A/N: Howdy :) New chapter time. Thank you for your thoughts and reviews. Let's hope this isn't too painful…

A huge thank you to my current supporters – Nat, Mrs Crabby, Dbackfan, AliceC, ChristineS, Jillian, IngridT, Tracer85, NiniZ, Jamie M, NancyB, DawnS and Lottie.

Always, thank you to calim for the beta, suggestions and friendship :)

Chapter 35

It was never fun to see a loved one in pain and Sara was already sick of it. And now, as she softly dabbed a tissue across her husband's forehead in an attempt to soak up the sweat, she just wanted to climb into the bed and hold him.

He was doing his best to put a brave face on it though and hadn't complained once as the doctor and nurse carefully helped him lean forward so they could get to his back. The quiet groans he let out and permanent grimace that formed on his face was more than enough to tell everyone it hurt though.

The wound on his back looked similar to his chest, perhaps with slightly more bruising forming. Not unusual considering the bullet usually left the body with more force than when it entered, causing more tissue damage. Once it had been cleaned, a temporary dressing was used to cover it as the doctor knew the CSI's would need to gain access when they arrived. The same had been done to his chest.

Now all they could do was wait and hope he could stay awake because that battle was becoming more and more difficult as each minute passed by.

"You're doing really well," Sara commended as she wiped down his cheeks. "Certainly braver than I would be."

His eyes popped open as she pulled her hand away and dropped the tissue into the bin.

"I wouldn't say that," he countered. "You are the bravest lady I have ever know."

Giving him a shy smile, Sara leaned in and gave him a quick but tender kiss. "I'm not so sure about the 'lady' part," she said when pulling back.

He smirked. "Could you get me some water?"

Nodding, Sara poured him a glass and after he'd quickly drank it, sat back down.

Pulling out her phone, she checked the time as Grissom yawned. "Maybe I should give Catherine a call and see how long they are going to be?"

Grissom closed his eyes. "I don't think it will make any difference. They will be as long as it takes and worst-case scenario you'll have to wake me up if I fall asleep."

"You know how grumpy you get when I wake you up," Sara teased.

"I don't get grumpy," he denied not unlike a child.

"Do, too."

A smile found his lips. "Maybe sometimes," he admitted.

Snickering, Sara took his hand and they continued to wait.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

45 minutes later.

Sara flicked through the internet on her phone as their earlier conversation of a holiday destination played through her head. So many places appealed to her making it hard to choose especially if they actually decided to take a vacation. Didn't matter. At this point in time, it was nice to think about something positive like what better way to spend a day than walking down a beach with the man she loved. Barefoot, hand in hand, the ocean lapping at their ankles as they watched the sun go down topped off with an amazingly, long, passionate kiss.

She sighed happily at the thought.

Every minute or so her eyes would flick to Grissom now asleep. He'd tried so hard to stay awake but lost the battle some 15 minutes earlier. He just couldn't fight it any longer and the more he fought, the more uncomfortable he got so. In some ways, Sara was glad he'd drifted off. However, not having his wounds dressed properly did concern her so she just prayed he didn't start moving in his sleep or that would become a problem. He hadn't yet, so hopefully it stayed that way.

Luckily, it wasn't much longer until she heard voices out in the corridor and looked over her shoulder just as Catherine poked her head in, throwing Sara a wave.

Getting up, she approached the door just as Max stepped around Catherine.

"Hi," Sara greeted.

Both CSI's drop their bags, each giving Sara a quick hug.

"How is he?" Max asked, taking a quick peek over Sara's shoulder.

"He's doing okay. Had his wounds checked and cleaned but fell asleep not that long afterwards. He tried to stay awake but… it is what it is."

Max and Catherine looked at each other.

"Are we still okay to…?" Catherine floated a finger through the air between them and where Grissom was.

Sara nodded. "Yeah. I'll wake him up."

Catherine's lips puckered. "Oh, he's going to hate you."

Snorting, Sara nodded. "You know that's exactly what I said."

"Do you know how long he's going to be in this ward?" Max asked, looking over her shoulder to the officers outside the door.

Sara shook her head. "Not yet but we should find out later. He's being pretty closely monitored still."

"Okay," Max said softly.

Sara pointed towards the door. "I'll need to tell a nurse you're here so they can page the doctor. Any movement Gil undertakes he has to do at the moment."

"Why don't I go?" Max suggested.

"If you want to," Sara replied. "Just down the corridor to the left."

"Okay. Be right back."

As Max stepped from the room, Catherine picked up one of the bags and held it out.

"The things you asked for."

"Thank you," Sara said taking the bag. "Is my gun in there?"

Catherine nodded. "Yeah. I took the clip out just to be safe. It's in the side pocket."

"Okay. Thanks. I'll feel a lot better with that available. Why don't you come on in?"

Picking up the kit, Catherine followed Sara into the room and Sara put the bag by the bed noticing as her friend's gaze fell upon Grissom.

"It's crazy isn't it?"

"What is?" Sara asked giving Catherine a curious look.

"That we can go an entire career without serious injury and then.…"

Reaching out, Sara ran fingertips over Grissom's arm. "Yeah," she agreed. "The doctor said he was very fortunate."

Catherine's eyebrows rose. "I'm not sure getting shot is very fortunate."

"Well," Sara continued, folding her arms, "the bullet just missed his brachial artery so… yeah.…" Suddenly Catherine frowned. "What?" Sara asked noting the expression.

