A/N: I was determined to try and post before I go to Chicago to see Mr. Petersen in his play and I'm happy that I have managed it because I fly out tomorrow, yay :)

Time for Sara to be strong for her man and we all know how tough Sara can be. Thanks for the continued support and reviews. You guys are great. Please keep your thoughts coming.

No beta, so all boo boo's are well and truly my error. Evil hat did try and sneak in a little bit on this one but I think he is way too distracted with 'It's All For You' right now.

Anyway, I will shush and leave you to read. Enjoy :)

Chapter 114

Entering the lounge with her parent's right behind her, Sara spotted Brass standing by the window, looking out at the estate.

He sensed their entrance and kinked his head in their direction. "Good morning," he offered with an air of uncertainty, turning to face them.

Swiftly approaching the lawman, Sara nodded. "If that's what you would like to call it," she retorted.

The sheriff looked uncomfortable and puffed a breath, working his fingers into the collar of his shirt to pop the top button. He tried to give her a smile. "How's Gil?" he asked, evident concern in his question.

Sara shrugged, lowering herself onto the sofa. "He hasn't moved since he was put to rest and he has a high fever."

"But he's holding on?" Brass responded, moving to sit in a chair opposite the sofa.

Sara offered a somber nod as her mother sat beside her. Her father hovered behind them, gripping his fingers over the back of the furniture.

"So, what do you want from me, Jim?" Sara questioned. "I need be with Gil, just in case he needs me."

The sheriff pulled paper and a pencil from his pocket. "I need to know what happened last night, Sara. Your account of events"…

Laura gave her daughter a soft smile as Sara looked to her, taking her hand to hold it tightly. "It's okay. Just him the truth. I have."

Trying to relax, Sara sighed, giving a nod. "Gil and I had taken a walk. I came back to the house to freshen up."

Brass took notes as she talked. "Do you know what time that was?" he asked.

Sara shook her head. "I honestly have no idea."

Licking his lips, Brass gave a single nod and a flick of his hand. "It's not important, carry on… "

Taking a breath, Sara continued. "I came up to my room while Gil went back to join the party." She pulled her hand away from her mother's and began playing with her fingers. "I needed to change…" A small smirk formed on her lips. "One of the workers accidently spilled wine on me but I didn't really care. It had been such a nice night." Sara sighed now, remembering Gil's brave advances…his kiss... "I straightened out my hair and heard the door. I thought it was Rana but…I was wrong."

"The Colonel?" Brass asked.

Sara nodded, her gut tightening at the remembrance of him being back in the same room as her…near her...touching her. It made her feel physically sick. Placing her hand to her mouth she coughed.

"Thomas, can you organize some water, please?" Laura asked, peering to her husband over her shoulder.

The captain swiftly nodded and moved away to grab a workers attention.

The coughing died down and Sara attempted to regain her composure, accepting a handkerchief from her mother and quickly wiping her mouth.

"Are you alright?" Brass asked, tilting forwards in his chair.

Sara carried on without answering his question. "He had one aim and one aim only." She looked Brass dead in the eye. "He had come to finish me off. I could see it in his eyes. He blamed me for what had happened to him and for the loss of his wealth."

"What did you do?"

Looking down at her hands, Sara took a heavy swallow. "I tried to keep him talking...tried to move around so he couldn't get his hands on me…"

Laura shuffled a little closer to her daughter and the captain reappeared, walking around the sofa, giving the sheriff a sturdy look of warning as he held out a glass of water. He certainly didn't want Sara upsetting again.

"Thank you," Sara said, taking the glass and sipping from the contents.

She looked back to the sheriff. "I knew Gil would realize I'd been gone too long and hoped he would come and see where I was. Well…" She sniffed hard, "…I wanted that at the time but now…If he hadn't come…He wouldn't be in the state he is now…"

"What happened, was not your fault," Laura insisted.

Sara took another sip of water and sighed.

"Please continue," Brass requested.

Sara gave a dry smile and handed the glass back to her father. He cupped the glass and sat on the arm to the sofa.

