Chapter Forty Seven:

Someone to Love the Lost Lamb

Sara grinned when the door opened and Grissom stepped inside.

"Did you get her?" asked Sara anxiously.

"Yes," grinned Grissom. "Is he in his room?"

Sara leaned over the counter. "Yes but he's been leaving his door open."

She looked around. "Where did you put her?"

"Greg is walking her around the block. She didn't like riding in the car. Greg had to hold her. It wasn't easy having a dog in the lab all night," he said.

"What did Ecklie say?" she asked.

"Ecklie walked her. He likes dogs," smirked Grissom.

"Really?"

"No….not really," he teased. "Hodges kept her hid for us."

Sara smiled. "He'll do anything for your approval."

There was a tap at the door.

Grissom rushed over and opened the door.

"Hey, Wrigley," cooed Sara to the golden retriever.

The dog wagged its tail.

Sara petted the dog and then took the leash.

"You never got me a dog," teased Greg.

"I'll get one for your birthday," Sara agreed.

She took the leash and led the dog to bedroom door letting the dog enter the room first.

Darius had his back to the door but he sensed her presence immediately.

"Did you bring Matthew?" he asked quietly.

"He's sleeping," said Sara as she let the dog jump up on the bed.

Darius sat up quickly, grimacing from the pain.

"I'm sorry," said Sara. "She'll have to learn some house rules."

"She?"

"Her name is Wrigley," announced Sara.

"Who names a dog Wrigley?" frowned Darius.

"A baseball fan," stated Sara.

"Who does she belong to?" he asked, petting the dog.

"You."

"I didn't name the dog Wrigley," replied Darius. "And I'm not a baseball fan although a bat is a good weapon to use when…"

Sara frowned so he decided to shut up.

"Her owner was killed in a traffic accident. She was sent to the pound because no one else claimed her. The man lived alone…no family."

Sara sat down on the edge of the bed. "Grissom heard about her and so we decided to adopt her for you."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You'll be in charge of her. She seems like a smart dog but is a little frightened of riding in cars…because of the accident."

"I can't take care of a dog," he huffed.

"Yes, you can."

Darius gently shoved the dog off the bed.

Sara started to close the door but he jerked around. "Don't shut the door," he pleaded.

"I won't," she soothed.

She caressed his cheek. "How are you sleeping?"

"Fine," he replied as he rolled to his side so that he was facing her.

"I could sit with you for awhile?"

He shook his head.

He stared at her for a moment and then turned away. "You and Grissom…sleep together now. Don't you?"

"Yes. It doesn;t change the way I feel about you."

"I know," he admitted quietly.

The dog whined as she looked at Darius.

"Oh alright," he muttered as he patted the side of the bed and she jumped up, lying beside him.

Sara smiled. "She likes you."

"Great. I have a way with dogs."

"You have a way with me," she grinned. "When you're better, we're going for a walk in the backyard."

She started to leave but he caught her hand. "Thanks…for the dog."

Within a day he was on his feet, but it was grueling for him just to walk to the living room. He was out of breath by the time he got to the door, not able to walk Wrigley.

Francis took the leash. "We'll be back soon."

As soon as the door closed, Darius leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. He had very little strength these days.

Grissom stepped out of his study and quickly took hold of him, settling him on the couch.

He retrieved a glass of water from the kitchen and handed it to Darius.

"Not an invalid," he griped.

"Yes, you are and you better acknowledge it or else Sara will have you changing Matthew's messy diapers."

"I'm an invalid," announced Darius.

Grissom chuckled.

There was a knock on the door and Grissom answered it, surprised to see Catherine.

"Ecklie has been trying to reach you," she said as she glanced around the room.

"My cell phone was charging upstairs."

"Well, your case is breaking and he wants you there."

"I can't leave until Sara returns. She went to the grocery store. Matthew is asleep upstairs."

"I can stay," Catherine offered.

"Thanks Cat," he said as he rushed out, grabbing his jacket as he took off but halted. "Darius, will you be alright?"

"I'm not a baby who needs a sitter," he griped.

"No, you're just recovering from a severe injury. Will you be alright?"

"Yes," he replied.

Grissom glanced at Catherine and then left.

Darius attempted to get up, struggling as he tried to get to his feet.

Catherine tried to assist him but she tripped over him causing both of them to fall into the floor.

"If that was your idea of helping an invalid, I can't wait to see how you take care of Matthew!" he griped.

