Chapter Seventeen:
Saving The Lamb
She slowly stirred.
Flashes of light returned and her body stiffened.
He kissed her on the lips and she grabbed him, fearful of the visions.
The visions were horrific.
She saw a battlefield where thousands of bodies lay, some being eaten by vultures while others lay moaning trying to brush off the rats that were biting them.
Another vision flashed of thousands of people running from a tidal wave only to be engulfed in the water.
"You're witnessing my past, Sara…what I've seen. Don't be afraid."
He rubbed her back. "I saw yours. I saw everything you endured," he cried. "Hold on to me."
He could already feel her body tensing as the pain descended again.
She cried out.
"I've got you."
"Gracen…I feel like my insides are being torn apart."
"Rearranging…blending with my genetic makeup."
"It…hurts," she cried.
"I know honey. You were supposed to drink it in small increments. I'm so sorry, Sara. I should have warned you."
There was a knock on the door and Gracen cursed.
"It's Grissom."
"Gracen…something… is… wrong."
"Sara!"
Her body began to convulse violently.
"Grissom!" cried Gracen.
Grissom fumbled with the lock and ran into the bedroom.
He was horror struck at what he saw.
"What did you do to her?"
"Grissom, help me hold her down. She's convulsing. Her body is…please help me!"
Grissom grabbed Sara as they both urged her to relax.
The convulsions stopped as she lay there lifeless.
"We need to get her to a hospital," grieved Grissom.
"We can't. They won't be able to help her…I can. I know what to do."
Grissom stroked her hair and she moaned slightly.
"What happened?" Grissom yelled.
"Grissom, I broke it off but she took the vial…on her own."
"What was in it?" he asked. "Maybe Doc can help…"
"The vial was for the ritual…it contained my blood."
Grissom's eyes widened, trying to control the anguish and anger that was about to explode.
"In the ritual she is supposed to ingest a small amount over a period of several hours. Sara took the entire vial."
Gracen grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Her body is going into shock…there are too many changes…occurring at one time. I swear," he cried. "I forgot about the vial. I didn't think she would…do this."
He slumped to his knees beside the bed still holding her hand. "I left her in tears. She felt so rejected…I could feel her pain….but I left her anyway. I felt…her the moment she drank the vial…something shifted inside of me…screamed at me to get to her because something was wrong."
"Is there anything we can do?" begged Grissom.
Gracen shook his head. "It's done…we have to wait," Gracen looked at him.
Grissom gulped through his tears. "What can I do…to help her?"
"I'm not sure if the convulsions will come back."
"Is she out of danger?" asked Grissom.
Gracen opened his mouth to speak but couldn't.
He gulped through a bout of tears. "This could be fatal…I'm not sure her body can withstand so many changes at once."
Grissom checked her pulse.
She moaned and Gracen squeezed her hand tight.
"I'm sorry Sara…please, forgive me. I never meant to hurt you. Believe me Grissom, if I had known..." his head dropped as he cried. "I had no idea…I didn't think she would do…such a thing," he cried.
"She chose you…wanted you," cried Grissom.
She stirred, clutching at her stomach.
"What can I do?" asked Grissom.
"Sit next to her…in case the…"
Her body began to convulse again.
They each held her down while softly talking to her.
"It's almost over honey. Grissom and I are both here…feel us. Grissom take her other hand."
He did so immediately. "She's hot…she's burning up," mourned Grissom.
"Her molecular structure is changing as we speak."
Grissom stifled a sob. "This is my fault. I shouldn't have…pushed you to break it off with her. She never would have done something so desperate…so irrational…as this."
"We both wanted what was best…for her," Gracen said quietly.
"Do you love her?" asked Grissom.
"Enough to give her up," he cried. "God forgive me Grissom but I love her…I never wanted to hurt her…and I have."
Both stood vigil over her.
Hours passed and she finally slipped into a deep sleep.
It relieved both of them to know that her pulse became strong once more.
"I think the worst part is over," sighed Gracen.
"Have there been many documented cases…like this?" Grissom asked.
"Centuries ago, humans tried to…gain supernatural powers by ingesting our blood but…it drove them insane."
Grissom frantically looked at Sara.
"They didn't know how much blood to ingest," he countered. "Or how to administer it. It is supposed to be a slow build up. Sara's body needs time to rest…before the ritual is completed. Grissom, it has to be completed now…there is no other choice."
Gracen looked at Grissom. "I know this must be painful for you to hear."
"I want…I need to know she's going to be alright," he grieved.
"In a few days her body should begin…to feel the need to join with mine. There is one final blending of blood." Gracen turned Sara's palm over. "Her hand will be sliced here…just as mine. Our hands must remain locked together while we…consummate our joining."
It was too painful to hear.
He could feel Grissom's anguish, knowing he would feel the same way if he were to have to give Sara to someone else.
