Sources

Chapter 30

Sara gripped the edge of her seat tightly as Mandy sped down the streets of Las Vegas in the Tahoe. Common sense was telling her to make Mandy slow down. But common sense had gone out the window the moment she heard that Grissom had been taken to Desert Palms Hospital.

"Try Warrick again, see if he knows anything new," Mandy urged.

Sara nodded. She tried dialing, but her cell phone battery had died. She swore loudly, fighting back tears.

Warrick's voice had been shaky when he called. "Something's happened," he'd said. "Grissom's hurt. They're taking him to Desert Palms. That's all I know. I'll call as soon as I find out more."

Now, in the car with nothing to do but think, Sara wondered if Grissom were already dead. Was it quick, or had he suffered? Had his last thought been of her? She felt a terrible ache deep in her chest, thinking about the future they could have shared.

"Stop it, Sar," Mandy said sharply, hitting a curb as she sped around a corner. "We don't know what's happened yet. Don't assume the worst."

Sara's tears spilled over, and she felt herself choking with sobs. "Three months isn't enough," she bawled. "I wanted to be with him the rest of my life."

"Stop. He could be fine, for all we know."

Sara felt her cheek, remembering the last time he'd touched her. If she'd suspected it would be the last contact they'd ever had, she wouldn't have showered. Now there wasn't a trace of him left on her.

Mandy wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to focus on the road.

Someone was stroking his forehead. The gentle touch of a woman, a woman who was whispering his name.

He struggled to open his eyes. "Head hurts."

"I know," the voice murmured.

He sighed. "Can you get me my migraine pills, honey?"

A sharp intake of breath, quickly followed by a loud and incredulous "Honey?!" forced Grissom's eyes open. He was lying on a hospital bed. Catherine was standing beside him, while Nick and Greg sat by his bed. Warrick hovered near the doorway.

He blinked, hard. "What happened?"

"Perp took a swing at the back of your head with a pipe," Nick replied, looking pale.

"How am I still alive?"

Nick faltered.

"The guy was right behind you for the first swing," Greg supplied. "Didn't have much power in it. Nick took him out before he could get another crack at you."

That explained the distraught look on Nick's face. He'd killed a man.

"Nicky." Grissom waited until the younger man's eyes met his. "Thank you." A quick nod was his only response.

There was a long silence. "So, Gil, what's this 'honey' business?" Catherine asked, attempting to lighten the mood.

Warrick's eyes danced at Grissom. Catherine was getting suspicious. It was only a matter of time.

"He must have thought it was Lisa," Greg replied simply. Every head in the room turned to look at him.

"Lisa?" Catherine asked, perplexed.

"Who's Lisa?" Grissom demanded.

Greg's eyes grew wide.

He's putting it together, Warrick thought. He's realizing it's an anagram. Come on, Greggo, say it!

Gulping for air, Greg finally spoke. "I don't believe it."

"What?" Warrick asked eagerly.

"Grissom has amnesia!"

Warrick put his fist in his mouth.

Catherine shook her head slowly. "Greg, I don't know what you're talking about. Who is this Lisa?"

"Lisa Sader. Grissom's girlfriend." At Catherine's dubious expression, Greg added, "Sara and Warrick met her."

She turned to Warrick, floored. "You've met Grissom's girlfriend?"

Warrick swallowed. "Uh, yeah, I guess technically I did."

Grissom shook his head, trying not to laugh. "Lisa Sader."

Letting out a short chuckle, Warrick nodded.

Sara and Mandy raced through the hospital, following signs to the emergency room. When they caught sight of Warrick's tall frame filling a doorway, Sara stopped abruptly. He was laughing.

She approached the doorway slowly, taking in the sight of relaxed Warrick, pale Nick, confused Greg, amused Grissom, annoyed Catheri-

Her eyes widened. Grissom?

An unfettered rage erupted from deep inside her. She felt tears start streaming down her face as she punched Warrick's arm over and over.

"Sara, what the hell?"

Her anger only grew. "I thought he was dead, Warrick! How hard would it have been for you to let me know he was okay?!"

He shielded himself from her blows. "I tried! It kept saying that your phone was turned off!"

Mandy grasped her shoulders, pulling her away from Warrick. "Sar, the battery died, remember?"

She shook her head, still bubbling with fury.

"Sara." Grissom's voice was low and soothing, like a balm to her heart. She felt her anger give way to sorrow, and cried harder.

"Sara, come here."

She flew across the room and into his open arms. He held her, fighting back his own tears. "Ssh, it's okay, baby," he murmured.

Catherine's jaw dropped open. Baby?

"It's not okay, Grissom!" Sara wept. "It's nowhere being okay! You promised me."

"And I kept my promise. I'm still here." He ran his hand over her back slowly, calming her sobs until she was sniffling quietly.

Mandy came up to stand behind Nick, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. He closed his eyes briefly, as soothed by her touch as Sara was by Grissom's.

Once her tears had subsided, Sara started to pull away. Grissom caught her, ignoring his aching head, and drew her in for a soft kiss.

"Okay, what the hell is going on?" Catherine shrieked.

"What do you think is going on?" Warrick baited her.

"Holy crap!" Greg said, his eyes wide. "Are. are they."

Warrick nodded encouragingly. "Are they what?" His question was met by silence. "Come on, man, the pool's up to five hundred bucks, spit it out!"

Catherine turned on him with fire in her eyes. "You knew? How long did you know?!"

Greg was equally indignant. "They told you, and they didn't tell me?!"

Nick blinked. "Wait, are Griss and Sara, like, going out?"

Sara threw her hands up in victory as Warrick slumped to the floor in agonized defeat.