Title: To Sleep; Perchance to Dream

Rating: K +

Genre: Drama/Angst

Author: SidleMyIdol73

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of CSI or its characters.

A/N: Anything in Italic is the characters thoughts. Grissom is a little out of character, but I just had to throw in a little GSR! FINAL CHAPTER UP! Sorry...it might end a little fast, but I wanted to end it on a happier note.

Chapter # 4: To Sleep; Perchance to Dream

Sara gazed around the ICU in silence, as her eyes fell upon the sick and dying souls around her.

A young nurse entered the room and closed the curtains behind her.

"Hi. My name is Rosalind and I'm one ofthe RN on shift tonight. Your blood test came back and the aspirin is still in your blood stream. Unfortunately, that means that I'm going to have to hook you up to an IV as well as some heart monitors."

Sara felt a rush of panic run through her veins and thought about running as fast as she could out of the hospital. She quicklystared at the floor in silence anddismissed the idea. At least in here, I'm safe she thought.

"I'm going to have to ask you to lower the top of your gown Sara," said Rosalind.

Sara lowered the top of her gown; now exposing her white lacebra.

"No Sara…your bra has to be removed too," said Rosalind with a slightblush.

Sara felt her eyes well upas she removed her bra. She felt so exposed and vulnerable. Two things she had tried so hard not to feel ever again.

Rosalind knelt over Sara and grabbed half-a-dozen white stick-on heart monitors. Sara felt a tear escape her eye as Rosalind touched her breasts; placing the monitors around her chest.

"You can pull your gown over top of the monitors now Sara. But, be careful that the wires don't get tangled."

Sara pulled the gown over top of the wires to cover her breasts and turned her head away from Rosalind. She didn't care as the nurse left the room, but she did notice Rosalind return with an IV poll and a needle in her hand.

Rosalind took Sara's left hand and tapped it gently, silently encouraging Sara's veins to pop out. Rosalind located a vein, unpackaged the IV needle and carefullypoked it into the right side of Sara's left wrist. Sara flinched in pain as the needle punctured her skin and watched as blood flowed into the needle.

Rosalind started the IV bag and the blood turned into a white liquid, which would now pump into Sara's veins. Rosalind clamped another monitor over the index finger of Sara's right hand and walked away with a quick smile.

Rosalind opened the curtains and Sara glanced at the clock. It read 7:38pm.

Time slowly dragged on as Sara's mind raced with various thoughts about her life.

Rosalind threw two magazines on Sara's bed.

"I'll come back in about two hours to help you go to the washroom."

Sara tried to reach for the magazines but was overcome with pain. The IV needle made it quite difficult to move, so she gave up. Sara barely fit on the small bed, was hooked up to a dozen heart monitors, had an IV in her wrist, magazines she couldn't read, an empty stomach, a partially-full bladder, and no one to talk to but herself.

"To die…To sleep…" Sara sadly wispered to herself.

"To Sleep; Perchance to Dream" answered Grissom as he entered Sara's ICU room.

"All of my dreams seem to have sad endings," said Sara as she looked into Grissom's eyes.

Grissom looked away and placed his hands in his pockets.

"Well, maybe I can change that..." said Grissom quietly.

"Don't Grissom…don't ignore me for months and then pretend to care," yelled Sara.

"Sara, I know I've been unfair to you, but please…let me help you," Grissom pleaded.

"You can't help me Grissom. You can't erase years of pain or even gather the courage to admit that you love me. All you ever do is cause me pain."

"Why don't you just go back to Lady Heather Grissom! Go have yourself a nice time at her sick dominion."

Grissom massaged his temple with a sigh.

"Sara, do you know how hard it is to block you out of my mind?" asked Grissom.

"Every time I went to Lady Heather's dominion, it was to distract myself from you!"

"Don't you get it?" said Grissom seriouslyas he looked into her eyes.

"I can't do it! No matter how hard I try, I can't stop loving you!"

Sara's anger subsided and she listened intently.

"Why does it alwaystake a tragedy for you to tell me how you feel?" asked Sara.

