AN: Thanks for the continued support, here is the next chapter. Warning: A very sensitive topic might be triggering to some, and a few questionable words.
Chapter 43: Aftermath
Grissom now looked shocked. "Pregnant?"
Sara nodded with another chuckle. "Yeah, she said she didn't want to tell me over my voicemail, but she wasn't sure when I would get back to her and she didn't want to scare me, so yeah, she told me I'm pregnant."
Now feeling emotional, all he could say was her name. "Sara."
She looks at him with tears in her eyes. "I mean this is good news, right? You're happy about..."
He cuts her off with a smile as he kneeled down in front of her and placed his hand on her stomach. "Are you kidding me? I'm more than happy right now, words can't describe what I'm feeling right now, this is amazing news, at least for me. What about..."
She cuts him off while cupping his cheek. "Babe, you knew I wanted another one."
He smirked. "Yeah, when the time was right."
She chuckled. "Well, I guess the timing was right."
They both had beaming smiles on their faces for a few seconds, then Grissom started to have a worried look now, he even gasped, causing her to ask. "Babe, what is it?"
He cleared his throat and spoke with worry. "Sara, the explosion, you said you fell back pretty hard."
Now Sara started to get worried as she spoke. "I did, but I didn't feel any abdominal pain, I would have felt that, right?" She now started to have tears in her eyes, different from the ones she just had a few seconds ago. "Oh my god, did I..."
Grissom cuts her off, trying to remain calm himself. "Ok honey, let's find out before our thoughts fully take us there."
She nodded. "Yeah, but I can't wait to find out, I need to know as soon as possible."
He nodded in agreement, knowing that while she would rather have her doctor check her out, that wasn't exactly feasible at the moment, and they felt this was too much of an emergency to wait it out until they were back in San Francisco, which would be late tomorrow or early the next day.
"Ok, we'll see if there are any clinics open, and if not, we'll go right to the hospital."
After Sara agreed to this, Grissom gets up and rushed to get the room and vehicle keys from the dresser before heading towards the door but was stopped by Sara's voice. "Uh babe, not that I don't love your look right now, but I think some people might have an issue with it."
He realized that he was still only wearing boxers, and he gave her a little nod with a sigh as he goes back to his bag so he could get fully dressed, and so did she as they were both hoping and praying that their little one was ok.
It was the last clinic they came to, and the head doctor was just about to close it, but the pleading from both Sara and Grissom with the most worried looks he's ever seen tugged at his heart strings, so he let them in and started his examination on her, and when he was done, he pushed his chair back, told her to sit up and spoke while taking his gloves off. "While I didn't see any signs of a miscarriage, I would feel better if I did a blood test. However, you did just catch me as I was closing up, so I can't give you the results until tomorrow, but I will make sure our lab techs do it first thing in the morning."
Grissom slipped his hand into Sara's while they both nodded before he spoke. "We understand doctor."
He nodded while he stood up from his chair, grabbed another pair of gloves, grabbed a needle and a test tube so he could take her blood, and after sticking a band-aid in the spot of her arm he put the needle in, he stepped back and spoke as he was marking the test tube. "I'm sorry again that you'll have to wait for the results." He turned his head back to look at them and he continued. "I can tell how much you already love him or her."
Sara cleared her throat, but she still spoke with emotion. "Our children mean everything to us."
"Children? So, you have others?"
They both nodded with bright, loving smiles while Grissom spoke this time. "An 11-year-old daughter, and a 3-year-old son."
"Congratulations, and I hope this test result come out the way you want it."
"Thank you, and thanks for letting us come in."
He nodded before he stepped out of the room so Sara could change back into her clothes, and once she was, they walk out of the room, paid him, thanked him again and they walked out of the clinic.
