Disclaimer – Please see chapter 1
A/N – Thank you so very much to those of you that leave me reviews, offer me kind words and encouragement. My usual apologies again for not having the time to reply to them all, but I have been flat out with stuff! Your all wonderful! Story is beta'd by myself so any remaining mistakes are all mine, so I apologize in advance. R & R Enjoy!
Fall Out Boy – Chapter 17 No broken bones
Gil let Al into the house, then went to make himself scarce in the kitchen to give Sara some privacy while she was being checked out.
"Hi Sara, Gil wants me to take a look at a dog bite on your hand, I hear" Doc said sitting down on the coffee table facing Sara, who semi laid on the couch, a throw covering her legs, and she was most definitely wearing a large man's white dress shirt.
Al tried to hide any reaction to her state of dress, the swollen lip, and the whole scenario of her looking quite comfortable in Gil's home at this time of the morning.
"It's not too bad Doc. There's no need for all of this fuss, really" Sara replied a little uncomfortable with the man's attention on her.
Gil had been very vague with his explanation over the phone, but Al had picked up on the worry in his tone, plus the man's desperate need to keep his personal life as private as possible, so he had not pressed for more details.
However, he along with the rest of the people that knew these two hugely private geeks, could plainly see the mutual attraction from day one that Sara arrived in Vegas, so now he wondered with this new setting before him, whether they were now actually a couple.
Idle gossip had circulated the lab on numerous occasions about Gil and Sara after certain events, or periods of time when both seemed to be avoiding each other, more recently comments had been made at Gil pairing her with all the other CSI's but himself of late, but Al had thought as everyone else had, that one had most likely just pissed the other off.
"Well let me be the judge of that shall we" Al said as he took the bandage off her hand slowly "You look like you've been in the wars today" he gently prodded, hoping she'd tell him some details, especially as he was also aware of the fact of her taking personal time off from the lab.
With the few details he had so far, plus not having the knowledge of Gil owning a dog, Al mildly suspected that Sara could have been involved in a domestic dispute with a boyfriend that no one had known about, he was more than sure the man, who's home they were in wasn't responsible for Sara receiving a fat lip and damaged hand.
Sitting up a little to feel more comfortable with her arm outstretched Sara spoke tiredly "Umm,....The lip was an accident, I got elbowed in it by Kye when he was having a nightmare" she said feeling her lip with her first two fingers "The dog bite to my hand was a warning off his dog to back off" she added as if Doc knew who Kye would be.
"Kye? Is that your new gentleman friend Sara" Al asked as he examined her hand carefully.
A chuckle emitted from her, followed quickly by a sharp gasp as Doc prodded around her fingers "No. He's the little boy I am taking care off.......For child services as a foster carer" she said now biting her lip and screwing up her face in pain.
"Okay, enough prodding for now. Sorry, but I needed to make sure" Al said looking up at her "So is this a new thing, the foster caring?" he asked as he rummaged around in his bag.
Al was really curious now to her answer, of all the things he never expected Sara Sidle to become a foster carer. As he understood it from hearing others talk, Sara and children kept their distance, and that's how the brunette like it.
He was a little disappointed as he saw Gil approach in his peripheral vision, guessing that the subject would now be dropped to leave him wondering even more than when he drove to here.
Grissom now came over to the couch, and stood hovering next to Sara "Everything okay?" he asked both Sara and Al, but kept his soft gaze on her.
Looking up Al noticed the protective posture and position of Gil, he smirked ever so slightly as he noted the much softer tone he had used when asking his question "There doesn't seem to be any broken bones from what I can make out. It's going to be painful and swell much more than it is now, but I can give you something for that along with some anti -biotics. When was the last time you had a tetanus shot Sara?" he asked as he got a prescription pad out and started writing.
"A year ago, after I scratched myself at a dumpster dive case. So I should be covered, shouldn't I?" Sara said hoping she was right.
"Yeah that's fine, just make sure you take the anti-biotics to make sure you don't get any infection in the wounds. And if Gil would like to redress the hand, we are all finished" Al said placing everything back in his bag, as Gil went off to get the first aid kit.
"I'll go and get that stuff from the drug store shortly" Gil said as he took a seat next to Al on the table, then expertly began re-bandaging her hand.
Noting how gentle and caring Gil was as he tended Sara's hand, he decided to risk prodding a little, to see if either of the two would expand on what little information he had gained already "So Sara. Have you been a foster carer for a while now?" he asked watching the two interact, the glances and posture of both.
Gil let out a soft sigh,then looked up at Sara with a silent request to tell Al some of what had transpired the last couple of days, she gave a subtle nod understanding him entirely, then smiled as he secured the tape in place and tenderly lay her hand in her lap.
Putting away all the medical supplies Gil explained everything apart from the more personal aspects of the last few days, then he added "We would appreciate your discretion in all this Al. We have enough to deal with at present without having to field questions from the team or Ecklie right now" he paused "Plus Sara doesn't need the extra added stress while coping with Kye and her injuries".