"If you hadn't pulled away, then…" she halted, getting a good look at his physique. He was quite muscular, and the scars from the knife wounds only added to the rugged look.

Catherine swallowed.

"What?" he huffed.

"Nice body," she managed to get out.

"That needs you to get off!"

"Sorry," she murmured as she started to lift herself, placing her hand on the coffee table but the wetness from the spilled drink made her slip once again, landing on top of him.

A loud 'umph' followed by a groan was heard from Darius.

"Oh Darius. I'm sorry. I think one of your wounds is bleeding."

The ridiculousness of the situation made him smirk which caused Catherine to laugh.

"Demons can't kill me but a bim…." He stopped when he caught her eye brow knit upwards.

"Call me a bimbo and I'll finish the job."

"Joke…didn't mean it…especially since you're in a position to do bodily harm."

Catherine realized she was lying between his thighs. She grinned. "Somebody is excited."

"I am not!" he gasped but knew it was the truth.

Before it would not have bothered him to have such a reaction but now it did.

What if Sara sees me like this…

Catherine managed to get to her feet while he struggled, ignoring the pain or damage he was doing.

She extended her hand but he refused to take it.

"Stop being pig headed. I'm not going to finish the job."

The door opened and Francis appeared with the dog.

Darius continued to struggle, not liking that he could not do the smallest of tasks.

He still had his pride and was determined to get out of there.

"What happened?" asked Francis as he went to his son's aid. "Darius, stop! You're hurting yourself."

Despite his best efforts, Darius could not get up and had to let Francis help until he was standing.

He shrugged off his father's hand and Francis stepped back letting Darius calm down.

The dog whined at Darius feet.

"Hey Wrigley," said Catherine as she petted the dog.

Darius took a few steps toward the bedroom but stopped, his energy gone.

Without a word, Francis wrapped his arm around his waist and silently began to help him but Darius faltered almost collapsing to the floor if it had not been for Catherine who quickly grabbed his other side.

Francis could have easily carried Darius but he knew his son was too proud to allow that to happen in front of a stranger.

Together, they got him to the bed.

He tried to act as though he was not in any pain but two of his larger wounds on his chest had broken open. Blood began to seep through his shirt.

"You shouldn't have gotten out of bed," his father softly scolded.

Darius felt humiliated as his father unbuttoned his shirt, taking a wet washcloth to clean the wounds and then re-bandage them.

"I can do that," Darius insisted but his father would not stop.

"We don't want to risk another infection," Francis soothed as he reached for the bandages but Catherine got to them first.

"Let me," she said as she held out the bandage, but then gasped at the layers of scars riddled across his chest.

"Is there any place you don't have a scar?" she whispered in amazement.

Darius tried to close his shirt to hide the scars but his hand shook.

Catherine could sense his uneasiness. "I always liked a rugged man with scars…shows his masculinity."

Wrigley placed her head on Darius hand and he petted her.

"I think she's jealous of someone else giving you attention," stated Catherine as she petted the dog.

"Dogs can sense when a person is hurt or not feeling well," stated Francis.

The baby monitor went off and Catherine stood quickly. "Another man after my attention," she said as she left.

Francis stared at his son. "Did she say something that upset you?"

"No."

"You're face is red," remarked Francis.

"I don't like to show…weakness. Weakness can get you killed."

"There is no shame in weakness, Darius."

Darius glanced at Francis. "Do you miss her?" asked Darius.

"Her?"

"Heather…Elena?"

Francis swallowed. "Yes, I do….even more now that I know I wasted so much time. I could have tried to save her."

"She was fallen."

"Yes, I know but I think I am to blame for that. If I had not turned away from her, had tried to help her then perhaps she would have…chosen…Him."

"I'd like to sleep now," said Darius but quickly added, "leave the door open."

Francis went to the door. "No one is going to lock this door. Understand?"

He'd talked at length with Sara about Darius overreaction to someone closing the door and they concluded it was a childhood fear of being locked away by Silas.

"Not that," Darius admitted. "Sara…wouldn't let that happen."

"Then what?"

"If door is open…not alone," he said as he drifted off.

Francis checked his forehead, not liking that he had overdid it. "You're not alone my son."

Wrigley lay beside Darius and Francis smiled. "You stay with him. Keep him warm and watch over him."

Days passed and he was slowly taking small trips back and forth.

Sara worried after him but knew he needed to regain his strength.

He'd not tried to take the stairs and she knew it bothered him that he could not visit the nursery so she brought the baby down often.

