A/N:Well here I am in ye Old Smoky Mountains TN with my awesome freind and beta SSC. Oh yes we have been plotting it up for about a week now. I appologise for the lateness in posting but with this trip overseas and real life I have found it near impossible to write lately. Plus once I get home I am moving so that's going to take up a big chunk of my time too but I will try and get new chapters up as soon as I can.

So, I guess we had better get on with the story, let's see if we can get two stubborn men to sort out their differences shall we? Enjoy :)

Chapter 92

Laura quietly folded the laundry which hung over the fire place and piled it neatly upon a chair. She had finished the broth and it was now cooling, she'd tidied a little, read some of Grissom's Bible and made some fresh tea. Her eyes fell to the bed and to Grissom and her daughter as they lay side by side. Out of respect, Gil lay atop the covers while Sara was beneath them. Although her daughters wheezing brought fear to her very soul, she found a smile within her at the sight. And although the sight was one she never actually thought she would ever witness…her daughter sharing a bed with a man before marriage…it was one that brought her more a feeling of ease than one of shame. She knew, for a fact, he would protect her to his last dying breath. After all, he already almost had.

Upon hearing the sound of a coach approaching from outside she came to the conclusion that her husband had returned and she was quick to exit the cabin. She noted numerous boxes stacked upon the top of the vehicle as it came to a halt in front of her.

The captain disembarked and walked towards her. "How is she?" he asked with urgency.

Laura blew out a silent gust of air, "Very ill, Thomas, terrifyingly so." She looked over her shoulder to the cabin for a second.

Rana cut in on their conversation. "Do you want the things for Miss Sara inside, Ma'am?" she asked.

"No…no…not just now…" Laura responded quickly, holding out a hand. "They are sleeping and shouldn't be disturbed."

Both Laura and Rana noticed a sudden change to the captain's expression.

"Yes, Ma'am," Rana said hurriedly, walking back to the coach knowing she was in need of a quick exit.

Laura closed her eyes, realizing now what she had just said and she felt her husband as he moved closer, right up to her. With a sigh, she looked at him.

"I am presuming, by the size…" he nodded to the cabin, "…that there is only one bed in there."

"Yes," she answered.

"And are they sharing that bed?"

She rolled her eyes, tired of his attitude. "They are sleeping Thomas. Sleeping! For The Lord's sake…Sara is so weak…she passed out and Gil is so exhausted…and that's because he's the one that has been keeping ourdaughter alive."

"That is inconsequential…they should not…"

Laura shook her head and stepped away.

"Where are you going?" the captain asked firmly.

Stopping, she faced him. "I have more important things to worry about right now than arguing with you and I warn you, Thomas…you need to take a good look at yourself. That man in there, who sleeps by our daughter, put his own life on the line in order to save hers. He was prepared to die for her Thomas," she spat. "He knows everything she has been through yet he stands by her, without question…without doubt…without regret…"

"It's not right," he countered with a bite in his words. His voice dropped low, so low that only Laura could hear him. "And it's not like he's exactly proven himself trustworthy in that regard."

Laura decided not to argue. "That may be true, Thomas, but he wouldn't….and she can't right now anyway. It may not be right but….."

"It isn't right," he stressed.

She sniggered sarcastically. "You tell me something that has been right over the last few months." She slowly walked back down the steps towards him. "Go on, Thomas, tell me."

The captain's mind was a torrid whirlwind of thoughts but he couldn't find the response he sought.

"Well let me help you," Laura growled now. "How about Al's death? Or…Gil leaving his home to come and help you only to be thrown aside because you didn't believe him?" She stepped closer. "How about your partnership with the man who was actually out to destroy you and you were so blind to see it, Warrick's murder, or…. your daughters doomed engagement to a monster in order to save you? Her kidnapping…" Her chin trembled, "…her rape," she whispered the final word.

"Laura…" the captain sighed.

"No, Thomas," she shook her head. "Do not 'Laura' me. No more, Thomas. I am certain Gil knows what he did was wrong and by God our daughter knows her mistakes all too much but you…do you ever admit or take responsibility for your errors or empathize with those who really want to make amends?"

He ran a hand over his beard. "I know when I'm wrong."

"Do you really?" she questioned. "Because I don't think you do." Her tone changed now, almost sympathetic. "I have loved you since the very first day we met, yet…right now, you are not the man that I married. Yes, my husband was a proud man, a moral man but he knew what was right…I don't feel that I know you anymore."

The captain swallowed hard, a frown forming on his brow. "What are you saying?"

"That you need to work out yourself, Thomas, because I can't do it for you and you decide whether your pride is worth your family." With a sad smile crossing her lips, she picked up her dress; re climbed the steps and entered the cabin leaving her husband looking very unsure and worried behind her.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

About an hour later Laura sat in the corner of the cabin, flipping through Grissom's Bible again. She hadn't spoken to her husband since their previous argument and he had made no attempt to communicate with her. In fact, she had no idea what he was doing or where he even was. Knowing his temperament, she wouldn't have been surprised if he had just left…gone back to the Grove. That's what most men in his position would have done. She just hoped that for once, he wouldn't act like allothermen.