Nodding, Al smiled knowingly at the use of Gil's 'We' and his obvious concern for Sara's health and mental welfare "Don't worry either of you. I know how you both like to keep your private lives to yourselves, and I'll respect that, and your wishes" he said grabbing his crutch and bag standing up "They wont hear anything from me rest assured" he smiled at Sara patting her on the shoulder affectionately "Take care of that hand and good luck with the boy. If you need anything just call, okay".
"Thanks Doc" Sara said making herself comfortable in the couch again.
Leading him to the door Gil asked "Al could you recommend a good paediatric psychologist, or psychiatrist that we may be able to consult for Kye if need be. Just so we are readily prepared, because the nightmares have already started, and he's been a little withdrawn from Sara in the last few hours" He sighed heavily "Plus he is going to have to be questioned and relate the details of the crime at some point soon" he said opening the front door.
Putting a reassuring hand on his friends shoulder, Al was very proud of the way Gil was not only helping Sara out and caring for her, but also for handling things way outside his normal comfort zone "Yeah no problem. I can fax them to you later today, or give them to you at the lab tonight, whichever is best for you" he said stepping outside and turning to await an answer.
"Fax them to me please Al. I'm not sure if I will be taking the night off yet, I'll just see how things go first" Gil said relieved the Doc wasn't going to let the others in on what was going on with him, or in his home.
Stepping towards his car Al called over his shoulder "Okay. Oh and make sure that hand gets clean dressings every day Gil".
"Yeah I will, and thank you Al for coming out at such short notice. I appreciate it" Gil said as he watched his friend get in his car.
"Any time Gil. See you at the lab" Al called as he backed out of the driveway.
Gil went back inside, he suggested Sara take a nap on the couch while he nipped out to collect her medication, so he covered her up and made sure she had everything she needed before checking on the dogs, then peaking his head around the door to Kye who was now sleeping, then left the house.
Half an hour later he arrived back to Sara sleeping lightly on the couch, so he took the pills and the few groceries he'd managed to pick up at the same time into the kitchen to unpack them.
Hearing movement in the house roused Sara, so she sat up "Grissom is that you back" she called out over the back off the couch.
"Yes, just give me a second and I'll bring you some your meds" he said keeping his voice low enough for her to hear, but not waken Kye.
Five minutes later Gil sat on the coffee table in front of her and handed her a glass of water and a pill "Your anti-biotics. You can't have any more pain relief for a couple more hours yet" he said quietly, taking in her very tired appearance, sleepy looking eyes, dark shadows underneath and slow movements "You should go to bed, you look worn out Sara" he said as she took the glass.
She took the pill and a large gulp of water then handed the glass back to him "Thank you" she said sitting back again, the throw slipping away to the side exposing her long pale legs, right up to the tiny running shorts she was wearing.
Gil's eyes were momentarily fixed on the exposed skin, until he coughed lightly, and looked up at her feeling the heat rise in his neck first as he saw her eyes, and the recognition there that he'd been caught staring at her bared flesh "Urmm,.....Sorry......Where were we" he stuttered out, trying to regain control of his racing heartbeat, and the stirrings in his loins "I mean what......Yes, that's right.......You need to sleep Sara" he managed to get out quickly averting his eyes from her little smirk.
"I'm not the one who's just worked a complete shift on only a couple of hours sleep Grissom. I think you could use some too don't you think" she said trying her hardest not to catch a look at his adorable blushing, but the pull was too much, and she felt her heart lift at this new development from him.
Looking over towards the kitchen, Gil then turned to look at her and just caught her masking the smirk "I'm okay for a few hours yet, if you want to catch some sleep while I listen out for Kye........Besides I think I'll take the night off to make sure I'm here in case you have any more problems with Kye or the dogs" he said shrugging.
"You don't need to do that. I can handle everything here Griss. Please, don't take any time off because of us" Sara said a little shocked at his statement.
"I want to make sure your okay, taking your meds, resting up and not getting too stressed out by all of this" Gil said sincerely to her, with a warm smile "Catherine can take the shift, it's no trouble for me to miss just one night is there. Just let me do this for you, please" he stated making sure she knew he was genuine in his attempt to help her.
"Okay" Sara relented with a short shake of her head, still a little confused to this new change in his behaviour towards her, truthfully she was a little wary that he would do his usual thing and pull back from her when anything got too personal for them, or she got too close to him.
"Can we talk first for a little while? Then I promise I'll get some sleep" she said reminding him gently of her earlier interrupted question to him, but also waiting to see if he would make an excuse followed by a rapid escape.
Holding her breath she waited for his reply.
His clear blue, understanding and caring eyes fixed and fell into her warm enchanting brown orbs, searching, questioning, then deciding "Yes...We can do that if you'd like" he answered softly, knowing he would now have to share his feelings for her, his insecurities, and more frighteningly so, his future personal fears.
She let out the air from her lungs slowly in pure relief "Yes, I would like that very much" She replied with a soft smile playing upon her lips.
A/N Yeah I'm mean, but I think the 'The talk' deserves a whole chapter of it's own, so that is what the next one will be solely about, before we move on to other matters that have yet to arise and have our geeks deal with in their own special way. I really do hope you enjoyed the chapter, of a story that still has a way to go yet. Next posting will be Monday.
Please leave a review as they are always very much loved and appreciated, and encourage me to keep on writing the story for you.