"I tried to run and he grabbed me." She closed her eyes as flashes of the event passed before her. "I cried out and Gil must have been on his way up and heard me because he came running through the door. Then…" Her eyes popped open as she fought the pang of tears forming in her eyes. "…the colonel pulled out a revolver and held it to my head."

Laura retook her daughter's hand. "Take a breath, Sara," Laura advised, feeling her daughter shaking.

Nodding quickly, Sara did as her mother advised and sucked in several needy breaths. "Gil tried to talk him around but the next thing, the colonel is pointing the gun at him and…I bit him." Her eyes twinkled for a second. "I didn't really think about anything apart from the fact he was pointing the gun at Gil so I grabbed his arm and bit down on it, as hard as I could."

Brass nodded, continuing to write his notes. "Quite brave considering the circumstances."

"Not really," Sara argued. "He would have killed both of us. It was fight or die."

"I understand," the sheriff replied honestly. "Then what?"

Sara tightened her grip in her mother's. "I ended up on the floor, banged my head I think." She ran her free hand over her forehead. "I'm not quite sure if I lost consciousness or not, it all happened so quickly. When I finally managed to push myself up Gil was rolling around on the floor with the colonel. And then…" She swallowed hard again, "…the gun went off."

"This is when Gil was shot?" Brass asked softly.

"Yes," Sara barely whispered. "I thought it was over then, for me, for us. Gil was on the floor, bleeding, and that monster…that killer…was just staring at me. He would have surely finished me if mother hadn't arrived."

Brass cleared his throat, shuffling a touch nervously but he kept his eye upon the woman answering his questions. "Tell me what happened then…"

"Then…" She sniffed hard, doing her best to keep it together, "…then he fell to the floor with a knife sticking out of his back. Mother was stood behind him."

The sheriff gave Laura a quick flick of his eyes before asking his next question. "She stabbed him?"

"You already know that, Jim," the captain warned.

Brass gave the captain an unappreciative look. "I need to get Sara's version also, Captain. It's my job. It's what I do and I need to be one hundred percent clear on this. I know it's hard, for everyone but no matter how much of a bastard he may have been, a man is dead and I have an obligation from the state to ensure the matter is dealt with correctly."

The captain rolled his eyes and stood with a purpose. "That son of a bitch deserves no obligation from anyone," he shouted.

"Father, please!" Sara screeched shocking both of her parents as well as Brass. "Just…leave it be. Just…let me finish…I need to get this over with so he can be gone from our lives forever. Do you understand that?"

Bowing his head, the captain nodded. "I'll…wait outside…"

Sara shuffled around to watch her father as he somberly left the room. Tears formed in her eyes as he closed the door. She sighed deeply, bowing her head. The last thing she wanted to do was upset him.

"He'll be alright," Laura soothed, squeezing her daughter's right knee. "It just upsets him…"

Looking up, Sara nodded. "I know. I didn't mean to…"

Now Laura smiled. "He knows that. Just…" She nodded to Brass, "…finish what you were saying."

Taking a breath, Sara then licked her lips. "The answer to your question, Jim, is yes. My mother stabbed him. She was saving me…"

The left side of Brass's mouth curled a tiny smile. "Anything else you would like to add?" he asked.

"What happens now?" Sara asked with haste, giving her mother a nervous glance. "Mother's actions were in self-defense, she won't be in trouble for this will she?"

"No," brass responded. Slipping his paper and pencil back into his pocket. "I still need to speak with…" he hesitated, but continued then with confidence, "…Gil when he is well enough. But the accounts I already have are enough to prove the actions were warranted."

Sara shook her head. "I don't know how long it's going to be before you can speak with Gil. If…you can speak with him…" Her eyes downcast and she fiddled with her fingers again.

Brass rose from his seat with a broad smile. "I'm confident he'll recover."

Sara's head shot up. "Are you?" she questioned.

He nodded. "I am. After all, he has you waiting."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Sara opened the door and immediately spotted her father pacing back and forth in the hallway. His fists were firmly clamped behind his back and he looked immensely troubled. Stepping from the room Sara looked to her mother and Brass. "Can you give me a minute?" she asked. "I'd like to speak with him alone."