After the doctor closed and locked the door, he walked back to his office and started packing up the paperwork he was going to take home with him, but then stopped and picked up the test tube that had Sara's blood in it, then sighed as he placed his bag back on the floor next to his desk, he couldn't get their looks out of his mind, so he turned and walked back into the lab part of the clinic so he could start the process of the test, knowing it was going to be a long night.
Once they left the clinic, they decided to get something to eat so they could have something in their stomachs, even though they were still in knots, then when they made it back to the hotel room, Sara called Quinn so they could talk to their children before they went to bed, and while they were both attentive to them, or as attentive they could be over the phone, they couldn't help but let their thoughts wander to their current situation.
After their talk ended, they said their love yous and goodnights, then she closed her phone, made sure the ringer was now on and placed it on the nightstand with a deep sigh, the last two days have completely exhausted her in every way, and her night wasn't going to get any easier waiting on that test result.
Grissom placed his hand on her shoulder, breaking her from her thoughts and whispered. "Come here."
She turned and moved closer to her husband so she could lay her head on his t-shirt covered chest, he ran his hand up and down her arm to sooth her the best he could but felt like he was failing because he started to feel her shake with her sobs as she spoke. "I'm so sorry, Griss, I didn't know. If only I would have turned my damn phone back on, I would have gotten the message sooner."
He turned his head and kissed her temple with his eyes closed and a heavy heart. "And I won't blame you, no matter the outcome of this."
She sniffled and wiped her tears off her cheeks as she replied. "Well, I'll never forgive myself if I did this to our little one."
He just continued to hold her, trying to be comforting as possible, as they fell asleep, but it was probably one of the most restless sleeps they had in a very long time.
After leaving the hotel the next morning, Sara and Grissom headed to the usual diner to meet Warrick and Catherine, which they brought along their twins, Nicole and Rick, who will be three in September, (Lindsey was already in school), and once they ate, Sara cleared her throat before telling them that she was going to go order breakfast for Ashley, then Rick whispered to his dad that he needed to go to the restroom, so when it was just Catherine, Grissom and Nicole, Catherine places Nicole in her lap and speaks to Grissom. "Ok what's going on with you two?"
Grissom shook his head. "Nothing."
Catherine then smirked. "Did you forget I can read you like a book; Something feels a little off." She then got a little more worried. "Wait, is this about Nick, do you know something..."
Grissom cuts her off. "No, it's not about Nick, I don't know any new information."
She then smirked again once she could see he wasn't lying about that part. "So, it is about something then."
Grissom sighed. "It's about something I can't talk about right now."
Still worried, but wanting to respect Grissom's silence, she nodded but then spoke. "Ok, but you know you can talk to me if you need you to."
Grissom nodded with a smile. "I know and thank you." He then cleared his throat before asking. "Did you get a hold of Jim? How is he doing by the way?"
Brass ended up walking away last year, wanting to go back to his hometown and try something different.
Catherine nodded while taking a sip of her coffee. "I did, and he said he'll be here as soon as he could. He's been doing fine, I guess he got himself a fishing boat."
Grissom chuckled. "Fishing, huh?"
"Yep, he says it relaxes him."
"Well, he definitely deserves it."
"That he does."
After another sip of their coffees, Grissom asked. "And you still enjoying being supervisor? I know how much you've wanted that position."
Catherine nodded with a smile. "Yes, I have, and I'm still enjoying it thank you very much."
Grissom nodded with a smile of his own. "I'm glad."
A moment later Sara, Warrick and Rick were back at the table, and not much longer after that the Browns decided to take their leave so Catherine and Warrick can take the twins to her mom's house before they go to the hospital. Then once the to-go food came to Sara, they left as well to also head to the hospital.
When Sara and Grissom made it to the hospital and into Nick's room, they saw Nick was sleeping and Ashley was right by his side, but Sara wanted her friend to get up and get out of the room so she could have some fresh air while she ate, and what made her actually consider this suggestion was when Grissom spoke. "I'll stay with him, please Ashley, go get some air."
