Chapter Three

Jim was coding again. The medical staff rushing to his bedside to stabilize him which occurred after the prompt administration of medications but not requiring the shock paddles. Grissom, Catherine and Ellie watched the drama from outside the ICU bed area. Ellie clutched Gil's arm, agonized over seeing her father in this state. However, to everyone's surprise, Jim's condition suddenly stabilized and he was able to finally open his eyes. He saw Ellie and motioned to her, trying to bridge the gap that separated them. She could no longer bear to see him this way and fled down the hallway.

A little later Brass felt up to having one visitor allowed and Gil was permitted to go in.

"Hey," Brass managed to finally say to Grissom.

Gil stood beside his best friend. "Hey. Have some water".

Brass gratefully accepted the water from Grissom but could only manage a tiny sip. He knew he had seen Ellie and made eye contact with her, even though she had left abruptly. Her presence gave him hope in spite of their turbulent past. What strange dreams he had had, probably from the meds and anesthesia from surgery, like a hallucination but those two distinctly different voices.

"Thanks for not pulling the plug," Brass said, his voice still raspy from the ventilator tubing.

"Your fan club's here," said Grissom, his own voice gruff.

Feeling weak as a kitten, he could only manage raising two fingers up in a "V" and crack a smile to rest of the CSI team. He saw Catherine hugging Doc Albert, Sara embracing Warrick and Nick, and even Greg looking relieved as well. The dull ache he had carried for so long inside was fading, ebbing away. He felt like he was new, reborn somehow, that his life did matter and have value. He saw it reflected best in the faces of those outside his hospital room.

As Jim fell back asleep, he again heard the soft melodic voice from his garden dream but this time the words came to him…'let not your heart be troubled'.

Gil's heart-felt sigh spoke volumes. Grissom stayed on a little while longer as Brass fell asleep. He noted Jim's relaxed facial expression of peace and contentment with a slight smile, something he hadn't seen in a long while.

A nurse entered the room with a flower arrangement. Gil asked her where the flowers had come from. The nurse replied they were brought to the nurse's station without a card but requested to be delivered to Detective Jim Brass. The arrangement was beautiful consisting of roses, lilies, daffodils, tulips, carnations, and a single white iris.