Journey Through the Past- Chapter 36
Jim Brass watched both helicopters take off and head south to Las Vegas. Relief at finally locating both Grissom and Sara flooded through him. Sara had flown in the helicopter with Grissom. Wild horses couldn't have kept her off that helicopter. Grissom was in critical condition, and Paul wasn't sure that Grissom would survive the trip to Desert Palm. They were unable to stabilize him as the injuries sustained in the jeep roll down the hillside, his broken ribs, and gunshot wound to his abdomen all had finally their toll on him. Complicating matters was the chemical withdrawal his tortured body was going through, making it difficult for the medical personnel to insert any kind of IV.
Both Sara and Brass had watched helplessly as Paul and Jones worked desperately to stabilize Grissom before the S and R helicopters touched down. They were able to buy Grissom some time but how much was anyone's guess. Brass had gently led her away from the injured man so that Grissom could be worked on, but as soon as Grissom had been secured on the stretcher, she was right by his side.
Though Jones would be arrested and charged when the dust cleared, Brass had allowed the doctor to ride with Scott in the second helicopter to Desert Palm. The captain was confident that the man would not try to run for it. He had been invaluable in keeping both Sara and Grissom alive even though he knew that he would be putting himself in a precarious position with both Mallory and the leaders of the Knights. Scott's injury was serious. The young man had nearly bled out, but fortunately they had been able to stem the flow enough to stabilize him and get him aboard the second chopper.
Jim Brass watched as Grissom's team of CSI's went about the business of processing the area. He knew that they would be anxious to get back to Vegas to keep vigil with Sara, but they also knew that the evidence of the crimes committed against their colleague and friend needed to be gathered and secured in order to keep Mallory locked away for good. Besides, they knew that Grissom was in good hands.
Nick Stokes approached Brass, a murderous look clouding his features. Holding out the clear plastic evidence bag, Nick showed Brass the empty syringe he had recovered from the alcove along with blood evidence. Nick shook his head, "It's a miracle that Griss is still alive. Mallory sure did a number on him up there."
Brass merely nodded, his stomach churning from the evidence that Nick had recovered. Catherine and Nick would probably be two or three hours more in this area. Greg and Warrick had already headed back to the clinic and would be processing the cells Grissom and Sara had been held in, Mallory's lab, and the infirmary. Sofia was already on hand interviewing the clinic staff.
"Catherine, I'm going to head on back to Vegas. I want to make sure that Mallory is in a secure holding area and that he has no contact at all with any other inmate at county lockup. There's also the matter of transporting McKeen's body back to the morgue and filing formal charges against Pritchard," said Brass quietly.
"Nicky and I should be done here soon. I'm sure that Rick and Greg will need help in gathering evidence at the clinic," said Catherine quietly. She arched her back to stretch it out. "I'll let you know when we're heading back. Keep us informed about Gil and Scott?"
"Yeah, I will. I called Al Robbins. He's meeting me at Desert Palm, and he'll check on Sara. I'll keep you and the team informed," Brass said in a soft voice.
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Sara had refused to be admitted after being treated in the ER for the wound in her side. Her only concern at the time was Grissom. He had coded twice in the helicopter, and both times Paul and his partner had been able to bring him back. After the emergency personnel had whisked him away, Sara, at first, had refused treatment altogether, wanting only to be available for any news from the doctors on Grissom's condition. Fortunately, Brass had contacted Doc. Robbins. Robbins was already at the hospital when the helicopter touched down. He was able to convince Sara to be treated.
Holding her side, Sara emerged from the helicopter, wanting to hurry after the gurney that the ER personnel were pushing, rushing Grissom to emergency. Doc Robbins had been there to intercept her. He held up one of his crutches in her way.
"No, Sara," said Robbins sternly.
"Get out of my way. I've got to get in there," Sara said stubbornly.
Doc Robbins continued to block her way. She started to push the crutch away, but Robbins wasn't budging.
