Chapter twenty Four:
Three months later:
"He's being stubborn!" she complained.
"He'll come when he's ready."
"I think he's decided to stay in there…why not…it's nice and warm…no reason to leave," she said yawning.
"I thought you liked being pregnant," he said.
"I did. It's nice…all good things must come to an end," she said.
He grinned.
Their conversation had sounded like this for two weeks.
He was overdue.
The doctor had stated he would induce labor if Sara did not go into labor by next week. She had objected saying that he just needed time but now she was growing tired. It was difficult for her to sleep and her small frame ached from the weight.
"I could stay home today," he offered.
"Go to work," she said.
"You sure?" he asked.
"No reason for you to stay…not contractions…nothing," she said.
He kissed her on the lips and then left.
She rolled herself off the couch and began picking up. She grumbled at the things out of place. She dusted and then swept and then did the laundry. She was putting away the dishes when the doorbell rang. She opened it to find Brass standing there.
"I was in the neighborhood," he said with a smile.
He was.
Grissom and Sara had purchased a house just a few doors down from Brass.
"He already left for work," she said.
"I know, he stopped by," he said. "Guess I'm not going to win the baby pool,"
"You guessed today?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said with a grin.
"Sorry to disappoint you but he's not coming out today…I think we'll have to resort to eviction," she said.
Brass looked around, "Been cleaning?"
"I'm on a cleaning spree," she said.
He smiled.
She finished the dishes as he stood and chatted about work.
"Grissom doesn't tell me much," she said.
"He's protecting you."
"Still, I worry about him," she said.
"Don't. He's fine. I think the work keeps his mind off the baby…he's a bit obsessed."
She grinned.
She was glad someone had noticed.
A strange look crossed her face as she stared at him. He wasn't sure what it was.
"Sara?"
She looked down at the puddle in the floor and then looked up at him.
"My water just broke," she said.
His grin was huge.
"I just might win that baby pool after all," he said.
Grissom grabbed the paperwork from the inbox and groaned.
He hated paperwork.
He had gotten better at finishing it on time but still he disliked it.
He reached for his phone.
"Grissom"
"It's time," said Brass.
"Time for what?"
"Sara and I are on our way to the hospital. Her water broke." There was a silence.
"Gil?"
Another silence.
"Gil?"
"Is she alright?"
"She's doing great."
"Good…I'm on my way."
"Are you okay?" he asked suddenly.
"No…but I will be…as soon as she holds him," he said.
He let his fear out.
He had practically held his breath during the entire pregnancy and he was relieved when she opted to work part time at the lab so he could keep an eye on her.
She held nothing in and he held nothing back.
There was the elation she got when she solved a case and she enjoyed working with the others again. There was always the fear that something would go wrong. With each doctor appointment he stood by her side, holding her hand as he listened to their son's progress. Now, the wait was over. He breathed in deeply and found himself praying as he did every day that the baby and Sara would be fine.
"I'll take good care of her," said Brass.
He arrived almost the same time, meeting them at the entrance. He grinned and kissed her as they helped her into a wheelchair.
"Any contractions?" he asked.
"Two," she said.
Grissom glanced at her.
"How far apart?" he asked.
"Let's just say I'm definitely going to win that baby pool," said Brass.
He left them as the nurse began the process of checking them in.
"I'll let the others know," said Brass.
They sat in the room and watched the monitors as he timed her contractions.
"You're making progress," he said. "Almost too fast."
She glared at him, "Not fast enough!"
"They can give you something for the pain…are you sure you want…"
"No, I'm not sure. I've never done this before…here's another one," she said between clenched teeth.
She gripped his hand tightly.
It hurt.
She was strong.
"I'm going to get the nurse," he said.
"It's over…it's fine…I don't need the epidural," she said.
"Sara…"
She was gripping his hand again.
It was not time for another contraction but yet she was having one.
She held on tightly as she finally gasped for air.
"This hurts," she said as she braced herself for another one.
"I'm getting the nurse," he said.
He buzzed the nurse as another contraction hit.
The force of the contraction frightened him.
He was about to go after a nurse when she stepped in.
"Let's see how you're doing," she said.
She glanced at Sara and then she was up and out the door. Several other nurses arrived.
"What's going on?" asked Grissom nervously.
"Sara's fully dilated. We need to get her to delivery now," said the nurse.