"She'll stop aging. She will look and be like this forever…or until judgment."
"She can still be killed," said Grissom.
"Yes, our bodies can withstand more than humans but we can die."
"If you die, she dies?"
"Yes...once we complete the ritual."
"If she dies, then…"
"It is the same."
Gracen looked down at the floor. "The fallen angels…are not like this. They are not bound to one female. They crave sex and exploit human females. Since the flood they have not been able to reproduce but…we can."
There was a long silence and then Gracen spoke. "The final step has to take place…or Sara will die. Her senses will become hypersensitive causing her system to go into shock…her organs will stop functioning…."
"If the joining isn't complete will you die as well?" asked Grissom.
Gracen shook his head. "My tie with Sara will be broken. If she had chosen you…then I would not have been able to choose another mate until…her death…but I would never have chosen another…my heart was freely given to her. I didn't want it back. The joining has to take place…before it affects me. The blending of our blood one more time will prevent Sara's system from shutting down rejecting what has already been changed."
"Does this process have to be repeated?" Grissom asked.
"No…just once."
Grissom was quiet for a moment. "Then she could be released…if she wanted…no longer bound by…the ritual…marriage."
Gracen glared at Grissom. "No. Neither of us will have any desire for anyone else. There will be a constant craving for one another…which cannot be denied. Despite what you think of us…at least we remain together forever…which is more than you can say about your idea of marriage."
"I wasn't insinuating…I just want to understand what Sara's life will be," Grissom said sadly.
Gracen's anger slowed. "This is why I wanted Sara to be absolutely sure about…us. It is irreversible."
I've lost her…
She'll give herself to him, give him children while I grow old and die but she'll remain…
"Gracen, promise me, you will always put her needs above your own," pleaded Grissom.
"I promise. I'll make whatever sacrifice I have to keep her safe and happy. Grissom, you won't have to worry about her. I know you're concerned about her soul but I will convince her…I will make sure she believes in your savior Jesus Christ so that her soul is safe at judgment. I may be condemned…but she won't be. I promise."
Grissom nodded.
Gracen sighed. "I don't know how she is going to feel when she wakes. This is supposed to be a time of…happiness…of further bonding but she…was so devastated by my actions…I'm not sure how this is going to affect her. She needs to be stress free…to not feel torn."
"You think I should go?" asked Grissom.
"No, she loves you, Grissom….but she needs to know that you accept and is happy about her decision. It will help her go through the final transformation."
"Then I will be happy for her…I'll do whatever it takes to make it easier for her," he agreed.
"Thank you."
She stirred, her eyes sliding open briefly.
"Honey, open your eyes," Gracen whispered.
She stared at Gracen. "You scared us," he said with a slight smile.
"Us?" she croaked.
"Grissom and I have been watching over you," he explained.
She tried to raise her hand to her head but felt it being held.
She turned and saw Grissom.
"How do you feel?" Grissom asked.
"Confused," she whispered.
Grissom glanced at Gracen.
Gracen gently yanked on her other hand. "Sara, what do you remember?"
"Pain," she said suddenly.
Gracen squeezed her hand. "Is there any pain now?"
She shook her head.
Gracen caressed the palm of her hand and then leaned down, kissing her on the forehead.
Her hand felt different as Gracen caressed it.
It was then she noticed her engagement ring was gone.
She gasped when she was flooded with the memory of what happened.
She tried to jerk her hand away from him but he firmly held it, kissing each individual finger.
"Any pain?" Gracen asked anxiously.
She could barely breathe realizing the enormity of her actions.
Gracen picked up on her distress.
"Grissom, could we have a moment alone?" asked Gracen.
"I'll be in the living room if you need me," said Grissom as he released her hand.
Sara's eyes followed him out of the room.
Once they were alone, Gracen sat down on the edge of the bed.
His fingers nudged her to look at him.
"I need you to tell me everything you're feeling. Alright?"
"I'm fine…now," she managed to get out as she tried once more to pull her hand away.
"Don't pull away from me, Sara," he urged. "I need to feel you…just as much as you need to feel me."
"I'm okay. I did something stupid. It won't happen again."
"You chose me," he said quietly.
A single tear slipped down her cheek and then another.
"You didn't choose me."
"Oh Sara, that's not true."
Her sensory nerves seemed to be pulsating.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
She jerked her hand from his and then doubled over from the pain.
"Sara!"
Grissom reappeared.
Gracen held her firmly. "Hold onto me, Sara. You're part of me now. Let me help you through the pain."
She gritted her teeth as her hand clutched at him.
"I've got you," Gracen soothed. "Just close your eyes and listen to me. Breathe in deeply."
She did as he instructed and he rewarded her with a kiss on the forehead.
