Disclaimer: CSI belongs to CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer.
Author's Note: NO spare time + writer's block equals EXTRA long wait...sorry guys. Thanks to all of you who reviewed!
Part 8
Sara and Catherine were sitting in the waiting area of the hospital, the brunette tapping her feet every now and then, indicating her nervousness, the strawberry blonde reading an unidentifiably-old magazine.
Minutes passed and Sara's tapping got worse, now even making Catherine feel some nerves settle in her body. The older woman knew Sara needed some support, heck, she herself needed support. But now, Sara was all that mattered. If she felt good, Catherine would be ok as well.
Catherine placed her hand on Sara's thigh, "No need to be nervous, Honey. Everything will be just fine."
The soothing gesture did have a calming effect on the younger woman. Sara shifted in the very uncomfortable plastic chair and looked into the sparkling blue eyes of her lover.
"I know. This place just gives me the creeps," Sara said as she reached for Catherine's hand, making their connection even stronger –needing to feel the strawberry blonde as close as possible –and appropriate- in the sterile setting of the hospital.
Suddenly a voice both of the women recognized immediately came from behind, "Sara? Catherine?"
Turning their heads, they were met with the nurse they had quickly befriended during Sara's stay at the hospital.
"Ann," Sara started as she stood up and gave the dark-haired woman a hug, "it's good to see you."
"Likewise," the nurse answered as she stepped towards Catherine, giving her a hug as well. "It's good to see you both."
Ann had been of great help, making sure Catherine was able to see Sara when she had been in the ICU.
The nurse was glad to see both of the women, who she considered to be close friends. Although it had been a few days, she really missed the easy interaction between the three of them. As well as seeing the strawberry blonde and brunette's love for one another becoming stronger and stronger each passing day the younger woman had been in the hospital.
Just as Ann wanted to ask how Sara was doing, another nurse called the brunette's name.
"Miss Sidle?"
"Yes," Sara said as she walked over to the nurse who then led her to a small office.
"Dr. Bergman will be right with you."
"Alright," the brunette replied as she walked over to the desk and sat down in one of the chairs in front of it. She felt nerves wreck through her body, her heart screaming for Catherine to be right next to her.
Out in the hall was another woman filled with nerves. Catherine's heart was screaming as hard as Sara's, wanting to be in the same room as the brunette.
Ann, who was still standing next to Catherine, noticed the change in the strawberry blonde, and reached for her arm.
"Come on," the nurse said as she pulled Catherine along, "let's get you in there as well."
The older woman first looked surprised, but as she saw the grin on the smaller woman's face, her own lips curled into a smile as well.
The door opened and someone entered. Sara didn't look around, because she expected this person to be Dr. Bergman. But as the footsteps came closer, she sensed it was someone else, someone she wanted there all along.
As she felt a soft hand resting on her shoulder, she couldn't stop a smile from coming to her face. Turning her head to the side she saw Catherine taking place in the chair next to her. The strawberry blonde let her hand glide over Sara's arm and entwined their fingers.
Immediately she felt herself becoming calm again –well, as calm as she would get, being in a hospital and all.
Entwining their fingers, Catherine leaned closer to Sara and gave a chaste kiss on the brunette's lips. As soon as the connection was made, both of the women felt their bodies relax.
The door opened and Dr. Bergman entered, stethoscope slung around his neck, one hand holding a cup of coffee, the other holding a few documents.
"Miss Sidle," he said as he walked over to his desk and placed both the mug and the files on it, "how are you doing?" He held out his hand to greet the brunette.
"Fine…well, better," she said as she shook his hand.
Then he turned to Catherine and also greeted her.
"It's good to see you," he smiled at both of the women as he sat down behind his desk.
"Now, today we're just going to do a check up, see if you can be cleared for desk duty or not. So, if you would change into a gown," he said as he pointed towards the back of his office where a room-divider was placed.
"Alright," Sara said. As she rose from her seat she felt the strawberry blonde squeezing her hand one last time. Only for a split second their eyes locked, but the look they shared comforted the brunette.
After undressing, Sara pulled on a very uncomfortable hospital gown, and sat down, waiting for Dr. Bergman, who seemed to be in a friendly conversation with Catherine.
Sara's mind involuntarily started to fill with thought of the dream she had had the night before. She still hadn't told Catherine what it had been about, and now there was this nagging little voice telling her she should let the older woman in on what had haunted her the night before.
Her train of thoughts was interrupted by Dr. Bergman asking her if she was ready.
"Yes," Sara answered, clearing her head and preparing herself for the probably not completely pain-free check up.
"Alright, now if you would lay down," Dr. Bergman said.
The brunette did as she was told, and Dr. Bergman started by listening to her heart and lungs. Both were fine. Next, the doctor checked her blood pressure.
"120 over 80, perfect," Dr. Bergman said.
Then came the part Sara dreaded the most: the examination of her ribs. Carefully, Dr. Bergman put pressure on her still black and blue-colored ribs. A hiss of pain escaped from the brunette's lips.
Catherine, still waiting in the chair at the other side of the room, heard Sara's obvious distress and before she realized what she was doing she was already at the brunette's side, pushing the doctor out of the way and taking her lover's hand.
