Best of Intentions

Sara sat down by Grissom’s bedside and took his uninjured hand. “Boy does this seem familiar.” Grissom opened his eyes and looked at her. “Yeah but this time I’m awake, and I already know you love me.”

Sara kissed his hand and held it to her face as she started to cry. “The whole time we were working trying to find anything to give us a hint of where you were I was alright. But when I heard that shot inside the house and then SWAT went in, I thought I’d never see you again.”

Grissom gripped her hand tight as his own emotions caught up with him. “I know. There were times I thought it was over and I wasn’t going to make it. I started thinking how I’d never see your smile again, and then started praying that I’d be recognizable enough that you wouldn’t be the one to process the scene.” He took note of the dark circles around her eyes and her pale complexion. “Honey when was the last time you slept or ate?”

She wiped her eyes and smiled. “Catherine made sure I got at least a couple of hours of sleep every night, and tried to make sure I ate. That wasn’t easy though. Every time I ate I would up in the ladies room sick.”

Grissom nodded. “That makes sense. Excessive stress can do that.”

Sara took a deep breath and began. “It wasn’t just stress. It was getting so bad I went to the doctor this morning to get something to settle my stomach down. I figured if I didn’t I’d wind up with an ulcer or worse. It wasn’t just the stress causing it, and it should be better in a few weeks. But she did give me a prescription to settle it so I can at least eat.”

“It’s not just stress? What’s wrong honey?”

“Nothing is wrong. At least I don’t think it’s wrong, but you might have other ideas. I’m pregnant.”

Grissom looked stunned and then started to smile. “Pregnant? We’re having a baby?” Sara smiled and nodded. “When did this happen?”

“According to the ultrasound, about 7 weeks ago. Talk about the ultimate in cliché, married the man I love, lost my virginity and got pregnant on my wedding night.”

Grissom squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart this is wonderful. Why would you think I would think it was wrong?”

“Well we never really talked about having kids. I wasn’t sure what you would think.”

Grissom looked at her with tears in his eyes. “Honey I can assure you, this is a good thing.”

Sara started toward the bed and stopped. “This is so unfair. I just want to hold you right now, but I don’t want to hurt you.”

Grissom pulled her over to him, laid her head on his good shoulder and she wrapped her arm around his waist. “Just don’t squeeze too hard.” Within minutes she was asleep in his arms. He breathed in the scent of her shampoo and relaxed into her touch. This was the one thing he had thought he would never have again. Now he knew he was safe.

The next morning Sara woke when a hand touched her shoulder and she looked up to see Brass. “Why don’t you go home Sara?” She shook her head. “No I can’t leave him. Not now.” Brass patted her shoulder and nodded. “Catherine is back at the lab finishing up the paperwork. It’s over. Case closed.”

“You’re sure?” “Yeah it’s cut and dry. All the evidence backs up statements. It’s done.”

Grissom opened his eyes and looked at Brass. “So what happened?”

Brass sat down and started. “It seems that Trent Bryce, Michael Thomas and Chris Simons were all good friends. Michael had problems with his studies and just couldn’t hack it. He changed his major and it would be the same story. On weekends the three of them would get together to get loaded and have a bitch session about whatever professor ticked them off this week. Trent was an art student who apparently didn’t get any respect from his professors and was told point blank that he should find another field. We’re guess that’s what set him off. So when his good buddy Michael kept switching majors, he decided to help him out and get rid of the professors. According to their friends, this Trent had the hots for Michael and he never noticed. I guess he thought this would get him noticed. Michael is pretty upset over the whole thing. I mean three professors were killed for him and you could have been.”

A knock at the door caught their attention. “Hey Sara, is he up for visitors?” “Sure Nick, come on in.”

Nick, Warrick, Catherine, and Greg filed in bringing flowers and coffee. They had a nice visit while they mentally reassured themselves that Grissom was indeed all right, and then the nurse came in and not so subtly reminded them that he needed his rest. Before they could leave Grissom spoke up.

“Hey can one of you do me a big favor and take Sara home? She needs to eat and get some decent sleep.”

Sara glared at him and he held his ground. “Well you do, and you’re not going to get any decent rest sitting in that chair. I’ll be fine. I’m in good hands here, and I’ll rest better if I’m not worried about you.”

Nick smiled. “I’ll take her home Griss. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll make sure she eats and then gets some rest.”
“Thanks Nicky.”

Sara sighed and gave up. “OK you win. I’ll go and get some sleep. Actually I am kind of hungry too.”

Nick laughed. “Yeah after the last few days I bet you are. What are you in the mood for this morning?”

“Let’s swing by the diner by the lab. I’m dying for one of their bacon cheddar burgers with mushrooms and onions.”

Everyone stopped and stared at her. “What?” she asked. Grissom looked puzzled. “Sara did all the stress give you amnesia? You do remember you’re vegetarian don’t you?”

Sara just smiled. “Well I may be vegetarian, but obviously your baby isn’t. I’m craving a burger.”

Brass, Warrick and Greg looked shocked while Catherine and Nick just smiled at her. Greg found his tongue first. “Baby?!?! You did say baby. You’re pregnant? Oh that is just uuuh” he said with a shudder.

