A/N: I am sorry for the late posting but work has consumed me the last few weeks. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.
Thank you so much to my best bud SSC for the beta. She keeps teasing me with a part she is writing but won't let me look at it yet :(
I love your reviews, thank you for all your input guys. Please keep them coming.
I'm afraid the hat is very much on for a chapter or two. I think he is very much in his element right now. Let's see what he's doing to poor Grissom shall we….
Chapter 111
The house became a sudden scene of flustered chaos.
Numerous panicked hands swiped over the dining table to clear it, sending the crockery, glassware and food flying in all directions. The sound of the fine china crashing to the polished wooden floor only added to the din of nervous yelling.
Grissom was carefully hoisted up onto the banquet table, the men working together to place him down as softly as possible. Despite their efforts, the pain was immense. He instantly cried out, agony continuing to wrack through his body.
The white linen which surrounded him was now bright red, thick with his blood. He felt his strength sapping, as if released by the pouring of his blood.
Sara watched on helplessly as the men stood back, her mother's arm around her waist offering what comfort she could. Her body shook with fear, wishing that it could have been her instead.
A crowd of followers gathered in the doorway, their chatter and hushed shock an irritant throughout the room.
David stepped up doing a visual assessment of Grissom before placing his hands on the wound.
The injured rancher immediately screamed, trying to squirm back into the wood beneath him.
"This is bad…" David mumbled looking to all around him.
"Just do something!" Sara shouted.
David took a breath, rolled up his sleeves and looked to the captain. "Can you clear the room? I can't concentrate with all the noise."
"Everybody out!" Nicolas bellowed before the captain even had the opportunity to reply.
He gave a nod of approval to his nephew and Nicolas held his arms up, forcing everyone but family and Brass out of the door. "Now!" he demanded as a few curious stragglers still tried to get a look at what was happening. They got the hint and backed out the door before he closed it.
The reduction of noise was welcoming, but only for a second.
"Thanks," David said to Nicolas as he moved back to the table. He gave the captain another pleading look. "I need you to hold him down so I can find out how deep it goes…"
"Okay," the captain agreed, stepping closer. "Nicolas, Jim…help me…"
Both the captain and Nicolas took an arm each, effectively pinning Grissom to the table. Brass took the ranchers legs, holding them firmly. Although Grissom understood the reasoning why, the pain was white hot and he only wanted to get away.
"Let me go…" Grissom cried, trying to pull himself loose. "Aghhhh…Jesus…" Another cough came but this time, blood spat from his mouth.
Sara nearly swooned, leaning fully against Laura for support.
"Hurry up…" the captain pleaded, "…or he'll do himself more injury…"
Quickly, David placed his hands over the wound again, sliding thumb and finger into the bullet hole.
Grissom shrieked the most agonizing scream now and tried to kick. But his strength was rapidly fading and the effort less than successful. Brass struggled to keep a hold on him. "I'll second that," the sheriff added. "Hurry up…"
"He's hurting him," Sara cried; trying to run to him but Laura grabbed her, holding her firm and strong. "Sara, please…he's trying to help."
After only a few seconds, David stepped back, wiping his forearm over his perspiring forehead. "It's deep," he confirmed. "If we don't get it out he'll die and I…I can't get to it without…without…" He swallowed heavily…
Sara looked on, waiting for an answer.
"Without what?" the captain finally asked.
The young doctor tried to compose himself; never had he had to perform surgery in such conditions. Good thing he was obsessed with his job and had brought his bag with him. What good doctor wouldn't?
"I need my bag. I left it in the hall closet."
The captain nodded to Gregory and the young man got the immediate hint, dashing from the room.
"I'm going to need to cut him…" David continued, "…so I can get in there and I doubt if I can get fingers in far enough…It all depends exactly how deep the bullet is and even then…if I get it out…the damage could be…" he hesitated, "…he could still…"
"Stop!" Sara shouted. Her head roared with David's words.
Laura struggled to hold her daughter. "Thomas…I need help here…" Laura swiftly said to her husband.
Instantly, the captain rushed to help his wife. "Gil!" Sara screamed as her father took her by the waist.
David watched on nervously. Grissom coughed again, spitting up more blood. His face was almost grey now and it was obvious to all that his condition was serious.
"I think we need to get her away from this room," the captain recommended.
"No!" Sara fought to break her father's hold and he could never remember her being so strong. He looked to his wife with very worried eyes.
