A/N: Hey guys. New chapter time. Thanks to all who have left a review. Very much appreciated.
A huge thank you to my current supporters – Nat, Mrs Crabby, Dbackfan, AliceC, ChristineS, Jillian, IngridT, Tracer85, NiniZ, Jamie M, NancyB and Lottie.
Always, thank you to calim for the beta, suggestions and friendship :)
Will Grissom be okay? Let's see shall we? On we go…
Chapter 31
Only a few minutes after she'd sat down, Sara, who was currently staring at the double door to the trauma unit, heard fast paced footsteps heading her way. Turning her head, she spotted Catherine and Max hurrying towards her.
"Hey," Catherine said as she placed a bag on the floor before sitting. "Any news?'
Sara shook her head. "They took him into trauma and wouldn't let me go with him."
Reaching for her hand, Catherine squeezed it. "He'll be getting the best care."
Letting out a sigh, Sara shook her head. "I just don't know what to think anymore."
"Mrs. Grissom?"
The trio looked up to see a nurse approaching and Sara jumped to her feet.
"Yes."
"I need you to fill in some forms okay?" the nurse said.
"Any news on my husband?" Sara replied as she took the clipboard from the nurse.
"Not yet. But as soon as we have some you'll be the first to know."
Looking defeated, Sara nodded. "Okay," she whispered.
Looking Sara up and down, the nurse gave Catherine and Max a quick glance.
"Do you, erm, need something to change into?"
Catherine pointed to the bag she had brought. "I already thought of that." Turning, Sara looked at Catherine. "I always have spare clothes in my car so thought you could use them."
"Thanks," she said. She'd not given it a thought what she must look like.
"Give me a shout when you've done the forms," the nurse told them. "We have a bathroom you can use to shower and change."
Sara nodded and the nurse tried to smile before stepping away.
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
After filling out the forms, Sara was reluctant to leave the waiting room. It took Catherine a few minutes to convince her she had to wash up because there was no way on the planet she'd be allowed in to see him covered in blood. And, as horrible a thought it was, her clothes were now evidence and needed to be bagged.
After being led to a staff bathroom with a shower, she locked the door and dropped the bag on the floor then looked at herself in the mirror. Dried blood on her face, clothes and hands. She was torn between bursting into tears or putting her fist through the mirror.
So many emotions were running through her. She was so scared for him, but she was so fucking angry as well. The anger hadn't really started to hit properly until now and she really just wanted to scream.
In all of their years together and even when they weren't together, he'd never been hurt like this. In fact, the only time she could recall was the close call he'd had when Nick's kidnapper had blown himself up. That was stressful enough let alone this.
Snapping out of her thoughts with a sigh, she pulled back the curtain and turned on the shower. She didn't have time to stand there being angry. She had to hurry up because if someone came with news and she wasn't there she wouldn't be happy.
Pulling out the evidence bag for her clothes, Sara stripped and placed them inside then stepped into the shower turning it up as hot as she could bear. It was kind of surreal watching the blood swirl down the drain since it was the only part of Grissom she had to physically hold onto. She closed her eyes on that thought.
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
After spending about 15 minutes in the bathroom, Sara rushed back to the waiting room.
"Any news?" was her immediate question as Max stood and took the evidence bag from her.
"No, not yet," Max replied.
Closing her eyes, Sara heavily sighed and as she did, a cell rang and her eyes popped open to see Max taking her phone out of her pocket.
"Hey, Josh," she answered, stepping away a little but not too far that it couldn't be heard what she was saying.
"Feeling a little better?" Catherine asked as Sara sat down beside her.
Running a hand through her damp and, no doubt, very messy hair, Sara shrugged.
"I'm not sure better is the right word."
Catherine took her hand again. "He's a stubborn S.O.B. He won't give up so easily."
Sara snorted, fighting the pang of tears building in her eyes. "You got that right. I swear we switched personalities as we got older."
Catherine gave her a smile.
"Thanks for the clothes," Sara continued. "A little tight so I must remember not to bend over."
Now Catherine laughed. "Heaven forbid you split my pants."
Managing a smile, Sara looked Max's way as she came back towards them.
"How is the team getting on?" Catherine asked her.
"Apparently Nora just arrived at the scene," she said.
Sara's eyebrows lifted. "Oh."
"It isn't a bad thing. IA or not, no one in the department takes kindly to one of their own being hurt especially in these kind of circumstances."
"Go and help the team, Max," Sara urged. "They need you and as much as I appreciate your support, there isn't anything you can do right now apart from sit here and watch me be miserable."
Max looked conflicted at that suggestion.
"Honestly, Max," Sara insisted. "It's fine. Go and help them catch that bastard."
"Okay," Max agreed. "Call me as soon as you have news, okay?"
"I will."
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
Tipping her head back, Sara began lightly banging it against the cold, white plaster only stopping when Catherine returned with two plastic beakers of coffee from the machine.
