The Breaking Point

Summary: New problems arise as Sara perseveres in NYC. Can Gil hold on until she returns?

A/N: Thoughts will be done in Bold Italic or [+++]. Signing will be shown as: /*Calm down*/; Gaelic: (“…“).

Chapter 14: Treading Water

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grissom’s Townhouse ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Noreen and Aron woke Grissom up to get him transferred to his wheelchair. Luckily there were only a couple of steps to the door. A truck delivering a half dozen oxygen tanks pulled up at the same time. They quickly pushed Grissom in his wheelchair into the living room so the delivery men could bring the oxygen tanks into the house.

The earlier levity of the CNN interview had dissipated from both Noreen’s and Aron’s demeanors. Now nothing but concern marked their faces. Grissom had drifted off again now that the meds had worn off. In fact he was muttering incoherently as his fever increased.

Noreen decided to get Grissom settled in bed before giving him his new medications. Aron helped undress him down to his boxers. Noreen directed Aron to find a t-shirt for Grissom and to find some additional blankets and pillows. Noreen set up the oxygen tank while Grissom sat slumped on the end of his bed, dressed only in his boxers.

Aron returned with the blankets and pillows and gave them to his aunt. He them rummaged through Grissom’s bureau and pulled out a couple of t-shirts with LV CSI Forensics logos. Noreen had placed a half dozen pillows against the headboard of the bed so Grissom wouldn’t have to lie flat on his back; not a recommended position for people suffering from pneumonia.

She and Aron helped Grissom scoot up the bed. She settled him comfortably on the bed. Arranged the blankets around his waist and put the nasal oxygen tube around his head and adjusted the flow. Now she had to wake him up to take his medications.

“Dr. Grissom wake up…time for some pills.” He wasn’t waking up. She hated to do this but he needed this medication. She grabbed a fold of skin near his collarbone and twisted it. His eyes fluttered open. “What…Is it time for the interview? Is Sara coming? Where is my mother?”

“Now calm yourself. Interview is over…Sara is still in New York…Your mom should be here shortly…You need to take these pills…Here’s some water.” Grissom took the meds and fell back on the pillows. His breathing was raspy and labored even with the oxygen.

Noreen was terribly concerned, only in the last few days had Grissom began to rebuild some of his former strength and energy. Now another stumbling block appeared on the road to recovery. At least his mother had come at last.

She wanted to fuss over him but decided to let him rest. [I’ll make some of my special tea…Mrs. Grissom should be here shortly. I need Aron to go get some essentials condiments, spices and herbs. We will need some medical supplies too. I better make a survey. Mrs. Grissom better have a pneumonia shot.] She was quite pleased with the size of the townhouse. There were three bedrooms including the master suite and an additional bathroom on the ground floor which also included the kitchen, laundry area and the living room and dining room. There was a basement but she decided to check that out last. There was a large open air spiral staircase leading to a second level.

There was an additional bathroom up here and two extra bedrooms and a great room. A great room was the only description she could manage. She imagined it had originally been two large bedrooms and a hallway that had been remodeled into one large room. It was a combination library, office and music room. She was sure this room held the heart and soul of the man known as Gilbert Aaron Grissom.

She saw a beautifully veneered harpsichord at one end of the room. She walked towards it and noticed there were flutes, recorders, an oboe and an electric keyboard left almost carelessly about. Music was scattered here and there including what appeared to be manuscripts. Does the man play and compose? She could picture him sitting at the harpsichord playing Mozart or a Bach invention or fugue.

She saw a few feet away a wall of French doors which opened out to a sun room and a rooftop deck. The sun room actually appeared to be a butterfly room. She noticed several species of butterflies fluttering and flitting from one end of the sunroom to the other. [This is too marvelous… How strangely beautiful… But it should be Sara making these discoveries not me.] She realized that she would have to save the exploration of this room for another day. Mrs. Grissom and Dr. Carruthers should be arriving soon.