Laura knew she had to stop her daughters rage. It was not going to help her or Grissom one little bit.
"Sara…" Laura quickly cupped her daughter's cheeks in her hands, "…listen to me and listen now…" Her voice became serious.
Sara spat a sob, her chest rising and falling with frightful exertion.
"Gil is going to die if we don't let David help him, do you hear me?"
Sara's chin quivered uncontrollably.
"What is about to happen…" Laura took a breath, softly running her thumbs over her daughter's dampened cheeks, "…is not something for your eyes. This is something you simply can not watch. For your sake and for his. You can not interfere and if you are here, you will. We must let David try all he can. Do you understand?"
Sara looked almost dazed now. Her eyes slowly looked to the man she loved. He really could die and she realized then, that she actually wasn't helping. Almost dumbly, she nodded, sucking in a shaky breath.
Laura took her hand, holding it tightly. "We're going to wait in the lounge. Okay?"
Again, Sara just nodded but her eyes remained focused on her fiancée until she felt Laura tug at her hand.
"Come on, sweetheart," Laura urged.
She looked to her mother then back to Grissom, who was squirming again, trying to sit up. He managed to raise his head only for it to slam back against the table due to his lack of strength and the pain. Sara held her free hand over her mouth and nodded allowing Laura to guide her from the room.
The captain opened the door and all the onlookers watched on, parting a path for Sara and Laura to walk through. Catherine hurried to join the two women, offering her support and joined them as they walked towards their destination.
"Everyone else, time to go home," the captain said bluntly. "My servants will show you out." The captain nodded to Rana and the rest of his workers who were huddled in their own little group, awaiting news.
A few grumbles came but everyone began to disperse and Gregory ran through the crowd with David's bag.
The captain ushered his nephew back into the dining room and closed the door behind him.
Gregory was swift to hand David his bag and the doctor placed it on a chair by the table, quickly opening it.
The captain hovered over Grissom as the rancher spotted David rummaging through his bag. Grissom's eyes widened when the doctor pulled out a mean looking scalpel and a large pair of metallic tweezers.
David placed his implements on the table, his eyes passing over the wound again. "I'm going to try one more time to see if I can get it out without the tools…"
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
On shakily legs, Sara stumbled into the lounge, supported by both her mother and Catherine.
Laura guided her to the sofa and helped her sit. She then moved to the bar, pouring brandy into a glass. She rushed back to her daughter and held out the glass.
"Drink this, it will help," Laura advised.
Sara's eyes were downcast, staring at the floor. She reached up blindly and held her hand out for the glass.
But then, a blood curdling scream boomed down the corridor and her head shot up. Her entire face crumpled now and Laura quickly handed Catherine the glass before pulling her daughter into a tight hug.
Another scream from Grissom came and Sara sobbed relentlessly into her mother's shoulder. Laura held onto her, as tightly as she could, just wishing she could offer some comforting words. Alas, given the situation, she couldn't find any.
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
David pulled back from the rancher as Grissom writhed beneath him once more. He wiped his blood covered fingers on a cloth from his bag. "It's no good…"
Without any warning, Grissom's arm shot out, grabbed onto the captain's jacket and he yanked the older man down to him. The captain looked stunned as Grissom managed to lift his head, using his jacket as leverage.
Grissom's glassy eyes glared right into his mentor's. "Hit me," he growled firmly, desperately.
The captain blinked. "What?"
Grissom's eyes drifted closed before popping open again. Any color from his face was almost gone now. "Hit…me…." His teeth gritted as the pain became overwhelming.
Lightly shaking his head, the captain stared at his friend. "I don't understand…"
A gasp trembled from Grissom's lips as he swallowed, trying to fight back the blood. "I can't take any more…Hit me, God damn it!" He tried to take a swipe at the captain but his punch was just too lacking in any kind of force to even have an impact.
But, the captain got it now. Grissom knew exactly what was coming and he was admitting he couldn't lie there and take it. "I've got a much safer idea," he said and dashed away to the bar in the corner of the room. Everyone watched on as he grabbed a bottle of bourbon and hurried back to the table.
The captain held up the bottle so the rancher could see it. "Thirsty?" he asked popping the cap.
Grissom eyed the bottle and although drinking wasn't particularly on his mind at that point he got the message. "Do it," he groaned opening his mouth.
"Someone help keep his head up," the captain directed with urgency leaning over the rancher.