"That's my Sara," he whispered as he kissed her on the lips. "Breathe in and out. The pain will ease up. That's it…that's my girl."
She relaxed as Gracen's hand stroked her hair.
Gracen glanced at Grissom. "She's better," he assured Grissom.
Grissom reluctantly stepped back into the livingroom.
He leaned forward, his cheek touching hers.
Her eyes fluttered open. "Why didn't….you …want me?"
He cradled her in his arms.
"I want you Sara! I was afraid I was thinking only of myself…not taking your needs into account. I may be condemned…I don't want that for you."
"He talked…you into doing that…didn't he?"
"He begged…pleaded with me. He said he never knew how much he had hurt you until now. He wanted…another chance. He promised me he'd changed."
He really was too late…
She closed her eyes reliving that moment when she had asked him to have dinner with her and he had refused.
She opened her eyes, wary of their circumstances.
Gracen had rejected her.
By using the vial she had forced him to go through with the ritual.
It was not what she had wanted but she had reacted without thinking of the destructive effects of her actions.
"You turned me away…just like…him."
"I'm sorry I hurt you."
She nodded, her eyes avoiding his.
"Sara, look at me," he pleaded.
When she refused, he tilted her chin forcing her to look at him.
"I've wanted you for so long."
It did not remove the doubt.
He swallowed. "I've never been…loved…like this. You…chose me, Sara. I'll never be worthy of such love."
He stroked her hair as he rocked her back and forth.
She took a deep breath. "Tired."
"I think Grissom wants to see you before he has to leave," whispered Gracen.
"No…I don't…want…"
"Sara, we've talked. He accepts your decision. He…wants you to be happy with me."
Gracen called Grissom before she could protest further.
He stepped back into the room, not sure where to stand.
"I'll just be out there," said Gracen as he smiled back at Sara trying to reassure her.
Grissom hesitantly sat on the edge of the bed.
He slowly took her hand. "You scared the life out of me…and Gracen."
"I'm sorry. I don't know what…I was thinking," she sniffled.
"I do. You love him, Sara. You made your choice...the right choice. He's going to make you very happy. You are going to have a wonderful life."
He gave no hint that he didn't believe his words and it seemed to put her at ease.
"I...still…want to work at the lab," she got out.
"That's good cause I don't think we can ever replace you," he managed to get out.
She closed her eyes.
"Sara? Are you alright?" he asked suddenly, his hand caressing her cheek.
She nodded, her chest tightening at the sight of his pained expression.
"You'll always be more than a boss…to me," she choked.
"Good…cause I'm going to be watching over you," he vowed.
She squeezed his hand lightly before releasing it.
"So tired," she murmured.
"I think you should rest. I've got to…go. I'll check up on you later. Okay?"
She nodded.
He started to get up but kissed her on the forehead, letting his lips slip down and kiss her lightly on the lips.
He'd never allowed himself such pleasure and his heart lurched at the sheer closeness of her.
"Rest," he urged, caressing her cheek briefly and then he was gone.
Her chest heaved as she watched him leave.
I'll watch over you, Grissom…
She woke an hour later, jerking to a sitting position but Gracen pulled her back down.
"Lie still," he urged.
"Dream," she panted.
"How do you feel?"
"Hungry."
"I'm going to release your hand. Tell me if you begin to feel ill again."
He slipped his hand from hers and went into the kitchen, grabbing the food that had been delivered a few minutes ago.
"It's soup from the café," he said helping her to a sitting position and then handing her the cup.
She drank slowly, keeping her eyes fixed on the cup.
"Finish the soup and then I'll lie down with you again."
He was pleased she handed him an empty cup.
He molded his body next to hers.
"Just rest. I'll be right here."
"Kay," she managed to get between yawns.
His fingers stroked her arms, sliding down her side to land on her hips.
She scooted closer to him, her breathing shallow.
"If the pain returns, I can help…ease you through it," he whispered.
She nodded, settling back into his arms.
"In a couple of hours, you'll feel stronger."
His hand slipped into hers.
"Grip my hand. Okay?"
"I feel fine…great…floating," she murmured.
"It won't last long, honey."
She closed her eyes and felt the mixture of sensations swirling within her.
"Gracen…are you sorry I did this?"
"Sara…don't say things like that. This is all I ever wanted."
She gripped his hand tight, gasping through the pain.
"We need to let your body…rest…recover. It may be a few days."
She gritted through another onslaught.
"I'm not leaving….I'll be right here," he soothed.
She panted, gasping through the pain, "Don't ever leave me."
"I won't," he assured her with a kiss. "I promise."
Note from author:
Still think Gracen is evil? Not a chance...he's an angel in progress...remember I love twists and turns...this story has alot of them. We can go faster if the reviews can come in quicker. I am going out of twon over the weekend...posting times will be off but I plan to continue to post regularly.
Take care!