As she was coming down the stairs she heard two things the tea kettle whistling and a loud knock at the door. She turned off the tea kettle first and then went to open the door. “Mrs. Grissom, Captain Brass…welcome, welcome.”

Olivia hugged Noreen “Call me Olivia, please. Now how is my son? How sick is he?”

“Well the doctor thinks it is pneumonia. He dinna have enough strength for that ceremony but he was sickening before that so I think he was so rundown from everything else…hospitals are great for picking up all sorts of ailments…it’s best for him to be home. Before you see him…you have had your pneumonia shots?”

“At my age of course, I want to see him and then settle into my room upstairs.”

“Upstairs with all those steps?”

“Aye Noreen, Gil put in an elevator three years ago.”

“An elevator?”

“It’s down the hall…disguised as a closet…my son had it put in when he sprained his ankle playing softball on the night shift team. He wasn’t able to get to his office easily or to his music which upset him quite a bit. He also thought it would be easier on me when I visit. The upstairs is quite lovely…maybe we can talk Gil into playing when he’s feeling better. Now I think I will look in on my son…then maybe we can have some tea and talk.”

Leaving Capt Brass to bring in her luggage, Olivia followed Noreen into Gil’s bedroom. As if sensing his mother’s presence, Gil opened his eyes and smiled. “Mom” He wheezed.

“Gil” Olivia sat down on the bed and hugged her son. Noreen quietly backed out of the room to leave them with their private thoughts and feelings. “Gil, tell me truthfully, the whole truth, how do you really feel? I feel so bad that I was too ill to be here before, but I’m here now at least until Sara gets back. We haven’t spent enough time together recently. So how serious are you about Ms. Sidle?”

Gil realized he would need to tell her everything. Since he was a little boy they had always held nothing back when the whole truth was demanded. It was their “pet” phrase for complete and utter honesty. It was rarely used because often the truths shared were extremely painful. He had asked his mother for the whole truth when his father left. She had asked for the whole truth when he quit both the baseball and swim teams in high school. She had volunteered the whole truth about her hearing loss before he left for college; that had hung over him like a dark cloud for many years and during his progressive hearing loss before his corrective surgery. He didn’t want to share his feelings with his mother but knew he would.

“If I tell you the truth you aren’t going to go all mushy and weepy on me?”

“Gilbert Aaron Grissom when have I ever been ‘mushy and weepy’? I’m saving that for the wedding and when I see my first grandchild”

“Oh Mom…” This brought on a paroxysm of coughing and wheezing.

“Noreen! Noreen!”

Noreen hurried into the room with a mug of tea. “Calma, calma…drink this. Breathe slowly and shallow slow and shallow. Sip. Slow and shallow…” After a few minutes, Grissom had relaxed enough to catch his breath.

“Sorry mom…let me rest a moment” Olivia stroked her son’s hair while Gil gathered his resources. “Mom, the whole truth is right now I feel miserable. I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open. My leg never stops hurting. I get used to a certain level of pain and it escalates. I don’t know if I am ever going to walk normally again. I don’t know if I can go back to being a CSI. I’m not sure right now what I want to do. I love Sara. But will she continue to love me? Mom I don’t know. I’m so afraid. I have control over nothing in my life right now and I think that scares me the most. What am I going to do?”

Olivia took both her son’s hands in hers. “Gil, now I want you to listen carefully to what I am going to say to you. I asked Captain Brass what happened the night you were shot. How much do you remember?”

Gil hadn’t really thought about that night. The truth was he didn’t want to think about it. [Most of his memories from the time he was shot until a couple of weeks ago were fuzzy and filled with pain, fear and heat. But there was something else that something he clung to when all he wanted was oblivion. To get away from the pain and the fear…it was her voice. Her voice coaxing him that first night to be calm, to hold on for five minutes more. Her voice coaxing five minutes more Gil. Another five minutes Gil. Trust me Gil. I love you Gil. Hold on Gil. I love you Gil. I will always love you Gil. I will never leave you Gil. Trust me Gil. We want to help you Gil. I will stay with you Gil. The long nights of pain. The fever dreams. But her voice was always there soothing him. Reading to him. And the kisses. Warm sweet kisses. How could he possibly leave and not have those warm sweet kisses. Sara. Always Sara. She loves me. She really loves me.] He began to smile. “I want to call Sara.”

