A/N: Hey everyone. Here we go with another chapter. Sorry about the wait. The mojo has been very illusive lately. But I've got a couple of chapters done which makes a change. I appreciate your patience.

Time for session number 1. Let's see how Sara gets on. Will this start the road to recovery or will evil hat throw a spanner in the works? Lol.

As always, I thank you all for your reviews and support. Thank you to calim for the beta and suggestions and to Nat for being there :)

On we go….

Chapter 32

Sara smiled at her husband as he lifted her from the wheelchair and placed her onto a bench by the poolside.

"Okay?" he asked, checking if her feet touched the floor before helping her out of her robe.

"Fine," she replied. "Hopefully it stays that way."

Placing his hands on the bench either side of her, he leaned close. "It will," he said softly. "Soon you'll be showing me an awesome breast stroke."

Eyebrows shooting skywards, she laughed. "And I'll bet you aren't talking about swimming either."

Wriggling his eyebrows with a smirk, Sara flashed him the most glorious smile as she rubbed his arm.

After dropping a tender kiss to her lips, Grissom straightened up hearing footsteps. Maggie and Damon approached, each carrying a variety of floats and straps.

"I hope that water isn't too cold," Sara said as she heard a splash and watched as someone was helped through the water at the other side of the pool.

"It's heated." Hearing Damon speak, Sara looked at him. "Different pools have different levels of heat," he told her, placing the floats down beside her. "Right now, your body needs a warmer treatment to get your muscles to relax and help them to come back to life. If you were a burn patient, it would likely be a cooler pool."

"Interesting," Sara remarked. "This is so much more in-depth than I imagined."

"Every little detail is important to get you the best treatment. If we achieve that, hopefully then, we'll have a much better chance of getting you mobile again."

Now Sara swallowed, eyes flicking to her husband as she spoke. "Do you think, I'll … get mobile again?"

Damon smiled as Maggie handed him a small float, not unlike an armband.

"I really wish I could answer that but once we get going with this, and you are really determined, we should be able to test your legs sooner rather than later and have your answer."

"Test?" Grissom asked, a hint of nervousness in his tone. "You mean standing?"

"Yeah. Moving and eventually standing," Damon confirmed, looking at him. "That is why we're here. Of course, it won't be tomorrow but that's the ultimate goal."

Now Grissom swallowed, his eyes finding Sara's again and she reached for his hand, rubbing her thumb over his.

"We have faith, remember? Isn't that what you've been saying to me ever since this happened?" she asked.

Grissom nodded, giving her an encouraging smile. "I have faith. I always will."

Returning his smile, Sara gave her attention to the therapist. "I forgot to ask, will the water sting. You know because of the chlorine?"

"No," Damon replied. "The chlorine is very mild and you have no open wounds so you'll be fine, I promise."

"Good," Sara sighed. "One less thing to worry about."

"I know you're nervous," he said back. "But try and relax, okay? The main aim of session number one is relaxation."

"Okay," Sara agreed. "I'll try my best."

Giving a nod, Damon held up the float. "Ready to get kitted up?"

"As I'll ever be I guess," she returned. "Let's do it."

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"Feel like the Michelin Man," Sara complained as Maggie fastened the final strap to secure the circular float around her waist."

Grissom gave a sly smirk as Sara grumbled. Two floats around her ankles, two around her wrists, one around her neck not unlike a life-vest and a larger ring type one around her waist.

"Cutest Michelin man I've ever seen," he teased. "And at least you won't sink."

Her eyes narrowed at him and his smirk turned into a loving smile.

"Are you comfortable, Sara?" Damon asked, double checking all the floats to see if they were secure. If one slipped that could be a disaster.

Her eyes worked a little. "Oddly, yes."

"Good that's what we want. The floats should ensure no undue pressure is put onto your legs and you should well … just float."

"No pun intended, huh?" she snickered.

Giving her a smile, Damon gave a quick glance over the water. "Any more questions before we get in?" he asked, looking back at his patient.

Sara's teeth nipped into her lip as that nervous cramp hit her gut again. "I don't think so," she finally answered. "Although I'm not quite sure how I get in the pool."

Grissom frowned. That was a good point. But, their confusion was soon extinguished when Damon held out his hands.

"The simple carry technique," he said light-heartedly. "We do have chairs and lifts that can lower patients into the water but this helps me to help you much more. This way we can control the speed at which you ascend through the water and I can get you out much quicker should that be needed."

"Well," Sara said, swallowing. "Let's hope the latter isn't required."

"Hopefully not," Damon agreed.

Letting out a gentle, nervous sigh, Sara glanced at her husband. "Wish me luck?"

Sitting on the bench, Grissom took her hand. "No luck needed. You are in very capable hands. I'm right here and you are strong. You got this."

Giving him a bashful smile, she nodded, returning her attention to Damon. "Then let's go."

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Sara, nestled securely in Damon's arms, swallowed the lump in her throat as he slowly began down the pool steps, her grip around his neck tightening a little as she felt the water hit her bottom.

