The afternoon at the hospital was as quiet as the morning was busy. Brass was asleep on the cot, once again refusing to leave. Catherine stayed in Sara's room as she worked, once again narrating her case notes and thinking out loud. She found herself frequently looking up when she asked Sara questions, hoping for some kind of a response. Occasionally she got a half nod, a finger twitch, or a minute frown. It amazed her how much Sara's tiny responses helped, and she was able to work more easily than she had previous days. Of course, she had to consider that the reduced stress about Sara's condition may also have helped her ability to work. Whichever it was, she was able to forward suggestions on to her colleagues of the next steps to take with the cases she was managing, and start to catch up on the never ending paperwork required to document everything.
A physical therapist came in right as Catherine was ready for a break, and the two women chatted amicably as Sara's limbs were gently stretched and moved. The therapist showed Catherine a few stretches she could do to help her friend, and after a bit of coaxing she took over.
"If we can keep her body moving it will help her recover more quickly once she wakes up. We don't want her waking up all stiff and sore with muscle atrophy or seized up joints!" She explained. "If you or her other friends want to help, these exercises should be done a few times a day. I'll be in once a day to work with her, but every bit helps!"
After the physical therapist left, Catherine continued to chat to Sara. She spoke about Lindsay, studying forensics of all things - determined to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a CSI. Her worries and her pride tumbled out, things she hadn't been able to tell anyone. It was so hard for her to fathom that the tiny baby, chubby toddler, bratty tween had become a young woman. And one who was doing so brilliantly at University! She never could have predicted that Lindsay would follow in her footsteps.
"But you know what, Sara? At the end of the day, all I want for her is to be happy. It doesn't matter what she does or where she does it. I just want her to find happiness."
"I think that's all any parent wants for their child." Brass spoke quietly, his voice still heavy with sleep.
"How long have you been awake?" Catherine asked, embarrassed at what Brass may have heard.
"A minute? Maybe 2? Just heard you say you want Lindsay to be happy. You're a good mom, Catherine. She's lucky she has you."
Greg returned to the hospital full of energy. He was confident that tonight would be when Sara finally opened her eyes. A bag slung over his shoulder held a thermos of good coffee, some new forensics journals, a collection of snacks and a deck of cards. He practically bounced into Sara's room, greeting Catherine and Brass with a huge smile.
"How is she tonight? Ready to wake up?"
"She's coming back to us slowly. Twitching a bit, some brief frowns and smiles. And she's reacting to some of what we say now, so doctors orders are to keep it light and happy. Don't say anything to her you wouldn't say to her face!" Catherine explained, then turned to face him and whispered so quietly that Greg could barely hear her "and do NOT mention Grissom." The puzzled look on his face made her get up and pull him into the hallway. "We mentioned that he was on his way back earlier and her heart rate shot up. They needed to sedate her. The nurse said it was normal, and she was probably just starting to feel the pain of the surgery, but we don't want to risk it. So no talk about Grissom, or her infection, or work, or anything else that might be upsetting. Got it?"
"Got it. But it's great that she's starting to hear us!" Greg's excitement was obvious. "She's going to wake up tonight, I feel it. When you come back in the morning, we'll be drinking coffee and playing poker." He insisted as she followed him back into the room.
"Ask the nurses before you give her coffee." Catherine teased. "Might not be the best idea after a few days of no food. She doesn't need an ulcer." At the mention of coffee, Sara's right hand seemed to move as if to grasp a cup briefly, causing Greg to grin.
"If you want coffee, you've gotta open your eyes first." He encouraged her, waving it under her nose. "Come on, just one little peek at those beautiful brown eyes and I'll share." Brass and Catherine suddenly burst out in a fit of giggles with Greg soon joining in. Sara's eyes didn't open, but they did see a very brief smile cross her lips. A nurse ducked her head in upon hearing the laughter, and smiled at the three visitors then returned to what she was doing.
Sara could smell coffee. Good coffee. Greg's coffee. She could really use coffee right now to clear her foggy head. Smells seemed to be the first thing she was aware of during her brief periods of awareness. The second thing she was aware of was pain. Her abdomen felt like it had been sliced open. What had happened?
If she focused, she could make out words around her. Earlier she had recognised Catherine's voice, even though it made no sense. Catherine was working with the FBI so why would she be here? Maybe it just sounded like Catherine's voice. She felt Brass's gruff but calming presence more than once. And right now, to go with the coffee, she heard Greg's voice and his distinctive laugh. It actually sounded like the laughter from the break room years ago. What was so funny? Greg must be telling a story. She tried to focus on what was being said but everything was muffled. Was she losing her hearing like Grissom?
Grissom. Thinking of him felt like a punch to her already aching gut. The divorce. Losing Honey Bee. Maybe she didn't want to be awake and aware. Surely falling back into the deep black nothingness she had been floating in was preferable to the pain that felt like it was going to drown her. She had been fighting to shove it all in its box, push it away, hide it, but somehow it always came out. What had the experts said? The psychologists and counselors and therapists... Accept it, acknowledge it, give it space to exist in her life. But that wasn't an option, she had a job to do and if her friends knew, what would they think of her? She couldn't bear to lose her friends, but she knew the truth - they were Grissom's friends first. Without him, she would never have met any of them. Their loyalty would be with him, would it not? Maybe it would be better to just stay as she was right now. Not fight her way back to them. She was sure if she didn't wake up or respond soon they would let her go.