Olivia smiled and dialed the bedside phone. When Sara answered “Sidle” Olivia handed the phone to Gil. “I’ll leave you alone for a while…Noreen and I have to talk and I think we could all use some lunch.”

“Sara. I missed you. I wish you were here. I need you Sara.”

“Gil, sweetheart. I know. I want to be there. It’s only three more weeks. I got to see your speech this morning. Gil you looked so handsome…so sexy…so hot. I like your beard that way. I am definitely going to have some new fantasies about you tonite, my swashbuckling pirate. Your speech was so simple in sentiment…so moving. Oh Gil…I am so proud of you. I know you didn’t want to do this whole thing but you carried it off with such grace. But Gil how are you feeling…you looked awfully tired…Gil be honest with me.”

“I’m not doing very well right now Sara. Dr. Carruthers says I have pneumonia. But I’m at home now. My mom is going to stay at least until you get back. Noreen is staying too to help.”

“But Gil, do you have the room.”

“You never had a tour of my townhouse yet, have you Sara.”

“No I haven’t even seen the master suite…just the kitchen and the living room couch. I saw the interview on CNN too Gil. Your mother is quite proud of you and she spilled the beans on you too. What other secrets are you hiding Gil Grissom? How many grandchildren does your mother want? Seriously, I know you are terribly embarrassed by all this. It will die down. Oh Gil I shouldn’t keep you on the phone you are probably exhausted. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Sara don’t hang up please…Read me something I promise I’ll go to sleep…read to me Sara.”

“I brought the book of sonnets with me to New York. The one you gave me last Christmas. Ok, get comfortable.” As gently and as softly as she could she began to read what she knew were some of Gil’s favorite Shakespearean sonnets. She listened closely to his breathing which sounded raspy and somewhat wheezy. By the time she had started the third sonnet she was sure he had fallen asleep. She kept reading because she knew someone would pick up the receiver eventually. She felt a very personal connection with Gil repeating this same activity several times since they had become an “item”. She was suddenly startled by Mrs. Grissom’s voice. “Sara he’s asleep…thank you. He was so agitated earlier. I’m so worried about him Sara. He’s so sick again. He’s in so much pain. I’m surprised he admitted it even to me. That’s your influence Sara. Thank you. I keep saying that I know but you are so good for him Sara. You really love him. Gil needs you Sara. I don’t know what will happen to him if you leave him. Don’t leave him Sara.”

“Mrs. Grissom, I love Gil. I think I loved him the first time I saw him. I know how hard things may get…but I’m here for the long haul. It’s taken us ten years to get together. No matter what happens, I am staying. I won’t let him push me away. I’m going to find a way for him to get to 100% again or as close to that as we can manage. I will help him work with whatever disabilities he may have. The Gil I know is still there, in a lot of pain, sick, exhausted, unsure and maybe a little off-track; but Gil is there. That hasn’t changed. I know what I want; what I’ve always wanted, Gilbert Grissom. I love him. I’m in love with him every last difficult atom of him. I’m addicted and I don’t want the cure.”

Mrs. Grissom laughed softly. “It won’t be easy Sara. Gil has never opened his heart easily. He will fight you for control. You must find a way to build a partnership. Even with me he resists sharing. But I think you are the one. That special person who completes him. I think you two will have a most special relationship, a most special love. Please call again tomorrow. Gil needs you now much more than his mother. Good night Sara.”