"Sara," he said gently, "there's not anything you can do for him right now. You need to be taken care of. That's the best thing you can do for him right now. He will need you strong when he wakes up. C'mon."
She knew he was right, but anxiously stared at the ER doors where the personnel and Grissom had disappeared. Sara glanced at the coroner and nodded her head in defeat. She dropped her hands to her sides and looked away with a grimace on her face. Doc Robbins glanced over his shoulder and signaled for a nurse to bring a wheelchair over so that Sara could be taken to emergency. He turned his head as the helicopter took off to allow the second S and R helicopter carrying Scott Grissom to make its approach.
"Sara, it looks like Grissom's son is on his way in. You'll let the ER doctors take care of you, okay? I'm going to check on Scott and then I'll check on you next," said Robbins to Sara who had turned to watch the second helicopter hover to a landing.
Sara merely nodded, and the ER nurse immediately helped in her into the chair and pushed her through the open doors of the hospital. Robbins waited only briefly as the chopper landed, and the EMT's on board the chopper immediately rolled out the gurney in which Scott was strapped. Dr. Ken Jones instantly hopped out of the chopper, intending to follow the young man into emergency. He was immediately surrounded by Las Vegas police officers. Detective Alex Vartann stepped forward.
"Dr. Ken Jones, you're under arrest for conspiracy, aiding and abetting an escaped convict, and kidnapping. For right now, you will be held in protective custody," Vartan informed the doctor.
Jones glanced briefly at Scott as he was being rushed into the ER. He took a step in the direction of the hospital doors, but Vartann placed a firm hand on Jones' arm. "Please, you need to come with us, Dr. Jones."
Ken Jones cast a look at the law enforcement personnel around him and spied Al Robbins looking at him.
"I'm Dr. Albert Robbins, Clark County Coroner. I work closely with Gil Grissom," Robbins told the man. "I'll look after Scott, and let you know of his progress."
Jones searched Robbins' face and then turned to Vartann and nodded his head. He placed his hands behind his back. Officer Mitchell carefully cuffed the doctor and led him away. Detective Vartann approached Doc Robbins and nodded towards the young man on the gurney being pushed through the open doors.
"So that's Grissom's kid, Doc?" asked Vartann softly.
"Yeah, that's him," Robbins nodded. "I'm going to check on Grissom and Sara. I understand that Jones' life may be in danger in county lock up. Detective, from what I've been told, Jones may be key in Grissom's recovery from the drug cocktails that this Lucas Mallory has been forcing into him. He needs to be kept safe."
"I'm on it, Doc. Brass already let me know when he arranged for his arrest warrant. He'll be well taken care of. Don't worry," Vartann said as he walked away to take care of his newest charge.
Al Robbins hobbled quickly on his crutches through the emergency room doors.
An hour later, after checking on Grissom's and Scott's progress, Al Robbins walked down the hall of the hospital emergency to hear a heated argument. He smiled when he heard the angry voice of a young woman coming from ER2. Entering the room, Robbins was just in time to see a fuming Sara Sidle sitting on the side of the emergency room cot in a hospital gown arguing vehemently with a doctor in surgical scrubs.
"Ms. Sidle you suffered a deep laceration to your side. You had 34 stitches and suffered blood loss. It would be in your best interest if you were admitted for a day or two. You really are in no condition to be wandering around the hospital looking for…" the young doctor said trying to placate the young woman.
Sara cut him off, "I'm fine. You stitched me up. I'm virtually in no pain…"
"Sara, you may not be in pain, but you're being a real pain in the ass," interrupted Doc Robbins in a quiet voice.
Both occupants of the room turned to look at the coroner. Sara started to jump down off the bed but stopped when Robbins held his hand up and motioned for her to stay seated.
"Doc, Grissom…what's…" Sara started to ask anxiously.
Robbins interrupted her," I'll you tell you in a minute, but Sara, he's stable for right now. They're prepping him for surgery."
