived. "Can you see if there is a vase somewhere?" she asked.
"Sure," he answered, leaning down to give her another kiss. "Be right back."
Lips puckering, Sara gave her gift another smell. One thing she always loved, flowers and plants and no matter how gloomy she felt, they would normally cheer her up.
"Here we go," Grissom announced upon his return to the room, heading into the bathroom to get some water.
Returning to his wife, he took the flowers from her and dropped them into the vase, placing them by the bed.
"Okay here?"
"Prefect," Sara answered. "Can help me clear the hospital smell from my nostrils."
"Oh?" Grissom turned back to her. "I thought you'd love the smell of disinfectant by now."
Her eyes narrowed at him and he smirked. "How are the little ones?"
Leaning against the bed, he reached for her hand, tenderly running his thumb over hers.
"Well fed and extremely vocal."
Looking up into his eyes, Sara could see the tiredness there but smiled nonetheless. She just didn't want to bring the mood down he was trying so hard to set.
"There are bottles in the fridge at the nurse's station for you to take home."
He nodded. "Well at least they'll get the personal touch later."
Pursing her lips at him, she squeezed his hand but their moment was interrupted by the arrival of Steven.
"Good morning," the doctor greeted.
"Morning," Grissom replied.
"How are you feeling this morning, Sara?" Steven asked, taking her charts from the holder at the end of the bed.
Sara shrugged. "The usual. Sick and tired of being stuck on my ass and not being able to kiss my husband or hold my children every morning when I wake up just about sets the usual standard."
Giving a sympathetic smile as he placed the notes back, the doctor nodded and folded his arms.
"Well," he began. "Let's hope today starts a change to all of that shall we?"
"Ah, I love the smell of optimism in the morning," Sara responded, feeling Grissom squeezing her hand.
"I would hope we are all going to feel pretty optimistic by the end of the day," Steven hit back.
Sara looked at Grissom. "I guess we'll have to see."
"So how are you really feeling?" Steven pushed. "Because for the treatment, honesty is the best policy."
Feeling her gut cramping Sara sighed. "How about terrified, will that do?"
"Sara…," Grissom whispered, tugging her hand a bit.
She looked at him, teeth digging into her lip. "I'm not trying to be awkward," she said. "I'm scared to death, Gil."
"I know," he said softly. "But nothing will happen that you're not ready for." His eyes flicked to the doctor. "Right?"
"Absolutely not," Stephen agreed.
"I didn't say I wasn't ready," Sara disagreed. "Being ready and fear for the situation is totally different."
"Yeah," Steven agreed.
"So," Sara began, pulling her hand free from Grissom's to wheel herself forward a little. "Are we going to get this show on the road or just stand here chatting all day?"
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Grissom sat outside X-ray, flicking through a magazine. Before any sort of physical treatment could begin, X-rays were essential to ensure all was still healing as it should be. One slip up and there would be hell to pay.
Feeling his cell vibrate, he dropped the magazine and pulled it out, seeing a message from Catherine. "Be around with the kiddies around 6pm. Let me know how things go and if you need anything xx."
He smiled as he punched in a reply. "All good at the moment. Sara's just having X-rays. See you later."
As he slipped his phone into his pocket, the doors to X-ray opened. Standing, he smiled at his wife as she wheeled herself out, the nurse following behind her.
"That was quick," he said a little surprised.
"Yeah," Sara agreed. "Jesus was inside and he fixed me."
With his eyes narrowing at his wife, he heard the nurse laugh as Sara smirked at him.
"Did he bring wine, too, so we can have a party?" he asked.
Smiling, Sara wheeled herself into the corridor. "Sadly not but lucky for me the tests were straightforward and I went right in."
"Good," Grissom said, smiling back and picking up the bag he had brought containing Sara's bathing attire.
"Doctor Sharpe will meet us at the treatment room," Maggie interrupted. "Do you need me to push you, Sara?"
Sara shook her head. "No, I'm good."
"Well don't be tiring yourself out too much, okay?" the nurse requested.
"I'll try not to," Sara agreed. "Need that for the pool, right?"
Maggie smirked as they started walking. "That's the spirit."
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As they entered the treatment room, they found no one there yet so Sara parked herself by the bed.