“I will call every day, every night Mrs. Grissom. Good night.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ritz-Carleton NYC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sara snapped her cell phone closed. She was worried. Gil didn’t sound good. He was sick again. [I’ll have to depend on the team, his mom and Noreen to take care of him until I get back. Damn Ecklie. Remember Sara you are here to figure out how to help Gil.] She looked at her watch. [Damn I have got to get to those Holistic seminars.] The seminar she had decided to attend was [“Alternative Medicine: What is the Difference between Conventional and Holistic Medicine?” Lecturer: Sarah Miles-David.] She settled in her seat with the packet of information given her by the concierge.

[Sarah Miles-David…I know that name from somewhere. I wonder could it be.] Sara concentrated on the podium as the lecturer walked up to it and began to speak:

“Good afternoon, seekers after knowledge. I know some of you are here out of curiosity and some to find knowledge. I think you will both achieve your goals.
…Orthodox medicine, also called allopathy, defines health as the absence of disease. This definition is based on a negative. In contrast, holistic medicine concurs with the definition of health used by the World Health Organization (WHO), which posits that it is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. (Holistic-online. (http://www.holistic-online.com/Alt_Medicine/altmed_differences.htm)). That is what we will talking about tonight and in all the seminars; heath is more than treating disease. Holistic medicine focuses on preventing illness and maintaining wellness…

And so the lecturer went on to touch on several areas; talking about strengthening natural resistance; on treating disease as an underlying instability in the “physical and mental harmony of the body.” (http://www.holistic-online.com/Alt_Medicine/altmed_differences.htm)).

Sara was scribbling notes furiously. This was what she was looking for; this was the kind of information that would help Gil. When this introductory lecture was over, Sara went to the front of the auditorium to talk to the lecturer. Sara needed to find out if this person was her friend.

The closer she got to the podium the bigger the smile on her face got.

“Sarah M…”

“Sara S…”

“Sisters!” They exclaimed together as they hugged. “So Sara what are you doing here? I thought you were a science geek?”

“I am and proud of it. So how did you get involved in all this holistic medicine and healing? I thought you were a math geek.”

“I am still a math geek…teaching at NYU…this is a kind of cause for me. It’s because of Brad.”

“Brad? Come on we have some serious catching up to do…you hungry? They have a great vegetarian chef here…order anything you like….Gil has given me carte blanche.”

Sara and Sarah locked arms and walked out of the auditorium towards the restaurant. The chef pulled out the stops and prepared a special vegetarian feast for the two ‘sisters’. While they talked about different topics and caught up on the events of their lives since Harvard, it wasn’t until dessert and coffee that the serious topics were discussed.

“Ok tell me about Brad…spill it sista’”

“Brad is my husband. He’s a lieutenant in the New York City PD. We have two children twins, a boy and a girl. The reason I am so into holistic medicine is Brad. About three years ago Brad was shot in the back during a bank robbery by the bank security guard…the dirty bastard. Oh Sara we didn’t even know whether he would live. Then we worried about whether he would walk again. We had only been married a year at the time. He was in a lot of pain. Sara he tried to kill himself three times. I was desperate to do something anything to help him. If I could have laid down my life I would have done that in a second. We were at a pain management clinic, the fifth one we tried in as many months. Believe it or not I was reading a Reader’s Digest and I saw an article about Holistic Healing. I decided to do research on it and found a whole new way of looking at health and life. Oh Sara, the things I learned yoga, acupuncture, acupressure, massage therapy, holistic diets. Brad was really reluctant at first. He’s pretty open about a lot of things but he’s a cop and he was pretty straight laced and conservative.”

“So Sarah what did you do? How did you convince him to at least try?”

“That’s where the big carrot comes in…”

“The big carrot…I’m intrigued…tell me more.”

“Two words…tantric sex.”

“Tantric sex...I’m not familiar with that…what does it involve?”