"Excuse me, Miss Willows, I need some space here," Dr. Bergman smiled.
Seeing the strawberry blonde's concern for Sara's well-being did him good. He had learned during the days that the younger woman had been hospitalized that she had been –and felt- alone for a big part of her life. So, seeing the two women looking out after each other was a sight he welcomed with open arms.
"Sorry," Catherine said sheepishly and took a step aside, but kept her fingers entwined with Sara's.
"It's alright," the man started, "I'm almost done. Last thing I need to check are the stitches."
After checking the healing wound, Sara was able to get out of the irritating hospital gown again.
She was tying her shoe laces when Dr. Bergman spoke up, "I don't see any reason why you can't start at work again, though I suggest you take one more week off, give your ribs a bit more rest so that they will be less tender."
"Ok," Sara said as she walked over to the desk where Dr. Bergman and Catherine were both seated again.
"I'd like to see you once more, say, in two weeks. You can just make an appointment with my secretary. So, If you don't have any questions," the doctor said while he scribbled something on Sara's chart.
"Actually, I need to know whether it is ok for me to fly. I've got a private matter wherefore I need to go to San Francisco," the brunette said as she stood behind Catherine, placing her hands on the strawberry blonde's shoulders for support –needing it physically as well as mentally.
Catherine placed her hand over Sara's and looked up to her lover, who was keeping a blank expression on her face while eyeing the doctor.
"Well," Dr. Bergman started as he thought about the brunette's question, "I don't know whether this matter can be postponed one week?"
"No, it can't," Sara answered sternly.
"Then," he sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "I can only say that I wouldn't recommend it, but I also don't have a reason to stop you from going, though I do suggest that you take as much rest as you can while on this trip."
Then the doctor's pager buzzed, the little screen displaying 911.
"I'm sorry ladies, I've got an emergency." As he stood up to leave he once more addressed the women, "Take good care of yourself, Sara, and listen to your body. And you," he added, now talking to Catherine, "keep an eye on her."
"I will," Catherine said as she took Sara's hand in her own.
The three of them left Dr. Bergman's office –the man running off towards the ER, the women following on a slower pace, walking down the hall.
When they were waiting for the elevator, Ann walked up to them.
"You guys in a hurry, or do you want to grab a coffee, tea, anything?" the nurse asked.
"Actually…" Catherine started, but was soon interrupted by Sara.
"We've got time," the brunette said to Catherine, then turned to Ann and smiled, "Lead the way."
The three of them sat down in a quiet corner of the cafeteria, Sara and Catherine on one side of the table, Ann on the other.
Sara could feel Ann's inquisitive eyes on her, smiled at Catherine, and then took a sip of her orange juice –coffee still being banned.
"You know, you can just ask," Sara said as she placed her glass back down.
"Yeah," Ann smiled sheepishly, "but I don't mean to pry or something."
"It's ok. Bergman said I'm doing fine, ordered one more week rest, then I can go back to work…doing paperwork only. Though he wasn't completely happy with me flying to San Francisco…"
"San Francisco? Why?" Ann asked.
"Long story," Sara waved it off, at the moment not wanting to delve into the story of her past.
While Sara and Ann chatted away, Catherine grabbed her cell phone and switched it back on. She noticed she had missed one call. Listening to the message left behind she heard her sister Nancy say that her son Jeremy had the chickenpox, and that she couldn't take Lindsey while they had to go to San Francisco.
Snapping her cell shut, Catherine let out a sigh. This immediately caught Sara's attention.
"Something wrong?" the brunette asked, placing her hand on her lover's thigh.
"I'm sorry, but I can't go with you," Catherine answered.
"Why not," Sara and Ann asked simultaneously.
"Nancy can't take Lindsey, and we can't take her with us." Catherine was close to tears as she thought about having to let Sara go through this all alone.
Sara noticed Catherine's watering eyes, leaned towards the older woman and placed a chaste kiss on Catherine's cheek.
"I'll be ok," she said.
Ann, who had been silently thinking about this situation, placed her cup of coffee on the table. Looking at the sad faces in front of her she spoke up, "If you want, Lindsey can stay at my place. I'm on dayshift this week and I've got the entire weekend off. That is if she wants to stay at my place, and you are ok with it. "
"Really?" Catherine asked incredulously. Sure, the four of them had bonded quickly while the brunette had been hospitalized. Still, she hadn't suspected the nurse's gesture.
Ann nodded, "Sure. I think I can manage to keep control over that lovely teenager of yours for a couple of days."
"I'll remember you said that," Sara laughed at the dark-haired woman in front of her.
"Ha ha, very funny," Ann mocked, then turned to Catherine, "When are you guys leaving?"
"We still need to book our flight, but we plan to go tomorrow afternoon," Catherine answered.
"Ok, well, just drop her off at my place. You know where that is, right?"
"236 Port street," Sara responded, "You sure you can handle a little blonde tornado?"
"Positive," the nurse smiled.
"Alright. Well, we'd better get going. I'll call you once we know more about our flight," Sara said as she stood up, Catherine and Ann following her example.
After sharing their goodbye-hugs, Ann headed off to the nurses' station while Sara and Catherine went to the CSI HQ where they would have to make some more arrangements.