Catherine walked into Grissom's office to talk to him. "Hi Grissom, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Sure, what is going on?" He took off his reading glasses and placed them on his desk.
Catherine took a seat. "Well, as you know Greg is being released tomorrow and they said he cannot be on his own yet, as he is still having problems walking around on his own."
"Yes, I know this and he told me he was looking into options on what to do," Grissom replied.
"Yes, and well I was one of those options. I offered to let him stay at my place. It made perfect sense since my mother and Lindsay will be home there to help him when I am not."
Grissom seemed to be thinking it over for a moment. "You sure you want to do that?"
"Gil, he needs someone to help him out. We were both in that room and I think he feels most comfortable with me in talking about things. It's just temporary besides. Plus, he said he could not bare to have his family take care of him. He said they are too overbearing."
"Yes, he had mentioned that to me before. I just suggest you try not to let too many people know about this arrangement, namely Ecklie. He is already acting funny about the whole situation."
Catherine rolled her eyes. "Don't I know it!"
Grissom smirked. "I take it your conversation with him did not go so well then."
"Let's just say he knows how to get people to dislike him more."
Grissom just grinned. "Very well then. If you think this arrangement is okay, go ahead. Just make sure it does not affect your current cases in anyway."
"Thanks Gil. I just want to make Greg's recovery process as easy on him as possible."
"We all want that, Catherine."
Greg managed to get some sleep without having any nightmares disrupt it. He did not have them all the time, but when he did they really rattled him.
He looked up as Dr. Maddox came in. "Hey Doc," he greeted him.
"Greg, are you ready to go home later on today?"
"Yes, I am so over this hospital bed," he said with enthusiasm.
Dr. Maddox chuckled. "Well, I am glad you are excited to go. I just want to check on you one last time today before I get ready to sign your release papers."
He examined Greg's back to see how all the lacerations and wounds were healing.
"They look like they are coming along better now. Now you cannot lift anything that is heavy, better yet nothing at all would be preferred. You do not want to pop your stitches. I'll want you to come in twice a week until I am happy that you are doing well enough. Basically I suggest you stick to a lot of bed rest still or just not too much activity, but you do need to try walking around more with the cane I will be giving you. If you are ever worn out or feel pain, just rest. I do not want you over doing it."
"Got it. I do not want to be laid up any longer than I have to be anyway," Greg nodded.
"That's right. So I am going to go ahead and sign your papers for release, so sometime this afternoon you can go home. Did you make arrangements for someone to be with you to help you out at home?"
"Yes, I am actually staying with a co-worker for awhile."
"Good. Well take care and I will see you in a couple of days."
Greg was never so happy to hear that he was getting out of that hospital. He swore he memorized every dirt spot on the walls and ceiling since he was there. He just wondered now how weird it would be living with Catherine. His feelings for her were pretty strong, but she would not have known it as he tried to keep them hidden. He was too afraid she would reject him. After his years of pursuing Sara to never get anywhere but being good friends only with her, he did not need rejection again. So he was going to have to keep his emotions towards her in check while he was staying at her home.
He called her on her cell phone to let her know he would be able to leave in the afternoon. She had just gotten home from work.
"That's great. After I get some sleep I will be over to get you."
"Okay I will see you then." Greg ended the call and eagerly waited until he would finally be out of that hospital bed.
Nurse Wade came to Greg's room with a wheelchair. Catherine had just arrived. "Make sure his bandages get changed twice daily." Nurse Wade handed Greg a bag.
"Here are your meds and some extra bandages for use. Now get into the wheelchair."
Greg rolled his eyes at Catherine. He had changed into a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt before she arrived. Nick had brought them a couple days prior for when he was finally ready to go home.
Greg got out of the bed slowly and moved over and sat in the wheelchair. He tenderly held his right arm, which was in a sling.
"You have any questions before you are out of here?" Nurse Wade asked him.
"No, I guess I know what I have to do and not to do. I just want out of here."
"Well then let's get you out of here."
Catherine walked with them while they wheeled him down to the parking level, then she went on ahead and pulled her car up to the entrance so Greg would not have to walk far.