“Oh Sara you wouldn’t believe how great our relationship is now. It’s about trust, intimacy, sharing, partnership and being in the moment. It’s so erotic and God Sara the orgasms…oh you just wouldn’t believe it. We make love for hours. Every morning before we both go to work, we have a tantric quickie. And the big carrot…teaching Brad to be multi-orgasmic. The more alternative medicine he was exposed to, the more he bought in. Especially since it really helped the pain. He was able to return to work. He’s healthy, fit and we have two wonderful children. So I became a licensed yoga therapist and I also teach meditation and help do tantric sex seminars. So I teach part-time at NYU and do these seminars part-time. In four months I will have a sabbatical and Brad, the kids and I are going to Hawaii. We are going to be giving Tantric Sex seminars for couples. I haven’t quite convinced Brad to be an instructor but I’m glad we will be there together. It’s going to be great the time off together with the kids. I’m so happy right now. So Sara what’s up with you? Anyone special in your life?”


“This is so strange. You remember Dr. Grissom from the Harvard forensic seminars? Well we are finally an item.”

“Grissom…is that the same Dr. Grissom that was on CNN today? Wow Sara he is hot! But he looked tired.”

“Well that’s the reason I’m investigating these seminars. I’m really worried about him. He was shot during that incident. Two high velocity bullets to left thigh. He had a serious fracture of his left femur. For the past six weeks it’s been one problem after another. They gave him the wrong anesthetic for surgery and he had a bad allergic reaction. He had a severe bone infection after the first surgery, so the surgery to stabilize his fractured femur was delayed. Then after that surgery he had another infection. Then his boss decided I needed to come to New York for a forensic seminar. So I missed being there for Gil and the awards ceremony. And now he’s home from hospital but he has pneumonia and Sarah he’s in so much pain. All the time. I need to do something to help him.” She couldn’t help breaking down again as she had in the auditorium. Her emotions were too raw. The awards ceremony had ripped off the healing scab and made the pain immediate and right now. [She wanted Gil’s warm muscular arms around her now. She wanted to bury her head into his solid chest. She wanted to kiss him on the lips. Sweetly and tenderly hard and needful. How she lusted after those kisses. It was all she had from him and when she thought more was coming…bam…bam and Gil was lying in the parking lot, blood forming an ever widening pool beneath his body.]

“Sara…it’s ok…you will get through it…I’ll help you. I will tell you what seminars you need to go to and will set up a program of therapies to try. I have contacts everywhere. I will get you hooked up with some colleagues in Vegas. Hey, when you and Gil are ready come to Hawaii for an extended vacation. It will be on me. You won’t regret it. Now let’s get to work.”

Sara and Sarah worked through the night arguing and searching the Internet II until they had developed a comprehensive roadmap or plan of action with names to contact back in Vegas and therapies most appropriate for Gil’s case.

“Now Sara you need to learn some important things so you can monitor the therapies and perform a few of them yourself…”

“Me? I can’t do this…”

“Sara you can’t expect Gil to cooperate if you are not firmly behind these therapies one hundred percent. So get your leotards ready, you have some work to do!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grissom Townhouse ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After bringing in Mrs. Grissom’s luggage and transferring it upstairs to her room, Brass decided to leave and he gave Aron a ride back to the station for his shift. Brass knew that Grissom was in good hands. He had given Noreen a list of names of police officers and their family members to call if she needed any help with Grissom. As he was leaving Dr. Carruthers approached Grissom’s townhouse. “Hi Dr. Max. You are here to see Grissom?”

“Yes I said I would be here to check on him. He is my patient after all.”

“Right, no special favors huh? See you later. You take could care of him.”

“Don’t worry about it Captain. Don’t worry about that.” A final wave goodbye and she walked through the open door. Maxine saw Noreen and another woman who had Dr. Grissom’s features sitting together with mugs of tea sitting between them.

“Hello, Noreen. Sorry I don’t know the woman with you.”

“Hello Dr. Carruthers. Where are my manners. Mrs. Olivia Mary MacDonald Bruce Grissom, may I present Dr. Maxine Carruthers. She did the two surgeries on your son and is supervising his care.”