She prayed even.

Surely Thomas would come to his senses. Any damage that could have been done by surely had already been done and there was nothing they could do to change that. All that they could do was try and fix it, as best they could and look to the future and what was best for that future. Her husband was a very stubborn man though. That was her biggest fear.

A soft moan broke her concentration and she looked up from the book and towards the bed.

Sara was stirring.

Laura slowly stood, feeling a very anxious flutter in her heart and she found herself exhaling a breath of relief as Grissom suddenly woke and sat up. He blinked hard for a second and rubbed his still tired looking eyes before turning his attention to the woman by his side.

Sara's eyes slowly opened and she drearily looked at him. He smiled as he reached a hand to her forehead, her cheeks were glowing crimson so he expected her to feel hot and she did. She always did. Even though the doctor had told him her illness could last maybe even months, every time he reached to touch her he hoped for some relenting with her fever. He would never stop having that hope.

He studied her eyes and noticed she wasn't really focusing on him. She was in delirium again, he knew it. His eyes flicked to Laura as she hovered nervously at the end of the bed. Would Sara recognize her? Grissom knew that Sara's real fear was for her father but would Laura's presence help or hinder her daughter? It was a risk but ultimately if Sara warmed to her mother, it was one worth taking and if she didn't, he would have to deal with it.

"You have a visitor," he whispered, looking back into Sara's eyes.

Laura stepped closer as Grissom's words somehow managed to penetrate Sara's brain and her head slowly turned to look in her mother's direction. A small smile graced Laura's lips as she pulled up a chair and sat at her daughter's side. Sara just stared at her, no emotion crossing her features.

Grissom pushed himself from the bed and was thankful Sara hadn't reacted badly, not yet anyway. But, as Sara felt his weight leave the bed, her head snapped back to him and she let out a distressed sob, struggling to raise a hand to reach for him.

"Hey…" he said softly, quickly kneeling back on bed, taking her hand swiftly in his. "It's just your mother…" he reassured her. "She loves you very much and is only here to help." He squeezed her hand as she looked back to her mother and Laura weakly smiled again. "Hey, sweetheart," she whispered. "You really have got yourself into a state haven't you?"

Sara blinked hard, seemingly trying to focus but her facial expression didn't change.

Ever so slowly, Laura cautiously reached out and gently took Sara's free hand. Sara flinched slightly but didn't pull away and Laura blew a sigh of relief, her smile broadening as her daughter's fragile fingers clenched around her hand. Grissom smiled too, feeling his own relief spill through his body at the sight of mother and daughter.

"I love you, Sara…" Laura whispered, reaching to a stray strand of hair on Sara's forehead, "…no matter what has happened and, I'm here for you, to help you get better," she finished, sliding the hair behind her daughters ear. "Everything will be alright, I promise."

Grissom released Sara's hand, comfortable that she wasn't going to panic and looked to Laura as he stood again. "Where is…um…you know…" He cocked his head to the door not wanting to say a name to startle Sara. As of yet she didn't know her father was here and he didn't hold any confidence that she would react the same way to him than she had to her mother.

"I don't know," she replied, tightening her grip on Sara's hand. "We had…words and haven't spoken since."

"Oh?" Grissom asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and slipping on his boots.

Laura nodded.

"What kind of words?"

Releasing her daughter's hand, Laura leaned forward and kissed Sara on the forehead. "I'm going to make you some nice hot tea," she said. "Then I can bathe you and get you into some dry, fresh, new clothing, alright?" She awaited a response from her daughter but none came and Sara just closed her eyes on a sharp cough.

Succumbing to a sad sigh, Laura swallowed the dry lump in her throat and stepped back. "I'll be right back," she whispered before turning to Grissom. She cocked her head towards the kitchen. "I'm going to make her some tea," she told him as she walked away and he quickly got the hint to follow her.

They entered the kitchen and she turned to him. "Best we talk in here I think," she said. "Your previous rejection of Thomas being near Sara didn't go unnoticed and I'm trying to understand. You're afraid of her reaction if she sees him, aren't you, or something just as simple as her hearing his name?"

"Yes," Grissom admitted.

"He didn't mean what he said, Gil," she sighed. "And he didn't know what Hank had done…not until after Sara had disappeared. I'm not excusing him but he was angry…drunk…"

The rancher's right brow hitched. "So you know what he said?"

Laura's face contorted a confused look. "You don't?"

Shaking his head, Grissom leaned against the counter. "No…well…just a little, what Sara has muttered given her current state. I know he called her a whore…" he cringed at the memory and his nose curled with bitterness "…and it's not hard to work out he banished her."

She reached to him and placed her hand on his arm. "No, he didn't," she said softly. "He said some things he shouldn't have…Okay, fine, most of what he said he shouldn't have but it was just a drunken, emotional rant." She sighed and pulled her arm back. "You know how he is, Gil. He is a proud man. He was always proud of Sara and he was always proud of you. I realize, no matter how much it pains me knowing what he said to our daughter when he shouldn't have, that he got hurt in all this too. If you were him, how would you feel?"