"Sara, I really thought that I lost you today. They drove you away in that ambulance and do you know what I was doing?" asked Grissom.

Sara looked at him, waiting for his answer.

"I was crying Sara." Grissom said simply.

"I was crying because I didn't know if I was ever going to see you again. If I had lost my chance to tell you how much I love you Sara."

"I could never kill myself Sara…for only one reason. And that reason is you. I can't even begin to imagine a day without your smile or hearing your beautifulvoice," whispered Grissom.

"There aren't enough words in the dicitonaryto describe how much of an idiot I am Sara. But if you'll let me, I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you," said Grissom; pressing his lips softly to hers.

Sara felt herself melt into forgiveness as a wave of euphoria erupted from her soul.

"But what are we going to do about 'this' Grissom?" asked Sara.

"What about work? You don't want people to know about us…" Sara said sadly; suddenly full of frustration.

"Screw work Sara. Dammit, for once in my life I'm going to do the right thing! I've wasted years trying to push you away. But, I've finally realised that I should be pulling you closer!"

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me Sara, and I'm sorry that I've hurt you..."

"Please Sara…say that you'll let me love you," begged Grissom.

Sara stared into Grissom's eyes and felt a feeling of happiness rush over herthat she hadn't experienced for years. She felt so free at that moment; she finally had closure for everything bad that had happened to herin the past.

Rosalind entered the room, "Sara your heart beat just sky-rocketed…what happened?"

Sara stared at the heart monitor and started to smile. Her smile turned into a heart-warming laugh and Grissom joined in the laughter.

Rosalind walked out of the room a few minutes after the laughter had subsided. I don't understand what was so funny, thought Rosalind with a frown.

Grissom pulled his chair closer to Sara's bed and watched as her eyes closed in exhaustion.

For the first time in 34 years, Sara fell asleep with a smile etched across her face.

"See, dreams really do come true Sara! Love willalways find a way," whispered Grissom in her ear.

He kissed Sara gently on her forehead and walked out of the room with a twinkle in his eyes.

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Epilogue: Welcome Back Sara!

Sara walked confidently into the crime lab. It had been four long days since she had been there last. A lot had happened in those four days both physically and emotionally. She had gained the courage to survive as well as a new sense of hope; given to her by the man that she had alwaysloved.

She walked into Grissom's office and was shocked to see Catherine, Warrick, Nick, and Greg all standing there beside Grissom.

"Hi Sara" said Greg weakly.

"Welcome Back!" said Warrick and Nick in unison.

"Hey Sara" Catherine said with a smallsmile.

Catherine, Warrick, Nick, and Greg ran over to Sara and lifted her into a giant bear-hug.

Sara struggled to breathe, but was delighted to see her companions again.

"We just wanted to let you know Hun, that we care about you. And no! Grissom didn't put us up to this!" said Catherine.

"We're here for you Sara!" Warrick said, clapping her on the shoulder.

Warrick and Catherine left Grissom's office with a wave to everyone and strode down the corridor together towards Trace.

"Geeze man, next timecome and find meso we can talk. I'll always be there for you Sar," said Nick; tightly hugging his best friend. He smiled to everyone in the office andwalked out; his moodnoticeably increasing fromsadto happy.

Sara looked at Greg and could see that he was a little shy.

"Come here you big oaf, I missed you!" said Sara to Greg; her arms outstretched for a hug.

Greg ran over and hugged her tightly.

"Oh Sara, I was so scared! I didn't know what to do, I didn't know whether I should tell Grissom or not, and then they found you in the washroom and I totally thought you were dead!" said Greg, forgetting to breathe.

Sara smiled tears of joy and hugged Greg tightly, looking into Grissom's eyes.

Grissom smiled; his eyes full of love.

Greg let go of her and ran out of Grissom's office with glee.

"Sara's back, Sara's back!" shouted Greg down the hallway with a skip and a hop in his step.

Sara shook her head and laughed.

"See, everyone loves you Sara," said Grissom walking towards her.

"But no one loves you as much as I do!"

Grissom pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek.

"Welcome Back Sara."

THE END