Catherine glared at him. “Greg what are you talking about. I think it’s nice.”

“Yeah but there are certain things my overactive imagination does not need, and one of them is thinking about the bug guy here having sex.”

Warrick chuckled. “Greg man, you do know they’re married. I mean come on, it has to happen occasionally.”

“Yeah that’s safe to assume, but as long as Sara wasn’t pregnant there was no evidence of that. My innocent little mind was safe. While I’m happy for you two and I’m sure you’ll make great parents, it’s just this is like thinking about my parents doin’ it.”

At that everyone had to laugh, even Grissom who immediately regretted it as his broken ribs made themselves known with a vengeance. Catherine started to chase Greg out “Alright you, no making the guy with broken ribs laugh. Let’s get out of here and let him rest. Nick, go feed Sara.”

Sara grabbed her purse and kissed Grissom good-bye. “I have a few calls to make anyway. And some boxes to pack since someone was going to be packing all this week after his office hours. But it seems he was a little tied up.”

Warrick put his hand on her shoulder. “Oh no you are not packing boxes. I’ll be over to give you a hand after you get some sleep. I’ll make a few calls to some friend’s of mine. They own a small moving company, so I’ll get them lined up to take care of everything.”

“War you don’t have to do that.”

“Hey how many times have you saved my ass Griss? The least I can do is make sure you get moved while you’re laid up and keep little mamma here from doing any lifting.”

Now Sara was getting steamed. “If you guys think that you can treat me different now that I’m pregnant you…”

“can go right ahead.” Grissom chimed in. “Sara the guys just want to look out for you, and they have a point. You have to be careful with the chemicals, you have to watch what you lift, and after the stress you’ve been under for the past few weeks with this case you need some down time. As soon as I’m up and around you better believe I’m going to pamper you, and if you think any of your modern feminist arguments are going to stop me, think again.”

She looked around the room and sighed. “I’m not going to win this one with all of you ganging up on me, am I?” Catherine chuckled. “Nope. Sara you have to trust me on this. If Gil and the guys want to coddle you a little, let them. It’s a guy thing with pregnant women, and it has its perks. One night I sent Eddie out for peach ice cream at 3am. And he got out of bed and went for it, no questions asked. I wanted it and that was enough.”

“OK I wont argue anymore. Nick, let’s go get my burger.”

Nick looked stunned as she walked out the door. “Wait you were serious about that?”

A week later Sara was supervising Warrick’s friends as they moved everything into the new house. Grissom was alternating between the sofa and the wheelchair to keep the pressure off his ribs. He wasn’t allowed to put any weight on his leg and his broken arm made crutches out of the question.

Warrick’s friends were all too happy to help out. They had heard about Grissom and everything he had done for Warrick over the years and were more than happy to help their friend do something for the man in return. Warrick’s grandmother pitched in as well making sure that everyone was fed, especially Sara who she thought was much too thin in the first place.

“Now Sara you just sit yourself down here and eat something. Those boys can get along fine for a few minutes without you.” Warrick’s grandmother was a slightly heavy set woman who still hung onto her native Alabama accent with confidence and a ‘take no crap’ attitude.

“Mrs. Brown really I’m fine. If you keep feeding me, I’ll be as big as a house.”

“Oh like you have to worry about that. Girl a stiff wind will knock you right over. You’re having a baby. You need to eat. Put a little meat on those bones. That man of yours has big hands; give the man something to hold onto.”
Warrick saw Sara turn bright red and shook his head. “Nana you did not just say that.”

“Oh you just be quiet. I don’t care what those magazines say. A real man likes a woman with a few curves. Isn’t that right Dr. Grissom?”

“Hey now leave me out of this.”

Sara’s eyes flashed anger. “Is that right? Don’t you like curves on women? Do they lose their appeal once they put on a few pounds? I guess I’ll be disgusting then since I’ll be putting on more than a few to have this baby.”

Grissom was stunned and confused. “Sara that’s not what I meant.” But it was too late. She had stormed off and locked herself in the downstairs bathroom. Grissom looked at Nana. “What did I do?”

Nana patted his hand. “Hon you didn’t do anything. It’s the hormones taking over. She’ll have herself a good cry and she’ll be out in a bit. Just go with whatever she does when she comes out. If she starts apologizing for yelling, tell her it’s fine. If she acts like it didn’t happen, then do that.”

Sara sat in the bathroom in tears. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Gil didn’t do anything. Why was I yelling at him? He’s been through hell and didn’t deserve that. Ok I do know what’s wrong. It’s hormones and they’re out of control. I’m a scientist; I know that’s what happens. Knowing what’s wrong isn’t making me feel any better. I’ve got to talk to Gil and apologize. He’ll understand. At least I hope he does.”

She dried her eyes and stood up, but was immediately hit by a sharp pain. She took a deep breath and the pain passed. As she walked into the kitchen, a stronger pain hit forcing her to grab the counter before she doubled over. Grissom saw her, but before he could react, another pain wracked her body sending her to her knees.

“Sara!”