"I'm not sure. Just… something doesn't feel right."

Now Sara looked confused. "I don't know what you mean."

Shaking her head, Catherine crouched down and popped open the forensics kit, taking out a camera. "Let me think about it. If I think it's important I'll let you know."

"Ooookay…"

Before Sara could try and pry some more information out of her friend, Max returned.

"The doctor won't be long," she said approaching the two ladies and holding a bag up.

Sara frowned. "What's that?"

"Gil's clothes. They had them bagged up and ready for us knowing we'd likely ask for them."

"You know, I hadn't even thought about his clothes," Sara admitted.

She blinked, turning around to look at Grissom's left hand. Of course they would have taken his ring off. She hadn't thought about that either.

"I need to ask where his personal items are."

"They'll have them safe, honey, don't worry," Max encouraged. "You've had a lot on your mind to be thinking about that."

Nipping teeth into her lip, Sara nodded. She recalled how damn empty she felt when she didn't have her ring on, and that feeling was slowly returning knowing her husband's ring was now missing. Well, technically. She'd make a point of asking where his things were once Max and Catherine were finished.

"You should probably leave the bag outside," Sara suggested. "I'm not so sure the doctor will like a bag of soiled clothing in here."

Max's mouth popped open in realization. "Damn, yes. I'm sorry," she said, hurrying back towards the door and asking one of the officers to look after the bag.

"Don't worry about it," Sara said to Max when she returned. "No harm done."

Giving a weak smile back, Max's eyes looked Grissom over. "I'm surprised we haven't woken him up."

Reaching out, Sara clasped his arm. "He's exhausted and on medication. I think it may take a little more coercion to wake him."

"Then maybe you need to get coercing?" Catherine suggested and then grinned.

"Yeah," Sara agreed. "Good point."

Catherine placed the camera onto a chair and then pointed over her shoulder. "We can wait outside until you're ready. I'm not sure whether he'll appreciate being woken up surrounded by three beautiful women ogling his body."

Sara laughed, she couldn't help it but then her husband's voice cut that short.

"Well, in my experience," came the sleepy voice, "I find that most threesomes end up being one too many."

All eyes fell upon the man in the bed and Catherine laughed as his eyes opened.

"No matter the circumstances, Gil Grissom," Catherine said, "you've still got ears like a hawk."

Giving a lazy smile, Grissom yawned. "I would get up ladies but as you can see I'm not really dressed for the occasion."

Pursing her lips, Sara stared at him as his head tipped her way.

"You are so sneaky," she accused.

Smiling he gave her a cheeky wink. "Proud of it, too."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

It didn't take long for the doctor to arrive as he was keen to ensure his patient was left in peace to continue with his recovery. So, as soon as he and the nurse had carefully raised the bed enough to the required height for the photographs and removed the temporary dressing from Grissom's chest, Catherine snapped her camera into action.

Sara kept as close to Grissom as she could, keeping ahold of his hand as the flash from the camera lit up the room every few seconds.

"I can see you still work out, Gil. Bet you never thought you'd be modelling for me, huh?" Catherine joked as she zoomed in on the wound and snapped the final picture.

Lowering the camera, she looked at Grissom who was throwing narrowed eyes at her.

"Not half naked, no," he retorted.

Slightly amused, Sara scratched the end of her nose. "Well, if you look under the covers you'll probably find you're totally naked."

He looked at her, head leaning a little to the side as a bemused look crossed his features. Pursing her lips at him, Sara then smiled knowing it was important to try and keep this as light as possible. So far, the banter seemed to be working.

"That's it for photos of the front," Catherine said, taking a tape measure from Max as she held one out. "Just need to get some measurements then we can move onto the back."

Grissom nodded, dropping his head back against the pillows and closing his eyes.

Catherine was as quick as she could possibly be measuring where the wound was and reeling off the measurements to Max who recorded them. Everyone knew the importance as extremely accurate information to find the essential evidence they needed, so no fuss was made on anyone's part.

Once that was done, the doctor properly redressed Grissom's chest wound and then it was time for the tricky part.

Getting behind him to take photographs of his back was by no means going to be as easy as getting what they needed from the front and Sara felt her nerves spike when having to step out of the way to allow the doctor and nurse room to be able to move him forwards.

Sara watched as he grimaced, the fingers of his right hand clenching tightly as the medical staff held onto him to offer as much support as they could but yet again, he didn't complain. And, at the doctor's request to be quick, Catherine swiftly maneuvered past the nurse, leaning behind Grissom to start taking the photographs.

Thankfully, it didn't take too long.

"Doing really well, Gil," Aziz said, keeping a very close eye on the patient as another flash from the camera came.

"Almost done," Catherine told them, leaning in as far as she could now to ensure she had all the angles required. "Just one more."

"Ugh huh," Grissom grunted, his eyes scrunching closed.

A few seconds later, Catherine stepped back, reaching a hand out for the tape measure again and swiftly called out the position of the wound.

"That's it," she said, stepping back.

Doctor Aziz nodded. "Okay, Gil, going to put a clean dressing on as quickly as we can then you can get some rest, okay?"

Eyes opening, Grissom blew out his cheeks, giving a nod before his eyes found Sara who gave him an extremely proud smile.

A/N: He never was one to complain. Such a trooper :)