“Good evening Dr. Carruthers please call me Olivia. I am very worried about my son. Why is my son’s condition so bad? I have talked to Captain Brass and Noreen about what has happened. Now I want to hear from you.”

“Olivia, I want you to know we try to take every precaution and do the best we can for each patient. Sometimes it is not enough. Your son was shot with two high-velocity bullets in his left thigh. These bullets did extensive damage to the vascular system in his thigh. If not for the prompt actions of Sara Sidle and Captain Brass, he would have expired at the scene. He also suffered two fractures of the femur including one that was displaced meaning the bone fragments were separated from the main bone. There was also extensive contamination of the wound site from the crime scene. This is not the best scenario for an entirely positive outcome medically.”

“We planned to do two or three surgeries to address all the medical issues. The most immediate concern was to restore complete vascular flow as soon as possible. Unfortunately the first anesthetist gave Dr. Grissom the wrong anesthetic to which he is allergic. Again Sara Sidle was instrumental in calming Dr. Grissom and convincing him to give us another chance. We completed that surgery quite successfully.”

“He had a post-operative infection which we believe now damaged not only the bone but the nerves in the area. Again Sara Sidle stayed by his side and helped him through this setback. However, it did delay the planned surgery for about a week. The second surgery had no repeat of the incidents from the first. But Dr. Grissom suffered a second post-operative infection. I think this further damaged the nerves his leg. This is not an unusual post-operative complication but the severity of his symptoms is somewhat unusual. We have had other problems with which to deal.”

“Frankly, Olivia your son is a lousy patient. He really doesn’t like hospitals or being fussed over. He can be most uncooperative. Sara Sidle seems to be the only one who can get him to cooperate and of course since Noreen has come on board things had been looking up.”

“Dr. Carruthers, how did this pneumonia happen?”

“Well Olivia, hospitals are notorious places for picking up secondary infections especially for a depleted immune system. Dr. Grissom isn’t eating right, his muscle tone is shot and he has no energy reserves. I am also beginning to believe that mentally and emotionally, Dr. Grissom was suffering from burnout. He has been a CSI for more than twenty years; most CSIs last five years before changing careers. He never takes time off. He hasn’t taken a vacation in any one’s living memory. He had no life outside of work until recently. His recovery period will be long and arduous. To his credit, Dr. Grissom does have a fantastic support group. After getting him through this latest setback we have two major problems: rebuilding his physical condition and pain management.”

“I see but I think we need to address his emotional and spiritual needs also. But your profession doesn’t seem to be equipped to deal with those concerns. I think we, ‘his family’, will be responsible for that.”

“Olivia I will take any help I can get. Your son saved my brother’s life. My brother is very dear to me. He is the only family I have left. I will support you. I want Dr. Grissom to get better. I will do anything to achieve that objective.” Olivia and Dr. Carruthers shook hands and then hugged.

“Well I should take a look at my patient. Will you show me where he is?”

Grissom had been asleep for several hours. At the moment he seemed quite agitated. He was carrying on some sort of battle in his dreams. “Noreen, can you wake him up…I really need to check him out.”


“Dr. Grissom, time to wake up.” Grissom’s eyes fluttered open. He looked confused for a moment and then awareness returned. “I’m home…good…I thought I was back in the hospital for a moment.” His words came out between breathless gasps. “I’m so tired. Sara hasn’t called yet, has she? Is my mom still here?”

“Yes, Dr. Grissom. Your mother is still here. You can talk to her in a minute. I just want to check you over.” Dr. Maxine put the digital thermometer in his mouth and took his pulse. She took his blood pressure. The digital thermometer beeped. [Temperature 104…Pulse 88…Blood pressure 160/100.] “Dr. Grissom can you lean forward; I want to listen to your chest. Can you take a deep breath for me and hold it? Again. Now I want to you breathe as normally as you can. Okay you can lean back.” Dr. Max pulled up the front of his t-shirt. She listened to his heart and to his lungs again. She shook her head. “Dr. Grissom I don’t like that rattle I’m hearing. Your temperature, BP and pulse are all elevated. You are making me look like a bad doctor. I’m prescribing some more medicines. I’ll call them in and they should be here shortly. Frankly you aren’t getting better in fact you are getting worse. If I don’t see a turnaround tomorrow, I’m afraid I’m going to have to put you back into hospital.”

