Ovarian Grievance
Pairing: Sara and Nick
A/N: This is based loosely on what happened to me the past seven months now.
Sara continues to recuperate and receive visitors. She's also surprised by some good news.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sara, Nick or any other CSI character. If I did own the show, the final scene from 'Way to Go' wouldn't exist and the show would have beaten 'Gray's Anatomy'. I only own my original characters and this story plot.
More Visiting Hours
After Sara woke up, she was helped to the shower. The bedding as well as her hospital gown was being changed and the room was being cleaned. After a quick and careful shower, she was dried and put on the new gown. She felt refreshed and returned to bed. A nurse came by the room and measured Sara's vitals.
"Good morning, Ms. Sidle," another nurse entered. "Looks like you are off the clear food diet."
"What am I going have for breakfast?" Sara asked.
"Why don't you find out for yourself?" the nurse asked with a chuckle and left.
Sara slowly removed the lid off one dish and saw it was three slices of French toast with a beautifully sliced strawberry on top. There were two sausage links next to the toast. She opened one of the containers on they tray and it appeared to be oatmeal or some other sort of gruel. Right behind the slop there was a small plastic container sealed with foil that held some orange juice. A few inches across the juice was a covered cup that contained 'liquid mud' or 'rocket fuel'
Greg better bring me that thermos of Blue Hawaiian or he will rue the day he gave me his word, Sara thought as she ate her breakfast in silence.
Sara watched some TV after she finished eating her breakfast. It wasn't the best French toast and she preferred the diner's, but it was a change from the dreary clear fluid diet she had to endure after the surgery. She put the sausage links on a napkin and wrapped it for Nick when he came to see her.
"Hey beautiful, how are you feeling today?" Nick asked as he entered the room.
"Not as sore as I was yesterday," Sara sighed. "You aren't going believe what I had for breakfast just now."
"They took you off the popsicle, Jell-O, broth and 'rocket fuel' diet?" he asked with one brow raised.
"Yeah, I had French toast, some oatmeal and orange juice," she happily replied. "There were sausage links, but I didn't eat them. I have wrapped them in a napkin for you. Also, I didn't touch the 'rocket fuel' or 'liquefied mud'."
"I'm glad you didn't," he smirked. "I called Greg before I left and he told me that he's preparing two thermoses of Blue Hawaiian."
"Why two?" she asked in confusion.
"I guess he felt bad you were stuck drinking this crud before," he chuckled. "He'd better bring them or he'll have Warrick, you and me to answer to."
"Greg will get smacked by me," she giggled. "I forgot to tell you that they had cleaned the room, changed the bedding and my gown and I had a shower."
"That's why you look so happy," he smirked. "Also, you smell like fresh flowers."
"You always butter that toast, Nicky," she beamed.
"Sara, you know that I always love to butter your toast," he winked at her. "I know what you are going to ask and the answer is my parents are taking a tour of the Las Vegas Metro area with Catherine and Lindsey."
"I have a feeling that your parents will be driven crazy by a teenager," she laughed.
"They have teenaged granddaughters," he gently reminded her. "I think they can handle Lindsey Willows."
"She can be more like a teenaged female Tasmanian Devil," she chuckled.
"Believe and trust me," he smirked. "They can handle her."
"Am I interrupting a Snickers moment?" Greg asked as he appeared at the doorway with a beige canvass bag.
"Not really, but this is a very tame Snickers moment," Sara smiled. "Greg, did you bring me your Blue Hawaiian as promised. If you didn't, Nick and Warrick will beat you up."
"You don't have to worry about me getting beaten up," Greg chuckled. "In this bag, I have two thermoses filled with the Graveyard shift's favorite coffee."
"I'll tell Warrick that he'll be disappointed that he won't help me beat up our Greggo," Nick joked.
"You should moonlight as a stand up comic," Greg joked back.
"Guys, grow up!" Sara protested. "Greg, thank you for the coffee and sparing me from drinking that awful swill."
"Just getting better is all the thanks I want," Greg smiled.
"Can you stay and chat with us?" Nick asked.
"No, I have to get going," Greg replied with a slight heaviness in his voice. "I have a doctor's appointment in about an hour. It's for my annual checkup."