Turning to the young ER doctor, Doc Robbins held out his hand.
"Hi, I'm Al Robbins, Clark County Coroner," said Doc Robbins with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, Dr. Robbins. Dr. Matt Evans. I'm a little confused. My patient is very much alive and not quite ready for the morgue, but obviously you know her," said the doctor with a questioning look on his face.
"Ms. Sidle is a colleague of mine. She is a CSI with the Las Vegas Police Department. Dr. Evans, if you would be so kind, I'd like a few minutes with your patient. I think I can convince her to stay awhile," said Doc Robbins with smile.
Taking a look at Sara with arched eyebrows, Dr. Evans handed Robbins Sara's chart and headed out the door. "Good luck, Doctor," the young man said drily.
Al Robbins slipped on his glasses and perused Sara's chart briefly as Sara stared at the wall with her arms crossed and determined look on her face.
Sighing, Robbins looked at Sara over his glasses and commented, "Dr. Evans is right, you know. Your blood count is low, you're dehydrated, and you have 34 stitches in your side. You should at least stay a day or so, just for observation."
"Doc, what about Grissom and Scott? How are they doing? I can't just sit here," Sara pleaded.
"You can and you will. You'll do neither of them any good if you don't take care of yourself. Right now Gil's in x-ray. They were able to stabilize him, and they'll take him up to surgery any minute. Scott's condition is good. He's got a concussion and a through and through in his upper left shoulder. The bullet missed his left lung and their patching him up right now. He'll be staying at least two or three days to monitor the concussion and watch for infection."
Taking a breath, Al Robbins spoke softly, "Now, about you…It's usually not allowed, but I think I can arrange for you to stay with Grissom once he's settled in ICU. There are conditions, though."
"What conditions?" asked Sara warily, not entirely trusting the good doctor.
"That you'll follow Dr. Evans's orders to the letter and that you'll promise to eat and get plenty of rest," said Robbins with finality.
"And what happens if I don't?" queried Sara.
"Then you'll be assigned a regular hospital bed and be barred from seeing Gil as long as he's in ICU. As it is Sara, hospitals are somewhat picky about visitors in ICU. You can be easily barred from him until his condition is upgraded."
"Then I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?" said Sara drily.
"No, honey, you don't. Shall I ask Dr. Evans back in here?"
Sara rolled her eyes and grudgingly nodded her head. Doc Robbins left the room and returned with Dr. Evans in tow. Evidently, the coroner had discussed the arrangements with the ER doctor because he appeared behind Robbins with a wheelchair.
"Ms. Sidle, how about a ride up to the second floor? I won't know exactly where your Mr. Grissom will be assigned, but his son is on his way to a semi-private room on that floor, and I thought that you might want to see him. You can rest in the bed next to his until we find out exactly which ICU unit Mr. Grissom will be assigned. Then we can make arrangements for you to spend time with him," Dr. Evans said.
"Yes, I'd like that very much. Do you know if Scott is awake? Does he know about Gil?" asked Sara as the doctor helped her into the wheelchair.
"He hasn't regained consciousness yet, but he is resting comfortably. He's expected to wake up soon. It probably would be best if someone he knows is with him when wakes up. Are you up to it?" asked Robbins.
"Yeah, I think I'd like to talk to him about his dad…and maybe about us," said Sara with a sigh as she was wheeled out of the room.
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Al Robbins accompanied Sara to Scott's room on the second floor. The events of the last few days were catching up to her, and the adrenalin that was keeping her moving was wearing off. She yawned widely as she took note of the young man resting comfortably in the hospital bed. The clean white bandage over the gash on his head was in stark contrast against his tanned skin. Bandages peeked through the hospital gown he was wearing. Sara reached up from her wheelchair and around the IV lines to briefly touch his hand. She didn't know whether it was to give him a degree of comfort or whether it was for herself. At least they were all still alive. Scott didn't stir; the anesthesia and painkillers were keeping him under.