Ashley paused for a minute before she nodded while standing up from the chair she hardly left during the night. "Ok, thank you, Grissom."
"You're welcome."
After leaving the room, Grissom sits down in the chair next to the young man's bed and sighed, feeling completely helpless right now, both in Nick's and Sara's situations. He wishes he could take every negative thing away from them.
Before his thoughts went deeper down that negative road, he hears Nick's scream as he opened his eyes abruptly. "Ashley!"
Grissom cleared his throat and spoke. "Nicky it's me."
Nick turns his head, trying to get his wits together after the nightmare he just had before asking, his voice sounding hoarse. "Griss?"
Grissom nodded with a smile. "Yeah, it's me. Do you want some water?"
Nick cleared his throat with a nod. "Yeah, that would be actually nice. Thank you." Grissom nodded as he stood up to pour some water in a cup, and Nick asked. "Where is Ash?"
"Sara took her out to get some fresh air."
As Grissom walked to the bed with a cup of water and straw, Nick replied. "Good, I hope she's eating something as well."
"She is." There was a pause while Nick took a few sips of his water, then Grissom spoke with another smile. "She needs to take care of that new baby she has in her."
Nick's eyes get wide as he spoke. "You know?"
Grissom nodded as he sets the cup down on the end table by the bed. "I do, I read your lips as you were talking into the recorder."
Nick swallowed hard and shook his head with tears in his eyes. "Griss, I..."
But Grissom cuts him off while placing his hand on his shoulder, speaking towards him with more emotion he ever has to anyone other than Sara and their kids. "And just so you know, you've never let me down, not once. I'm so proud of the CSI, husband, and father that you have become, I'm so happy I got to witness it all."
Nick sniffled as he spoke. "Thank you, I've learned from you and my dad, you two are the best husbands and fathers I know."
Grissom took a breath and replied. "Thank you, Nicky, that really means..."
He trailed off and was about to break down but held himself together. But Nick, like Catherine, was feeling something was off with him, so he asked with worry. "Griss, are you ok?"
Grissom nodded and stepped back, waving off his concern. "It's just been an emotional/stressful few days."
Nick took a breath with a nod. "You're telling me." Then he started to ask. "And Griss can you..."
Grissom cuts him off with one more nod. "I won't say anything, it's not my secret to tell."
"Thank you."
A moment later there was a knock on the door before Nick spoke. "Yeah, come in."
The door opened before Catherine and Warrick walked into the room with smiles on their faces and Catherine asked. "You up for more visitors?"
Nick nodded with a smile, happy to see them. "Yes, come on in."
A few moments later, Ashley and Sara joined in, and while Sara and Grissom tried to enjoy their time with them, their minds and hearts were still elsewhere.
They had just finished lunch down at the cafeteria, which by then Richard had joined the group, and Greg had stopped by for a bit to see how he was doing, and as they were getting off the elevator to Nick's floor, Sara's phone rings, so after looking at who was calling, she tells them that she'll be in the room in a few minutes, and after Grissom and her have eye contact, he nodded the same, so the group headed down the hall to Nick's room, and Sara answered the call while they headed for the waiting area. "Yeah, this is Mrs. Grissom...oh my god, really?...Yes I understand...Thank you, Thank you so much."
After a few more words and another thank you and bye, she closed her phone and her eyes as a silent prayer, and Grissom asked, with tears in his eyes. "Sara?"
She opened her eyes and cupped her husband's cheek, happy tears now going down her face as she replied. "I'm pregnant."
Grissom chuckled/sobbed as he asked. "Yeah?"
Sara sniffled with a laugh. "Yeah."
"Oh my god."
They wrap their arms around one another, and she continued to speak. "He did want me to see my doctor when we get home, which I was already going to do that.
I'm just so happy to be relieved, I couldn't stand the wait much longer."
"Me too. I love you so much."
They pull back and she cups his cheek again both still having tears in their eyes. "I love you too."
