AN: Thanks for the continued support, here is the next chapter. Warning: Implied/Suggestive adult behavior

Chapter 40: Her true Colors

Mid-February, 2002

While his wife was sleeping in her hospital bed, Grissom was sitting in the chair next to it, looking down at his newborn son, who came into this world just a few hours ago. He didn't think his heart could fill with so much love, joy and happiness than it already had been. But he was proven wrong, and not just by this new addition to their family, but by his wife, especially in the last month and a half, where she showed her true, glorious colors to him during a very terrifying time for him, and on top of that while she was dealing with the later part of her pregnancy.

Grissom took a breath as he thought back to the last month and a half.

Flashback

January, 2002

After finding out what was going on with her husband, Sara made sure he had set up an appointment to that specialist in LA, and after going there and coming back home, he told her what they were already suspecting, he was losing his hearing from the genetic disorder, Otosclerosis that he had inherited from his mother, so not wanting to delay the surgery any longer than he has to, they set up an appointment for the third week in January, which was the earliest they could get it. But with the combination of Sara's condition and they were torn about them not being with Belle for multiple days since she had school, the doctor actually suggested that he come up to San Francisco to do it, which they were surprised that he would, but very appreciative of it.

Then a few days before Grissom was set to do the surgery, Sara made an announcement to the team at the end of that shift. "Before I let you guys go, there is something I need to say to you, as you know Grissom is set to have surgery on Monday, so he'll be taken time off for that and the recovery time." They all nodded while looking at him with sympathy looks, then Sara continued after clearing her throat. "And while I had planned to be here until I really couldn't anymore, I've decided to take my maternity leave now, so I can be there for my husband." With no shocked reaction, Sara finished with a smile. "So, Nick will be your leading supervisor for the time being while Latoya will be the assistant, so any questions or comments can be directed to them as of tomorrow."

They nodded in understanding, also no surprises there, before Jane asked after clearing her throat. "But won't we still be a couple people down?"

Sara nodded. "Yes, and that's why I did ask if we can have help."

Sara turned to look towards the door, and a second later a familiar face appeared in the doorway with a smile. "Hi, everyone."

They all smiled at Lizzie as she walked further into the room before Finn spoke with a smirk. "I see you're back on dayshift, you can't seem to stay away."

They all chuckled while Lizzie nodded with a smile. "I am, at least for now." Lizzie then looked at Sara. "And for as long as you want/need me here."

Sara nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Lizzie."

She nodded with another smile. "You're welcome." She then looked at Grissom. "And I hope everything goes ok with your surgery."

"Thank you, Lizzie."

After another nod, Sara cleared her throat before speaking again. "Alright, good work today, you are dismissed."

The team stood up, then they, along with Lizzie, all left the room, leaving Sara and Grissom alone, Grissom then asked. "So, how did you get Lizzie back?"

Sara smiled. "It actually wasn't that hard." When he raised an eyebrow, she continued in a low, soft voice. "I think she regrets going to a different shift. That's why she's been open to coming back all the times I've asked for her help."

He chuckled. "She didn't know how good she had it until she left."

"Apparently not, but that's how people learn, right?"

After he nodded, they smiled at one another, then they walk out of the room, and instead of him going to the locker room, Grissom followed her to her office, and once they were in there, he closed the door and goes to sit down in one of the chairs in front of her desk, watching her pack a few things.

He cleared his throat before asking. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

She smiled as she looked at him, just in case his hearing went out. "Am I sure that I want to be there for my husband while he's going through a trying time? Absolutely, it's not even a second thought to me."

He shook his head with a sigh and looked down. "I'm sorry, I...

He trails off and she goes to stand in front of him to take his hand in her hers, causing him to lift his head to look at her while she continued with sympathy. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I know you're scared, but like I said before, you are not alone, I'm here for you every step of the way, you hear me?"

He smirked, although he heard everything she had said. "Could you repeat that last part?"

Seeing the look in his eyes when he had said that she knew he heard everything but replied. "I'll do you one better." She then signed while repeating what she had said. 'You are not alone, I'm here for you every step of the way, you hear me?'

He stood up with a sigh so they were face to face, then he replied softly. "Loud and clear, for now."

She cupped his cheek with both of her hands and spoke with determination. "Not just for now."

"Sara, you don't know if..."

She cuts him off. "I don't want you to think about what could not happen; I want you to think of what could. We'll deal with the negative fallout if it happens, but right now, let's think positive, ok?"

He nodded. "Ok."

She smiled. "Alright, now let's get out of here."

"I'll meet you in the parking lot."

She nodded as she finally released his face, then as he was walking to the door, she spoke again. "And Griss?" But when he didn't turn around, which meant he didn't hear her, her heart broke for him.

When he got to the door, he turned around and held up the 'I love you' sign with a smile.

She signed in return with hidden tears in her eyes. 'I love you too, with all of my heart and soul.'

He nodded with the smile still on his face before he turned and walked out of the room.

On the night before his surgery, Sara could tell that Grissom was more scared now than when his hearing first started to act up, so while they were in bed, she asked while cupping his cheek. "Do you want to talk about it? Will that make you feel better?"