"I'll go and see how long the doctor will be," Maggie said.
Grissom nodded at her as Sara lowered the arms on the wheelchair.
"What are you doing?" he asked, sliding the bag from his shoulder and dropping it onto the floor.
Sara pointed behind her. "Might as well get comfortable. I'm sure they are going to want me up there." She held her arms up. "Care to assist?"
Smiling at her, he stepped forwards. "My pleasure," he replied softly, slipping his arm underneath her and lifting her into his arms. "You know, I'm looking forward to the day when you sweep me off my feet."
Sara burst out laughing as he carefully placed her upon the bed. "Not quite sure that's ever going to happen, babe."
"I'm sure you'll think of something," he said with a wink.
Her lips pursed. "Then I guess I better get thinking."
They gazed at each other, Sara letting out a quiet sigh as she got lost in his eyes. God, she missed their intimacy. His touch upon her skin, breath breezing across her throat, lips exploring her body, being at one... She swallowed, happy with the interruption when Maggie returned with the doctor and her eyes flicked to the door. Immediately she noticed an unfamiliar man with Steven and she looked him over closely.
"Hi," Steven greeted, gesturing a hand to the man accompanying him. "May I introduce Damon Walker? He's going to be looking after you at the pool."
Sara's eye twitched as the new face smiled at her and said hello, and then to everyone's surprise, she laughed.
Grissom frowned. Turning to his wife. "Sara?" he asked confused and sounding slightly concerned.
Sara held a hand up and shook her head. "I'm so sorry," she apologized genuinely, attempting to hide the snort that came from her nose and took a breath. "That just came out. It's just… your name. Nothing personal, I promise."
"Ah," Damon realized. "Yes. My job and my name I guess kinda go hand in hand."
"Or leg in leg?" Sara joked.
Both doctor's smirked but Grissom didn't really know what to do and still looked confused.
Sara tapped his arm. "Relax," she told him. "I'm fine. Just find it amusing even if in an ironic sense."
"Gil, is it?" Damon asked extending his hand to Grissom.
"Err, yeah," Grissom replied, returning the gesture for a handshake.
"Pleasure to meet you both."
"I thought it would be a good idea," Steven began, "while we wait for your results for you to get to know Damon a little and he can go through the specifics of what will happen today."
Sara's head tipped from side to side. "So I don't just dive in then?"
"Not just yet," Damon said with a smirk.
Raising her hand, Sara waved it through the air. "Then explain away."
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Now alone in the treatment room so they had some privacy, Sara's eyes closed as Grissom tied the back of her bathing suit. Usually, she'd wear a bikini, especially if she was with her husband but, the occasion didn't really call for such flashy swimwear. Plus, with the scars all over her body she wasn't overly thrilled about being exposed to anyone that could see. And, with her braces and boot removed, everything was on show. No doubt others would be using the pool also, so the little she had to show off the better. So a full bathing suit including shorts is what she had chosen. No one argued.
Her mind drifted over the last half hour and what she'd learned about the activities to come. Thankfully, she was a little less nervous than she had been but nerves still pinched inside.
Damon had explained there were several techniques they could use once Sara got into the water, each having their own way of helping her to get her legs moving again. Firstly, and most important, was to take things slowly and ensure she listened to her body. Pushing things at this stage would be disastrous.
The first method they would use was called 'The Bad Ragaz ring method.' Sara wasn't sure she liked anything with the word 'bad' in it but the doctor soon stilled her fears. The method was simply named after a region in Switzerland where the technique had been created. This was the best way to start off the process as ring floatation devices would be placed around Sara's body to support her while she floated in the water. This would allow ample time for her to adapt and get used to the water with her injuries and then they could progress as her body deemed fit.
There would be several sessions in the water. If her legs took well to the technique then they could think about other water options as well as dry land physio.
And that was the truest and scariest part - moving her legs and feet. That would either be the best thing in the world or the worst. Only time would tell.
Now all they were waiting for was clearance for the therapy to begin.
Feeling Grissom's lips on the back of her neck, she snapped from her thoughts.
"You okay?" he asked tenderly.
Tipping her head in his direction as he moved around her, Sara nodded. "Yeah."
