Retribution

Chapter: 24

7 months later………………

Sara fiddled with the buttons on her shirt. Popping open another one towards the bottom. Her protruding belly was a huge annoyance to her clothes. Nothing fit for long, as her baby just got bigger and bigger. She was almost at full term now. She sat back in her chair and picked the book back up. The latest edition of the forensic journal she knew he loved. This was only one of the dozens of books she had read to him while he still lay unconscious in his hospital bed. His wound had healed, stitches held but he had not regained consciousness. From what the Doctors could see, there was no major damage to the brain. A little swelling but nothing they thought would cause major concern. But he hadn’t woken! The Doctors conducted numerous tests but informed Sara that this did happen sometimes, she was previously warned that he may not wake. His body was physically capable but mentally he seemed to be lost. His body could not tell his brain to bring him out of the coma he had drifted so deep into. All she could do was wait, hope and pray. She did, every single day. She tried to stay as positive as she could. She had hope. He would wake up. He had too!

Kate and Bobby had been remanded in custody for up to 12 months. The judge was quite clear that if Grissom hadn’t come around by then, Sara would have to go it alone at the trial. That was something she did not want to do and the whole thought of it made her shiver. She had tried so hard to forget what they’d been through let alone have to relive the whole thing without Grissom by her side.

The CSI team had been amazing. So supportive. Between them they had taken Hank in so Sara didn’t have to worry about him until she was ready. She’d gotten so many baby gifts you’d think she was opening a nursery. Sara very rarely went home. She’d pretty much moved into the hospital with the permission of the Doctors. Setting up home in Grissom’s room. A bed had been moved in for her as she was pretty much there 6 out of 7 days a week. She just wanted to be close to him constantly. No one, no matter how hard they tried could drag her away. She only went home for supplies and fresh clothes. She showered in Grissom’s bathroom and held his hand while she slept. She didn’t sleep much but tried for the sake of the baby. She knew all the Doctors and nurses by name now and they knew her. After a while she had been allowed to care for Grissom. Bath him and shave him when he got too furry. She had considered letting him grow into a yeti but didn’t think he’d be too impressed waking to find out he’d turned into Big Foot. She chuckled at the thought. He’d greyed slightly throughout the months, but she didn’t care.

“Ow!”, came from her lips all of a sudden and she put the book down. “Oooph!” and again.

She lifted her shirt and took Grissom’s hand. The baby kicked again, harder as Sara placed his hand on her swollen stomach. Sara had decided she was having a girl, even though she didn’t know the sex. The baby kicked hard against Grissom’s touch.

“A real daddy’s girl already I see”, she smiled to herself as the baby kicked one final time before settling.

“You see what your missing mister?” She said to Grissom.

She reached over and gently stroked his forehead. She placed his hand back down softly, looking at it for a second. It had healed well. He’d been given numerous skin grafts and treatments to try and make it look as normal as possible. It looked odd with the finger missing but it didn’t matter.

Sara stood and walked up to the window just as a glowing ray of sun light shined through, beaming off her. She yawned and stretched contently. She felt tired. Really tired. She looked out to the vast gardens of the hospital. It looked so peaceful. Then breathed in deeply inhaling the fresh air which was floating in through the open window. Her hair wafting slightly through the breeze. Then she heard it…..very softly…….

“Am I dead?”

Sara froze and she felt her heart pound. Hard!

She tried to turn around but she couldn’t move. Her feet wouldn’t allow it, her legs wouldn’t allow it, her brain was saying…”why are you asking me! I only work here!”, so her heart kicked in and she turned to be greeted by his weary but ever so gleaming blue eyes finally open and looking directly at her.

She was speechless, after 7 months she thought she’d know what to say, but she just couldn’t get anything out. She slowly walked towards the bed. A tear falling down her cheek, her mouth catching flies. Grissom’s eyes drifted to her stomach and he looked stunned. Then they moved back up to meet hers as she approached. He licked his lips, his mouth dry.

She placed her hand on his cheek and gently stroked his skin. Tears now streaming down her face.

“Why did you ask if you were dead?” She finally managed to say.

“You…by the window..I…I thought I was in heaven.

Sara’s face crumbled now. “Oh god!”, she gasped reaching down softly taking him into an embrace. Wrapping her arms firmly around him, never wanting to let go.

A nurse walked in. “Well, look who’s finally awake!” She said to the reunited couple. “I’ll go get the Doctor” and with that she disappeared again.

Sara finally let go and sat on the edge of the bed. Grissom couldn’t take his eyes of her swollen belly. Sara noticed him staring and smiled. She took his hand, lifted her shirt and held his hand to her stomach. “Our baby”, she said softly, just as the baby kicked out at the touch of it’s father.

A small smile appeared on Grissom’s lips.

“You have a habit of making that happen”, Sara chuckled.

“I do?”

“A ha!”

“How long until…..” Grissom had no idea how long he’d been gone for, but he could tell by her size it had been a while.

“About 5 weeks. You’ve been unconscious for 7 months Gil, I was 3 weeks when I found out, just after…..” She stopped looking back into his eyes. A single tear fell down her cheek. Grissom reached up and wiped it away. His memory was a little choppy but he certainly remembered what happened. Sara had been trying to deal with it over the months, but he had yet to cope with the pain. They would get through it together. He knew that and squeezed her hand tightly.

Doctor Peters walked in. “Well Dr Grissom, glad to see you are finally back with us.”

Grissom squeezed Sara’s hand a little tighter as he approached the bed. A little nervous.

“You’ve got quite a woman her”, he said placing his hands on Sara’s shoulders. “She never gave up on you. Practically moved in here, we were considering charging her rent”.

Grissom gave Sara a loving look as she smiled at the compliment.

“I’m just going to have a look in your eyes Gil ok?”

Grissom nodded as the Doctor shone his pen light into Grissom’s eyes one by one.

“Do you have any pain?”

“Not really, a little headache.”

“Hmm, that’s pretty normal considering the amount of time you’ve been asleep.”

The doctor headed to the foot of the bed and snuck up the covers to reveal Grissom’s feet.

“Can you feel that?” The Doctor asked scratching at Grissom’s toes, one by one.

Grissom nodded.

“Good, very good. Well from what I can see you seem to have no physical issues and have made an amicable recovery. We just have to get you walking again. It may take a little time to get you back on your feet and your back will probably hurt for a while, so once we get you up and running, no strenuous activities for a while ok?”

Grissom looked at Sara who just grinned at him patting her stomach. They both knew they were thinking exactly the same thing.