He sighed as he placed his hand on hers. "You know it isn't the surgery itself that's freaking me out. It's what can happen after, if it..."

She tries to cut him off. "Griss..."

But he places his finger against her lips to stop her, and he continued. "I know I'm supposed to think positive, and I'm really trying, I really am, but Sara." He started to have tears in his eyes as he spoke again. "The thought of never hearing our beautiful daughter's voice or laugh again, or never able to hear our son's in the first place, is terrifying me." He took a shuttering breath, just thinking about it, as he ran his thumb up and down her cheek while he finished. "And yours, oh god, Sara. If I never hear your voice again, that beautiful laugh. How you sound when I..."

He trailed off, and she speaks with a hint of passion, having a feeling she knew what he was thinking since she could see it in his eyes. "How I sound when you what?" She took his hand from his cheek and answered for him. "Touch me?"

He cleared his throat with a nod. "Yes."

She whispered as she moved her mouth to his neck. "Then touch me."

While he was enjoying the feel of her lips on his skin, he asked while sliding his hand down to her 8-month pregnant stomach. "Are you sure?"

She pulls back and they both are looking at one another with passion in their eyes while Sara replied. "Yes, let's cement every sound I make into your memory, so you'll never forget."

The passion, desire and want was too strong to hold back so their lips touched one another quickly, which only escalated everything else, and by the end, while they did have to get a little more creative with her being pregnant at 8 months, they still made it work.

Afterwards, they were sitting up with her head on his bare shoulder, and with his arms wrapped around her so he could run his thumb up and down her stomach under the t-shirt she was wearing, he spoke softly. "Thank you."

She smirked as she ran her hand down his arm. "Shouldn't I be the one saying that?"

He smiled then gets a little more serious. "I know tonight was more for me."

"Hey, my husband needed something, and I was happy to help." She then moved her hand up to his cheek and cupped it. "But know this, tonight wasn't the last night you'll be hearing that, or anything I say. And when our son is born, crying his lungs out, you're going to hear that beautiful sound." She smirked. "Then probably wish you didn't after about 20 minutes."

He chuckled at first, then smiled again, this time with tears in his eyes. "I can't wait. I love you."

"I love you too, now and forever, no matter what."

He nodded and leaned towards her to kiss her forehead, then he moved down while she lifted her head so they could share a few kisses on the lips, and after they pulled back, she got as comfortable as she could before he got in place so they could go to sleep, dreaming for the best outcome from his surgery.

End of Flashback

"Gilbert!"

Grissom comes back to the present at the sound of his wife's voice saying his full first name loudly, so he looks at her with concern at the worried look on her face. "I'm sorry, what honey?"

"Are you ok?"

Grissom nodded with a smile as he looked down at his handsome son. "I'm better than ok, I was just in deep thinking mode and must have spaced off."

She took a breath. "Jeez, you scared me, I thought for a second that..."

She trailed off and he spoke with a raised eyebrow. "That my hearing was off again?"

She shyly smiled. "Yeah, sorry."

He shook his head with a smile. "Don't be, and believe me, my hearing is better than ever."

Since he had the surgery, his hearing has only improved with no hiccups, and so like Sara predicated, Grissom heard his son's first cry, it was a joyous and emotional moment for him, more so than if he hadn't had his hearing problem cloud above him.

Sara smiled brightly this time. "I'm glad. Now can I have my little guy?"

Grissom stood up and lowered their son down to his mother's arms, and once he was in them, Sara sighed as she looked down at him. "I think I've fallen in love all over again."

"I know what you mean, and not by just him." He cupped her cheek, causing her to look up at him as he continued with a smile and love in his eyes. "But also by my beautiful, amazing, irresistible, smart, wife." Sara shyly smiled as he leaned down so they could share a kiss, which lead to a few more, but then she started to giggle when he moved his lips to her neck, which he pulled back a moment later with a smile. "What?"

She shook her head. "I just got to get use to this beard that you have going on."

While she has seen facial hair on her husband before, this was the first full beard she had seen on his face since they've been together, and while she loved his clean-shaven look, this beard look was also intoxicating to her, maybe even slightly a little more.

He ran his hand down his bearded face before asking. "What, is it too much? Do you not like..."

Sara cuts her husband off with a smile. "Oh, I very much love it, and I don't mind you keeping it around for a bit."

As he nodded with a smile, their eyes were becoming a little dark with passion, but their moment was interrupted when there was a knock on the door, so they cleared their throats, and after a nod from Sara, Grissom walked towards the door to open it, seeing it was Ashley, Quinn and Belle.

Grissom smiled as he moved to the side. "Morning."

They all said morning before Belle ran to her mother's bedside while the girl's stayed back so the family could have this moment.

Sara smiled at her daughter. "Belle, honey, I would like you to meet your brother, Taron Arthur Grissom."

Belle smiled at her baby brother. "Hi Taron, I'm Belle, your big sister."

They all smiled warmly at their interaction before she moved out of the way so Ashley and Quinn could get their turn, and while Ashley was holding the little guy, she was practically gushing. "Oh my god you guys, he looks absolutely handsome."