It had bothered him how he had reacted to Catherine and wondered if it would be that way with any woman.

He muttered under his breath.

"Is something wrong?" asked Sara as he sat in the kitchen.

"No," he said as he started to get up.

"Catherine told me about what happened," she stated.

He almost fell off of the stool as he tried to head toward his bedroom.

"Darius!"

He'd made it to his bedroom and was about to close the door when Sara stuck her foot to block him. "What did I do to make you so angry?" she asked.

"Go away."

"Sorry but I don't respond to nasty demands like that."

"So…I got a boner…in front of your lady friend," he bit out.

Sara was surprised and embarrassed for him. "Catherine didn't tell me that part."

It made matters worse as he attempted to shut the door by shoving her away.

She yelped when the door caught her foot. He immediately opened the door apologizing for hurting her.

"I didn't mean it!" he mourned.

"I know," she soothed. "Darius, there is nothing wrong with having a physical reaction to…someone."

"I know that," he grumbled. "I…always got a…reaction when I was around women."

"Oh," she said softly.

"I thought…I thought that…it would be different…now."

"Oh, so after you became impotent then unimpotent you thought you would be able to control your urge…for women."

He nodded. "Still…think and act like…one of them."

It was then she understood part of his problem.

He wanted to be different and it warmed her heart.

Later that evening the doorbell rang.

Darius sat at the kitchen table with Matthew in the carrier.

"Darius, would you get that?" asked Sara.

"Me? I'm the invalid…I'm injured."

"Go," she insisted.

He opened the door and a woman smiled at him. "I'm here to see Sara…Sidle."

"Who are you?"

"A friend."

Sara came to the door and smiled at Wendy. "Thanks, Wendy for coming."

"I've wanted to see the baby," she exclaimed as she went to the bassinet.

Darius tried to retreat to his room but Sara grabbed him by the arm.

"You're staying," she whispered.

"I know what you are doing," he seethed.

"Deal with it," she replied softly as she pulled him toward Wendy.

Sara introduced them and Wendy extended her hand.

Sara forced him to take it.

He shook her hand and then released it.

He didn't know what to think when Sara practically pulled Wendy over to sit next to him.

He almost came unglued, trying to scramble away but Sara sat on his other side and forced him to remain seated.

He glared at Sara who refused to budge until Matthew began to whimper.

Sara picked up the baby, speaking softly to him.

"He's beautiful," admired Wendy.

"Wendy, could you help us with an experiment?" asked Sara.

"Sure. I love that kind of stuff."

"Good. Could you sit in Darius' lap?"

Darius choked on his drink. "Sara!"

"I uhm…don't think he wants me in his lap," replied Wendy.

"I know….but we need to find out something."

Sara shoved Wendy into his lap before either could protest.

"Catherine said you were muscular," smiled Wendy.

Darius turned beet red.

"I think you can get off his lap," smiled Sara. "Well?"

Darius was about to yell but then realized he had not responded to Wendy the way he did Catherine.

"It's because you're here," he gritted.

"Maybe. We'll find out. Catherine is on her way over here," whispered Sara.

Darius tried to get up again but Sara handed the baby to him.

"Sara," he seethed.

He muttered as the women talked but thought he would crawl under the couch as soon as the doorbell rang and Catherine appeared.

"I'll try not to fall on you this time," she teased as she leaned over and took the baby.

The moment that Catherine stepped away with the baby, Darius fled to his room.

"Where's Darius?" asked Catherine.

"He tires easily. He's probably going to take a nap," explained Sara.

"Is he better? I mean those wounds were pretty nasty," stated Catherine.

"Would you do me a favor and take him a glass of water. He likes to keep a glass by his bed and I forgot to put one in there."

"Oh okay," replied Catherine.

Catherine returned with the glass. "Sorry, but the door is locked and he didn't respond."

He remained locked in his bedroom for the remainder of the day despite Sara's attempts to coax him out.

Sara looked shocked when Darius appeared in the doorway of the nursery later that evening.

"You're not supposed to be taking the stairs," she barked.

"Neither of them affected me," he announced.

"Then why did you sulk in your room all evening?" she challenged.

"I wasn't sulking," he retorted. "I didn't like...being set up...by you."

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "What's really bothering you?"

"To be a eunuch or not to be," he griped.

She felt his torment as he struggled to fit in.

"Do I affect you?" she asked.

"No," he admitted. In fact, he didn't have the same feelings as he had before.

"Are you jealous?" he asked.