He stopped just before the last few steps and gave her a smile.

"When we get fully into the pool," he began, "I'll slowly release you, letting your legs simply glide from my hold. This side of the pool is quite shallow so I'll always be able to stand up. Don't panic, all right? You are totally safe with the floats. Anytime you want to get out, just say so. There is no pressure here."

"Okay," she breathed.

Offering another smile, he nodded and they continued down the steps. Sara immediately felt the warmth of the water on her feet and legs and it was actually pretty nice.

"Right, we're in," he said, once the final step was behind them.

Sara, now with the lower half of her body submerged in the water, still clung tightly to her therapist as he slowly turned them around. She spotted Grissom, sitting on the bench, intently watching then throwing her an encouraging even if slightly nervous smile.

"Doing great!" he called.

"Feeling okay?" Damon asked, slowly walking through the water to allow his patient time to get used to it.

"All right so far," she answered. "I think. The water feels nice and no stinging which is a definite plus."

"Good. Are you confident enough for me to release you or would you like to wait a little longer?"

Sucking in a deep breath, Sara let it slowly slip through her lips. "Why wait huh?"

She tried to sound confident, but the quake in her voice gave her nerves away. But she had to do this. If she wanted to walk again, there would be no shying away. And this was the easy bit.

"Okay. I'm going to slowly let go of your legs and allow you to tip back against me, all right? Don't panic, the floats will keep you extra safe and your legs should just rise slow and gentle through the water allowing you to float nicely on your back."

Swallowing again, she nodded and closed her eyes.

"Here we go…"

Feeling the therapist's weight underneath her start to disappear, Sara held her breath for a moment as she felt the change in her body.

"Okay, Sara?" Damon asked as he ever so slowly slipped his arm from under her legs.

"Yeah," she replied.

"Good. Just relax. Nice and relaxed. I got you," he encouraged as she tipped back, his arm clinging around her midsection. "Just let the water take you."

Breathing in deeply as she felt his arm disappear, her body began to straighten out, legs gently rising through the water.

"Really good," Damon praised, allowing Sara's head to fall a little onto his chest. "How do you feel?"

Letting out another breath, she moved her hands lightly on top of the water as she floated.

"Okay, I think. Different for sure."

"Any pain I need to know about?"

"No. Well, a tiny bit of pulling but nothing too bad," she admitted.

"Just make sure you holler if that changes."

As she glanced up at the ceiling, she tried to get used to the feeling. Yes, it was different and a lot more relaxing than she was expecting. But it felt so peaceful. Ultimately she knew this was the easy part and very, very hard things were to come, but for now, for a change, she was just going to enjoy it.

"If and when you want to, and feel confident, Sara," she heard Damon say, "try moving yourself around using your hands. Don't worry, I'm here and you'll be safe."

"Okay," she agreed, just wanting a few minutes to enjoy the calm before she attempted the new challenge.

From the poolside, Grissom watched, a tiny purse upon his lips as his wife gently floated upon the water.

"You doing okay there, Gil?"

Totally focused on Sara, Grissom heard something and turned to see Maggie standing beside him.

"Um, sorry. What did you say?"

She gave him a smile. "I asked if you were okay."

"Oh." He sat back a bit. "Yes, fine thank you."

"Good." Maggie looked out over the pool. "She's doing really well."

"Yeah," Grissom agreed, nothing but pride running through him. "My wife is not one to give up."

"I think that works both ways," she told him.

A tiny smirk found his lips, watching as Sara managed to glide across the water even if Damon was keeping a hold on her one way or the other. Probably not required due to all the floats attached to his wife, he still appreciated the very attentive assistance she was getting. And of course, the therapist could act very quickly should a problem arise. Hopefully, there wouldn't be any of those.

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Sara's first water session lasted about 20 minutes. At that point she began to feel a little tired and her arms started to ache. Given the previous break to her wrist Damon wanted to take no chances and suggested it was time to get out. Sara was okay with that, happy she'd actually managed to stay in the pool as long as she had and allowed the therapist to carefully guide her back to the side of the pool before carrying her from the water.

Smiling at him as he carefully placed her onto a towel Grissom had laid out on the bench, she shuddered a tiny bit missing the warmth of the pool but was then thankful to see her husband with another towel ready.

Dropping it over his wife's shoulders, Grissom flashed her a very proud smile as he crouched in front of her.

"Well done," he said sweetly, gently rubbing her arm. "How do you feel?"

"Floaty," she said, pulling the towel a little tighter around her body.

His eyebrow lofted and she smirked. "Very funny."

Grabbing a towel of his own and wiping his face, Damon glanced down at his patient. "How do you feel now that you are out of the water, Sara?"

"Good actually. A little chilly and certainly more tired than when I went in but from the perspective of what we need to accomplish … I feel … looser, I guess." She frowned. "I'm not sure if that makes sense."

"It makes perfect sense," Damon told her. "So no pains? Anything at all we need to be concerned about?"