Sara nodded with pride. "That he does, I can't wait to see him look as he gets older."

Grissom chuckled. "Ok dear, let's not age our son too quickly, he just got here."

The girls chuckled while Sara nodded with a sigh. "I know, and I know how fast time can fly." She then looked at her daughter, who was sitting on Grissom's lap. "It seemed like yesterday Belle got here, now she'll be in middle school in the fall."

Belle smiled shyly. "Sorry, mommy."

Sara chuckled. "Don't be sorry, baby, it's a good thing. It's just sad at the same time."

Grissom wrapped his arms around his daughter and kissed her temple before speaking. "And that's why we cherish every moment with you."

She chuckled. "And take lots of pictures."

Later that day, Betty Grissom had shown up at the hospital with Jo, Josh and baby Evelyn, and before the Hudson-Price family went into the room, Betty went in first, and the minute baby Taron was placed in her arms, she had tears in her eyes because it felt she went back in time and was holding her son again, he looked just like his father.

About 15 minutes went by, then after Betty handed the baby back to Grissom, she signed to Sara with a smile. 'You're going to have trouble with this one, especially if he really is your husband's mini me beyond his looks.'

Sara smiled. 'I'm looking forward to it.'

'Thank you for making me a grandma again.'

Sara nodded with another smile. 'You're welcome. We love you.'

'I love you all too, so much.'

A moment later there was a knock on the door, and after they explained that to Betty, she smiled. 'You should let them in, let them have their turn with the baby.'

Grissom looked at Sara, and she nodded with a smile. "Yeah, let them in."

Grissom hands baby Taron off to Sara before walking towards the door, and after opening it, he smiled at Jo, and Josh, who was carrying baby Evelyn in her car seat.

The women smiled at one another while Jo spoke. "I hope it's ok if we intru..."

Sara cuts her best friend off. "You're not intruding, and of course you can be in here to visit with Taron. In fact, I'll trade you."

Jo chuckled and looked at Josh, and Josh nodded with a smile before taking his almost 5-month-old little girl out of her car seat, then Sara handed her son to Jo while Josh handed their daughter off to Sara, and while Sara looked down at the little girl in her arms, she shook her head with a smile. "I can't believe she's 5 months in two days, how is that even possible?"

Jo smirked. "Well, how is your little girl already in almost middle school? Explain that one."

Belle, who was sitting up next to her mother in her bed, comes in with a smirk. "Because I skipped a grade."

They all chuckled before Grissom smiled. "Well, she isn't wrong."

They all chuckled again with head nods.

Throughout the day more family/friends came to the hospital to visit with the newest Grissom addition, then eventually visiting hours were closed for the evening, and since Belle wanted to stay with her parents and baby brother, they brought in a cot for her, which that's where she was asleep when Grissom had walked back into the room from walking his mother out.

Her, Josh, Jo and baby Evelyn were staying at the Grissom house for the evening.

Sara and Grissom smile at one another, then she noticed he had one hand behind his back, so she asked with a raised eyebrow. "What do you have there?"

He walked closer to the bed and moved what he had behind his back to show her a little teddy bear holding a heart that said 'Happy Valentine's Day' on it.

Sara gasped slightly as she saw it. "Oh my god, today is Valentine's Day, isn't it? I totally spaced it off."

Grissom smiled while nodding to their son in her arms. "Well, I think you had other things to worry about today."

She chuckled as she looked down in her arms. "It would appear so." She sighed in content. "I can't believe how much he already looks like you."

He smirked as he sets the teddy bear next to her. "Well, you did get what you wished for."

"That I did."

He smirked again. "Now I hope you don't live to regret it."

She shook her head as she looked at her husband. "Not a chance." She bent down to kiss her son on the forehead, told him she loved him before giving him to Grissom, which Grissom did and said the same thing before putting him into his hospital issued crib and walked the short distance back to Sara's bed, and after taking his shoes off, he sat up next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, brought her close to him and kissed her temple.

She sighed again as she held the teddy bear. "I'm sorry I didn't get you anything."

He shook his head with a smile. "What are you talking about? I have that little girl over there, our son over here, and you in my arms, you got me everything I'll ever need." He then kissed her temple and smirked against it. "Of course, until there are more little ones."

She chuckled, then with another sigh of content, she spoke again. "I love you."

He closes his eyes as he kissed her temple again. "I love you too, and thank you, not just for all of this, but for showing me that you're really there when things got a little rough for me."

She pulled back so she could look into his eyes, and she cupped his cheek with a smile and love in her eyes. "Always, babe. It's been a two-way street since we've met, and remember we are a team and no matter the circumstances or situation, we are in this together, forever."

He nodded. "Forever."

They kiss softly a few times before she lays her head against his shoulder and they both sigh in content, happy where their lives have taken them thus far.

AN: Thanks for reading, please review. Next chapter will have a slight time jump, and just so you are aware, the story is coming to an end soon. Hope you all had a safe/wonderful weekend, thanks again for all the support, and always remember, GSR4ver!