"Good luck and don't give your doctor any grief," Sara chuckled.
"Hey, I am a good boy when I see my doctor," Greg defended himself. "It's her nurse that likes to torture me. I think she went to the Marquis de Sade's School of Nursing. She gets her kicks out of making me her favorite human pin cushion when she was to take a sample of my blood."
"Good luck with your appointment," Nick said.
"Thanks," Greg gave a small smile. "Sara, enjoy that coffee."
"You know I always have," Sara beamed.
Greg left the room and Hodges arrived a few minutes later. Nick gave him a slight glare telling him to behave himself.
"Hey Sara, I heard about your surgery," Hodges said. "How are you feeling? Can you still have children?"
"I am still sore from the surgery," Sara explained. "The tumor consumed my ovary and they had to remove it. I still have my other ovary and that's a healthy one. They still have to analyze the tumor to determine if it's benign or malignant. Chances are, it will be benign."
"Hodges, why do you want to know whether Sara can have children or not?" Nick asked.
"I am just curious," Hodges replied.
"I would like to wait until I know the official results," Sara tried to make peace. "Nick and I are hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst."
Nick smiled at Sara's response. He thought the pending results were none of Hodges' business.
"I got you a little present," Hodges smiled as he gave Sara a floral print gift bag. "All the lab techs chipped in for this gift. Inside, there's a card that Archie picked out and we all signed it."
Sara took out the magenta tissue paper and dug into the bag. She was shocked to see a toy cat.
"That looks like our little Sphinx," Nick said.
"Hodges, when you get back to the lab," Sara told the lab tech. "Tell your fellow techs that I thank them for this cute gift."
"Why don't you look at the card?" Nick asked.
"Aw, it has Garfield," Sara smiled as she looked at and read the card. "This is so cute and typical mean Garfield fashion. I love your signatures."
"I am glad you like it," Hodges smirked. "I have to go home now. I wish I could spend more time here, but I have to get ready for a meeting with Ecklie."
"Have fun!" Sara and Nick said as Hodges left.
After Hodges left, Nick and Sara were looking at each other with bewilderment. Sara shrugged her shoulders as Nick looked out the door in with a combined expression of confusion and frustration.
"So much for a visit," Sara said with perplexity in her voice.
"David Hodges does make cameo appearances," Nick sighed. "I think Ecklie has him wrapped around his middle finger. What a kiss ass!"
"Nick, don't forget he save us from getting blown up when we rescued you from that coffin," she gently reminded him.
"I am grateful for that," he smirked. "Still, he is a kiss ass!"
"Let's agree on those two things," she beamed.
"Yeah," he said softly.
"Good morning, Nick and Sara!" Dr. Calabrese entered the room. "Sara, how are you feeling today?"
"I am still feeling sore," Sara said. "Nevertheless, I am a little better."
"Nick, I am going to exam Sara," Dr. Calabrese. "Do you want to stay here or wait outside? I am not going to do an internal exam."
"I'll stay for moral support." Nick winked at Sara and held her hand.
Dr. Calabrese looked at the incision and proceeded listen to Sara's heart and lungs.
"Sara, I have some good news for you," Dr. Calabrese smiled.
Nick immediately let go of Sara's hand and turned to face the doctor.
"What is it?" both Nick and Sara said at simultaneously.
"I got the results on the tumor and it's benign," Dr. Calabrese happily announced. "Also, you get to go home tomorrow."
"That's excellent!" Sara beamed.
"However, I want you to rest for the next two weeks," Dr. Calabrese said. "When you return to work, it will be lab and desk duty. You will need to have medical clearance to return to the field. Nick, make sure she doesn't do much."
"I think Sara already knows that," Nick chuckled slightly. "Besides, we've told you that my parents are here from Dallas to help her."
"I will see you for the follow up examination," Dr. Calabrese said. "One more thing, if I don't see you tomorrow to check you out, one of the doctors from my office will by to discharge you. Take care of each other."
"We shall," Sara smiled.
Dr. Calabrese left, but not before shaking Nick and Sara's hand.