Sara shook her head. "No. At least, not yet anyway."

Grissom's smile returned as he straightened out.

"I'm so glad to hear that."

Returning his smile, Sara reached for his hand.

"Yes, you are chilly aren't you?" he said, feeling how cold her hand was.

"How about we get you as dry as we can and then back to your room so you can make yourself a little more comfortable?" Maggie suggested. "The doctors will come and talk with you once you're nice and warm."

Sara nodded. "Sounds good to me."

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As Grissom closed the door, Sara wheeled herself across the room before spinning around to face him. She watched as he threw her a smile before heading into the bathroom. A few moments later, she heard the shower running.

"That should be nice and warm for you by the time we get your clothes off," he said when reappearing.

"Oooohhhh," Sara cooed, pursing her lips. "Getting all frisky on me, Mr. Grissom?"

As he wriggled his eyebrows, Sara laughed before lowering the arms on the wheelchair. "At least I don't have many clothes to take off," she said holding out her arms.

Lifting her lovingly against his body, he lightly swung her from side to side. "What a pity."

Laughing, she dropped her forehead against his. "You're going to get your clothes wet."

Glancing from left to right, he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sure they'll dry considering how hot it gets in here in the afternoon."

"I think you should take them off," Sara said quickly.

"Do you now?" he teased.

She nodded, eyes locking with his. "Ugh huh."

Slowly he began toward the bathroom. "And why might that be?"

As he kicked the door closed behind them, the steam from the shower rising through the air, Sara brought her lips to hover right over his. "Guess…"

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Sitting by the bed, brushing her hair, Sara watched her husband button up his shirt. A delicate smile on her lips as she thought back over the short time since they'd been back in her room.

Still able to feel his hands roaming over her body after he joined her in the shower gave her thoughts she should not be having giving her current inability. But, anytime they got skin on skin, especially under the present circumstances was just pure delight. And no, she couldn't do much except enjoy the glory of his hands massaging her shoulders with the odd brush of his lips across her throat or a kiss thrown in, but just those few little intimacies, felt so damn good. The burning inside her, wanting much more which still lingered, was not so good though.

"Are you okay?" Grissom asked, buttoning up his pants.

Blinking and snapping from her daze, she looked at him, lowering the hairbrush. "Huh?"

Smiling, he draw close, looking down at her. "I asked if you were okay. You looked a little phased out."

Letting out a soft sigh, she put the brush down and reached for his hand as he sat beside her. "I'm fine. Just thinking."

"What about?" His voice was soft, almost knowing.

Pursing her lips at him, she whisked her thumb across his.

"Just the usual." Her eyes downcast to their interlocking hands until she felt his finger under her chin, lifting so their eyes met.

"And what's the usual?" he pushed.

"Us," she said simply. "And… you know…"

"Should we maybe move into the shower?" he suggested.

Laughing, she tugged his hand into her lap. "I wish." Sighing, she looked back into his eyes. "Sorry. I'm just being silly."

His chin twitched. "No, you're not. I miss our…," he began, head tipping from side to side.

"Hot and passionate bed rattling?" Sara teased.

Now he laughed. "Most definitely." She smiled brightly at him as he clenched her hand a little tighter. "I know it's hard," he said tenderly. "We aren't used to being so, erm, well…"

"Inactive?" Sara said, helping him along.

"Something like that." Lifting his free hand to her cheek, he held it there. "We've been through a lot, haven't we?" Sara nodded. "And, did anything ever stop us being us?"

Pursing her lips, she lifted her hand to drop over his. "This is different," she whispered.

"Why?" he asked tenderly.

With her eyes narrowing a touch, she stared at him. "Erm, because I can't walk?" she grumbled a little more sarcastically than she really wanted to, sighing immediately after the words left her mouth. "I'm sorry," she said regretfully.

He surprised her then when he leaned back. Raising his left hand, he wriggled his fingers and her eyes zoned in on the empty space where his pinkie should be. Swallowing as her eyes found his again, he lowered his hand to cup her cheek again.

"We've been through more than anyone should be expected to go through in a lifetime. We lost limbs, a baby, had our privacy devastated, have more scars than anyone should ever be expected to carry and we both almost died."

Breathing in deeply, Sara kept her eyes locked with his as she brought her hand up to rest over his. Flashes of what had happened over the last few years blowing through her mind like a bullet train. The kidnapping, torture, almost drowning and losing their baby, Grissom being shot, the coma he almost didn't survive and then the store. She blinked. Christ that was a lot.

"Whatever happens," he continued, "we will work it out. We always have and we always will. It will just take a little more time this time around. But we will not give up hope and we will get through whatever is thrown at us, together."

Although inside Sara wasn't so sure whether or not she would walk again, she nodded nonetheless. He was right. She couldn't give up and she wouldn't.

"Come here," he said quietly, leaning close, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly.

Sara sighed into him, her hands rubbing up and down his back as his beard tickled her cheek. She could just hold him forever and never let go.

A/N: Believe it or not I do love being fluffy :D