A/N: Ooh, do I hear the patter of tiny feet? I think things might be about to get a little intense. Will Evil Hat show up? He's been away from a while hasn't he? Am I that mean? :P How about a vote? Yes or no to eviiiiiilll? Lol.

As always, thank you to calim for your great input and beta. You are solid as a rock baby.

Chapter 168

October 7th 1860

It had been a long and tiring seven weeks for Sara. She thanked the Lord, every single day that there had been no more serious cramp scares or complications, but she wasn't thankful for the sleepless nights, ever painful back, swollen ankles, and looking like an elephant. She was huge and couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her feet. Well, at least, in a standing position. Her husband trying to massage them didn't count.

Hearing him mumble, she glanced over her shoulder from her position by the window, seeing him roll and drop an arm into the empty space where she was supposed to be. He'd be fully awake in a few seconds. That never failed to happen and, lately, it had happened a lot which made her feel guilty that his sleep was suffering because of her.

At least he'd cut down on his work hours with the permission of her father ever since her scare back in August. Well, more his insistence. Now he only worked about half the hours around the ranch which gave him more time to figure out her mood swings. It was tiring for her. She could only imagine how he felt dealing with her rage then tears then just wanting to be left alone. But he never got angry or took it personally. Instead he'd patiently sit there and take it, waiting on her hand and foot, letting her know he was there should she need anything.

Marcia had been wonderful. Sara had grown quite fond of her and her willingness to share whatever she knew. From birthing practices and breathing techniques to a comforting ear or a loving hug, she was great at calming Sara down and getting her to relax with herbal remedies and stories of her own children.

Grissom, however, was becoming more and more anxious. After listening to what would happen when Sara went into labor, he'd become queasy. And when Laura insisted that he wouldn't be allowed in when everything started because it wasn't appropriate for him to be there, he got mad. He knew every single inch of his wife's body and to not be there at her most crucial time when she needed him most, did not sit well with him.

But the two of them kept their own quiet council on the subject. Sara wanted him there. He wanted to be there. They'd let the subject lie. For now.

Sara's birthday had come and gone with little fuss, something she'd insisted upon. Grissom hadn't liked the idea but let her have her way. She only wanted a quiet, lazy day with him leading into dinner and, if the mood struck and her body cooperated, a little love. Which was a challenge all its own.

Positioning was very difficult, her size and mood swings not helping. But she soon found that, if she wasn't in the mood, she was more than content with her new craving: chocolate. She couldn't get enough and he was more than willing to supply what she needed. That made him happy so, in turn, she was happy as well. Besides they knew, once the baby came, they could celebrate all they wanted.

Seeing him sit up and flip back the covers, Sara shuffled around a little in the chair, watching as he got out of bed, stretched and lit a candle. She heard him yawn as he headed her way and smiled as he reached her.

"Good morning," he said softly, bending and gently whisking his lips over hers as her hand raised to clasp his cheek.

He asked no questions as to why she wasn't sleeping and she made no quarrel that he'd gotten up. This was their routine now and both just dealt with it.

"Hi," she replied quietly.

Smiling, he dropped his hand to her tummy and rubbed. "Feeling okay?" he asked, his voice gentle and caring. Lazily blinking, Sara nodded. "Get much sleep?"

"A few hours," she answered honestly. "Little ones been moving a lot and it's been a little painful."

"I thought you said you were okay," he argued with a frown.

"I am, Gil," she countered. "I'm used to this. She's just being a little more frisky than normal." His frown deepened but as her hand covered his, his expression lightened a little. "I'm okay," she insisted.

Lips twitching he moved to the back of the chair, hands dropping to her shoulders and he began massaging, smiling as she groaned and leaned back into him.

"Good?" he asked.

"Very," she said on a long and satisfied sigh, her neck working in a circle, his touch just hitting all the right spots.

"I have to go out and help repair the stable roof today before the cold really sets in. What have you got planned while I'm doing that?"

Sara snickered. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe a very long walk or a ride and then a little swimming in the lake." She felt his hands stop moving and turned to look up at him with a grin.

"Very funny," he chided.

"What do you think I'm going to do?" she asked but continued before he could answer. "I'll sit then struggle to get up to do something, but I'll probably forget what that was before I've done it and then sit back down."

His eyebrows rose. "Sounds exciting."

Her eyes rolled. "I'm getting very tired of being tired, Gil."

