Retribution

Chapter: 27

“Agh!” Grissom gasped as his head shot up. He tried to focus.

“Hey….” Came a soft voice as he felt a hand and a soft caress of his cheek. A familiar touch.

He turned to see Sara sitting next to him, warmly gripping his hand while she stroked his cheek. She reached up and wiped a little sweat from his brow. “It’s ok…I think you were having a little nightmare there.”

He looked around. He was in the back of Catherine’s Denali. She was driving. Sara buckled in tightly next to him, her belly hanging through the belt. A concerned look on her face.

Grissom swallowed, his mouth was bone dry.

“Where are we?” He asked shaking his head a little, still trying to pull his thoughts together.

“Were almost home, we left the hospital about half an hour ago remember? You fell asleep.”

“Oh..” Was all he could whisper. The dream still very vivid in his mind, he was visibly shaken.

“Are you ok baby?” Sara now cupped his face gently with both hands.

He looked deep into her eyes. He actually thought he’d lost her. He nodded.

“I’m ok…bad dream….that’s all…”

“Want to talk about?” Sara was hoping for a positive answer.

Grissom thought for a second then shook his head.

“Ok”, Sara said softly, resting his head on her shoulder, cradling him. He sighed at the immediate comfort he felt in her arms. Sara was worried and a little disappointed. He still wouldn’t talk to her. She knew he had too and soon or it would consume him.

Catherine smiled as she watched the couple through her rear view mirror. Hoping to herself that one day…she could find love like that.

Catherine carried their bags up the driveway as Grissom hobbled with his cane. Sara trying to support him best she could in her condition. All Grissom could think was that this was strangely familiar. They entered the house and Catherine placed their bags down.

“Right”, she said. “I’ll leave you two to it. You need anything, you call me ok?”

“Sure you don’t want to stay for a coffee?” Sara asked.

“Thanks, but I have to go pick up Lyndsey. She’s just down the street at Emily’s. I catch you guys later.” With that she smiled and headed out.

A few seconds later Sara rushed to follow her. “I’ll be back in a sec”. She said to Grissom. Before Grissom could say anything she’d disappeared.

Grissom looked around the house. Nothing had changed. Except…….a new coffee table! Grissom frowned as he stared at it. This was getting weird.

“Cath!” Sara shouted just as she was unlocking the car. She stopped and turned.

Sara reached her a little out of breath holding her belly. “I just wanted to say thank you. For everything. I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye but…these past few months….if it wasn’t for you….I don’t think I would have coped. Thank you!”

Catherine gave Sara a broad smile. “Your welcome. I’m glad were finally friends. And…I know you would have done the same for me.”

Sara nodded as Catherine smiled again. “I’ll see you later”, she got in the car and drove away. Sara headed back to the house.

She closed the front door and noticed Grissom staring at the coffee table. He looked at her.

“Present from…..” she began but Grissom finished her sentence.

“Nick”.

Sara frowned. “How did you know that?”

Grissom didn’t say anything, just shrugged his shoulders. He was highly freaked out now. His dream seemed to be coming a reality. He shook his head dismaying the thought. Not possible, he said to himself.

“You hungry?” Sara asked.

Grissom’s face dropped. “What?”

“Are you hungry?” She walked towards him noticing he gone a little pale again.

“Gil…are you ok? You don’t seem all there right now”.

No he wasn’t ok. He was loosing his marbles. His mind was freaking, oh shit….of shit….oh shit, running through his brain. What’s going on?

He shook his head. “Sorry. I’m fine. Just a lot to take in. Home for the first time in a long time…and it just feels….odd. That’s all.”

“So….”

“So?”

“Are you hungry?”

“Egh! No, not really. You?” The thought of this dream was consuming him, he had to change it somehow.

“No I’m ok, I’ll make something later.”

Grissom nodded and breathed a sigh a relief.

Sara stretched and held her back. “I could use a bath though. Sick of damn showers.”

Grissom’s head shot up - CRAP!

He stepped towards Sara a totally lost look on his face.

“Gil…?” Sara seemed confused when he placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Sara how do you feel?”

“Huh?”

“How do you feel?”

“Tired, achy, the normal……why…….?”

“You don’t have any pain in your stomach or anything?”

Sara frowned. “No…..I’m fine. What’s brought all this on?”

“I think I should take you to the surgery, just for a check up”.

“Gil, I’m fine. What’s wrong with you?”

Then they both jumped…….a knock at the door. Grissom looked positively shocked and Sara noticed the look on his face.

“Gil your scaring me now!”

“I’m scaring myself”, he mumbled as he answered the door. Catherine! Holding up, none other than a bathroom bag.

“Left this in the car”, she said swirling it around from side to side.

Grissom took the bag and looked back at Sara. She was now tapping her foot impatiently. What was wrong with him?

“Cath will you do me a favour?” He asked.

“Another one?” She replied grinning.

“Will you give me a lift down to the surgery so I can get Sara checked over?”

“Grissom!!!” Sara screeched. He cringed at little at her use of his surname.

Catherine looked at Sara. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” Sara snapped back. “Nothing at all. Grissssssssom………….” She gritted her teeth hard.

Grissom shot his hand up for Sara to stop and gave her a serious look.

She folded her arms sharply, a disgruntled look on her face.

“Ooook….” Catherine said. “Whatever you want, I’ll be waiting in the car”.

Grissom walked back to Sara, placing a hand on her cheek. She pulled away. She was not impressed.

“Sara please…humour me ok…..I……I just have feeling. Please Sara?”

She looked back into his eyes. He was serious about this.

“Just let me prove myself wrong. Please do this for me…I just want to make sure your ok. Then I’ll drop it. I promise. Please…..”

Her heart lightened a little at his soft plea and his gentle touch as he now succeeded in caressing her cheek without her pulling back.

She sighed. “Ok….but you owe me a back rub for this as I’m missing out on my bath!”

Grissom smiled. “Ok”.

Grissom took her hand and they headed to the car.