“No hospital…I won’t go…where’s Sara…Sara…” Grissom was beginning to hyperventilate and struggling to get out of bed.

“Dr. Grissom calm down. Noreen! Noreen! Olivia!” Dr. Maxine was yelling for help as she tried to calm the struggling Grissom. Noreen and Olivia rushed into the bedroom. Noreen looked at her watch. She needed to get Sara on the phone now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ritz Carleton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sara and Sarah decided to call it quits for the night. Sarah was gathering her belongings to leave when her cell phone began to ring. “Sarah, can you wait a minute while I answer this?”

“Sure, Sara…”

“Sidle…Noreen. What’s wrong? Did something happen to Gil?”


“Sara you need to talk to him now…I think he’s having a panic attack. His condition is not improving. Dr. Maxine mentioned going back in the hospital…well…talk to him…calm him down.”


Sara started talking “Gil, honey…I’m here. Gil talk to me…” Sara continued talking to Gil hoping he would eventually answer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grissom’s Townhouse ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Noreen put the bedside phone on speaker so Grissom could hear Sara’s voice. After a minute or two Grissom realized that he wasn’t imagining it. That was Sara’s voice. “Sara…is that you…I won’t go back Sara…” It was difficult for him to talk when he could hardly breathe.

“Gil you have to calm down. Just try. Small breaths slow and shallow. Slow and shallow Gil.”

“Sara this is Dr. Carruthers tell Dr. Grissom I want to give him a mild sedative to help him relax. I won’t bring up the hospital again. I promise.”

“Gil Dr. Max wants to give you a mild sedative. It will help you calm down and make it easier to breathe.”

“No…I won’t…Sara come home…Sa…” Grissom slumped over. Dr. Carruthers pulled up Grissom’s shirt to check his heart and lungs. She breathed a sigh of relief. [Just passed out…thank God…] “Sara, its Dr. Max. He passed out. I have given him some shots including a mild sedative. I will have to watch what I say in the future. I am staying the night. Thank you for your help. I’ll call you if anything changes.”

“Thanks, Dr. Max. Good night.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ritz-Carleton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sara was crying again. “Oh Sara…how is Gil? Is he alright?”

“He’s worse. He had a panic attack and passed out. I need to go back. I need to take care of him.”

“Sara, you have to stay and finish your seminar. You also have a lot to learn from me and my colleagues. This is the best way to help Gil. You know that…you have to finish what you started. Don’t give Gil any more problems to worry about. Ok, Sara?”

“You are right. I’ll see you tomorrow. I need to go to bed.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grissom Townhouse ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Noreen had gone to the door to get the delivery from the man from the pharmacy.
Dr. Max put some medication in a small bottle attached to a nebulizer mask which replaced the nasal oxygen tube. She also injected more powerful antibiotics and a mild sedative. She sat up all night with Grissom monitoring his vital signs. Noreen brewed some special herb and spice mixture and bathed his face and chest with it. Olivia sat and stroked her son’s hand and talked softly to him in Gaelic. Several hours passed. One by one Gil’s caretakers fell asleep. It was 730 am. Dr. Maxine woke first. She tried to rub the bleariness from her eyes as she looked at Dr. Grissom. He looked so peaceful and still. [Oh my God…He died I know it…It’s my entire fault…] She used her stethoscope to listen for a heartbeat. [It was steady and not as frantic as yesterday.] She stuck the digital thermometer in his mouth. She took his pulse and blood pressure. [Back to almost normal.] She checked the thermometer, 100 degrees. She smiled and let go the breath she had been holding. [I think we turned the corner.]

TBC