"Darius!" she warned.

"I know you love me…but not like…Grissom," muttered Darius saying it as if he'd been reminded a hundred times.

Grissom smiled as he stood quietly on the stairs. He'd managed to come home without anyone noticing.

"There is nothing wrong with being attracted to someone…as long as you don't do or say something that makes her angry…especially Catherine. She has a temper worse than mine."

"I don't want to be…attracted to her or anyone. I'm supposed to be a watcher."

"Gracen…was attracted to me…and yet he was a watcher."

He snorted. "Good thing that demon put him out of his misery. Being attracted to someone and not being able to do anything about is worse than a slow painful death."

"What do you mean?"

"To feel…but not be able to act on those feelings. I'd rather be a eunuch."

"Catherine is single."

"Watchers…don't," he stopped but then breathed, "Francis didn't want Gracen to get involved…"

"With me," finished Sara. "You can't help how you feel. Gracen couldn't help that he had feelings for me…just as I couldn't help having feelings for Grissom. Do you understand why I belonged with Grissom and not Gracen?"

"You loved Grissom but not Gracen."

"There wasn't anything wrong with the feelings Gracen had for me. I just didn't love him the way I love Grissom."

"Lucky Grissom," he muttered.

Grissom silently returned down stairs, not wishing to interrupt their conversation.

"Do you have feelings for Catherine?" she asked.

"I don't even know her. I just reacted to her once," he replied but then added. "Besides…it's best if I stay away."

"Why?"

"Francis…"

"You care about what your father thinks," smiled Sara.

"I…don't want to be a disappointment anymore. I want him to…be proud…not disgusted."

"Darius, Francis loves you. He's very proud of you. He wants you to be happy. I'm sure that if he knew you were attracted to Catherine he would want you to…see where it leads."

"I'm not attracted to her," he griped. "I don't want…her."

"You don't want to be attracted to her…that's angelic," she teased lightly.

Darius leaned against the wall as he watched the baby.

"When I was with them they told me I was a fallen angel. Now I don't know...I'm half human and angelic. One that struggles with the other."

He looked away as if he'd remembered something painful.

"Do you still hear his voice?" asked Sara out of the blue.

"Not in awhile…but I know he's still there," he admitted as he looked at her. "Are you frightened that I came…up here…that I can climb the stairs?"

"No. You can help change his diapers now," replied Sara.

"Still an invalid," he announced.

She grinned at his excuse.

"I don't plan to sleep up here," he said.

"Your room is waiting on you when you're better."

"I don't want to sleep…next to your room knowing that I might hear…the two of you."

It was her turn to blush. "You could move to the end of the hall," she offered.

"I'll stay…down there," he said as he stroked Wrigley's fur. "Of course I think Grissom liked my mirror idea."

He smirked as he headed back downstairs.

He was out of breath by the time he made it down.

Grissom leaned out of the kitchen. "You alright?"

"I went up…to see Matthew," he said, waiting to catch Grissom's expression but he did not seem bothered.

"Sara said I could return to my room upstairs," he stated.

"Need some help moving any of your stuff back?" Grissom asked.

Darius frowned. "No…I decided to stay down here."

"Oh well, you're choice. Babies do keep strange hours."

"Sara said you're sleeping with her again."

"I am….we're mates. Does that bother you?"

"Not if I sleep down here…I wouldn't want to hear or catch the two of you in the act."

"That's very considerate of you," replied Grissom.

"Of course, Sara would prefer…mirrors on the ceiling."

"Mirrors huh? You wouldn't be trying to get me in trouble would you?"

"She likes mirrors."

Darius felt a slap on the back of his head. "Ouch! That hurt!"

Sara slapped him again. "Sara likes mirrors?"

Darius swallowed. "A joke…wasn't it Grissom?"

Grissom grinned. "Yes, it was. Of course, you do like mirrors in the bathroom."

Sara glared at both of them and disappeared once more.

"Does she hit you like that?" grumbled Darius.

"Yes…which is why I try not to do things that can get me hit."

Darius chuckled but then looked to ensure Sara was nowhere around.

"I just want you to know…that I'm okay with you and her."

"I'm glad to know that."

Darius started to leave but halted. "I still think mirrors…would be a good joke to play on her."

"You want me to get seriously injured."

"I'm just seriously bored…being so angelic," he huffed.

Grissom laughed. "Mirrors huh?"

Note from author:

Not sure about posting tomorrow. There are only one or two more chapters and then it will be finished.