Disclaimer: see chapter one

A few hours later, Catherine was in the NICU of the hospital sitting with her son, Gibson Tyner, when she saw a group of familiar people looking in through the glass. They were all smiling and waving—a bunch of proud uncles, aunts, and one big sister. She touched Gibson's face gently before getting up and leaving the room. She walked into the hallway and fell into Grissom's arms—exhaustion overtaking her.

"He's gorgeous, Cath. You and Sara should be really proud," he said to her.

"Yeah, you should. He's a big fella to be almost two months premature," Nick through in.

"He has a head full of hair. Like his daddy?" Nancy asked.

"Yes, he's gorgeous. Yes, he's big. Thank god Sara was carrying him. And wouldn't you all like to know about his daddy?" she said as she squeezed Grissom in a tight hug. They hadn't shared with anyone who Gibson's father was. When they had decided to have a baby, they hadn't originally considered anyone they knew. But after weeks of going through information sheets on sperm donors, they had opted to ask a friend. They had first considered Nick, for his good looks and charm but quickly dismissed him because he was a newlywed. Warrick and Tina had been having trouble getting pregnant so they never considered asking him. Greg—well, Greg was just Greg. That left Grissom. He was handsome in his own way. He was extremely intelligent and inquisitive. He didn't have the greatest social skills, but with one mother who was renowned for being a social butterfly, he'd have no problem developing people skills.

"Cath, how's Sara doing?" Her sister, never one of Sara's biggest supporters, was the first to ask how the baby's mother was doing.

"She's still unconscious. The doctor said it's not unusual for it to take hours for a woman to wake up after experiencing a placental abruption along with the operation."

Lindsey walked over to her mom and wrapped her arms around her. "Tell Sara I hope she comes home soon and that I love her."

Catherine returned her daughter's hug and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I will sweetie. But I need you and Aunt Nancy to do me a favor. Can you two go and finish buying the things we need for the baby?"

Nancy walked over, nodded her head knowingly, and took Lindsey's hand. "Call us when Sara wakes up, sis."

Catherine turned to her coworkers and said, "Guys, I really appreciate you coming down here. I need to go be with Sara now. You'll understand if I ask you to come back another time, right?"

They said their goodbyes and left with the promise that they could come back another time to see the baby and his mother.

Catherine watched them walk away and turned toward Sara's room. They hadn't spoken since last night when they were leaving the party. Sara obviously knew that something had happened between her and Sofia. She had even had lunch with the detective earlier today. Sofia, who was usually prompt to return calls, hadn't returned any of the ones that Catherine had left for her. And she had been the only "family" member absent when everyone else showed up to see the baby. What am I going to say to Sara about all of this?

She pushed open the door to her wife's room and walked in. She'd have to face her sooner or later. At least with her still unconscious, she could hold her hand and pretend that everything was okay.

Catherine pulled a chair as close to Sara's bed as possible. She took Sara's hand in hers and laid her head on the edge of the bed and began to talk, not caring if Sara really heard her or not.

"I almost lost you today. I almost lost you and our baby. What would I have done if Lindsey hadn't come home when she did? And all I've been able to think about is the fact that I spent last night on the couch because you were mad at me. And I deserved it. I still deserve it. What I did was wrong on so many levels. For years, we've done this flirting thing. Sofia would flirt and I would flirt. And it should have ended when we were married—me to you and her to Nick—but it didn't. Our flirting took on a whole new dimension. We'd never been physical—other than a light touch here and there—but nothing remotely sexual. Until last night. At the party, it was like it had always been—flirting and light touches. At least that's how it started. When I turned around and saw you—that look in your eyes—I knew you had seen what was going on. And then you said you were ready to go home. I was, too. But I had to talk to Grissom. And when I couldn't find him, I thought I could just tell the Sheriff what I needed to tell Grissom about a case. After that, I went to grab my coat. As I was grabbing for it, I felt arms go around my waist—much like you used…"

Catherine stopped talking when she felt her hand being squeezed by Sara's. "Cath?"

"I'm right here, baby. You're in the hospital. You don't need to try and move around or anything. Just rest, baby."

"What happened?" Sara asked with a raspy voice.

"Lindsey found you lying on the floor. The doctor's said you had a placental abruption."

"Did I? Did we lose him?" Sara was almost afraid to ask and definitely afraid of the answer she might receive.

Catherine gave her hand a light squeeze and said, "No, we didn't. He's in the NICU. But the doctors are pretty sure that he'll be fine."

"When can I see him?"