Daddy Don't Leave!
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: Don't own CSI, never will.
Summary: The eldest Grissom child tries to stop her parents from separating. Will she succeed or fail?
A/N: This isn't beta-ed, so there could be a few mistakes.
Grissom cradled Sam in his arms as the nurses ushered him outside. He was fighting to get back in and see his wife, but they were having none of it. Defeated, Grissom walked back to the waiting room where Nick was still sitting with little Erik. He saw how pale his boss looked and instantly asked him what happened.
"Sara...she-she woke up," he whispered, not sure what to feel at the moment. He was overjoyed that she had awoken, but terrified that she would not take him back. "The doctors forced me back here...I can't believe she woke up."
"Oh my God!" Nick exclaimed. "Is she okay?"
"I don't know, Nicky," he said. "The nurses told me to get out...God, I need to see her. I need to apologize before it's too late."
"Grissom...if you look her in the eye and tell her that you love her, tell her that you need her, and tell her that you want her to stay, she will," Nick said gently. "Reassure her with a kiss. Unless you show her what you're feeling, she won't know what's going on inside that brain and heart of yours."
Grissom sighed, but nodded. He knew Nick was right. He sat down next to him and hugged Sam to him. He could not get the image of Sara's bright brown eyes looking at him out of his head. She was awake! He kissed Sam's head as she clung to him, shaking. She sniffled and asked, "Daddy, is Momma gonna be okay now?"
"I sure hope so sweetie," he whispered, smiling slightly at the child.
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About thirty minutes later, a doctor came out, calling Sara's name. Grissom instantly stood up with Sam still in his arms, but set her down beside Nick. He told her he would be right back after she cried and told him not to leave her. He brushed her hair out of her eyes and kissed her cheek before walking over to the doctor.
"Mr. Grissom, as you know, you're wife woke up," he said. "I'm sorry for ordering you out, but we needed to check on her. Well, she seems to be able to move fine. We asked her to move her feet, legs, arms, fingers, toes, everything...she was able to do that, slowly, but that's to be expected after just waking up. She seems to be absolutely fine, and she is now in her own room."
"May I see her...and my daughter?" he begged, thumbing to Sam over his shoulder. "She saw her mother get shot...please?"
The doctor nodded, and Grissom walked over to Sam. She stood up, gripped his hand tightly, and the two followed the doctor. He led them through a labyrinth of hallways until they reached room number 304. The doctor told them they could enter, and they did. Grissom pushed open the door, his daughter still holding onto his hand in a death-grip. They saw Sara laying there, pale but awake. Sam's hand gripped her father's harder than ever as the tears welled up in her eyes.
"Mommy!" she cried, rushing up to the bedside.
Sara's head whipped to the side as she heard her daughter. Relief flooded through her as she saw her little girl was unharmed. Sam was at the bedside in a flash. She leaned over and hugged her mother tightly, but not so hard that she hurt her. The tears fell down Sara's face and into Samantha's brown locks of hair. Sam sobbed uncontrollably and her mother rubbed her back soothingly.
"Sam, I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered. "Where's your brother?"
"With Uncle Nicky in the waiting room," Sam responded.
Grissom quietly slipped out of the room after mumbling that he'd get him. He walked back to the waiting room and up to his friend and son, who was still asleep. Nick looked at him questioningly, but Grissom just shook his head. He gently woke up his son and asked, "Hey buddy, Mommy's awake."
Erik was still drowsy, but instantly reached up to his father. Grissom picked up the small boy and set him on his hip as he trekked back to his wife's room. He pushed open the door and saw Sara and Sam talking quietly. He walked in and Erik called for his mother. Grissom approached her bedside and gently deposited the boy in her lap. He hugged him tightly and kissed his forehead.
"Momma, I'm glad you're okay!" he said, snuggling up close to his mom. "I was scared, Sam was really scared, and Daddy was even more scareder. He was sayin' that it was all his fault you got hurt."
"He did?" she asked, sneaking a quick glance at her husband. "Well, I'm okay now pumpkin. Why don't you two go back with Uncle Nicky...your Daddy and I need to talk."
Grissom picked Erik back up and took his daughter's hand in his as he led them back to the waiting room. Nick was pacing, and Grissom said, "Nick, can you watch the munchkins for a little bit more? You can call someone else to watch them, but Sara and I need to..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, go ahead," he said, scooping Erik up into his arms.
"Hey, Uncle Nicky, Momma's okay!" he said excitedly.
Nick smiled and acted surprised as he responded, "She is! Well, that's good."
Grissom smiled to himself as he heard his son chattering excitedly to the CSI. He walked back to Sara's room and quietly entered. He pulled up a chair, and sat down beside her. There was a moment of awkward silence, before the tears that Grissom had been restraining broke free. Sobs wracked his body as the tears streaked his pale cheeks.
"Oh my God Sara, I'm sorry, I'm SO sorry," he whispered, his face in his hands. "I never should have left you. I'm such an ass, this is all my fault...I'm sorry!"
Sara was shocked. She reached across and gently touched Grissom's shoulder. He looked up and saw her chocolaty orbs had tears brimming in them. She blinked and the salty tears spilled over her lips and down her cheeks. He gently caressed them away with his thumb and kissed her cheek. She pulled him down and into her arms. She sobbed into his chest and he held onto her tightly. He stroked her hair and kissed her top of her head multiple times. Her tears left wet spots on his shirt, and she choked out, "Gil, I was so scared. When I heard that noise in the bathroom, I just figured the dog had gotten into something. I told Sam and Erik to stay in the living room..."
"But she didn't," he whispered.
Sara shook her head and said, "No, she didn't. When I saw the man going through our medicine cabinet, and that he had a gun, I truly was terrified. Not for my life...but for the kids'. What if he hadn't run after shooting me? What if he hurt Sam or Erik? God, Gil...I just..."
She couldn't even continue. The tears were pouring out of her eyes like a waterfall. Grissom held onto her even tighter, trying to mollify her. His heart broke as he saw Sara sobbing so severely. He swallowed the lump in his throat and said, "Shh, honey, they're okay. They weren't hurt...they'll be okay."
Sara nodded and said, "But Sam...she, she saw him shoot me. Gil, she'll be scarred for the rest of her life. That's not something the average child sees happen to a parent."
He nodded, not knowing what to say. The couple just stayed in each other's arms for awhile, not wanting to talk bout their prior argument. Grissom finally swallowed his pride and said, "Sara, I think we need to talk."
She nodded and wiped her eyes before saying, "Yeah, we do."
"I'm really sorry," he said, looking her straight in the eye. "I was just so paranoid about making sure you were safe at work that I didn't bother thinking something could happen while you were at home. When Sam called me and told me you'd been shot, the whole world seemed to stop. The only thought running through my head was, 'Please God, keep her safe.' I didn't give a damn if I was speeding; I just needed to get home. Then when while I was in the ambulance with you...you're heart stopped. I was so scared that I'd loose you...and his will sound selfish, but I didn't want you to go until I apologized and told you I loved you with all of my heart."
She smiled weakly at him and said, "Gil, I made a vow...for better or for worse, in sickness and health, through the good times and bad, I'd stick with you throughout the whole thing. We can't just give up now...I'll do anything to make this work."
He nodded and said, "Me too...we can go to counseling, I'll take you away for a weekend alone, anything."
She nodded and said, "I'd like that...I'm not just gonna give up now. You're stuck with me till death do us part."
A/N 2: Yay, not a cliffy. I hope you still enjoy this. If you do, leave a review, and I'll give you a sneak peek of the next chapter again. Thanks for all of the reviews I've received so far.