"Promise?"
Reaching out she took his hand. "Just a little conscious about the way I look. Apart from that we'll just have to see how we go."
"Honey," Grissom began, pausing. "Where we are is a place that no one will judge you. Always remember you are beautiful."
Lips twitching, Sara glanced down at her legs, secure in the wheelchair footplates. Raw scars all over the place. Almost looked like she'd been butchered by a blind man.
"Even with these?" she said, her voice trembling.
Feeling a pressure under her chin, Grissom's finger lifted her head back up.
"Scars fade. Wounds heal. Your beauty… will never change."
Swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat, Sara felt her gut cramping at his tender words and she smiled as she leaned down to place a sweet kiss upon her lips.
"Okay?" he whispered when pulling back.
Her smile remained as she nodded, hand rubbing up his arm. "Thank you." He smiled back and picked up her robe. "So… you getting into your bathing suit now?" she teased.
He smirked, helping her into the robe. "At some point I'm sure I'll be able to get in with you but not just yet."
"Pity. Was looking forward to you getting your clothes off."
Grissom wriggled his eyebrows and she laughed. "I'm sure we can work something out about that later."
"Oh, now you're just teasing."
As he wriggled his eyebrows again, there was a knock at the door. "I guess it's time. Ready?"
Inhaling deeply, Sara nodded. "Ready."
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The walk to the hospital pool area took a little over five minutes and when Maggie wheeled Sara in, that familiar sound and smell hit that you always got with pools. The echo, almost tinny sound, accompanied by the swishing sound of the water and that chlorine odour that would likely cling to you for a while once you got it on your skin. She had a thought then. Something she hadn't really considered. Would the water sting? That wasn't a good feeling and she screwed up her nose.
"You all right?"
Hearing her husband's question as they walked around the side of the pool, her lips pursed. Of course he was watching her.
"Just had a thought that's all," she admitted.
He frowned at her. "And what might that be?"
She nodded towards Damon who she could see waiting not that far away. "I'll ask in a minute and you'll find out."
As his eyes playfully narrowed, she smirked then looked around again.
The pool was about a quarter of the size she'd thought it would be, and there were only two people currently using it – a patient and a therapist. Where Damon stood was some kind of storage area with random things on shelves behind him. She could see floats and assumed that's what she would be using.
"Hi there," he greeted when they reached him.
"Hi," Sara replied as Maggie pulled the chair to a stop.
"Just putting the brakes on, Sara, okay?" Maggie said. "Just for safety, so don't go trying to push yourself because you won't get very far."
Understanding, Sara nodded. "This is much smaller than I thought it would be," she said, glancing back out over the water.
"This is just one of our pools," Damon answered regaining Sara's attention. "We have different areas for different purposes. This one is used more for less strenuous activities and has minimal equipment."
"Oh. So no treadmill for me here then?" she joked.
Damon smirked, pointing to his right. "That's actually in the pool next door."
Sara blinked. "You're joking right?"
The therapist shook his head. "No. That is a piece of equipment that hopefully, in time, you will be able to use."
Eyebrows rising, Sara glanced at her husband. "Well, I have read about them but didn't know they had them here."
"I guess you'll just have to wait and see what lovely delights they have for you," Grissom said casually, dropping their bag onto a bench beside them. "I can't wait to see your underwater slow-motion run."
She laughed. "Now I have an image of a cheesy 1970's super hero TV series. Thanks."
"Wonder woman?" he teased. "I can just see you in that nice outfit .…"
"Gil," she warned, gritting her teeth and throwing him a death stare.
He smiled brightly as did everyone else.
"Ready to get to it?" Damon asked, trying to keep a straight face.
"I think we'd better before I throw my husband into the pool," Sara returned.
"Should have brought your trunks, honey," Maggie joked, tapping Grissom on the arm as she moved around him.
He chuckled and watched as the nurse helped Damon gather several floats form the storage shelves.
"Gonna get you back for that," Sara whispered.
Grissom wriggled his eyebrows at her. "I hope so."
Unable to help it, Sara laughed and reached for his hand while they waited.
A/N: Ah, love a bit of GSR fluff. Let's hope Sara doesn't drown, lol.