Sara's sobs echoed in the enclosed room she had been taken to. She felt immensely guilty for her colleague's dreadful plight, although she could have done nothing to prevent it. She had been dwelling now for three days, her mind unable to leave the awful memory behind. Her tears fell but she no longer cried, her eyes vacant and stained. The door opened but she didn't even look up. Greg pulled her to him, his arms encasing her in a tight embrace. He was whispering to her that it would all be alright soon. Her cries broke free once more, she felt like she couldn't breathe any more, shock finally setting into her. She had stood there motionless, whilst that monster shot at her friend. She felt so useless and worthless, only Greg told her she was not. There was no one in the world more right for her, no one she wanted more, no one who could make her feel good even in this dark time.
"Don't think that way Sara, you're my everything, you know that? You froze up in terror, so would any one else in your situation," he soothed.
"I just…it should have been me…" She whispered. Greg pulled her to him again, his own tears running down his face at this.
"Don't ever say that," he whispered, stroking her hair and kissing her softly.
Grissom walked down the hospital's long corridors holding Lindsey's hand. He took her to a small, private room and she ran over to the bed.
"Mommy are you ok?" She asked, meekly.
"Oh mommy's fine Lindsey, the doctor says I'll be home tomorrow," she replied, smiling weakly. The bandages wound around her shoulder, the healing process beginning, now the bullet had been removed. Grissom smiled at Catherine, she was so strong and eager to return to work, and it seemed nothing kept her down.
Throughout the day several people came and went, Nick stayed late into the night, holding Catherine's hand as she slept. He slept in the chair next to her bed, fitfully, refusing to leave her side for more than a few moments for the bare essentials. In the morning, the doctor checked her over and smiled and smiled;
"You can go home today Miss Willows but you must take some leave from work and take it easy this time," he said, handing her a prescription, "Take two daily, and be careful these are the real deal so make sure you rest up," he finished. With Nick's help, she got out of her hospital bed, wincing only slightly, and together they gathered her things. She thanked the doctors for everything they had done these past three days. Grissom was waiting outside with Catherine's car, ready to take her home.
"Now you heard the doctor Cath, no work for a few weeks," Nick scolded.
"But the case…" Nick intercepted her before she could finfish; "No ifs or buts, I'll solve the case, I'm sure Sara and Greg will help, especially since their case is slowly leaking into ours," Nick finished.
"Sophia should be good to help too, and so will Brass and I, don't worry Catherine we'll be fine, just get better okay?" Grissom replied, attempting sternness. Catherine laughed softly; "Without me your paperwork will take over your entire office Grissom," They all laughed, because they all knew it was true. Catherine eased herself into the front seat, Nick kissed her softly; "Take it easy Cathy," he said, quietly. She smiled back at his and softly said; "I'll try," she was looking forward to not pulling double shifts that much she could say.
Sara lifted her pounding head from the pillow and sighed, she had only managed to get an hour's sleep, even though she felt like she could sleep forever. Greg sat down next to her on the bed, gently smoothing her hair from her radiant bambi eyes. She smiled as strongly as she felt able and rubbed her poor, aching head. Greg slipped his fingers through hers, she sighed softly.
"How are you feeling?" he whispered, before putting a coffee cup nest to her,
"Hmmm," She mumbled back, Greg smiled, painfully; he wished he could make it all go away for her. Help her leave her demons in the past where they belonged, make her feel the way she should feel; alive. She pulled him onto the bed next to her, nuzzling into his warm chest and held tight to him. He gently stroked her cheek, trying to urge her back to sleep again. She did feel herself falling back to sleep, feeling safe with Greg next to her, to hold her when she shook, kiss her when she screamed, love her when she felt dead. She slept dreamlessly; she didn't know what time it was when she awoke again. She looked at the clock; 7:30pm, she'd been asleep for 8 hours. She yawned and stretched, climbing off the bed, taking Greg with her. He yelped, as he hit the floor and Sara tried desperately to suppress the giggles she desperately wanted to let out. Greg picked himself up off the floor and rubbed his head.
"Thank you Sar'" he laughed himself.
"Sorry sweetie, I forgot you were still with me," She smiled. He pulled in close to her, their faces together, he wished to press him lips to hers, and he did. She pulled away. Greg sighed; "Are you ever going to kiss me properly?" He whined, before laughing.
"Maybe," she whispered in his ear, making him shiver again. They walked out into the kitchen of Sara's apartment,
"I do have something for you," Greg said, seemingly shy and began to blush.
"What is it?" Sara's eyes lit up.
"Wait here," he replied, before emerging from the bedroom with a small gift box in one hand. She opened the box and inside was three beautiful crystal butterflies, rainbow colours shining in the light. They were on a silver chain.
"Oh, Greg, they're beautiful. You really didn't have to do this," Sara gasped, deeply touched by the gesture.
"I wanted to," He replied, smiling.
"You're so sweet," She smiled, before pulling him to her, kissing him deeply and honestly, just as he had wanted. She pulled away smiling; "Thank you," she whispered, sending such familiar shivers down his spine. She continued to whisper gently to him, until he begged with her to stop. She smiled and kissed him again, with more passion than she had ever known in her life. Their evening was an abundance of kisses, smiles and nervous laughter. They settled down on the sofa, and talked about everything. They were back to work tomorrow at 8pm so they were making the most of their time to themselves. They talked for hours about work, family, but most prominently their feelings for one another.
"Sara, I need to know…more want to know…how you feel about me," Greg uttered softly.
"Honestly?" She cringed.
"Yes of course honestly," he smiled.
"I think…I think I'm falling for you…" She whispered, unable to hide from Greg's piercing eyes. "What about you, I mean I don't expect you to feel that way," She said, softly.
"You don't need to worry about that, I care for you more than I care to say," Greg smiled at her.
She returned that same look, her heart quickening under his touch. "Really?" She whispered.
"Of course," He replied. Sara put on the butterfly necklace and smiled. Greg waved goodbye as he left to get a meal for them both. She cradles the smallest butterfly between her thumb and first finger and she smiled. In fact she couldn't stop smiling, she was in love. More than she understood at that point but surely, in love. Sara jumped suddenly, as her cell phone chirped. She had a text message, probably Grissom she thought. She was wrong, she read the message and smiled;
I love you, xx
"I love you too," She whispered.