Laura squeezed her daughters shoulder and offered her a smile. She retreated back into the living room with the sheriff and closed the door.

Picking up her dress, Sara slowly approached her father.

"Father…"

The captain froze, his back to her, his pacing ceasing. An audible breath echoed through the house and he slowly turned to face his daughter.

She drew close to him, inspecting the troubled look upon his face. "Father…I didn't mean to shout at you. I'm sorry," she said, placing a tender hand upon his arm.

He tried to smile. "No, Sara, I'm sorry."

Her eyes narrowed. "Why are you sorry?" she asked, confused.

"Because I let you down, again. A father should protect his daughter and I wasn't there for you." Turning away from her he sighed.

Sara felt her heart swell and rounded him. He looked her in the eye and she smiled. Slowly, she lifted her hand and placed it against his right cheek. "There was nothing you could have done. No one expected what happened. You were not responsible, Father. Plus…" She withdrew her hand, "…I have Gil to protect me now, remember? And he did."

"A father will never stop looking out for his daughter," he countered.

She clicked her lips together and smirked. "I don't doubt it."

Now he smiled.

"But now it's finished," Sara continued. "It is over. We move on, all of us, including me. I have to be strong for Gil and you have to be strong for your family. We all need to be strong for each other. No more regrets. We live for now, for tomorrow. Not for the past."

The captain inhaled a heavy breath, his chest swelling. He was proud of his daughter. Holding out his arm her urged her to take. "Okay."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

The day passed by slowly for most.

Sara spent most of her day by Grissom's bedside, just watching him. Replenishing the cloth on his head when needed. Hoping his eyes would open. She ate when her mother asked, even if she only managed part of the food she was offered. Her appetite was still evading her for the most part. But, at least she tried.

She had retrieved Grissom's book, intent on reading to him but she still hadn't quite managed the heart to do so. The memories it stirred just flooded her with so much emotion, she hadn't quite managed to speak a word from the novel yet.

David had left the Grove around 11am, spending several hours with Grissom to monitor his condition. Later that afternoon a package had arrived from the Doctor containing a bottle of morphine and a note explaining it should be rubbed into Grissom's wound should he be in desperate need of pain relief.

It was now well past midnight. Sara, still remained by Grissom's side, donned in her nightgown and robe with a blanket on her lap. Laura had attempted to usher her to bed but as Grissom's fever had raged further in the past few hours, she had refused.

Laura didn't have the heart or the energy to argue so she simply brought them both blankets and made herself comfortable in a recliner in the corner of the bedroom. She wasn't about to leave her daughter alone.

Everyone else had retired to their respective rooms. All feeling the exertion of the past days happenings.

Sara watched her fiancé through drowsy eyes, listening to the tick…tick…tick of the mantel clock. She'd almost got the noise embedded in her brain now. A tiny yawn escaped her lips as she struggled to keep her eyes open.

Then suddenly, Grissom's hand spasmed, his fingers flickering and his eyes slowly fluttered open. A tiny gasp of air slipped from Sara's lips as she caught a glimpse of his amazing blue eyes. But, her joy was short lived as her finance's hand shot out to hers and he grabbed her so tightly Sara actually screamed in pain.

The cry woke Laura and after a shake of her head, she scurried from her chair and rushed towards the bed.

"Gah!" Grissom screamed, his face contorting in absolute pain. His eyes closed tightly shut again but his hand didn't relent one little bit upon Sara's.

Laura's hands swiftly moved over his. "Sara, don't panic," she urged, attempting to pry Grissom's fingers from her daughters. "Gil…let her go…"

Sara began panting, the pain becoming intense. "He's…hurting me," Sara wept. "Why is he hurting me? What's happening?"

"Sara, he's…" Laura continued to pull at his fingers, putting all her strength into the task. She managed to pull two away, "…he's in agony and he's in shock, he doesn't know what he's doing. He doesn't mean it. He's grabbing out for anything he can…"

Clamping her eyes closed, Sara did her upmost to will the pain cursing through her hand away. He doesn't mean it…he doesn't mean it…

"Please hurry," she begged her mother, a tear now slipping down her left cheek.

