Chapter Two: Sickness, Love, and Ladybugs

"Hey Gil, did you ever find out any more about the Colonna case?" Catherine walked into Grissom's office holding a case file. Grissom read a few more sentences before putting down the book he was reading and looking up at Catherine.

"Brass arrested the husband about an hour ago. It turns out that he killed his wife and the kid," Grissom removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes, "How anyone could kill their pregnant wife and child is beyond me, it doesn't matter if she made him mad, its just not right."

Catherine glanced at the book Grissom set down, "Mother and Baby: The Nine Month Journey," she read the title of the book out loud, "Interesting choice in literature."

Grissom quickly searched for an excuse, "I just thought that I'd try to learn more about the wife, what she was going through." He glanced at his watch, "I think that I'm going to head out, I'll see you tomorrow."

Catherine shook her head. She wasn't surprised. She gave one last look to the book and walked out of the room. Grissom packed up his bag and locked his office. Since he found out that he would be a father the week before, Grissom had been reading every book on pregnancy and child development that he could get his hands on.

Climbing into his car, Grissom checked his phone guiltily. He had four missed calls and had received three messages. Tonight he had put in a couple hours of overtime without thinking. It was about 8:00 a.m. now. Listening to the messages, he recognized Sara's voice. Just as soon as shift ended she went home, and when she left she looked a little pale. In the message, Sara asked that when Grissom came home that he bring soda crackers and something else to calm Sara's stomach. She said that she had contracted the flu from one of her suspects she'd been interviewing.

Quickly driving to the store, Grissom found the isles with the crackers and stomach medicine. While passing a cart with flowers, he picked up three red roses before heading toward the checkout line. Distracted, something caught Grissom's eye in a corner isle, it was a basket of stuffed animals. Smiling, Grissom picked what he thought was supposed to be a lady bug. He and Sara could enjoy it until the baby came, and there was no reason why the baby shouldn't have a great interest in bugs. Keeping his eyes straight towards the checkout line as he walked, Grissom made a mental note to try and find a book with the works of Shakespeare as well. His baby would be very intelligent, Grissom was sure of it.

Standing in the checkout line, Grissom heard a familiar voice from behind him, "Grissom? What are you doing here?"

Wincing, Grissom turned around to face no other than Greg Sanders with his arms full of junk food.

"I just needed to pick up a few things before heading home," Grissom paid the cashier his money and grabbed his bags, trying to get rid of Greg and get himself home.

"Are you feeling sick?" Greg motioned to the medicine and the crackers, "Only, I usually don't get myself roses when I'm sick."

"I've been feeling out of sorts lately. The roses are part of this special home remedy I read about. "

"Oh, right," Glancing down at the food in his arms Greg continued, "I'm having some friends over, they say that I've been under the weather lately because of the civil suit and whatnot."

Grissom sighed, he felt bad for Greg, "A civil suit like that would take a toll on anyone. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You made the right decision that night, and you've been paying for it since. Nobody came out of it unscathed. Just let it go and move on."

"Thanks Grissom. For everything," Greg smiled, " You're a real hard ass most of the time, but you're a people person when you try "

Grissom shook his head, "That's good to know," he looked at his cell phone, grimacing.

"Do you have to be somewhere?"

"Yes, I need to get home before Sa-" Grissom stopped, realizing what he'd almost said, "Before it gets to late, I need to catch up on my sleep and I want to look over my case files."

Greg smiled oddly, "Okay," he said doubtfully, "I guess I'll see you at work."

Grissom mentally slapped himself. For as smart as he was, he sure was stupid sometimes. He called to tell Sara he was on his way home and left the store.

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Unlocking the front door, Grissom deposited his purchases on the kitchen counter. He still couldn't figure out how Sara had ended up moving into his townhouse, but he liked it better now that she was in it permanently. She made it feel lived in, homey. And in his opinion, it looked better with her things in it. Walking into his bedroom that was shared with Sara, he heard sounds of retching coming from the adjoining bathroom. Grissom hurried in to check on Sara.

Flushing the toilet, Sara looked very pale. She felt worse than she looked, but she didn't tell Grissom that when he asked her how she was feeling. Having thrown up everything she'd eaten, Sara didn't feel any better. She picked herself up and stumbled to the bed, aided by Grissom.

Seeing the way Grissom was looking at her, Sara glared at him, "It's only the stomach flu," she stated, "It's not morning sickness."

"Okay, if you say so," Grissom smiled at her denial and left to the kitchen. Gathering the plastic bag with his purchases out of the kitchen, he pulled the roses out and poured a glass of water. Setting them on a tray, Grissom returned to find Sara curled up in a ball. Gently, he propped her up against pillows and emptied the contents of the bag on the bed.

Sara picked up the stuffed ladybug, smiling a sick smile, "What exactly is this for? The baby isn't coming for another six months and you're already trying to get it interested in bugs?"

"Its never to early to start buying things for the baby," Grissom hugged Sara, "I got something for you to," picking up the tray, Grissom handed Sara the water along with her medicine.

"Thank you," she replied sarcastically, wincing at the foul taste of the medicine, "I think that if I sleep then I'll feel better."

"I don't think you'll want to sleep quite yet," Grissom handed her one of the roses, "In sickness and health isn't just for married people you know. This rose is for you in sickness," he kissed her forehead, "This rose is for you in weakness, sadness," he paused, "Pain," he kissed her again, this time on the cheek, "This rose is for you in your joy, your happiness, your love," he kissed her one last time, this time on the lips.

Tears filled Sara's eyes, "We're going to be fine, all three of us. It doesn't matter when and if other's find out about us."

Grissom held Sara in his arms as the medicine kicked in and made her sleep. About ten minutes after he thought she'd fallen asleep, Grissom reached for the case file of the miniature murders on his bedside table. As he leaned back into the bad with his file open, Sara jerked her eyes open and she flung herself out of bed. She ran to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. Startled, Grissom ran to the bathroom after her, and finding the door locked, he sat and waited.

"I guess it was the flu," He said to himself.

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To Be Continued...