"Sara, I am going to lunch in a few minutes and go home for a well deserved nap," Nick said. "I will be back in a few hours. Tell Brass and Grissom I said hi if I am not here when the visit you."
"Don't worry, Nicky," Sara chuckled. "I'll say hi to them on your behalf."
He kissed her and left the room. It was five minutes after he left, a nurse came by to take another round of Sara's vitals and left. Another nurse entered for a different reason.
"Ms. Sidle, I am going to take your lunch order," she said. "Today, your entrée choices are macaroni and cheese, BLT or hamburger."
"I'll have macaroni and cheese," Sara replied.
"You also get a roll," the nurse. "The meal comes with fresh fruit, two cookies and your choice of drink."
"I'll have iced tea," Sara smiled and the nurse left.
Sara struggled to get up from bed and went for a walk around the nurses' station. She managed to walk almost briskly for three laps. She returned to her room and watched a baseball game. It was the San Francisco Giants vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates. At least she wouldn't have to hear a gentle tirade from Nick if her Giants played against his Rangers. It was already the top of the fifth inning when her lunch arrived. She ate it with slight gratitude, but she had better macaroni and cheese entrées than this one. She dumped the ice tea on her finished plate and poured the Blue Hawaiian into the cup. Every sip she took was savored slowly. She would have to call Greg to thank him for the two thermoses of Blue Hawaiian. After she finished her cookies, she pushed the tray table aside and relaxed while watching the game.
"Hey Sara, how are you doing?" Grissom asked as he entered the room with Brass and a woman that Sara didn't know.
"Could be better, could be worse," Sara replied. "I am still sore, but that's expected. My surgeon came by to examine and gave me some really good news. The tumor is benign and I get to go home tomorrow."
"Congratulations, Sara!" Brass smiled. "Just rest, recuperate and let Nicky and his parents take care of you."
"So, how are you doing?" Sara asked. "How is the lab? Who is that woman with you guys?"
"We're fine and so is the lab," Grissom answered.
"Gil, let me introduce myself to your friend," the woman intervened before Grissom could introduce her. "I'm Lady Heather."
"Nice to meet you, Lady Heather," Sara said. "I am Sara Sidle."
"I think I might have seen you before," Lady Heather looked at Sara. "Weren't you helping investigate the monster who killed my daughter?"
"Yes, but I didn't get to meet you," Sara responded.
"Well, we meet now," Lady Heather said.
"Ecklie was asking about you," Grissom grimaced. "I told him you had surgery and it was a success."
"Did he say anything else?" Sara asked.
"He told me to tell you to get well soon," Grissom replied. "I know you're going to ask about his tone or if he meant it. He sounded kind and sincere."
"I am sure Nicky would take issue with Ecklie if he wasn't," Brass chuckled. "Speaking of Nicky, where is he?"
"He went to get a bite to eat," Sara said. "He also went home to take a nap. I am pretty sure he fed the kittens."
"How many cats do you and your fiancé have?" Lady Heather asked.
"We have two, a male named Sphinx and a female named Nefertiti," Sara smiled.
"You have an Ancient Egyptian theme with those names," Lady Heather inferred. "That was when cats were revered and worshipped."
"Nick originally wanted to name them Austin and Abilene after two cities in his native Texas," Sara smirked. "I argued for the Ancient Egyptian them and he came around. He thinks Sphinx and Nefertiti suit them just fine."
"What was that about Sphinx and Nefertiti?" a male voice with a Texas drawl asked.
"Hey Nick, I was just telling Grissom, Brass and Lady Heather about how you wanted to name our feline babies Austin and Abilene," Sara smiled as Nick entered the room.
"Didn't I eventually agree to Sphinx and Nefertiti?" Nick responded with a question.
"Yes, you did considering we almost came to blows over it," Sara lightly chuckled.
"How have you guys been treating my fiancée?" Nick asked. "I hope you weren't putting her through an interrogation!"
"We would never do that to Sara," Brass chuckled. "We're just visiting her and introducing her to Lady Heather."
"Sara gave us the good news," Grissom told Nick. "Just make sure she rests. When she returns to works, it will be lab and desk duty for a few weeks."
