A/N: New chapter! Enjoy! Fanfiction continues to have problems with notifications, messages, and numbers-nothing we can do about that so hopefully, you will check back for updates!

Out There

Chapter 6

Neither Grissom nor Sara had been prepared for the news of twins; the medical staff recognized this within minutes and responded as they did with parents-to-be in 'special circumstances'. The appointment stretched to two hours; so long, someone ordered lunch delivered and half a dozen medical professionals sat with the Grissoms talking about pregnancy and babies. A physician from another office showed up; she'd had twins at age forty-two and added her knowledge from her experiences of twins at an advanced age.

Grissom, realizing he could learn more by listening, pushed his chair back and became almost invisible.

By the time they returned to the hotel, both were in an overwhelmed-dazed state of exhaustion. Sara held two bottles; prenatal vitamins and medication for morning sickness. Grissom carried a stack of patient education pamphlets on topics from pregnancy, childbirth, vaccinations, and first time parents and multiple medical forms.

Sara walked straight to the bed and collapsed across it. While in the office, she had maintained a level of calm that surprised Grissom until he realized she was responding as she would have while investigating a crime, asking questions and listening while others talked.

He opened a bottle of juice, poured it into a cup, and walked to the bed. Minutes went by in silence. Finally, he said, "Sara, what do you want to do?"

"Do?" She opened her eyes, lifted her head, and cracked a weary smile. "Dear Gil, we've done enough, haven't we?"

He sat on the bed, offered her the juice, toed off his shoes, and stretched along side her. She had stuffed two pillars under her head and brought her arm around his head to hug him close. As he snuggled against her, he felt her lips press against his hair. He chuckled and said, "Yeah, we've done something—who would have thought." He sighed, a sound of contentment and spoke:

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways," he said.

Sara picked it up. "I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach."

"I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need, by sun and candle-light."

Forgetting the next lines, Sara laughed as she said, "I think the sun might have been shining on us when—that day we brought your bed to the deck."

Rolling to face her, with surprise on his face, he said, "You think it was that day—that was the day after you arrived! That mattress needed airing." He grinned, adding, "We did get busy that morning—no one around us. The sky was so blue; the water was calm—sparkled like diamonds. And we got sunburned in places—" He laughed. Gently, his fingers brushed her hair, traced her jaw line to her chin, and then one finger touched her bottom lip. "I'm still a bit shocked about all of this."

He felt a ripple across her belly before she quietly laughed. "We never tried for twins with IVF—now look at us." Her voice cracked, her emotions changed. "I want to have these babies—I may not—it may end tomorrow."

"No, Sara, this is good—everything looked good on the scan—the doctor was so positive. You are twelve weeks—the doctor said most losses happen by then and in eight to ten days, we'll know more."

"They were very nice, so excited and concerned for strangers."

Grissom kissed her lips, settled again in the curve of her arm, and asked, "What do you want to do? I'll need to talk to Richard and let everyone know."

This time, Sara made a snort, laughing as she said, "Richard already knows I'm preggers—just not twins—everyone on the ship knows I got knocked up!" She gave him a gently poke, adding, "I am fairly certain you've told everyone about your virility!"

"No—no—I mean—leaving the ship—we can fly back home."

As he spoke, Sara wiggled around and sat up. "Dr. Ling says I'm fine! We're not leaving this project, Gil. We're out for six days then back here in time for Christmas. I'll get another check-up—we'll find out the lab results—but we are not—not wimping out like I'm some kind of—of fragile porcelain cup sitting on a shelf!"

Grissom felt helpless with her declaration; she was correct. The physician had encouraged her to continue what she was doing, saying "Pay attention to your body. Rest, eat, sleep—have sex!" And he had heard the determination and strength in her voice.

Throwing a leg over his, she continued, "I'm not going to be running races or—or moving heavy equipment! I'll be in a lab—a marine lab—there are no toxic substances at all." She picked up one of the bottles, saying, "I'm going to take these for morning sickness—I'll get better—already I'm not throwing up as much as I did for a few days."

She rolled to stretch on top of him, playfully pinning him to the bed, her arms resting on his chest. Suddenly, she was serious. "If this pregnancy doesn't continue, we will deal with that when it happens. In all we heard today, I think we have three months and then we'll decide if we should go home." Her face changed again to a broad smile. "I like this doctor—all of the group today—we could stay here, find a place to live while I get as big as a whale and birth a couple of babes."

"Home?" asked Grissom. "Vegas?"

Her face fell forward causing her hair to make a wispy curtain for their faces. She said, "Not Vegas—home will be your place in LA—I like Betty's house. We'll have your boat and save turtles—or maybe whales—and have little Grissoms running around."

A combination of things caused his body to react. Her affirmation of making their home on the coast, her positive outlook for pregnancy, her flushed face after her outburst, the feel of her body on his brought on a response that was almost painful.

Sara felt his growing arousal and smiled. "Sex," she whispered as she fumbled with his belt, "is good for pregnancy, so I've heard."

He lifted his head, found her mouth and kissed her deeply. She returned his kiss, confirming she wanted him as much as he wanted her. And with that kiss, their clothes where thrown around the room, the prenatal vitamins bottle rattled as it hit the floor, and the sound of his wife's laugh was the most alluring music he had ever heard.

A while later, Grissom settled back against the pillows, one arm behind his head as he cradled Sara against his side. He knew there were several tasks he needed to do but the last thing he wanted was to leave this tumbled bed and the woman in his arms.

"Gil?"

He gave a soft moan as his reply.

"The name—what's the girl's name?"

Confused, he asked, "What girl?"

A quiet laugh; she said, "Your name for a baby girl—you said you had one for a girl."

With a chuckle, hugging her tightly, he said, "Remember when our mothers learned we were trying to start a family? They were so excited—and both of them wanted a baby girl. I decided if we had a girl, we'd name her after those two women."

Sara snuggled against his body, yawning with satisfaction. "I remember. We may have two girls—we'll name them after their grandmothers." She laughed again, adding, "Or we may have two boys—or one of each. Can you believe we are talking about naming our children?" She kissed his shoulder, saying, "A few weeks ago, I thought I'd be in Vegas forever."

"And I thought I'd lost you forever."

She squirmed and pulled out of his embrace. "I have to pee."

A few days later, Sara and Grissom returned to the ship for their first humpback whale research expedition.

A/N: Our favorite couple returns to the ship-what's a good GSR story without a mystery to solve for Sara and Grissom. More to come!

Thank you to everyone who continues to read and send words of encouragement!