"I know," he sighed, taking her hand and slowly pulling her up to him, wrapping his arms around her. "But not long left now."

Sliding her arms up his back, Sara laid her head upon his chest. "I hope not."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Just before lunchtime, Sara sat out on the veranda with Laura, her cheek resting against a fist and her eyes staring out over the garden. The day had started reasonably warm and sunny but the incoming grey clouds spoke of a temperature drop. Winter was coming and that worried her. Bringing a child into the world was difficult enough but having them start out when the snow was piled high and ice hung from the leaves seemed like a formidable task.

"Are you all right, honey?" Laura asked.

"Huh?" Sara mumbled, glancing at her mother, noticing the knitting needles in her hands were still busily working. Laura was the queen of knitting and Sara wondered if she'd ever be like that. So far in her life, she hadn't really taken to the expected feminine tasks. Maybe when she was older. Blinking, she shook her head. Why was she even thinking about this? Pretty much proved how exciting her life was at present.

"Yes, Mother," Sara answered. "A little chilly, I guess. The wind has just started to pick up because I can see the leaves blowing across the garden."

Laura put her knitting down and stood. "I'm going to get you a shawl."

Sara smiled as her mother rushed into the house then yawned. A nap seemed like a really good idea right then. Thoughts of laying her head down on the table were interrupted by a quick burning in her stomach. She grimaced then growled in frustration as she pushed herself to her feet.

"Just can't give Mama five minutes peace can you?" she sighed, rubbing her tummy.

Closing her eyes, she stretched her back. Boy did it hurt all of a sudden and worse than usual. If that was even possible. Maybe getting up wasn't such a great idea but, just as she was about to move back to her seat, a cramp so hot and powerful hit her stomach. Her eyes shot open in terror and before she knew it, her legs buckled.

"Aghhh," she cried, crumbling to her knees, arms coiling around her stomach as the pain intensified.

Attempting to breathe, Sara tried to focus, but she just couldn't seem to see straight. Another hot and furious cramp came and she wheezed, feeling a tear trickle down her cheek as her eyes began to water.

"Sara!" Laura yelled, dropping the shawl to the floor. "Oh, my God. Marcia!" she hollered as she ran toward her daughter and knelt beside her.

"Pain," Sara whimpered. "So much pain."

Marcia came running from the house and quickly joined them, crouching and cupping Sara's cheeks as she gasped for breath.

"What are you feeling, Sara? Tell me."

"Hurrrrrrrrrrrrts," Sara growled, her entire body jolting when another harsh stab came.

Hearing voices, Laura sprang to her feet and ran to the railing. "Gregory! Gregory!" she shouted getting the young man's attention. "Get Gil. Now!" she ordered

Jumping back at the fierceness of his aunt's voice, Gregory looked up. "What's wrong?" he called back.

"Sara's collapsed. Get Gil!"

Gregory's eyes widened but he asked no more questions and like a bullet firing from a gun, he shot towards the stable.

Hurrying back to her daughter, Laura's eyes fell upon Marcia as she lifted Sara's dress and checked underneath. "Her water has broken."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Swiping a band of sweat from his brow, Grissom took hold of the rope again and prepared to haul up the next beam of wood up to the stable roof.

"Ready to go?" he called down to Nicolas who had just finished tying it off.

"Ready," Nicolas called back, looking up.

Just as Grissom was about to start pulling he heard Gregory's panicked voice and looked to his left to see him running towards them.

"Grissom! Grissom!" the younger man shouted, waving his arms and earning a very confused glance from his brother. "Come quickly! It's Sara!"

Those words took a moment to circulate through him to finally settle like a hot poker in his gut. Letting go of the rope, he hopped onto the ladder and slid down to the ground, grasping Gregory's arms.

"What about Sara?" he growled.

Swallowing, Gregory pointed over his shoulder. "I was walking by and...Aunt Laura shouted and...Sara's collapsed," he panted, trying to catch his breath.

All the air left Grissom's lungs, his eyes suddenly burning as they worked in circles. "Where?"

"The veranda, she..."

Gregory didn't have chance to finish because Grissom was off and running towards the house. The two boys exchanged a look before running after him.

Grissom ran as fast as he could until he reached the veranda then bounded up the steps two at a time. Reaching the top he saw Laura and Marcia kneeling by his wife, trying to comfort her as she held her stomach and cried out in pain. His heart pounded as he rushed over to them.

Laura heard him coming and looked up. "She's in labor," she said with an odd mixture of anxiety and happiness in her voice.