With one last surge of strength, Laura managed to pull Grissom's remaining fingers away and his arm fell limply to his side for a second before he suddenly yanked it up and wrapped it firmly around his mid-section. "Agghhhh…." he cried, trying to roll onto his side but he couldn't quite make it.

Laura grabbed Sara's arms and hauled her to the feet and away from the bed. "Keep your distance," she advised. "He might lash out again."

"I don't understand what's happening," she sniveled, holding her now injured hand against her chest.

Swiftly, Laura flattened her palm against Grissom chest, bravely taking his arm and pulling it away from his stomach. "Gil, please try not to move," she pleaded as his face formed another painful grimace. "You'll tear your stitches."

He cried out again and with urgency Laura felt his forehead. She shook her head. "He's on fire…"

Sara watched on as Laura literally whipped the sheet away which was now only covering his legs and threw it onto the floor. "Sara, go and get your father and the morphine David sent. I think we may need someone to go and fetch David also." She looked over her shoulder. "I fear he has an infection and unless we can keep him calm, he's going to rupture his wound. If that happens, we'll need a doctor."

Returning her attention to her task Laura went for the bandage covering Grissom's injury but he kicked out and caught her with his knee. He didn't hit her hard but she stumbled backwards and away from the bed.

Sara hadn't moved. Everything seemed to be spinning. It was all so surreal. He was peaceful, resting and now this? But then she remembered David's words and what he'd told her might happen when Grissom woke.

Straightening herself out, Laura noticed Sara faced had paled but she needed assistance. "Sara!" Laura shouted, moving to her daughter and giving her a light shake.

Slowly, Sara's eyes moved to catch her mother's. "Please go and get help now…"

Another cry from Grissom came and he slammed his arm down so hard, his fist smashed into the bedside table causing both women to jump. The bowl of water which sat upon the furniture tumbled to the hardwood floor and shattered.

The smashing of the porcelain snapped Sara from her daze and with her heart wildly beating, she turned and ran from the room.

She ran, as fast as her legs would carry her, down the corridor towards her parent's room. Upon reaching it, she forcefully banged upon the door with her good hand. "Father!" she shouted. "Father!"

A moment later, the door opened and a rather stunned Captain Sidle appeared, fastening the belt on his robe. "Sara?" he questioned.

She grabbed his arm. "Come quick, Gill is having an attack," she stammered. "He woke up…he's in agony. Mother says we need the morphine and someone needs to go and get David."

"Wait there," the captain immediately responded without even questioning his daughter. He disappeared, returning a few seconds later with the bottle of morphine in his hand. He took her arm. "Come on…"

They quickly moved back down the corridor and the captain stopped by Nicolas and Gregory's room. He thumped his fist into the woodwork in order to wake them.

"Come on boys!" the captain shouted as his attempt to get them to the door wasn't as quick as he would have liked.

Seconds later, the door opened and Nicolas yawned, he'd obviously been woken. "What's going on?" he asked sleepily.

"Get dressed and get into town. Right now," the captain requested. "I need you to bring David."

Nicolas shook his head. "Why?"

"Because Gil may very well need him. Just go, lad and hurry up."

Now the younger man nodded, evidently swallowing when his eyes passed over how scared Sara looked. "Okay…"

Giving his nephew a nod back, the captain ushered Sara back towards Grissom's room and just as they reached it, a cry of pain cut through the current silence of the house.

Sara winced upon hearing the plea and as she entered the room, her mother was hovering over Grissom, trying to keep him still but she wasn't having much success.

The captain was quickly by his wife's side, eyes wide as he saw the evident pain Grissom was in. Laura looked over her shoulder. "I need you to keep him still so I can get the dressing off. Did you bring the morphine?"

He held up the bottle and she swiftly took it, stepping away, placing it on the floor out of Grissom's path, just in case he should lash out and end up smashing it.

As Grissom cried out again, the captain took his arms. "Gil, try and relax," he attempted to soothe. "You're only going to hurt yourself."

