Note: Ok, here's another chapter. Thank you all who have "favorited" (is that even a word?) my story! Yes, yes, life has taken some hard turns lately so I haven't been able to update before this. And I warn you: this chapter is going to get kind of mushy and unrealistic. But that's FanFic at its best, my friends.

Chapter 6

Lauren's hospital stay lasted for three weeks. Grissom tried to go in and see her whenever he could, but Ecklie, being Ecklie, piled paperwork on Gil like the world was about to end and all that paperwork would save it. In the meantime, Lauren kept herself busy talking to a neighboring patient, a boy her age who had been in a car accident. She thought he was cute, he thought she was cute, but since they were both in a physical condition that prohibited anything else but emotions, all they did was talk. During one of these sessions, Lauren's regular nurse –now known as Lily- came in.

"Lauren, based on your current progression in all areas, and based on the fact that your father is no longer in your way-" this she said in low tones "-Dr. Shaefer and I have decided that you will be released tomorrow." Lily leaned over to fix Lauren's pillows and placed a tray of food on her bed. Then she smiled and walked out the door, waving to Lauren and her friend Spencer along the way.

"That's cool," Spencer said with a forced smile.

"You don't look like you think it is," she replied with a raised eyebrow. Does he really like me?

"That's because you're leaving. Then this place is goin' to go back to the shit-hole it was before." At this he cringed, having moved his broken arm in a way that it shouldn't have moved.

"Aw, thanks," she laughed. Just then Lily came back and told Spencer that he would have to go back to his room for Dr. Grant to make sure everything was going the way it was supposed to. Spencer stood up shakily from his wheelchair and leaned over to Lauren, attempting to kiss her. All he managed to do was peck her on the lips, but that was fine with her. She laughed.

"'Bye, Lauren," he called as he wheeled himself out of her room. After he left Lauren smiled and leaned back into the pillows, thinking about Spencer –did he really just sort-of kiss her?- and being released.

The next morning, Lily and Dr. Shaefer both came in to say good-bye. Although the small "celebration" they had was exciting (they got her a card and a mini cake) Lauren couldn't help but wonder who would be taking her out of here. She had no family left, besides her father, who was now in jail. She was too scared to ask, however, so she just went along with everyone else.

As Lily wheeled Lauren to the lobby of the hospital, Lauren was startled to see none other than Gil Grissom sitting on a bench reading a magazine titled "Forensics: A New Age." She smiled but quickly hid that smile. How could she be so sure he was taking her anywhere? Her doubt quickly disappeared, however, when he stood up and walked over, smiling, to the two ladies.

"Lauren, you're looking so much better," he commented, still with a smile.

"I guess I feel better, too, thanks to Lily," she replied with a laugh. Lily looked down and smiled, giving her a small hug.

"I hope everything gets better," she said with a nod. "And I never want to see you back here again." They all laughed. Lily helped Lauren stand up, and, after a few tries, she could walk relatively normally. With Grissom supporting her, she walked out into the cold day. She hadn't realized how rainy it had been lately. It didn't bother her, however, for she dearly loved the rain. Lauren let Grissom guide her to his car and they got in their respective sides, Grissom starting up the car, Lauren in the passenger seat.

"Where am I going?" Lauren asked.

"For now, to the lab," he answered, giving her a look out of the corner of his eye. She was staring straight ahead.

Please, don't make me go back there, Lauren thought with a pleading tone.

"Nothing's going to happen to you. I'll be with you the whole time. We just need to figure out who's going to take you in." With this Grissom reached his hand over to hers and squeezed it to let her know he was here.

And she squeezed back.