"So now you are excusing what he said," Grissom mumbled.

"Damn it, Gil!" she snapped. "Are you even listening to me? You are just as stubborn as my husband, you know that?"

The viciousness of her response took Grissom by surprise and he took a step back. Laura didn't show her anger very easily, so he knew she wasn't fooling around.

"I am not excusing what he said, Gil, and I am not excusing what you did either." She slapped her hands to her hips. "You have both done wrong but Thomas can't take back what he said just as you can't take back taking my daughter to bed."

The rancher's mouth popped open a touch, surprised at her words but then as he realized how actually correct she was and the guilt hit him, his head bowed and he looked to his boots.

Laura took a deep shaky breath. "Gil, I've got a couple of ways that I can look at what you did to Sara. One way I can view it is that you knowingly and blatantly seduced her, with no regard to your friendship with my husband or respect for the fact that Sara was a virgin."

Grissom forced himself to look at Laura. "That's not what happened. I didn't….."

"Or…" Laura interrupted, "…I can look at it as two people who fell in love and let their emotions get ahead of their judgment and morality…that's how I have chosen to look at it because I can forgive you that way. Now I can also look at Thomas' offense at being a man who is selfish and unforgiving or I can look at it as a drunken hurt man, who let his emotions get ahead of his morality and judgment and again I choose to see it like that. Do you see what I'm saying?"

Grissom nodded slowly, his head dropping once again. "Yes, I do see what you mean."

Laura stepped forward, lifted a finger to his chin and raised his head. He looked into her eyes, her now tear filled eyes. "I am prepared to forgive. You must also, as must he." She removed her finger. "Are you prepared to give Sara up, let her go?"

Instantly, Grissom shook his head. "Never," he whispered.

"Neither am I," she replied swiftly. "And I'm pretty sure Sara doesn't want to lose her father either, just as much as he doesn't want to lose her. I know in spite of everything that they still love each other very much. Just as much as you love her and I know, that you do love her."

"I do," Grissom confirmed.

"Then, do you hear what I am saying?"

Just as Grissom was about to respond Sara started coughing.

Laura's lips formed a weak smile. "Go check her," she instructed. "I'll get to that tea."

Puffing out his cheeks on a hot breath, Grissom nodded. "Yes, Ma'am," he said, reversing and walking back to the bed. He sat by Sara as her coughing continued and reached for the bowl of water that still sat beside the bed. Ringing out the cloth he passed it over Sara's forehead and then down over each cheek. She was sweating badly again and most definitely was in need of another change of clothing.

"You're going to be alright," he whispered as she gazed at him. "We're going to be alright and I promise everything will work out." Leaning forwards, he kissed her softly on the forehead. She coughed again and averted his gaze as Laura stepped out of the kitchen.

Grissom looked over his shoulder as Laura approached with a cup of tea in hand. "You remember your mother's here?" he asked, returning his attention to Sara as Laura stood beside him. "She arrived a short time ago, you remember?" He left the cloth on her forehead before standing, hoping she would respond.

Sara stared at her mother and nodded on another cough. Grissom smiled and looked to Laura. "She seems to be a little coherent now," he said. "I just hope it lasts."

Smiling Laura sat by her daughter's side, placing the tea down. "Think you can manage a drink, sweetheart?" she asked.

After sucking in a breath Sara nodded again and Laura's smile blossomed.

"She could use a bath and a change of clothing," Grissom told her. "How about I start bringing in Sara's new things? I gather they are still on the coach."

"Yes," Laura said. "And I think a wash and change is a very good idea. I'll stay with her."

Nodding his agreement, Grissom grabbed his coat, pulling it on. "Be right back." He smiled at both women before heading to the door.

His spurs clanked as he descended the few cabin steps and he looked around.

Spotting the coach and Rana and the driver leaning against it, he approached the Sidle workers. He didn't see the captain though and found himself wondering where the ranch owner was.

Rana sensed him approaching and immediately straightened herself out. "Everything alright, Mr Grissom, Sir?" she asked quickly.

"Yeah," he responded, licking his lips. "Just need to get the things inside for Sara."

"Right away, Sir," she replied turning to the coach.

Grissom pointed to the driver. "I don't want you going inside, alright? Just take the boxes to the door. Sara may get startled if she sees you."

"No problem, Sir," the driver replied tipping his hat.

The rancher was about to step forward and help but something drew his attention away and he turned around, looking towards the stable. His eyes narrowed as he tried to focus but he knew who it was walking around the building. The man's stature was unmistakable.

It was Captain Sidle.

After a quick look to the coach and to the cabin, he sucked in a deep cool breath. "You two be alright with the boxes?" he asked, returning his stare to the man in the distance.

"Yes, Sir," both workers replied together.

Grissom gave a quick flex of his arms and made his decision. With a determined stride, he headed towards the captain…

A/N: Hmmm, I see a confrontation a coming…hehehehe. Thanks for all your reviews guys, please keep them coming. More will be up as soon as I can get to writing!