Of course the rancher wasn't listening, the pain was just too much for him. He fought to break free from the captain and the older man looked to his wife with fearful eyes. "You better hurry up and…" He gritted his teeth, amazed at Grissom's strength given his condition, "…do what you need to do. I'm struggling here…"

Luckily, Gregory ran in, joining Sara as she watched her fiancé's agony.

The captain spotted him. "Help me, Gregory," he requested. "Take his right arm and hold him down."

Gregory squeezed Sara's arm before swiftly moving around the bed to aid his uncle.

Sara chewed down on her thumb nail desperate to help. "Can I do anything?" she asked as her mother began peeling away the dressing on Grissom's wound.

Laura shook her head, pulling the bandage away. But then she looked up. "Maybe try talking to him, you might be able to get through to him but don't get too close."

Taking a deep breath, Sara stepped closer. Grissom continued to squirm, gasping, sweat pooling down his face now.

"Gil…" Sara began just hoping he could hear her, "…please try not to fight. We are trying to help you."

He cried out again and Sara fought the sob in her throat.

"Gil, please…you need to calm down."

"It hurts!" he suddenly shouted, his eyes springing open.

Sara braved moving right to the bed and she took another breath as she reached for his hand and tightly squeezed it. She prayed he wouldn't do the same to her right hand as he had done to her left. But she needed to hold him, support him.

He coughed, looking right at her.

"I know it hurts and we're going to try and make it stop, okay?"

His breathing got heavier and heavier by the second and she wasn't quite sure if he understood her or not as he didn't respond. But at least he stopped struggling for a second.

That however was short lived as Laura reached the final bit of dressing covering his wound and it was stuck down good, the blood all dried, clinging to his tender flesh.

She tugged on it.

"Agghhhh!" Grissom screamed, trying to sit up, releasing Sara's hand. Both Gregory and the captain pinned him back down by his shoulders and Sara did sob now.

"We don't have time to soak this," Laura gasped. "So I'm going to have to pull it off." She glanced to her husband. "It might tear the wound."

Now Sara looked panicked, knowing how much extra pain that would cause him. She really couldn't bear to see him hurting anymore. But then her eyes caught the bottle on the mantel. The bottle David had given her. Rushing across the room she grabbed it and returned to the bed.

"Lift his head," she asked her father who looked at her confused. She held up the bottle. "If we can get him to drink this, it might calm him down, give him some pain relief until mother can induce the morphine. David said he's used it before in similar situations…"

The captain nodded. "Anything's worth a shot," he responded, shifting to slip his hands under Grissom's head.

"Gil…" Sara pleaded, holding up the bottle.

He gasped painfully but managed to look at her again.

"I need you to drink this, it will help you. You drank before, remember? It helps with the pain…Can you try?" She really didn't want to have to force him if she could help it.

Grissom managed to nod and Sara felt the tiniest amount of relief washing over her. He was being responsive….

Carefully, the captain raised the ranchers head, just enough to ensure he wouldn't choke when he drank. Sara quickly popped the cork on the bottle and leaned over the man she loved. She placed a gentle hand under his chin and edged the rim of the bottle towards his lips.

"What's in that?" the captain asked, just before she poured the liquid into his mouth.

Sara glanced at the bottle. "David said it was a mixture of alcohol and opium."

Now the captain frowned. "Not too much," he advised. "We don't want to overdose him. That could be quite a lethal mix."

The worry on Sara's face grew but she knew this was the only chance they had to try and calm him. Simple talking just wasn't going to cut it. He had made a similar decision for her, now it was her turn do what was best for him.

*** - "Perfectly still and silent, and not even fallen back in her chair, she sat under his hand, utterly insensible; with her eyes open and fixed upon him, and with that last expression looking as if it were carved or branded into her forehead. So close was her hold upon his arm, that he feared to detach himself lest he should hurt her; therefore he called out loudly for assistance without moving." ***

*** - Extract taken from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A/N: Poor Griss :( So much pain. He needs some good old sex, that's what he needs. Lol. Not sure he's up to it at the moment though. Let's hope he takes the liquer and the infection doesn't kill him. That wouldn't be very good... :/

Have a great day!