"Here you go," she offered, holding one out.
Taking the drink, Sara placed it on the chair next to her.
"I'm losing my mind," she said as Catherine sat beside her, putting her own drink down. "It's been over an hour. I need to find out what the hell is going on."
As she went to move, Catherine's hand quickly grabbed her arm.
"Let me go." Sara frowned at her. "You're way too on edge and I don't think the hospital staff will appreciate you throwing things if they can't tell you anything."
"Okay," Sara agreed managing the smallest of smiles although throwing things had crossed her mind.
Nodding, Catherine got up and walked over to the reception desk and a nurse standing behind it talking with a colleague glanced her way.
"Can I help you?"
"Ah, yeah," Catherine replied, flashing her badge before dropping hands onto the counter. "Catherine Willows from the Crime lab. I'm trying to find out if you have any information on Gil Grissom. CSI who was brought in about an hour ago with a gunshot wound. His wife, Sara, is about to have a breakdown at the lack of news coming her way."
Pulling back a chair, the nurse sat down. "Let me see," she said tapping fingers onto the computer keyboard, eyes scanning the screen. After a minute, she stood up. "Let me go and see if I can find out anything, okay? I'll come and let you know in a few minutes."
"Okay, thank you."
As the nurse disappeared around the back of reception, Catherine returned to Sara who eagerly had her eyes glued to her friend as she sat down.
"Someone has gone to try and find out what's happening," Catherine told her. "She'll come and let us know."
Sara puffed out her cheeks as a mixture of nerves and hope washed through her. News would be very welcome but bad news she wasn't sure she'd be able to handle.
So, they waited and it took about 10 minutes before the nurse Catherine had spoken to appeared and Sara swallowed as she got to her feet.
"The Doctor will come and speak with you shortly," she said. "He shouldn't be too long."
"Can you tell me anything?" Sara just about begged.
The nurse offered a supportive smile. "Best you speak with him. He'll be able to tell you everything you need to know."
Letting out a quiet sigh, Sara nodded. "Okay. Thank you."
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
With her eyes still very much fixed on the doors of the trauma unit, it was about 15 minutes later when Sara's nerves spiked as they opened and the doctor who appeared through them headed their way.
She immediately got up, swiftly followed by Catherine and the biggest burst of nerves hit her that she was sure she'd ever felt. Nervously running hands over her hips, she stared at the man in the white coat before her.
"Sara Grissom?"
Sara quickly nodded. "Yes. Please call me Sara."
He nodded. "I'm Doctor Ahmed Aziz. I'm looking after your husband."
Feeling Catherine step closer to her, Sara swallowed down the huge lump that had formed in her throat.
"How is he?"
Her voice sounded desperate, and she didn't mean her words to come out as quietly as they did.
Doctor Aziz offered a smile. "He's stable."
Sara let out a wheeze and she wasn't sure where the hell it came from. It was like all the pressure she'd ever felt since birth had just spurted out of her lungs.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded. "He isn't completely out of the woods just yet. He's lost of lot of blood and he's very weak, but considering the circumstances, he's doing okay."
Holding a hand over her heart, her legs suddenly felt wobbly, and she just about doubled over. As Catherine's hand laid on her back to give her a gentle rub, tears prickled her eyes.
"Just take a minute," Catherine encouraged.
Nodding, Sara took in several deep breaths, doing her best to calm herself down. She never thought the feeling of relief could be so emotional.
After a minute or so, she stood straight.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, wiping away a tear that escaped the corner of her eye then waving a hand in front of her face given she felt extremely hot all of a sudden.
The doctor smiled again. "You don't need to apologize. I understand how difficult this is."
"Yeah," Sara agreed. "Can I see him?"
"Of course." Doctor Aziz gave Catherine a quick look. "But just you for now, okay? We need to minimize how many people are allowed in the trauma suite until he's a little stronger. It's for his own safety and he certainly doesn't need overwhelming right now."
Sara totally understood that. He would be so susceptible to infection or catching a virus.
"I can wait out here."
Hearing Catherine's offer, Sara turned to her.
"I appreciate that, Cath, but I'm sure Max can use you more. It could be hours before he's allowed visitors. I'd feel bad knowing you're out here all by yourself."
Reaching out, Catherine softly squeezed Sara's shoulder. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Sara confirmed. "More people we have out there trying to catch the son of a bitch the better as far as I'm concerned and I'm pretty sure Gil will feel the same."
Smiling, Catherine nodded. "Do you want me to stop by the suite and get you some things to bring once we are allowed in to see him?"
"That would be good, thanks. I don't even have my bag. I was going to go back to the suite once we'd checked out that car but.…"
"It's okay," Catherine stopped her. "I'll call you in a little while for an update and we can take it from there. For now, you concentrate on you and that husband of yours. You got it?"
Clearing her throat, Sara nodded. "I got it and trust me, Gil is my top priority right now and always."
A/N: Emotions be running very high….