A/N this had taken me ages to update and I apologise, hopefully it won't take me as long for the next part. Thanks if you left a review…if not…why not? : )
Two days later and Sara still felt tired despite the fact it was eleven in the morning she had only just got out of bed and the only reason she had managed that was because today was warrick's birthday and she was going to go and join everyone else for his birthday meal if it mean crawling on her hands and knees to get there.
"Are you sure…" Grissom only got half his sentence out before Sara interrupted him waving her arm.
"I'm fine, it's Warrick's birthday and I need to get out the house," said Sara going into the kitchen where Grissom was attempting to wrap Warrick's gift, a shirt that Sara had picked out.
"Considering you can wrap a car air tight, you're making that look hard work," grinned Sara as Grissom tried to bite the tape that was half attached to the wrapping paper and half to his arm.
"You could help," suggested Grissom as shook her head and got up banging her knee on the unit as she did.
"Damn," hissed Sara rubbing her knee, "guess that's another oen to add to the collection," she sighed running a finger over the angry purple bruise on her forearm from where she caught the beds side unit. One of the many downsides of chemo was that all Sara had to do was breath to had on herself and she would bruise.
"What time are we going again?" asked Grissom who hadn't been paying attention the first time he'd been told.
"In about half an hour," smiled Sara knowing he hadn't been listening the first time as she'd told him while her was flicking through a new journal he'd received on the feeding habits of maggots.
"Oh," replied Grissom.
"Are you coming?" asked Sara picking Warrick's present up and heading for the door.
"You've…. picked up," said Grissom noting Sara's sudden enthusiasm for going, considering she'd spent the past couple of days moping round the house hassling him for snippets of information about work.
"It'll be good to see everyone again," smiled Sara grateful for the distraction even through she knew the subject of her illness would be danced around at some point in the night.
"Ok I'm coming," sighed Grissom was Sara stood at the door bouncing on her heels like an excited child.
Catherine, Brass, Greg and Nick were already at Warrick's as Grissom and Sara arrived.
"Hey there girl," smiled Warrick greeting Sara with a hug before she even had chance to step through the doorway.
"Hey happy birthday," smiled Sara for once not pulling away from the display of friendship.
"Warrick," Grissom greeted him on entering with a simple handshake and handed him the rather poorly wrapped parcel.
"What did you do wrap it with your feet," asked Cath snatching Warrick's present form him and examining the wrapping.
"It's the thought that counts," countered Grissom.
"He can pull apart a carpet fibre but give him paper and tape and he can't cope," smiled Sara as Cath pulled her into a hug, a right of passage she was going to have to go through with the entire group, minus Brass who was restraining himself.
"Is it ok if I detach the paper later," said Warrick pulling his finger from where it had stuck to a piece of tape.
"Sure," smiled Sara as the group went into the main room, "now correct me if I'm wrong but I thought it was traditional that on your birthday someone else cooked," said Sara, "yet you've invited us all round for dinner."
"This is Vegas, I ordered dinner," smiled Warrick, "pizza's should be here nay minute, got you a veggie one," he grinned.
"I brought wine and he's ordered pizza," smiled Cath as the group sat down.
The subject of Sara's illness had managed to be avoided the entire way through dinner until about ten minutes after when half way through a story about Brass arresting a woman dressed as Wonder Women Nick stopped staring at Sara.
"Urm Sara you're bleeding," said Nick indicating her nose.
"What?" said Sara gently touching her nose and discovering a red trail left along her finger, "damn," cursed Sara putting her hand under he nose as he cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.
"I'll get some tissues," said Warrick getting up.
"Sorry," muttered Sara.
"Nothing to be sorry about," smiled Cath as Sara got up fleeing the room, grabbing the box of tissues off Warrick as she headed into the bathroom.
"Should you go after her?" Nick asked Grissom.
"Best to leave her for a minute," replied Grissom.
"Is that normal?" asked Greg quietly.
"Side effect," replied Grissom.
"Perhaps I should go," suggested Cath.
"Maybe we should go," came Sara's voice as she came back in the room a tissue shoved under her nose her eyes pleading with Grissom to run away and hide with her.
"Sara," started Grissom standing up as he noticed the tears glistening in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said the words catching in her throat as tears began to fall.
"Come here," sighed Grissom pulling her into a hug.
"Sorry," mumbled Sara again now wiping at her eyes.
"Sorry for what?" said Greg standing up and walking over to where Grissom, Sara and Cath were stood.
"This," said Sara wiping away the last few tear and checking her nose had stopped bleeding.
"Do you even realise how brave your been?" asked Nick. Sara looked blank at him.
"You know you my idol right," said Greg putting an arm round her, "you are my work and life coach," he smiled, "your amazing."
"I tell her that everyday, one day she might listen," said Grissom gently stroking Sara's hair as she buried her mow crimson face in his shoulder.
"Ok I think that's enough sentiment for one meal," said Cath changing the subject much to Sara's relief, "now Lindsay told me I couldn't go to a party without this," smiled Cath bending down and producing two microphones from a bag, "who's up for singstar?" she grinned.
TBC……………..