Then Grissom chuckled as he placed his shaking hand on her stomach. "This one is made of good stuff. But I shouldn't be surprised because so is his or her mommy."
Sara chuckled/sobbed, still overcome with the good news, as she placed her hand on top of her husband's. "Another one."
Grissom's eyes and face were beaming. "Another one."
They lean towards one another and kissed softly a few times before they get into each other's arms again.
Their moment was interrupted a few minutes later when they hear an unexpected voice. "Mom!" Or should they say two of them. "Daddy!"
They both turn towards the voices and looked shocked as Belle, who was carrying Taron, came towards them.
Sara found the words first. "What are you two doing here?"
Belle smirked. "Nice to see you too, mom."
Sara smiled. "No, I just..." She then waved it off, not caring at the moment. "Come here."
Belle did after giving her brother to their dad, and the minute Sara had her arms wrapped around her mini-me daughter, she sighed in content, feeling the happiest she has been in days.
After they pulled back, Sara took Taron from her husband while Grissom wrapped his arms around his daughter, and after a few minutes, they hear Quinn's voice. "I hope this is ok, I know you only want Belle out of school if it was an emergency or if she was sick. But after talking to you last night, I felt this was an emergency."
Sara hands Taron back to his father walked up to her friend with tears in her eyes. "This time I don't care, thank you for bringing them, I really needed them."
Quinn nodded with a smile as the women get into a hug before another little voice spoke. "Daddy!"
The women chuckled while looking over at Austin Stokes, who was being held by Brad, Quinn's now husband of six months.
Sara spoke to the little boy with a smile. "Ok, we can take you to mommy and daddy."
Nick's mini me nodded with a smile. "Daddy!"
After another round of chuckling, Quinn took Austin and headed towards Nick's room, Belle following behind, then after Sara and Grissom greeted Brad, they also followed them to the room, and it was a very emotional reunion.
The group hung out with Nick for a few hours, then once it was agreed upon that the Grissoms were going to stay until Sunday afternoon, Belle left with Catherine and Warrick so she could go with them when they picked Lindsey up from school and they can hang out together.
A few more hours went by and by then Richard had left, so it was Nick, Ashley, Sara, Grissom, Quinn, Brad and the boys, and Sara mentioned she was hungry, which the others agreed as well, then Nick spoke. "Why don't you guys go out to eat."
Sara spoke while looking at Nick, who was giving her a pleading look to get Ashley out for a bit. "Yeah, that sounds great, what about you guys?" The rest were up to it, and Sara looked at Ashley. "What do you say, Ash?"
Ashley shook her head. "It's ok, I'm going to stay here. I can get something from the cafeteria later."
Sara does a small sigh as she placed her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Please Ash, let's get out of here for a little bit."
Ashley looked at her worried friend's face before looking at her husband's, and he had a small smile on his face. "Yeah, please babe, go, go get some good food, enjoy time with our friends."
After a couple of moments, she nodded with a sigh. "Ok, if it will mean that much to the both of you."
They all nodded with smiles, then after sharing a soft kiss with her husband, Ashley gets up from the chair and picks up Austin before taking him to his father so Nick could say goodbye, and after the rest of them said their goodbyes, they all walked out in the hallway before walking towards the elevator so they could leave the hospital.
As dinner was coming to an end, Grissom excuses himself from the table, then a few minutes later he comes back and spoke after clearing his throat. "You know I think I'm going to head out."
The women looked at him like he had two heads while Sara replied with a deep confusion on her face. "Excuse me?"
He turned his head to Ashley and asked. "You don't mind if I take Austin with me, do you?"
Ashley looked at Sara, and all she did was shrug, not sure what was going on, then she looked at Grissom again, also confused on what was going on. "I uh, I guess so."
Grissom then looked at Brad. "In fact, you won't mind coming either, right?"