Brass quickly shifted and squashed himself up to the table behind Grissom. He gently slipped his hands under Grissom's upper arms and carefully pulled him back a touch so his head rested upon his thighs.
The captain didn't dawdle and edged the open bottle towards Grissom's lips, hurriedly tipping the amber liquid directly into his waiting mouth.
Grissom swallowed as the captain poured and after five big glugs, the older man pulled the bottle back as the bourbon spilled from Grissom's mouth to drip down his chin. Closing his eyes as his throat burned the rancher waved a sluggish hand. "More…" he requested on a slur.
Thankfully the captain knew Grissom wasn't a humongous drinker and prayed to God that this would hit his system hard and fast. They needed him to pass out before he bled to death.
Taking another half a dozen large swigs Grissom coughed and felt as his eyes beg roll. The loss of blood more than likely aided to his disorientation but as the room began to spin around him he smiled, the pain disappearing even if just for a few brief seconds. He leaned forwards and managed to catch the captain's eyes with his own.
"Tell Sara, I love her."
Grissom's eyes closed and his head lolled back, settling sturdily upon the sheriffs thighs.
All became silent and the tick tick tick of the mantel clock carried an eerie aura around the room.
David quickly moved, slipping his fingers to Grissom's neck to check his pulse. He then lifted the rancher's eye lids one by one. "He's out…" he sighed looking to the captain.
The captain offered a nod. "I'm so glad he can't hold his liquor."
"I don't know how long we'll have," David said.
"Then let's get on with it. We just need to hope that he doesn't wake up…"
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
Sara marched back and forth by the window of the lounge. She had already demolished the entire thumb nail on her right hand and now she was working on the left.
It had been over an hour since she had heard Grissom screaming last. Then all went deathly silent. She looked at the mantel clock at least every minute and with every second that ticked by, she felt more and more sick.
Catherine had departed for home at Laura's request a short time ago. Sara's agitation was growing and that was simply something she had to deal with alone. It was a familiar affair, no one else's.
Laura watched her every step but kept silent. There wasn't much she could say to quash her daughter's pain.
Sara huffed and looked at her mother. "I need to know what's happening," she said. "It's been too long…"
Pushing herself up, Laura sighed and held out her hand.
Sara was surprised her mother gave in so easily but with urgency she took her hand and allowed herself to be led from the room.
They quickly approached the dining room but when they got there the door was open and the room was empty.
With her mouth wide, Sara stepped into the room. She swallowed the huge lump in her throat as she looked around. It looked like a massacre had happened. There was blood everywhere as well as a few needles, lines of thread, blood soaked towels and bandages. Grissom's jacket, vest, shirt and tie lay upon the floor, totally ruined and discarded.
Drearily, she walked to the table noticing a bullet lying upon it, encased in a pool of thick, gooey blood. Her lips twitched with nerves as she spun around to face her mother.
"Where is he?" she gasped.
Laura shook her head, she didn't know.
Sara was quick to move and whisked passed her mother before she could even try and stop her.
"Sara, wait," Laura pleaded, hurrying after her.
She refused to listen and rushed from the room. She didn't get very far though for she when she reached the base of the stairs, her father was on his way down, wiping his bloody hands on a towel. He stopped and looked down at her.
Picking up her dress, she slowly climbed up to him and her teary eyes looked into his. He looked exhausted but he offered her a tiny smile as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Is he….." she couldn't quite ask the question whether it be good or bad.
"David got the bullet out. He's alive…"
A huge sigh of relief spilled from her lungs and her whole body dropped as some of the tension disappeared. Laura came up behind her as the captain continued.
"He's very sick, Sara," he said honestly, squeezing her shoulder. "I'm not going to lie to you. David might have removed the bullet and managed to sew him up but he is yet to wake and…"
"Don't!" Sara cried, holding up a hand and looking away. "Please…don't say that…"
With a sigh, the captain reached out and tenderly slipped his finger under her chin, raising her head so their eyes met again. He gave her the most loving smile he could muster. "He will fight. I know at least that…"
She sniffed hard. "I want to see him."
The captain exchanged a look with his wife knowing he couldn't deny her request as Sara would by no means, take no for an answer. He nodded.
He held out his arm and Sara took it. Laura followed as the captain escorted his daughter up the stairs and took her to one of the guest bedrooms.
The door was open and the trio walked inside.
Sara saw David hovering over her fiancée, checking his breathing. He looked up upon hearing their entrance and stepped towards them.