Catherine came back inside. "So are you ready, Greg," she smiled at him as she asked him.
Greg nodded. He started to stand up and Nurse Wade handed him his cane, that they discussed he would have to use for a while. He felt foolish and like a cripple but overall he knew he did need the support still since the muscles in his lower back still needed lots of healing time. Plus he still suffered from pain when he was walking.
Catherine watched over him carefully as he hobbled his way to the car door. She noticed he grimaced as he finally settled himself in her car. Catherine thanked Nurse Wade for his assistance.
She got in the car and looked over at Greg, who had his head down. "Are you okay?" She asked with concern.
He lifted his head and looked at her. "Yeah, I am fine. It just feels weird finally being out of that hospital."
"Well you are free from there. Now let's head over to your place to pick up some of your stuff and then we will settle you in at my home." She smiled at him sweetly.
They picked up some clothes and other personal items at Greg's apartment before they arrived at her home.
Greg felt very weird being at her home. As Catherine opened the door for him to get out of the car, she saw the hesitation on his face.
"I know it will be weird at first, but give it a day or two and everything will be fine."
He looked at her with wary eyes. "Okay."
She helped him get out of the car. She knew he was still in a bit of pain by the contorted expression on his face as he got to his feet.
They both looked up when they saw Catherine's mother, Lily, come out into the garage.
"Hello Greg! Do you two need some help?"
"Hello, uh, Ms. …" Greg greeted her, feeling a bit embarrassed at not knowing how to address her.
"Oh please call me Lily. Let me get that bag for you, Catherine. You just help Greg in." Lily came over and took the bag with Greg's things in it.
Greg looked sheepishly at Catherine. "I feel rather helpless."
She laid a hand on his shoulder. "Just give yourself some time. Things will be back to normal for you before you know it."
Greg sighed. "Okay, I will try."
She gave him a heartwarming smile and helped him into the house.
He realized he had never been in her place before. They walked through the kitchen. Greg noticed some crayon drawings on the refrigerator. He figured they were old by the tattered look of them and the quality. Catherine must have kept them for years, since Lindsay was little.
She took him into the spare bedroom. It had a simple bedroom set in it. "This will be your room for the next couple of weeks. You have free roam of the house."
Greg sat down gingerly on the bed. She noticed the pain on his face.
"Perhaps you should lay down for awhile."
He glanced up at her. "No, I'm fine. I just need my medication. Can you get the pill bottle for me?"
"Sure, no problem." She went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water out of the fridge.
She came back handing Greg his pills and the bottle of water. He took the pills first and popped them in his mouth with his left hand, then took the bottle and took a swig.
"Thanks," he said as he placed the water bottle on the nightstand. Catherine sat down next to him on the bed.
He felt awkward, her being so close to him.
"Greg, the doctor told you to rest and take it easy if you need to. Why don't you just lay down for awhile?"
"I am sick of laying down all the time. I am out of the hospital. Let me just sit here for a little bit, please."
She could not resist him when he gave those puppy dog eyes of his.
"Well in that case, do you maybe want to sit in the living room instead? Got a big TV in there," she grinned.
His eyes lit up. "Yeah that would be nice."
She did not try to help him up, knowing he wanted to do things on his own. She kept an eye on him as they went into the living room.
He carefully sat down on the green plush sofa. He leaned back. "Now this feels nice," he grinned.
She smiled at him. "My mom will be in the other room if you need anything. I need to go pick up Lindsay from school."
He nodded to her and then added. "I will be fine. Thanks a lot for doing this for me, Catherine."
"Greg, I just want you to recover from this and be back 100 as soon as possible."
"Well, I appreciate it." He gazed intently into her eyes.
She felt herself reddened under his intense gaze. She cleared her throat and got up. "Well I better get going. I don't like Lindsay to wait longer than she should have to."
"Okay, drive safely," he smirked at her.
After she left, he turned on the television and flipped through the channels. He stopped on the movie "Braveheart", which was repeating for the hundredth time, but he did not care. He loved that movie, but he soon fell asleep from his overexertion for the day.