"I want an epidural," cried Sara.
"It's too late," smiled the nurse. "It's almost over," she assured her.
Sara gripped Grissom's hand tighter.
"Don't let go," she said.
"I won't," he said.
He let go.
The nurse dragged him away and made him put on scrubs. He was back within minutes.
"I'm sorry," he said grabbing her hand again.
"It's fine," she said.
"No, I didn't mean to let go. She made me," he said.
"Gil…"
"I never would have let go…"
"Griss…"
"I had to put on these scrubs…"
"Gilbert!"
It got his attention.
"It's okay…really. I understand."
He smiled weakly.
"I think we're a mess again," she said.
He nodded.
"Gil, the baby is going to be fine…me too," she said.
He swallowed hard.
She recognized his fear.
"I promise," she said.
He leaned down and kissed her.
"I love you…always have…always will," he managed to get out.
She smiled this time as the contraction began again.
"Sara, don't push yet," said the nurse.
She didn't.
She closed her eyes and focused on the pain.
It was intense.
It hurt.
She didn't mind.
She would be holding him soon.
He would be holding them.
It was almost done.
"Sara?"
She opened her eyes and found herself in the delivery room.
"Now, when I tell you to…"
It seemed there was no time for instructions, the baby had his own agenda.
The contraction began and Sara pushed.
Another followed by another and then wailing.
She opened her eyes and they stared at him.
He did what all babies do and wailed but then he stopped the moment he was placed with her.
She counted his fingers and toes.
Grissom came up with the same number.
He was perfect.
Grissom held them as she predicted he would.
She smiled at him as the baby closed his eyes and slept.
She smoothed out the covers on the bed as she sat there and watched him hold the baby. He walked around gently talking with him as he rocked him in his arms. There was a glint in his eye each time he watched for the baby's reaction.
It caught her breath.
She was sore and worn out but the pain and discomfort could wait.
She wanted to sit and watch as father and son got to know one another.
He was good.
He cried very little and he seemed fascinated with Grissom's voice.
The door opened and the others came in.
She smiled as Catherine tried to jostle the baby from Grissom.
He was not ready to give him up.
Catherine was persistent.
"Let me hold him," said Catherine.
"He's almost asleep," said Grissom.
"He's wide awake," she replied.
Catherine frowned as he walked over and sat down in the rocker with the baby.
Nick leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.
He then made his attempts of getting the baby.
He sighed when Grissom refused.
"I've held lots of babies," he said.
"I haven't," said Grissom. "I'm not ready to give him up just yet."
Sara tried to hide her smile.
"Have you even held him?" asked Catherine to Sara.
Sara smiled at Grissom.
She had held him in the delivery room and then some in the room but Grissom had for the most part taken over.
She didn't mind.
She felt he needed this.
She was content to watch his over protective ways now being focused on the baby.
She knew if she asked, he would bring him to her.
Brass stepped in with flowers.
"It's the least I could do since I won the baby pool," he said. "How are you kiddo?"
"Great," she said beaming.
"Let me hold this godson of mine," he said as he reached for the baby but was denied the privilege.
Brass frowned. "Didn't Sara teach you to share?"
"Yes, she did….with her."
They stared at her.
She sighed.
She knew there would be other moments for father and son.
"Gil, could I hold him?" she asked.
Their eyes locked.
He stood and brought the baby to her, placing him in her arms. They huddled around to see him.
"He looks like Sara," said Greg.
"He looks exactly like Grissom," said Catherine. "He even has those curly locks." Catherine reached out and took one between her fingers and watch it spring back into place.
The women exchanged smiles.
"I think he has Sara's eyes," said Nick.
"What are you talking about? Those eyes are going to be blue just like Grissom's," said Warrick.
Brass stood there quietly.
"Who do you think he looks like?" asked Catherine to Brass.
"The resemblance is uncanny," he said. "He looks exactly like me."
The End.
Note from author:
Thanks for reading along. I enjoy the reviews left behind. I will post again soon so please place me on your author alert list so you will be notified. I promise you won't regret…it's going to be good… P.S. I left the baby's name up to you...you name him...of course I was going to name him Joseph but I still prefer the name of "Matthew" for their child...I am so pathetic...Hey! I saw Nagara Falls today...now off to meet the ghost hunters that have arrived.
Take care,
Penny