Chapter 9

Forgiveness

Disclaimer: Not mine, wish they were.

Rating: M

Nick looked at the two people passed out in front of him. He shook his head, pulled out his cell phone and called for reinforcements.

"Hey Catherine, are you busy right now?"

"Not too busy why?"

"Well I'm standing here in Grissom's office and he and Brass are passed out drunk. I'm scared to call Sara and tell her after what happened earlier."

"Just go make some coffee and I'll be there shortly."

Nick hung up the phone and smiled at the sight of the two of them. He walked out to the break room to start a pot of coffee. When he walked in Greg was getting ready to make his special coffee.

"Hey Greggo Can you do me a favor?"

"Depends, I'm still working on the paper work form my B&E. I want to get it done and turned into Grissom ASAP."

"I wouldn't worry about Grissom Greg. Can you make some really strong coffee for a couple passes out drunks?"

"Yeah, I don't want to know who it's for."

"Thanks." Then Nick left heading back towards Grissom's office when the last person he wanted to see turned the corner.

"Nick Stokes, Have you seen Grissom? I need to remind him of a meeting this afternoon with the sheriff."

"No Ecklie, I haven't seen him. I think he left a few hours ago. If I see him I'll give him the message."

Ecklie nodded and walked off. "Whew. That was a close one." Nick said as he walked back towards Grissom's office. He got there the same time Catherine did. She smiled and opened the door.

"Well Nicky you were right to call me. Sara's going to be pissed."

"Hey Nick your coffees ready." Greg said poking his head in. "Oh shit. Sara's gonna be pissed."

"Greg, just go bring the coffee and make another pot. Oh and say nothing." Catherine said as he left. "OK up and adam. Come on boys get up lets go." she said loudly.

Brass was the first to respond with a moan. He turned his head and sat up. Grissom didn't flinch. Catherine walked over and placed her hand on his shoulder and shook him. No response.

"What the hell's this?"

Catherine and Nick looked at each other then to the door where the voice came from. Sara stood with her arms crossed and a very pissed off expression on her face. She walked in and over to Grissom leaned over to him and whispered in his ear. He moaned incoherently as Sara drew her right arm back and punched him in the rib cage. She stood up calmly and walked out. Greg stood at the door witnessing the whole incedent.

"Greg get in here with that coffee and let get these 2 sobered up and get them home." Catherine said motioning towards the coffee.

A few hours later they had Grissom and Brass where they could stand under their own power. Catherine took Grissom home and Nick took Brass home.

She opened the door to the townhouse and helped him inside. Catherine walked him over to the couch and laid him down. Since his marriage to Sara she had helped him redecorate some. For starters a new couch. After getting him settled down she went to find Sara. She called out her name and opened the bedroom door and peaked in.

"Sara?"

She was lying on the bed crying. Catherine sat down next to her and tried to comfort her.

"Hey, I'm sure they didn't get drunk on purpose and it had nothing to do with you."

Sara rolled over to face Catherine, "I don't understand why he did it I guess."

"Sara this isn't the first time I have found both of them drunk, usually it's in Brass' office. It's seems to be a yearly 'man thing' they have going on. I'm sure when he comes around he'll apologize."

"Thanks Catherine"

"Hey, and I know your pregnant and all but try to keep your cool. Ok?"

"Yeah." And she turned over and went back to sleep

Catherine let her self out.

Grissom woke up slowly opening his eyes and taking in his surroundings. He sat up slowly realizing he was home. "Oh shit. Sara's going to kill me. What was I thinking. Just a few drinks with Brass turned into a lot." He got up and turned towards the kitchen. "Hey."

"Hey. Here's some aspirin."

"Thanks." He took the aspirin and water gratefully.

"Look I'm sorry. For everything."

"Gil, Catherine kinda explained it to me. But I know that this whole baby thing is new to both of us. So if we just stop and listen to each other I think we can get through this with out killing each other."

He just smiled at her and pulled her into a hug. "That's why I love you so much. I should be the sensible one not the one who loose's my temper and then gets drunk later."

She pulled back and look into those piercing blue eyes, "Are we ok?"

"Yes, we are great." he said then pressed his lips to hers.

"Oh, by the way. Ecklie kept calling but I wouldn't anser the phone."

"Damn it. I have a meeting at 5 with him and the sheriff." he glanced at his watch it read 4:15. "I need a quick shower, shave, and hurry my ass back to P.D.." Then he rushed down the hall and Sara started back to the kitchen to prepare herself dinner.

The next 12 weeks went by as could be expected. Little scuffles here and there but nothing like before. Grissom tried to be fair with Sara on assigning cases, and Sara tried to understand his protectiveness and with Catherine guidance was able to keep her temper under control. Both Catherine and Grissom were becoming concerned with Sara's stress level. Sara got an earful from her Doctor at her last appointment and now Grissom and Catherine were starting on her. She was feeling fine, and eating properly. No worries.

"So what was COD?"

"Sara, what are you doing in here?"

"God not you too."

"Well I am a licenced medical doctor and I have noticed that you are stressing more than normal lately. I'm not going to preach to you as a doctor but listen to me as your friend. Take it easy."

"I will Doc. Now, COD?"

"Well pending tox results, my prelim is OD. Possible accidental unless you find something more."

"Well so far nothing. Thanks Doc." And Sara turned to leave when a sharp pain hit her and she doubled over.

"Sara" Concern in Doc's voice was evident as he moved to her side. "Come over here and sit down."

"I'm ok it's nothing. Just the baby kicking."

"Sara unless there is a toddler in there already no fetus can kick hard enough to double you over."

She was about to respond when another sharp pain hit and she grabbed her stomach. Doc reached for his stethoscope and listened to the baby's heart beat. He looked into Sara with slight panic in his eyes.

"Sara your baby is in distress and we need to get you to a hospital. You are in premature labor and we need to get it stopped." he then turned and dialed for an ambulance. He hung up the phone and rang the front desk. "Judy can you put out an emergency page for Grissom to come to the morgue. Thanks. Sara just lie back and breath slowly. The more you panic the more stress you put on your baby."

Grissom was walking to his office when the intercom crackled to life. 'Dr. Grissom, 911 page to Dr. Robbins office.' He stopped dead in his tracks and came face to face with Catherine. The color in both of their faces left and they mouthed 'Sara'. They both took off in a dead run towards the morgue getting everyone's attention in the lab as they ran by. Nick and Warrick took off after them.

When he looked into Doc's office he saw his wife laying on the couch moaning in discomfort with Al listening to the baby. His heart sank as he approached her side.

"Sara, honey, just breathe." he said as he took her hand and kneeled beside her and looked at Doc Robbins.

Catherine, Nick, and Warrick silently huddled in the door and waited for a response.

"She's in pre term labor and if we don't get her to the hospital soon and stop it she'll loose the baby."

Grissom's head dropped and looked at Sara's face as the paramedics rushed in. They moved Grissom aside while they placed Sara on the stretcher and hooked her up to a heart monitor. Then quickly wheeled her out and put her in the ambulance. Grissom got in the back as they closed the door and sped away.

Catherine was the first to say anything. "Lets get over to the hospital." And they were all rushing back to the lab to gather Greg and Brass.