He'd had been waiting for this moment for a long time but to actually hear the words, it was nothing like he'd expected and wasn't what he was expecting to hear today. He was shocked, nervous, excited and concerned all at the same time. An unmovable lump formed in his throat and no matter how hard he tried to swallow it down, he couldn't.

Knowing there was absolutely no time to waste, he swiftly reached for his wife and and scooped her up in his arms, whispering words of support.

"I'm here, honey," he said. "It's going to be fine, all right? Keep calm. I'm here. Take deep breaths, long…deep breaths…I'm going to get you inside…hold on to me if you can."

Her terrified eyes met his, arms barely coiling around his neck and she winced, her face contorting in pain. She cried out again, dropping her head to his shoulder and her scream sounded out across the garden.

"Come, Gil," Marcia urged, holding an arm out. "Let's get her inside."

With a quick nod, Grissom rushed inside, as fast as he could, through the lounge and into the hallway, everyone else a whisker behind.

"It's going to be okay, it's going to be okay," he whispered over and over, his gut seizing up as Sara just cried out again.

Running out from the kitchen upon hearing the commotion, Rana headed to the group. Laura grabbed her arm.

"Rana, its time," she said, surprisingly calmly. "You know what to do. As quick as you can."

"Yes, Ma'am," the housekeeper responded and was off in a flash back towards the kitchen just as the captain ran in the front door.

"What's happening?" he demanded, eyes clashing with his wife's but quickly dropping on Sara in Grissom's arms.

Laura grabbed his arm and turned back to Grissom. "Go, Gil," she urged.

Carrying Sara up the stairs, Grissom headed for the first bedroom. It had been prepared for the birth many, many weeks ago. Because of the mess that no doubt came with labor, it wasn't ideal to be using their own bedroom.

Laura moved around him so she could open the door and he hurried inside, carefully placing Sara onto the bed. Nicolas and Gregory hovered near the doorway, while the captain looked like he wasn't entirely sure what to do with himself.

"It hurts," Sara cried, trying to pull her knees up.

Kneeling on the bed, Marcia helped Sara lean forwards as Laura placed pillows behind her back then began to unbutton her dress.

Grissom's heart was thudding as he reached out and took Sara's hand, and he felt himself swaying a little when Rana ran into the room with two workers, each carrying bowls of water.

"All right, everyone except Rana and Marcia, out of this room, right now," Laura commanded of the family members hovering around the bed, "Thomas, Gil, out, now!"

Grissom looked at the captain then shook his head "But…"

"No buts. Out now!"

Grissom's hand slipped from his wife's as Laura lightly pushed on his chest.

"Gil, I need you!" Sara screamed as another contraction seemed to wrack through her body.

Laura stepped in-between her son-in-law and the bed, placing a gentle hand on his upper right arm. "Gil, I know you want be with her but you know you have to leave. I promise you, I will take care of her." His mouth opened, lips moving but no words came out. "We don't have time to argue," Laura pleaded as Marcia began working Sara's dress from her shoulders. "Please. You have to trust me."

He inhaled a very deep breath. "Promise if you need me you will get me. I will be right outside."

"I promise," Laura answered sincerely.

Jumping, when Grissom felt a pressure on his shoulder, he turned to see the captain. "Come on, lad," his father-in-law urged in a tender tone that Grissom had never heard before. "She'll be okay."

Swallowing hard, Grissom nodded, taking one last look at the bed before backing away.

"Boys, out," the captain ordered his nephews who we're quick to comply and left the bedroom, the two servants following them.

Closing the door once they were out of the room, the captain turned to Grissom to see him rubbing his forehead, his eyes wide and working from left to right, right to left. "Gregory, go and get a couple of chairs will you please?" he asked. "Nicolas bring some water and brandy."

"Yes, Uncle," the two said together and set off down the corridor.

Stepping up to Grissom, the captain placed both hands upon his shoulders, looking right into his eyes, seeing fear and uncertainty. "Suck in that chest, Gil," the captain said softly. "And keep it together. Okay?"

"I'm trying," Grissom whispered. "I'm just so…"

"I know," the captain interrupted. "She's in the best hands she could possibly be in and she will be okay. This could take some time so you need to keep calm and be ready for her and your baby when they need you. You got that? Time to really be a man."

Taking a deep breath, Grissom nodded. "Yes, sir."

*** -"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."

A/N: Eeep. That is all :P