"Sara, it may be a few hours before he wakes, and we won't know anything about Grissom until he's out of surgery. As soon as he's in recovery, Dr. Taylor promised to page me. I'll let you know immediately what his condition is," Robbins said quietly.
Sara glanced up at the coroner with grateful eyes and smiling slightly, nodded her head.
"Ms. Sidle, this bed is reserved for you until arrangements can be made in ICU. I would like to set you up on an IV. You're still very dehydrated and intravenous antibiotics will prevent any infection from your wound. You'll only need the IV until your fluid levels return to normal," Dr. Evans said as he helped her into the bed.
A wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over her, and she let the doctor and a nurse help her into the bed. A minute later, the nurse returned with the IV and Sara was asleep before she was aware that the IV had been inserted.
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Jim Brass rushed through the emergency room doors having set the speed record from Goldfield to Las Vegas. Once through the doors, Brass headed to the nurses station to inquire about the three patients that had by flown in by medivac. As he approached the desk, he was met by Al Robbins.
"Jim, I thought you were still up at the clinic with Grissom's team, gathering evidence and processing. What'd you do? Fly down?" Robbins said with a slight smirk on his face.
The police detective wasn't in the mood and cut straight to the chase.
"Doc, cut the crap. How are they all doing?" Brass said impatiently.
Turning on his crutches, Doc Robbins motioned for Brass to follow him. As they walked to the elevators, Robbins caught Brass up on the latest information he had on Sara, Scott, and Grissom.
"Sara is asleep in the same room as Scott. Both of them will recover from their wounds. Sara suffered a deep laceration in her side from a graze of a bullet, but none of her organs were compromised. Jones did a good job of patching her up until she could get to the hospital. Scott has a concussion and a gunshot wound through the upper left shoulder. It missed his lung and he'll make a complete recovery," Robbins paused.
"And Gil? What's his condition?" Brass asked anxiously.
"Gil's still in surgery. He coded twice in the medivac and at least once in the ER. They've got him on the table now. He's got internal bleeding from the gunshot wound, and that's the major problem right now. He has multiple fractures of the left forearm and wrist. He's got a concussion and a broken right cheekbone. His feet are the least of his problems right now, but when they removed the boots he had on, they found both feet infected from multiple cuts and abrasions. Those are his physical injuries. The anesthesia they're giving him is counteracting any of the withdrawal he was going through on the way down here."
Robbins paused and gave the police captain a sober look. "Jim, I don't have to tell you that he's got a long road ahead of him. Based on what I've heard, he's going to need more than just time to heal."
"Yeah," Brass said with a sigh as his eyes gazed upward towards the ceiling, his emotions starting to get the best of him, "but, at least he won't be alone."
Upon reaching the room where both Sara and Scott were situated, Robbins turned to Brass.
"Jim, Grissom should be coming out of surgery soon. Last time I checked, Sara was asleep, and Scott was still out from the anesthesia. I'll be back as soon as I know anything."
The police detective nodded his understanding and quietly entered the room. Both patients were asleep, and Brass smiled in spite of himself. With his heart feeling a little lighter, he left as quietly as he had entered, to call Catherine and update the team.
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It was in the early morning hours when Grissom's team of investigators finally pulled into Las Vegas. After dropping all the evidence they had collected in the desert and the clinic at the lab to be checked in and processed, they headed over to the hospital. According to Brass's last update, Grissom should be just coming out of surgery. His condition was extremely critical, and he was being closely monitored in ICU.
Catherine burst through the hospital lobby area just in time to find Brass heading up to ICU with a cup of the hospital's version of coffee. Jim Brass had dark circles under his eyes and looked beat. She wondered if she looked as exhausted as he did. None of them had gotten much rest the last twenty-four hours. Grissom and Sara were their number one priority and none of them would rest until they heard and seen first hand that their colleagues were being well-taken care of.
