Thanks for all the reviews. I always enjoy reading them. Hope this chapter lives up to your expectations.

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He laid still and watched Nick and Sara's faces until the paramedics pushed them away.

"Sir, be still. Do you have any ringing in your ears? Do you hurt anywhere?"

He looked at the paramedic and slowly answered.

"Not much for pain. Just sore."

They took no chances and stabilized his body. Sara turned to look at Brass as he was put onto a stretcher. The tears flowed from her eyes, and Grissom watched her the entire time. He reached up and wiped away the tears from her face.

Grissom tried to hide his fear from her. When Walter Gordon blew himself up in front of him, he thought the ringing in his ears would never go away. Now all he could hear was a high pitched buzz.

As they continued to maneuver him on the back board, he saw Sara's lips move but heard no sound. She looked at him and waiting for his reply. He looked back at her but didn't say a word. As much as he tried, his eyes couldn't lie to her.

"You can't hear me can you."

Grissom didn't want to respond. His voice failed him so he just nodded. Sara looked away and more tears came. It was hard for him to watch her. He hated seeing her in any pain. Nick pulled her back as he was loaded into the ambulance.

Minutes later Grissom was rolled into the ER. The doctors and nurses moved around him in a chaotic dance. Several were cutting away at his clothes, while others where hooking him up to various instruments. He just stared at the ceiling praying that the buzzing would go away.

The doctor leaned over him and asked, "Can you hear me?"

Reluctantly he shook his head.

"Can you understand me?"

"I can read lips."

"Ok Mr. Grissom. I want to do several tests and scans of your head."

"I have otosclerosis. I had a stapedectomy several years ago. Since then my hearing has been fine."

"I have your file. We contacted your physician. She is going to consult on your tests. Hopefully we can resolve this issue for you."

"Thank you."

He tried to relax and let them work. If all of their efforts failed would Sara still love him if he were deaf. That one thought stayed on his mind the entire time.

Sara paced in the waiting room and waited for the doctor. Nick sat on the small couch, hoping that she would relax, but he knew better. He had phoned to the others and updated them on what had happened. Catherine was the first to arrive.

"Hey, any news?"

"Brass is being treated for minor injuries. But we don't know about Grissom."

Just as the words left his mouth the doctor came in. Sara stopped pacing and looked at him.

"Please sit. Overall, Mr. Grissom is fine. He suffered only minor injuries. But, I'm sure you all know about the otosclerosis."

They nodded in compliance.

"The concussion from the blast ruptured part of the inner ear. The tissue was sensitive from his surgery before, so it made it easier to be damaged. I have ordered up several tests and his physician is on her way. We are going to do everything we can to restore his hearing."

Sara was in tears when she spoke up. "Can I see him?"

"For a few minutes."

Catherine escorted Sara to see Grissom.

"I'll wait here." She said as they approached the ICU.

Sara walked through the double doors and a nurse took her to his bedside. Again water filled her eyes as she looked over him. His head was wrapped up in cotton that covered his ears. She reached out and took his hand. Slowly Grissom opened his eyes. He looked at her and attempted a smile to reassure her that everything would be ok.

"Sara..."

She cut him off. "Grissom. No matter what happens. I'll always be here for you." She spoke slowly enough for him to understand her.

He reached up and wiped yet more tears from her cheek.

"Please stop crying."

"I can't."

The nurse interrupted them. "I'm sorry but I need to take him to get a CT scan."

Grissom kissed the back of Sara's hand as she was led away.

Catherine walked with her back to the elevator. Once inside and alone Sara's legs gave way and she kneeled on the ground crying. Catherine did all she could to help her. When the doors opened Warrick and Nick were standing just a few yards away. They hurried over and got Sara to her feet and onto the waiting room couch. Eventually she fell asleep with her head in Catherine's lap.

Grissom tried to be as still as possible. The high pitched buzzing in his ears was stirring up a migraine. The nurse had turned off the lights to help. Until further notice he couldn't get any pain relievers for the pounding that was slowly increasing. He only tried to think of one thing, and that was Sara.

More tests were run and finally the conclusion to do surgery again was reached. And within the hour he found himself being overcome with anaesthetics.

Sara remained asleep when the doctor delivered the news of Grissoms surgery. Catherine and Warrick had left to go and help at the crime scene, but she had called Lucas before they left. He arrived minutes later. Now Sara's head was resting comfortably in his lap. It made Nick uncomfortable. He had always thought of Sara as a sister, and since she was dating their boss, irritating was the word that came to mind when he saw Lucas. He only saw him as the person wanting to break up Sara and Grissom.

Lucas ran his hands over Sara's sprawled out hair as she slept. Nick slowly felt his anger rise as he watched the scene unfold before him. He watched as Lucas gently moved Sara's head off of his lap so he could stand. As he walked towards the bathroom Nick stood and followed him.

Once in the men's room Nick couldn't hold back any longer.

"Hey, I know your Sara's friend, but so am I. She loves Grissom. Always had. I don't know where you fit into this picture but I think you might need to take a step back. Grissom is a very protective man. He may not look like the kind of guy that would fight over a woman, but when it comes to Sara, he'll do anything to protect her."

"I'm glad. I'm just a friend that's all. I care about Sara. She has told me a great deal about all of you guys, and how much you all mean to her. I don't want to see her hurt either. And I know how much they love each other, they just need to show it."

Nick cracked a small smile. The man was right.

"Well as long as your not here to split them up, I guess your cool."

He held out his hand and Lucas shook it. Then they made their way back to a sleeping Sara.

TBC