"I don't know how many people told me the same thing," Nick protested and Grissom gave him a look that meant business. "I will make sure she follows doctor's order."
"Gil and Heather, let the two lovebirds have time alone," Brass said. "We'll see guys around."
"It's great to finally meet you, Lady Heather," Sara smiled.
"Same here and get well soon," Lady Heather said.
After Grissom, Brass and Lady Heather left, Nick and Sara were able to spend some time alone.
"How was the visit?" Nick asked.
"It was great," Sara smiled. "Not like the cameo made by Hodges. I am not sure if his brief visit was a good thing or not."
"It could go either way," he smirked.
"What did you do the past few hours?" she asked.
"I went to a nearby pizzeria to eat some pizza," he cringed. "It was the worst pizza I have ever eaten. I went home, fed the kitties and took a nap. My nap was disrupted when my mom called to say that she and Cisco were still touring around Vegas and that they'll meet us in your hospital room later in the afternoon. I know what you are going to ask and they are coping with Lindsey as best as they could."
"Thanks for telling me this," she smirked. "Did you tell them anything about me?"
"No, I wanted it to be a surprise," he beamed. "Unless, if you wanted to tell me before."
"Keep it a surprise," she insisted. "By the way, you promised to take me to Ben and Jerry's after I am discharged from the hospital."
"My parents are coming with us," he smiled.
"I like that," she smiled back. "Could you give me a glass of water? I am getting a little thirsty and a nurse is coming in soon to give me a pain pill."
"Sure," he smiled as he poured some water from a pitcher to a glass and gave it to her.
"Thank you," she smiled back at him.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Sidle," a nurse said as she entered the room. "It's time for your pain pill. I'm going to remove the staples from your incision."
Sara took the meds with a few sips of water. The nurse adjusted the bed so it was flat. Nick sat on the chair, took Sara's hand in one of his and gently stroked her cheek with his other hand. The nurse gingerly removed one staple at time. Sara grimaced when a staple wasn't removed with such ease, but Nick was able to keep her calm. Once the nurse was finished, she cleaned the incision with an antiseptic solution and put a fresh bandage over it.
"I'm finished," she said. "Ms. Sidle, you did very well."
"Thank you," Sara smiled and the nurse left.
Nick and Sara were once again alone in the room until Bill and Jillian arrived.
"Hey mom and dad, you look a little frazzled," Nick observed his slightly exhausted parents.
"Nicholas, is this the way you greet your parents?" Jillian asked.
"No, but I was making an observation," Nick chuckled.
"Sara, how are you feeling?" Bill asked.
"Getting better slowly," Sara changed her response. "I have some great news to give you. First, the tumor infested ovary is benign. Second, I get to go home tomorrow. Finally, a nurse recently came by and removed the staples from the incision."
"Congratulations Sara, that is wonderful!" Jillian practically shrieked and gently hugged her future daughter-in-law.
"Tomorrow, we are celebrating with a trip to Ben and Jerry's," Nick insisted. "I promised Sara a trip to the Scoop Shop."
"Of course, we shall," Bill agreed.
"Hey, how was your trip with Catherine and Lindsey?" Sara asked.
"We had a great time," Jillian smiled. "They were thorough and we saw things on and off the beaten path. Lindsey was like a teenage Tasmanian Devil and Catherine told her a few times to slow down."
"Jillian, you should try going to the mall with her," Sara chuckled. "She is like a human tornado."
"I'll keep that in mind," Jillian smirked.
"Pancho, let's go home," Bill said. "Your mom and I are tired. We all know the good news. Let Sara rest and relax while she's still in the hospital. Sara, congratulations, good night and we'll see you tomorrow."
"I love you, Sara," Nick smiled.
"I love you too, Nicky," Sara purred as they kissed.
A few moments after Nick and his parents left, a nurse came to check on Sara's vitals and left. Sometime later, another nurse took her dinner order. Sara requested a vegetarian entrée and lemon crème cake for dessert. When her dinner arrived, she ate it slowly and drank some of the Blue Hawaiian from one of the thermoses Greg had given her earlier. A few hours later, she happily fell asleep, but not before having another round of vitals checked by a nurse.
TBC