"Go…" the captain whispered to his daughter, releasing her arm.
She nodded and slowly approached the bed as David went to talk to her parents.
Sitting in the chair by the bed, she wiped away a tear as she looked over his pale complexion and the bandaging over his abdomen. The bed sheet came up to his waist, his upper half exposed to the world no doubt so the doctor could get access to the wound should he need to. His eyes were closed, his face bearing a painful grimace. He almost looked like he was frowning. Cautiously, she reached for his hand.
"The boys and the sheriff have gone to clean up a little," David informed the Sidle's.
Laura wrapped her arms around herself as she witnessed Sara reaching for Grissom's hand. She gave the doctor her full and undivided attention. "What's his condition?" she asked.
"Serious," David answered unrolling his shirt sleeves. "The bullet was deep and it took me a while to get it out."
"What are his chances?"
David shook his head. "I don't know. He's lost a lot of blood." He looked to the bed. "The next seventy two hours will be crucial. If he gets through those…" He scratched his head, looking back to the couple. "Someone will need to stay with him constantly. Keep him hydrated and check his wound every few hours. If he shows any sign of bleeding, any at all, someone must come and get me. Day or night…"
Laura nodded.
Pulling out his watch, David checked the time. "I would stay longer if I could but, as my wife is only a month away from the birth now, I need to check on her."
"We understand," Laura said. "And we thank you for what you have done."
David tried to smile. "I'll be back first thing in the morning. I will bring some medicine with me."
"Thank you," the captain spoke now. "Do you want to wash up before you go? I can give you a change of clothes…"
The doctor looked himself over. He was indeed a sight. "That might be a good idea."
"Come this way." The captain gestured to the door and David walked with him from the room.
Sara's squeezed her fiancées hand. "Quite a way to end the party, huh?" she whispered and closed her eyes when she felt her mother's hands cupping her shoulders.
Mother and daughter just watched the crippled rancher sleep for a while until Sara finally spoke.
"Do we know when he might wake up?" she asked.
"No, Sweetheart. I fear that decision may be in the hands of God right now," Laura returned as softly as she could.
Again Sara's eyes closed and she squeezed his hand just a little tighter.
The captain returned after leaving David to change. He stepped up to the bed and cleared his throat. "I need to…" he hesitated, blowing out a breath, "…get the mess downstairs sorted out. So much blood to…" He stopped when he heard Sara sob.
Laura squeezed his arm. "Just go," she whispered.
He nodded sadly and left again.
"Sara?"
Slowly, Sara turned her head and faced her mother.
"You should maybe think about washing up, changing your clothes…" Laura advised. "It's getting very late."
"I'm not leaving him," Sara replied.
Laura knelt by her daughter now. "Honey…" She reached her hand to Sara's hair, slipping a loose strand behind her ear, "…I'm not saying you can't sit with him, okay? I'm just suggesting you change and get the blood off your hands and face. You really don't want to stay like that..."
Sara looked over her hands, slipping the one she had in her fiancées away from him.
A knock came from behind and Rana stood in the doorway. "Anything I can do, Ma'am?" the housekeeper asked.
Pushing herself up, Laura held her hand out to her daughter. "I'll stay with him until you get back…"
Although Sara didn't want to leave, she knew her mother was right. She was a mess. She nodded glumly and allowed her mother to pull her form the chair.
"Rana, escort Sara to a room and get her some hot water so she can wash. Then help her change," Laura instructed her worker.
"Yes, Ma'am," Rana agreed wrapping an arm around the young heiress when she reached her.
Sara allowed herself to be lead down the corridor but her lack of concentration was evident when she tried to turn into her own room.
Rana pounced quickly, closing the door. "No, no, Miss. You really don't want to go in there. The sheriff be sorting that out real soon. We be using the room next to your cousin's…"
It immediately struck Sara that McKeen's body was still in there and she shuddered. The fact that that man, whether dead or alive, was still under their roof, made bile creep up her throat.
"Come, Miss," Rana advised with urgency now noting Sara's change in temperament. "Let's get you sorted while you're still able to stand…"
***His face had become frozen, as it were, in a very curious look: an intent look, deepening into a frown of dislike and distrust, not even unmixed with fear. With this strange expression on him his thoughts had wandered away***
*** - Extract taken from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (paragraph adapted).
A/N: Sniff. Will GSR survive? Bad hat! Reviews please…