Brad shook his head with a smile as he stood up from his seat, like it was staged. "No of course not."
Sara finally asked. "Ok hold on, Griss. What's going on? What are you up to?"
He gave her a loving smile. "I just thought you girls could have a little time to yourselves." He then sighed before asking softly. "You trust me?"
The way that Sara was now looking at him, the rest of the people at the table felt like they were intruding on an intimate moment before Sara replied equally softly. "You know I do."
"Then please go with this."
It took her another moment before she nodded with a smile, he smiled in return, picked up Taron while Brad picked up Austin, and after the boys said goodbye to their mothers and Grissom told them the bill had already been paid, the guys left the table.
When it was just the women, Quinn spoke, just as confused as the other two women. "Ok, what the hell was that?"
Sara shook her head. "I have no idea."
Ashley them smirked. "You know that man of yours like the back of your hand, and you're telling us that you don't know what just happened?"
Sara shook her head again, completely serious. "Honestly I..."
She trails off when she recognized someone walking to the table, and the other girls turn their heads just as the person walking to the table spoke with a warm smile. "Hi girls."
Sara gets up from her seat with a smile. "Jo! What are you doing here?"
Jo chuckled as they share a hug. "Nice to see you too."
Sara chuckled in return as they pulled back so they could look at one another. "You know I didn't mean it that way, I just meant..." Sara stopped for a minute, then she shook her head with another smile, figuring it out. "Grissom, he's the one that set this up."
Jo nodded after taking a breath. "He called me earlier today and asked if I would come to Vegas, he said my girls really needed me right now."
Sara kept her tears at bay, not just from seeing Jo, but also what her husband did, as they shared another hug. "Thank you for coming here."
Jo smiled as she hugged her friend back. "You're welcome."
After they pulled back, Jo looked at Ashley and cleared her throat. "Ash, I'm glad Nick was found."
Ashley nodded as she stood up with her purse. "Thank you, and you know what, I should get back to the hospital. Don't worry about getting me back there, I'll take a cab. It was nice seeing you, Jo."
As Ashley took a few steps, Sara walks in front of her stop her with a pleading look and tone. "Ash please, don't go."
Ashley sighed. "Sara..."
But Sara cuts her off as she placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I know you're worried about him, we all are, but he's safe now."
Ashley nodded with tears in her eyes. "I know that, deep down I really do. But I can't stop the feeling that I had almost lost him, you saw for yourself how close I came to losing him."
"I did, but the point is you didn't, he's out of that damn box, slowly getting better, and we are all going to give him our love and support to help him through this. But that doesn't mean you stop living your life either. It's ok to have some fun right now, maybe even celebrate that we did get him back." Sara then smirked a little. "And hey, I'll call him if I have to, and you know he'll tell you the same thing I am." Now with another pleading look, she finished. "So please, just for a few hours, then I'll take you back to the hospital myself."
After a moment or two have passed, Ashley does a short nod with a sigh, knowing Sara was right. "Ok, but only for a few hours."
Sara nodded with a smile. "Alright, let's go have some fun."
Jo and Quinn cheered, then Quinn smirked as she got up from her seat. "You remember the last time the four of us was in Vegas together?"
They did think long and hard, but they all came to the same conclusion, with just the four of them together they haven't been here since Sara's 21st birthday, they actually couldn't believe it had been that long.
Jo chuckled. "Yeah, Sara kissed a man and completely changed her whole world upside down."
Ashley then sighed. "Hell, all of our worlds in some ways."
Sara then smirked while grabbing her purse. "And how many times do I have to say it, whose fault is that?"
The three girls chuckled before speaking at the same time as they walked through the restaurant. "You're welcome."
Sara chuckled and shook her head before Quinn smirked as they walked out of the restaurant. "In fact, I know where we should go first on our evening out."
AN: Thanks for reading, please review. Hope you all had a safe/wonderful weekend, until next time, always remember, GSR4ever!