With the guys trailing behind her, Catherine made a beeline for Brass and caught up with him as he entered the elevator that would take him up to ICU. Holding the doors open for Catherine and the rest of the team, Brass informed them of Grissom's condition. He had just finished when the doors opened to the third floor.
"Sara's with him right now. They're only allowing two visitors at a time, and only for ten minutes a visit. Doc Robbins was able to convince the hospital to allow Sara to stay with him pretty much full time so we can go in one at a time," shared Brass as they approached the nurses' station.
"If you guys wait here, I think I can get Sara to come out so that you can go in two at a time. She can tell you a little more I can," continued Brass.
"Wait, Jim. Shouldn't Sara be in a hospital bed herself?" asked Catherine.
"Catherine, you don't want to go there," he said drily.
Nick gave both of them a tired grin. The Texan could well imagine the scene that went on for Sara to get her way. He also knew that the best medicine for Grissom at the moment was for Sara to be with him. Warrick pointed to a bank of chairs opposite the nurses' station, and Catherine and company sat down to wait for Brass to come back.
Sara was curled up in the padded chair that could be folded out to a cot. The IV had been removed when she arrived in Grissom's room. She had promised to drink plenty of fluids and Dr. Evans had determined that as long as she was willing to take oral antibiotics that the one dose of IV antibiotics were all that was necessary. The chair had been placed alongside the right side of the hospital and so Sara was able to hold Grissom's right hand. The young woman felt rested having been able to sleep for at least six hours. Doc Robbins was waiting by her bedside with news when she had awakened. Grissom was in recovery by then, but had not regained consciousness, nor was he expected to for some time.
She held his hand lightly, entwining her fingers with his. His hand lay loosely around hers. There had been no response on his part, but for the moment, Sara was happy that his hand was warm to the touch. Listening to the steady beep of the monitor, she was comforted for the time being that his heart continued to beat. A soft shuffle at the entrance to the room brought her attention to the door.
Brass stood leaning against the door jamb with a steaming cup of coffee. He gave her a half smile and strolled in, handing her the cup.
"Here's your coffee. Catherine and they guys are here. Hospital rules won't let more than two of them at a time come in. Want to get a little fresh air and let them come in to see the bugman for themselves?" asked Brass softly.
Sara gave him a small smile and gave him a nod. Brass extended his hand and helped her up from her seat. Sara turned to the still form on the bed and gingerly leaned over to whisper into his ear.
"Hey Gil. Catherine, Nick, Greg, and Rick have just gotten back from the clinic. They want to come in see you for a bit. I need to step out for a little while so that they can come in and see you. Don't give them a hard time, okay? I'll be back soon," she whispered softly and gently kissed his temple.
Gingerly, Sara moved away from the bed and allowed Brass to lead her slowly out of the room and down the hall where the team was waiting. She was greeted with gentle hugs as she updated them on Grissom's condition.
"Right now, it's a waiting game. The first 24 to 48 hours are critical. If he gets through the next two days without any major complications, his chances for survival increase dramatically. We won't know how much brain damage, if any, he has until he wakes up. The longer it takes for him to wake up, the more likely there'll be residual effects from all that he's been through."
Catherine nodded her understanding. She hadn't had a chance to see Grissom close up since they had met in his office ages ago.
Sara continued, "When you go in, talk to him. Dr. Taylor said that even though he may not respond, on a subconscious level, he'll hear and it may help him find his way back."
"Why don't you sit down while we all take turns visiting with Gil," Catherine said to Sara.
Sara sat down and watched gratefully as her colleagues, her family, went in to visit with Grissom.
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A/N: I really hadn't intended to write much more than a chapter about the aftermath, but my muses got a hold of me and told me that the aftermath needed to be more than "a okay everyone is going to recover and the bad guys are in jail type of ending." My muses wanted explore how Grissom and company work through the events….so the story extend longer than just a chapter or two. I hope it works……